October 30, 2020 Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston Vol. 51, No. 30 November is the Month of the Holy Souls and of the Faithful Departed Colleen Rowan Photo A memorial to the Sisters of St. Joseph, a statue of the Sacred Heart, stands amid the many headstones at the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston’s Mount Calvary Cem- etery in Wheeling. November is the Month of the Holy Souls and of the Faithful Departed. It is a time to visit the graves of loved ones, pray for them, and pray for the souls in purgatory. All Saints Day, a holy day of obligation, is Sunday, Nov. 1. All Souls Day, a day to honor the dead, is Nov. 2. See Page 2 of this issue for a story on the Vatican extending time to obtain full indulgences for souls in purgatory. A Letter from Bishop Brennan, National Vocations Awareness Week, Nov. 1-7, Inside: Page 3 Pages 8-9 2 The Catholic Spirit October 30, 2020 To Report Suspected Cases of Sexual Abuse of Children Vatican Extends Time to To Report Suspected Cases of Sexual Abuse of Children: The Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston encourages reporting to civil au- thorities first and foremost if a crime has been committed. We also en- Obtain Full Indulgences courage utilizing www.reportbishopabuse.org to make a report about any bishop in the U.S. If you have reason to believe that a bishop has engaged in sexual misconduct or has interfered with an investigation for Souls in Purgatory into sexual misconduct, please contact civil authorities in the applica- ble jurisdiction and visit www.reportbishopabuse.org. By Carol Glatz Catholic, News week of November. To Report to Civil Authorities: Contact your local law enforce- Service The full indulgence traditionally of- ment; numbers will vary based on your location. If you believe some- VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Plenary fered Nov. 2 for those who visit a church one is in immediate danger, call 911. To confidentially report any in- or full indulgences traditionally ob- or an oratory and recite the Our Father cidence of suspected child abuse or neglect, including sexual abuse, tained during the first week of No- and the Creed can also be gained any contact the West Virginia Bureau for Children and Families’ Child Pro- vember for the souls of the faithful in day in November, he added. tective Services by calling the Child Abuse Hotline at 800.352.6513. purgatory can now be gained through- Those who cannot leave their You may report anonymously to this hotline if you prefer. out the entire month of November, the homes or residence for “serious rea- To Report to Diocesan Authorities: The diocese encourages re- Vatican said. sons,” which includes government re- porting to the appropriate civil authorities first and foremost if a crime Also, those who are ill or home- strictions during a pandemic, he said, has been committed. The diocese also encourages reporting to the ap- bound and would not be able to phys- also can receive a plenary indulgence propriate church authorities. To report suspected cases of sexual abuse ically visit a church or cemetery in the after reciting specific prayers for the de- of children by personnel of the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston to the prescribed timeframe still will be able to ceased or reflecting on a Gospel reading Diocese, contact one of the following designees at 1.888.434.6237 or receive a plenary indulgence when designated for Masses of the dead be- 304.233.0880: Sr. Ellen Dunn, O.P., ext. 264; Mr. Bryan Minor, ext. 263; meeting certain conditions, the Apos- fore an image of Jesus or the Blessed Vir- Mr. Tim Bishop, ext. 353; or Very Rev. Dennis Schuelkens, Jr., V.E., ext. tolic Penitentiary, a Vatican tribunal gin Mary, or by performing a work of 270. You may also call the Diocese’s Office of Safe Environment at that deals with matters of conscience, mercy. 304.230.1504. You may also call the Diocese’s sexual abuse hotline at said in a notice released Oct. 23. In all cases, one also must fulfill the 833.230.5656. Complaint forms are available online at www.dwc.org, The tribunal also asked that priests normal requirements set by the church click “Diocese” on the menu bar, then “Offices,” then “Safe Environ- be particularly generous throughout for all plenary indulgences, which dem- ment”, then “Download Files and Forms.” The form is titled “Com- November in offering the sacrament of onstrate a resolve to turn away from sin plaint Form for Allegations of Sexual Abuse of a Minor.” The form may reconciliation and in administering and convert to God. Those conditions be returned via U.S. mail to: Office of Safe Environment, Diocese of Communion to those who are infirm. include: having a spirit detached from The new provisions were made after sin; going to confession as soon as pos- Wheeling-Charleston, PO Box 230, Wheeling WV 26003. a number of bishops asked for guidance sible; receiving the Eucharist as soon as To Report to the Diocese’s Victim Assistance Coordinator: as to how the faithful could perform the possible; praying for the pope’s inten- please call Dr. Patricia Bailey at 304.242.6988. works required for receiving a plenary tions; and being united spiritually with In addition to the methods listed above for reporting sexual abuse, indulgence given the ongoing pan- all the faithful. the Diocese also has partnered with Navex Global to offer the Ethic- demic and restrictions in many parts of Cardinal Piacenza said his office also sPoint platform to report other, additional concerns, such as suspected the world limiting the number of strongly urged all priests to celebrate financial, professional, and personal misconduct of a priest, deacon, re- people who can gather in one place, Mass three times on All Souls’ Day, as al- ligious, or lay employee of the Diocese or any Catholic parish or school Cardinal Mauro Piacenza, head of the lowed for in a 1915 document by Pope in West Virginia. The EthicsPoint platform can be accessed via Apostolic Penitentiary, told Vatican Benedict XV. www.dwc.org, under “Accountability”, then “Report Misconduct” or News Oct. 23. The hope is that the availability of by calling 844.723.8381. EthicsPoint is a third-party reporting system Traditionally, the faithful could re- more Masses that day would help every- that reports to civil authorities where applicable and Diocesan au- ceive a full indulgence each day from one wanting to attend Mass to do so thorities, and the identity of the person reporting is protected. Nov. 1 to Nov. 8 when they visited a while respecting capacity limits in Links and information: WV Department of Health and Human cemetery to pray for the departed and churches and places of worship, he said. Resources: https://www.wvdhhr.org/report.asp. West Virginia State Po- fulfilled other conditions, and, in par- The church teaches that prayer, par- lice, Crimes Against Children Unit, Internet Crimes Against Children ticular, when they went to a church or ticularly the Mass, and sacrifices may be an oratory to pray Nov. 2, All Souls’ Day. offered on behalf of the souls in pur- Bishops’ conferences in countries gatory. The feast of All Souls differs from Office: 1322 Eoff St. where large numbers of faithful tradi- the Nov. 1 feast of All Saints precisely be- Mailing: PO Box 230 tionally go to confession, attend Mass cause it offers prayers for the eternal Wheeling, WV 26003 and visit cemeteries during the week peace and heavenly rest of all those who (304) 232-0444 had asked how the faithful could be ac- died in a state of grace, but not totally Fax: (304) 233-8551 commodated given COVID-19 restric- purified. Web site: www.thecatholicspiritwv.org tions or in the case that a member of the The Catechism of the Catholic Diocesan Web site: www.dwc.org faithful was ill, in isolation or in quaran- Church says, “All who die in God’s October 30, 2020, Vol. 51, No. 30 tine, the cardinal said. grace and friendship, but still imper- The Vatican decided to extend the fectly purified, are indeed assured of Publisher: Bishop Mark E. Brennan................................................................................... time one can receive a full indulgence their eternal salvation; but after death Executive Editor: Colleen Rowan, Ext. 347 ............................ [email protected] to include the whole month of No- they undergo purification so as to Advertising: contact Colleen Rowan vember, he said. Typically, only a partial achieve the holiness necessary to enter Freelance Writers: indulgence is granted after the first the joy of heaven.” Martina Hart, John Sherwood, Babette Pascasio Member Sexual Abuse Awareness Training Catholic Press Association West Virginia Press Association The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) requires that all National Press Photographers Association, Inc. Dioceses/Eparchies have in place a Safe Environment Program for the protection of children and young people. In accordance with these requirements, the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston’s Safe Environment Program consists of the following com- Published 24 times per year. All issues sent to each registered Catholic ponents for persons seeking employment or to volunteer—directly or indirectly— household free of charge. Donations to help offset the cost of producing The with children: background check; receipt of the Diocese’s Policy Relating to Sexual Catholic Spirit are welcomed. Out-of- diocese subscriptions are $25 annually. Abuse of Children; and sexual abuse awareness training for adults. Sexual abuse The Catholic Spirit intends its news reports to be fair and accurate in every re- awareness training may be completed online or via live workshop.