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	Abbot Proposes Rome Registry for Religious Sex Offenders Earth Times March 22, 2010 http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/315215,abbot-proposes-rome-registry-for-religious-sex-offenders.html SWITZERLAND, Geneva -- A Swiss abbot has proposed that Rome establish a registry of clergy members who committed sexual abuses, local media reported Monday. Martin Werlen, the abbot of Einsiedeln in Switzerland, told media that opening such a depot of information would allow for greater transparency. If a member of the clergy was moved from one diocese to another, the database could be accessed to see if the priest had been accused of sexual or other abuses in previous positions. "I am afraid that the church's leadership in Rome is not taking the situation seriously enough," Werlen was quoted as saying to newspapers. He criticized what he termed a slow reaction by the Vatican to the sexual abuse crisis, saying the church should "learn to act more quickly." However, Werlen's view was not universal. Over the weekend, Bishop Norbert Brunner, president of the Swiss Bishops Conference, slammed the media, saying it was waging an attack on the church over the claims of abuse. Brunner, who said nine cases were under investigation, insisted the Church's system in place was adequate to handle the developing situation. The Catholic church in the Alpine land has in recent weeks admitted to the likelihood of abuse in Switzerland, with Werlen himself saying cases were under investigation. Last week, further information was revealed that some dioceses hired priests even with the knowledge that allegations against them included sexual misconduct. One priest has resigned over the affair, admitted to abusing children some 30 years ago. Weekend newspapers in Switzerland extensively dealt with the emerging scandals, which appears to be gathering steams in various areas of the country. In Ireland, Germany, the Netherlands and other countries, reports of abuse in the Catholic Church continue to surface.
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