Where the Rubber Hits the Road

Archbishop D. Martin “When I say ‘sorry,’ ” the archbishop said, “I am in charge. When I ask forgiveness, however, I am no longer in charge. I am in the hands of the others. Only you can forgive me; only God can forgive me.” It appears as if Archbishop D. Martin of Dublin 'gets it'. Let's pray that all his brother Bishops throughout the entire Church follow his example! Acts of Contrition - NYTimes.com

Archbishop Martin has intimated that each of the Bishops named in the Dublin report on clergy sexual abuse should resign as Ordinary of their respective Dioceses. Not only is it refreshing that a Bishop is calling his brother bishops to take responsibility for these abuses, and for the neglectful way that they dealt with the victims of abusing priests. He seems to understand that the laity need this step to believe that the Church is serious about taking responsibility for its misdeeds... and that the Bishops need to demonstrate this by assuming this responsibility personally. Click on the title on this post to be taken to the story on the Catholic Culture which will offer links to more source documents on this story. Here's hoping that his example will spread among the Bishop's world wide!!