MILWAUKEE (AP) – The nation’s Roman Catholic bishops are cooperating with the review board created to monitor their responses to clerical sexual abuse, the board’s interim chairwoman said Saturday.

Anne Burke, an Illinois appellate judge, said 76 percent of America’s dioceses and other units of the church have reported information about sexual abuse victims, perpetrators and events for a survey sponsored by the National Review Board.

The survey, based on the reports, is scheduled to be released in February. Burke said she expects all dioceses to cooperate.

“Even though there was some foot-dragging in the beginning, they are there complying,” Burke said in Milwaukee at the national conference of Call To Action.

The organization of more than 25,000 people advocates for reforms in the Catholic Church, such as ordination of women and optional celibacy for priests.

Burke said cooperation from the dioceses would not only help protect children, but also regain trust and confidence from church members.

“There is an old moral axiom that declares, ‘Justice must not only be done, but it must be seen to be done,”‘ Burke said. “When it is followed, virtue abounds, but failure to head such truths in our Catholic past has resulted in unprecedented sorrow.”

The National Review Board of prominent lay Catholics was established by the bishops in 2002 to keep track of their efforts to rid the priesthood of sexual molesters. Burke became acting head of the 12-member board after former Oklahoma Gov. Frank Keating resigned as chairman in June. He had angered many in the church by saying bishops were as secretive as the Mafia.

Cathy Ripp, a Call To Action member from Oak Park, Ill., said she was pleased with the board members’ work. She said local church members could use them as examples in dealing with local dioceses.

However, Frank Douglas, a Call To Action member from Tucson, Ariz., said he felt the board was acting as a mouthpiece for the bishops.

“We need an independent board,” Douglas said.

Burke denied the board was controlled by the bishops.

“The lay board is in no way a rubber stamp to the hierarchy,” Burke said. “They may not like everything we’re doing, because we’re independent people.”

AP-ES-11-08-03 1834EST