The statement is available by opening the PDF below.

For more information, visit the USCCB web site.

Questions and Answers Regarding the Vatican Response to the Norms Submitted for Review Following the Meeting of U.S. Bishops in June 2002

Q: What is a mixed or joint commission?

A: A mixed commission is a joint working group that will be made up of four members form the U.S. Bishops and four representatives of the offices of the Holy See who have competence in the items contained in both the Charter and the Norms adopted by the U.S. Bishops in Dallas last June. The Vatican Offices most likely to be represented include the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, the Congregation for Bishops, the Congregation for Clergy and the Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts.

Q: Are the any precedents for such a commission?

A: Yes. A similar working group was utilized by the Holy See and the USCCB in 1996 for the review of the lectionary.

Q: Does the establishment of such a commission take the matter out of the hands of the USCCB?

A: No. Any revisions will be approved by the USCCB as part of its meeting process and then submitted to the Vatican for the “recognitio.” In addition, the Holy See has upheld the fundamental principle of the Charter adopted in Dallas and articulated so clearly by our Holy Father, that there is no place in the priesthood for one who would harm a child.

Q: How long will that take?

A: Bishop Wilton Gregory, president of the USCCB, has said his hope is that the work can be completed and presented to the U.S. Bishops at their meeting in November 2002. The Holy See is very supportive of the USCCB’s actions overall and expressed confidence that the steps taken will help preserve and restore the trust of United States Catholics in both their bishops and priests. Cardinal Re, head of the Congregation for Bishops, stated “the Holy See supports the American Bishops in their endeavor to respond firmly to the sexual misdeeds of the very small number of those who minister or labor in the service of the Church.”

Q: Then why do you need a commission?

A: The U.S. Bishops knew already in Dallas last June that some of the solutions they were presenting would have to be examined by the Holy See from the perspective of the universal law of the Church. Legislation made in haste is also not always the best legislation. So, the commission will provide a forum for a discussion of these variations in order to reconcile them effectively.

Q: Do you expect much to change in the Charter and the Norms?

A: The Charter is a broad framework for addressing the issue of sexual abuse of minors by clergy and other Church personnel. The matters under discussion by the commission will involve primarily those matters where there are variations from the universal law of the Church and the need for greater clarity and precision. What’s important is that the Holy See wants the U.S. Bishops’ policy to work and that making it work means anticipating any possible problems, and resolving them before Vatican approval is given.

Q: Does this mean that priests who have left ministry since Dallas will return to ministry?

A: No. Nothing the Vatican has asked us to do will result in any changes in the action taken during the last months here in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, nor will it change our commitment to addressing this issue. No priest in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee with a substantiated allegation of sexual abuse involving a minor will be allowed to publicly function as a priest.