Web links to documents from U.S. Conference
of Catholic Bishops' meeting in Dallas

Editor's note:

U.S. Catholic bishops meeting last week in Dallas adopted a "Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People" and enforcing norms or laws. The norms must first be approved by the Vatican, a process that could be completed in about three months, insiders say.

The charter says that for the good of the church - the restoration of credibility and trust - no offender will be allowed to return to any form of ministry.

U.S. bishops' conference president, Bishop Wilton Gregory of Belleville, Ill., also announced the appointment of Oklahoma Gov. Frank Keating to a newly created panel that will oversee the implementation of the new policies to protect children from sexual abuse by priests.

Keating, a former FBI agent and prosecutor, promised a get-tough policy. For the text of the charter (English and Spanish), the norms and other documents from the meeting, click on the links at left to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' web site.