ATLANTA (GA)
National Public Radio
August 20, 2018
Length: 5:23
AILSA CHANG, HOST:
Yesterday at St. Thomas More Catholic Church in suburban Atlanta, a priest spoke to his congregation about sexual abuse. Catholics are struggling with the details of a Pennsylvania grand jury report released last week. It outlined decades of sexual abuse in six dioceses by more than 300 priests involving more than 1,000 children. His words led to a remarkable exchange during the service yesterday. Susan Reynolds was in the pews at St. Thomas More. She’s also a professor of Catholic studies at Emory University’s School of Theology. Welcome.
SUSAN REYNOLDS: Thank you.
CHANG: So can you tell us – what was the priest saying about these revelations of widespread abuse by priests in Pennsylvania?
REYNOLDS: It was a powerful homily. You know, he began by saying, I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. And he went on to say what the church needs is radical structural reform led by laypeople.
CHANG: And then what happened?
REYNOLDS: Well, he turned to sit down after he was finished – and like I said, it was a powerful homily – when, all of a sudden, in about the fifth row, a dad stood up. And for those of your listeners who are Catholic, you know that you don’t just (laughter) stand up during Mass.
CHANG: This is very rare, for someone to just speak unannounced in the (laughter) middle of Mass.
REYNOLDS: I’ve been to Catholic for 31 of my 31 years, and never have I ever seen anything like this. He was shaking. He was determined. He was terrified. His shirt was matted to his (laughter) back with sweat.
CHANG: Wow.
REYNOLDS: And he simply stood up and said, how? (Laughter) How do we do that? Tell us how.
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