Cardinal Joseph Tobin has prepared a special video message to the people of the Archdiocese of Newark to provide both perspective on the recent revelations this Spring and Summer about Archbishop McCarrick and events such as the Pennsylvania grand jury report, and to speak of steps that are now underway in response to the news and the needs of the people of this local Church.
The message appears in both English and Spanish on the Archdiocese of Newark website –
https://www.rcan.org/sites/default/files/files/Cardinal%209_6_18%20%20edited.mp4 ENGLISH
https://www.rcan.org/sites/default/files/files/Cardinal%20Spanish.mp4 SPANISH
Through this special message, the Cardinal also calls the people of the Archdiocese to join in a day of prayer, fasting and abstinence on Friday, September 14th, 2018, the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. The day will culminate in a special prayer service in the Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart beginning at 7:30 p.m., under the theme "Behold the Wood of the Cross -- a Service of Prayer, Recognition and Hope".
All people of this local Church of Newark are invited to attend this service.
The Cardinal shares a special message for the priests of the Archdiocese in this video: “The vast majority of priests, as well as all the lay members of the Church, are innocent of the obscene crimes that are now on full display. Still, on that day we will show our sorrow for what has happened and our solidarity with survivors of abuse, as well as our unshakeable intention never to return our Church to ‘business as usual.’ I expect all the priests to join me in the Cathedral that evening to beg God’s forgiveness and the forgiveness of those who have been abused.”
We urge you to visit the website, view the Cardinal’s critical message, and encourage all in your parish, school and local communities – and all people, whether Catholic or not – to view it as well. Please use all ways possible to inform people about this special and important message – bulletins, pulpit announcements, phone lists, links to your own parish, school or community websites and social media.
Please also share this message with all priests, deacons, Religious and lay staff in your parish, school, community or location.
