Vatican rejects US clerical abuse policy

The Vatican today rejected the US Church’s new sex abuse policy, saying the sweeping zero-tolerance measures needed revising.

While supporting the US bishops’ efforts to stop abuse by the clergy, the Vatican said it included provisions that were hard to interpret and “difficult to reconcile” with church law.

“For these reasons it has been judged appropriate that before the ‘recognitio’ (Vatican approval) can be granted, a further reflection on and revision of the ‘Norms’ and the ‘Charter’ are necessary,” the Vatican said.

The American bishops adopted the plan in June in response to huge pressure for them to take a tough stance against abusive clergy and stem the scandal that has rocked the US Catholic Church.

Victims groups said the Vatican’s response showed it was more concerned about protecting offending priests than minors.