The Associated Press says the Catholic Church in America is moving faster on abuse cases now, but not everybody is happy about it.
The action against the priest was swift and public.Within five days of receiving a decades-old child sex abuse allegation against the Rev. Melvin Thompson, Denver's Roman Catholic Archdiocese investigated, alerted law enforcement and announced his suspension to parishioners and the public.
The archdiocese says Thompson, 74, maintains his innocence. Some parishioners have complained the process was unfair and too fast. However Denver Archbishop Charles Chaput called prompt action "painful but necessary."
The episode highlights the challenges American Catholic Church leaders face as they follow through on a promise to be more transparent in dealing with priests accused of abuse, while respecting the rights of both victims and the accused.
Whaaat? Since when has the maintsream press been concerned about the rights of accused Catholic priests? I guess it's never too late to start seeing the other possible side of the story. Some in te archdiocese are actually a little alarmed that the process is happening so quickly. What if the guy didn't do it? And it's being made public that he's accused of sexual misconduct with minors?
"You're damned if you do and damned if you don't," said [Thomas] Plante, vice chairman of the National Review Board. "That's part of the challenge now. People have demands and want to know, but we do have laws and due process for a reason."
