The Vatican’s stance toward U.S. bishops’ zero-tolerance policy on sexually abusive priests is inadequate and raises questions to the papacy’s commitment to combat child molestation by clergymen.

The Vatican announced Friday that the policy adopted by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops in June should be revised because components conflict with universal church law - the Code of Canon Law, the church’s internal code of regulations.

In hopes to resolve the sex abuse cases that rocked the church earlier this year, U.S. bishops adopted the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People. The policy requires priests with “credible” allegations against them be removed from church work and that an offender be relieved of his ministry for even a single act of sexual abuse.

U.S. bishops formed an oversight panel of church leaders and laypersons to evaluate whether American dioceses are meeting the new standards.

The bishops wanted to make the zero-tolerance policy mandatory for all U.S. dioceses, but the Vatican’s position will not allow such action. The policy remains voluntary.

While the policy could prove to be beneficial in dramatically curbing the number of sex abuse cases in the Catholic Church, the Vatican has refused to approve it as a mandatory standard for every diocese.

The church leadership also has neglected to take a more open and stronger leadership role in combating the wrongdoings of its clergy.

Even though he policy is not mandatory, American Catholic leaders should follow their policy - it is the right thing to do.