The US bishops' failure to focus on how they are going to accomplish a new programme of pastoral accompaniment for those who they choose to marginalize, disenfranchise and cast out to the peripheries is catastrophic! Cardinal-designate Kevin Farrell was right to let them know they have failed as shepherds … and that their failure is spectacular.

It took some time for JPII to gut the USCCB … perhaps we need some patience as Pope Francis works to reshape the conference into a body of pastors … one retirement at a time.