New Orleans Parish priests have yet to determine how many Hail Marys the Corps should say as acts contrition for the thousand dead in New Orleans and the tremendous loss of coastal wetlands. But at least the period of impenitence is over.

A 6113-page report generated by the Corps, which experts call remarkable for being a product of the Corps own investigation, found that the levees built by the agency were a jerry-rig unable to handle a hurricane anywhere near the size of Katrina.

Lt. General Carl Strock, Chief Engineer of the Corps, said Mea Culpa, however, stopped short of fully apologizing. But Corps reform experts say that the document, which was brought together by more than 150 experts from academia, other agencies and business, is an example of how bringing in experts outside the agency to review Corps mistakes, present policies and proposed projects can reduce or prevent future tragedies.