WASHINGTON (DC)
The Hill
January 1, 2019
By Brett Samuels
The Vatican requested U.S. bishops delay a vote on measures to address the Catholic Church’s sexual abuse scandals because church leaders in the U.S. failed to properly consult with the Holy See before voting, The Associated Press reported Tuesday.
The news outlet obtained a letter from Cardinal Marc Ouellet at the Vatican that said the measures the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops planned to vote on were legally problematic and that the group had only given the Vatican a few days to review them.
The letter contradicts the explanation at the time by Cardinal Daniel DiNardo, who told other church leaders in November that Pope Francis did not want the bishops to vote on the proposals until after a meeting of church leaders in February.
DiNardo said at the time he was “disappointed” by the pope’s request.
The AP reported Tuesday that the Vatican letter, which undermines DiNardo’s explanation, could spur questions at a spiritual retreat of U.S. bishops that begins Wednesday.
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