Archbishop Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. Cap. Announces Establishment of Independent Reconciliation and Reparations Program to Support Survivors of Childhood Sexual Abuse
Today’s announcement follows a pledge made by Archbishop Chaput in September to spearhead a program administered independently of Church leadership or influence that will provide financial compensation and support for those sexually abused as minors by Archdiocesan clergy.
Message from Kenneth A. Gavin
Please see the message below from Kenneth A. Gavin, Chief Communications Officer for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. Please take note of the hyperlinked text below. It will direct you to previously released materials that provide additional context and important background. Dear Priests and Deacons, Periodically, I have shared information with you about items affecting the life of our local Church. These past months have been trying ones with respect to the release of the Pennsylvania Grand Jury Report and its aftermath. While that investigative matter did not involve our Archdiocese in any way, the findings it shared were difficult and painful for everyone [...]
Reflections on the ongoing CLERGY SEX ABUSE SCANDAL
Every morning, when I open the newspaper, I brace for yet another article about the ongoing clergy sex abuse scandal. Ever since the Grand Jury Report was published in mid-August, it seems that the media has made it a point to feature an article about this terrible scourge almost every day. It is, indeed, a time of great sadness and confusion in our Church. I encourage you to join me in prayer for those who have been sexually abused. When John Carroll was appointed the first bishop in the newly-formed United States of America in 1789, he had slaves running [...]
Why Remain Catholic – Video from Bishop Robert Barron
As we all continue to struggle with the clergy sex abuse scandal and all of its fallout, I encourage you to watch this video from Bishop Robert Barron. He expresses much better than I can both my anger and my conviction that we need to fight for what we believe in - the true Catholic faith. Let's continue to pray for and - as Bishop Barron recommends - fight for the Church and all of the victims of this tragic moment in our Church's life.
Monsignor Brouwers’ Homily – September 2, 2018
The commentator of a program I watched on television recently started with a very interesting observation. The program he was introducing recounted the 40,000 years of humanity and how religion has always provided us with a way of believing and belonging. But, he started the program by noting that some people today are trying to do something that no known society has ever successfully done. They are trying to live without religion. Can we live without religion? “Of course, we can,” many people assert today. In fact, the fastest growing group of people here in America today are the “nones” [...]
Some Reflections on the Recent Grand Jury Report
As we continue to reel from the repercussions of the Grand Jury Report on the sexual abuse by priests and the cover-up by bishops in six dioceses throughout the state of Pennsylvania, I would like to offer some heartfelt reflections. As I mentioned in my homily last Sunday, when I think of my fellow clergy who have done such terrible things, I think of what our Lord once said: “It would be better for him to have a great millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.” I would like to thank all [...]
Monsignor Brouwers’ Homily – August 26, 2018
Ten years ago, when I returned to Rome to become Cardinal Foley’s special assistant and the chancellor of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem, someone lent me a book to read. It had just come out and he thought I might find it interesting as I returned to work, once again, at the Church’s headquarters. As I read it, I was reminded of the time I had spent time studying the Italian language the first time I was sent to Rome some 30 years ago. One of the sayings I learned at that time was “come uno [...]
Monsignor Brouwers’ Homily – August 19, 2018
I’m sure you’ve heard about the Grand Jury’s report on six dioceses throughout Pennsylvania that was made public earlier this week. I haven’t read the entire 900-page report but, like you, I’m still reeling from reading the portions of the report that I have found in the newspapers. I’m still processing all of this material; some of the incidences recounted in the report were truly horrific. When I think of my fellow clergy who have done such terrible things, I think of what our Lord once said: “It would be better for him to have a great millstone hung around [...]