Bishops' Schedules: Schedule of Bishop William H. Bullock Thursday, November 21, 2002 3:00 p.m. -- Preside at Midday Prayer for Vocations, Bishop O'Connor Catholic Pastoral Center, Madison Saturday, November 23, 2002 9:00 a.m. -- Preside and Preach at Celebration of the Eucharist, Anointing Mass, St. Raphael Cathedral, Madison 5:00 p.m. -- Preside and Preach at Celebration of the Sacrament of Confirmation, St. Francis Xavier Parish, Lake Mills, with the link of St. Mary Magdalene Parish, Johnson Creek, at St. Francis Xavier Parish, Lake Mills Sunday, November 24, 2002 10:30 a.m. -- Preside and Preach at Celebration of the Sacrament of Confirmation, St. Thomas the Apostle Parish, Beloit 4:00 p.m. -- Preside and Preach at Celebration of the Eucharist, Conferral of Monsignorate of Reverend Monsignor Douglas Dushack, St. James Parish, Madison Schedule of Bishop George O. Wirz Thursday, November 21, 2002 3:00 p.m. -- Attend Midday Prayer for Vocations, Bishop O'Connor Catholic Pastoral Center, Madison Sunday, November 24, 2002 10:30 a.m. -- Preside and Preach at Celebration of the Sacrament of Confirmation, St. William Parish, Janesville

Lord help your Church

		The Bishop: A Herald of Faith Bishop William H. Bullock

In the Liturgy of the Hours, the prayer book of the Church, we often acknowledge with joy the victory, triumph, and power of the Risen Jesus, who is God and who became man in order to take on our sins, to suffer, die, and rise to new life. By Christ's Resurrection he became the Lord of Life, the first born of the dead. Death is no more, only life eternal.

"Lord help your Church. Be its shield so that it may hold up its head and radiate the glory of the Resurrection."

A familiar prayer from the Liturgy of the Hours impacted my life clearly and forcefully this past week following our USCCB meeting in Washington, D.C. The prayer reads: "Lord help your Church. Be its shield so that it may hold up its head and radiate the glory of the Resurrection."

The Church teaches

While our meeting addressed the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People and the Essential Norms for Diocesan/Eparchial Policies Dealing with Allegations of Sexual Abuse of Minors by Priests or Deacons (both revised in consultation with the Holy See and approved on November 13, 2002), the U.S. Bishops covered many other topics such as: a pro-life statement; a statement on Iraq; a renewed pastoral frame-work for Hispanic ministry; stewardship: a disciple's response; a place at the table (a Catholic recommitment to overcome poverty and respect the dignity of all God's children); a renewed statement on violence against women in society, the 10th anniversary statement; the revised Lectionary for Mass; from committee on migration, "Strangers No Longer: Together on a Journey of Hope" (Catholic Bishops of Mexico and United States); and the General Instruction on Roman Missal.

These represent but a few of the significant discussions and statements made in behalf of our mission as Church at our November meeting in Washington, D.C.

Rebuilding trust takes time, hard work

We continue in the middle of it all to address how we are Church; how we can inform by clear teaching all Catholics in order that they may know the truths of our Catholic faith and live them fully; and how we can rebuild trust among our Catholic people by carefully and dutifully handling sexual abuse by bishops, priests, deacons, and Church personnel.

The prayer with which I began my column should never be a prayer that shields us as Bishops from our responsibilities or to avoid facing the truth. It is our duty as Bishops, as leaders, to face up to and to do what has to be done.

I pray for a balance in all of it. Rebuilding trust is not easy; it can be done and will be done but it takes time and hard work. Christ loves his Church. He is committed as God-made-man and Savior to never let the gates of hell prevail against the Church.

All Bishops will continue to apologize for our mistakes, for protecting priests and neglecting to help reconcile, heal, and make whole again the victims of sexual abuse. Our Charter declares this and we are committed to implement it fully.

As the Charter puts it so forthrightly: "Let there be no doubt or confusion on anyone's part: For us, your bishops, our obligation to protect children and young people and to prevent sexual abuse flows from the mission and example given to us by Jesus Christ himself, in whose name we serve."

Addressing the Charter and Norms

In a recent column I mentioned that the Diocese of Madison will reveal the name of any priest against whom allegations of sexual abuse of a minor have been made, and that the Diocese would do this, although not immediately, only after the November meeting of the U.S. Bishops.

I want this understood in the full context of the Charter and the Norms. It is not my intention to address one aspect of the Charter or of the Norms without integrating all aspects into the full picture of our whole plan and with a timetable.

As of our November meeting, the Norms are now particular law for the Church in the United States. Among the most important action items which dioceses will implement from the Norms are the following: 1) designate a person to coordinate outreach and assistance to the victims; 2) have an independent review board which will regularly review diocesan policies and procedures; 3) develop procedures for making a complaint using a printed form readily available; 4) see to canonical options for any priest accused; and 5) comply with all applicable civil laws.

I hope in future columns and through The Catholic Herald to keep the Diocese informed. The revised Essential Norms for Diocesan/Eparchial Policies Dealing with Allegations of Sexual Abuse of Minors by Priests or Deacons are also printed in their entirety in the print edition of The Catholic Herald on page 11.

While unfortunately I have discovered some take a snippet of the whole, run with it and detract from the whole picture, I have found through many years of ministry as priest and bishop that the more fully informed our people are the more reasoned and accepting is their understanding. I hope you will take the time to read these important documents fully and to pray for all concerned.

The Catholic Herald is a paper dedicated to the principle of keeping our people informed and educated through communication and comments on issues as they pertain to the mission of the Church. I applaud Mary Uhler and her fine staff for keeping up with excellent editions of The Catholic Herald.

In all things, give thanks!

On Thanksgiving Day, November 28, 2002, we give thanks to God for all his goodness to us. Even through sorrow, heartache and travail, God is with us and we praise him and give him thanks!