"I believe that the only way I can serve the local archdiocese is by telling you the truth," he said several times in a news conference.

"This is obviously a moment fraught with challenges throughout our entire Catholic Church, but nowhere more so than in this local faith community," he said.

Gregory's predecessor, Cardinal Donald Wuerl, resigned in October after a Pennsylvania grand jury report raised questions about his handling of abusive priests in the 1990s while bishop of Pittsburgh.

Wuerl's predecessor in Washington, Theodore McCarrick, was removed from the priesthood after revelations he sexually abused a youngster and sexually harassed seminarians.

"I would be naive not to acknowledge the unique task that awaits us," Gregory said.

He said he is confident in the grace of God and the goodness of the people of the church as aids in facing his new responsibilities.

"I want to come to know you, to hear your stories, to listen to the emotions and experiences and expectations that have shaped your precious Catholic faith, for better or for worse. I want to offer you hope."

The ethnically and socially diverse Washington diocese "is home to the poor and the powerful, neither of which realizes they are both," he said.

Besides offering the faithful hope, Gregory also promised to rebuild their trust.

"I cannot undo the past, but I sincerely believe that together, we will not merely address the moments where we have fallen short or failed outright, but we will model for all the life and teachings of our Lord Jesus Christ, and we will reclaim the future."

He said the archdiocese will move forward, "neither forgetting the past nor being constrained by it."

Speaking of the clerical-hierarchical culture behind the church's current sex abuse crisis, Gregory recalled the words of an older priest who outlined the temptations he would encounter while he was studying in Rome.

The priest told him: 'You will face the temptation for self-aggrandizement, the temptation for pleasure, and the temptation to power. And the most damaging and seductive temptation is that for power,' he said.

"And I think so much of what we're facing now was a misuse of power, an abuse of power, clerical power, power that was intended in too many cases to dominate and destroy lives."

When media asked Gregory whether he would address the misdeeds of his predecessors, he replied:

"It's difficult to come into a situation where there is unrest.

"I've known Donald Wuerl for over 40 years. I know he is a gentleman. He works very hard for the church. He's acknowledged that he's made mistakes. That's a sign of the integrity of the man.

"If I can shed light on what I think we need to do in response to some of the mistakes he's acknowledged and asked forgiveness for, I'll do that. Part of clericalism is circling the wagons so that the episcopacy won't call one another to task. I think this moment has shown the folly of that approach to episcopal governance and episcopal collegiality."

Source

• National Catholic Reporter
• Image: Catholic News Agency

Although he has not mentioned standing down, Cardinal Donald Wuerl has acknowledged calls from local priests and others for new leadership.

Allegations he mishandled clergy sex abuse reports - such as in relation to the alleged sexually coercive behavior of ex-Cardinal Theodore McCarrick - are behind appeals for his resignation.

Writing to the diocese's priests after a spending 90-minutes in prayer and discernment with them last Wednesday, Wuerl said:

"Among the many observations was that the archdiocese would be well served by new leadership to help move beyond the current confusion, disappointment and disunity."

Wuerl's letter also notes that during the period of prayer and discernment, he "heard voices calling for the beginning of healing. This I believe we need to do now."

Wuerl proposed a six-week "Season of Healing" beginning this Friday for prayer and recognition of the suffering of abuse victims.

In addition, he has promised to provide resources for the priests to respond to abuse survivors who may reach out to them.

A one-day healing retreat for abuse victims is also planned, which he says will include prayer and opportunities for professional counselling.

Wuerl, who succeeded ex-Cardinal McCarrick as Archbishop of Washington in 2006, says he had no knowledge of settlements paid to McCarrick's alleged victims, or of any complaints about McCarrick's behaviour.

Last month's release of a Pennsylvania grand jury report on clerical sex abuse of minors heightened public scrutiny of Wuerl.

It alleges that, over seven decades, more than 1,000 children had been abused by priests in six dioceses including Pittsburgh.

It goes on to note concerns about the way Wuerl managed priests who had been accused of sexual assault during his tenure of Bishop of Pittsburgh from 1988 to 2006.

Authorising the transfer and continued ministry of a priest who had been accused of committing acts of sexual abuse decades earlier is one such concern the report point to.

Wuerl denies knowing of the allegations when he authorised the transfer.

"While I understand this Report may be critical of some of my actions, I believe the Report confirms that I acted with diligence, with concern for the victims and to prevent future acts of abuse," he wrote.

While he was Bishop of Pittsburgh, Wuerl says he:

• Established a diocesan committee in 1989 (later called the Diocesan Review Board) to evaluate policies for responding to abuse allegations
• Implemented a policy formally encouraging Catholics making complaints to also report them directly to law enforcement agencies
• Sometimes informed civil authorities himself, even against the express wishes of the person making the allegations.

Source

• Crux Now
• The Washington Post
• Image: Last Commentary

The Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, DC took 100 years from the first turn of the spade until the dome was complete.

After the Crypt Church was finished in 1931, construction on the Upper Church began. This halted during the Great Depression and World War II.

Work resumed in 1945 and the Church's structure was signed off in 1959.

The "jewel in the crown", the 24-ton Venetian glass "Trinity Dome", was officially finished last Friday to coincide with the Feast of the Immaculate Conception.

The dome is one of the largest mosaic installations of its kind in the world and is made from over 14 million pieces of glass.

It depicts the Holy Trinity, the Virgin Mary, a procession of saints and angels, the four evangelists and the Nicene Creed.

The dome also includes stained-glass windows dedicated to the many donors from all over the country who helped contribute to its construction.

Besides money, some donated jewelery and others gave precious stones.

Numerous clergy, including five cardinals, 23 bishops and around 90 priests joined four thousand people to witness the dome's dedication.

Cardinal Donald W. Wuerl celebrated the two-hour dedication Mass.

The basilica is a "modern-day masterpiece," Wuerl told the congregation.

Faith was the reason so many people, for so many years, made sacrifices to finish the church, he explained.

"This magnificent tribute in stone, glass, marble mosaic to Mary, Mother of Jesus, Mother of God and our Mother, invites all of us to recognize not only the special role of Mary in our life but the unique glory that is hers in her Immaculate Conception," Wuerl said in his homily.

He pointed to the new dome's many pieces coming together as one piece of art, drawing upon its reflection of the unity within the universal Church as well the many different cultures that have come together in the United States.

"Just as there are chapels throughout this Basilica reflecting national heritages, ethnic backgrounds, all proclaiming in unison ‘Hail Mary,' so, too, do we look across this great Church of God and see out of so many one great faith family," he said.

Source

• Catholic News Agency
• 10 News
• Image: visitmontgomery.com