With the resolution and implementation of a sexual abuse policy in the United States this week — pending approval from the Holy See at the Vatican — U.S. bishops have given unprecedented power to lay Catholics to monitor and enforce the church’s promise to remove all abusers from active ministry.

Three entities have been established to oversee the progress of the bishops and prevent future scandals.

One is to establish local review boards in the 195 dioceses, another is to create an office for child and youth protection in Washington, D.C., and the third is to establish a National Review Board to act as a watchdog on the abuse issue.

Many church officials feel this action represents a large stride in the Catholic church seeking the accountability it so desperately needs to re-establish its credibility.

But there is another change to the adopted abuse policy that has rank-and-file Catholics — and the general public — questioning the church’s credibility still.

Clergy-run church courts created to handle the abuse cases are being instituted by the bishops to help shield the accused from the public.

Preliminary investigations and tribunals will take the place of much-needed civil intervention.

It is this secretive and behind-closed-doors action that directly affects the Roman Catholic Church’s credibility.

Many groups and organization that have lobbied for harsher penalties and swifter justice feel the new plan is a slap in the face to the abused and the families of the abused.

David Clohessy, national director of the Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests, said setting up the clerical tribunals comes out of left field.

He continued by saying he feels greater involvement of independent law enforcement and Catholic parents is the real solution to the problem.

Clohessy makes a valid point.

The only way the Catholic church will hope to win back its credibility is to allow public law enforcement agencies to act upon abuse accusations.

There is absolutely no difference between a lay person who sexually abuses a child and a priest who abuses.

The Catholic Church’s belief that it is more prepared and qualified to investigate, judge and sentence the abusers is absurd.

The judicial system has been in place for a number of years and has had quite a successful run prosecuting sex offenders.

The Catholic Church should not obstruct secular law and punishment through its own policies.

Editorial Board:Cavan Reagan, Amber Billings, Ayrel Clark, Charlie Weaver, Rachel Faber Machacha, Zach Calef.