New guard in US Catholic church

Nationally, two probes into the scandals are proceeding. And in many dioceses, new rules bar kids from priests' rooms. The bishop in San Jose, Calif., even installed glass walls in confessionals to prevent abuse. It all adds up to making churches "much safer places for kids," says the Rev. Thomas Reese, editor of America, a Catholic magazine. But many outsiders see the sex-abuse scandal as rooted in a culture of secrecy and weak accountability.

Massachusetts Attorney General Thomas Reilly released a report last week cataloguing the abuse of at least 789 victims over 60 years in Boston's archdiocese. He accused the church of "institutional acceptance" of wayward priests. And, amid a lack of fundamental change, he said it is "far too early to conclude that abuse has stopped" or that it will not recur.

That's where the bishops' orthodoxy and ties to the Pope could cause friction. Ultimately Rome - and the bishops it appoints - view the American scandal as stemming from "a lack of adherence to the laws of the church," says Stephen Pope, a theologian at the Jesuit-run Boston College. Therefore, what's needed is "stricter adherence." That leaves no room, he says, for debating whether "secrecy or lack of accountability was a problem" - or whether, for instance, the celibacy requirement for priests should be eased.

That's why many are watching to see if O'Malley will set up serious dialogue with reform groups like Voice of the Faithful and the Boston Priests Forum. He'll clearly be pulled between ministering to a bruised flock and toeing a tough line on broad reform.

O'Malley acknowledged that tension in Wednesday's homily: "As your archbishop, I am your shepherd; as a friar, I am your brother; and I have come to serve you...."

Parishioners, too, play a key role, says Bill Gately, a leader in the sex-abuse victim movement. He urges Catholics not to view O'Malley as a quick-fix savior responsible for their welfare. That attitude is "ironically what got us into this mess in the first place," he says.

What's needed, he continues, is antithetical to Catholic culture: Having laity claim "maturity about their spirituality," and a role in the direction of their church. He and others stress a need for legal change in reporting requirements and statutes of limitations. But even if laity are involved, it won't be easy. Parishioners, with O'Malley and other bishops, must weather the coming financial storm. A broad lawsuit settlement in Boston could be at least $100 million. O'Malley is already under pressure to sell the traditional palatial home of Boston archbishops - once valued at $28 million.

Perhaps one prayer offered for abuse victims during Wednesday's mass - in Vietnamese - applied to the entire church: "May God grant them the grace of renewal."

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