Watching the USCCB meeting this week was frustrating. The conference seems stuck. At a time when the country desperately needs a strong moral voice, the united voice of the bishops is sidelined, fretting about things that don’t matter and tepidly addressing the things that do. And, it was apparent to all that the concerns of Pope Francis are far from the concerns of the USCCB …

“In his update to the body on the work of the ad hoc Committee on Religious Liberty, Archbishop William Lori said they were making a difference. Are they …

“I heard almost no mention of the environment or Laudato Si’ at the USCCB meeting. Think about that for a minute …

“There was frequent mention of the charitable work of the church. But, there were no bishops heading to the microphones to denounce the ‘economy that kills’ …

“There was also a lack of discussion, at least in public session, about Amoris Laetitia …

“And, of course, the biggest immediate issue the bishops face is the prospect of mass deportations of many of our Catholic parishioners …

“… Sadly, I fear the country is about to be morally vandalized, indeed that process has already begun. There is a parable in the Gospel about the need for the night watchman to be vigilant. It is a parable the bishops should take to heart.”

By Michael Sean Winters, National Catholic Reporter — Click here to read the rest of this column.