Bishop Shows Solidarity with 'Brother Bishops'

By Michael F. Flach
HERALD Staff Writer
(From the issue of 8/22/02)

Arlington Bishop Paul S. Loverde, in conjunction with his "brother bishops" across the country, marked a day of prayer and penance on Aug. 14 — the Feast of St. Maximilian Kolbe — to make spiritual reparation for the crimes of sexual abuse by priests and bishops.

The bishops called for this national day of prayer at their June meeting in Dallas.

"Today, I unite in solidarity with my brother bishops throughout the U.S. to make reparations for the sexual abuse of children and to obtain the grace of healing for the entire body of Christ," Bishop Loverde said.

He said the bishops, at their Dallas meeting, recognized the indispensable role of prayer and penance. "Today’s observance is a tangible sign of that commitment."

The bishop, in his opening remarks at the Cathedral of St. Thomas More, said he wanted to make it clear "that today is a day of prayer and penance for the bishops of the United States." He thanked those in attendance for their continued prayer and support.

Concelebrating the Mass with Bishop Loverde were Oblate Father Mark S. Mealey, episcopal vicar for pastoral services and moderator of the curia, and Father Matthew Zuberbueler, parochial vicar at St. Thomas More. Deacon Samuel Taub assisted.

Bishop Loverde said the entire Christian life is summed up in the Gospel sentence, "There is no greater love than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends." This simple declaration by Jesus is how priests and bishops are intended to live, he said.

The bishop quoted Bishop Wilton Gregory, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, who said prayer and penance is not the obligation of the Church at large, but rather of the bishops. "It is we who need to confess," the bishop said. "So we do."

Bishop Loverde said the actions of a bishop are not personal or private, but affect the entire body of the Church.

"St. Maximilian Kolbe chose love over hatred. He gave his life so another would be saved. We bishops must daily employ all our strength, courage and talents to shape our decisions and actions," he said.

In quoting Pope John Paul II, Bishop Loverde said, "So much pain and so much sorrow must lead to a holier priesthood, a holier episcopate, a holier Church."

Bishop Loverde presented the final installment of Theology on Tap on Aug. 13 at Whitlow’s on Wilson Boulevard in Arlington. He traveled to St. John the Evangelist Parish in Warrenton on Aug. 14 for the annual diocesan seminarians’ picnic.

He also celebrated the Respect Life Mass Aug. 17 at St. James Church in Falls Church, which was followed by praying the rosary at a local abortion facility and the semi-annual Respect Life Leadership Conference sponsored by the Office for Family Life. The bishop will celebrate Mass Aug. 26 to open the newly renovated St. William of York School in Stafford.

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