WHAT!?

In the December 10 issue of America: The Jesuit Review of Faith and Culture, I read the article "How pastoral failures in communication are provoking a crisis in faith" by Sam Sawyer, S.J.  Father Sawyer summarizes what happened at last month's annual meeting of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops that "had failed as soon as it began with Cardinal Daniel DiNardo's announcement that the Vatican had asked the bishops not to vote on proposals for responding to the sexual abuse crisis in the U.S. church..."  This was a surprise announcement on the first day of the Conference.

Sawyer continued, "People of the inner workings of the Vatican have told me I should not expect the universal church to operate according to the expectations of the 21st century media landscape.  They also say that Americans have unreasonable expectations  that whatever happens on their shores should command instant attention from  everyone, everywhere."  WHAT!?

Forgive me for being ticked off.  Assuming this is the Vatican's attitude towards America and the abuse crisis that is torching our church and driving people away, especially the young,  I simply say, "Vatican, for those who have ears, hear! Leave the 20th Century (or 19th) and join the faithful in the 21st before it is too late!"  

Deacon David Pierce