Pope Issues Letter to U.S. Bishops re: Abuse Crisis

"The clerical abuse crisis and the 'crisis of credibility' it created for the U.S. bishops have led to serious divisions within the U.S. church and to a temptation to look for administrative solutions to problems that go much deeper, Pope Francis told the U.S. bishops.

"Without a clear and decisive focus on spiritual conversion and Gospel-inspired ways of responding to victims and exercising ministry, 'everything we do risks being tainted by self-referentiality, self-preservation and defensiveness, and thus doomed from the start,' the pope wrote.

In a letter distributed to the bishops at the beginning of their Jan. 2-8 retreat, Pope Francis said he was convinced their response to the 'sins and crimes' of abuse and'"the efforts made to deny or conceal them' must be found through 'heartfelt, prayerful and collective listening to the word of God and to the pain of our people.'"

A recent article in The Pilot reported on this letter delivered to the U.S. bishops at their collective annual retreat.

To access the complete news report, please visit:

The Pilot: Pope to U.S. bishops: Abuse crisis requires conversion, humility. (3 JAN 19)

Related media report:

Whispers in the Loggia: As Retreat Opens, Pope Raises "Crisis of Credibility" In US Bench (3 JAN 19)