Denver Catholic

5 DENVER CATHOLIC | MARCH 9-22, 2019 Seeking a Path Forward Exploring the most substantial issues Christians grapple with today as wrien in the book The Life of Luigi Giussani. MEET AUTHOR ALBERTO SAVORANA JOHN ALLEN Editor, Crux JD FLYNN Editor-in-chief Catholic News Agency March 13 at 7:00 pm University of Denver, Strum Hall Davis Auditorium, Rm. #248 2000 E. Asbury Ave. Denver CO 80210 OPEN TO THE PUBLIC & FREE OF CHARGE & Santa Clara University. High-tech ingenuity and pioneering vision. Enduring Jesuit values and social consciousness. And a solid grounding in ethics. With your support, we will achieve our $1 billion fundraising goal to advance our treasured University. Help us inspire the next generation of leaders innovation with a mission. Visit campaign.scu.edu to get started. and journalistic practices that often exploit, for various interests, the very tragedy experienced by the little ones," he continued. The pope said that, "the brutality of this worldwide phenomenon becomes all the more grave and scandalous in the Church, for it is utterly incompatible with her moral authority and ethical credibility." Twice in his speech, the pope high- lighted "the scourge of pornography" and its influence on violence against minors. We need to "encourage countries and authorities to apply every mea- sure needed to contain those websites that threaten human dignity," Pope Francis said, adding that the Church should consider raising the age limit of the crime, specified by Pope Bene- dict XVI in 2010 of "the acquisition, possession or distribution by a cleric of pornographic images of minors" to above its current limit of 14 years old. "I would like to stress the important need to turn this evil into an opportu- nity for purification," Pope Francis said, thanking priests and faithful Catholics who have silently and faithfully lived out their vows of celibacy. "The best results and the most ežec- tive resolution that we can ožer to the victims, to the people of Holy Mother Church and to the entire world, are the commitment to personal and collective conversion, the humility of learning, listening, assisting and protecting the most vulnerable," he said. "In people's justified anger, the Church sees the reflection of the wrath of God, betrayed and insulted by these deceitful consecrated persons. The echo of the silent cry of the little ones who, instead of finding in them fathers and spiritual guides, encountered tor- mentors, will shake hearts dulled by hypocrisy and by power. It is our duty to pay close heed to this silent, choked cry," Pope Francis said. The pope made "a heartfelt appeal for an all-out battle against the abuse of minors both sexually and in other areas, on the part of all authorities and individuals, for we are dealing with abominable crimes that must be erased from the face of the earth." Later in his Angelus address, Pope Francis reflected on the Gospel's emphasis on mercy and loving one's enemy. He stressed that "if our hearts are open to mercy … we proclaim before the world that it is possible to overcome evil with good." The best results and the most e•ective resolution that we can o•er to the victims, to the people of Holy Mother Church and to the entire world, are the commitment to personal and collective conversion, the humility of learning, listening, assisting and protecting the most vulnerable." POPE FRANCIS " TO LEARN MORE ABOUT HOW THE ARCHDIOCESE OF DENVER IS BATTLING AGAINST SEXUAL ABUSE, VISIT: archden.org/promise i

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