WASHINGTON -- U.S. Roman Catholic bishops have picked the FBI's top-ranking woman to head the office charged with making sure American church leaders adhere to a clerical sex abuse policy.

Kathleen McChesney was chosen from more than 50 candidates to be director of the Office for Child and Youth Protection, according to The Associated Press. McChesney will help the bishops re-establish their credibility after at least 300 of the 46,000 American priests have been removed following sex abuse allegations.

McChesney will leave her FBI post as executive assistant director for law enforcement services, according to the AP.

"She was just made to order," said Catholic review board member Robert S. Bennett. "The critical thing to protecting children and young people is to see to it that all of these dioceses comply with the charter. One of her principle responsibilities at the FBI was to see to it that various offices complied with FBI and Department of Justice policy."

Susan Archibald, president of the victim advocacy group The Linkup, said she's hopeful McChesney will influence the bishops.

"This is a step in the right direction in terms of choosing someone who has a law enforcement background and has worked for an institution dedicated to justice," Archibald said.

The Rev. Robert J. Silva, president of the National Federation of Priests' Councils, said the appointment concerns him.

"I hope that she will be able to balance that aggressive investigative side with a sense of church discipleship and the mission of reconciliation," Silva said.