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	Two Bishops Should Step down from Office The Telegraph [New Hampshire] Downloaded April 5, 2003 Editorial To respond to this editorial click here. Be sure to include contact information if you would like your letter to appear as a letter to the editor. How many ways can Bishop John McCormack and Auxiliary Bishop Francis Christian ignore the message that they ought to pack up and vacate their leadership positions in the Diocese of Manchester? New Hampshire Catholics for Moral KEY POINTS BACKGROUND: A newly formed group, New Hampshire Catholics for Moral Leadership, is the latest organization to call for the resignations of Bishop John McCormack and Auxiliary Bishop Francis Christian. CONCLUSION: The Diocese of Manchester has much spiritual reconstruction work to do and having a change of leadership would speed this daunting task. Leadership is the latest group pressing for their resignations and yet the two bishops say they intend to stay and help the Catholic Church "heal." Bishop McCormack is implicated in the sex scandal that enveloped the Boston Archdiocese, where he was an aide to Cardinal Bernard Law. Christian is faulted for not being upfront about what he knew of a sex abuse case in New Hampshire when questioned by state authorities. Catholics for Moral Leadership is newly formed and seeks to enlist the help of other laypeople in the diocese to force the two bishops out of office. But they've already encountered resistance from the diocese, which has informed pastors not to allow members of the organization to distribute materials at churches. That's heavy handed considering members of Catholics for Moral Leadership help support churches through their donations. The group to date is spreading its call for change in the diocese through the Internet and in meetings. McCormack and Christian may be sincere in wanting to right the wrongs they helped to occur. However, when laypeople see them, or listen to them, the image of their failure to protect young children is what comes to mind. It would be better for McCormack and Christian to acknowledge that situation and "move on" so new leadership could take over. There's much reconstruction work of a spiritual nature to be done in the diocese and having someone at the helm that isn't tainted by the sex abuse scandal would truly start the process. Rejuvenating the church is a daunting task at this juncture and hanging on despite calls for resignation doesn't help. The two bishops should heed these calls for the good of the church and its membership. To respond to this editorial click here. Be sure to include contact information if you would like your letter to appear as a letter to the editor.
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