Will the Dallas Charter Update Finally Give Priests Due Process?

At their Florida meeting on June 10–12, the American Catholic bishops will vote on proposed revisions to the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People, colloquially known as the Dallas Charter. The Charter was adopted in 2002 and last updated in 2018. While the document rightly focuses on the Church’s commitment to safeguarding minors and preventing abuse, the Charter has long been criticized for failing to emphasize the need for due process for accused priests. Catholic priests have an abiding interest in the Charter since it provides the philosophical framework for how any accusation against them will be handled.