In 1981, years after they fell out of touch, Peterson founded the St. Luke Institute, which treated priests struggling with alcoholism, drug addiction and sexually abusive behavior.

The age of the priests' victims corresponds to the findings of other studies and to the observations of experts who have treated priests in other settings.

Initially, Fitzgerald attempted to treat such priests using the same spiritual methods that he used with others.

Soon afterward, he entered a psychiatric hospital known for treating abusive priests.

'President Coughlin has personally asked us to make a picture about the way they're treating priests in Mexico,' Warner declared.

He then founded St. Luke's Institute, a small psychiatric hospital in Washington that treats priests and religious men and women, primarily for drug and alcohol dependencies.

A member of the panel who is a specialist in treating troubled priests interviewed Mr. Bassile at his home last week.

However, as he grew convinced of the futility of treating sexually abusive priests, Fitzgerald came to oppose vehemently the return of sexual abusers to duties as parish priests.

In fact, most are adults, said Gary Schoener, a clinical psychologist in Minneapolis who has treated pedophile priests.

Guest House currently treats priests, deacons, religious and seminarians in three different facilities located in Minnesota, Michigan, and Mangalore, India.