Rome halts U.S. bishops’ plan to curb abuse
Last-minute order is latest twist in struggle over church response
BALTIMORE — Facing a reignited crisis of credibility over a child sexual abuse scandal, the Catholic bishops of the U.S. came to a meeting here Monday prepared to show that they could hold themselves accountable.
But in a last-minute surprise, the Vatican instructed the bishops to delay voting on a package of corrective measures until next year, when Pope Francis plans to hold a summit in Rome on the sexual abuse crisis for bishops from around the world.
Many of the more than 350 U.S. bishops gathered in Baltimore appeared stunned when they learned of the change of plans in the first few minutes of the meeting.
“I am sorry for the late notice, but in fact, this was conveyed to me late yesterday afternoon,” said Cardinal Daniel DiNardo of Houston, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. “Although I am disappointed, I remain hopeful that this additional consultation will ultimately improve our response to the crisis we face.”
The order from Rome is the latest twist in a long power struggle between the U.S. bishops and the Vatican over how to respond to the abuse crisis. For nearly three decades and three papacies, the U.S. has been the focal point of the crisis, and the American bishops have been pushed to the forefront of the church’s response. But the Vatican has sometimes applied the brakes when the Americans have tried to take steps that have not been adopted by the global church.
The delay was immediately denounced Monday by abuse survivors and advocates who had traveled to Baltimore from across the country to put pressure on bishops to take action.
“This is a disaster, and I think it’s a dark day for Catholics, especially victims and survivors,” said Anne Barrett Doyle, co-director of BishopAccountability.org, a research and advocacy group based in Boston. “When the Vatican intervenes, regulations get weaker, not stronger.”
Peter Isely, an abuse survivor from Wisconsin and leader of Ending Clergy Abuse, an advocacy group, said in an interview: “This is a completely cowardly decision by the American bishops. They could still vote on it, and let the Vatican rescind the votes.”