VOA常速英语2008年-Pope Addresses US Clergy, Calls for Purificatio

By Margaret Besheer
New York
19 April 2008

Pope Benedict told American Catholic clergy¹ and nuns² on Saturday that the Church in the United States must work to overcome its divisions, saying this is a time of "healing" and "purification," after the sexual abuse scandal that has damaged the Church. From New York, VOA's Margaret Besheer has more.

The pope arrived at New York's famed St. Patrick's Cathedral to a joyous³ and warm welcome. 

But his speech to the 3,000 clergy and nuns, as well as some laypersons, was serious. He returned again to the sexual abuse scandal that he addressed earlier in the week. He said priests who did nothing wrong have been unfairly tainted⁴ by the scandal. More than 4,000 clergy have been accused of molesting⁵ young people in the United States since 1950.

"Here I simply wish to assure you, dear priests and religious, of my spiritual closeness as you strive to respond with Christian⁶ hope to the continuing challenges that this situation presents," he said.  "I join you in praying that this will be a time of purification for each and every particular Church and religious community, and a time for healing."

The pontiff also encouraged them to cooperate with bishops⁷ as they continue to work to resolve the issue.

Although the number of Catholics in the United States is growing - there are more than 64 million - the number of men and women entering vocational life is down significantly.  In his homily, the pope offered encouragement and gratitude⁸ to those who devote their lives to God.

"All of you have a special place in my heart," he added.  "Never forget that you are called to carry on, with all enthusiasm and joy that the Spirit has given you, a work that others have begun, a legacy⁹ that one day you too will have to pass to a new generation. Work generously and joyfully¹⁰, for he whom you serve is the Lord!"

On the fifth-day of his first U.S. visit, which has taken him to Washington and New York, the 81-year-old pontiff looked happy but tired at the start of Mass. But by the end of the more than two-hour service, he seemed rejuvenated¹¹ by the presence of so many priests and nuns. 

The Mass reflected the diversity of New York's Catholic community, with prayers offered in African, European and Asian languages.

It was the first time a pope has celebrated¹² Mass at St. Patrick's. Memorializing the occasion, Pope Benedict presented Cardinal¹³ Egan with a silver chalice¹⁴ for the 150-year old Cathedral.

Outside St. Patrick's, thousands lined the streets to get a glimpse of the pontiff.

Later Saturday, Pope Benedict will attend a rally for more than 20,000 young people, including 300 seminarians, just outside the city. He will also meet young people with disabilities and their caregivers. Before departing for Rome on Sunday, he will visit Ground Zero - the site of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attack on the World Trade Center - and then say Mass before 60,000 people at Yankee Stadium.

1 clergy   

n.[总称]牧师，神职人员

参考例句：

• I could heartily wish that more of our country clergy would follow this example.我衷心希望，我国有更多的牧师效法这个榜样。
• All the local clergy attended the ceremony.当地所有的牧师出席了仪式。

2 nuns   

n.（通常指基督教的）修女， （佛教的）尼姑( nun的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Ah Q had always had the greatest contempt for such people as little nuns. 小尼姑之流是阿Q本来视如草芥的。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• Nuns are under vows of poverty, chastity and obedience. 修女须立誓保持清贫、贞洁、顺从。 来自辞典例句

3 joyous   

adj.充满快乐的；令人高兴的

参考例句：

• The lively dance heightened the joyous atmosphere of the scene.轻快的舞蹈给这场戏渲染了欢乐气氛。
• They conveyed the joyous news to us soon.他们把这一佳音很快地传递给我们。

4 tainted   

adj.腐坏的；污染的；沾污的；感染的v.使变质( taint的过去式和过去分词 )；使污染；败坏；被污染，腐坏，败坏

参考例句：

• The administration was tainted with scandal. 丑闻使得政府声名狼藉。
• He was considered tainted by association with the corrupt regime. 他因与腐败政府有牵连而名誉受损。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 molesting   

v.骚扰( molest的现在分词 )；干扰；调戏；猥亵

参考例句：

• He was accused of sexually molesting a female colleague. 他被指控对一位女同事进行性骚扰。 来自辞典例句
• He was charged with molesting a woman. 他被指控调戏妇女。 来自辞典例句

6 Christian   

adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒

参考例句：

• They always addressed each other by their Christian name.他们总是以教名互相称呼。
• His mother is a sincere Christian.他母亲是个虔诚的基督教徒。

7 bishops   

（基督教某些教派管辖大教区的）主教( bishop的名词复数 )； （国际象棋的）象

参考例句：

• Each player has two bishops at the start of the game. 棋赛开始时，每名棋手有两只象。
• "Only sheriffs and bishops and rich people and kings, and such like. “他劫富济贫，抢的都是郡长、主教、国王之类的富人。

8 gratitude   

adj.感激，感谢

参考例句：

• I have expressed the depth of my gratitude to him.我向他表示了深切的谢意。
• She could not help her tears of gratitude rolling down her face.她感激的泪珠禁不住沿着面颊流了下来。

9 legacy   

n.遗产，遗赠；先人(或过去)留下的东西

参考例句：

• They are the most precious cultural legacy our forefathers left.它们是我们祖先留下来的最宝贵的文化遗产。
• He thinks the legacy is a gift from the Gods.他认为这笔遗产是天赐之物。

10 joyfully   

adv. 喜悦地, 高兴地

参考例句：

• She tripped along joyfully as if treading on air. 她高兴地走着，脚底下轻飘飘的。
• During these first weeks she slaved joyfully. 在最初的几周里，她干得很高兴。

11 rejuvenated   

更生的

参考例句：

• He was rejuvenated by new hope. 新的希望又使他充满了活力。
• She looked rejuvenated after plastic surgery. 她做完整形手术后显得年轻了。

12 celebrated   

adj.有名的，声誉卓著的

参考例句：

• He was soon one of the most celebrated young painters in England.不久他就成了英格兰最负盛名的年轻画家之一。
• The celebrated violinist was mobbed by the audience.观众团团围住了这位著名的小提琴演奏家。

13 cardinal   

n.(天主教的)红衣主教；adj.首要的，基本的

参考例句：

• This is a matter of cardinal significance.这是非常重要的事。
• The Cardinal coloured with vexation. 红衣主教感到恼火，脸涨得通红。

14 chalice   

n.圣餐杯；金杯毒酒

参考例句：

• He inherited a poisoned chalice when he took over the job as union leader.他接手工会领导职务，看似风光，实则会给他带来很多麻烦。
• She was essentially feminine,in other words,a parasite and a chalice.她在本质上是个女人，换句话说，是一个食客和一只酒杯。