Bishop Gregory did not specify the target of his remarks.

Bishop Gregory said that all discussion at the meeting would grow out of the central issue of how to better protect children.

Bishop Gregory, 53, has already made history among the bishops twice.

Bishop Gregory said he presumed that it would be.

"The simplest response would be, there is no difference" between the old and new cases, Bishop Gregory said.

Certainly no official here has done what Bishop Gregory did today in publicly answering questions on the issue.

Bishop Gregory said today that he viewed the meeting as a chance for the bishops to carry on pastoral work with the victims.

Since then, he has heard several times from Bishop Gregory, but the terms of the invitation to speak are still being negotiated.

"Just to continue speaking of it is painful," Bishop Gregory said.

Bishop Gregory said that study should be released in January.