Vatican approves revised abuse policies for U.S. bishops

The Vatican has approved the revised policies that govern dealing with sexually abusive priests for the Roman Catholic Church in the United States.

Bishop William S. Skylstad, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, received a decree from the Vatican’s Congregation for Bishops in April, the conference announced May 9. That decree permits U.S. church leaders to implement the policies indefinitely.

The original policies were adopted in 2002 after the abuse scandal surfaced in Boston. Revisions, which kept most of the policies intact but contained some small yet significant changes, were adopted last June. The policies, or “norms,” apply only to the U.S. church.

Among the changes was wording that responded to concerns that an abuse accusation amounted to a guilty verdict. “During the investigation the accused enjoys the presumption of innocence, and all appropriate steps shall be taken to protect his reputation,” the newer version now reads.

The policies have stated that abusive priests and deacons cannot be transferred to another ministerial assignment. New language clarified that bishops who receive priests or deacons from outside their jurisdictions “will obtain the necessary information regarding any past act of sexual abuse of a minor by the priest or deacon in question.” The revised policies also now state that if a priest is assigned residence in a new diocese, the priest’s superior will inform that diocesan bishop in a confidential manner so that “suitable safeguards are in place for the protection of children.”

The revisions were effective May 15 and are considered church law for dioceses affiliated with the U.S. bishops’ conference.