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Letter from Cardinal Giovanni Battista
Re to Bishop Wilton D. Gregory regarding the Essential Norms for
Diocesan/Eparchial Policies Dealing with Allegations of Sexual Abuse of Minors
by Clergy or Other Church Personnel
Most Rev. Wilton D. Gregory Bishop of
Belleville President of U.S. Bishops Conference
Your Excellency,
With your letter of June 26, 2002, you forwarded to the Holy See
the document entitled Essential Norms for Diocesan/Eparchial Policies
Dealing with Allegations of Sexual Abuse of Minors by Priests, Deacons, or
Other Church Personnel (Norms), approved at the
Plenary Assembly pf the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops which took
place in Dallas (Texas) from June 13-15, and for which you requested the
recognitio.
The Holy See, above all, would like to convey full solidarity with
the Bishops of the United States in their firm condemnation of sexual misdeeds
against minors and is deeply concerned about the distressing situation that has
arisen in recent months in the Church in the United States. Likewise, the Holy
See wishes to encourage the efforts of the Episcopal Conference is assisting
the Bishops to address these difficult problems.
The sexual abuse of minors is particularly abhorrent. Deeply moved
by the sufferings of the victims and their families, the Holy See supports the
American Bishops in their endeavor to respond firmly to the sexual misdeeds of
the very small number of those who minister or labor in the service of the
Church. But such a very small number cannot overshadow the immense
spiritual, human and social good that the vast majority of priests and
religious in the United States have done and are still doing (Pope John
Paul II, Address to the Cardinals and to the Presidency of the Episcopal
Conference of the United States, April 23, 2002).
The Apostolic See likewise acknowledges the efforts which the
Bishops of the United States have made through the Norms and
the guidelines contained in the Bishops Charter for the Protection
of Children and Young People (Charter) to protect
minors and to avoid future recurrences of these abuses. Such efforts should
also help to preserve or restore the trust of the faithful in their
pastors.
Despite these efforts, the application of the policies adopted at
the Plenary Assembly in Dallas can be the source of confusion and ambiguity,
because the Norms and Charter contain
provisions, which in some aspects are difficult to reconcile with the universal
law of the Church. Moreover, the experience of the last few months has shown
that the terminology of these documents is at times vague or imprecise and
therefore difficult to interpret. Questions also remain concerning the concrete
manner in which the procedures outlined in the Norms and
Charter are to be applied in conjunction with the
requirements of the Code of Canon Law and the Motu proprio
Sacramentorum sancitaris tutela (AAS 93, 2001, p.787).
For these reasons, it has been judged appropriate that before the
recognitio can be granted, a further reflection on and revision of the
Norms and the Charter are necessary. In
order to facilitate this work, the Holy See proposes that a Mixed Commission be
established, composed of four bishops chosen from the Episcopal Conference of
the United States, and four representatives from those Dicasteries of the Holy
See which have direct competence in the matter; the Congregation for the
Doctrine of the Faith, the Congregation for Bishops, the Congregation for
Clergy, and the Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts.
On behalf of the other Dicasteries involved, I look forward to
your response. With the promise of prayers for your important work in serving
the United States Catholic Conference of Bishops, I remain,
Sincerely yours in Christ,
Giovanni Battista
Cardinal Re Prefect Congregations for Bishops
October 14, 2002
National Catholic Reporter, Posted October 18,
2002
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