This month Helen Hull Hitchcock has an article entitled, "Bishops Send Mixed Signals at USCCB Meeting", which sums up nicely what happened at the latest meeting. Some of us who were fortunate enough to witness it via EWTN were rather shocked at some of the voting results and Helen does an excellent job in reporting on this and conference in general.
...the divisions within the conference are increasingly visible, as revealed in the conflicts over the Liturgy; even more starkly in the sex-abuse crisis; and this year, in the bishops' divergent responses on Catholics and political responsibility. This situation cannot easily be resolved.
What will the the USCCB be like in five years? No one could have predicted five years ago the dramatic changes we have experienced. Indeed, the post-September 11 world, and the Church's own "9-11" of the sex-abuse scandals presents a vastly altered landscape and challenges unimaginable five years ago.
This Year of the Eucharist calls all of us to renew our convictions about this "source and summit" of our life, and to deepen our commitment and our fidelity to the liberating truth of Christ's Holy Church.
Since the results and other issues have been discussed and lamented before, I won't rehask them here, but do read the article if you get a chance. It helps to get an understanding of what is going on at the USCC.
Although she doesn't mention it, I had to laugh a bit when Bishop Bruskewitz rose to ask the body of bishops if it was really necessary for the USCCB to decimate entire forests to publish papers and other documents that no one ever reads, including many bishops...
I know that I hesitate to read or review most documents coming from the USCCB while, at the same time, I eagerly look forward to reading those that come from the Holy See...There seems to be quite a disparity between the two - It's probably because I'm not used to having firm, resolute and sound explanations "nuanced" into ambiguity.
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