U.S. Roman Catholic cardinals and Vatican officials are discussing a plan of action to restore credibility to the U.S. Catholic Church rocked by allegations of sexual misconduct by priests. 

The 12 American cardinals discussed specific reform proposals that emerged from talks Tuesday with top church officials at the Vatican, the first day of the unprecedented meeting. 

Pope John Paul II summoned the cardinals for two days of closed-door talks on the child sex abuse scandal. The church is seeking to formulate a single policy for dealing with priests accused of sexually abusing young people. 

One new idea being discussed is that bishops will no longer handle such cases alone, but will rely on a panel of prominent lay men and women to monitor the church's performance. Another issue facing the group is how to deal with priests if they are accused of sexual abuse. 

The U.S. cardinals will have a working lunch with the pope before concluding the two-day meeting later Wednesday with a final statement. Tuesday, in his strongest words yet on the crisis, the pope decried sexual abuse by priests as both a sin in the eyes of God and a crime. He also expressed what he called his profound sense of solidarity and concern for sex abuse victims. 

At a news conference after the meeting, some of the cardinals said the pope's use of the word "crime" means he wants zero tolerance of sex abusers, believing the church can no longer shelter accused priests and must turn them over to civil authorities. 

But other cardinals said the pontiff also spoke of the power to turn away from sin and back to God, meaning that guilty priests may be able to remain in the church. 

Some information for this report provided by AP and AFP. 

Email this article to a friend.
Printer Friendly Version