Greensburg Catholic Diocese Bishop Edward Malesic has scheduled a series of “listening sessions” in October and November, at which he will discuss the issues raised by a state grand jury and Attorney General Josh Shapiro.
A grand jury report issued August 14th listed more than 1,000 children allegedly abused by clergy in six dioceses across the commonwealth. Shapiro said the actual number of abuse cases is likely far higher, and in the month since the establishment of a hotline number to report abuse, his office has received more than a thousand calls. More than 300 priests and other clergy were named in the report, which goes as far back as the 1940s.
In the latest edition of The Catholic Accent, Bishop Malesic ties the abuse problem to an overall perspective about the sanctity of life. He writes, “People can wonder, does the Church really respect life when so many of its young and innocent members were harmed in this way?” His conclusion…”Despite the sins of our clergy, despite our own sins, we still know that the truth has not changed. Life is good. It is from God…Life must be valued, respected, and protected in every stage.”
Most of the listening sessions will be from 6:30 to 8:30 in the evening, starting October 22nd in Greensburg. After subsequent sessions in Uniontown, Lower Burtrell, West newton, Kittanning, and Murrysville, the series will conclude with a session at St, Bernard of Clairvaux in Indiana, starting at 6:30 PM on November 29th.
