International Eucharistic Congress: focus on marriage, family, abuse scandal
June 13, 2012
Cardinal Marc Ouellet, pontifical legate to the International Eucharistic Congress in Dublin, made a pilgrimage to the famed St. Patrick’s Purgatory at Lough Derg in reparation for abuse committed by clergy and religious and to pray for healing for abuse victims.
The legate’s pilgrimage, made at the request of Pope Benedict, followed a meeting with Irish President Michael Higgins.
June 12, the third day of the International Eucharistic Congress, was devoted to “Communion in Marriage and Family.” Addresses were delivered by retired Archbishop Barry Hickey of Perth, Archbishop Luis Tagle of Manila, and Carl Anderson, supreme knight of the Knights of Columbus.
“The Church can either compromise and face irrelevance, or continue to teach Christ's truth about marriage, life and love, and pray that the world will listen,” said Archbishop Hickey, who lamented the rise in cohabitation, “easy divorce,” and pressure to legalize same-sex marriage.
“The so-called crisis of the clergy unfolding these past years is immense in scope,” said Archbishop Tagle. “It includes allegations of sexual misconduct, suspicions about the clergy’s handling of money, accusations of misuse of authority, inappropriate lifestyle and a host of other things. The faithful are appalled at the rudeness of their pastors.”
“At first glance, this crisis seems to be about explicitly sexual behavior only,” he added. “But a closer look at the actual cases reveals that deep theological, spiritual, anthropological and pastoral issues are involved.”
Preaching at the day’s principal Mass, Cardinal André Vingt-Trois of Paris challenged Christian families to “witness to the greatness of the family as the stable union of a man and a woman before those who believe and those who don’t.”
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Further information:
- Congress celebrates Marriage and Family Life (International Eucharistic Congress 2012)
- IEC Congress: Papal legate's prayers for Ireland (Vatican Radio)
- Papal Legate Cardinal Ouellet meets survivors of abuse in Lough Derg (Irish bishops' conference)
- Australian archbishop: Church under attack for its stance on marriage (CNS)
- International Eucharistic Congress focuses on Christian unity, New Evangelization (CWN, 6/12)
- St Patrick's Purgatory (Wikipedia)
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