First Things Podcast The Sexual Abuse Crisis Is a Law Crisis (ft. Michael Mazza)
Apr 9, 2026
Michael J. Mazza, lawyer and commentator on church law and public policy, discusses the Dallas Charter's origins and its effects on due process. He covers late lawsuits and morale problems among clergy. They explore Vatican guidance, appeals to Rome, cultural roots of hysteria, and cautious hope for lawful reform led by younger leaders.
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Dallas Charter Versus Essential Norms
- The Dallas Charter is an interpretive statement from the 2002 US bishops meeting in Dallas while the Essential Norms are the binding law that followed.
- Michael J. Mazza explains the Charter set purpose but the Essential Norms implemented concrete legal procedures for the U.S. Church.
Due Process Lost In Reactionary Policies
- Post‑2002 responses emphasized immediate removal and suspension, often sidelining canonical due process and presumption of innocence.
- Mazza says this pendulum swung from past coverups to treating accused priests as guilty until proven innocent, harming rights.
Elderly Priests Devastated By Old Lawsuits
- Mazza recounts elderly priests named in decades‑old lawsuits who are immediately removed from rectories and publicly labeled, destroying lives.
- He notes statutes of limitation were extended, letting plaintiffs sue 70–75‑year‑old priests for 1970s allegations.