NEW YORK
New York Newsday
BY JOSHUA ROBIN
STAFF WRITER
August 15, 2005
Rev. Msgr. Eugene Clark's name was absent from the welcome placards at St. Patrick's Cathedral and was not mentioned in the Sunday homily.
Still, the specter of the scandal-sullied priest hung over Sunday's mass -- the first since Clark resigned last week as the cathedral's rector amid charges he was having an affair with his secretary.
Three gay-rights protesters stood outside the church's doors, demanding Clark apologize for his previous statements attacking homosexuality, including suggesting it was behind the recent priest abuse scandal.
And many Catholic congregants attending services said that Clark's relationship -- which he maintains was entirely platonic -- was nonetheless a sign that significant changes are needed within the Church, including allowing greater roles for women, married men and openly gay people.
The church can no longer expect all its leaders to remain celibate, they said.