Bishop Plans Day Of Prayers And Penance Due To Abuse Scandal
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PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) - Rhode Island's Roman Catholic bishop has planned a day of prayer and penance because of the clerical sex abuse scandal.
Diocese of Providence Bishop Thomas Tobin released a letter Thursday to publicize the Sept. 14 event in Providence. He says these are "difficult and dark days."
Tobin says he will fast that day, in penance for his "faults and failures as a Christian, priest and bishop" and for "the sins and failures" of all priests and bishops related to the sexual abuse of minors.
Tobin said this week that he was aware of incidents of sexual abuse reported to church officials while working in Pennsylvania, but it wasn't his job to deal with them.
On Wednesday, Diocese of Greensburg pastor Monsignor Michael W. Matusak was removed from his ministry after the diocese received credible allegations of sexual abuse dating back to 20 years ago.
The Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh's Cardinal Donald Wuerl's name was recently removed from North Catholic High School and his name and images removed from a Greenfield church following sexual abuse allegations.
Tobin served as auxiliary bishop of Pittsburgh from 1992 until 1996.
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