Writing from the meeting of the US bishops’ conference, JD Flynn of The Pillar reports tensions over proposed revisions to the “Dallas Charter” governing sex-abuse policies.

The proposed revisions, explained the chairman of the drafting committee, hews to repeated suggestions “to keep the Charter focused exclusively on the abuse of minors by priests and deacons.” But some bishops argue that the guidelines should be broadened, to cover abuse of vulnerable adults and to address episcopal cover-ups.

The drafting committee resists those arguments; the chairman says those issues “are more appropriately addressed in canonical processes.” Actually the Dallas Charter itself sets up canonical processes, but you can catch the chairman’s drift: ‘Don’t set new standards. Leave it to us; we’ll know what to do. Trust us.’

The chairman is Bishop Barry Knestout, once private secretary to “Uncle Ted” McCarrick. Anything else you need to know?