Kansas bishop apologizes to victims of Catholic clergy sexual abuse

A Catholic bishop in Kansas apologized to the Catholic clergy's sexual abuse victims during the "Service of Lament" at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception on Sunday, June 26.

"I am here to confess, apologize and repent for the sins of those who held the sacred trust of the church, and betrayed that trust," Religion News Service quoted Bishop James V. Johnston Jr. as saying.

"As sinful and terrible as this was and is, it is the response of the church that provides a most dire cause for confession," said the bishop. "We at times failed to act, to respond with urgency and integrity. We betrayed your trust. I offer you my deep sorrow and profound regret for what the Catholic people have endured."

Dozens of priests also wore purple robes to symbolize penance during Sunday's Service at the cathedral located in downtown Kansas City where an estimated 450 lay people attended.

Johnston replaced former Bishop Robert Finn after the latter's resignation in April 2015 following charges of sexual abuse that happened in the diocese and his failure to take action against the reported cases. Finn became the first American bishop to be convicted legally and served two years' probation after pleading guilty in 2012.

On June 4, Pope Francis signed a new law that could remove a bishop from office for failure to act on sexual abuse reports as well as empower the Vatican to conduct its own investigations on the bishops, according to National Catholic Reporter.

Aside from the apology which Johnston gave not just to the sexual abuse victims but also to the affected families and innocent priests, the bishop also shared his plan to create a program of specially trained spiritual directors to minister spiritual care. He prayed for healing for the molested children and announced that beginning next year, April 26 will be dedicated for the children as a day of care and protection.

"I was tore up all over again, but I felt it was handled very well," said one survivor in attendance.

"He gets it," the survivor said about Johnston.

However, the survivor said about his Catholic faith, "I got one foot out and one foot in. I'm still holding on with a tiny bit of hope, but my faith has been damaged repeatedly."