DETROIT (MI)
Detroit Free Press
June 14, 2019
By Niraj Warikoo
Archbishop of Detroit Allen Vigneron said that Catholic leaders in Michigan “will begin work immediately” to implement a series of measures for accountability of bishops on sexual abuse cases that was approved Thursday by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) at their annual meeting.
In Baltimore, the bishops approved this week three measures that were in line with guidelines issued by Pope Francis in May that called for more responsibility among Catholic bishops in responding to sexual abuse by clergy and to stop shielding abusers. Critics have raised concerns about some bishops in the U.S. covering up sexual abuse by clergy.
The Catholic bishops, which included Vigneron, voted for a third-party reporting system allowing people to make confidential reports and a new oversight model where metropolitan bishops — such as Vigneron — have more responsibility over other bishops.
The bishops also voted to “restrict the ministry of retired bishops accused of sexual abuse or negligence,” said the Archdiocese of Detroit.
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