The boy had carried the last few things into the sacristy and left. Gabriel sat down in the pew behind Karen. "It... was deemed better by the bishop." The bishop had disliked Gabriel's approach even before his crisis, but Gabriel doubted that his permission to hear confessions had been withdrawn to spite him. Hearing confessions was a heavy responsibility, that required spiritual stability. Had it not been hearing Crane's confession that had initiated his crisis? "Hearing confessions is a grave responsibility, and requires a special permission. The bishop withdrew mine for the time being, and it is not my place to question his discernment."