Key facts
- The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops held a liturgy in Orlando to consecrate the United States to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
- The consecration event was part of the bishops' spring assembly and aimed to mark the nation's 250th anniversary.
- The service acknowledged both national history and failures, including slavery and racism.
- Bishops also approved minor revisions to their policies on responding to sexual abuse, focusing on due process for accused priests.
- The revisions were met with criticism from the advocacy group BishopAccountability.org, which called it a "missed opportunity".
The nation's Catholic bishops convened in Orlando for a significant religious service, consecrating the United States to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. This liturgy, a central event of their spring assembly, coincided with preparations for the country's 250th anniversary and drew upon a centuries-old devotion.
The ceremony featured organ, brass, and choral music within a modern shrine. Before the liturgy, attendees knelt before relics of St. Mary Margaret Alacoque, a 17th-century French nun credited with popularizing the devotion to the Sacred Heart as a symbol of Christ's suffering love. This devotion has since become widespread globally, with numerous institutions and homes embracing it.
The service acknowledged both the nation's historical achievements, referencing the Declaration of Independence, and its failures, including the "original sins of slavery and racism." Archbishop Paul Coakley of Oklahoma City, president of the bishops conference, stated that consecration to the Sacred Heart involves accepting Jesus' invitation to live in His love, which should shape all aspects of life, acknowledging that neither the nation nor the church has always reflected this love.
This marks the first such consecration service in the United States, though similar events have occurred internationally since the 19th century. Historically, these services have sometimes carried political weight, particularly when associated with Catholic nationalistic movements. Pope Leo XIII previously consecrated the entire world to the Sacred Heart in 1899. Bishops also heard devotional talks emphasizing Pope Francis' teachings on the Sacred Heart as an inspiration for service and justice.
Earlier on Thursday, the bishops also approved minor revisions to their policies concerning sexual abuse. These revisions, which began five years ago, aim to add specifics on due process for accused priests while maintaining the ban on ministry for those found to have abused children. The charter, first approved in 2002 during the clergy sex abuse crisis, has undergone periodic revisions. Bishop Barry Knestout, who chaired the revision committee, explained the goal is to reemphasize commitment to addressing abuse and safeguarding children transparently, while also recognizing due process and the presumption of innocence during investigations. The advocacy group BishopAccountability.org criticized the approval, calling it a "missed opportunity" for broader input and a more "trauma-informed" charter.