CHICAGO (IL)
Catholic News Service
By Jerry Filteau
Catholic News Service
CHICAGO (CNS) -- When the U.S. bishops overwhelmingly approved revisions in the charter and norms to protect children and deal with clergy sex abuse June 17, they did not weaken either document, Archbishop Harry J. Flynn of St. Paul-Minneapolis told reporters at the final press conference of the meeting.
The archbishop, who has headed the bishops' Ad Hoc Committee on Sexual Abuse for the past three years, said the bishops continue to have a "zero tolerance" policy on such abuse, following the principle enunciated by the late Pope John Paul II that there is no room in the priesthood for those who would abuse children.
The bishops approved revisions in their "Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People" by a 228-4 vote and changes in the "Essential Norms" implementing the charter legislatively, 229-3.
The charter and norms were among the major issues facing the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops at their June 16-18 meeting in Chicago. The documents were originally adopted in 2002 with a projected two-year life span before review. That life span was extended when the bishops were not able to make the revisions at their November 2004 meeting.