News
At USCCB assembly, bishops to review third-party reporting system, elect new officers
An update to the Program on Priestly Formation, a progress report on the establishment of a nationwide, third-party reporting system for abuse or misconduct by bishops, and a vote on new leadership for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) are on the agenda for the bishops’ fall general assembly.
-Catholic Missourian
Gathering in Baltimore Nov. 11-13, the bishops also will review and vote to approve a short letter and five short video scripts to supplement “Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship,” the bishops’ quadrennial teaching document for the faithful on the political responsibility of Catholics.
The changes in the sixth edition of the Program on Priestly Formation have been in the works for more than a year.
The document has governed seminary formation in the United States since the bishops issued the first edition for dioceses in 1971.
At their June assembly, the bishops overwhelmingly voted to authorize the implementation of a third-party system that would allow people to make confidential reports of abuse complaints against bishops through a toll-free telephone number and online.