WASHINGTON — Discussion and voting on concrete measures to
address the abuse crisis and a day of spiritual discernment and prayer will top
the agenda for the U.S. bishops when they meet Nov. 12-14 for the fall general
assembly in Baltimore.
Public sessions of the assembly also will be livestreamed, live
tweeted and carried via satellite, according to an Oct. 29 news release from
the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.
The assembly will begin Nov. 12 with an address by Cardinal
Daniel N. DiNardo of Galveston-Houston, USCCB president, as well as remarks by
Archbishop Christophe Pierre, papal nuncio to the United States.
The body of bishops will then adjourn to an on-site chapel for a
full day of spiritual discernment and prayer. This will be followed by a Mass
celebrated at the site of the assembly that evening.
In a letter sent Oct. 27 to all U.S. bishops, Cardinal DiNardo
asked them to spend seven days before the meeting, from Nov. 5 to Nov. 11, in
"intensified" prayer, fasting and reparation to prepare for their
general assembly in Baltimore.
In an Oct. 30 letter to parishioners, Bishop Michael F. Burbidge
said he would join his fellow bishops in dedicating himself to seven days of
intensified prayer and fasting.
Bishop Burbidge said the intentions for this period of prayer and
sacrifice are three-fold: for the healing and support of all victims of clergy
sexual abuse; for the conversion and just punishment of the perpetrators and
concealers of sexual abuse; and for the strength of the bishops to be holy
shepherds in protecting and leading their sheep from all harm.
“If you feel called to do so, you are welcome to join me in
praying for these intentions,” Bishop Burbidge wrote. “I would also be grateful
for any prayers for me and my brother bishops during our General Assembly that
we may follow the guidance of the Holy Spirit in responding to the tragedy of
clergy sexual abuse in the church.”
During their business sessions, the bishops will discuss and vote
on a series of concrete measures to respond to abuse, including those approved
for their agenda at the September meeting of the Administrative Committee.
Actions approved by the committee Sept. 19 and to be voted on
include approving the establishment of a third-party confidential reporting
system for claims of any abuse by bishops.
Committee members also instructed the bishops' Committee on Canonical
Affairs and Church Governance to develop proposals for policies addressing
restrictions on bishops who were removed or resigned because of allegations of
abuse of minors or adults.
They also initiated the process of developing a code of conduct
for bishops regarding sexual misconduct with a minor or adult or
"negligence in the exercise of his office related to such cases."
The Administrative Committee consists of the officers, chairmen
and regional representatives of the USCCB. The committee, which meets in March
and September, is the highest authority of the USCCB outside of the full body
of bishops when they meet for their fall and spring general assemblies.
In Baltimore, the bishops also will hear reports from the
National Advisory Council and National Review Board.
Public sessions of the discussions and votes during the general
assembly as well as portions of the day of spiritual discernment will be
available via livestream at usccb.org/live.
News updates, vote totals, texts of addresses and presentations
and other materials will be posted at usccb.org/meetings as soon as possible.
Those wishing to follow the meeting on social media can use the hashtag
#USCCB18 and follow on Twitter (@USCCB) as well as on Facebook,
facebook.com/usccb, and Instagram, https://instagram.com/usccb.