MANCHESTER (NH)
Boston Globe
By Rebecca Mahoney, Globe Correspondent | June 8, 2005
MANCHESTER, N.H. -- Maggie Barrett no longer goes to church. Katie Bartlett wonders what the leaders of the Catholic Church aren't telling her. And Michele Como is searching for a religious leader she can admire.
Their crisis of faith, these Trinity High School seniors say, stems from the Catholic church's handling of the clergy sexual abuse scandal. Specifically, from the role they believe New Hampshire Bishop John McCormack played.
''I feel like he lies about everything," said Barrett, 19, who was among 35 students who grilled McCormack at a meeting Friday. ''I feel like I can't look up to him as a leader."
Barrett isn't alone in her sentiments. Nearly half of her fellow graduating seniors at Trinity High School are protesting McCormack's intent to preside over their baccalaureate Mass tonight.
About 50 of the school's 112 seniors have signed a petition asking McCormack not to preside, Barrett said. Several others, including Bartlett, say they're considering not attending tonight's ceremony if McCormack is present.
Posted by kshaw at June 8, 2005 02:04 AM