US bishops commit to protection of children

Chicago, Ill., Jun 19, 2005 / 22:00 pm

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops has acknowledged the mistakes made by some bishops in transferring abusive priests from one parish to another and has pledged to follow the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People.

The bishops made this pledge in “A Statement of Episcopal Commitment” which was issued at the close of their spring meeting in Chicago last week. The statement will be reviewed in five years.

“We bishops pledge again to respond to the demands of the Charter in a way that manifests our accountability to God, to God’s people and to one another,” reads the statement.

“We acknowledge mistakes in the past when some bishops transferred, from one assignment to another, priests who abused minors. We recognize our role in the suffering this has caused, and we continue to ask forgiveness for it,” it continues.

The bishops also committed to assisting each other in correctly interpreting and implementing the Charter, even in cases when bishops are accused of sexual abuse.
“In making this statement, we firmly uphold the dignity of every human being and renew our commitment to live and promote the chastity required of all followers of Christ and especially of deacons, priests and bishops,” the statement concludes.

The full statement is available at: http://www.usccb.org/bishops/episcopalcommitment.shtml