An open letter from Bishop DiNardo
Posted June 6, 2002

Dear Friends in Christ,

The last few months have seen an extraordinary focus on the question of the sexual misconduct of clergy with minors in the United States. The attention to this issue has generated an enormous amount of reporting and news stories. You, the Catholic people, have also been speaking and talking about this issue and other issues that surround it.

In June, the bishops of the United States will gather in Dallas for their semiannual meeting. The major topic for the meeting will be the sexual misconduct crisis and the formulation of policy to address the issues.

Though I cannot predict where all the discussions will lead, I am convinced that what has been called the "zero tolerance" policy will prevail. I think it is very important that such a policy does prevail. Simultaneously the manner of the treatment of victims of sexual abuse by priests will need to be discussed and changes in the policies of the various dioceses in the United States on victims of abuse will need to be made.

Practices that involved cover-ups and settlements with silence will need to be amended. The role of the laity in misconduct and review boards will need to be expanded. The issue of mandatory reporting to civil authorities must also be addressed since we are dealing with crimes committed. Attention to the formation of priests and seminarians along with the support of the vast majority of good priests must also be considered in any comprehensive policy.

Beyond the policy decisions, some of which can be handled at the Dallas meeting, others of which will take some time to formulate nationally, there is another point that needs to be made. Serious moral, psychological and spiritual damage was done to victims. The bishops, as a body and as individuals, must attend to this factor.

It is, to be sure, the most complex issue, but it is the one that squarely places us as the church of Christ under his Lordship and judgment. I believe that it is this spiritual issue that really underlies the assessments of the credibility of the bishops.

In subsidiary fashion, the solidarity and fraternity of priests, surely a good, cannot be used in such a way as to hide moral evil, since the reason for the fraternity is to exercise pastoral care for the good of souls. About such things policies can only go so far; deep theological and pastoral commitment, including repentance, is the necessary path to integrity.

I ask the prayers of all priests, deacons, religious and faithful for the meeting in Dallas and for the subsequent reflection and action we will take here in the Diocese of Sioux City to renew our policies and commit ourselves to the protection of our children and youth, to a renewed holiness of the priesthood and a renewed holiness for all our local church.

Sincerely yours in Christ,

†Most Rev. Daniel N. DiNardo
Bishop of Sioux City