Roman Catholic Bishop Says Scandals Require Repentance
Episcopal News Service. June 23, 1993 [93129P]
Roman Catholic Bishop Raymond Lucker of New Ulm, Minnesota, said that the recent spate of scandals involving sexual misconduct by priests may force bishops to return to their role as servants. In an unusually strong critique of the hierarchy by one of its members, Lucker wrote in his diocesan newspaper, the Prairie Catholic, that church leaders have failed to accept the severity of sexual misconduct. "As a consequence, response from such leaders has looked like covering up, denial. Attempts at damage control have taken the form of manipulation of the press, resulting in lack of concern for families and parish communities," Lucker said. He called for a new era of repentance. "I believe this especially applies to bishops, who for so long have carried the trappings of feudal lords with all of their titles and dress and privileges that go along with it. It seems to me that we are being forced to recognize that we do not have much power, and that is all right."