(LifeSiteNews) — The Lepanto Institute has launched a “bishop trust survey” to rate the orthodoxy and trustworthiness of Catholic bishops in the U.S.
The survey can be found on the website of Complicit Clergy, a project launched by the Lepanto Institute.
“Our Catholic faith states that bishops are the successors of the apostles of Jesus Christ,” Fr. James Altman said in a promotional video for the survey. “Their responsibilities include teaching the doctrine of faith and governing their dioceses and sanctifying their flocks by administrating the sacraments.”
“Now, more than ever, it is crucial for bishops to proclaim the truth of our faith and denounce the evils that are overtaking our society. Nothing less than the eternal souls of their flocks hang in the balance in this epic battle between the forces of good and of evil.”
“Sadly, many of our bishops have chosen to remain silent, thus becoming complicit in the devil’s plan of darkness,” he continued.
“It is time, perhaps past time, long past time, for the faithful to encourage, I might say demand, that their bishops fulfill the responsibility of their office: teaching, sanctifying,” the priest added.
“You can help encourage them by providing feedback to your bishop by completing the brief survey at bishopstrustsurvey.com.”
Altman stressed that the survey will only be open for a limited amount of time and urged viewers to complete the survey.
The form asks participants to select the bishops of their diocese and rate their trustworthiness from “completely distrust” to “completely trust” and to rate their orthodoxy from “completely unorthodox” to “completely orthodox.” The survey also allows participants to write a short comment about their bishop.
In 2019, Complicit Clergy carried out the same survey for the first time. Among the least trustworthy and orthodox bishops back then were Cardinals Blase Cupich of Chicago and Donald Wuerl of Washington, D.C. (until 2018). Bishop Robert McElroy, who was made a cardinal in 2022 by Pope Francis, was also among the worst-rated bishops.
On the other hand, Archbishops Joseph Naumann of Kansas City and Alexander Sample of Portland, as well as Bishop Peter Jugis of Charlotte were among the most trustworthy and orthodox, according to the participants.
“It’s been 4 years since we conducted our first Bishop Trust Survey and much has changed since that time,” Complicit Clergy’s website state. “Your bishop needs to understand the level of trust his flock has in his leadership as their shepherd.”
The bishop trust survey can be filled out here.