Chicago – U.S. Roman Catholic bishops are expected to vote today to renew reforms adopted three years ago at the height of the clergy sexual abuse crisis, including preserving the controversial centerpiece: the removal from ministry of any priest found to have abused a minor, no matter how old the incident.
In recommendations given Thursday at the bishops’ business meeting here, a panel of bishops urged preserving the “zero- tolerance” policy toward abusive priests while acknowledging that many and perhaps a majority of U.S. bishops believe the truly rehabilitated could serve again.
While Chicago Cardinal Francis George said Thursday that church leaders have kept their promises to protect children, victim-rights advocates say proposed changes to the policy adopted in 2002 further weaken already suspect protections.
By all accounts, there is little desire by bishops to do more than tweak the abuse policy.
“I think it’s the right tack in and of itself, but I think it’s necessary in order to avoid a firestorm about it because otherwise we reopen some of the more controversial issues,” said Denver Archbishop Charles Chaput.
Among the revisions under consideration:
A statement asserting accused priests deserve “the presumption of innocence.”
A simpler definition of “sexual abuse” to reflect the Sixth Commandment’s condemnation of sexual activity outside marriage.
A clarification of the strictly advisory role played by the National Review Board, a group of prominent lay Catholics some bishops believe overstepped its bounds in criticizing bishops.
Victim advocates criticized the changes as backsliding.
“What’s most troubling is that many if not most (bishops) don’t believe in zero tolerance,” said David Clohessy of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests.
Staff writer Eric Gorski can be reached at 303-820-1698 or egorski@denverpost.com.
