In an attempt to atone for homosexuality in the Roman Catholic priesthood, Pope Benedict XVI has called for constant prayer in churches worldwide in what some claim is the largest prayer initiative ever seen.The instruction was sent to bishops in the form of a letter by Cardinal Cláudio Hummes of Brazil, head of the Vatican Congregation for the Clergy.
He told L'Osservatore Romano, that the Pope wanted Catholics to pray "to make amends before God for the evil that has been done and hail once more the dignity of the victims," who had suffered from the "moral and sexual conduct of a very small part of the clergy". He did not indicate how long he saw the adoration continuing.
Cardinal Hummes said a letter had gone to "dioceses, parishes, rectories, chapels, monasteries, convents and seminaries" calling on them to organize groups of adorers of the Blessed Sacrament.
Two years ago the Vatican took a stand to ensure that men with deep-seated homosexual tendencies do not enter seminaries to train for the priesthood.
The effectiveness of the Vatican instruction depends upon the obedience of dioceses and religious orders in implementing the instruction. This, however cannot be assured because of serious dissent from Church moral teachings and discipline within some of those dioceses and orders.
Cardinal Hummes said that the aim was to put a definitive stop to a scandal that had damaged the image of the Church. He said that the scandal was exceptionally serious.
"There have always been problems because we are all sinners," said Hummes. "But in these times some truly very grave deeds have come to light. Obviously one must always keep in mind that only a minimal part of the clergy has been involved in grave situations. Not even 1 percent is involved with problems of moral and sexual conduct."
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