(RNS) — United States Catholic bishops approved a new version of their signature document on child sexual abuse on Thursday (June 11), adding language on the “presumption of innocence” for accused priests, despite a push for broader discussion and changes.
Shawn McKnight, archbishop of Kansas City, Kansas, had led an effort to include more expansive changes to the bishops’ Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People, commonly known as the Dallas Charter. Advocates for survivors and sexual abuse reform had also called for broader changes to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ policy commitments, including expanding the document to address the sexual abuse of adults.
After McKnight motioned for the vote to be postponed to the next meeting to allow bishops to consult people in their dioceses about changes, 73 bishops, representing more than a third (36%) of those voting, voted with him.
Though McKnight was unsuccessful in advocating that the Dallas Charter expand to address the sexual abuse of adults, he successfully added an amendment that commits the bishops to ensuring their priests learn to provide trauma-informed pastoral care.
Several bishops at the meeting in Orlando, Florida, rose to back McKnight’s efforts to postpone the vote, including Columbus, Ohio, Bishop Earl Fernandes; Seattle Archbishop Paul Etienne; …