As Pope Francis calls for a global summit on priest sex abuse, one of the key organizers of that February meeting in Rome will be Chicago’s Cardinal Blase Cupich.
Cupich said he plans to call for a change in culture not just for priests and bishops in America, but worldwide.
Being the only American cardinal appointed by Pope Francis as a key leader for the February summit on abuse, Cupich’s comments will be closely watched.
"If you get everybody on board and you have transparency and hold everybody accountable and not have a certain group of people protected or privileged, then we’re going to get it right," he said.
Cupich said he hopes to make it easier for victims to come forward and wants a third party reporting system. He also hopes for a code of conduct for bishops when it comes to abuse, one that includes negligence if they fail to report it.
"No one can be exempt," he said.
After what has been labeled a summer of shame in wake of a scathing Pennsylvania Grand Jury report and allegations surrounding ex-Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, the American Catholic Bishops have been searching for how to respond. The Vatican has asked them to wait until after the February meeting to do so.
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"Not giving people facts of where we are with regard to abuse or where we are in terms of structural viability or nonviability of a parish in the Archdiocese – those days are over," Cupich said. "We have to be honest about that."
