Posted Monday, June 16, 2003 at 4:41 p.m. CST

Keating resigns as chair of bishops' sex abuse panel

By Joe Feuerherd
Washington

Former Oklahoma Gov. Frank Keating, in a letter released June 16, resigned as chairman of the National Review Board established by the U.S. bishops to investigate the clerical sexual abuse crisis.

Keating drew fire last week for comparing bishops who did not cooperate with the board to the mafia. His resignation letter, addressed to U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops President Bishop Wilton Gregory, offered no apologies for those comments.

"My remarks, which some bishops found offensive, were deadly accurate," wrote Keating. He continued, "I make no apology. To resist grand jury subpoenas, to suppress the names of offending clerics, to deny, to obfuscate, to explain away; that is the model of a criminal organization, not my church."

Keating said he had previously indicated to Gregory his intention to resign as chairman of the review board, though the timing of the announcement left little doubt that his abrupt departure was caused by the uproar over his comments. Several members of the review board had reportedly urged Keating to step down.

Last week, Los Angeles Cardinal Roger Mahony said Keating's "off the wall" comments amounted to "the final straw" between the blunt-spoken Keating and the bishops. Keating had previously been criticized for advising Catholics dissatisfied with the church's response to the crisis to withhold contributions.

In his letter, Keating said the board, and the bishop's Office of Child and Youth Protection, made progress over the past year. "As a former FBI agent and U.S. attorney, I am convinced that pouring law enforcement and audit resources annually into each diocese will reclaim Catholic lay confidence," said Keating.

He continued, "Our message was clear. Sex abuse is not just a moral lapse. It is a crime that should be fully prosecuted."

Keating applauded Bishop Gregory's efforts, calling him "a model of the Good Shepherd." Likewise, said Keating, "most of America's bishops are fully supportive of the Board's efforts."

NCR will provide complete coverage of the upcoming bishops' meeting and the fallout from the Keating resignation in its next issue. Watch this Web site for breaking news and updates.

Keating's resignation comes three days before the U.S. Catholic bishops are to hold their semi-annual national meeting.

Joe Feuerherd is NCR Washington correspondent. His e-mail address is jfeuerherd@natcath.org

National Catholic Reporter, June 16, 2003