Bishop Calls For Sex Abuse Study
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San Francisco Archbishop William Levada says he plans to propose a scientific study of the causes of child abuse in the Catholic Church in the U-S.
Levada says he will make the proposal when America´s bishops gather in June. 30 California priests have been forced to resign or have been suspended because of allegations of sexual misconduct.
Levada says he hopes the study will show whether allowing priests to have sex within marriage would reduce the incidence of molestation by priests.
Levada says the issue of celibacy will be up for discussion at the meeting of bishops. He says celibacy is a church tradition that should not be taken lightly, but that the church would be wrong to avoid considering a change.
