BishopAccountability.org
	Our View: Atoning for Church Sins, 04-21-08 Herald News April 21, 2008 http://www.heraldnews.com/opinions/x883019139 Thumbs up to Boston Cardinal Sean O'Malley, who helped arrange a meeting between a handful of clergy sexual abuse victims and Pope Benedict XVI, who has made atoning for the sex scandal a top priority of his first swing through the United States. The pope spoke and prayed with the tearful victims, acknowledging the trauma they experienced. Benedict has called the scandal a "deep shame" on the Catholic Church and vowed to keep pedophiles out of the priesthood. His meeting with abuse victims, which Pope John Paul II declined to do, shows his commitment to addressing the crisis and atoning for the sins of his church. O'Malley, former bishop of the Fall River Archdiocese, has a history working to repair the damage the scandal has done. He addressed the issue as Fall River's bishop and has brought his efforts to a larger stage, arranging for victims to air their grievences before the most influential audience possible. He deserves credit for tackling the problem and at least trying to heal the wounds. Thumbs up to Leo and Marie Jean, a Fall River couple who together have logged more than 50 years of community service. The pair have volunteered — and continue to do so — countless hours working with children at the Thomas Chew memorial Boys and Girls Club on Anawan Street. For 30 years, Leo has worked with kids in the ceramics/arts and crafts shop at the club, and Jean has been teaching them to paint for 23 years. The "surrogate grandparents" teach classes of up to 36 children, ages 5 to 16. "They're just amazing," said Executive Director Peter McCarthy. "To plan our programs around volunteers is just unheard of, but we couldn't do it without them." Such a commitment to volunteering is almost unheard of. While the couple has scaled back from the 20 hours a week they used to volunteer at the club, Leo and Jean are still willing to help out when they're able. Their commitment to working with children and helping better the community is laudable. They are true community heroes and serve as an example for others to follow. Thumbs up to State Auditor Joseph DeNucci for bringing attention to the state's flawed process of summonsing potential jurors. His review determined that roughly 1 million people statewide were summonsed for jury duty in 2006, yet only 340,000 ended up serving. Reducing the number of jurors called could save up to 15,000 juror days at the District Court level, saving the state's employers about $2.2 million in juror leave costs. The impact on the potential jurors themselves may be even more substantial. While most acknowledge jury duty as a civic responsibility, few welcome being summonsed. Having to take time out of their lives to sit in a room, never seeing the inside of a courtroom is even more frustrating. If potential jurors knew that when they were called, they were truly needed, they may be more willing to serve.
Any original material on these pages is copyright © BishopAccountability.org 2004. Reproduce freely with attribution.