CHICAGO (IL)
United Press International
By Frances Burns
Jun. 18, 2005 at 9:44PM
Roman Catholic bishops meeting in Chicago have voted to spend up to $5 million for a study of the causes of child sexual abuse.
The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops also reaffirmed the zero-tolerance policy that requires the immediate removal of priests from public ministry when credible claims of molestation are made. If molestation claims are confirmed by church investigators, removal is permanent and the offender can be stripped of ordination.
The bishops extended child-protection policies for five years, the Los Angeles Times reported.