The resignation of former university president Bernard Knoth stands as a consequence of a decision by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops that was reached in Dallas last year.

The Dallas meeting came as a result of the widely-publicized sex scandal that has rocked the Catholic Church. The U.S. Bishops outlined their procedures for dealing with such allegations in Essential Norms for Diocesan/Eparchial Policies Dealing with Allegations of Sexual Abuse of Minors by Priests or Deacons.

An independent review board has already found the allegations against Knoth credible, so he was removed from active ministry pending further investigation.

Interim university president, the Rev. William Byron, S.J., said that this in no way implies guilt on Knoth’s part.

“Credible means possible, believable,” Byron said. “There’s a possibility that this is a false claim.”

Byron has sat on a review board in the Archdiocese of Washington, D.C., put in place to deal with matters of alleged sexual abuse. This board consists of at least five persons who posses integrity and good judgement.

The majority of the board consists of lay persons, although Church guidelines stipulate that there should be at least one priest from the diocese in question.

Part of the investigation process involves notifying civil authorities about the allegations, as well as seeking legal counsel for the accused.

Knoth will be advised to have both a civil lawyer and a cannon lawyer, according to Byron.

If the investigation finds that a cleric sexually abused even one minor, he will be removed from all ecclesiastical ministry.

“It’s a one strike and you’re out,” Byron said.

The Church defines sexual abuse as “sexual molestation or sexual exploitation of a minor and other behavior by which an adult uses a minor as an object of sexual gratification.”

The act also does not need to, “involve force, physical contact, or a discernible harmful outcome.”

“The paramount focus is the protection of children,” Byron said.

The alleged offender may also be asked to seek medical and psychological evaluation at a facility mutually acceptable to the diocese and the accused.

Knoth denies any inappropriate activity, and if his denial is found to be true, then according to the policy, all efforts toward restoring his reputation will be sought.

The Chicago Province is handling Knoth’s investigation, said Cecilia Bennett, associate director for the Loyola Institute for Ministry.

Bennett isn’t sure how long the process is expected to take, since there may be a backlog of cases.

“There have been over 200 cases reported to the Church, so we don’t know when to expect a decision,” she said.