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Bishop Zubik announces 'Year of Repentance' in response to child sex abuse scandal

PITTSBURGH — Bishop David Zubik has announced a Year of Repentance for clergy of the Diocese of Pittsburgh in response to the scandal of child sexual abuse in the Catholic Church.

All clergy are asked to fast and pray for the purification of the church.

All Catholic parishioners are also invited to join a diocesan-wide service on Sunday, Sept. 23 at 3 p.m. at Saint Paul Cathedral in Oakland.

"Faced with the sinful actions of the members of our own ranks of the clergy who are called to manifest the example of Christ, we feel both shame and sorrow, and are reminded of our own sinfulness and the need for mercy," Zubik wrote in a letter to all priests, deacons and seminarians of the Diocese of Pittsburgh.

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According to a release from the diocese, the liturgical year will end on Aug. 15, 2019 with another service.

"I invite the faithful to join with the clergy as they desire in our acts of prayer and penance," Zubik said.

There have been calls for Zubik to step down in the wake of the scandal and a grand jury report that alleges he knew about some of the abuse taking place. 

Zubik has said he has no plans to do so.