BALTIMORE (CNS) -- A series of standards of episcopal accountability for bishops was formally unveiled Nov. 13 at the fall general meeting of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops in Baltimore. The standards will not be voted on during the bishops' meeting. A Vatican intervention announced Nov. 12 asked the bishops to delay approval of any elements of their proposals to strengthen the USCCB's policies on clergy sex abuse until they can be reviewed for their conformity to canon law and until after the February meeting at the Vatican for presidents of bishops' conferences worldwide.

BALTIMORE (CNS) -- Members of the National Review Board see their work as one way to continue challenging the U.S. bishops "not to back down" from efforts to improve accountability in responding to clergy sexual abuse, said board chairman Francesco Cesareo.

BALTIMORE (CNS) -- Seasoned bishop watchers know that just about every fall meeting of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops has a surprise. Sometimes it's an election result. Sometimes it is the debate you never expected. Sometimes it's that there's no debate.