Bishop Barres: Pope's address 'powerful'

By Dan Sheehan
Morning Call
September 23, 2015

http://www.mcall.com/news/breaking/mc-francis-barres-in-washington-20150923-story.html

Pope Francis attends the Midday Prayer Service at the Cathedral of St. Matthew in Washington, Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2015.

Allentown Bishop John O. Barres was among the hundreds of cardinals, bishops and other religious who crowded the Cathedral of St. Matthew in Washington to hear Pope Francis speak about the church's mission, the clerical sexual abuse crisis and the plight of immigrants.

The pontiff received long ovations during the prayer service in the church best known as the site of the funeral for the nation's first Catholic president, John F. Kennedy, in 1963.

In a statement, Barres said Francis "synthesized so many of his beautiful thoughts and themes with an emphasis on the good shepherd and a culture of encounter for the poor, all those in pain, all those in distress. [He was] calling all of us to be engaged in a culture of encounter with everyone in our global society."

Francis opened the Thursday service by thanking Archbishop Joseph Kurtz of Louisville, a former priest of the Diocese of Allentown who now serves as president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, and Cardinal Donald Wuerl, the Archbishop of Washington.

"I am pleased that we can meet at this point in the apostolic mission which has brought me to your country," Francis said, adding that he had not come "to judge or lecture" the church leaders.

"As I look out with affection at you, their pastors, I would like to embrace all the local churches over which you exercise loving responsibility," Francis said. "I would ask you to share my affection and spiritual closeness with the people of God throughout this vast land."

Addressing the darkest moment of the church's recent history — the sexual abuse scandal that erupted in the early 2000s — the pontiff said the church must continue its work.

"I have supported your generous commitment to bring healing to victims — in the knowledge that in healing we too are healed — and to work to ensure that such crimes will never be repeated," he said.

Touching on immigration in a political season where the frontrunner among Republican presidential candidates wants to erect a wall along the nation's southern border, Francis called on the bishops to advocate on behalf of those seeking a better life here.

"You are facing this stream of Latin immigration which affects many of your dioceses," he said. "Not only as the Bishop of Rome, but also as a pastor from the south, I feel the need to thank and encourage you. Perhaps it will not be easy for you to look into their soul; perhaps you will be challenged by their diversity. But know that they also possess resources meant to be shared."

Francis is expected to talk more about immigration — and other hot-button political issues, including the religious liberty questions raised by gay marriage and the contraception mandates of Obamacare — during the rest of his visit.

The pontiff's willingness to wade into such matters is something Kurtz — who meets with Francis at least once a year — had predicted during a meeting of the Religion Newswriters Association in August, telling the group that Francis would urge the faithful not to surrender their right to live their faith publicly.

"He will encourage us not to leave the public square," Kurtz said, according to a Huffington Post story on the conference. "[To] make sure our faith is put into action and that we do so in a way that is consistent with our Catholic beliefs."

In Wednesday's remarks, Francis urged cooperation among the bishops, who have welcomed Francis' support of the traditional family, for example, but are divided on his statements about capitalism and the environment.

"The world is already so torn and divided, brokenness is now everywhere," Francis said. "Consequently, the church, 'the seamless garment of the Lord,' cannot allow herself to be rent, broken or fought over."

After his remarks, Francis greeted dozens of prelates, though Barres was not among them.

Through a translator, the pope said he had wanted to meet all of them. But the pontiff grinned, pointed at his watch and broadly shrugged as he was led out of the church.