Head of US church's panel on sex abuse to stand down

US: The head of the Roman Catholic Church's US sexual abuse oversight panel will resign his post, his spokesman said on Saturday…

US: The head of the Roman Catholic Church's US sexual abuse oversight panel will resign his post, his spokesman said on Saturday, a decision brought on by controversy that began five days ago when he publicly compared some Catholic bishops to the Cosa Nostra.

The resignation of former Oklahoma governor Frank A. Keating as head of the church's National Review Board came after his words were denounced as "off the wall" by Los Angeles Cardinal Roger M. Mahony and after a majority of members of the oversight panel privately called on him to quit.

During the year in which he has headed the panel, Mr Keating has been the public face of the church's effort to reassure Catholics that the bishops are serious about confronting the scandal of priests sexually abusing children.

His strong stands made him a favourite of victims' advocates, but his vivid language irritated many of the bishops he served and some board members.

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Even before the announcement of his departure, church officials had said his leaving office threatened to revive questions among many Catholics about whether the bishops are willing to accept independent oversight of their work. That was precisely the issue the bishops had sought to lay to rest when they appointed Mr Keating and 12 other members of the review board a year ago.

Mr Keating's spokesman, Mr Dan Mahoney, said the departure would come in the next few days, before the bishops convene in St. Louis for their semi-annual national conference, where they are scheduled to review their year-old policies against sexual abuse.

Mr Mahoney said Mr Keating continued to stand behind his remarks. "He uses strong language to make a point. He tells the truth, and apparently some people don't want to hear the truth." He conceded the timing of Mr Keating's departure was "awkward" but sought to portray it as a previously scheduled departure.

That explanation, however, was disbelieved by a prominent advocate for victims of sexual abuse.

"Oh my heavens," said Mr David Clohessy, national director of the Survivors' Network of Those Abused by Priests. "I'm absolutely stunned that a few blunt comments from a concerned, conservative Catholic lay person could be so harshly received by America's bishops."

"I think it casts enormous doubts on the credibility of the board and the bishops," Mr Clohessy added. The 13 members of the review board are all prominent lay Catholics: executives, judges, lawyers and a former White House chief of staff. - (Los Angeles Times service)