In the first reading from today’s Mass, St. Paul provides an examination of conscience for any bishop, any pastor, any priest, any teacher, or for that matter any parent:

Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all you, for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God. [Acts 20:26-27]

If you are responsible for teaching the faith and forming consciences (and who isn’t?), and the people who rely on you don’t know what they should or should not do, because you never told them, St. Paul is warning that you have blood on your hands.

And if you have blood on your hands, the excuse “But they might have been offended” doesn’t sound convincing.