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Catholic
students react to pope’s conference To Aaron Shutt, a priest who molests a child has no place in the Catholic Church. “I think that once a priest has violated the priesthood, and most importantly the morals of God and being a Christian, they should not be allowed back into ministry,” said Shutt, a Catholic and sophomore advertising/public relations major. “I feel that a priest can gain forgiveness, but that he will have violated and lost the truth of his church and community.” Shutt was one of several Catholic students who said Wednesday they would support strict actions against priests who molest children if that is the final decision of the pope and the Catholic Church. After a milestone meeting sparked by a sex abuse scandal, American Roman Catholic leaders agreed Wednesday to make it easier to remove priests guilty of sexually abusing minors — but they stopped short of a one-strike policy to dismiss all abusive clerics. The American church leaders said they would recommend a special process to defrock any priest who has become “notorious and is guilty of the serial, predatory sexual abuse of minors.” But, in cases that are not “notorious” they would leave it up to the local bishop to decide if such a priest is a threat to children and should be defrocked. Sandy Stafford, a Catholic and theatre/TV major, said she would agree with a “zero-tolerance” policy because it might stop future abuse. “I think Catholics will respond favorably to measures designed to prevent future abuse,” Stafford said. “Most priests are doing a great job and I think we will all be happy to have this scandal resolved so that good priests can continue their ministry.” Several cardinals had suggested they had wanted stronger language to turn over clergy offenders to civil authorities, indicating that major battles lie ahead when all U.S. bishops gather in Dallas in June. The reference to “serial” attacks appeared to contradict a statement earlier Wednesday by Cardinal Theodore McCarrick of Washington, who indicated that the American cardinals meeting with Pope John Paul II reached consensus on a “one-strike-you’re-out” policy that would dismiss any priest involved in a future sex abuse case. Shutt said the Catholic Church needs a “one-strike” policy because it would prevent future occurrences. “I think it (would) send a very clear message as to what is appropriate behavior,” Shutt said. “A priest dedicates himself to God and the priesthood, and that should be his focus.” The Associated Press contributed to this story. Kelly
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