Vatican City: Vatican was facing outrage on October 19 from sex abuse victims in the United States after the 'Holy See' rejected a proposal from US bishops to punish abusive priests.

" Victims' organisations denounced October 18 announcement by the Vatican, which said the guidelines put forward by US Catholic Church leaders were "vague and imprecise" and called for further study.

This is a tragic day for American Catholics," Barbara Blaine, head of survivors network of those abused by priests (SNAP), said in New York.

"We don't need any more committees, any more studies, any more talks. What we need is action. We need to put the protection of children ahead of everything else," she said.

Under the proposals, made after a string of scandals involving priests and minors severely hurt the Church's image in the United States, US clergymen would be dismissed after "even a single act of sexual abuse".

But conservatives in the 'Holy See' were apparently put off by the plan, which effectively ruled out rehabilitation for offending priests by making their dismissal mandatory.

"It cannot be fair that on the basis of an unproved accusation that one can ruin somebody socially, morally, spiritually and economically," said Colombian cardinal Dario Castrillon Hoyos, who heads the powerful Vatican congregation for the clergy.

"The Church must also defend those priests who have erred, even if there can be no question of protecting delinquent clerics," he said.

His forthright defence was stronger than the language used in the Vatican's official response, which came in a letter from the Holy See's official responsible for bishops, cardinal Giovanni Battista Re.

The letter said the provisions were "difficult to reconcile with the universal law of the Church", as well as being "vague and imprecise" and "the source of confusion and ambiguity".

It called for a commission, composed of four US bishops and four from the 'Holy See', to be convened to revise the guidelines.

The head of the US bishops' conference, which drafted the proposals, Bishop Wilton Gregory denied there was any conflict with the 'Holy See' and gave the Vatican a letter accepting the plan for further study.

"We are not stepping back from our compassion for those who've been harmed, nor in our determination to put into place policies that will protect children," he said.

Lawyer Mitchell Garabedian, who is representing 17 people who claim they were sexually assaulted by a single priest, said his clients were outraged by the decision.

"They believe that the leaders of the church just don't care about victims of sexual molestation by priests. It's another slap in the face," he said.

Activist Blaine said, "are you going to protect children or worry about the reputation and careers of grown men?"

AFP