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U.S. Catholic Conference Releases Draft For Handling of Abuse Cases

Aired June 04, 2002 - 11:34   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: We move on to a scandal that has rocked much of the country, as Catholic bishops respond to the sex abuse scandal within the church. The U.S. Catholic Conference has released a draft for its handling of abuse cases. The recommendations called for removing priests who abused more than one child in the past and those who do so in the future. But priests who committed abuse just once in the past could remain in the ministry under some circumstances.

Joining us from Washington to talk about the draft report is Jude Dougherty, former dean of philosophy at Catholic University.

Sir, good morning. Thanks for joining us.

Have you had a chance to look at some of these suggestions.

JUDE DOUGHERTY, CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY: I have indeed.

KAGAN: Is this going to be enough regain the respect of so many Catholics around the country?

DOUGHERTY: Well, I don't think that respect is lost. There is a big difference between the church of Christ and its moral teaching and its personnel.

KAGAN: Well, clearly, there has been respect lost for much of the personnel on how these abuse cases have been handled in the past.

DOUGHERTY: Well, it's difficult to get a handle on how much abuse has in fact taken lace. The numbers, well, there are 45,000 priests in the United States, but how many -- only a handful of them convicted of anything.

KAGAN: Have been convicted, but, sir, I don't think that's what we are here talking about today. We're talking about...

DOUGHERTY: No, we are talking about the behavior of clergy. There oh is no room in the priesthood for any pedophile or any homosexual.

KAGAN: And do you think -- first to pedophiles, two separate issues. But do you think that these new rules, if in fact they are adopted by the Vatican will be enough. If you say, one strike, if you abuse more than one child, to me, what I hear, and I have to say as non-Catholic, what I hear is one child is OK, but once you get past more than one child, we have a problem.

DOUGHERTY: Well, one child is not OK.

KAGAN: Clearly, it's not OK.

DOUGHERTY: There has to be a re-examination of what goes on in the seminaries and the policies that we employ in recruiting candidates for the priesthood. When I was a child, the priest was looked upon for both moral and intellectual virtue. He was a holy man giving up a whole lot to dedicate himself to the care of Catholics in his parish. That has to be restored. But I don't think it's been lost, in spite of the fact that we find now that there are many instances of, you know, at least charges have been brought in many instances.

KAGAN: Also a difference in these rules, mandatory reporting. If in fact a church official suspects abuse, you must go to legal authorities. That is different than how some of these cases have been handled in the past.

DOUGHERTY: That is true. I think that's much to the good. I think a uniformed code is long overdue so that each diocese doesn't have to deal with the problem on its own. If there is a national uniform code that will help each diocese handle the matter.

But I think if there is a criminal charge, if the act in question is criminal, then I think it should be brought immediately to the civic authorities and prosecuted accordingly.

The problem that many dioceses have tried to work with is not knowing whether the charge is out of malice, or it has something to do with a financial claim, and dioceses are unequipped to sort out the difference between a charge that is legitimate and one that is brought without sufficient grounds.

KAGAN: We can look at this draft proposal and the list of suggestions, but basically, anything changed that's going to change still has to be approved by the Vatican if it's going to cover the entire country, is that right?

DOUGHERTY: Well, to what extent the Vatican will certainly review it, because the church as a universal organization has responsibility globally for the handling of matters of this sort. So it will be scrutinized. But personally, I think one strike you're out policy is the appropriate one. But we have go back to the lack of appropriate discipline within the seminaries themselves. That has been giving ground -- giving ground for maybe several decades now. The training of the priest is all important.

I am a Roman Catholic and have been involved in the education clergy for more than 30 years. And never in my life have I encountered a deviant priest. Now, that priesthood has to be restored to its full integrity, and education of future priests has a lot to do with that. KAGAN: And I'm sure a number of Catholics, the majority of Catholics across the country would agree with you on that point. Help us look forward to this meeting in Dallas coming up that's a meeting of the bishop. What can we expect to come out of that meeting?

DOUGHERTY: I think we can expect a rather strong code that will do what it can, to the extent that a code can, to restore the integrity of the priesthood. Taking immediate action when offenses are brought to the attention of the dioceses and in the case of criminal acts, I think the bishop should encourage the aggrieved parties to go immediately to civic authorities, because they are better prepared to investigation the alleged crime.

KAGAN: Jude Dougherty, thank you so much for your insight and your opinion on a situation that has touched a number of people across America. Appreciate your time today, sir.

DOUGHERTY: You're welcome indeed.

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