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Bishops and priests attend Pope Francis' celebration of Mass marking the feast of Sts. Peter and Paul in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican June 29. In an Aug. 20 letter to all Catholics, the pope blamed clericalism for helping to support and perpetuate sexual abuse committed by clergy. (CNS photo/Paul Haring)

Clericalism: The culture that enables abuse and insists on hiding it

Cindy Wooden
August 22, 2018
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Throughout his pontificate, Pope Francis has targeted clericalism as an illness in the church, an ailment that pretends “the church” means “priests and bishops,” that ignores or minimizes the God-given grace and talents of laypeople and that emphasizes the authority of clerics over their obligation of service.

Dominican Sister Mary Jo Sobieck, a theology teacher at Marian Catholic High School in Chicago, throws out the ceremonial first pitch during the Chicago White Sox and Kansas City Royals game Aug. 18 in Chicago. Sister Mary Jo, an athlete and graduate of Cathedral High School in St. Cloud, Minn., bounced the ball off her arm before coming to a set position and letting loose with a curveball. (CNS photo/Anthony Peter, Chicago White Sox)

Dominican sister’s pregame first pitch wows crowd, online world

Catholic News Service
August 21, 2018
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One 24-second clip of Sister Sobieck throwing the pitch had garnered 2.73 million internet views by midday Aug. 21.

Pope Francis prays as he leads a Lenten penance service in early March in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican. "No effort must be spared" to prevent future cases of clerical sexual abuse and "to prevent the possibility of their being covered up," Pope Francis said in an Aug. 20 letter addressed "to the people of God." (CNS photo/Stefano Rellandini, Reuters)

Pope: Abuse victims’ outcry more powerful than efforts to silence them

Cindy Wooden
August 20, 2018
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“No effort must be spared” to prevent future cases of clerical sexual abuse and “to prevent the possibility of their being covered up,” Pope Francis said in a letter addressed “to the people of God.”

Archbishop William E. Lori greets parishioners following Mass Aug. 19 at the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen in Homeland. (Courtesy Archdiocese of Baltimore)

Archbishop Lori’s Homily: 20th Sunday in Ordinary Time/Patronal Feast of Cathedral of Mary Our Queen

Archbishop William E. Lori
August 19, 2018
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The only way forward in this difficult hour is to center our lives on Christ and through Christ to give the Spirit access to our hearts. In that way, instead of clergy and laity growing apart from one another, we will strive in God’s grace to repair broken relationships, to heal those who have been wounded and disillusioned, and to renew the internal workings of the Church.

Bishop Lawrence T. Persico of Erie, Pa., speaks during a meeting in late January at the headquarters of U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops in Washington. The Diocese of Erie has been at the forefront of an effort urging the release of a grand jury report on abuse claims in Erie and five other Pennsylvania dioceses. (CNS photo/Tyler Orsburn)

Pennsylvania prelate says bishops who hid abuse should resign

Rhina Guidos
August 17, 2018
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Erie Bishop Lawrence T. Persico said the only way to regain the trust of the laity after decades-long claims of sexual abuse by priests and others at six Pennsylvania dioceses is by deeds and one of those deeds may mean getting rid of bishops who hid abusers.

Pallottine Father Bernard Carman, pastor of St. Leo the Great, makes the rounds June 3 during the St. Anthony Festival in Little Italy. (Kevin J. Parks/CR Staff)

Ask, pray, talk: Little Italy pastor connects during annual festivals

Emily Rosenthal Alster
August 17, 2018
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The festival, which draws those from the greater metropolitan area to the St. Leo community, offers an opportunity to normalize Catholicism in everyday life, as well as promote religious vocations.

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