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	Mass by Bishop Focuses on 'Sin of Sexual Abuse' By Kelley Bouchard Morning Sentinel May 30, 2008 http://morningsentinel.mainetoday.com/news/local/5106418.html Blethen Maine Newspapers Maine's Roman Catholic bishop prayed Thursday for God's forgiveness for the "horrific sin of sexual abuse" by clergy. During a special Mass at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Portland, Bishop Richard Malone encouraged all members of the Diocese of Maine to strive to make sure the church is the "safest, most secure of environments" and worthy of parents' trust. He also urged victims to report sexual abuse to church officials or legal authorities, saying that no pain is deeper than abuse by a representative of the church. "Come to me when you feel ready to do that," Malone said during his homily. About 50 people attended the noontime Mass celebrated with 12 priests from churches throughout the diocese. The bishop has held several similar services in recent years and said he plans to make it an annual event "to be sure that no one known to be an abuser is allowed to continue in ministry." The clergy abuse scandal erupted in Boston in 2000. In Maine, 63 priests and other church officials, both living and dead, were accused of abusing children during the past 80 years, according to a 2004 report issued by state Attorney General Steven Rowe. On Thursday, while Malone outlined the support and services he and his staff provide for sexual abuse victims, leaders of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP) said the bishop isn't doing enough. They said Thursday's Mass was a symbolic gesture that does nothing to really protect children. They want Malone to discipline church employees who concealed the sexual abuse of children. They also want Malone to post identities and addresses of clergy predators on the diocesan Web site. "If we're not doing everything we can, we're not doing enough," said Harvey Paul of Windham, director of SNAP in Maine. Harvey said he didn't attend Thursday's Mass because, "I don't feel particularly drawn to the once-a-year reaching out that the diocese does." There was no obvious presence of survivors or a survivors' group at the cathedral. Sue Bernard, diocesan spokeswoman, said Thursday's Mass was the bishop's sincere effort to promote healing over the sexual abuse scandal for all church members. "We share a lot of caring and concern, not only for the victims, but also for the church as a whole, which has been through so much and can be so much more," Bernard said. She said the bishop would discipline any church employee known to have concealed child sexual abuse. She said confirmed sexual abusers have been removed from ministry and identified in news releases posted on the diocese Web site. The diocese leaves it to legal authorities to prosecute abusers and post them on the state's sex offenders' Web site, she said. John Goodrich of Falmouth, who attended Thursday's Mass, said he's glad that the bishop, like Pope Benedict XVI, is publicly acknowledging past sexual abuse by priests and the need to be vigilant to prevent it in the future. "It's a tragic chapter in the Catholic Church," Goodrich said. "It really goes against everything Christ was about. Christ set up the church, but it's still made up of sinners."
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