Inside A Promise Photo by Mary Ann Wyand MaryPhoto by Ann to Keep Colts player and wife encourage teenagers to make the right choices in Criterion life, page 3. Serving the Church in Central and Souther n Indiana Since 1960 CriterionOnline.com April 23, 2010 Vol. L, No. 28 75¢ Pope meets Celebrating a wonderful life abuse victims, expresses shame and sorrow for Photo by John Shaughnessy Photo by their suffering VALLETTA, Malta (CNS)— Pope Benedict XVI met with eight victims of priestly sex abuse in Malta, and promised them the Church would do “all in its power” to bring offenders to justice and protect children. The pope was “deeply moved by their stories, and expressed his shame Pope Benedict XVI and sorrow over what victims and their families have suffered,” a Vatican statement said after the private encounter on April 18. “He prayed with them and assured them that the Church is doing, and will continue to do, all in its power to investigate allegations, to bring to justice those responsible for ab use, and to implement effective measures designed to safeguard young people in the future,” the statement said. “In the spirit of his recent letter to the Catholics of Ireland, he prayed that all the victims of abuse would experience healing Students at St. Roch School in Indianapolis rejoice with Father James Wilmoth following a school-wide tribute on April 8 that celebrated their and reconciliation, enabling them to move pastor. The school celebration recognized Father Wilmoth’s selection as one of the 10 priests from across the United States who recently received the forward with renewed hope,” it said. Distinguished Pastor Award from the National Catholic Educational Association. The meeting at the apostolic nunciature in Rabat came after a group of victims had asked to meet with the pope to tell him of Father James Wilmoth honored for his their ordeal and ask for an apology. The encounter was not part of the pope’s official ministry and commitment to Catholic schools itinerary, and was only announced publicly by the Vatican after it had happened. By John Shaughnessy their favorite Bible story during the story of the multiplication of the loa ves Participants said the victims cried as the y school Mass. and the fishes.” told their stories, and that the pope had tears His smile bursts into a laugh, and Ready for her turn, the little girl The joy continues to beam on in his eyes as he listened. there’s a definite bounce in his step as walked to the front of the church, sat ne xt the pastor’s face as he enters the church “We now have peace in our Father James Wilmoth passes the swings to Father Wilmoth, and began weaving to prepare for another school Mass hearts, even because the pope found time on the playground at St. Roch School in the wonderful tale of Jesus and the little with the children. After all, in his to meet us. We now look forward to the Indianapolis, crosses the parking lot and boy with the lunchbox. 45 years in the priesthood, the end of the court case, and closure of this heads toward the church—all the time “She talked about how the little boy 70-year-old Father Wilmoth doesn’t chapter,” one unidentified victim told the sharing the story about “Jesus and the just had a few fish in his lunchbox,” hesitate when he’s asked about his Times of Malta. little boy with the lunchbox.” Father Wilmoth says, his eyes glowing favorite part of being a priest. The Vatican spokesman, Jesuit Father The story comes from one of with joy. “And she went on and on, and “It’s celebrating Mass with the kids,” Federico Lombardi, told journalists that the those “out-of-the-mouth-of-babes” everybody is following her every word. he answers. “They sing. I engage them in private meeting in the chapel of the moments, a moment that occurred during She told us how Jesus fed everybody the homily. It’s a wonderful opportunity nunciature lasted about 20 minutes. He said Father Wilmoth’s Holy Week tradition of lunch from the fish that were in the boy’s to bring the faith to them.” the pope, Archbishop Paul Cremona of having one child from each grade share lunchbox. It was her way of telling the See WILMOTH, page 16 Malta, Bishop Mario Grech of Gozo and See POPE, page 8 Pope marks fifth anniversary, joining cardinals for lunch VATICAN CITY (CNS)— Pope Benedict XVI Pope Benedict XVI marked the cuts a cake fifth anniversary of his election with a presented to him by crew and staff from formal luncheon with 46 cardinals in Rome, Romano L’Osservatore thanking God and the cardinals for their Air Malta on his return flight to Rome help in carrying out his ministry. CNS photo/ “After five years, I can only say thank on April 18 after a you, thank you especially to the Lord two-day visit to himself, who Malta. The crew See related story, guides me, but was honoring the pope for the page 9. also to all of you,” he said at the end fifth anniversary of of the luncheon his election. German on April 19 in the frescoed Sala Ducale of Cardinal Joseph the Apostolic Palace. Ratzinger was The Vatican did not publish the entire elected the text of the pope’s remarks. 265th pope on The remarks were brief, off-the-cuff and April 19, 2005, “everyone has a right to some moments of taking the name privacy in life, even the pope,” Jesuit Father Benedict XVI. Federico Lombardi, Vatican spokesman, told Catholic News Service. See ANNIVERSARY, page 3 Page 2 The Criterion Friday, April 23, 2010 Archbishop Borders, retired archbishop and Indiana native, dies BALTIMORE (CNS)—Archbishop William D. Borders, oxygen tent. day and would always talk to people there.” who retired in 1989 as the 13th archbishop of Baltimore, “It caused me to be realistic as f ar as what I had to do The third of seven children, Archbishop Borders was died on April 19 at Mercy Ridge and what I didn’t have to do,” Archbishop Borders said. born at his parents’ home in Indiana during a flood that Retirement Community in the “You have to recognize limitations. If you don’ t, it’s going lifted the family’s house from its foundation. Baltimore suburb of Timonium. to catch up to you in an y walk of life.” He began his studies for the priesthood in 1932 in A native of Washington, Ind., he In appointing leaders, Archbishop Borders followed a Indiana, but transferred to New Orleans’ Notre Dame was 96 and had been battling colon groundbreaking path. He reached out to w omen and Seminary in 1936. He was ordained to the priesthood in cancer. He was the fourth-oldest African-Americans in a special way—naming them to 1940 and served as an associate pastor in Baton Rouge. living Catholic bishop in the key posts. In 1943, two years after Japan bombed Pearl Harbor, United States at the time of his death. The archbishop’s concern for racial equality stretched Archbishop Borders enlisted in the U.S. Army Chaplain Renowned for his commitment to back to the earliest years of his priesthood. When he Corps and served with the 91st Infantry in North Africa collegiality, social justice and a became pastor of Holy Family Parish in Port Allen, La., in and Italy. He was awarded an honorable discharge in pastoral approach to leadership, 1957, he struggled with how to desegregate his parish. 1946, with the rank of major, and a Bronze Star for Valor Archbishop Archbishop Borders led the “There was a section roped off for black people,” for carrying a wounded soldier to safety while under f ire. William D. Borders archdiocese from 1974 to 1989. He Archbishop Borders remembered in a 1989 interview for a Seeing men die in battle shaped Archbishop Borders’ continued to reside in Baltimore tribute magazine at his retirement. Worried about how he humble, collaborative approach to leadership, according throughout his retirement, maintaining an active priestly was going to get rid of the ropes “without causing a riot, ” to Father Richard T. Lawrence. ministry well into the last year of his life. the archbishop “prayed some.” “He had all the fear drained out of him in the f irst few “Archbishop Borders was a man of deep faith, great “Then I bought a can of coal oil, took of f the ropes years of his priesthood,” said Father Lawrence, pastor of humility and great love for God, the Church and this and quietly burned them,” he said. Within six months, Baltimore’s St. Vincent de Paul Parish, adding that the archdiocese,” said Archbishop Edwin F. O’Brien, the current African-American parishioners gradually integrated archbishop exhibited pure courage on the battlefield and archbishop of Baltimore. “As a result, he was universally throughout the Church. that was how he ministered as well. loved by the people of this local Church, by his brother Throughout his priesthood, Archbishop Borders was After the war, Archbishop Borders was assigned as the bishops and priests, and by all who were blessed to call him concerned with issues of social justice. He met with union associate pastor at Our Lady of Prompt Succor in Archbishop, Father, teacher, brother and friend.” leaders and civil rights activists such as Cesar Chavez. Westwago, La. He earned a master’s degree in education His funeral Mass was scheduled for 1 p.m.