Baltimore played host to more than 200 Catholic bishops during the U.S. Bishops Conference annual meeting, but it wasn’t a completely pleasant visit in a city known as a center of Catholism in America.
During the four-day event, Chicago Cardinal Francis George was elected conference president the same day the Chicago Sun-Times printed excerpts from a personal letter written by George.
In the letter, George is said to have written that it is “irresponsible” to suspend the statute of limitations so victims could expose their predators in court and that such efforts are “not about the safety of children but about money.”
Sexual abuse victims also said George allowed a Chicago pastor to serve in a ministry position despite the fact George knew the pastor had molested children.
The bishops discussed and voted on numerous issues while in Baltimore.
On Tuesday, they approved the “Formal Consciences for Faithful Citizenship,” which urges Catholics to vote based on Church teachings.
