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CHICAGO — The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops voted on several proposals “to hold bishops accountable for instances of sexual abuse of children or vulnerable persons, sexual misconduct, or the intentional mishandling of such cases” at their June 11-14 general assembly in Baltimore.
According to a memorandum issued by the USCCB June 13, the bishops “specifically committed to involving and utilizing lay professional experts” in their new policy. The bishops agreed that “independent lay oversight is crucial” in holding bishops more accountable in cases of abuse. They also established a “new, independent mechanism for the reporting of such cases.”
On June 13, the bishops voted to implement the Motu proprio “Vos Estis Lux Mundi” (“You are the light of the world”), issued by Pope Francis in May to help the Catholic Church safeguard its members from abuse and hold its leaders accountable.
The bishops also approved the document “Affirming Our Episcopal Commitments” and promised to hold themselves accountable to the commitments of the 2002 “Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People,” also known as the “Dallas Charter,” including a zero-tolerance policy for abuse. The document says any codes of conduct in their respective dioceses regarding clergy apply to bishops as well.
They voted in favor of the item “protocol regarding available nonpenal restrictions on bishops,” which outlines what canonical options are available to bishops when a retired bishop resigns or is removed “due to sexual misconduct with adults or grave negligence of office, or where subsequent to his resignation he was found to have so acted or failed to act.”
The bishops’ first action as regards bishops accused of sexual abuse was a vote June 12 to authorize the implementation of a third-party system that would allow people to make confidential reports of abuse complaints against bishops online and through a toll-free telephone number. The system, which would be operated by an outside vendor contracted by the USCCB, should be in place no later than May 31, 2020.
During the first day of the assembly, several speakers discussed the challenge ahead and the need for the bishops to be both transparent and reliant upon lay leadership. The bishops also examined their plans to vote on procedures and policies in response to the abuse crisis, including some they had put aside during their fall general assembly in November at the Vatican’s request.
As regards lay involvement in the process, the memorandum said “a lay person pre-determined to help with the process will be informed any time a complaint comes through.”
As well, “lay investigators will be identified at the provincial level by metropolitan archbishops and will play an active role in investigating individual complaints against bishops.”
The memorandum called the Motu proprio “a strong next step.”
“Until the number of abuse cases is zero, the church must continually strengthen protections,” reads the memorandum. “After the U.S. bishops pass and implement the proposals, they will be further studied to identify gaps and develop further necessary reforms. Because the Motu proprio is in effect for three years, we expect that the Holy See will be following a similar process of evaluation and discernment.”
Additional reporting by Carol Zimmerman Catholic News Service.
Caption: Cardinal Daniel N. DiNardo of Galveston-Houston, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, looks on at the conclusion of the second day of the spring general assembly of the USCCB in Baltimore June 12, 2019. Looking on is Msgr. J. Brian Bransfield, general secretary. (CNS photo/Bob Roller)
As published in Horizons, Aug. 4, 2019.
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