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CNS Story:
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ABUSE-SPEED Jul-1-2004 (430 words) xxxi
Vatican looking for ways to speed up processing of sex abuse cases
By John Thavis
Catholic News Service
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Two U.S. canon lawyers are expected to arrive this fall for work at the Vatican's doctrinal congregation, part of an effort to speed up processing of sex abuse cases, church officials said in early July.
The move responds to concern by both U.S. bishops and Vatican officials that more manpower is needed to break through the logjam of abuse cases at the Vatican.
Since new norms went into effect last year, hundreds of cases have arrived at the doctrinal congregation, which has oversight responsibility for all priestly sex abuse cases involving minors. The congregation has added some staff, but the workload has been described by some as overwhelming.
The result is that it may take months to remove even an acknowledged abuser from the priesthood, and longer if an extensive investigation or church trial is involved.
Archbishop Sean P. O'Malley of Boston was the latest U.S. prelate to express frustration at what he called the "very slow" pace of processing abuse cases. Speaking to Boston media in Rome, he cited two causes for the lag: lack of Vatican personnel, and reluctance by alleged victims of abuse to share their allegations with church investigators.
Archbishop O'Malley told Catholic News Service that the plan to bring over U.S. canon lawyers should help address the problem.
"I think that will be a big help, because they're understaffed," he said of the Vatican congregation.
The archbishop said the Vatican was very open to the idea of sending the U.S. experts, and that it looked like it would happen this fall.
A Vatican official confirmed that two church U.S. canon law experts were expected in Rome this fall to help prepare clerical abuse cases for processing. They were likely to be assigned for an 18-month period.
"We are getting extra help, and we are doing everything we can to handle these cases fairly. It is important that we do things as quickly as possible; it is also important that we ensure protection of everyone's rights," said another informed Vatican source.
The source emphasized that because of the nature of the abuse cases, many cannot be handled quickly. Allegations often are made many years after the abuse occurred, making it difficult to gather evidence and interview witnesses, and the allegations sometimes are denied -- by an accused priest or, more rarely, by a victim.
U.S. Catholics should be aware that as the cases are reviewed and investigated at the Vatican, the priests are not in active ministry, the Vatican source said.
END
Copyright (c) 2004 Catholic News Service/U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The CNS news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed, including but not limited to such means as framing or any other digital copying or distribution method, in whole or in part without the prior written authority of Catholic News Service.
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