CINCINNATI -- Church law experts have formed a task force to study how they can help America's Roman Catholic bishops implement a new disciplinary policy for priests who sexually abuse children.
The Canon Law Society of America will give the panel three months to produce a report on the bishops' plan, according to The Associated Press. Critics, including some church lawyers, say the policy violates clergy due-process rights and Catholic teaching on redemption. The Vatican brought up similar concerns Oct. 18 when it rejected portions of the bishops' proposed policy.
The policy approved in June bars guilty priests from all church work and, in some cases, from the priesthood. The bishops adopted the reforms after a flood of reports this year about church leaders moving accused priests from parish to parish over the years instead of punishing them.
Canon lawyers hope to ensure that the rights of all -- including priests accused of sexual misconduct -- are protected, said the Rev. Kevin McKenna of Rochester, N.Y.
The Rev. Lawrence O'Keefe of Gallup, N.M., the society's new president, will form the task force. The society has 1,800 members, including lay people and priests, most of whom have degrees in canon law, according to the AP.
