The Springfield, Massachusetts, Catholic Diocese is holding special prayer services in Springfield and Pittsfield this Sunday. The church says it wants to show solidarity with clergy sex abuse victims.
Springfield Bishop Mitchell Rozanski said the services are intended to acknowledge the anger surrounding clergy sex abuse, but also to ask for repentance and forgiveness.
On WGBY's "Connecting Point," Rozanski was asked what his message is to Catholics who are struggling with their faith because of abuse by priests.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ERO3SNbNXRI
"I, myself, struggle with faith," Rozanski said. "I'm not immune from those struggles, and this clergy sexual abuse has made me question — what about my 35 years of priesthood?"
So what keeps Rozanski going?
"The church is my family, and we never abandon family in the midst of struggles," he said.
The Springfield Diocese announced this winter it had paid out $15 million on almost 150 abuse claims since 1992.
The Hampden district attorney's office said the number of abuse claims reported by the church didn't match what had been sent to them.
The DA established a clergy sexual abuse hotline for victims to report incidents.
