Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
 
Let me bring you up to date on what has happened since we sent 595 letters to the Papal Nuncio, Archbishop Christoph Pierre, asking for three simple things: truth, accountability, and transparency in response to the Catholic abuse scandals of 2018.
 
A Quick Recap
 
Our letters were hand-delivered to the Papal Nuncio, and copies were hand-delivered to USCCB President, Cardinal Daniel DiNardo. The offices of both bishops received our letters the week before the USCCB November meeting in Baltimore.
 
At this meeting our bishops were prepared to vote on two items:
 
1. To apply the norms of the 2002 Dallas Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People to bishops in the United States. So far the norms have applied only to priests and deacons.
2. To create a lay review board for allegations of misconduct by bishops.
 
Then on the morning of the first day of that meeting came the surprising order from Pope Francis for our bishops not to vote on these two items. They were told to delay any action until the universal Church could address the abuse scandals at a February 2019 meeting in Rome.
 
Setting aside the question of whether voting or not voting on these two items would have been the better path, I would simply observe that neither item specifically addressed the three simple things that we requested in our letters.
 
The Nuncio Responds to Three Simple Things!
 
On December 12th, the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, I received a response to our letters from Archbishop Pierre dated December 6th, the Feast of St. Nicholas, patron saint of children. I believe there is meaning in these dates and feasts, but that’s a topic for another time.
 
The Papal Nuncio’s letter was marked “personal and confidential,” so I don’t think it would be appropriate to reprint it for all to see. I do believe, however, that it is appropriate to summarize its main points.
 
The letter was respectful, gracious, and explicitly asked me to convey to you Archbishop Pierre’s acknowledgment and thanks for our letters. He went on to make two primary points:
 
1. Pope Francis shares our concern for the principles of truth, accountability, and transparency.
2. These principles must be applied not only in the United States but also in the universal Church, and to this end, Pope Francis has called the February 2019 meeting.
 
This second point reflects the Holy See’s consistent message about the scandals since the November USCCB meeting: wait until February.
 
And so we wait. However, as recommended by our Parish Pastoral Council at its December 3rd meeting, while we wait we will also pray as a parish in a very particular way.
 
A Novena of Sundays
 
Starting today, the Feast of the Holy Family, and continuing through Sunday, February 24, the last day of the worldwide meeting in Rome to address the abuse scandals, we will conclude our petitions at Masses with a prayer for three simple things at this meeting: truth, accountability, and transparency.
 
The prayer can be found below and will also be available on prayer cards in the Commons so that we can all incorporate it into our personal prayer. December 30th through February 24th totals nine Sundays, which is why we are calling this a novena of Sundays.
 
May our Church become holier through three simple things: truth, accountability, and transparency.
 
Sincerely in Christ,

Monsignor Bill Parent