Conferring with outside abuse experts marks unusual step for Vatican

Published: 2004-02-19

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- When the Vatican asked scientific experts last year for input on how the church should address clerical sexual abuse, it marked an important step outside the usual boundaries of Vatican consultation. The decision to publish the results of that conference is even more remarkable because the content raises disturbing questions for church officials. The 220-page report, "Sexual Abuse in the Catholic Church: Scientific and Legal Perspectives," contains uncomfortable data and painful observations, along with some notes of encouragement for the church. The volume was expected to be published in early March by the Pontifical Academy for Life. Catholic News Service obtained a preliminary copy of the text, which was undergoing minor editing changes before its release. Vatican consultation -- on matters ranging from liturgy to doctrine -- is typically an in-house process involving a familiar cast of characters. In this case, by turning to eight outside professionals -- none of whom were Catholic -- the Vatican signaled that its own resources were inadequate to understand the full implications of sex abuse in the priesthood.

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