WASHINGTON -- U.S. Roman Catholic bishops adopted revisions to their sex abuse policy that they believe will protect the rights of accused priests while keeping molesters away from children.
The bishops voted 246-7 with six abstentions to approve the new plan, which now goes to the Vatican for final approval, according to The Associated Press.
The plan calls for priests to be removed from public ministry -- including saying Mass, teaching in Catholic schools, and wearing a Roman collar -- after "even one act of sexual abuse of a minor."
Under the policy, bishops can conduct a confidential, preliminary inquiry into molestation claims to determine whether they are plausible. If it is, the priest is to be put on leave and go before a clerical tribunal, according to the AP. Church leaders have pledged to report all claims involving children to civil authorities.
Victims' groups claim the plan continues the church's history of sheltering sexual predators.
"The gulf between bishops and the victims and lay people in the church has grown wider by the vote today," said Barbara Blaine, president of the Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests. "Today there's a broader burden on the victims."
Since January, at least 325 of the nation's 46,000 priests have resigned or been removed from their posts because of sex abuse accusations.
