[Hermann the Cherusker]

Every time a bishop has to do this, he should wear sack-cloth and ashes for a year afterwards as a sign of his abject failure to increase the flock. If he has to do it more than once in his tenure as bishop, he should be forced to resign in disgrace.

What have the people been doing to increase the flock of Christ? The Bishop is but one man. The people are many millions.

[Antoninus]

What have the people been doing to increase the flock of Christ? The Bishop is but one man. The people are many millions.

Hermann, I agree with you. Here's the thing: ALL of the growth within the Church in the past 20 years has been coming from lay-run and other apostolates which operate quasi-autonomously from the bishops. EWTN is the shining example. And a subset of bishops have tried to kill that work many times over.

About 70% of our American bishops have been abject failures in their primary missions--to evangelize, bring more people to the Church, and properly educate those already here. I can't tell you how much it pains me to say that.

Pray that the Almighty sends us worthy shepherds.