By Stephen Kurczy

Staff Writer

Cardinal Edward M. Egan addressed St. Patrick's Cathedral this past Sunday on the issue of sexual abuse of children by priests.

``Acts have been committed against our children by those who were chosen and ordained to care for all with total self-sacrifice and the utmost of respect. The cry that comes from all our hearts is that we never want to think again that such a horror may be visited upon any of our young people, their parents, their loved ones, through the body of Jesus Christ, his Church.''

The sexual abuse controversy that has shaken the Roman Catholic Church and thrown it into disarray can trace its roots to a tight-lipped parish. The close-knit community is now reevaluating its order and seeking ways to recommit its constitution.

Cardinal Egan vowed, ``I have taken steps to see that there is no more of this. This evil will be stamped out with all the fervor of the Lord and the Lord's people.''

But even the Cardinal, while not accused of abuse, is facing questioned as to how these events could have happened. His procedure in dealing with abuse cases is under attack.

In Mundelein, Illinois, future priests and directors at the nations largest Roman Catholic seminary are questioning the diatribe and their own accountability.

The Rev. John F. Canary responded in an interview with The New York Times that the root of the cause was a seminary system that was not accountable for its actions to the outside world. The cure, he said, is openness and accountability.

This class of seminarians has been selected in radically different ways from the ``plug-in-chug'' methods of yesteryear. Throughout seminary training, students are subject to Rorschach tests, criminal background checks, interviewed about their dating and sexual orientation, and given frequent evaluations by psychologists and fellow students.

After nearly two decades of scandals involving sexual abuse by priests, many Catholic leaders have concluded that seminaries themselves were a part of the problem. The aim of Catholic seminaries today is to produce a new breed of priest, who are spiritually prepared and psychologically and emotionally mature.

``Where systems are turned in on themselves, like in orphanages, problems can occur. When you have open systems, it's a healthier environment,'' Father Canary said. ``These seminarians understand much better than we understand when we were ordained the professional responsibilities that are entrusted to them.''

However people still wonder, why all this now? Marian Olivo of the Church of the Visitation in Kingsbridge, the Bronx, commented, ``[Cardinal Egan] was so quiet until now. If he knew there was something going on why didn't he say something?''

In a letter sent to all parishioners, the Cardinal spoke of his past policies and procedures requiring members of the clergy who were accused of sexual misconduct with a minor ``to be sent immediately to one of the most prominent psychiatric institutions in the nation for evaluation. If the conclusions were favorable, he was returned to ministry, in some cases with restrictions so as to be doubly careful'', he wrote is his letter. ``If they were not favorable, he was not allowed to function as a priest.''

This is the holiest week of the year for Roman Catholics and so, with palm fronds in one hand and the letter in another, congregations are trying to make something of their church and find reassurance in their leaders.