An editorial in the most recent issue of America

While recognizing that bishops have no canonical authority over one another, the National Review Board calls for “fraternal correction” of bishops by bishops. Such fraternal correction is rare but not unheard of. Cardinal Bernard Law and others openly criticized Cardinal Joseph Bernardin for his participation in the Common Ground project, which encouraged dialogue among Catholics. But no bishop ever publicly criticized Cardinal Law or any other bishop for failing to respond to the sex abuse crisis. Fraternal correction is not easy, but as the board notes, it is one of the things the bishops must do.

It is rare, that is, in the contemporary church. There is a long and venerable history of strong fraternal correction among Catholic bishops going back to ancient times, in days when what was at stake was the integrity of the faith, and preserving and teaching the faith was what bishops were for. (of course it still is….)