Laicization debated as proper response to abuse

The AP (5/3) reported on how a great deal of the controversy surrounding the Catholic Church’s response to clergy sexual abuse has been its seeming reluctance to kick out priests who are convicted or confessed child molestors. However, church officials who are experts in abuse prevention, as well as some victims’ advocates, are unsure that the time-consuming process or laicization (also known as defrocking) is a suitable punishment for abuse. There is even the fear that laicized priests, cut free of all Church supervision, would continue their abuse in private without any chance of oversight or stopping them.