Carol A. Kuhnert

Excitement is building among Catholics in anticipation of Pope Francis’ visit to the U.S. in Pennsylvania this month.  Among other things, he’ll be visiting President Obama at the White House, addressing a joint session of the U.S. Congress, addressing the U.N. General Assembly, holding an interfaith service at the 9/11 Memorial and Museum, saying a Mass for church leaders at the Cathedral in Philadelphia, attending the World Meeting of Families, visiting Philadelphia’s largest prison and saying a Mass, open to everyone, on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway.

I would like to see Pope Francis straight on condemning and giving the boot to all the bishops who have continually hidden predator clergy and their sexual-abuse crimes against innocent children and vulnerable adults.  Make it perfectly clear why they were fired instead of scandalously allowing them to simply resign and then be given a promotion in Rome.  With such action by the Pope, the Roman Catholic Church may begin to earn back its members’ reverence and trust.

It would be a true breath of fresh air to see Pope Francis actually do what is needed to make the Catholic Church safe for children and the vulnerable.  To really bring about needed change, he must bite the bullet and reveal all clergy who perpetrate or hide scandalous sexual-abuse crimes! 

I can hope and pray.