"It is not, in fact, a major advance that Francis has undertaken by appointing a token woman to this pseudo-synod," says Adam A.J. DeVille. "If the Church is ever to be serious about overcoming the present ills, she must ensure that every council of governance in the Church should enjoy broad and equal participation of persons in every state of life: men and women working with their parish clergy and religious, all of them having the same voice and vote under episcopal presidency."

For years, as reports about McCarrick mounted, the Church operated under a system of episcopal promotion that is still in place today.

After thirty years of such reports, the idea that the Church has any credibility left to protect is absurd.