President of U.S. Bishops
Conference Issues Statement on Course of Action Responding to Moral Failures on
Part of Church Leaders
August 1, 2018
WASHINGTON—Cardinal
Daniel N. DiNardo, Archbishop of Galveston-Houston and President of the United
States Conference of Catholic Bishops, has issued the following statement
noting the steps the U.S. Bishops Conference will take in addressing the failures
of the Church in protecting the people of God.
Cardinal DiNardo's full
statement follows:
"The accusations
against Archbishop Theodore McCarrick reveal a grievous moral failure within
the Church. They cause bishops anger, sadness, and shame; I know they do in me.
They compel bishops to ask, as I do, what more could have been done to protect
the People of God. Both the abuses themselves, and the fact that they have
remained undisclosed for decades, have caused great harm to people's lives and
represent grave moral failures of judgement on the part of Church leaders.
These failures raise
serious questions. Why weren't these allegations of sins against chastity and
human dignity disclosed when they were first brought to Church officials? Why
wasn't this egregious situation addressed decades sooner and with justice? What
must our seminaries do to protect the freedom to discern a priestly vocation
without being subject to misuse of power?
Archbishop McCarrick will
rightly face the judgement of a canonical process at the Holy See regarding the
allegations against him, but there are also steps we should be taking as the
Church here in the United States. Having prayed about this, I have convened the
USCCB Executive Committee. This meeting was the first of many among
bishops that will extend into our Administrative Committee meeting in September
and our General Assembly in November. All of these discussions will be oriented
toward discerning the right course of action for the USCCB. This work will take
some time but allow me to stress these four points immediately.
First, I encourage my
brother bishops as they stand ready in our local dioceses to respond with
compassion and justice to anyone who has been sexually abused or harassed by
anyone in the Church. We should do whatever we can to accompany them.
Second, I would urge
anyone who has experienced sexual assault or harassment by anyone in the Church
to come forward. Where the incident may rise to the level of a crime, please
also contact local law enforcement.
Third, the United States
Conference of Catholic Bishops will pursue the many questions surrounding
Archbishop McCarrick's conduct to the full extent of its authority; and where
that authority finds its limits, the Conference will advocate with those who do
have the authority. One way or the other, we are determined to find the truth
in this matter.
Finally, we bishops
recognize that a spiritual conversion is needed as we seek to restore the right
relationship among us and with the Lord. Our Church is suffering from a crisis
of sexual morality. The way forward must involve learning from past sins.
Let us pray for God's wisdom and strength
for renewal as we follow St. Paul's instruction: 'Do not conform yourselves to
this age but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may discern
what is the will of God, what is good and pleasing and perfect' (Romans
12:2)."
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