Reflecting on the abuse crisis, and in particular a bishop’s role:

Although many priests have made impassioned statements of solidarity with victims, few have publicly criticized the bishops. That silence may change after Feb. 27. Priests need to affirm the meaning of the church. “We’ve been told to ‘brace ourselves’ for the national report. What will the church ever do to recover its moral voice?” wrote Fr. Ray Klees in the Jan. 25 parish bulletin of St. Cletus Parish in the Chicago suburb of LaGrange. “Recently, we’ve heard stories from a former priest at a neighboring parish in Hinsdale and his recent conviction and sentencing. He’s gone to prison. He’s gone to prison, where every proven abuser belongs. According to media reports, he had been assigned a number of times, knowingly, on the ‘watch’ of Bishop Joseph Imesch, the Joliet diocese’s bishop.

“If those reports are true, and only he can absolutely say if they are, then Bishop Imesch ought to resign immediately. … Good ministry, in many forms, could be available to him. But for the good of the church, not just in Joliet, but nationally and worldwide, he should resign.”

Good for Ray Klees. If other priests followed his example, and if the review board report makes specific recommendations to protect such priests, we might dig out of this quagmire sooner.

Among the more glaring situations involving bishops:

-The St. Petersburg, Fla., diocese paid $100,000 to settle a sexual harassment claim against Bishop Robert Lynch by a man who formerly worked as a diocesan public information officer. Why is Lynch in his office?

-Frank Rodimer, as bishop of Paterson, N.J., used diocesan funds to pay a $250,000 settlement for his role in a case involving Peter Osinski, a Camden priest who had sex with a young boy during a series of summers at a beach house on the Jersey shore that the two men rented. The bedrooms were on the same floor. Osinski went to prison. Rodimer said he would repay the $250,000 — but only after a highly publicized meeting with survivors of another priest, James Hanley, who has since been laicized. Rodimer retired in good standing. Why is Rodimer a scheduled speaker at the College of St. Elizabeth’s Spirituality Convention on April 24, as advertised in this newspaper?

-Springfield, Ill., Bishop Daniel L. Ryan lives in a house the diocese bought him when he resigned, following accusations that he was sexually active with young men and had sex with a teenager. Why did he get a house?

-Bishop John B. McCormack of Manchester, N.H., and Archbishop Daniel Pilarczyk of Cincinnati made plea bargains with prosecutors over the handling of molestation cases in their dioceses, resulting in fines. Why are they on the job?