Posted on 06/17/2005 1:55:06 PM PDT by Jaded
CHICAGO - The nation's Roman Catholic bishops agreed Friday to a five-year extension on their unprecedented policy of permanently barring sexually abusive clergy from church work.
The overwhelming vote by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops means the American church will stick with the main points of the policy it adopted in 2002 at the height of crisis brought on by molesters in the priesthood. The Vatican is expected to approve the extension.
The bishops' committee overseeing a review mandated by the original policy spent months soliciting comment from fellow church leaders. The panel concluded that "many, perhaps a majority," of bishops hope to someday ease the permanent ban on offenders. Some prelates believe it violates Catholic teaching on redemption — that any sinner can be healed — and treats every case equally no matter the severity of the offense.
However, the bishops' committee said that church leaders agreed now was not the time to soften the policy.
The scandal was sparked by revelations that many bishops had moved guilty priests among parish assignments without warning parents or police. Hundreds of accused clergy have been removed from ministry in the last three years alone.
(snip)
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
ping and then some
Prelates believe that any "sinner can be healed ?"
Not pedophiles. No cure.
Prelates believe that any "sinner can be healed ?"
Not pedophiles. No cure.
Ughhh! How about a permanent ban and, more importantly, seizing their pensions!
Yes there is. An hour of self-reflection, last rites, and a rope.
Good one !
Got their fingers right on the pulse, don't they? At least they got one thing right.
later pingout.
This is like Steve Howe's 3 or 4 lifetime bans. Same for Daryl Strawberry.
It's either lifetime or it ain't...none of this "lifetime but we'll review it every few years". The mental and moral bank accounts of these guys are terribly close to bouncing checks.
How it scares me that a few of these guys had a say in picking the new pope. My solace comes from the fact that 1) the vote required a super majority, thereby making their votes somewhat irrelevant, 2) Benedict apparently got far more votes than necessary, and 3) the ultimate choice is is good man.
Is it a five year ban? It is a permanent ban? Is it a permanent five year ban? As Rush says, you can't make this stuff up.
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