Bishops need time to reflect and dialogue, new president says

Published: 2004-11-19

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- The new head of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops sees the bishops entering a period of greater reflection, dialogue and relationship-building. "I think we're dealing with cultural issues today that have never been faced before," Bishop William S. Skylstad of Spokane, Wash., said in an interview with Catholic News Service Nov. 16, the day after he was elected USCCB president for the next three years. "Because we are facing such significant societal issues," he said, "there's been a desire among the bishops for an opportunity to discuss the issues among themselves -- pastoral issues that are complex but ones that the bishops need to discuss with more time available." With the bishops' Nov. 15-17 meeting still under way, Bishop Skylstad agreed to be interviewed on the condition that his comments not be published until the meeting was over, since some issues touched on were still to be discussed by the bishops.

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