'Fraternal correction' urged for bishops who refused sex abuse audits

Published: 2006-04-03

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- The National Review Board that monitors church efforts to deal with clergy sexual abuse of minors has called for "strong fraternal correction" of the bishops of the two dioceses that declined to participate in last year's diocesan compliance audits. Among the dioceses that participated, several who were found not fully in compliance with the bishops' 2002 "Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People" issued statements explaining why they were not and what they were doing about it. The Diocese of Lincoln, Neb., said in a statement that Bishop Fabian L. Bruskewitz exercised his option not to participate in the audit called for by the charter because the charter is "only an advisory document," not "a law of the Catholic Church." A spokesman for the Melkite Eparchy of Newton, Mass., could not be reached immediately for comment on why its head, Archbishop Cyrille S. Bustros, refused to participate in the audit. The fact that the two bishops refused was made public with the March 30 release of a report on the results of the 2005 audits nationwide.

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