MANCHESTER (NH)
Foster's Daily Democrat
By J.M. HIRSCH
Associated Press Writer
MANCHESTER, N.H. (AP) — Bishop John McCormack urged Trinity High School seniors to focus on forgiveness while celebrating their baccalaureate Mass on Wednesday, just days after many objected to his presence because of his role in the church sex abuse scandal.
During the Mass, the Roman Catholic bishop asked class members to remember who they were as Christians, to forgive one another and "set aside distractions," his only reference to the discord during the 1-hour ceremony.
Last week, nearly half the school's 112 seniors, some of whom said they had lost faith in McCormack as their spiritual leader, had signed petitions asking the bishop not to celebrate the Mass.
A diocesan spokesman had said it was part of the bishop's ministry to lead the ceremony for the private Catholic school and he would do so.
School officials would not comment on the petitions Wednesday, but said they believed nearly all the seniors attended the Mass at Abbey Church at Saint Anselm College. Some students had said they would boycott the event if McCormack was there.
Posted by kshaw at June 9, 2005 07:21 AM