As the nation's Roman Catholic bishops take time out starting today to pray, fast and repent for the clerical sex abuse scandals, there's growing acrimony over whether the reform policy they approved in June is too harsh or too lenient.
Victims advocates are accusing bishops of lax enforcement, while some influential church voices are complaining that abusers are being used as scapegoats when some can be rehabilitated.
There's also been criticism of the national and local review boards, meant to watch over the church's reform efforts.
One result of all the turmoil could be an extraordinary, or "plenary," council to discuss the overall American church situation. Eight bishops proposed that idea to colleagues July 18, and at least 40 other bishops have registered support for the meeting since. It would be the first meeting of its kind since 1884.
This week's prayerful focus on the sex scandals is part of the bishops' abuse reform package, approved overwhelmingly June 14 in Dallas.
The bishops designated today for private fasting and penance over their past failings, followed by prayers of repentance tomorrow - the feast of the Virgin Mary's Assumption and a day when Catholics are obliged to attend Mass.
The bishops invited priests and lay Catholics to join them in prayer, though any public observances were left up to each local diocese. Whatever events are held, they'll come amid an atmosphere of increasing public discord.
Last week, leaders of the nation's religious orders - representing roughly a third of the 46,000 U.S. priests - decided that abusers should continue in church work under "severe restrictions" and be kept apart from youths.
That's less restrictive than the bishops' policy, which says offenders should be reduced to lay status or else limited to a life of "prayer and penance." Both organizations agree that offenders will not perform public functions, such as saying Mass for parishioners.
The Rev. Canice Connors, president of the orders' association, said the bishops - with their harsher penalties - could be looked on as joining the media, victims and rank-and-file Catholics in "scapegoating abusers."
The Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests thought little of the religious orders' efforts to stop abuse and is equally dubious about the bishops, claiming instances of lax enforcement in at least five dioceses.