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The Walk Humbly Podcast – Episode 20

New Q&A Resource, VA Attorney General Investigation, Youth RALLY, All Saints, All Souls and more

October 26, 2018

 

This week's episode of the Walk Humbly Podcast includes:

In this episode, Bishop Burbidge mentions a new Q&A resource that answers many of the questions parishioners have asked over the past several weeks related to allegations of sexual abuse by clergy.

The VA Attorney General announced an investigation into allegations of child sexual abuse by clergy and the handling of these cases by Church leaders. He also unveiled a clergy abuse hotline. Bishop Burbidge shares his thoughts and response to this announcement.

Bishop Burbidge recently visited with high school students at the annual RALLY event. During a listening session, he asked students about the challenges they face as Catholics, among other questions.

All Saints Day is November 1, and All Souls Day is November 2. Bishop Burbidge explains what they symbolize and why they mean so much to him.

Bishop Burbidge also answers these questions from the faithful:

I know that we have Mass in the morning and also at noon on the weekdays. Why doesn't the Church have weekday Mass in the evening? 

Jesus said, "Eat this bread and drink this cup." He was very specific, and Communion is the central part of the Mass. Yet someone at the Church/Vatican has said either "species" is OK. Why?

Bishop Burbidge also answers questions from the faithful. If you are interested in submitting a question, please email info@arlingtondiocese.org and include your first name and parish.

Topics discussed:

  • 00:56 – The VA Attorney General announced an investigation into allegations of child sexual abuse by clergy and the handling of these cases by Church leaders. He also unveiled a clergy abuse hotline. Bishop Burbidge shares his thoughts and response to this announcement.
    • 2:03 – “We pray truth surfaces. We pray it's a process that will bring healing for all victims. As you mentioned, prior to this announcement that the attorney general made we already had announced in our Diocese weeks before that we have outside investigators going through our files at this very moment with the intent of being transparent, publishing a list of deacons or priests who have been accused, credibly accused of sexual abuse, making that list published because, as we all agreed upon, it's that transparency that will allow us to go forward.”
    • 2:42 – “I was very pleased that the attorney general also announced the hotline. He established a hotline, VirginiaClergyHotline.com and encouraged people who have been abused or have knowledge of abuse to call the hotline. You know, especially since the establishment of the Charter of 2002, whenever we made an announcement, we always have included that. Please, please call the law enforcement with any knowledge of abuse, and also so the legal authorities can be notified and our Victim's Assistance Coordinator.”
  • 4:16 – Bishop Burbidge mentions a new Q&A resource that answers many of the questions parishioners have asked over the past several weeks related to allegations of sexual abuse by clergy.
    • 4:53 – “We think this resource will be very helpful, and not just for individuals to have knowledge, but to share the information with them.”
  • 5:53 – Bishop Burbidge talks about listening sessions being held throughout the Diocese.
    • 6:17 – “I think it's also important for us to listen. I think that's a very important part of this process, so I've had listening sessions with our, for example, our priests, our deacons, women religious serving in the Diocese, our seminarians, victims of sexual abuse, both as individuals and support group. Our diocesan counsels, our high school, faculty and students, Catholic Charities staff members and we also are having three listening sessions. We've conducted two of them and we have one more on Monday where I've asked every pastor to invite a finance council chair, pastor of council chair, whoever coordinates safe environment services, plus two parish representatives because those three areas, safe environment, finances, pastor outreach, really reflect where most of the questions are coming from.”
    • 7:16 – “Our hope is that listening to each other, learning, learning from each other, learning some of the information that Diocese could provide that some people were not aware, that these parish leaders would go back to the parish, share that information with parishioners, maybe even, and I encourage our pastors to think about having a similar listening session. Some of our parishes have already done that with their parishioners, but these parish leaders have heard other parishioners from around the Diocese speak, plus had the opportunity to allow me to address certain issues and to provide some content I think is important.”
  • 10:23 – Bishop Burbidge recently visited with high school students at RALLY, where he reversed roles and asked them questions in a listening session.
    • 11:24 – “The Church under our Holy Father, Pope Francis, wants to know how can we better serve our young people. So I thought it was very important to ask them questions like that.”
  • 13:11 – Bishop Burbidge explains what All Saints and All Souls Days symbolize and why they mean so much to him.
  • 16:13 – Bishop Burbidge answers: “I know that we have Mass in the morning and also at noon on the weekdays. Why doesn't the Church have weekday Mass in the evening? 
  • 17:33 – Bishop Burbidge answers: “Jesus said, "Eat this bread and drink this cup." He was very specific, and Communion is the central part of the Mass. Yet someone at the Church/Vatican has said either "species" is OK. Why?”