Cardinal Daniel N. DiNardo of Galveston-Houston (center). The president of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops said he was leaving the bishops’ autumn general assembly more hopeful than when the meeting began.
Cardinal Daniel DiNardo of Galveston-Houston said in remarks closing the assembly that his hope was primarily grounded in Christ as well as realising that the body of bishops was on the road to implementing protocols to boost the accountability of bishops to laypeople and survivors of clergy sex abuse.
As the meeting started, Cardinal DiNardo expressed disappointment because the Vatican had asked that no vote be taken on several protocols governing bishops that he had hoped would be accepted during the three-day meeting.
The instruction came from the Congregation for Bishops, citing the upcoming February meeting of the presidents of the bishops’ conferences around the world to address clergy sex abuse and to ensure that the proposals were in line with canon law.
The cardinal also pledged to the Pope the “loyalty and devotion” of the conference “in these difficult days”.
“I am sure that, under the leadership of Pope Francis, the conversation that the global Church will have in February will help us eradicate the evil of sexual abuse from our Church,” Cardinal DiNardo said. “It will make our local efforts more global and the global perspective will help us here.”
In addition, the cardinal said, the hours of conversation involving bishops, eparchs, clergy abuse survivors and invited speakers throughout the assembly “have given me direction and consensus” and will serve as a “springboard for action”.