There remains a sizable gap between the Vatican’s vision of best practice and how U.S. dioceses process allegations. This is especially true of the first stages of handling an accusation, in which dioceses often issue definitive-sounding statements before the full facts of the case are known, and before accused clergy are allowed to mount any kind of canonical defense. The results can lead to a denial of due process for accused clergy, and premature, sometimes irreparable, damage to their public reputations.

"On the basis of a single accusation from thirty or forty years ago, priests are suspended from ministry with their reputations destroyed and their lives in tatters. They must forever wear the scarlet letter of abuse pinned to their garb. Do bishops realize that such actions veer closely toward rash judgment, calumny, and slander, all condemned by the eighth commandment? This entire process has had a devastating impact on priests — who know that they do not have the support of their ecclesiastical superiors and realize they can be deprived of their ministries, their reputations, and their livelihoods in the blink of an eye." Guarino wrote.

As far as the review board is concerned, they make sure that we are removing from ministry anybody who’s been credibly accused of abuse, and they help us assess the credibility of allegations and suitability of ministry of those who have been accused. We rely on them to give us advice and ask questions to make sure that we’re asking all the questions that need to be asked and that no stone goes unturned that could help us understand what happened, often, in situations that allegedly occurred years ago.

“During his leave from active ministry, Monsignor engaged in a sincere and prayerful effort to strengthen his priestly vows and has favorably responded to every request made by me and by the Diocese. Let me state unequivocally that the Diocese has received no allegations of illegal misconduct of any kind by Monsignor, and that I have every confidence in returning Monsignor to active ministry and in his ability to accompany the people of God of this great parish as together you journey toward a deeper, more meaningful relationship with the Person of Jesus Christ." The bishop said.

It established a one-and-done policy which saw clergymen against whom abuse allegations were substantiated being removed permanently from public ministry. Since its adoption and subsequent Vatican approval, the charter has been revised three times, most recently in 2018. Plans called for the next update to occur by 2025, but work has already begun by the bishops' Committee on the Protection of Children and Young People.

At least 13 U.S. states and the District of Columbia make it a crime for pastoral ministers to engage in sexual conduct with their spiritual directees or others who recieve from them pastoral counseling. The bill would establish “that a person is legally incapable of consenting to sexual conduct when they are a member or adherent of a church or religious group and the actor is a member of the clergy or minister providing the person with pastoral counseling services.”

It’s open season on priests, and there seems to be no end in sight. It is very difficult for a priest accused today to get a fair hearing. A priest is considered guilty until proven innocent even by the church. I know several long-time priests with otherwise unblemished records accused last November. Their priesthoods are effectively over. The hierarchy allows this injustice to continue.