Vatican backs US policy to combat sex abuse

THE Vatican yesterday gave its approval to the revised US bishops’ policy to combat sex abuse in the clergy, declaring the need to restore the image of the priesthood in a scandal that has rocked the Roman Catholic Church.

Approval had been expected after differences in the original plan were worked out by a joint US-Vatican commission in November.

The policy allows bishops to conduct a confidential, preliminary inquiry when a molestation claim is made to determine whether it is plausible. If it is, the accused priest is to be put on leave and then must go before a clerical tribunal to determine his guilt or innocence.