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by Jerry L.
Van Marter
LOUISVILLE — Eleven constitutional
amendments designed to toughen discipline of child sexual
abusers in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) have been
ratified by the denomination’s presbyteries.
With results in from 156 of
the 173 presbyteries, each of the 11 amendments to the
PC(USA)’s Rules of Discipline has received at least
120 votes. The number required for ratification was 87.
The amendments will become
part of the PC(USA)’s Book of Order (constitution) on
July 3.
The amendments
were prompted by a 2002 report detailing 51 incidents of
sexual abuse committed against 22 children and adolescents
by PC(USA) mission personnel in the Congo between 1945 and
1985.
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