Cardinal George Leads Special Mass For Sex Abuse Victims
CHICAGO (CBS) -- Cardinal Francis George led a mass of atonement on Saturday, as part of the ongoing healing process for victims of clergy sex abuse.
CBS 2's Mike Parker reports it seemed a sign of the progress the Catholic Church has made in the wake of the clergy sex scandal.
The cardinal was at Holy Family Church on Saturday to celebrate mass for the healing of abuse survivors, their families, the church, and society.
"Each day, we ask God to forgive our sins, and we ask for forgiveness also for the sins of others, particularly those who as priests or deacons or other clerics in the church have abused children," George said.
Among those at the service was a man who, as a child, was abused by a priest, then kept silent for more than three decades.
"I consider the mass to be a healthy balance between acknowledging and apologizing for past abuse in our church, but also acknowledging and saying thank you to all of the good people who are protecting children in the Catholic schools and parishes," Michael Hoffman said.
The cardinal led a prayer for abuse survivors and their families.
"May they find healing and wholeness," He said. "When that trust is betrayed, then a young life is wounded, perhaps irreparably."
Hoffman said he's satisfied with the way the church ultimately handled the issue of clergy sex abuse.
The key message from the cardinal was that God in his infinite power can bring good out of evil.