Michael Sean Winters

About the author: Michael Sean Winters writes frequently on Catholic issues.

Bishops who protect pedophiles and who fail to accept responsibility for their failure to safeguard victims should not be allowed to lead in the Catholic Church. The philosophy of the Catholic hierarchy —to serve the local church, not to govern it—should be revived. Although strict reform regarding pedophile priests is important, to prevent future scandals and restore the credibility of the church, the bishops themselves must reform. Bishops who fail to accept responsibility for their failure to protect children should step down; bishops who acknowledge that they are human and accept responsibility for their failure to prevent child sexual abuse should remain to lead and to help reform the...