This coming Wednesday, Feb. 25, is Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent. Pope John Paul II has given as his theme for this Lent: "care and concern for children," citing the Gospel passage given above. This Friday, Feb. 27, the National Review Board, constituted by the Bishops of the United States to help them deal with the sexual abuse of children and young people by priests and others in authority in the Catholic Church in this country, will present two reports detailing both the history of such abuse and the steps being taken to prevent it.

The Holy Father, in his message for Lent, commends those who care for children, especially parents who make considerable sacrifices so that their children can grow up well, and names such people, "those who receive children in the way our Lord calls us to." He also indicates people who, in their selfishness, do not receive children, and says that those who engage in the sexual abuse of children are examples of this attitude.

This Lent, the Church in this country, especially its bishops and priests, must grieve over the evils that have been wrought against children by those who have abused them, and repent of any lack of oversight or concern for children that has allowed such abuse to occur or to continue once it has been noticed. The studies, which will be released this Friday, will underline both the need for change and what has been done already to bring about the change.

Lent, however, is more than a time to grieve over and repent of past sins. It is a time for growth, a time for responding to the grace given us by God. The Holy Father, in his message, urges us this Lent to care for abandoned and sick children around the world, victims of poverty and of various diseases, particularly AIDS. In this country, we must also put forth the effort to ensure that the children entrusted to our care are kept safe from abuse. Since children, even in this country, are more subject to poverty and its effects than others, we need to understand the causes of this poverty and find ways to address it. Likewise, many children in our country do not receive the education they need to become effective citizens and members of our society. There are many reasons for this, but let our neglect not be one of them.

A society can be judged by the way it treats its children, and so can the Church. May we recognize the excellent work that is being done by those who care for children, and do all that we can to support it, in particular by supporting our Catholic schools. May we make use of our time, our talent, and our treasure to find the ways that will address the needs of children effectively, and give of ourselves generously to them. In this way we will be showing ourselves as children of our heavenly Father, and find new meaning in the prayer that we all love to say, which begins, "Our Father."