4 Things To Know About Catholic Sex Abuse Scandals, PA Grand Jury Report

By Brandon Showalter, Opinion writer and social commentator Thursday, August 16, 2018

2. Some Are Calling for Cardinal Wuerl to Resign, Lay Catholics Furious

Prominent and other famous Catholics are already calling Cardinal Donald Wuerl, Archbishop of Washington D.C., to resign. Wuerl was once the bishop of Pittsburgh and is named unfavorably in the grand jury report many times. As of Wednesday, Wuerl is maintaining that he has done nothing wrong.

"While I understand this report may be critical of some of my actions, I believe the report confirms that I acted with diligence, with concern for the victims and to prevent future acts of abuse. I sincerely hope that a just assessment of my actions, past and present, and my continuing commitment to the protection of children will dispel any notions otherwise made by this report," the cardinal said in a statement Tuesday.

Actress Patricia Heaton, a Catholic, was outraged, tweeting that Pope Francis should remove Wuerl.

"The PA report is disgusting and stomach-churning. And mentioned more than 200 times is @Cardinal_Wuerl, who currently resides in his luxury DC penthouse. He is @Pontifex's man in Washington, and only @Pontifex can get rid of him. Get to work, Francis," she said.

The Washington Examiner's Tim Carney attended Mass Wednesday — on the Catholic Feast Day of the Assumption of Mary — over which Wuerl presided.

"He gave a statement at the beginning about the 'stories' we may have heard. It was handwaving and diversionary. Shameful," he tweeted, disgusted.

When asked by commenters why he did not walk out, Carney responded that he was obligated to attend mass today but after the service walked up a local TV reporter who was waiting outside the church and called for Wuerl's resignation.