Back to Exponent Menu Printer Friendly Page   LOCAL FEATURES Friday, November 22, 2002 Bishop Tobin: Meeting in D.C. on norms was ‘anxious, tense, difficult’ By Lou Jacquet The recent meeting of the Catholic bishops of the United States in Washington, D.C., was “anxious, tense, and just not very happy,” Bishop Thomas J. Tobin told the Exponent upon his return. Although there were several items on the agenda, discussion centered on the revision of the bishops’ norms for dealing with cases of clergy sexual abuse of minors (See story, Page 1). “I think the bishops are deeply concerned about this issue,” Bishop Tobin said. “They are very regretful of all the pain that has been inflicted on the victims and their families, regretful about that shadow that has been cast over the whole Church, and highly solicitous of the well-being and morale of our priests. That was expressed several times in different ways. It was a difficult meeting.” The national secular media was once again present in force. Security was tight inside and outside the hotel in order that meetings and liturgies would not be disrupted, the bishop pointed out. Commentators in the national press noted a different tone from the previous bishops’ meeting in Dallas on the same subject this past June. This time, while expressing sorrow for victims, the president of the U.S. bishops expressed concern about two other points as well. “Bishop [Wilton] Gregory’s public statement was very clear that while we will continue to do everything we can to support and respond to victims and their families,” Bishop Tobin stressed, “we also need to be sure that our priests receive affirmation and support and defense of their work and ministry.” The bishop said he was also pleased to see Bishop Gregory address a topic that the bishop of the Youngstown Diocese had addressed this past spring in his “Without A Doubt” column in the Exponent. “I was very happy to hear him say that people inside and outside the Church are taking advantage of this moment to press their own agendas. When they perceive the Church as being vulnerable, the bishops and priests as vulnerable, these people use the moment to push their own agendas. And that is not acceptable. Bishop Gregory was very clear about that.” Bishop Tobin said he and many of the bishops were disappointed at the inaccuracies which crept into secular reporting on their meeting. National Public Radio incorrectly reported that the bishops’ charter on sexual abuse was being sent back to the Vatican; it is the revised norms that are being sent back following the bishops’ vote. Particularly unfortunate, he said, was the manner in which any mention of what the bishops had done at the meeting was followed by long segments in which dissidents on a variety of Church issues were quoted at length about their grievances with this or that Church policy. “The documents are clear, the discussion was clear, but the news coverage misrepresented much of what we said and did,” he added. The “predictable” voting on the revised document provided no surprises, Bishop Tobin said. “Frankly, we don’t have a lot of options; what we approved last week was really an expression of the universal law of the Church. We have the needs of victims and their families on one hand, and the law and the demands of the Church on the other. There is not much room for maneuvering between that.” The bishop said he was not surprised that the U.S. bishops’ norms had come back from the Vatican with some directive for revision. “That is how the Church works,” he explained. “This was a procedural matter. The norms have taken the charter and given us a procedure for implementation. That is not an unusual process for the dialogue between the bishops, the country and the Vatican. That happens for all of our liturgical documents, it happens with other doctrinal and canonical issues. It happens all the time. The revisions that the Vatican suggested were fairly predictable. I think that is helpful in the long run.” Returning to the idea that priests who have not been involved in sexual-abuse-of-minors cases need affirmation, Bishop Tobin pointed out that “the overwhelming majority have not done anything” and need support and affirmation. “We also have to guard against the possibility of false accusations, which has also happened,” he stressed. “People need to know that. We are living in very difficult and dangerous times, so we need to raise some policies and procedures that will be for the well-being of everybody — victims, families, priests, bishops, the Church in general. It is sometimes difficult to balance all of that.” Despite what critics of the revised norms have said in the public arena, he added, the bishops are determined to retain their moral authority to speak out on other issues. He said: “We have every right and duty to speak about a variety of issues, public issues, moral issues, and we will do that. While it is true that not every bishop has handled the sexual abuse crisis well, it is not every bishop, and the Church retains its right and its authority to speak about a variety of issues. Bishops have to be in the forefront of doing that.” Bishop Tobin addressed the assembled bishops on a proposal for what he called “yet another review and revision” of the Lectionary, which he spoke publicly against. “The second volume of the Lectionary has only been in place for a few months, and it needs time to settle in and for people to work with it,” he said. “I think it is very difficult to justify the time and money that would be spent now in beginning yet another revision of the Lectionary.” However, the bishops voted in favor of undertaking the revision process of the Scripture readings used at Mass. He said the bishops’ document on domestic violence, which was voted on and passed, “is a restatement of a document that has been around for a while and will be useful and helpful for people addressing a very critical issue.” But while a number of other statements and issues were discussed by the body of bishops and some voted on, it was clear, Bishop Tobin said, that the sexual abuse issue dominated the thinking of those present. “I think the bishops were really focused on and distracted by the whole issue of sexual abuse, which has now dominated two meetings,” he added. “We talked informally about many things, but certainly [the sexual abuse issue] was on everyone’s mind. It has been a very difficult episode. I can’t say we are at a point where we will put this behind us. We are making progress. We are doing everything we can. We have the mechanisms in place.” Fortunately for the Diocese of Youngstown, he said, “we have had most of this policy in place for 10 years now. So the revisions [passed at the meeting] will not mean a significant difference in the way we have been operating. We have had a good policy; the new national norms pretty much ratify and verify what we have been doing for a long time. Apparently that has not been true in some other dioceses.” Bishop Tobin praised the diocesan review board that deals with this issue. “Our review board has done a spectacular job,” he told the Exponent. “From every vantage point they have been very helpful. They have been generous with their time; they have had great insights and suggestions. They are truly committed to helping the Church during this difficult time. I have nothing but praise for our new diocesan review board.” Catholics in the diocese should be confident that the diocese is “well poised to handle this situation,” the bishop said. “We have been for a number of years. People can also be confident that their priests are working very hard and serving them well. We hope and pray that God will bless the Church, and that the people will be supportive and understanding during these difficult times.”   Back to Exponent Menu Printer Friendly Page   Other Articles of 2002   Christmas letter from El Salvador missions thanks diocesan Catholics   Bishop shares views, discussion with Central students   ETC slates Christmas specials throughout the season   My Favorite Christmas Memories   Guidelines on religious ed homeschooling are issued   Local Catholic radio station targets Feb. 1 date   HMs end 98-years of service to Salem St. Paul Parish   Learn ‘language’ of young, youth meet speaker urges   Bishop Tobin: Meeting in D.C. on norms was ‘anxious, tense, difficult’   Priests must ask one another the tough questions, speaker says   Catholic death and funeral rites   Deacons mark 25th with Mass, dinner, memories   Diocesan Ministry Convocation Speaker: Global solidarity, not globalization, should be aim   Jusseaume inaugurated as sixth Walsh president   Diaconate marks 25th anniversary with Oct. 27 fete   New norms sent to priests, deacons on Communion under both kinds   Ashtabula parishes are ‘one Catholic community’   Jusseaume to become Walsh’s sixth president   Charismatic speaker: ‘Church being tested in faithfulness’   Lutheran/Catholic covenant event draws 140 to Walsh   Canton St. Joseph Parish observes centennial celebration   HMHP CEO Michael Rowan   Stewardship speaker: It’s about gratitude and thanking God first   Imagination is key to resolving crisis, priests told   War with Iraq? Expo readers opposed by 81-19%   Newspaper columns didn’t give complete story, official says   Diocesan Ministry Convocation set Oct. 26 at YSU’s Kilcawley   New year brings new faculty, changes at diocesan high schools   Mont St. Michel, Avignon’s papal palace are treasures   Preparing for the priesthood   Entering well-earned retirement, Sr. Marcella’s not slowing down   Warren St. Mary observes 100th year for church building   Lay Ministry Formation program attracting new audience   The cathedrals of France: Monuments of faith in stone   Executive summary of the ad hoc commission on athletics in diocesan high schools   ‘No widespread abuse’ found   Milburn leaving pro-life post to pursue grad studies   Return to France yields history, memories, surprises   Two new members appointed for Diocesan Finance Council   Former SS. C&M school razed, but memories remain   Pastor, 80, keeps busy with ‘lots of interests’   Ravenna IC boasts 5 high school valedictorians for ‘02   Humility Sister Sandy Pedone to profess perpetual vows July 21   NRLC convention filled with good news   ‘Capture the Romance’ is theme for NFP Week   Question of moral evil discussed at Walsh symposium   Notre Dame Sisters will celebrate jubilees July 14   ‘A great lady’ retires   Statement of Bishop Tobin on the meeting of the U. S. Conference   Haladej, Celuch ordained to priesthood, diaconate in Slovakia   Bishop plans implementation of norms on sexual abuse   Kevin McCaffrey, Robert Miller are newest priests   Theologian: ‘Behave toward others as though God were there’   Fr. Bonnot: Use good judgment for TV, movie viewing   MOMS: ‘A place to claim yourself’   Storm ‘changed lives forever’ for Jackson Twp. family   Bishop will ordain Miller, McCaffrey at May 25 ceremony   Update on child abuse   Vicar general addresses issue of not giving priest names to media   New Middletown St. Paul youth — called to be ‘witnesses’ for Christ   New Ursuline Sisters leadership team elected to 6-year term   Two receive first pastorates; two pastors change parishes   Abuse coverage   Walsh University dedicates new ‘David’ campus center   Sisters’ HIV/AIDS ministry critical, heartbreaking   Bishop visits St. Peter’s as rebuilding process begins   Chrism Mass theme: Priests can’t afford discouragement   Bishop’s Appeal stresses meeting needs, funding ministries   Diocese OKs closing Conneaut St. Frances Cabrini K-8; preschool stays   St. Stan’s marks 100th year   Canton St. Joseph choir enjoys ‘incredible trip’   New schools superintendent   Four journeys of faith among hundreds marked here   DPC considers direction, importance of youth ministry   Richard Jusseaume named as Walsh University’s sixth president   Pro-life dinner heralds new beginning in Stark County   Kids at church   Religious day studies resurrection amid culture of violence   Richard Jusseaume named as Walsh University’s sixth president   Keynoter: Eucharist should change us   Speaker: ‘Truth’ key concept in Gospel of John   Parishes offer Lenten missions for spiritual enrichment   Parishes offer Lenten missions, speakers series   Working in Medjugorje   TV anchorman finds faith not incompatible with journalism   Action alert on cloning set in diocese for Feb. 2-3   Austintown parishioner finds fulfillment in El Salvador   ‘Where Faith and Knowledge Meet’   Resisting TEMPTATION: It’s worth the effort, teens say   4th annual Diocesan Pro-life Mass set Jan. 26   Catholic/Lutheran dialogue, death of Walsh president top news   Diocese helping Afghanistan relief   Past Articles From 2001