Ross Mackenzie

About the author: Ross Mackenzie is a syndicated columnist who writes on a variety of issues, including foreign affairs, culture, and family.

When the victims of child sexual abuse and the Catholic laity called for zero tolerance of pedophile priests, they rightly wanted a policy that mandated forced removal from the priesthood of every abusing priest. However, the zero-tolerance policy agreed to by the American bishops at their June 2002 meeting in Dallas, Texas, failed to meet these demands. Some priests will receive special dispensations: They will keep their title, remain on the payroll, and retire with dignity—dignity denied their victims. Although some might forgive the bishops for their failure to impose absolute zero tolerance, the victims of child sexual abuse will not likely do so.

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