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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Keywords: Cardinal Daniel N. DiNardo,
United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, USCCB, USCCB Executive Committee,
Archbishop Theodore McCarrick, moral failure, seminaries, human dignity,
canonical process, Holy See, General Assembly
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Media Contact:
Judy Keane
202-541-3200
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