CHILD ABUSE POLICY IN PLACE

The changes, made during the bishops' annual meeting last week in Washington, D.C., met the Vatican's concerns about due process for accused priests but left intact the "one-strike-and-you're-out" policy, which was put into place last June when the hierarchy met in Dallas to resolve the simmering issue.

It would be ideal if the policy were never tested in a real-life situation; but no policy can eliminate sin, so it will have to be activated somewhere in America. Then, we trust, the Charter's abstract theory will be proved through its practical implementation: The accuser will be heard and helped, the accused priest will be removed from ministry and given a chance to defend himself, the criminal justice system will be involved if civil law applies, the canon law process will be activated, and justice will be served in all quarters.

In the ten months since the child abuse scandal erupted, there has been much consternation, loss of confidence and trust, suspicion about motivations, and finger-pointing among all the parties, including bishops, officials at the Vatican, victims' advocates, activist groups, ordinary Catholics and the media.

Out of all that (or despite it), a workable policy appears to have been devised, one that fulfills the needs of victims, protects children, safeguards the rights of priest-defendants, and meets the demands for fairness and accountability sought by all.

(11-21-02)