During their recent annual Spring General Assembly in Baltimore, the U.S. Catholic Bishops approved three additional measures to address abuse and accountability by bishops. The measures expand upon Pope Francis’s Motu proprio (“Vos estis lux mundi” [“You are the light of the world”]) and the U.S. Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People. The term Motu proprio in Canon Law refers to a document issued by the Pope on his own initiative and personally signed by him. The USCCB website describes these reforms, which are designed to hold bishops accountable for instances of sexual misconduct against minors and vulnerable adults. Here is the link if you wish to view the report directly: http://www.usccb.org/news/2019/19-116.cfm.
The first measure, Protocol Regarding Available Non-Penal Restrictions on Bishops, passed by 212 to 4 with 1 abstention. This form of accountability provides protocols for imposing limitations on former bishops who were removed from office for grave reasons. It also empowers the President of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) to restrict bishops removed or resigned for reasons related to sexual abuse or abuse of power.
The second measure, Acknowledging Our Episcopal Commitments, passed by 217 to 1, with 2 abstentions. This accountability measure implements a code of conduct for bishops, including the affirmation that the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People is expanded to include bishops as well as priests and deacons.
The third measure, Directive for the Implementation of the Provisions of Vos estis lux mundi Concerning Bishops and their Equivalents, passed by 218 to 1, with a plan for optimal implementation of Pope Francis’s recent Motu proprio in the United States, including an outline for lay involvement.
On June 12, 2019, during their spring General Assembly, the body of Bishops passed another accountability reform measure for episcopal accountability, when they voted for the establishment of a Third-Party Reporting System for receiving confidentially, by phone and online, reports of possible violations by bishops of Vos estlis lux mundi. The action item commits for activating the system no later than May 31, 2020.
Cardinal Séan O’Malley, Archbishop of Boston, and in my experience a truly credible witness to the importance of the protection of children and vulnerable adults in the Church, presented on a recent blog post a question and answer document prepared by the USCCB that gives a broad overview of the work of the bishops on this issue. Let me present these questions and answers for you now. Here is the link for those who wish to view his entire blogpost: http://www.cardinalseansblog.org.
Concrete Steps to Hold Bishops Accountable
1. What Happened in Baltimore?
The USCCB votes on several proposals to hold bishops accountable for instances of sexual abuse of children or vulnerable persons, sexual misconduct, or the intentional mishandling of such cases. We specifically committed to involving and utilizing lay professional experts. We also established a new, independent mechanism for reporting of such cases.
2. Isn’t the “Metropolitan Model” just bishops policing bishops?
While we have seen Metropolitan investigations achieve success in uncovering publicizing and punishing bishop misconduct several times in the past year, the body of bishops agreed in Baltimore that independent lay oversight is critical. The combination of lay involvement, Metropolitan leadership and the final judgment of the Holy See will ensure that complaints are evaluated thoroughly, and justice is achieved for victims and survivors.
3. How exactly will the laity be involved?
We’re building upon the well-established practice of lay expertise in the Church, starting at the very beginning of this process. Laypeople will assist us in informing the public about how to utilize our new reporting mechanism. A lay person will be informed any time a complaint comes through that process. Lay investigators will be identified at the provincial level by Metropolitan Archbishops and will play an active role in investigating individual complaints against bishops.
4. Is this process transparent? What will the public know about credible complaints against individual bishops?
Pope Francis’s Motu Proprio includes whistleblower protections that will allow anyone making a complaint to be given documents describing the process. As noted, the bishops are also committed to lay involvement in both the receiving of complaints against bishops and in any investigations. With these safeguards, the bishops are committed to making the process as transparent as they possibly can.
5. Level with me: Will the policies approved in Baltimore protect people from abuse at the hands of bishops?
We’ve achieved a goal stated by USCCB President Cardinal DiNardo throughout the process. We’ve filled the gaps in the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People and now build upon its success. The Holy Father’s Motu Proprio, the New Directives, the renewed Episcopal Commitments, the third-party reporting system, and the heavy emphasis and reliance on lay expertise in the United States will bring unprecedented accountability throughout the hierarchy of the American Church.