Badly divided US bishops’ conference needs unifying leadership

 

Badly divided US bishops’ conference needs unifying leadership

WASHINGTON (DC)
National Catholic Reporter [Kansas City MO]

September 5, 2025

By Michael Sean Winters

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In the course of the summer, the U.S. bishops gather at different events, going on regional retreats, attending the Knights of Columbus convention, or celebrations of ordination anniversaries. This past summer, I have learned, there was some campaigning going on to make sure that Archbishop Paul Coakley of Oklahoma City would be elected president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops at their November plenary meeting.

It is understandable why some bishops would support Coakley. He is approachable and attractive, a fine speaker, and he knows how to run a meeting. Still, electing him president is a terrible idea.

First, Coakley was one of the 40 or so prelates who issued statements supporting then-Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò, when Viganò issued his “testimony” accusing Pope Francis of covering up the crimes of former Cardinal Theodore McCarrick and, worse, calling on the pope to resign. The document made…