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American Morning

Survivors Activist, Bishops' Spokesman Discuss Church Abuse Policy

Aired June 05, 2002 - 08:09   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: Now on to a controversial new plan by Catholic church leaders to punish priests who sexually abuse children. It calls for zero tolerance in the future, but actually makes allowances for past transgressions. The proposal will be on the table next week when U.S. bishops meet in Dallas. But do these proposals go far enough?

We're going to get both sides on this.

But first let's go to Mark Serrano with the Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests. He joins us from Washington this morning.

Good morning -- Mark.

MARK SERRANO, SURVIVORS NETWORK OF THOSE ABUSED BY PRIESTS: Good morning, Paula.

ZAHN: I wanted to start off this morning by reading some of the disciplinary actions that potentially could be taken by U.S. bishops, and we'll put that on the screen. A priest could be allowed to retain his position if he has only one offense, has not been diagnosed as a pedophile, and has had a clear record since the offense. A diocese will report to authorities any accusation of sexual abuse of a minor and cooperate in the investigation, and if the complaint is found to be true, the priest will be relieved of his duties.

Do you have a problem with that?

SERRANO: Well, I have a big problem with that, Paula. This is a slap in the face of clergy, sexual abuse survivors everywhere, and I think an insult to the intelligence of decent Americans, because the bishops will control all the pieces on the chessboard, as they always have. And there's really no accountability.

Should a bishop vote for this plan in Dallas, go back to his diocese and not enforce the plan, there's no penalty. He won't be fired. There's really no enforcement in this plan.

ZAHN: So you have the issue of enforcement you're concerned about. You're also concerned about how to deal with cases of victims who were abused in the past. What is your understanding of what was set forth yesterday? SERRANO: Well, Paula, you know, it disenfranchises victims before yesterday for decades past. In effect, you know, we don't get free bank robberies in America, but the bishops are basically saying that a predator of children can get away with at least two counts of abuse. And the key question here is who sets the standard for what is an account of abuse? Is it an arrest? Is it a conviction? Or is it just an allegation?

I think there are huge loopholes in this plan that may even protect some of the bishops who vote on this plan.

ZAHN: So what would you suggest to these bishops as they sit down and meet in Dallas?

SERRANO: Well, the bishops are saying that in the future they will have complete transparency and openness about cases, and yet in the past, they will not release all case files from other cases in the past. They also say that they will not agree to confidentiality agreements in the future, but they won't release parties in the past from confidentiality agreements.

We need to see a whole new outlook on the culture of secrecy and deceit in the church. We need for bishops to be accountable. We need for anyone who has sexually abused a child to be defrocked and taken out of the priesthood forever. And we need for independent investigation of these cases and for bishops to get out of their job of prosecuting sex abuse crimes.

ZAHN: Mark, are you suggesting, then, that these new disciplinary actions would have no positive impact on alleged victims out there?

SERRANO: Well, what I'm suggesting is that, you know, the bishops still have their lawyers pursuing hardball legal tactics, revictimizing plaintiffs. They still don't support the elimination of the statute of limitations in all 50 states.

What I'm suggesting is they are the cause of this crisis. You know, they have made decisions to keep the predators in the priesthood and for them to suggest that in all cases in the past you have to have at least two cases of abuse in order to be taken, have a priest have his taken, collar taken away, and the title "father" taken from him, it's in the discretion of the bishops still, just like it has always been.

ZAHN: So in essence, what you're saying, you don't believe you or the people you represent are any further ahead because of these new disciplinary guidelines launched?

SERRANO: I'm afraid not, because the men who have caused this crisis are the ones who are suggesting they should still be in the driver's seat when what we need is for prosecutors and investigators and people who are experts in child sexual abuse, including the survivors, should be in charge of these cases.

You know, our group hasn't been consulted about child sexual abuse in nine years with the ad hoc committee on sexual abuse. We're nine days out from Dallas, and we're still not being consulted about this plan.

ZAHN: Mark Serrano, thanks so much for your time.

Appreciate your joining us this morning. And among the church...

SERRANO: Thank you, Paula.

ZAHN: Our pleasure.

Among the church leaders who will study the plan next week will be Joseph Galante, the bishop of Dallas.

He joins us from Washington this morning.

Welcome back to AMERICAN MORNING, sir.

JOSEPH GALANTE, DALLAS COADJUTOR BISHOP, SPOKESMAN, U.S. BISHOPS: Thank you, Paula.

ZAHN: You have just heard what Mark Serrano has said.

GALANTE: Yes.

ZAHN: He used some pretty tough language about these new guidelines, calling them, among other things, a slap in the face, an insult to the intelligence of American Catholics. And he said his biggest concern is about who is going to set the standards here. Is it someone, perhaps, who's been arrested in the past or someone who simply has an allegation against himself?

GALANTE: Well, first of all, the document calls for the reporting of sexual abuse to the proper civil authorities. I have always said, and continue to say, that we should not be investigating the allegations, but that the civil authorities should.

The question about past offense, that's there as a possibility. I personally, along with others, do not agree with that. I believe that any offense is, should be punishable by removal from the act of ministry. I have said that a number of times, and a number of others, Bishop Gregory, the president of the Conference. I just saw today where Cardinal Keeler, the archbishop of Baltimore, has said the same thing.

I certainly intend to speak to that issue at the meeting in Dallas because I do believe that the thinking has to be around the victim. The victim's life has been traumatized, injured, possibly completely ruined, and I don't think we can focus merely on the priest, but we have to focus on the victim and their families.

ZAHN: So does that mean you too are not willing to accept these guidelines if you and some of the other bishops you just mentioned will be offering that there should indeed be a zero tolerance policy that is accepted that protects victims who were abused in the past and those who might be abused in the future? GALANTE: Well, I think given the regional meetings that were held around the country leading up to this document, the majority of bishops are in favor of an across-the-board policy. A significant minority wanted what is proposed in number six. But it is only a proposal. It is not definitive. And I believe that that will be an area of much discussion.

I think the areas of reporting are tremendously important. The reporting to the civil authorities, the investigation by civil authorities, the openness and an end to secrecy, these are all things that in the past have been tremendously damaging to the people, to the victims, to their families, to the church in general, and we want to do away with that.

ZAHN: Even one of your colleagues, Archbishop Flynn, indicated that he believes this, these guidelines are really a work in progress. The question that really looms large among victims is whether bishops have any means to even enforce these policies once you decide on the definitive policy.

GALANTE: Yes. The biggest difference on this policy from past discussions on this is we want this to be binding on every diocese, on every bishop. We have asked and will ask -- the finalized document will be send to Rome. We have already asked that they approve speedily this as binding on every diocese and every bishop in the country.

ZAHN: Well, we will be watching your meetings next week with a great deal of interest.

Bishop Galante, as always, good to see you. Thanks for your time this morning.

GALANTE: Thanks, Paula. Thanks for having me.

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