Advice sought in removing priests over abuse allegations

CHICAGO -- The Archdiocese of Chicago is asking the Vatican for advice on how to proceed with the removal of five priests from ministry over sexual misconduct allegations, Cardinal Francis George said Monday.

George announced Sunday he was removing eight priests to conform to stringent polices adopted earlier this month by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. Five of the priests are appealing the decision to the Vatican, a process George said he expects will begin this week.

The cardinal spoke Monday at a seminar on sexual misconduct. Earlier in the day he signed a decree that calls for the Roman Catholic archdiocese to follow the policies adopted by the bishops in Dallas.

George said that even though he is moving forward, there remain a number of questions about just what will happen now. He said the archdiocese is contacting the Vatican immediately "to get instructions to start (the process) right away."

For example, while he said policy calls for a Vatican tribunal to review the cases of the five priests appealing their removal, there is a chance the Vatican will allow the Chicago archdiocese to hear the appeals instead.

George said he would like to see that happen. "We are better prepared to deal with it here," he said after speaking at the seminar. "I think it would be the best thing to do."

The Vatican has yet to approve the abuse standard reached by the bishops in Dallas, said Jim Dwyer, a spokesman for the Chicago archdiocese. "But he (George) wanted to go forward instead of waiting."

George said he hopes the appeals will be handled within weeks and "certainly no more than some months."

Old policy

The eight priests removed were allowed to remain in ministry as part of a policy, adopted by the archdiocese 10 years ago, for handling priests accused of sexually abusing children.

George said the policy was the first of its kind in the country and widely imitated by other archdioceses. It allowed for some priests who were not considered a threat to anyone to remain in a restricted and monitored ministry.