PHILADELPHIA (PA)
Philadelphia Inquirer
By Kristen A. Graham and Natalie Pompilio
Inquirer Staff Writers
Days after learning that some of their spiritual leaders abused children and others covered it up, and that their families may not have been safe within the hallowed walls of the church, many of the area's 1.5 million Catholics returned to their pews yesterday.
In South Philadelphia, a priest said he was ashamed of his collar for the first time. In Northeast Philadelphia, a young woman said she did not want to believe a pastor she adored could have committed atrocities against children. In Southwest Philadelphia, women got up and walked out of church as a priest read a letter of apology from Cardinal Justin Rigali.
And in Downingtown, Msgr. William Lynn, pastor of St. Joseph Church, received a standing ovation from his congregation, despite drawing strong criticism from the grand jury for his role as head of the office that handled abuse complaints.
"The church should be ashamed. There is no atonement for this atrocity," said Dolores Crane, 63, a parishioner at St. Martin of Tours Church in New Hope. "But no man is going to keep me from my God."
The 418-page grand jury report released last week says the sexual abuse of hundreds of children was covered up by church leaders, including Cardinals John Krol and Anthony J. Bevilacqua. It details the acts of perversion allegedly executed by certain priests. Even a confessional was not a safe place for child, according to the report.