As a new bishop for the Springfield Diocese of the Roman Catholic Church enters, so too does the hope that renewed transparency will serve to better confront and mend the wounds inflicted by the churchâs lengthy history of systemic sexual abuse and cover-up.
The Rev. William D. Byrne, installed Monday to lead the diocese that includes Berkshire County, has done well to set a hopeful tone by ushering in a significant change already. The diocese will expand its list of credibly accused priests to include those who died before survivors brought abuse allegations, meaningfully acknowledging credible accusers heretofore denied seeing their abusers face a public accounting.