The large-print headline on the front page of the Nov. 30 issue of the (Springfield) State Journal-Register read, “Diocese names priests in abuse cases.” The sub-headline read, “Ex-Bishop Daniel Ryan on list of 19 released by Diocese of Springfield.” It is a matter of great shame that such terrible sins have been committed by priests of our diocese, as well as by one of our previous bishops, the late Bishop Daniel Ryan, who resigned in 1999 and died in 2015. I am deeply concerned for all those who suffered harm as a result of these sins of sexual abuse of minors. I pray for their healing and for God’s justice and mercy for the perpetrators of these crimes, and I continue to work diligently to prevent the circumstances that allowed these crimes to occur in our church.