‘MUNI FRANCIS’:
GRIEF:
PASSION:
Artist pictures busriding people’s pope in namesake’s patron city
A homicide victim’s mother’s long grieving and vigil for justice
St. Thomas More performs outdoor Stations of the Cross
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CATHOLIC SAN FRANCISCO Newspaper of the Archdiocese of San Francisco
www.catholic-sf.org
SERVING SAN FRANCISCO, MARIN & SAN MATEO COUNTIES
$1.00 | VOL. 15 NO. 11
APRIL 12, 2013
Pope: Act ‘decisively’ on abuse CAROL GLATZ CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE
(PHOTO BY DENNIS CALLAHAN/CATHOLIC SAN FRANCISCO)
‘May the light of Christ dispel the darkness’ The Easter vigil, the most solemn Vigil in the church year, begins with the service of light: A fire is prepared to signify that the risen Christ is the light of the world. The paschal candle is lit from the fire and the flame passed to members of the congregation. During the vigil March 30 at St. Mary’s Cathedral, the fire was prepared by, from left, sacristans Antonios Stefanos and Arturo Macias and volunteer Ed LeClair.
Young adults ask local church for more welcome, interest Archdiocesan young adult task force to present ideas this summer VALERIE SCHMALZ CATHOLIC SAN FRANCISCO
Many Catholic young adults say they feel isolated and uncared for by the church in the Archdiocese of San Francisco – at a time in their lives when they are navigating the challenges of the mobile and cosmopolitan Bay Area. Some faithful Catholic young adults started attending Protestant
churches in downtown San Francisco, says St. Agnes parishioner Joe Cussen, 29, “just because they felt welcomed. They feel if they miss a service, they’re missed by the congregants and by the pastor.” “The two things I hear repeatedly is they want to feel welcomed and accepted and they want help discerning their mission and purpose in life,” said Laura Martin-Spencer, director of adult faith formation
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and youth minister at St. Pius Parish in Redwood City. Many are asking, “How do I know what God wants from me?” she said. The archdiocese is taking action, with a young adult task force scheduled to present recommendations in early summer and a new young adult council expected to take a larger role in archdiocesan life, SEE YOUNG ADULTS, PAGE 22
VATICAN CITY – Pope Francis reaffirmed the importance of responding decisively to the problem of the sexual abuse of minors by members of the clergy and called on the Vatican office dealing with suspected cases to continue carrying out its mandate. During an April 5 meeting with Archbishop Gerhard L. Muller, prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, the pope discussed the office’s various responsibilities. However, he made a particular point of highlighting its work to counter clerical sexual abuse, telling Archbishop Muller he wanted the congregation to continue with the policies of retired Pope Benedict XVI wanted and “to act decisively concerning cases of sexual abuse,” the Vatican said in a written statement released after the meeting. The pope, the statement said, asked the congregation to continue: “promoting measures that protect minors, above all; help for those who have suffered such violence in the past; necessary procedures against those found guilty; (and) the commitment of bishops’ conferences in formulating and implementing the necessary directives in this is area that is so important for the church’s witness and credibility.” The pope also assured victims that SEE ABUSE, PAGE 22
CONVERSION: How a skeptic came to see the light and grace in church’s contraception teaching
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INDEX On the Street . . . . . . . . .4 National . . . . . . . . . . . . .8 World . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Opinion. . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Faith. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Calendar. . . . . . . . . . . 28