USCCB Fall Assembly 2018

We say: The latest pastoral letter on racism, in many respects, is a worthy addition to the U.S. bishops' other writing on this evil, but it is reminiscent of the cautious approach taken by white religious leaders in the South during the civil rights era.

We say: The culture of the Catholic clergy and the state of the episcopacy have come under intense scrutiny as a result of the abuse crisis, but what happened at the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' meeting is not encouraging.

Signs of the Times: The U.S. bishops, meeting in Baltimore, felt their house was burning down, and the Vatican was asking them to delay turning on the fire hoses.

Distinctly Catholic: I think this is the question the pope wants them to ask: Whence your credibility as a bishop? While there will always be some ministers who are clueless, how could a culture form that such patterns of evil behavior covering up the crimes of the perpetrators were so widespread?

The three-day public portion of the fall general assembly concluded with no final decisions, in part due to a Vatican request to delay votes on proposals until after a February meeting in Rome. 

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' 2019 budget, approved Nov. 14 by a 223-12 vote with six abstentions, reflects increased expenses related to the new clergy sex abuse crisis, according to the conference treasurer.

Bishop Gregory Parkes of St. Petersburg, Florida, will be the next treasurer of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, taking office next November.

During the second day of their annual fall assembly in Baltimore, the U.S. bishops discussed, even though they weren't voting on, procedures they could use to restrict bishops removed from their position or reassigned due to sexual abuse allegations or "grave negligence in office."

The U.S. bishops overwhelmingly approved a pastoral letter against racism Nov. 14 during their fall general meeting at Baltimore.

Some bishops have been more concerned about the reputation of the church than about victims of sexual abuse, indicating "clear corruption" and "a blind spot" that must be addressed, said Archbishop Paul Etienne of Anchorage, Alaska.

Strategies implemented since 2002 are working to prevent abuse, says Thomas Plante, past member of the National Review Board, and now is the time to plug any holes in child protection policies.

The U.S. bishops discussed the establishment of a hotline devoted to collecting complaints about a bishop's alleged abuse of a minor, sexual harassment, misconduct involving adults or failure to respond to abuse accusations.

Distinctly Catholic: Conservative bishops did not say they wanted to focus on homosexuality as a cause of clergy sex abuse, but they hinted at it. Francis supporters did not defend the pope's decision to delay a vote. Today was shadow boxing.

NCR Today: The Vatican delays, but it is way past time that the leaders of our church, in the U.S. and internationally, own up to the horrific nature of the sexual abuse crisis.

Bishops who have committed abuse, covered up abuse or failed to act on abuse must be held accountable and face consequences, the National Review Board chair said in a strongly worded presentation to prelates at their annual meeting.

As the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops opened a Day of Prayer at the Fall Bishops General Assembly Nov. 12, John McKeon was the first to walk a path along Aliceanna Street outside the Baltimore Marriott Waterfront.

Commentary: There are solid, practical steps the U.S. bishops can take right now to protect kids, expose wrongdoers and heal the wounded — no Vatican approval necessary.

As the U.S. Catholic bishops gather in Baltimore to discuss controversial issues such as clerical sexual abuse and racism, some people are talking about the threat of schism.

The two survivors who addressed the annual meeting of the U.S. bishops both expressed "deep disappointment" about the delay of voting on proposals to address clergy sex abuse.

Baltimore -- A surprise Vatican request that the annual gathering of U.S. Catholic bishops delay planned votes on proposals to address clergy sexual abuse has evoked outcry, even leaving some of the prelates at the meeting confused.

Distinctly Catholic: The Holy See insists the U.S. bishops not vote on any action items regarding the clergy sex abuse crisis, pending the February meeting of the presidents of all episcopal conferences. What is going on? 

Distinctly Catholic: At this week's U.S. bishops' meeting, prelates will discern their response to the abuse scandal. This means a choice between two competing theories about what led to the crisis.