March 06, 2005

Canon law operates under different rules

WISCONSIN
Janesville Gazette Extra

(Published Sunday, March 6, 2005 11:51:50 PM CST)

By Sid Schwartz/Gazette Staff

Unlike trials in criminal or civil court, the trial of the Rev. Kenneth Klubertanz under canon law will not be public.

The accusers probably won't be allowed to attend, either.

"They do not try to have the accused and the accuser in the same room at the same time going at each other," said the Rev. Arthur Espelage, executive coordinator of the Canon Law Society of America in Alexandria, Va.

"I can see where a child who has been hurt this way has been scarred forever. They have been robbed of power and control.

"Maybe this is a way they feel they can get that power and control back, but I'm not sure that a courtroom is a place to do that. I'm not even sure it's possible."

Bill Brophy, communications director of the Madison Diocese, said Klubertanz's trial has not yet been scheduled.

Posted by kshaw at March 6, 2005 07:53 AM