Let me first admit I have absolutely no idea what a diocesan bishop does. I have stated that many times before. That said let me double down on my thoughts that bishops are not doing what it is that they need to do for the salvation of souls.

Let us circle back to the woman I know who has a love/hate, (my words), relationship with her current bishop. No matter what he believes about her, no matter what he has been told about the situation he has the obligation as her bishop to get to the truth of the situation. He took the job he needs to step up.The fact that this could be uncomfortable for him personally does not matter one iota. it has been personally uncomfortable for this woman.

It is this kind of spinelessness that has infiltrated the Church at every level imaginable. The fallout from the clergy sexual abuse scandal is still palatable. Because of that other forms of abuse have become commonly known and it is still churchcentric. The evil is perpetrated by clergy, yes, but also by lay staff who have created their own little fiefdom in the Church. Unfortunately that idea of their own little fiefdom pollutes the sitting bishop his ideas and his work. All of the clergy working for him have already carved out their fiefdom and do not want to relinquish power back to him. He needs to insist it come back to him. This is true on a parish level also. It is not an answer and really it is an abdication of power to claim that the abdication of power is due to needing to run the diocese or to run the parish. It is true that most people will grumble about the injustice of these situations and do nothing. Does it need reach critical mass, like the clergy sexual abuse crises did, before anything is corrected, before any justice is served. (The whole clergy sexual abuse crises is still a nightmare that lives.)

Good and holy people are being forgotten or worse sacrificed for convenience or being uncomfortable. Salvation of souls, salvation of souls, salvation of souls is paramount not casting souls out into the darkness where there is wailing and gnashing of teeth.