October 31, 2005

Rigali gives apology for suffering of priest abuse

YARDLEY (PA)
Philadelphia Inquirer

By Martha Woodall
Inquirer Staff Writer

Yesterday, four days after many parishioners at St. Ignatius of Antioch in Yardley voiced outrage at a forum over the clergy abuse scandal, Cardinal Justin Rigali celebrated Mass at the Bucks church.

Rigali told worshipers filling the church pews that the sins involving the abuse of children "have deeply offended God."

The cardinal apologized for the pain caused by the abuse, said mistakes should never be repeated and called for healing and forgiveness.

A spokesman for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia said the cardinal's trip to St. Ignatius had been planned long ago and was not scheduled in response to the unusual forum held in the church auditorium Wednesday.

Posted by kshaw at October 31, 2005 09:31 AM