Stephen J. Rossetti

About the author: Stephen J. Rossetti is executive vice president and chief operating officer of the Saint Luke Institute, a rehabilitative care facility for priest sex offenders in Suitland, Maryland. He is the author of A Tragic Grace: The Catholic Church and Child Sexual Abuse.

Society's condemnation of child sexual molesters is based on the myths that pedophiles are "monsters" and are untreatable. Psychological counseling and drug treatment programs, coupled with after-treatment supervision, have been successful in treating many child abusers, particularly priests. Since congregations seem willing to accept treated priest offenders back into the community under certain conditions, the church should look for ways to reintegrate such priests into society.

What should be done with priests who sexually abuse minors? The very thought of returning them...