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Roman Catholics Apologize for Sins

Roman Catholics Apologize for Sins

Associate Press
March 9, 2000
Title: Roman Catholics Apologize for Sins
Author:
Publication: Associate Press
Date: March 9, 2000

Boston (AP) - Roman Catholic leaders around the country are following Pope John Paul II's lead and offering apologies for Catholics' sins against various minority groups, other Christians and alienated members of their own church.

Church leaders in Boston and Santa Fe plan to offer apologies this weekend, and officials in Los Angeles and Denver already have done so.

Their remarks come at the start of Lent, a period of penance, and in the midst of the Jubilee year, during which the church is reflecting on its first 2,000 years.

On Sunday, the pope plans to express regret for the Crusades, the Inquisition and other ''faults of the past.''

He's also expected to allude to anti-Jewish prejudices among some Catholics, and how that may have facilitated Nazi Germany's campaign to eliminate European Jews.

Cardinal Bernard Law of Boston said he was inspired by the pope, and will voice sorrow for Boston Catholics' past and present sins against Jews, blacks, non-Catholics and others in a prayer service Saturday.

''We will be looking back to those moments when, through her members, the church was not faithful to herself, to the message of Christ, and it's good for us ... to name those things,'' Law said.

In Santa Fe, Archbishop Michael Sheehan will lead a service Friday night during which the archdiocese will seek pardon from other Christians, American Indians, and victims of sexual abuse, among others.

In a letter published Thursday, Colorado Archbishop Charles J. Chaput asked Jews to forgive Catholics for a history of wrongs. He also asks forgiveness for ''the ignorance and prejudice which still exist'' against the Jewish people.

Monday, Cardinal Roger Mahony of Los Angeles apologized to groups including homosexuals and members of other faiths.

''We must continue our many efforts at all levels to bring people together in a spirit of mutual respect and cooperation,'' Mahony said.
 



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