May 2002

CTA to bring sex abuse panel, proposals, to U.S. bishops

When the entire U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops meets June 13-15 in Dallas to debate national policies against clergy sexual abuse of minors, Call To Action will be in town with specific proposals, and a panel of experts to promote them. The summit conference of 12 U.S. Cardinals with the Pope in the Vatican Apr. 23-24 disappointed many American Catholics, and appalled CTA for not even agreeing about which priest abusers to remove from ministry. Now all eyes are on the USCCB meeting in Dallas. CTA policy recommendations, still being finalized with advice from lawyers, canonists and abuse survivor organizations, will be mailed to every bishop and promoted in the media and through CTA members and regional units. The proposals call on the USCCB to see that tough standards are implemented in every diocese for:

• full disclosure of the diocesan handling of sexual abuse cases, the costs involved, and where the money came from;
• release of victims and their families from any prior confidentiality agreements;
• open consultation with all of the faithful in developing procedures;
• review boards that are independent of the bishop;
• good touch/bad touch child abuse prevention programs in all schools, CCD
• classes, and any programs involving minors.

Alleged sexual abuse of a minor should be

• reported promptly to law enforcement;
• examined by trained specialists, not dioceses.
• Priests found guilty should be removed from priesthood.

Caring about victims

To show they are committed to justice for victims, bishops should:

• acknowledge their pain, no matter how long ago the abuse occurred;
• accept responsibility for the cover-up by church authorities;
• avoid any implication that the victims were at fault;
• lobby to end the statute of limitations on prosecution of sexual abuse.

Measures at national level

To annually audit every diocese's handling of sex abuse cases, CTA is calling for:

• an independent national review board, elected by representatives from diocesan pastoral councils;
• a widely advertised national hotline operated by the national board whereby victims can report abuse when they don't trust their local diocese.

Symposium, prayer vigils

CTA activities in Dallas will be based at the Adams Mark Hotel, about 0.6 miles from the bishops' meeting at the Fairmont Hotel. Thursday, June 13, CTA will hold a morning press conference, and an afternoon symposium with speakers on both sexual abuse of minors and needed structural reforms of the church. There will be an evening prayer service invoking the Holy Spirit on the bishops. deliberations. More press conferences and prayer events are being planned for Friday. For details on the schedule, speakers and participants, stay tuned to CTA.s Website: www.cta-usa.org