Church Social Action Ministry Faces Credibility Crisis: Sex Scandals Taint Efforts. (News Analysis)

Feuerherd, Joe, National Catholic Reporter

The 500-plus social ministry workers who descended on Washington Feb. 9-12 came to advocate for programs under budgetary assault and to voice opposition to a war many see as inevitable. But first, they had to deal with the elephant in the middle of the hotel ballroom: the clerical sexual abuse scandal.

Bishop Wilton Gregory, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, set the tone at the opening liturgy: "Some may see the voice of bishops as perhaps diminished or compromised, but Our voice and the voice of the entire Catholic community is needed more than ever."

"We all hear rumors," said former Kentucky Catholic Conference director Jane Chiles. "I hear …

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Publication information: Article title: Church Social Action Ministry Faces Credibility Crisis: Sex Scandals Taint Efforts. (News Analysis). Contributors: Feuerherd, Joe - Author. Magazine title: National Catholic Reporter. Volume: 39. Issue: 16 Publication date: February 21, 2003. Page number: 5. © 2009 National Catholic Reporter. COPYRIGHT 2003 Gale Group.

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