Due Process for Priests - Letter - NYTimes.comLog InRegister NowHelpTimesPeopleHome PageToday's PaperVideoMost PopularTimes Topics Search All NYTimes.com Opinion World U.S. N.Y. / Region Business Technology Science Health Sports Opinion EditorialsColumnistsContributorsLettersThe Public EditorGlobal OpinionArts Style Travel Jobs Real Estate Autos Advertise on NYTimes.comDue Process for Priests Published: December 24, 2003 Sign In to E-Mail Print To the Editor: Re ''Top Cleric Says He'll Continue to Fight Charge of Sex Abuse'' (news article, Dec. 18): As the editor of a Catholic journal who has seen too many priests being denied their right to due process, I believe that Msgr. Charles M. Kavanagh's announcement will be the first of many. The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops and the Vatican have left no means for accused priests to clear their names if wrongly accused. Contrary to the Dallas Charter, most accused priests are being removed from their dioceses before any determination is made as to the merit of the accusation. Many bishops withdraw all financial support from these priests despite prohibitions in canon law that expressly forbid them to do this. All citizens are entitled to due process and the presumption of innocence until proved guilty. Granting accused priests the due-process rights to which they are entitled will not change the outcomes in these cases. It will simply prevent gratuitous abuse of accused priests by bishops who want the problem of priest pedophilia off the radar screen. CATHARINE A. HENNINGSEN Rye Brook, N.Y., Dec. 18, 2003 The writer is the editor and publisher of SALT: The Op-Ed Page of the Catholic Church. Sign In to E-Mail Print The finest journalism in Texas? The New York Times, as low as $3.70 a week. Log In With Facebook Log in to see what your friends are sharing on nytimes.com. Privacy Policy | What’s This? What’s Popular Now Test-Taking Cements Knowledge Better Than Studying, Researchers Say Reynolds Price, a Literary Voice of the South, Dies at 77 Advertise on NYTimes.comMOST POPULAR E-MailedBloggedSearchedTo Really Learn, Quit Studying and Take a Test Op-Ed Guest Columnist: What I Learned From Sargent Shriver Path Is Sought for States to Escape Debt Burdens Op-Ed Columnist: Amy Chua Is a Wimp The Love Affair With the Fireplace Cools Op-Ed Columnist: Goodbye to a Guy Named Joe Nearly 125 Arrested in Sweeping Mob Roundup A Sniff of Home Cooking for Dogs and Cats Wal-Mart Shifts Strategy to Promote Healthy Foods Books of The Times: But Will It All Make ‘Tiger Mom’ Happy? Go to Complete List » State Bankruptcy Option Is Sought, QuietlyAdministration Prepares to Lift Ban on New Guantnamo CasesGoodbye to a Guy Named JoeObama's Jobs SearchScalia and Thomas May Have Conflict of Interest, Common Cause SaysMTV's 'Skins' Casts Teenagers in Racy Scenes, and Raises DoubtsHouse Votes to Repeal Obama Health Care LawPoll Finds Wariness About Cutting EntitlementsF.B.I. and Police Arrest TK in Massive Mob CrackdownBlackwater Founder Is Said to Back African MercenariesGo to Complete List » berlusconichinaamy chuakrugmanjanuary 2, 2011david brooksgabrielle giffordsmodern lovetunisiaeducationGo to Complete List » Tax incentives and Hollywood Also in Business » Turning off devices before flight Beer tasting at Duane Reade Ads by Googlewhat's this? Grow Your Hair Back Now Stop Waiting. Look Younger Now. Safe, Organic. Guaranteed to Work! www.NaturalWellbeing.com/Grow-Hair Lexus of Northborough Find the perfect Lexus for you! Payments to fit within your budget. LexusOfNorthborough.com Official NetApp® Site Be Flexible and Efficient w/ a Shared IT Infrastructure. See How. www.NetApp.com Advertise on NYTimes.com Inside NYTimes.com Art & Design » When Art Dallied With Poetry on 53rd StreetWorld » Scots Tell London, Hands Off Our ClocksMagazine » Turkey’s RulesOpinion » Disunion: The Critter Himself Why did Lincoln spend so much time sitting for a sculptor?Theater » Protesters Armed With Wigs and SequinsOpinion » Op-Ed: Why Parents Fear the NeedleTravel » 36 Hours in Valencia, SpainReal Estate » House Tour: Pleasantville, N.Y.Opinion » Editorial: Debit Card Predators Banks shouldn’t be allowed to evade rules on abusive debit-card practices by switching to a less rigorous federal regulator.Movies » Taking Up With a Maid Might Upset the FamilyOpinion » Room for Debate: Who Can Plea Insanity?Sports » Jets Fans Jam Times Square HomeWorld U.S. N.Y. / Region Business Technology Science Health Sports Opinion Arts Style Travel Jobs Real Estate Autos Back to Top © 2011 The New York Times CompanyPrivacyYour Ad ChoicesTerms of ServiceCorrectionsRSSFirst LookHelpContact UsWork for UsAdvertiseSite Map More in Opinion (1 of 18 articles) Op-Ed Columnist: China Goes to Nixon Read More » Close