Cardinal leads penitential service at abuse conference

February 08, 2012

Cardinal Marc Ouellet, the prefect of the Congregation for Bishops, led a penitential service as part of a 4-day conference on the sex-abuse problem, being held at the Gregorian University in Rome.

As participants lit candles in front of a cross placed at the foot of the altar in the church of St. Ignatius, Cardinal Ouellet led prayers for the victims of abuse and for the renewal of the Church.

The Canadian prelate acknowledged the failures of Church leaders to curb abusive clerics, saying: “It was necessary to take action concerning them and to prevent them from continuing any form of ministry for which they were obviously not suitable. This was not always done properly, and once again we apologize to the victims."

 

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Further information:

• Cardinal Ouellet leads Penitential liturgy at abuse conference (Vatican Radio)