Boston- As bishops gather in San Antonio for the spring meeting of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Voice of the Faithful wonders what they will accomplish. Unfortunately, the agenda for this meeting reflects a lack of leadership that Catholics have come to expect from their bishops. Instead of addressing continued failures of transparency and accountability, the opening of records about clergy abuse and the availability of the sacraments for future generations, the U.S. bishops plan to discuss liturgical translations, marriage, and a liturgy of thanksgiving for human life.

The time to talk about liturgical translations will come, but the leadership needed in the Church today goes far beyond deciding which English word best matches a Latin word inserted centuries ago into the Mass.

Moral leadership begins with addressing continued cover-ups regarding clergy sexual abuse and finding ways to keep our faith communities alive, not closing parishes as an “answer” for declining numbers of celibate diocesan priests. Moral leadership does not fear collaboration with the laity on the many problems facing our Church today.

We pray that the bishops can take steps towards a transformed Church by beginning to address such problems.