Bishop Knestout Statement on Pope Francis’ Apostolic Letter
5/10/19May 10, 2019 I welcome Pope Francis’ recent apostolic letter “Vos estis lux mundi,” issued Motu proprio, regarding the crime of sexual abuse. It further expresses his firm commitment to protecting children, young adults and the vulnerable from being sexually abused by church personnel, and it reiterates his expectation that care for victims and their families…
Bishop Barry C. Knestout Statement on the Announcement of Archbishop Wilton D. Gregory to the Archdiocese of Washington
4/4/19For Immediate Release: April 4, 2019 “I congratulate and assure Archbishop Wilton D. Gregory of my prayers as he becomes Archbishop of Washington. Archbishop Gregory has exemplified the role of bishop as a shepherd in the Diocese of Belleville, Ill., and Archdiocese of Atlanta. As president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops from 2001-2004,…
Virginia Bishops’ Statement on U.S. Senate’s Failure to Pass the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act
2/26/19The following is a Virginia Catholic Conference (VCC) statement regarding the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act. February 25, 2019 We are deeply dismayed and astounded that the U.S. Senate has failed to pass the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act (S. 311). It is a matter of common sense and basic human decency to require, as…
Statement from Bishop Knestout Regarding Holy See Judgement on Theodore McCarrick
2/17/19For Immediate Release: February 17, 2019 “The Holy See’s announcement, Saturday, Feb. 16, 2019, is a clear indicator that sexual abuse against a child or adult by those even at the highest level in the Church is intolerable. I pray this action by the Holy Father is one step to help victims of abuse move…
Statement from Bishop Knestout Regarding Recent and Extreme Abortion Legislation in Virginia
1/31/19For Immediate Release: January 31, 2019 Horrific. Outrageous. Vicious. Those words were in my heart as I heard about the proposed legislation that would enable expanding the brutal practice of abortion. There is no place in a civil society for this sort of thought and action. Equally disheartening and reprehensible are the comments made by…
Bishop Barry C. Knestout Statement Following the Close of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops Public Sessions at the 2018 Fall General Assembly in Baltimore
11/19/18For Immediate Release: November 19, 2018 “The Church has no greater charge than the protection of children. I am hopeful that, despite our not acting upon specific measures related to the abuse scandal, the discussions which took place during the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops about bishops’ accountability regarding clergy sexual abuse will be the…
Bishop Knestout’s Statement Regarding Pope Francis Acceptance of Cardinal Wuerl’s Resignation
10/12/18October 12, 2018 “Today, Pope Francis accepted the resignation of Cardinal Donald Wuerl as archbishop of Washington. Having assisted Cardinal Wuerl for nearly a decade with the many events of the Archdiocese, including coordinating the Archdiocesan Synod and 75th Anniversary celebration, implementing programs for the New Evangelization, and as co-chair of the committees to coordinate…
Mass of Atonement for Victims of Abuse
8/15/18Bishop Knestout will celebrate nine regional Masses of Atonement with the faithful. The Masses begin at 7:30 P.M. at the locations and times provided below except where otherwise noted. All are welcome. Christ the King, Abingdon–Thursday, October 4 Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Salem–Friday, October 5 Resurrection, Moneta–Saturday, October 6 ** Church of the Redeemer,…
Bishop Barry C. Knestout Statement on Charlottesville: A Year Later
8/9/18A year following the violence that took place in Charlottesville as a result of protests and counter-protests, the Most Rev. Barry C. Knestout offers the following statement: “As we draw closer to the weekend and the one-year mark of Aug. 12th which will once again draw national and local attention, I pray that it will…