KIM LAWTON: In a response made public on Friday, the Vatican supported the U.S. Bishops' efforts to deal with the clergy sex abuse crisis. But the Vatican added that certain provisions of the policy adopted in June appear to conflict with the Church's universal law.At a news conference in Rome, Bishop Wilton Gregory, president of the U.S. Bishops Conference, said a joint U.S.-Vatican commission will be appointed to discuss possible revisions.
Bishop WILTON GREGORY: The Holy See wants to look at some of the provisions for action that we have called for in these documents, because as they are currently described, they are, and I quote, "difficult to reconcile with the universal law of the Church and therefore can be the source of confusion and ambiguity."
LAWTON: The big question now is what this means for U.S. dioceses. Joining me to discuss this is Father Thomas Reese, editor in chief of AMERICA MAGAZINE. He's in New York. Father Reese, what are the Vatican's concerns?
Father THOMAS REESE: The Vatican's concerns are to first of all make clear that they don't want to see any more children abused in the future. But at the same time, they want to make sure that any innocent priest who is accused of abuse is protected, that we have due process procedures in place that protect the rights of priests while at the same time ensuring that abusive priests don't get near any children in the future.
LAWTON: But what are the specific areas where they think that the policy the bishops adopted in fact conflict with Church law?
Father REESE: Well, there are issues like, you know, does the priest have the right to a trial? What is going to be considered a credible accusation against the priest? Does the priest have a right to appeal? Is there a statute of limitations that should be applied here? So you know, it's very much like what happens in any police force in the United States.
Father REESE: Well, I think that Bishop Gregory has made clear that, from his discussions with Vatican officials, that the bishops are not being told to stop. They can continue doing what they have been doing for the past four months in terms of implementing the charter and wait until November, when the commission makes its report, before they make any changes in what they're doing right now.
