CHICAGO (IL)
Guardian
By RACHEL ZOLL
AP Religion Writer
CHICAGO (AP) - U.S. Roman Catholic bishops voted by ballot Friday on whether to extend their policy of permanently barring sex offenders from church work. The tally wasn't immediately known, though the discipline plan was widely expected to win approval.
A bishops' committee has recommended revisions that would leave the policy - first adopted in June 2002 - largely intact for five more years.
The panel acknowledged that ``many, perhaps a majority,'' of bishops hope to someday ease the ban, which they believe violates Catholic teaching on redemption and treats every case equally no matter the severity of the offense.
However, the committee said church leaders agreed that now was not the time.