"Thousands of U.S. priests have been removed or have voluntarily stepped away from ministry since 2002."

"Of roughly 5,000 priests removed from ministry because of abuse allegations since 2002, only about 100 have been returned to ministry."


"[A]nd only a fraction of those -- maybe 25 -- have been returned to parish ministry."



Adapted from this source: the Catholic newspaper, Our Sunday Visitor. March 1, 2009. Original article is called Cleared priests face hurdles in return to ministry. By Illinois author Ms. Michelle Martin.

"Since that first zero - tolerance policy was approved [in Dallas in 2002], dioceses across the country have moved to remove priests from ministry as soon as an allegation that is seen as possibly true is received.

"While reports indicate that the majority of such accusations have foundation, that's not true for all.

"Cautious approach

"While news accounts of several of the [cleared] priests' returns to their parishes tell of supportive parishioners welcoming them back with open arms, that situation is not the usual resolution of an accusation of sexual abuse, said Joe Maher, one of the founders of Opus Bono Sacerdotii, an organization that works to provide assistance to priests facing difficult and sensitive problems.

"Of the roughly 5,000 priests Maher believes to have removed from ministry because of abuse allegations since 2002, only about 100 have been returned to ministry, he said, and only a fraction of those -- maybe 25 -- have been returned to parish ministry.

"[H]e said, No one will take them. It's probably the worst accusation that you can have against you.

"Judicial process

"Father Philip Brown, assistant professor of canon law at Catholic University of America, said the canonical judicial process can be confusing to American Catholics because it's based on a different model than the American court system.

"Bishops also have the responsibility to protect the people under their care by only assigning priests who are truly suitable for ministry, Father Brown said, so even priests who have not been found guilty sometimes are restricted in their assignments."