US bishops toughen stance

US Catholic bishops meeting in Dallas to address the sexual abuse of children by priests were poised today to adopt a tough national policy that would expel any cleric who ever molested a child.

While the nearly 300 bishops arriving at the meeting were divided over the "zero tolerance past, present and future" approach, two days of gauging public opinion and listening to victims' stories of pain and alienation appeared to push most to favor a strict policy.