Tobin backs 'severe' policy

By DAVID SKOLNICK
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
YOUNGSTOWN -- Bishop Thomas J. Tobin of the Catholic Diocese of Youngstown said a policy adopted by American bishops to remove from ministry any priest or deacon identified as child sex abusers is "very severe."
Although the bishop said he has concerns about the policy, he endorses it.
"The terrible harm that has been visited upon young people through the crime of sexual abuse, and the current scandalous situation in which we find ourselves today, and the common good of the church of God, demand nothing less," he said during a press conference Monday at the diocese.
Pope must approve policy
The policy adopted at last week's U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops needs final approval from Pope John Paul II, but Bishop Tobin said the Youngstown diocese -- which includes Mahoning, Trumbull, Columbiana, Ashtabula, Stark and Portage counties -- will begin implementing it shortly. The bishop does not expect the pope to make significant changes to the policy.
The policy calls for the removal from the church of priests and deacons "for even a single act of sexual abuse of a minor -- past, present or future." Also, bishops made it mandatory that any allegation of abuse be reported immediately to the proper authorities.
Bishop Tobin said he has concerns that the new policy will make priests less likely to come to bishops for help if they are sexually abusing children because "the penalties are so severe. It would be hard for priests to come forward and speak to bishops as they have in the past. It will make a difference in the relationship between bishops and priests. It's an unfortunate possible sidelight of this policy."
Bishop Tobin agrees that bishops should be held more accountable if there are sexual abuse cases in their parishes.
There have been 17 documented cases of alleged sexual abuse of children by priests in the Youngstown diocese's 59-year history, Bishop Tobin said. Those cases are 20 to 40 years old, he said.
Bishop Tobin apologized Monday for the diocese's giving incorrect information about one of those cases, involving Monsignor Robert E. Reidy, who was removed from ministry after two Austintown brothers say he sexually abused them in the 1960s during a three-year span here and in several states. The two men are suing the diocese and Monsignor Reidy.
The diocese had said incorrectly that the monsignor admitted he sexually abused the two brothers. Bishop Tobin said Monday that the monsignor denied the claims of abuses.
Removed, then retired
The monsignor was removed from the ministry after the allegations of abuse came to light, and he retired April 2.
The Youngstown diocese has no priests currently active who have sexual abuse allegations against them, and the diocese has not entered into any confidential legal settlements with anyone over abuse allegations in recent years, the bishop said.
The new policy does not permit confidential agreements in the future, he said.
The new policy also calls for the implementation of a diocesan review board, composed mostly of lay people, to assist the diocese in assessing allegations and reviewing policies and procedures for dealing with sexual abuse.
"It's a very strict policy; it's as far as the bishops could go," Bishop Tobin said.
The new policy is not a guarantee that sexual abuse of children will never happen again in the Catholic church, but it is several steps in the right direction, he said.
Proposal rejected
Bishop Tobin introduced an amendment at last week's conference calling for the bishops to work toward unifying themselves in this time of crisis, but the proposal was rejected.
"As a result of this issue, people are sometimes pushing their own agenda and rejoicing over the problems of certain others," he said. "My concern was over the unity of the church. We can't allow this issue to divide the church."
The proposal was rejected because the other bishops felt the conference was designed for child protection and that should be the focus of it, Bishop Tobin said.
"They felt it would add too much pastoral reflection to this specific issue, but we will consider it in the future," he said.
skolnick@vindy.com