Bishops to do public penance for their failings

The Irish bishops, that is, as the February 18 issue of The Irish Catholic reports in a story (click on this post's title) about the scandals of clerical sex abuse and hierarchical complicity.

The article in The Irish Catholic says:

"The Irish bishops will perform an act of penance during Lent, equivalent to putting on 'sackcloth and ashes' to demonstrate their humility and their empathy with victims of clerical child sexual abuse, Cardinal Brady has said.

"Speaking after the 24 Irish bishops' meeting with the Pope and flanked by four bishops, Cardinal Seán Brady told the world's media that a victim told him that he wanted the see the bishops humiliated and this is what is happening.

"He said that the bishops had discussed penitential acts, such as climbing Croagh Patrick or going to Lough Derg but that whatever they do, it will be the equivalent of 'sackcloth and ashes.'

"Bishop Denis Brennan of Ferns said that he knew that victims ''feel disillusioned but that they also want the bishops to hang in there with them...'"

No word on when any of our U.S. bishops will be donning sackcloth and ashes.