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I’m not going to criticize our former bishop. I have personally apologized to him for any times when, by indiscreet zeal, I may have caused him unjust hurt or harm. And I pray for him earnestly by name every day at mass, that he may have a long, healthy, peaceful and fruitful retirement, and that he may persevere in the state of sanctifying grace and have the grace of final perseverance.

Who can criticize a man who was placed in a position unsuited to his undeniable gifts, and who obviously accepted it in obedience? Like many another, he was apparently overwhelmed by events and left with no means and no direction from the hierarchy to answer the challenges.

Alas, the scandals, particularly those involving pedophile homosexual priests, are far from over. Many of those who caused them are gone. Many more are not. This bishop, among many others, made an obscene choice, protecting those who harmed children because they deemed it is a forgivable sin, but choosing not to remove those who sinned from the occasion and from the priesthood itself in a truly stupid attempt to avoid what they perceived as "scandal."

Not a new problem. His salvation: personal and assured. The damage done to the church: quite possibly irreparable for several generations, especially since no effective and public remedial steps are actually underway!

Thanks for this, Dr. Kopp. And BTW, I think you should make every thread a Caucus hread, every time. To do otherwise is to dangle temptation in front of the faces of bethren and sistren who simply can't resist. Let's kindly and graciously refrain from doing that, as we hope for their well-being and redemption... and our own.

(Note to self.)