Will Bishops Handle Abuse Cases Differently?

The head of the Vatican's office for enforcing church doctrine, Cardinal William Levada, says the Catholic Church's sex abuse crisis could include more bishops resigning, reports CBS News correspondent Elaine Quijano.

"There is no way of predicting that but I wouldn't be surprised," Quijano said in an interview Monday with PBS' "NewsHour."

The interviewer, Margaret Warner, asked if there was a new standard for bishops to meet in the way they handle clergy abuse cases.

"I think the standard is not new but it's being applied more rigorously than in the past," Levada said.

Levada, who once served as an archbishop in Oregon and California now holds the office previously held by the Pope. He called the crisis particularly grave.

"This is anything but being a good shepherd when you abuse children and you violate their innocence. This is a crisis, if you will, that I think caught most of us by surprise," Levada said. "One bishop told me 'This isn't the cruise I signed up for,' but that's in fact what has happened."

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That surprise is likely to spark outrage among abuse victims who maintain their warnings to bishops went unheeded for years. Levada was asked how many times pedophile priests had been moved.

"Well the question about how many times priests were transferred is not something that we have here," Levada answered. "It may be included in the file or it may not."

But would the church ever publicize their names?

"The names are public," Levada said. "I mean they are public in the dioceses."

As for Pope Benedict, Levada noted his meetings with abuse victims should serve as an example for bishops. And is a public apology forthcoming?

"We'll have to wait and see, but I wouldn't be surprised," Levada said.

[greatalfred]

The Boston Archdiocese hasn't thus far - they ignore emails and letters from victims - so what's changing? Nothing.

[cleric60]

The Vatican should deport Cardinal Law back to Boston to face possible legal charges for his role in covering up the crimes of his perverted priests.

[jsf14]

I watched that interview. Church leaders need to stop complaining about media reports and lack of credit for all the good things the Church is doing to prevent future abuse. I don't mind him telling us about Church programs to prevent abuse, but his emphasis on the bad press the Church gets made me think he cares more about image than about children and other Church members.

[cleric60]

"Well the question about how many times priests were transferred is not something that we have here," Levada answered. "It may be included in the file or it may not."
The Vatican has all the files of these perverted priests. They know full-well of their crimes against the lambs of Christ's Flock.
The bishops also were well aware of these criminal actions of these
perverted priests. The playing the game of ignorance and not be informed about all these evil deeds done by perverted priests in the Church of Rome.

[goldenship]

When the owner of the estate became aware that pests were invading His home, He did not abandon his home. He just got a bag of pest bait from out in his shed, and sprinkled it all about.

[AtLasOn1Kl733]

Well, you could always check with the Rug stores to see if their sales has spiked. As well as the home and garden for brooms.