Top FBI woman battles Church abuse

Victim support groups have praised the appointment

The highest ranking woman at the United States' Federal Bureau of Investigation is quitting the agency to take a new role combating child abuse in the Roman Catholic Church.

Roman Catholic bishops in the US appointed Kathleen McChesney to head up their new Office of Child and Youth Protection.

Even one case of child abuse is intolerable. Our churches need to be safe havens for everyone

Kathleen McChesney

The US Conference of Catholic Bishops created the office in June as part of a new policy aimed at removing paedophiles from the clergy.

The credibility of priests in the US has been severely damaged after a series of sex abuse scandals and accusations that Church leaders covered up wrongdoing.

In the last year at least 300 American priests have been removed amid allegations of child sex abuse.

Confidence in crackdown

"Even one case of child abuse is intolerable. Our churches need to be safe havens for everyone," said Ms McChesney as her appointment was announced.

The Catholic Church's credibility has taken a battering

"I believe that the Catholic Church has suffered because of the actions of a few," she added.

Ms McChesney said the National Review Board, which will monitor her office as well as work with her to monitor the bishops' performance, and her own office, are both unique.

She said that they indicated a firm commitment from the Catholic Church to eradicate abuse.

They "express that the bishops want to fix this problem. It's not going to be me that fixes it. It's going to be a lot of people," she said.

"The goal? No more cases," Ms McChesney added.

Prevention role

Monsignor William P Fay, general secretary to the bishop's conference, said that spending on the review board, protection office and new abuse policy would exceed $1m next year.

She is absolutely fearless, so controversial issues are not going to be any problem for Kathleen

Walter Stowe, FBI colleague

Ms McChesney's role will not be restricted to monitoring, but will include crime prevention, the bishop's conference said.

She will also help individual dioceses "in the implementation of 'safe environment' programmes", as well as preparing a public annual report on the issue.

A life-long lay Catholic, Ms McChesney is the third most senior official in the FBI and the highest ranking woman.

As the FBI's Executive Assistant Director for Law Enforcement, Ms McChesney was responsible for liaison with the country's 18,000 law enforcement agencies and bureau operations in 44 countries.

She also was in charge of the bureau's laboratory and training as well as the Critical Response Group, which includes hostage rescue teams and criminal profilers.

The post was created by FBI Director Robert Mueller in the wake of the 11 September terror attacks and she started the job in December last year.

Winning character

Ms McChesney has risen up through the ranks of law enforcement in the course of a 31-year career, which she began with the county police near Seattle before joining the FBI in 1978.

Paying tribute to her on Thursday, Mr Mueller said Ms McChesney "has distinguished herself and made important contributions as an innovator and leader in the law enforcement community".

Walter Stowe, who was Ms McChesney's colleague when she commanded the FBI office in Chicago said: "She is absolutely fearless, so controversial issues are not going to be any problem for Kathleen."

Ms McChesney was chosen from more than 40 candidates and groups supporting the victims of abuse have praised the decision.

She will begin the job on 2 December.