As the Archbishop of Washington, Cardinal Donald Wuerl, addressed the Catholic Church’s clergy sexual abuse scandal on Sunday, one Catholic yelled “Shame on you!” while another turned her back on Wuerl in protest.
Wuerl faces accusations of mishandling clergy sexual misconduct while he was a bishop in Pittsburgh. In a short speech after the Mass, Wuerl asked the 200 or so people in the congregation to forgive his “errors in judgment” and “inadequacies.”
Wuerl also urged the parish to pray for and remain loyal to Pope Francis, as “increasingly it is clear that he is the object of considerable animosity.” Upon mentioning the Pope, Brian Garfield, who was sitting in the middle of the church, stood and yelled “Shame on you!” and quickly walked out.
Continuing his speech despite the interruption, Wuerl said, “Yes, my brothers and sisters, shame. I wish I could re-do everything over these 30 years as a bishop and each time get it always right. That’s not the case. I do think together, asking for God’s mercy, pleading for God’s grace, recognizing that we can move into light, I simply ask you to keep me, keep all of those that have been abused, all of those who have suffered, all of the church in your prayers.”
A group of Roman Catholics also rallied in the rain outside the Baltimore Basilica in response to the Catholic Church’s sexual abuse scandal, demanding action and reform by the church.
By: Maytinee Kramer
