Keating speaks out about church problems

Governor Keating says allegations of sexual abuse by Roman Catholic priests in the US are similar to allegations in Ireland.<br><br>Keating heads a national review board charged with monitoring the church's

Sunday, August 4th 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

Governor Keating says allegations of sexual abuse by Roman Catholic priests in the US are similar to allegations in Ireland.

Keating heads a national review board charged with monitoring the church's sexual abuse policy in the US. He met recently with members of two Irish boards created to oversee sexual abuse policies in that country.

Keating says that although one in four Americans is Catholic and Ireland is 97 percent Catholic, the Irish challenge is very similar to American Catholics.

The national review board was appointed by the U-S Conference of Catholic Bishops. Keating says he hopes a director is named to head the Catholic Church's new office of Child and Youth Protection by the time the board meets in Oklahoma City next month.