"We will be accountable."
That was the assertion by U.S. Catholic bishops meeting last week in Dallas in response to the crisis of sexual abuse by priests.
The bishops agreed to remove from ministry any priest guilty of even one act of child sexual abuse and to set up a National Review Board to study the scope of the problem.
They'll also work with religious orders — which are not directly answerable to bishops — to implement the "Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People" and to seek the Vatican's approval of their actions. But their actions didn't satisfy all concerned.
Liberal Catholics sought more involvement by laypeople in decision-making and wanted restrictions lifted on who can be a priest. Conservatives wanted the issue of gays in the priesthood addressed. Neither side got its wish.
Moreover, the bishops left themselves open to criticism for their past actions of transferring priests who were known to be child sexual abusers from one parish to another. What's their punishment, many asked?
Lest you think the issue is merely a "Catholic problem," consider last week's meeting of Southern Baptists.
At their national convention in St. Louis, 9,500 of the faithful acknowledged that sexual abuse touches all denominations and urged churches and civil authorities to hold accountable any minister guilty of sexual abuse.
"You know the old economic idea that a rising tide lifts all boats?" said the Rev. Richard Land, executive director of the denomination's Ethics & Religious Liberty Committee. "Well, a flood gets everybody wet. And this is a flood that's going to get everybody wet."
In fact, it already has.
The United Church of Christ reports that in the past 10 years, it has removed on average one minister every two weeks, most of them because of some form of sexual misconduct, including pedophilia.
The sad truth is that members of the clergy are as susceptible to sins of the flesh as anyone else. That's why denominations — and each one of us — must be mindful of the responsibility to report and, as much as humanly possible, prevent sexual abuse of children.
Here is a first step to take: If you're a member of a congregation, urge your leadership to draw up sex-abuse guidelines, especially if your denomination hasn't done so.
Richard Hammar, a lawyer and author of "Reducing the Risk of Child Sexual Abuse in Your Church," says the guidelines should include a definition of abuse, ways to screen new employees and policies on reporting abuse as well as on how to work with children.
The Center for the Prevention of Sexual and Domestic Violence — www.cpsdv.org/ — has other helpful information.
It's sad to have to state the obvious, but it needs to be said: Most members of the clergy care deeply about the welfare of their members. They are not preying on children; they're praying for them.
They are outraged and generally disgusted by the crimes of a few. Such responses are appropriate. But actions, not righteous indignation, are required to prevent future crimes and to restore confidence among the laity.
A New York Times story reports that the Rev. Thomas DeVita, a Catholic priest in Michigan, will likely be forced out because of his admitted sexual misconduct in 1978 with a 15-year-old altar boy. It was, the priest said, the only time he had committed such an act, and he deeply regretted it.
The diocese paid out a settlement to the family years ago, and DeVita underwent psychiatric counseling. Many in the congregation hoped his fresh start was what the church is about. But in the end, no one could avoid the pain.
Ultimately, Christ will provide the needed healing and forgiveness, and Christ will hold each of his followers accountable for their actions.
Tom Schaefer writes about religion and ethics for the Wichita (Kan.) Eagle. Write to him at the Wichita Eagle, P.O. Box 820, Wichita, KS 67201, or send e-mail to tschaefer@wichitaeagle.com.