Priests worry innocent may suffer under new policy

DALLAS -- For the last six months, many Roman Catholic priests have felt like the public face of scandal in their communities, even though most had no role in the sex abuse crisis engulfing the church.

Now, they say, they face a new concern: whether the blameless in their ranks will be hurt under the ambitious policy bishops have adopted to keep abusive clergy away from parishioners.

Under the "Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People," clergymen who molest children will never again be active in church work, and some will be formally removed from the priesthood.

Many priests say they are concerned about the document's broad definition of abuse.

"The policy is driven a lot more by public sentiment than the principle of compassion," said the Rev. Robert Silva, head of the National Federation of Priests' Councils, which claims a membership of about half of the nation's 46,000 priests.

Since the scandal erupted in January with the conviction of a former Boston priest who molesting a boy, scores of people have come forward with accusations of sexual abuse by priests and indifference from church leaders. At least 250 priests have since been resigned or been suspended.

Silva said priests -- already anxious about their interactions with children -- will be even more apprehensive because of the abuse definition bishops approved on Friday.

Abuse will now be considered any inappropriate contact with a child, regardless of whether it involves force, physical contact or whether any harm is apparent.

Philadelphia Cardinal Anthony Bevilacqua, who is a canon lawyer, said he too was concerned by the language and hoped it would be clarified when the document comes under review in two years.

Silva also complained that the plan contained severe punishments for priests but no sanctions for bishops who mishandle abuse cases.