(Radio Iowa) — Catholics in eastern Iowa are praying for those who have been affected by sexual abuse at the hands of priests in Iowa, in Pennsylvania and elsewhere in the country. Worshippers gathered over the weekend at the Cathedral of Saint Raphael in Dubuque. Archbishop Michael Jackels led the service, praying for forgiveness. “We need resolve to protect the little ones from harm,” Jackels says. “We need heroic striving for holiness to counter the sins of clergy sex abuse and the failure of bishops to report.”

A recent investigation into alleged abuses by priests in Pennsylvania spurred the northeast Iowa archdiocese to organize the service. Jackels spoke openly about the abuse. “Victims of clergy sex abuse harmed in a horrible way, and hurting still, as are their families and friends,” Jackels says, “members of the Catholic church, ashamed and angry.”

According to the Church, 31 priests abused at least 160 minors in northeast Iowa archdiocese between the 1930s and 1990s. Since then, the organization has adopted new policies, mandating all reports be handed over to law enforcement.

(w/thanks to Kate Payne, Iowa Public Radio)