Pennsylvania Bishops' Strategic Silence
The Roman Catholic bishops of Pennsylvania have taken a strategy quite different from the one employed earlier this year in Denver by Archbishop Charles Chaput, OFM Cap. Unlike Chaput who vehemently and aggressively attacked any legislation that would have helped victims of clergy abuse, the bishops in the Keystone state have remained silently indifferent. Michael Piecuch, majority chief counsel to the House Judiciary Committee, was quoted in the Philadelphia Inquirer today, "If Cardinal Rigali were to call a press conference... and say, 'This is what we are for: these criminal reforms,' it would probably be done."
One might ask why the bishops are silent on the issue. The simple answer is: it's working. The strategy is stalling any legislation that might help victims and their families. It also prevents any further investigation into the cover-up and scandal that has wrecked havoc within the church since the Philadelphia Grand Jury Report was published last year.