Catholic bishops approve new sex-abuse reporting hotline

[Eugene]

Source: Associated Press

Catholic bishops approve new sex-abuse reporting hotline

By REGINA GARCIA CANO and DAVID CRARY
June 12, 2019

BALTIMORE (AP) — U.S. Catholic bishops voted Wednesday to create a new national sex-abuse hotline run by an independent entity, a decision that represents one of the church’s most tangible steps yet in confronting its sex-abuse crisis.

The hotline, which would field allegations that bishops committed abuse or covered it up, would take complaints by telephone and through an online link. It’s supposed to be operating within a year.

Hotline operators would relay allegations to regional supervisory bishops. Church leaders are encouraging those bishops — though not requiring them — to seek help from lay experts in assessing and investigating allegations.

“I can’t imagine a bishop not using a lay-led review board that’s filled with people who have expertise in this area of investigation, people with a legal background or a law enforcement background,” said Robert Barron, the auxiliary bishop of the Los Angeles Archdiocese.

-snip-

Read more: https://apnews.com/9c7e6e2903184306acfec7de6379d290

[zipplewrath]

1. Could be bigger than realized

It takes several layers of "protection" out of the current "system", and may alert the hierarchy sooner than later.

[Mariana]

2. LOL at Robert Barron.

“I can’t imagine a bishop not using a lay-led review board that’s filled with people who have expertise in this area of investigation, people with a legal background or a law enforcement background,” said Robert Barron, the auxiliary bishop of the Los Angeles Archdiocese.

Mr. Barron, it wasn't all that long ago that most people "couldn't imagine" that the leadership of your Church conspired to enable and protect child rapists, as a matter of policy, for many, many years. So, kindly shut the fuck up about what you "can't imagine", because your imagination is seriously lacking.

[trotsky]

3. What a fucking joke. "Church leaders are *encouraging* those bishops - though not requiring them..."

Again, this is just keeping it "in the family." The hotline ensures the church handles (and buries) the incident instead of turning it over to secular authorities.

More of the same.

[MineralMan]

4. Current sex-abuse hotline phone: