Bishop Rhoades designates Day of Prayer; community participates
SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- As details of the sex abuse scandal in the Catholic Church continue to become clear, the impact of the abuse has made an impact world wide and right here in Michiana.
Bishop Rhoades has designated Friday October 5th, the Diocesan Day of Prayer and Penance as a way to help victims heal.
This day comes after the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend released a list of names of priests and deacons who were credibly accused of sexual abuse with a minor.
17 priests and one deacon were on that list that was released last month.
The University of Notre Dame and a local radio station are participating in the Day of Prayer in different ways to stand together with abuse survivors.
Redeemer Radio, a lay-led Catholic radio network heard locally on 95.7 FM will not be airing their regular programming.
Cindy Black, Executive Director explained why the station needed to change programming.
“We need to be a part of the light because there has been so much darkness. People have suffered at the hands of clergy and even bishops in the church, and as the lay-faithful this is something that we can do and should do,” Black said.
Black said that the content of the national programming they normally carry may take away from the spirit of the day.
So, from 8 in the morning to 6 in the evening, the station will air prayers of healing for all victims of clergy abuse, for zero-tolerance reforms and improved transparency.
“This is a way that we can offer a service of love to them and a sense of remorse and regret from what they have suffered from other members of our church; and, hopefully basically journey with them on the path of healing,” explained Black.
Notre Dame invites the community to take part in activities for the day of prayer.
This includes involvement from noon to 5 p.m. Eucharistic Adoration in the Basilica of the Sacred Heart and listening from 3 to 3:15 p.m. as the Basilica bells ring for victims.