Many Catholic laypeople and clergy played notable roles in sheltering Jews during the Holocaust, including Pope Pius XII (1876-1958).

Many Catholic laypeople and clergy played notable roles in sheltering Jews during the Holocaust.

Many Catholic laypeople also paid for their opposition with their life.

The nation's Roman Catholic bishops announced yesterday the appointment of a sexual abuse review board composed entirely of active Catholic laypeople, including some who work for church organizations, but no one from the victims' advocacy groups that have been most critical of the church.

John Jay was selected not by the bishops but by the national review board of prominent Catholic laypeople appointed by the bishops last year to study the issue and recommend solutions.

The report is part of a nationwide survey of abuse by Catholic priests that was undertaken by a national review board of prominent Catholic laypeople appointed by the bishops at the height of the abuse scandal in 2002.

Ms. McChesney was selected from 40 candidates by the National Review Board of prominent Catholic laypeople, led by Gov. Frank Keating of Oklahoma.

The panel of 13 Catholic laypeople, headed by Gov. Frank Keating of Oklahoma, will study the extent and causes of sexual abuse by priests and monitor the bishops' efforts to prevent abuse.

Many Catholic laypeople also paid for their opposition with their life, including the mostly Catholic members of the Munich resistance group White Rose around Hans and Sophie Scholl.

But many bishops and Catholic laypeople have said that the church must not tolerate any abusers in the ministry.