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	Palm Sunday Bulletin Sheds Light on Church Abuse Scandal The Phillyburbs April 17, 2011 http://www.phillyburbs.com/news/local/the_intelligencer_news/palm-sunday-bulletin-sheds-light-on-church-abuse-scandal/article_b9c3be5f-b193-5157-976d-6eacc8c7ecb0.html Catholics attending Mass for the feast of Palm Sunday will be offered a special church bulletin on child sex abuse, priest suspensions and the potential sale of archdiocesan property to pay legal bills. On Friday, the archdiocese released to the media the first in a periodic series of church bulletin inserts provided to all 268 parishes in the region. The document stresses that any legal bills related to abuse allegations would be paid "through unrestricted bequests or the sale of archdiocesan property and not from parish collections." Unrestricted bequests can include money willed to the church by those who die. An ongoing investigation of 23 suspended priests - including at least 10 with ties to Bucks and Montgomery counties - is likely to take another "six to nine months," according to the document. Church officials said future bulletin inserts would keep parishioners informed "on those steps taken to assist victims, advance the protection of children, and ensure the integrity of priests." But not everyone wants to read about it on Palm Sunday, which begins the most solemn week in Christianity ending with Easter. Ed McFillin of Northampton and a parishioner at St. Vincent DePaul Church said "they should have done this after the Easter season. It's inappropriate for Holy Week." Archdiocesan spokeswoman Donna Farrell said the church "certainly does not wish to intrude upon Holy Week. But from what we have been hearing, people have been asking questions and seeking answers about this," she said. Scott Benoit of the Immaculate Conception Parish in Bristol Township, disagreed. "I don't think the timing is right," Benoit said. "I go to church because I want to be closer to God. Why do I need to go there and hear about money going to pay legal fees?" Benoit said references to the sale of church property were probably a harbinger of more school closings. His daughter was transferred last year to the Holy Family Regional Catholic School in Middletown, following closure of the Immaculate Conception parish school. Benoit also said he was concerned for his close friend, the Rev. Joseph Logrip, who is among those suspended in February by the church. Benoit believes Logrip to be innocent of any wrongdoing. "I've known him for many years," said Benoit. "I understand that the church has to be thorough (with its investigation). But this has been very difficult for him." Former Catholic Mary McComsey of Warminster said she doesn't plan to attend church on Palm Sunday. She doubts the church bulletin will change anyone's opinions of the abuse scandal. "The people that are already angry about this are just going to get angrier," she said. "Those people who still believe the church is doing all that it can - they will continue to believe that." McComsey left the church more than a decade ago, after discovering that the Rev. Richard McLoughlin, formerly of St. Bede the Venerable in Northampton, was "permanently restricted" from ministry by the Archdiocese of Philadelphia's Office of Child and Youth Protection. "This man presided over my wedding and baptized two of my children," said McComsey. "His ministry wove a thread through the life of my family. So it personalized the whole scandal for me. It actually did shake my faith in a God." To read the church bulletin on victims' assistance, the protection of children, and priest integrity, visit www.archphila.org James McGinnis can be reached at 215-949-3248 or jmcginnis@phillyBurbs.com For instant news updates, follow Jim at twitter.com/james_mcginnis
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