Pope Sees "Moment of Hope" for Church in U.S.

But Warns Nation Is Losing a Sense of the Transcendent

VATICAN CITY, APRIL 2, 2004 (Zenit.org).- The purification that the Church in the United States is undergoing in the wake of the clerical sex-abuse scandals constitutes a "moment of hope," says John Paul II.

To a group of visiting bishops from the ecclesial provinces of Atlanta and Miami, the Pope wanted "to reaffirm my confidence in the Church in America" and "my appreciation of the deep faith of America's Catholics and my gratitude for their many contributions to American society and to the life of the Church throughout the world."

"Viewed with the eyes of faith, the present moment of difficulty is also a moment of hope, that hope which does not disappoint, because it is rooted in the Holy Spirit, who constantly raises up new energies, callings and missions within the Body of Christ," the Holy Father said in the address he delivered in English.

-- Bill Nelson (bnelson45-nospam@hotmail.com), April 02, 2004

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-- Bill Nelson (bnelson45-nospam@hotmail.com), April 02, 2004.