As I’m way too deep in trying to get my deadline today, I’ll let others make the trenchant remarks. Here’s Phil Lawler’s take on what we’ve heard so far from the US bishops’ meeting:
At their annual meeting, the bishops told reporters that:
their new policies have effectively stopped sexual abuse
the media is exploiting the controversy
complaints about the bishops’ leadership are motivated by anti-Catholic bias
diocesan officials are fully cooperating with investigators
Questions:
1. Are we talking about the Dallas meeting in June 2002, or the St. Louis meeting this week?
2. What has changed?
Also, it’s nice to hear from Bob Bennett that the National Review Board doesn’t think the US bishops’ conference is a criminal organization.
“Let us now proceed with regular business. Everyone open up your briefing books to the document on liturgical dance.”
Which might be fine if that’s what they were saying. Unfortunately, what I get from the various episcopal statements is that the media is making a mountain out of a molehill, it’s not as bad as they make it seem, what about all the other institutions with the same problem, and look at all the good stuff we do.
All variations on the theme: “Stop blaming us.”
You assume too much, Fr. Keyes. I don’t condemn “anything the bishops say and do.” But I do condemn the things they do that don’t make the situation better or make it worse. There’s a difference.
Then you haven’t been reading too closely. You’re welcome to check my archives.