THEN….

• If the matter is referred for a pastoral response, you have a right to appeal to your diocesan disciplinary committee, BUT

• In a well-run diocese, a lot gets resolved behind the scenes without going further. The bishop can issue a pastoral directive that tells the Bad Guy to stop whatever he or she is doing. Or to start doing something, like showing up on Sundays.

• In a badly run diocese, or at the national church level, there typically is no pastoral response. In that case, an appeal to the disciplinary committee is unlikely to succeed, as members are usually insiders and buddies with the bishop.