Bishop Barry Knestout, who heads the USCCB’s Committee on the Protection of Children and Young People (and a roommate of Cardinal Theodore McCarrick), reiterated his position that the document was ready for a vote, saying, “I’m not quite sure what’s gained through the additional time.”
The U.S. bishops voted overwhelmingly on Thursday to approve revisions to the Charter for the Protection of Young People, after a failed proposal to delay the vote, made in order to seek more feedback from diocesan advisors and abuse victims.
The vote on the Charter text was 176-22, with 6 bishops abstaining.
The bishops voted during their general assembly meeting Thursday morning to adopt some amendments to the document, which deals with preventing and responding to cases of abuse by priests. The text of the amendments was not immediately available to the media or public.
Following the passage of the amendments, Archbishop Shawn McKnight of Kansas City proposed delaying the vote on the revised Charter until the bishops’ November meeting. He said the bishops should have the chance to consult with their diocesan review boards, presbyteral councils, and abuse victims on the proposed revisions, given the importance of the document.
“We will be morally committing ourselves, and everybody under us in our dioceses, to what we hold out in this statement,” he stressed.
Bishop Earl Fernandes of Columbus seconded the motion. “I don’t know that we lose very much by delaying,” he said, noting that he wanted to consult with his presbyteral council. “When they aren’t sufficiently consulted, there’s been strong pushback,” he said.
The bishops then debated McKnight’s proposal to postpone the vote.
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