On Vatican Order, U.S. Bishops Halt Plans to Vote on Reforms in Wake of Sex Abuse Scandal

By Peter Smith
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
November 12, 2018

http://www.post-gazette.com/news/faith-religion/2018/11/12/Pope-Francis-US-Conference-Roman-Catholic-Bishops-policy-changes-clergy-sex-abuse-scandal/stories/201811120074

A much-anticipated gathering of Roman Catholic bishops began with a sudden, anticlimactic announcement that they would not be voting on proposals responding to the crisis of sexual abuse in the church.

Cardinal Daniel DiNardo, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, said Monday morning that the Vatican Congregation for Bishops insisted the bishops wait until after Pope Francis convenes a February Vatican summit of top bishops on the worldwide crisis before adopting any policies. Cardinal DiNardo said he did not know what role Pope Francis had personally in the directive.

"At the insistence of the Holy See, we will not be voting on the two action items in our docket regarding the abuse crisis," said Cardinal DiNardo, archbishop of Galveston-Houston. One was a set of "standards of accountability for bishops," the other the establishment of a special commission for handling complaints against bishops.

"The Holy See has asked that we delay voting on these so that our deliberations can inform and be informed by the global meeting," said Cardinal DiNardo.

Cardinal DiNardo apologized for the late announcement, saying the Vatican conveyed its message only late Sunday.