Vatican unhappy with US church's abuse policy
The Vatican has rejected parts of the US church’s new sex abuse policy and cautioned American bishops from going ahead with them, sources said today.
In particular, the Vatican expressed concern over elements of the proposed policy that would violate the individual rights of accused clerics now protected under universal church law, the sources said.
The response will be made public tomorrow, a day after Bishop Wilton Gregory, the head of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops, and other American prelates met Pope John Paul to discuss the scandal that has rocked the American Church.
All along, Vatican officials and US church lawyers have raised objections to the proposals, arguing that they may violate the due process rights of priests.
However, Vatican officials and top US churchmen had said they expected the Vatican would go along with them anyway, on a trial basis.
The sources stressed that the entire plan has not been rejected, and that it could be a work in progress to satisfy the various objections.
Nevertheless, the Vatican is recommending the bishops be cautious in implementing the more controversial sections of the policy, the sources said.
