Roman Catholic bishops called to account on sex abuse cases

Catholic New Times, June 20, 2004

SASKATOON -- A national Catholic organization has called on the bishops of Canada to provide a full accounting of the numbers of convicted priest abusers, the numbers of victims and the financial settlements the bishops made in cases of sex abuse of minors over the past forty years.

The Catholic Network for Women's Equality at its annual meeting in Saskatoon called on Catholics across the country to request full audits from each bishop in Canada's 72 dioceses.

"It has been a terrible time of criminal behaviour and cover-up," said CNWE spokesperson Veronica Dunne of Edmonton. "Transparency and accountability from bishops is part of the restoration of trust in the church."

The CNWE meeting also endorsed the ordination to the Catholic priesthood of one of its members, Dr Michele Birch Conery of British Columbia, to take place on the Danube River on June 26. Birch Conery will be the first Canadian to be ordained by the Women's Ordination Worldwide movement.