from the ministry, victims suggested Saturday June 15 they had no reason to believe their kids were more safe.
Their statement came amidst reports that the Vatican may consider not to accept the document on the protection of young people and children in its current form.
Catholic analysts say there is concern that the current wording may potentially include the expulsion of priests who perhaps many years ago read or distributed a pornographic magazine to a teenager.
However Abuse victim Peter Isely of the group Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests (SNAP) told reporters that the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People adopted at the two day meeting in Dallas does not go far enough.
"ZERO TOLERANCE" QUESTIONED
He pointed out that although the proposal calls for all priests who abuse children in the future, as well as those guilty of past abuse, to be immediately removed from priestly duties, they will technically remain known as Fathers.
Isely stressed it was not the so-called "zero-tolerance" policy some bishops spoke of adopting. "Zero tolerance for teachers means what? It means if you are a sex offender who committed an act of sexual abuse as a teacher, you are no longer a teacher. You do not get to keep your certification. You lose your license," he said after an emotionally charged gathering.
SNAP group member Mark Serrano disagrees with bishops who say the new policy ensures children will be safe from abusive priests. "To me, that is like taking the street killer out of the city and moving him to the country. He is still going to seek his victims. That is what sexual predators are like," he said.
JAIL BEST PROTECTION
"You can not stop them. You can not monitor them 24 hours a day. The best thing to do is get them in jail. That is what protects children." That opinion is apparently reflected by 9 out of 10 Americans. An NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll released found that 91 percent of American Catholics rejected the idea of giving abusers another chance.
Respondents also said they wanted men to be removed from the priesthood if they were found guilty in one case of abusing a young person.
However Conference President Bishop Wilton Gregory praised the document as a step forward. "From this day forward, no one known to have sexually abused a child will work in the Catholic Church in the United States," he said.
APOLOGIZE TO ANYONE
He added that bishops "apologize to anyone harmed by one of our priests, and for our tragically slow response in recognizing the horror of sexual abuse."
Hundreds of abuse victims came forward this year to tell their stories of being raped or molested by priests, in some cases more than 30 years ago. Since January, 250 priests have stepped down or been dismissed because of sexual misconduct and four bishops have also resigned.
Lawsuits are expected to cost the Catholic Church hundreds of millions and possible billions of dollars. Oklahoma Gov. Frank Keating, who will lead a newly formed National Review Board, to monitor bishops’ compliance and oversee a broad investigation of the crisis, urged the Catholic hierarchy to "understand that the abuse of children is not just immoral, it is also a potential crime."
SEX ABUSE POLICY
Keating’s appointment is part of the new sex abuse policy adopted by America’s Roman Catholic bishops, which will involve lay Catholics who will hold majorities on review boards that assess abuse cases and policies in each diocese.
However they can only advise the bishop, who will make the decisions. In addition each diocese will practice "transparency" and "deal as openly as possible" with parishioners. Procedures for making abuse complaints will be publicized and no confidentiality agreements will be made unless victims insist for "grave" reasons, the Associated Press news agency reported.
Bishops will work with Catholic parents and non-Catholics to establish "safe environment" programs that protect children and bishops or their representatives will offer to meet personally with all abuse victims and their families.
POPE’S REACTION UNCLEAR
It was not immediately clear if Pope John Paul II would address the issue during an unprecedented canonization mass of Padre Pio, an internationally famous but also controversial mystic Italian monk who claimed to carry the bleeding wounds of Jesus Christ in his hands.
More than a quarter million people were expected to attend the open air ceremony at St. Peter’s Square in Vatican City.
