Here's the must-do agenda for the US bishops

Here's the must-do agenda for the US bishops
The good news is that these reforms will probably work for a while, but eventually abuse will go further underground. We cannot enforce our way out of domination and secrecy. In the short term, the reforms they must replace collegiality with a more authoritarian system that takes the bishops down a notch. That is bad news for the claim that the bishops are not employees of the Vatican, which puts all of that bad Italian art on the walls at risk (good riddance to depictions of a white, asexual Holy Family).

Bishops have been authoritarian for longer than their official status was conferred by Constantine. It started when Clement of Antioch (the successor Peter, who was the first pastor of that Church) first used the distribution of Communion as a method to establish and maintain control. Democracy went from election by the Saints to selection by the Presbyters to selection as government ministers to selection by the Patriarchs, but with collegiality...until now.

Will the bishops serve themselves or the Pope? I am sure that there will be a bit of discontent at this meeting of the USCCB or the next. No one likes having a boss. Work is a four lettered word for a reason. This is likely what it will take for the Church to move back to democracy in selecting bishops and pastors. Indeed, it may one day reunify the offices, but the next step is likely clerical election and the ordination of any with a calling, not just single gay and asexual men in the closet (sometimes from themselves).