CHICAGO (IL)
Daily Herald
Daniel White
Cardinal Francis George celebrated a Mass of Atonement and Hope Saturday at Holy Family Church in Chicago to promote healing for child and youth sexual abuse survivors, their families and the Catholic Church.
“As a clergy-abuse survivor, I consider this Mass to be striking a healthy balance by apologizing and acknowledging for abuse that happened in the past, but also for being thankful for all the hard work going into protecting children now in our Catholic Schools and parishes,” said Mike Hoffman, one of the founders of a Healing Garden created in 2010 adjacent to the church. “This event is a very healthy way to do that.”
The Mass was attended by clergy, victims-survivors, family members of survivors, Catholic School leadership and others committed to the protection and safety of children.
“What I thought was powerful was the fact that the Mass was all about children and the survivors and there was no talk about the perpetrators,” said Tom McCarthy of Hanover Park. “It was all about praying for atonement and for the children.”
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