PENNSYLVANIA
The Times
By Tom Davidson tdavidson@timesonline.com
PITTSBURGH — On behalf of the Catholic church, Pittsburgh Bishop David A. Zubik wants to say “I’m sorry.”
They’re simple words, and it will be at a simple Service of Apology that starts at 7 p.m. Monday at St. Paul Cathedral in Oakland, where Zubik will say them.
“It’s to anybody who’s felt in their lives that they have been hurt by the church,” Zubik said.
It could be for something as simple as harsh words from a priest at confession or being offended by a homily at Mass, or as complex as the lingering hurt rendered by the Catholic sexual abuse scandal, Zubik said.
“I think the element of hurt is determined by the person who feels they have been hurt,” he said. “I think one of the biggest damages we do in terms of our relationships with other people is to be presumptive.
“We do have to say it. As human individuals we need to be convinced that someone is really sorry and asking for forgiveness,” he said. “There’s something in asking for forgiveness that can be very healing on both sides.”
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