UNITED STATES
The Tidings
By Jerry Filteau
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 bishops' spring meeting in Chicago.
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. He said their policy follows 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.