The statement by all five bishops in Missouri is direct and blunt. So is their cover letter to Timothy L. Doherty. Doherty, bishop of Lafayette in Indiana, is the chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops Committee for the Protection of Children and Young People.
Their letter expresses open skepticism that whatever is being cooked up about sex and bishops by Cardinal Daniel DiNardo, USCCB president, and Pope Francis will be of little if any help in restoration of trust among the laity.
The Missouri bishops blame the bishops, stating, “A culture of silence and cover-up by the hierarchy has brought the Church to this moment of crisis.”
The letter and statement were sent to Doherty October 6. They made it public November 12, after DiNardo announced the Vatican’s request to avoid voting on any proposals dealing with abuse by priests and bishops.
The U.S. bishops were meeting in Baltimore until the 15th, and adjourned without taking any action.
Read more at Catholic World Report