ATLANTA (GA)
WABE
[with audio]
[National Review Board report]
By Denis O’Hayer
The nation’s Catholic Bishops are meeting here in Atlanta this week. At their first session Wednesday, they heard a review board report that allegations of child sex abuse by clergy have dropped sharply since the bishops adopted a child protection charter ten years ago.
The review board, made up of lay people, sound what it called “striking improvement” in the church’s response and in the treatment of victims in the past decade. However, board chairman Al Notzon, III told the bishops that much work still needs to be done.
“Many of the faithful believe that sexual abuse by clergy is occurring at high level, and is still being covered up by bishops. This suggests a trust problem,” said Notzon.
The review board outlined several recommendations, including independent audits down to the parish level, to ensure child protection policies are being followed.
Despite these talks, the review board findings received bad reviews from protesters outside of the Hytt Regency in Atlanta, where the bishops are meeting.
Some protestors spoke.
“My name is Barbara Blaine…I was sexually abused by a priest growing up in Toledo, Ohio in the late 60s and early 70s,” said one protestor.
Barbara Blaine is now the President of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests. As she stood amid childhood photos of alleged victims, Blaine called the review board report inadequate and said church leaders have not done enough to remove abusive priests and report them to the civil authorities.
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