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GRASSROOTS CATHOLICS DEMAND ACCOUNTABILITY

June 11, 2002

GRASSROOTS CATHOLICS DEMAND ACCOUNTABILITY

CHICAGO, June 11, 2002 -- "The bishops' draft proposal for handling clergy sexual abuse is sorely lacking in the area of the hierarchy's accountability to the Catholic people," said Sheila Daley, Co-Director of Call To Action, the nation's largest Catholic Church reform organization.

First, the bishops' proposed review boards have no teeth. They operate only in an advisory capacity. "No longer can we leave the determination of suitability for ministry solely to the hierarchy," said Daley. "We must have parents, law enforcement, survivors, and mental health experts making those calls. The decisions of truly independent review boards must be binding."

Second, the draft neglects completely the complicity of the bishops themselves in this scandal. "The bishops have used very strong language to condemn priest abusers. Where is the equally strong language condemning bishops who repeatedly covered-up the abuse, reassigned the abusers, and put many more children in harms way? What is the penalty for their abuse of power?" asked Daley.

Third, we still need full disclosure of the abuses of the past. "The Catholic laity have a right to know what has happened to our children, our parishes, and our money. We cannot allow the bishops to continue to shroud this problem in secrecy," said CTA spokeswoman, Linda Pieczynski.

Call To Action will host a press conference on Thursday, June 13 at 9:30 am in the Lone Star IV room of the Adams Mark Hotel, 400 N. Olive Street, Dallas (1/2 mile from Fairmont Hotel),
214- 922-8000. Daley and Pieczynski will be commenting further on the problems with the bishops' draft policy, and the expectations of reform-minded Catholics for a credible solution to this crisis of leadership.

Below are CTA's 12 recommended improvements to the bishops' draft.

CALL TO ACTION'S RECOMMENDATIONS TO IMPROVE THE BISHOPS' DRAFT OF POLICIES ON SEXUAL ABUSE BY CLERGY

1. Clearly define "sexual abuse" in order to know exactly what types of behaviors will result in the penalties outlined in the draft.

2. Clearly define those persons with whom the priest "lives with and serves." Article 5 requires disclosure of "the cleric's situation" when an offender is returned to ministry. It is not clear who is included in the "persons with whom the priest lives and serves".

3. Make clear that the report to authorities will be made before the review panel assesses the allegation in all cases where the statute of limitations has not run.

4. Fully disclose information regarding past cases including the names of all offenders and the financial cost to the church.

5. Remove felony offenders from the priesthood no matter when the offense occurred.

6. Lobby for an end to the statute of limitations for sex offenses against minors and for mandatory reporting laws for clergy.

7. Establish an independent review board in each diocese:
a. Review board decisions should be binding, not advisory
b. Members should be chosen by the diocesan pastoral council, not the bishop
c. Members should have expertise (e.g. parents, teachers, mental health professionals, social workers, law enforcement personnel, legal professionals, victims, victims advocates)
d. Members should have professional training in handling sexual abuse cases
e. There should be no requirement that a priest be on the review board

8. Hold an open community policy consultation with the faithful to review and further develop diocesan policies and procedures.

9. Require that an annual report be published by the diocesan independent review boards.

10. Establish an independent national review board
a. Board should be separately incorporated and empowered to audit policies and procedures of every diocese
b. Members should be chosen by representatives from Diocesan Pastoral Councils, not by the bishops
c. Members should have some relevant expertise (e.g. parents, teachers, mental health professionals, social workers, law enforcement personnel, legal professionals, victims, victims advocates)

11. Establish a national hotline for victims.

12. Determine the consequences for those bishops who failed to protect minors in their dioceses through cover-ups, lack of action or inadequate warnings to people in new assignments and for any bishop who violates the new policies

Call To Action is a national organization of 25,000 laity, religious, priests and bishops with its national office in Chicago. It has 40 local chapters. It advocates for reforms in the Catholic Church such as the ordination of women, optional celibacy for priests, more focus on the church's social justice teaching, and consultation with the Catholic people on church decision-making and sexuality issues. Their comprehensive web site is at http://www.cta-usa.org

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Contact: Don Wedd, 708 606-8769 (cell phone, June 12-15), or
Contact: CTA office in Chicago 773 404-0004 ext. 270

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