Over the past few months I’ve turned my regular column space over to young adults on a number of occasions.  They’ve used this space to offer their views on the 2018 synod of bishops focusing on youth.  That synod begins this week in Rome, on Wednesday, October 3.  Below is a letter I received on September 30 from India.

Archbishop Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. Cap. has asked that all parishes in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia consider taking up a one-time, special collection on the weekend of their choosing, September 29-30 or October 6-7, to support continued relief efforts in the wake of Hurricane Florence.

I want to underline our commitment to helping abuse survivors, whether their claims are time-barred or not.

Since the release of the grand jury report on August 14, we the Catholic bishops of Pennsylvania have reflected deeply on the ugly record of clergy sexual abuse in our Commonwealth, and on times when Church leadership failed to protect our people over a period of decades.