For Philadelphia Catholics, an Ash Wednesday of faith, hope, and sorrow

With fresh ashes on her forehead, Heather Dineen walked out of the Cathedral Basilica of SS. Peter and Paul on Wednesday troubled but resolute.

Troubled by the news that the Archdiocese of Philadelphia this week placed an additional 21 priests on administrative leave pending a review of accusations against them. Resolute about her faith.

"What's happened is terrible, and it makes you think about a lot of things," said Dineen, 25, a graduate student from Wynnewood. "But to me, the church isn't the church on Earth, it's your faith in general. . . . I don't look at anyone leading the institution but Jesus himself."

Thousands of Catholics across the region faced the same quandary Wednesday, particularly those in affected parishes. There, parishioners arrived for Mass on Ash Wednesday, the official start of Lent, only to learn that their pastor or another priest had been abruptly sent away.

The unprecedented suspensions announced by Cardinal Justin Rigali required the 21 clerics to leave their archdiocesan residences and banned them from administering sacraments or celebrating Mass until the investigation ends.

The archdiocese did not publicly identify the priests, other than to say each had once been accused of child sexual abuse or inappropriate behavior around minors.

From the altar in the basilica, Rigali reminded Catholics that Lent is a time for introspection, repentance, and forgiveness.

"We are especially conscious of the grave sins of sexual abuse committed against minors, in particular by members of the clergy," the cardinal said during his six-minute sermon. "We experience the need to ask God's forgiveness repeatedly in our liturgy and to offer prayers of reparation for these sins and for all the sins of the world."

He delivered his message to nearly 1,000 people who packed the basilica for the lunch-hour Mass, climbing the steps past protesters carrying photos of abused children and placards that vilified church leaders.

The sentiment among some who were interviewed seemed more resigned than outraged. All hoped the steps would signal the beginning of an end to the scandal.

"I think it's great that he did it - it's a purging," said Jack Marren, a 58-year-old accountant from Media. "It's just a shame that so many people have been disenfranchised with the church because of the actions of so many of the priests, who are fallible."

Jim Sheldon, 75, of Philadelphia, said he worried that good priests would be unfairly tainted by the bad. He said he had known many good priests, like one from his youth at nearby St. Francis Xavier Church who he said helped shape his life.

Still, Sheldon said, he wondered if the church would overcome the scandal.

"You worry about it," he said. "You've got to have hope and believe in your faith."

As he hurried up the steps with his wife, George Fernandez praised Rigali as "doing the right thing."

Did the latest revelations give the Bucks County couple pause about their religion?

"Nope," Pamela Fernandez quickly replied. "We're here as Catholics, to get our ashes."