Successes, challenges mark fifth anniversary of sex abuse charter

Published: 2007-05-18

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- Five years after the U.S. bishops passed their landmark policies to prevent child sex abuse, they can look back at successes in institutionalizing safeguards and look ahead to challenges in restoring church credibility. But the basic question is: Are children safer now? "Absolutely yes," answers Patricia O'Donnell Ewers, chairwoman of the National Review Board overseeing the bishops' compliance with child protection policies. Structures have been put in place for dealing pastorally with victims who come forward with allegations; millions of parents, clergy, employees and children are being educated on child sex abuse prevention; background checks are being done on clergy and church workers; and procedures have been developed for reporting allegations to public authorities, said Ewers, an educator and former president of Pace University in New York. For Thomas Plante, a psychologist who treats clergy sex abusers and victims, the policies are good and the U.S. church is setting an example for the rest of society. But the key to success is "if dioceses and religious orders do what the policies say with integrity," said Plante. Implementation has been uneven, he said. "Some dioceses and religious orders are further along than others."

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