STATEMENT ON WORK OF HOLY SEE, U.S. MIXED COMMISSION

VATICAN CITY, OCT 30, 2002 (VIS) - On October 18 the Holy See announced the creation of a mixed commission of the Holy See and of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, whose job was to revise the "Essential Norms for Diocesan/Eparchial Policies Dealing with Allegations of Sexual Abuse of Minors by Priests, Deacons or Other Personnel" (Norms).

Holy See Press Office Director, Joaquin Navarro-Valls, made the following declaration at noon today on the work done by the Holy See-U.S. Bishops Mixed Commission:

"On October 28 and 29 the Mixed Commission of the Holy See and the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops met in the Vatican for the revision of the 'Norms'.

"The suggestions outlined by the Mixed Commission will be brought to the general meeting of the U.S. episcopal conference which will be held in Washington from November 11 to 14.

"The document approved by the U.S. episcopal conference will then be sent to the Holy See for a further 'recognitio'."

The members representing the dicasteries of the Holy See are: Cardinal Dario Castrillon Hoyos, prefect of the Congregation for Clergy; Archbishop Julian Herranz, president of the Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts; Archbishop Tarcisio Bertone, secretary of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith; Archbishop Francesco Monterisi, secretary of the Congregation for Bishops.

The members representing the United States episcopal conference are: Cardinal Francis Eugene George, O.M.I., archbishop of Chicago; Archbishop William Joseph Levada, archbishop of San Francisco; Bishop Thomas Doran of Rockford; Bishop Edward Lori of Bridgeport.

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