Colombian cardinal Dario Castrillon will be replaced as leader of a special Latin Mass in Washington D.C. on Saturday, according to the event organizer’s website.
The Paulus Institute decided to look for a replacement following an outcry from the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP), regarding a letter Castrillon wrote to a French bishop in 2001, in which he praised the bishop for deciding not to report a sexually abusive priest to the police.
Following the critique over his letter, the then-clergy prefect said the letter was approved by Pope John Paul II personally before being sent.
The organization said that it was now in the process of seeking another bishop to celebrate a Pontifical Solemn Mass on Saturday and were confident that one will agree.
“The Paulus Institute regards all sexual abuse as tragic and a heinous sin and supports Pope Benedict’s fight to rid this disease from the Church,” said the organization’s website.
The Catholic Church is facing heavy criticism for its response to numerous complaints of sexual abuse by priests.