08/17/2018 06:00pm

To all St. Mark Parishioners from your Pastor:

As many of you have no doubt heard, the Church is once again facing the revelation of the grave evil of sexual abuse by priests, bishops and cardinals. This note is merely to tell you that I am not ignoring this tragedy but I am taking time to pray about my response to it as your pastor. Bishop Sheridan has written a very strong article about it which will appear in the next Colorado Catholic Herald.

I want to assure you that I share your frustration, pain and confusion at how this can continue to happen, even if the vast majority of them happened years or even decades ago. The word that keeps coming to my mind is “livid.” That is how I feel about those who are supposed to be shepherds but who are in reality, wolves. Please pray for all those who have been hurt by these sinful actions. Please pray for me and all faithful priests who are in the eye of these storms and who have given our lives to bringing souls to Christ. And finally, please pray for those priests, bishops and cardinals who have betrayed Christ’s mandate for them to be holy and configured to Christ. Their souls are in danger and they MUST repent.

In Christ through Mary,

Fr. Greg Bierbaum
Pastor
St. Mark Catholic Church
Highlands Ranch, CO
Director, Respect Life Apostolate
Diocese of Colorado Springs

To all St. Mark Parishioners from your Pastor:

As many of you have no doubt heard, the Church is once again facing the revelation of the grave evil of sexual abuse by priests, bishops and cardinals. This note is merely to tell you that I am not ignoring this tragedy but I am taking time to pray about my response to it as your pastor. Bishop Sheridan has written a very strong article about it which will appear in the next Colorado Catholic Herald.

I want to assure you that I share your frustration, pain and confusion at how this can continue to happen, even if the vast majority of them happened years or even decades ago. The word that keeps coming to my mind is “livid.” That is how I feel about those who are supposed to be shepherds but who are in reality, wolves. Please pray for all those who have been hurt by these sinful actions. Please pray for me and all faithful priests who are in the eye of these storms and who have given our lives to bringing souls to Christ. And finally, please pray for those priests, bishops and cardinals who have betrayed Christ’s mandate for them to be holy and configured to Christ. Their souls are in danger and they MUST repent.

In Christ through Mary,

Fr. Greg Bierbaum
Pastor
St. Mark Catholic Church
Highlands Ranch, CO
Director, Respect Life Apostolate
Diocese of Colorado Springs