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In Dallas, Texas, Catholic Bishops Arrive For Conference

Aired June 13, 2002 - 07:11   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.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: We now head back to Dallas, Texas, where Catholic bishops arrived yesterday for a conference, which will try to establish a policy to deal with priests who commit sexual abuse.

But there are suggestions this morning that the bishops knew this was a huge problem as early as 17 years ago. The "Washington Post" reports the bishops were briefed in 1985 by a church lawyer, the editor of a Catholic newspaper and a psychology professor, who had all been studying the abuse problem and warned that it had catastrophic potential. Today, it seems the conference must face the consequences of that 1985 prediction.

Joining us now from Dallas is Bishop William Lori. Delighted to have you with us this morning on AMERICAN MORNING. Welcome.

BISHOP WILLIAM LORI, BRIDGEPORT, CT. DIOCESE: Good morning.

ZAHN: So, Bishop Lori, one of the proposed policies, the most controversial part (ph), is the possibility that priests accused of a single incident of sexual abuse would be considered an exemption to any zero tolerance policy. Jason Carroll, our reporter on the ground there, has just said there is an amendment being considered that would actually throw out any priests from the priesthood who committed sexual abuse against a child in the past. Could you support this amendment to this controversial proposal?

LORI: I certainly do support a strengthening of the current draft. I believe, speaking as a member of the committee and speaking also as simply a pastor of souls, that if in fact a priest or any other church representative has sexually abused a minor, that person cannot remain in the ministerial position that he has.

I think it's important that our actions be swift, and that they be decisive, but also fair. I think another concern is that before we take that kind of an action, we simply make sure that we do it in a way that is just to all concerned and not rush to judgment. But if someone has abused a child, that priest should not remain in the ministry.

ZAHN: Does that mean thrown out of the priesthood altogether in your judgment?

LORI: There are different responses, and I think that the draft will have to reflect the range of possibilities envisioned in cannon law. In some cases, it could be a request for laicization, even without the consent of a priest. In other cases, it might simply be a permanent declaration of unsuitability for ministry. In other cases, let's say the priest is very advanced in years. It might simply be retiring the priest without faculties, acknowledging the fact that he might be too old or infirmed anyway to engage in ministry.

ZAHN: Bishop Lori, there is a new report out in "The Dallas Morning News" that suggests two-thirds of the U.S. Catholic leadership at some point shielded priests who abused children. How do you think the issue of bishops' accountability should be addressed at this series of meetings you will be holding?

LORI: I think it is, first of all, very important that we bishops speak to this issue during these days with a strong, united voice that we express our determination to address this problem. It's also very important that we allow sunshine in on this process, holding one another accountable, allowing our own policies and our implementation of our policies to be audited, bringing in lay review boards, one at the national level, each of us having such a board at the diocesan level. I believe that it's important for us to let a lot of sunshine in on this issue. I believe sunshine brings accountability and also healing.

ZAHN: I hear what you are saying about sunshine, Bishop Lori, but I am just curious how you react to the criticism that so far bishops have been taken off the hook essentially in this process at a time when the priests, who some bishops allowed to move from parish to parish, continued to hurt young children.

LORI: I can speak to my own experience. I have been a bishop seven years and have dealt with this really from the beginning of my ministry as a bishop. I don't think any of us feel we're off the hook. I think we are very, very accountable, and certainly in these last six months, the accountability that all of us have to our people has been heightened, and I think rightfully so.

ZAHN: And in closing this morning, Bishop Lori, there is a new CNN/USA Today/Gallup Poll out that shows that just 22 percent of Catholics, that would be one in five, have a great deal of confidence in bishops to deal with sexual abuse. To what extent do you worry about the church being out of step with its parishioners?

LORI: What I worry about is being a good pastor to my people. I believe that as bishops, we need to be teachers, but we need to be teachers who listen to our people and to respond to their concerns. This is a very legitimate concern. Our parents have to know that the church is safe, that their priests are trustworthy, that we are reaching out to victims and that we bishops will deal with this responsibly and accountably.

ZAHN: Well, we very much appreciate your perspective this morning, Bishop Lori, and we wish you tremendous luck as you go about the business of trying to do some of the changes you are saying need to be addressed in this draft proposal -- good luck -- thank you for your time.

LORI: Thank you, Paula.

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