The Archbishop of Montreal has handed down a decree, affecting
priests and children. A pilot project in a handful of churches will
forbid priests from being alone with children. The policy is called
responsible pastoral ministry and aims to ensure a healthy and safe
environment for all.
The Roman
Catholic Archbishop of Montreal, Christian Lépine, has ordered that
beginning sometime this year, priests and other pastoral workers in
Montreal parishes will no longer be permitted to spend time alone with
children.