Francis reaches out to ‘indifferent’ Catholics
VATICAN CITY – Pope Francis offered another gesture to Catholics who are estranged from the church, saying this week he respects them but God is waiting for them.
He made the comments after he celebrated Epiphany, a major Catholic feast day recalling the visit to the infant Jesus Christ by three kings.
“I would like to tell all those who feel far from God and the church – and I say this respectfully to those who are afraid or indifferent: The Lord calls you and wants you to be part of his people and does so with great respect and love!” he said.
“The Lord doesn’t proselytize; he gives love, and this love looks for you, waits for you – for you who don’t believe or have drifted away,” he said. “This is the love of God.”
Francis has made a priority of reaching out to atheists and Catholics marginalized by their church, particularly gays. He has tasked priests, bishops and cardinals with going out to preach on the margins of society and not wait for the faithful to come back to the church.
Freed monsignor restricted to rectory
PHILADELPHIA – A judge in Philadelphia has told a Roman Catholic church official convicted in a sex-abuse scandal that she already has signed an arrest warrant she would issue if he violates the term of his release.
Monsignor William Lynn’s conviction was overturned last week, and he was released from prison Jan. 3 after serving 18 months of a three- to six-year prison term for felony child endangerment.
Lynn was the first U.S. church official ever convicted in the handling of abuse complaints. But a state appeals court ruled Dec. 26 the state’s child-endangerment law in the late 1990s did not apply to supervisors such as Lynn.
His attorney, Thomas Bergstrom, says he is restricted to the two floors of a rectory at St. William Parish in northeast Philadelphia. Lynn has to get permission to leave for appointments with his doctor, lawyer or to attend to anything else. There is no school at the parish.
His diocese put up bail money for Lynn, which has drawn criticism.
Associated Press
