Baltimore
Vatican intervenes at US bishops’ plenary

The US bishops’ conference cancelled voting on two key proposals to deal with the abuse crisis after a last-minute intervention by the Congregation for Bishops. Cardinal Daniel DiNardo of Galveston-Houston told bishops that the Holy See wanted them to delay any vote until after a Vatican summit on abuse in February.

The two proposals were an episcopal code of conduct and the formation of a commission that would review complaints against bishops. Cardinal Blase Cupich of Chicago called for a special assembly in March to discuss the outcome of the Vatican summit and to vote on the proposals.