[Vision2020] 06-11-04 Washington Post : Top Theologian Urges Reconsideration of Sex-Abuse Stance

Fri, 11 Jun 2004 08:13:51 -0700

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 washingtonpost.com
Top Theologian Urges Reconsideration of Sex-Abuse Stance

By Alan Cooperman
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, June 11, 2004; Page A05

The nation's preeminent Roman Catholic theologian, Cardinal Avery Dulles, called
in a speech published yesterday for reconsideration of the "zero tolerance"
policy toward sex abuse by priests that U.S. bishops adopted two years ago in
Dallas.

In the speech, delivered to a Catholic group in Florida on May 27, Dulles
described the Dallas policy as an "extreme response" to the sex abuse scandal in
the church. He predicted the Vatican will insist on revisions when the policy
comes up for renewal in December.

The speech was published by the Jesuit weekly America just four days before the
U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops is to hold a semiannual meeting entirely
behind closed doors for the first time in five years. The decision by the
bishops to meet in closed session next week in Englewood, Colo., had been
criticized by lay Catholic organizations and sex-abuse victims' groups even
before Dulles's article was published. But its appearance deepened their
anxiety.

Although revising the Dallas charter is not on the agenda for the meeting, "it
is very hard to believe that it won't come up," said David Clohessy, national
director of the Chicago-based Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests.

"When bishops want to convince everyone they're taking action, they invite the
whole world to watch, as they did in Dallas in 2002. And when they're discussing
backpedaling, they want no one watching," Clohessy said.

A spokesman for the bishops, Monsignor Francis Maniscalco, said they have
routinely held a prayer retreat every five years and need time for quiet
contemplation.

"The last two years have been trying and tumultuous, a time for us bishops to
examine our hearts and souls with exceptional care," the conference's president,
Bishop Wilton D. Gregory of Belleville, Ill., said in a statement. The
"long-planned special assembly seems a providential opportunity for us to
imitate the apostles who, at the Lord's urging, sometimes left their immediate
obligations to reflect prayerfully in His absence," he added.

Steve Krueger, executive director of the lay group Voice of the Faithful, said
the closed meeting made him wonder: "What do they have to hide?"

Krueger said the bishops have several issues on their agenda that he believes
should be debated openly, including whether to commission a second round of
independent audits of their compliance with the Dallas policy, which requires
the permanent removal from ministry of any priest credibly accused of abuse.

Dulles noted in his speech that the bishops have criticized legislatures for
passing mandatory sentencing laws and other "one-size-fits-all solutions." But
"under the glare of adverse publicity," he said, they "adopted the very
principles that they themselves had condemned."

Dulles called for consideration of changes in 15 areas, including a stronger
presumption of innocence for accused priests, a narrower definition of sexual
abuse, a "proportional" response rather than "zero tolerance," a re-imposition
of a statute of limitations and the possibility of reinstating some offenders to
ministry.

© 2004 The Washington Post Company

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<FONT size=3D3>&nbsp;</FONT><A =
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<P><FONT size=3D+2><B>Top Theologian Urges Reconsideration of Sex-Abuse=20
Stance</B></FONT> <BR>
<P><FONT size=3D-1>By Alan Cooperman<BR>Washington Post Staff =
Writer<BR>Friday,=20
June 11, 2004; Page A05 </FONT>
<P><NITF>
<P>The nation's preeminent Roman Catholic theologian, Cardinal Avery =
Dulles,=20
called in a speech published yesterday for reconsideration of the "zero=20
tolerance" policy toward sex abuse by priests that U.S. bishops adopted =
two=20
years ago in Dallas.</P>
<P>In the speech, delivered to a Catholic group in Florida on May 27, =
Dulles=20
described the Dallas policy as an "extreme response" to the sex abuse =
scandal in=20
the church. He predicted the Vatican will insist on revisions when the =
policy=20
comes up for renewal in December.</P>
<P>The speech was published by the Jesuit weekly America just four days =
before=20
the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops is to hold a semiannual meeting =
entirely=20
behind closed doors for the first time in five years. The decision by =
the=20
bishops to meet in closed session next week in Englewood, Colo., had =
been=20
criticized by lay Catholic organizations and sex-abuse victims' groups =
even=20
before Dulles's article was published. But its appearance deepened their =

anxiety.</P>
<P>Although revising the Dallas charter is not on the agenda for the =
meeting,=20
"it is very hard to believe that it won't come up," said David Clohessy, =

national director of the Chicago-based Survivors Network of Those Abused =
by=20
Priests.</P>
<P>"When bishops want to convince everyone they're taking action, they =
invite=20
the whole world to watch, as they did in Dallas in 2002. And when =
they're=20
discussing backpedaling, they want no one watching," Clohessy said.</P>
<P>A spokesman for the bishops, Monsignor Francis Maniscalco, said they =
have=20
routinely held a prayer retreat every five years and need time for quiet =

contemplation. </P>
<P>"The last two years have been trying and tumultuous, a time for us =
bishops to=20
examine our hearts and souls with exceptional care," the conference's =
president,=20
Bishop Wilton D. Gregory of Belleville, Ill., said in a statement. The=20
"long-planned special assembly seems a providential opportunity for us =
to=20
imitate the apostles who, at the Lord's urging, sometimes left their =
immediate=20
obligations to reflect prayerfully in His absence," he added.</P>
<P>Steve Krueger, executive director of the lay group Voice of the =
Faithful,=20
said the closed meeting made him wonder: "What do they have to =
hide?"</P>
<P>Krueger said the bishops have several issues on their agenda that he =
believes=20
should be debated openly, including whether to commission a second round =
of=20
independent audits of their compliance with the Dallas policy, which =
requires=20
the permanent removal from ministry of any priest credibly accused of =
abuse.=20
</P>
<P>Dulles noted in his speech that the bishops have criticized =
legislatures for=20
passing mandatory sentencing laws and other "one-size-fits-all =
solutions." But=20
"under the glare of adverse publicity," he said, they "adopted the very=20
principles that they themselves had condemned."</P>
<P>Dulles called for consideration of changes in 15 areas, including a =
stronger=20
presumption of innocence for accused priests, a narrower definition of =
sexual=20
abuse, a "proportional" response rather than "zero tolerance," a =
re-imposition=20
of a statute of limitations and the possibility of reinstating some =
offenders to=20
ministry.</P>
<P></P></NITF>
<P>
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