US Bishops actions seen to be far from adequate in addressing sexual abuse “catastrophe” DALLAS, June 18, 2002 (LSN.ca) – Last week’s United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) conference that approved a “Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People” was the Bishops’ opening foray into what is bound to be a spiritual 9-11.
The document, which passed 239 to 13 says “an alleged offender will be promptly relieved of ministerial duties and referred for medical and psychological evaluation.” Moreover, “when an allegation is admitted or determined, past, present or future, the diocesan policy will be that the offender will be removed permanently from ministry. If he is not dismissed from the clerical state (e.g., for reasons of advanced age or infirmity), he will not be permitted to celebrate Mass publicly, to wear clerical garb, or to present himself publicly as a priest. ” While the provisions in the document are mostly praiseworthy, many Catholics and non-Catholics are disturbed about what was not decided or even discussed at the conference. One writer after another has noted in the past few days that “The bishops still don’t get it.”
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