UNITED STATES
Christian Catholicism

Jerry Slevin

John Allen, Vatican expert for CNN and the independent National Catholic Reporter (NCR), is likely correct in his current NCR column. John says “experts” will pore with a fine tooth comb over Pope Francis’ new 200+page “Letter”, entitled “The Joy of the Gospel” (“Evangelii Guadium”).

But many Catholics and others, not “experts”, also will soon ask their own questions: Why is this Letter being published now on these particular topics? Does the Letter address one of their major concerns–making bishops trustworthy again? What’s missing and why is it missing?

Bishops were originally selected by, and accountable to, the general Catholic faithful, the so called “People of God”, in the Church the Apostles left behind in the New Testament era. All Catholics were considered spiritually equal on the first Pentecost. If Catholic bishops will not be accountable to the faithful again, why…