U.S. Bishops' Response to Abuse Scandals Still Under Review

VATICAN CITY, AUG. 18, 2002 (Zenit.org).- The Vatican denied that it rejected the charter adopted by the U.S. bishops’ conference in response to the clerical sex-abuse scandals, explaining the document is «still being evaluated.»

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«No decision has been taken yet,» Vatican spokesman Joaquín Navarro-Valls said Saturday, in an aside during John Paul II’s visit to Krakow, Poland.

Some recent U.S. media reports stated that the Vatican had decided to reject at least some of the points of the «Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People,» adopted by the bishops’ conference at a meeting in June.

«The Holy See hopes to give an answer to the United States bishops as soon as possible,» the Vatican spokesman said in Krakow.

Canon law experts at the Vatican as well as officials from three Curia congregations are studying the guidelines, which include a policy to keep priests who molest children away from parishioners.

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