Latest abuse claims within Catholic Church

The Island Now

It has just been reported by Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro that 1,000 kids or maybe more have been abused by pedophile priests for over decades and have been covered up. He said, “The pattern was abuse, deny and cover up.”

As a Catholic and as a grand knight in the Knights of Columbus, I find this report to be sad, troubling and appalling. And to think this could have occurred nationwide and even worldwide.

I have known many priests in my lifetime and found them to be dedicated to their faith. It is the few who forgot that they were men of God and abuse children without guilt. Many dioceses including my own of Brooklyn and Queens have a zero policy with priests who are accused of abusing children. It has been a long time coming but I believe it is working to protect our children.

As Jesus said in Matthew chapter 18 vs. 6, “Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone hung around his neck and be drowned in the depths of the sea.”

I therefore offer my heartfelt prayers for all those children who are now adults and were abused through no fault of their own. I also offer my prayers to those many faithful priests who are dedicated to doing God’s will.

Frederick R. Bedell Jr.

Mineola

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