"The policy of this diocese has been and is at zero tolerance," said the Very Rev. Joseph A. Grimaldi, vicar general of the Honolulu Diocese and member of its Presbyteral Council. "When we operate, we must be concerned about the victim, we must be concerned with the faithful in the church and we must be concerned with the priests. That is what makes decisions difficult."

DiLorenzo was unavailable for comment this morning. He was on Kaua'i, conferring individually with priests and clergy.

One of the Ad Hoc Committee on Sexual Abuse recommendations would allow for a diocesan review board comprised of lay people and clergy to review the case of priests accused of one past offense to determine whether they can return to public ministry. The cleric would be required to undergo treatment and evaluation.

Grimaldi noted that it's hard to predict what will happen when the committee's proposals are put to vote at next week's U.S. Bishops conference in Dallas.

"A lot of it is based on theology and a lot of it is based on forgiveness," Grimaldi said of what he had gleamed of the proposals from news reports. "This particular diocese is sticking with zero tolerance. But bishops are all independent. We'll have to wait and see."