Milwaukee, Wis., Nov 9, 2003 / 22:00 pm
The interim chairman of the USCCB-created National Review Board, created to monitor Church response to clerical sexual abuse, addressed the national conference of “Call to Action” last Saturday, reassuring the board will keep its “independence” from the bishops.
Anne Burke, an Illinois appellate judge who replaced former Oklahoma governor Frank Keating as head of the board, participated last Saturday at the national meeting of “Call to Action,” an organization that advocates for “reforms” at odds with current Church teachings, among them the ordination of women and optional celibacy for priests.
Burke said 76 percent of US Catholic dioceses have reported information about sexual abuse victims, perpetrators and events for a survey sponsored by the National Review Board. The survey is scheduled to be released in February.
“Even though there was some foot-dragging in the beginning, they are complying,” Burke told “Call To Action” members.