Special Report: The USCCB General Assembly

The USCCB General Assembly
 
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) held its 2019 Spring General Assembly in Baltimore from June 11 to June 14. In terms of anticipation and importance to the U.S. Church, the U.S. protocols for the application of Pope Francis’ apostolic letter, Vos estis lux mundi (You are the light of the world) topped the list. In the letter dated May 7, 2019, Pope Francis established new procedures for reporting abuse and for holding both the abuser and the bishops and religious superiors accountable for their actions.

Bishop Accountability

The U.S.  bishops voted overwhelmingly to establish a third-party reporting system for reporting abuse allegations against bishops. In three separate votes, they voted to authorize the design of a third-party system for receiving confidentially reports of possible violation by bishops of Pope Francis’ apostolic letter; to authorize the Executive Committee to develop a more detailed proposal for the system to be approved by the Conference’s Administrative Committee at its September and November 2019 meetings; and to activate the system no later than May 31, 2020.

The bishops also passed three additional measures aimed at holding bishops accountable for sexual misconduct against minors and adults that expand on both Vos estis lux mundi and the U.S. Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People. The Protocol Regarding Available Non-Penal Restrictions on Bishops provides the protocol for imposing limits on former bishops removed from office for grave reasons and empowers the USCCB president to restrict bishops removed or resigned for reasons related to sexual abuse or abuse of power.

“Acknowledging Our Episcopal Commitments” implements a bishop code of conduct that clearly affirms the aforementioned Charter includes bishops in addition to priests and deacons. The “Directives for the Implementation of the Provisions of Vos estis lux mundi Concerning Bishops and their Equivalents” presents a plan for the implementation of the Pope Francis’ apostolic letter in the U.S. The “Directives” do provide an outline for how the laity should be involved, but fall short of mandating such involvement.

Other Highlights

The Spring General Assembly produced several other notable votes. For instance, the bishops approved a revision of the language in the U.S. Catholic Catechism for Adults (pp. 394-395) that deals with the death penalty to align it with the Catechism of the Catholic Church. The Catechism (no. 2267) had been changed to reflect Pope Francis’ revision to the teaching on the death penalty in August of 2018.

In a provisional vote, the bishops passed the provisional Strategic Priorities for the 2021-24 USCCB Strategic Plan. The National Directory for the Formation, Ministry, and Life of Permanent Deacons in the United States, 2^nd edition, was approved for use along with a new translation of the ritual book used for the ordination of bishops, priests and deacons.

Finally, the bishops conducted a canonical consultation on the cause for canonization of the Servant of God Irving (a.k.a., Francis) C. Houle and indicated support for the advancement of the cause on the diocesan level.