Pope Francis has signalled his support for Cupich’s plan. But will the laity agree?

This February, the leaders of national bishops’ conferences from across the global Church will meet in Rome to discuss solutions to the sex abuse crisis. Last week Pope Francis appointed Cardinal Blase Cupich of Chicago, Archbishop Charles Scicluna of Malta, German Jesuit Fr Hans Zollner and Cardinal Oswald Gracias of Mumbai to serve on the planning committee.

The meeting assumed new importance after the Holy See prevented the US Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) from voting on two measures designed to address the sexual abuse crisis in the United States, saying that no binding resolutions should be passed until the USCCB’s leaders had the opportunity to consider other conferences’ experiences and suggestions. Many American bishops were clearly frustrated with Rome unexpectedly tabling their proposed measures to curb predation and misconduct, but Cardinal Cupich quickly took the floor and defended Rome’s decision (though he said later that it was “disappointing”).