Last week I was in Baltimore to take part in the annual spring assembly of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.
It was an important meeting, and our four days together were dedicated almost entirely to the issue of how we as bishops should carry out our responsibilities in handling allegations of clergy sexual abuse against minors.
The scourge of abuse in the Church continues to be the bishops’ most urgent priority.
Here in Los Angeles and across the country, the Church has made enormous progress in these areas, perhaps far more than any other organization or institution in America.