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American Morning
Interview with Richard Sipe
Aired June 12, 2002 - 07:40 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: A dramatic new report about American bishops and sex abuse. On the eve of a meeting by U.S. bishops in Dallas, "The Dallas Morning News" today says about two-thirds of American bishops have allowed priests accused of sexual abuse to keep working. The paper has actually put a database on its Web site, where you can search for specifics about cases by either location or individual.
Joining us now from San Diego to talk about what to expect from the bishops' conference, psychotherapist and former priest, Richard Sipe -- welcome back -- good to see you, sir.
RICHARD SIPE, FORMER PRIEST: Good morning, Paula.
ZAHN: So if this reporting is true, by this Dallas paper...
SIPE: It is.
ZAHN: ... and you believe it to be true...
SIPE: Yes.
ZAHN: ... and we know that two-thirds, at least this is what the study shows, of these American bishops allowed priests who allegedly abused young men, and in some cases women, allowed to stay on, what are the chances that these same bishops can enforce any legitimate reforms?
SIPE: Well, Paula, the general public is just clamoring and demanding accountability from these bishops. They are not used to operating in this way. They are used to having their own set of rules and not having anyone above them, even the law, to tell them what to do. They can handle it themselves is the old-time philosophy.
People are just absolutely in rebellion about this across the board. And they are going to have to come up with something, and I am hoping for their sake and for everybody's sake that it's a solid first step in the direction of a reform. I don't think they can do much more than one step. And there is going to be a lot of resistance within that group and a lot of resistance from Rome to make any changes at all, but they have got to. I don't think they have any alternative.
ZAHN: When you talk... SIPE: I mean, what group...
ZAHN: Yes, when you talk about this being a first step in the direction of reform, in your judgment, what do they have to do at this meeting? I mean, isn't it clear to you this paper that came out does not really reinforce zero tolerance?
SIPE: Well, how can they stand up and say, we are for a little bit of sexual abuse of minors? I mean, when did they learn that sexual abuse of minors was a crime? I mean, they have known that all along. And this is really the scandal that they have tried to handle it in their own way, rather than be like everybody else and say, look, this is a crime, and it has to be handled like a crime, and then go in on a deeper level.
What does this mean about the celibacy, sexuality in the church? Now, we have had two bishops I think resign within the last two days, one in New York because of an affair with a woman, and one in Kentucky because of allegations of sexual abuse of minors. There is going to be more of that. It has to be kind of a house cleaning reform. I don't know of any other word for it.
ZAHN: But if these -- and one would presume these bishops are reading the polls that would suggest this kind of outrage that you are talking about by the American public, but there is no pressure coming from the Vatican, I don't understand what is going to push this. What is the incentive for them to really enforce, and indeed that's the most important word, enforce true reform?
SIPE: Well, Paula, unfortunately the American bishops have really lost credibility so widely across the board that I have heard it had been said that their moral authority is absolutely bankrupt. So that's one thing. The second thing is the money. People are not going to continue to give money for men who are not accountable to them anymore.
And so those two things, along with the kind of sense of being betrayed by hypocrisy -- being told one thing that priests are sexually safe, that bishops are sexually safe -- and then on the other hand, have their sexual activity hidden and compromised, at the same time trying to teach people what is moral and right. I mean, you can't have leadership in that context.
ZAHN: All right. We have just got ten seconds left. Mr. Sipe, what then is it, given the dissension you are talking about even among bishops, that will be a positive first step that will be taken at these meetings?
SIPE: They have to vote for a zero tolerance. They have to stand up, and there are some bishops and some cardinals now standing up and saying, we can only have zero tolerance, and we have to look into the system, and we have to reform.
ZAHN: And as always, we always appreciate your perspective -- Richard Sipe, thanks for getting up at that ungodly of the hour of morning in San Diego -- appreciate your time. SIPE: It was nice to be with you, Paula.
ZAHN: Thank you -- take care.
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