Abp. Viganò urges U.S. bishops to confront sex abuse as ‘courageous shepherds’

ROME, November 13, 2018 (LifeSiteNews) — Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò today has issued a brief note to the U.S. Bishops, urging them to confront sex abuse as “courageous shepherds” rather than “frightened sheep.”

The U.S. Bishops are currently in Baltimore at their much-anticipated fall annual meeting at which they were expected to vote on concrete proposals to hold bishops accountable for their failures after the revelations about former Cardinal Theodore McCarrick.

The message from Archbishop Viganò, who served as U.S. Nuncio from October 2011 until April 2016, comes one day after the Vatican insisted that U.S. Bishops not vote at their fall assembly on two action items to prevent sexual abuse coverup: standards of accountability for bishops and the special commission for receiving complaints against bishops.

Here below we publish the official English text of Archbishop Viganò’s message to U.S. Bishops, dated November 13.

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Dear Brother Bishops in the US,

I am writing to remind you of the sacred mandate you were given on the day of your episcopal ordination: to lead the flock to Christ. Meditate on Proverbs 9:10: The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom! Do not behave like frightened sheep, but as courageous shepherds. Do not be afraid of standing up and doing the right thing for the victims, for the faithful and for your own salvation. The Lord will render to every one of us according to our actions and omissions.

I am fasting and praying for you.
Arch. Carlo Maria Viganò
Your former Apostolic Nuncio

November 13, 2018
Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini