ARCHDIOCESE TOUGHENS POLICY (To report abuse charges directly to authorities)

The Archdiocese of New York has created a new policy for handling allegations of sexual misconduct by clergy, discarding one it established last month.  The new policy makes it clear that when a church official suspects a priest has sexually abused a minor, the archdiocese immediately will refer the matter to the appropriate district attorney's office for investigation.

(New York)