Pope Francis "pain and shame" for crimes committed in Pennsylvania. Msgr Michael Yeung, bishop of Hong Kong, asks all the clergy and the faithful to join in prayer at this dark moment. Every Friday in September, adoration, fasting and abstinence.
Hong Kong (AsiaNews) - "Recognizing and condemning with pain and shame the atrocities committed by consecrated persons", setting out on "a journey of renewed conversion", wrote Pope Francis, after the recent scandal that has overwhelmed even church hierarchies broke out in Pennsylvania. In a statement, which we publish in full below, the Bishop of Hong Kong Msgr. Michael Yeung asks the clergy and all the faithful to joinin prayer and penance for the Church and for the victims of abuse this September
Pope Francis, a couple of days ago, decried the Pennsylvania clerical sex abuse cases. Voicing “pain and shame” over these appalling reported crimes, he called for prayer and penance on the part of all members of the clergy. All the faithful are also invited to join in earnest prayer to ask the Heavenly Father, who is rich in mercy, to bestow His grace and mercy on all, excluding nobody from His loving gaze. Let us pray that the Holy Spirit will enlighten and strengthen all who are striving, even in the midst of great difficulties and sufferings, to do God’s will. Bishop Michael Yeung, in response to the call of the Pope and after consultation with the Curia, has declared this September to be a month of prayer and penance.
Bishop Michael Yeung has recommended that, among other charitable activities, fasting and abstinence be kept on all the Fridays in this September, and prayers of atonement to and adoration of the Blessed Sacrament be held by parishes on those days.