In a statement from Newark today, @CardinalJWTobin, currently at #VEncuentro, said he will not be attending @synod2018. After #sexabuse revelations "I could not see myself absent for a month from our archdiocese & from you, the people entrusted to my care." (CNS/Tyler Orsburn) 
"After prayer and consultation, I wrote to Pope Francis, asking that he dispense me from attending, but assuring him that I strongly support the objectives of the Synod and that I would obey whatever he decided,” said @CardinalJWTobin #sexabuse @synod2018
.@CardinalJWTobin said #PopeFrancis "responded the next day with a beautiful pastoral and compassionate message. He told me that he understands why I need to stay close to home, and he released me from the obligation to attend the Synod next month.”
"Never again will we permit the horrific abuses that occurred here .... Never again will we return to 'business as usual,' allowing human wickedness, sin or hypocrisy to blind us from the truth or prevent us from doing God’s work." @CardinalJWTobin
