INDIANAPOLIS (IN)
The Courier-Journal
By Ken Kusmer
Associated Press
INDIANAPOLIS -- The Catholic lay reform group Voice of the Faithful approved draft resolutions yesterday calling for tougher laws against abusive priests and the bishops who have protected them and for greater financial transparency in the church.
Nearly 600 local organizers approved nine draft resolutions that also called for, among other things, the election of bishops by representatives of a dioceses' laity and clergy, greater collaboration between clergy and laity, and a lay voice in diocesan and U.S. church decisions.
Bishops, who hold ultimate decision-making power in their dioceses and the U.S. church, likely will reject most of the proposals contained in the resolutions.
And some of the proposals are outside their control, such as the resolution to "promote legislation that protects children and holds bishops accountable for their failure to protect their children."
"The message was we've got to be a stronger voice on the statutes of limitations," Jim Post, president of the Newton, Mass.-based group, said after the meeting.