Apology in Diocese Newspaper Has Philadelphia Catholics Talking, by Elizabeth Fiedler, The Newsworks, February 26, 2011

Apology in Diocese Newspaper Has Philadelphia Catholics Talking

By Elizabeth Fiedler
The Newsworks
February 26, 2011

http://www.newsworks.org/index.php/local/item/13924-25lfapology

An apology printed in the official newspaper of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, has Catholics talking, including mass-goers at the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul in Philadelphia today.

The apology printed in The Catholic Standard and Times says while the Catholic Church is struggling to deal with the problem of sexual abuse of minors, youth sports organizations, public schools, community groups and other faith communities all report incidents of abuse. And yet few have been forced to look as extensively at the abuse perpetrated within their organizations or to enact broad policies to prevent it, it reads.

Those words didn't sit well with 57 year old Philip Kellenbenz, a lifelong Catholic from Northeast Philadelphia.

"That's just a crutch that they want to lean on," said Kellenbenz. "That's an excuse. They ought to fall on their knees and say thank God almighty that there by the grace of God goes I - 'cause what if they were the ones being abused? It wouldn't be such a pretty thing. It wouldn't be such an easy thing to pass off with these petty excuses."

Catholic Adam Douglas, from Northwest Philadelphia, said it's not fair to judge all priests based on the behavior of some. He said priests do a lot of positive work with young people.