ABUSE TRACKER

A digest of links to media coverage of clergy abuse. For recent coverage listed in this blog, read the full article in the newspaper or other media source by clicking “Read original article.” For earlier coverage, click the title to read the original article.

May 30, 2012

Milwaukee Archdiocese confirms it paid pedophile priests to leave church

MILWAUKEE (WI)
TMJ4

[with video]

[archdiocesan financial council minutes]

MILWAUKEE – The Catholic Archdiocese of Milwaukee confirmed Wednesday that it paid suspected pedophile priests to leave the church.

“In 2002, the Church affirmed that priest offenders should no longer be functioning as priests in any capacity and having someone seek laicization voluntarily is faster and less expensive and it made sense to try and move these men out of the priesthood as quickly as possible,” Archdiocese spokeswoman Julie Wolf said in an email.

The Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests (SNAP) said Tuesday that it had proof that former Milwaukee Archbishop Timothy Dolan took part in a 2003 finance council meeting where a plan to pay pedophile priests and child molesters $20,000 each to quietly leave was discussed.

Dolan left the Milwaukee Archdiocese in 2009 and is now the Cardinal of New York.

Note: This is an Abuse Tracker excerpt. Click the title to view the full text of the original article. If the original article is no longer available, see our News Archive.

Cardinal Dolan faces questions about handling of accused priests in Milwaukee

NEW YORK
Staten Island Advance

By Maura Grunlund

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — The Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests is accusing New York Cardinal Timothy Dolan of being part of a plan to “pay off” accused child-molester priests to quietly leave the priesthood and cheated victims out of appropriate compensation.

A spokesman for Cardinal Dolan has not returned a request for comment by the Advance.

SNAP members who are making an announcement today in Milwaukee are citing the minutes from a March 2003 Milwaukee Archdiocese Finance council meeting (see PDF document below), when Cardinal Dolan was archbishop of that diocese. The minutes show that there was a discussion about “unassignable priests” receiving full salary.

It was proposed at the meeting to reduce their benefit to $1,250 per month, the same as their pension benefit, and to offer to pay them $20,000 for laicization — leaving the priesthood. The payouts were to be $10,000 at the beginning of the process and $10,000 at completion, independent of the cleric’s salary, pension and benefits. SNAP alleges that the plan was accepted and implemented based on what it claims were payments to accused members of the clergy.

Note: This is an Abuse Tracker excerpt. Click the title to view the full text of the original article. If the original article is no longer available, see our News Archive.

Archdiocese of Milwaukee Finance Council Minutes of March 7, 2003 Meeting

MILWAUKEE (WI)
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Milwaukee via SNAP

Present: Archbishop Dolan, Bishop Skiba, Mark Doll, Patricia O’Donoghue, Rev. Phil Reifenberg, Wayne A. Schneider, Sr. Janet Senderak, SSND, Joseph Terrian, Rev. Donald Thimm

Excused: Thomas Bausch, T. Michael Bolger, Joan Braun
Recording Secretary: Kim Stollenwerk

California lawsuit – Siegfried Widera
This lawsuit was filed against the Archdiocese of Milwaukee and the Diocese of Orange in
California alleging abuse 30+ years ago. So far, only one case has been filed, but we are anticipating three or four more. The costs may be as high as $400,000 per victim. There will be some insurance coverage, however it will take a long time to recover. The insurance companies argue that the Archdiocese was negligent and therefore coverage does not apply. Results of the psychiatric evaluations of the victim have not yet been received.

Archbishop Cousins sent a letter to the Diocese of Orange outlining the problems with Fr.
Widera.

Pastoral Mediation
Our care for victims goes beyond the law. We provide care/therapy even if the statute of limitations has passed and the victims are unable to take legal action. Restorative justice makes reparations for lost jobs, education, etc. due to the depression and other psychological effects of abuse. This is a process done without an attorney for either side.

Currently, Marquette University has a mediation program in place. Also, Barbara Anne Cusack, Chancellor of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, has done research in this area. Several victims have come forward and think pastoral mediation sounds helpful. Pastoral mediation has been in place for many years now, however it has not had a formal edict. The maximum settlement amount is $30,000 per victim. This amount is a goal and is not concrete.

The Finance Council believes this is a step in the right direction. There could be hundred of
legitimate victims asking for $30,000 each. Since this cannot be taken from CSA, how would this be funded? If the costs become too great, they would have to be borrowed. A loan would be internal and probably would come from the Income Care Fund. It would be hoped that some funding would come from the insurance and would help repay the loan.

The worst-case scenario would force the Archdiocese to liquidate property. If Wisconsin takes the same approach as California and offers a one-year reprieve on the statute of limitations, then more drastic action would need to be taken. This could result in program cuts, seminary cuts, etc.

Currently, we are working on setting up a Trust Fund to shelter the Parish Deposit Fund.

Budget
The net deficit of the proposed budgets submitted is $1.7 million. The Cabinet has been and will continue to meet to discuss and revise the budget. Many options have surfaced, such as sharing of staff (some offices are already doing this), reducing the contribution to the priests’ pension plan, capping salary increases, increasing the percentage of health insurance premiums shared by employees, reduce the office cleaning services. Some of the options are drastic and may not be feasible at this time. St. Francis Seminary must be made aware of our predicament and be willing to share In budget cuts. Since parishes have already completed their budgeting processes, we would not be able to increase parish assessments for the coming year. Finance Council approval would be needed to eliminate the 8% cap in increases in assessments or imposing a 10% penalty for failure of a parish to report their financial statements. Another option may be to reduce or eliminate the
subsidized lunch program for employees.

Currently unassignable priests are receiving full salaries and are budgeted under the Vicar for Clergy. There is a proposal to reduce their benefit to be the same as the current pension benefit, $1,250 per month and also offer $20,000 for laicization ($10,000 at the start and $10,000 at the completion of the process). Also, they remain on our health insurance until they find other employment. The final effect of all this is not known at this time and it may be a wash with the current budget.

Note: This is an Abuse Tracker excerpt. Click the title to view the full text of the original article. If the original article is no longer available, see our News Archive.

Lombardi doubts that Vatican cardinals will be questioned

VATICAN CITY
AGI (Italy)

(AGI) Vatican City – The spokesperson for the Holy See, Father Federico Lombardi, has reminded journalists that cardinals “respond to the Holy Father”. “I doubt that cardinals will be questioned in the current situation,” Lombardi added. “I don’t think it is up to Inspector Giani [the head of Italy’s Gendarmeria] or the head of the Vatican judiciary [Nicola] Picardi to decide whether or not to interrogate cardinals if there is a charge against them,” Lombardi continued.

Note: This is an Abuse Tracker excerpt. Click the title to view the full text of the original article. If the original article is no longer available, see our News Archive.

Papal butler’s lawyers ask Vatican for house arrest for their client

VATICAN CITY
Catholic News Service

By Cindy Wooden
Catholic News Service

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — The lawyers for Paolo Gabriele have petitioned Vatican magistrates for house arrest for their client, who is accused of illegally possessing stolen documents as part of the so-called “VatiLeaks” scandal.

Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi, Vatican spokesman, said May 30 that the magistrates who have been holding Gabriele in the offices of the Vatican police were considering the formal request to allow him to return to his Vatican apartment with his wife and three children.

The papal assistant, a combination butler and valet, was arrested May 23 by Vatican police, who said they found stolen documents in his apartment.

Father Lombardi confirmed that Gabriele’s lawyers had petitioned for house arrest. He said the magistrates were considering the request and “arrangements already are being made” in case they allow it.

Note: This is an Abuse Tracker excerpt. Click the title to view the full text of the original article. If the original article is no longer available, see our News Archive.

Cardinal Dolan – Salad Days in Milwaukee – Paying off Pedophiles

MILWAUKEE (WI)
This Cultural Xtian

Fat Timmy Dolan’s Simony-ious rise to power in the American RC hierarchy started in his days of greasing the palms of perverts in Milwaukee and cooking the books to cheat victims of the much loved and tolerated RC clergy practice of pedophilia.

Click here

Victim/survivors of childhood sexual violence by clergy of the Milwaukee archdiocese, including leaders of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAPnetwork.org/SNAPwisconsin.com) will release and discuss newly uncovered minutes from a March 2003 Milwaukee Archdiocese Finance council meeting where former Archbishop Timothy Dolan and Milwaukee auxiliary Bishop Richard Sklba discuss using church funds to:

–pay off known priest pedophiles and child molesters $20,000 each to quietly leave the priesthood,

–set up a “restorative justice” program to prevent victims from receiving compensation for injuries comparable to cases being filed against the archdiocese of Milwaukee in California, and

–move millions of dollars from the archdiocese into a newly invented “trust” to prevent compensating victims, the first of several such “trusts” to be set up before the archdiocese declared bankruptcy in 2011.

Note: This is an Abuse Tracker excerpt. Click the title to view the full text of the original article. If the original article is no longer available, see our News Archive.

Sex: the three letter word destroying the Vatican

UNITED STATES
End the Lie

Richard Cottrell
Contributing writer for End the Lie

As the ship of state veers close to a deadly reef in the teeth of a violent storm, the captain and all his crew are suddenly struck blind. This is an apt simile for the uproar surrounding the extent and gravity of the child abuse scandal eating at the very fabric of the Roman Catholic Church.

The first reaction of Pope Benedict and his advisors in the circumstances is to adopt a strict policy of eyes wide shut.

Editor’s note: Here in the United States allegations of sexual abuse are swept under the rug so hastily that accused priests are actually able to hold supervisor positions with the Transportation Security Administration (TSA).

Believe it if you will, the conference of Italian bishops has just issued new guidelines on what to do if abuse cases involving priests (or for that matter, higher ranks of the church) come to their attention.

Answer: nothing.

Note: This is an Abuse Tracker excerpt. Click the title to view the full text of the original article. If the original article is no longer available, see our News Archive.

SNAP blasts Msgr. Lynn’s defense theory

PHILADELPHIA (PA)
Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests

Posted by Barbara Blaine on May 30, 2012

Msgr. Lynn suggests he was overwhelmed and inexperienced, but apparently never once asked for additional personnel or training. He implies he got conflicting pressures but apparently never once sought clarity. He now blames others’ “rules” but apparently never once objected to them or tried to change them.

If indeed Msgr. Lynn had these feelings of maybe wanting to do more, shouldn’t there be some evidence that at some point over a decade or more he might have acted on these feelings? Yet there is none.

Here’s what Msgr. Lynn did do: he lied to parishioners (and admitted that under oath, using that word) because his boss supposedly wanted him to. And not once, in almost four decades as a seminarian and priest did he ever call police about known or suspected child sex crimes, no matter how egregious or repeated they were.

Note: This is an Abuse Tracker excerpt. Click the title to view the full text of the original article. If the original article is no longer available, see our News Archive.

Sewickley priest on leave during Facebook investigation

SWEICKLEY (PA)
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

By Bobby Cherry
Gateway Newspapers

Published: Wednesday, May 30, 2012

A Sewickley priest is on leave as the Allegheny County District Attorney’s office investigates a complaint involving Facebook postings to a minor.

The Rev. Daniel Valentine, a St. James priest, began a leave of absence May 19 because of a complaint about Facebook postings, according to a letter from Pittsburgh Catholic Diocese Bishop David Zubik. District Attorney’s office spokesman Mike Manko confirmed his office received a request to investigate.

Valentine could not be reached for comment.

In a letter to parishioners posted on the St. James website, Zubik said he instructed diocesan staff to ask the District Attorney’s office to do a forensic audit of the computers at Saint James Parish and Valentine’s personal computer.

Note: This is an Abuse Tracker excerpt. Click the title to view the full text of the original article. If the original article is no longer available, see our News Archive.

Austrians at odds about Schönborn

AUSTRIA
Austrian Independent

One in five Austrians consider Viennese Archbishop Christoph Cardinal Schönborn as a reactionary clergyman.

Public opinion research group Karmasin found that 20 per cent of people think that Schönborn, the highest representative of the Roman Catholic Church in Austria and head of the Conference of Bishops, has a conservative attitude.

The poll – for which 500 people were interviewed – also shows that, with 47 per cent, almost half of Austrians categorise Schönborn as neither reactionary nor progressive. Around 17 per cent regard Schönborn as progressive.

Researcher Sophie Karmasin told magazine profil – for which her agency conducted the survey – that she did not expect the Church’s reputation to improve due to Schönborn’s decision concerning the controversy in Stützenhofen. Karmasin added that the archbishop’s decision to issue a warning towards the Preachers’ Initiative was unlikely to have a significant impact either.

Note: This is an Abuse Tracker excerpt. Click the title to view the full text of the original article. If the original article is no longer available, see our News Archive.

Factbox on the Vatican bank and dismissal of its president

VATICAN CITY
Reuters

The Vatican bank has been shaken by the dismissal of its President, Italian Ettore Gotti Tedeschi, who was removed by its board of external financial experts over accusations of negligence and failing to fulfil basic duties. A day after Gotti Tedeschi’s sacking, the Vatican announced that Pope Benedict’s butler had been arrested and accused of leaking secret church documents in what has evolved into the worst internal crisis of Benedict’s papacy.

Here is a look at the 70 year-old Vatican Bank and its scandals:

* The Vatican bank, known formally as the Institute for the Works of Religion, (IOR) was established in 1942 by Pope Pius XII and is used by Vatican agencies, church organisations, bishops and religious orders around the world.
* It is a privately held institution located inside Vatican City run by a professional bank CEO who reports directly to a committee of cardinals, and ultimately to the Pope.
* It offers currency exchange services and interest-bearing accounts and has an investment portfolio.

Note: This is an Abuse Tracker excerpt. Click the title to view the full text of the original article. If the original article is no longer available, see our News Archive.

Sewickley Priest Takes Leave of Absence During Investigation

SEWICKLEY (PA)
Patch

[the bishop’s letter]

By Larissa Dudkiewicz

The priest at St. James Church has taken a leave of absence during an ongoing investigation from the Allegheny County District Attorney’s office involving Facebook messages to a minor, according to the Pittsburgh Catholic Diocese.

Pittsburgh Catholic Bishop David Zubik said in a letter posted on the parish’s website that a complaint was recently made against the Rev. Dan Valentine regarding Facebook postings the St. James priest for six years made to a minor.

“As a result of the complaint, I directed my staff to share all information with the office of the District Attorney of Allegheny County,” Zubik wrote in a letter that was read to church parishioners on Sunday.

Zubik said the DA’s office informed the diocese that while the postings were “a matter of poor judgment,” there was no criminal activity involved.

Note: This is an Abuse Tracker excerpt. Click the title to view the full text of the original article. If the original article is no longer available, see our News Archive.

Pittsburgh-area priest on leave in Facebook probe

SEWICKLEY (PA)
WFMJ

SEWICKLEY, Pa. (AP) – Pittsburgh Bishop David Zubik says a parish priest has taken a leave of absence while prosecutors review a complaint that the priest allegedly posted messages to a minor on Facebook.

Zubik says Allegheny County prosecutors have determined the postings amount to “poor judgment” rather than “criminal activity” and that he hopes the Rev. Daniel Valentine will return to duty soon with St. James Catholic Church in Pittsburgh’s upscale suburb of Sewickley.

A spokesman for the district attorney’s office confirmed the diocese had referred the case for investigation, but wouldn’t comment further.

The Beaver County Times (http://bit.ly/JPv7F6 ) reports Wednesday that church officials are performing a forensic audit on computers owned by the church and the priest, who is cooperating with the investigation.

Note: This is an Abuse Tracker excerpt. Click the title to view the full text of the original article. If the original article is no longer available, see our News Archive.

Pope breaks silence over Vatileaks scandal

VATICAN CITY
The Associated Press

By NICOLE WINFIELD, Associated Press

VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Benedict XVI broke his silence Wednesday over the leaked documents scandal that has convulsed the Vatican, saying he was saddened by the betrayal but grateful to those aides who work faithfully and in silence to help him do his job.

Benedict made his first direct comments on the scandal in off-the-cuff remarks at the end of his weekly general audience. He lashed out at some of the media reports about the scandal, saying the “exaggerated” and “gratuitous” rumors had offered a false image of the Holy See.

The Italian media have been in a frenzy ever since the pope’s butler, Paolo Gabriele, was arrested last week after Vatican investigators discovered papal documents in his Vatican City apartment. He remains in detention and has pledged to cooperate fully with the investigation.

Note: This is an Abuse Tracker excerpt. Click the title to view the full text of the original article. If the original article is no longer available, see our News Archive.

Pope denounces media coverage of leaks scandal says false

VATICAN CITY
Chicago Tribune

Reuters

5:33 a.m. CDT, May 30, 2012

VATICAN CITY, May 30 (Reuters) – Pope Benedict on Wednesday angrily denounced media coverage of a leaks scandal shaking the Roman Catholic Church, saying it presented a false image of the Holy See.

In remarks at the end of his weekly audience for pilgrims in St Peter’s square, the pontiff also expressed his full trust in close Vatican aides under fire over the scandal.

“Suggestions have multiplied, amplified by some media which are totally gratuitous and which have gone well beyond the facts, offering an image of the Holy See which does not respond to reality,” Benedict said of a scandal that has seen his butler arrested for leaking private document.

Note: This is an Abuse Tracker excerpt. Click the title to view the full text of the original article. If the original article is no longer available, see our News Archive.

The Pope’s Butler Silenced in VatiLeaks Investigation

VATICAN CITY
The Daily Beast

The Vatican says the leaked memos weren’t just an act against the Pope—but an act against God. Barbie Latza Nadeau on how Paolo Gabriele, once the pontiff’s confidante, has been silenced.

The Vatican is in full damage control mode one week after the pope’s butler Paolo Gabriele was arrested for stealing the pope’s personal papers and leaking them to an Italian journalist. Tales of finger-pointing cardinals lobbing wild accusations against each other have made the hallowed Holy See look more like a nest of vipers. If you read the Italian press, one can’t help but visualize angry prelates in billowing cassocks shaking their fists as they accuse each other of being the “mastermind” behind the butler’s thievery. One Italian paper even suggested that an unnamed laywoman had secretly ordered the butler to do it. But the Vatican, of course, denies it all.

Father Federeico Lombardi, the Vatican spokesman, has insisted that “no woman” and “no cardinals” are under investigation. The butler is accused alone, he says, and he alone will face the Vatican’s secretive tribunal. Each missive from the Holy See is scripted, right down to today’s editorial in the Vatican’s official newspaper L’Osservatore Romano. In a less-than-spontaneous interview with Archbishop Angelo Becciu, the Vatican undersecretary of State, the newspaper addressed the scandal for the first time with an article called, simply, “The Papers Stolen from the Pope.”

Note: This is an Abuse Tracker excerpt. Click the title to view the full text of the original article. If the original article is no longer available, see our News Archive.

Vatican leaks: Pope sees scandal as a test not as a tragedy, says Fr. Lombardi

VATICAN CITY
Vatican Insider

The director of the Vatican Press Office returns to the Vatileaks case. The Pope’s butler is to be formally questioned by Vatican magistrates for the first time this coming weekend

Alessandro Speciale
Vatican City

We will have to wait until the end of the week or possibly even next week before Paolo Gabriele’s promise to co-operate fully with Vatican magistrates investigating the Vatileaks case becomes a reality. The former papal butler’s first formal questioning by the Promoter of Justice, Nicola Picardi, in the presence of lawyers and the investigating magistrate Piero Antonio Bonnet, is yet to take place.

The director of the Vatican Press Office, Fr. Federico Lombardi, had no significant updates to report on following the usual briefing with journalists on the investigation’s developments. The Commission of Cardinals that was established by the Pope last March – the Jesuit explained – is continuing its work ahead of the “report” that will be presented to Benedict XVI. It will not, however, allow the fierce media interest shown in the case in recent days, to rush the investigation.

Note: This is an Abuse Tracker excerpt. Click the title to view the full text of the original article. If the original article is no longer available, see our News Archive.

SNAP claims Cardinal Dolan discussed paying molesting priests to leave church

MILWAUKEE (WI)
WTMJ

MILWAUKEE – On Wednesday, a group that supports victims of abuse by priests was to make new accusations against a former Milwaukee archbishop and current New York cardinal.

They were to talk about documents which they claim show that now-Cardinal Timothy Dolan was involved in plans to pay child molesters to quietly leave the priesthood.

The Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests (SNAP) says they have proof that shows Dolan took part in a 2003 finance council meeting where a plan to pay pedophile priests and child molesters $20,000 each to quietly leave was discussed.

Auxiliary Bishop Richard Sklba allegedly was also involved in that meeting.

SNAP claims that meeting minutes show Dolan began a series of financial maneuvers to place more than $100 million into newly-invented trusts.

Note: This is an Abuse Tracker excerpt. Click the title to view the full text of the original article. If the original article is no longer available, see our News Archive.

Abuse among the Orthodox: Bad news, good news

UNITED STATES
Arizona Jewish Post

May 29, 2012
By Yoel Finkelman, Jewish Ideas Daily

(Jewish Ideas Daily) — First, the bad news: Sexual, physical, and emotional abuse occurs in Orthodox Jewish communities.

Next, the worse news: Though there is no evidence that such abuse occurs more frequently among the Orthodox than in other populations, two recent front-page New York Times stories are just the latest piece of evidence that Orthodox communities are often in denial and worse.

Rabbis and communal leaders often seek to save the community from embarrassment and, in doing so, protect the perpetrators. If children complain of being abused, their parents may silence them, or, if their parents complain too, their neighbors harass them to prevent their going to the police, claiming a religious prohibition on giving Jews up to secular authorities. Indeed, the official policy of the Haredi organization Agudath Israel of America is that school teachers or administrators who suspect abuse must ask a rabbi before going to secular authorities, New York State laws notwithstanding.

Note: This is an Abuse Tracker excerpt. Click the title to view the full text of the original article. If the original article is no longer available, see our News Archive.

Hynes Fires Back at Critics and Orthodox Leaders

NEW YORK
Forward

By Paul Berger

Published May 29, 2012.

Brooklyn’s embattled district attorney Charles Hynes sharply criticized an ultra-Orthodox umbrella group and launched a fierce defense of his record in prosecuting child sex abuse during a landmark interview with the Forward.

Sitting in the 14th floor corner office of his downtown Brooklyn headquarters, Hynes said he was in “sharp disagreement” with Agudath Israel of America’s policy that a rabbi “who has experience in the area of abuse and molestation” must be consulted before suspected abusers can be reported to the authorities.

Hynes said the policy is misguided because rabbis “have no experience or expertise in sex abuse.” He said that he had underlined his opposition to rabbis screening allegations during a telephone call with Rabbi David Zwiebel, Agudah’s executive vice president, earlier on the morning of the May 24 interview.

“(Zwiebel) still thinks they have a responsibility to screen,” Hynes said, “I disagree.”

Note: This is an Abuse Tracker excerpt. Click the title to view the full text of the original article. If the original article is no longer available, see our News Archive.

Hynes Is Late To Push for Mandate Law

NEW YORK
Forward

By Paul Berger

Published May 29, 2012.

Brooklyn District Attorney Charles Hynes says he is pushing for passage of a new state law to force rabbis to report child sex allegations to authorities.

But lawmakers say Hynes has joined the legislative fray late in the state capital of Albany, and time is running out for any measure to pass this year.

“If [Hynes] wants to get something done before the session closes . . . [he’s] wasting precious moments,” said Assemblywoman Amy Paulin (D-Westchester). “Going through bureaucracy can take time.”

Note: This is an Abuse Tracker excerpt. Click the title to view the full text of the original article. If the original article is no longer available, see our News Archive.

Hynes Issues Warning To Rabbis On Abuse Policy

NEW YORK
The Jewish Week

Tuesday, May 29, 2012

Hella Winston
Special To The Jewish Week

After months of equivocal statements about Agudath Israel’s longstanding position that — with very limited exception — child sexual abuse allegations must first be investigated by rabbis, the Brooklyn district attorney has issued a clear warning to the haredi umbrella organization that its policy puts rabbis at risk of running afoul of the law.

According to a spokesman for Charles Hynes, “DA Hynes told Dovid Zwiebel [Agudah’s executive vice president] that it was a mistake to advise someone with information about child abuse to first speak with a rabbi,” the spokesman, Jerry Schmetterer, told The Jewish Week. In doing so, Schmetterer continued, “Zwiebel … risks having the rabbi prosecuted for obstructing a law enforcement investigation.”

When asked by The Jewish Week to clarify what someone should do if he or she had information about allegations of abuse — rather than direct information about abuse — Schmetterer said the individual should “report [the allegations] to authorities for investigation.”

James A. Cohen, associate professor of law and the director of the Trial Advocacy Program & External Affairs at Fordham University School of Law, concurs with the district attorney’s position. “Encouraging delay in reporting a crime, particularly a crime against a child, is obstructing justice,” Cohen, an expert in witness tampering told The Jewish Week.

Note: This is an Abuse Tracker excerpt. Click the title to view the full text of the original article. If the original article is no longer available, see our News Archive.

Hynes’ shift on sex abuse cases puts him on collision course with Agudah

NEW YORK
JTA

NEW YORK (JTA) – Pressure is growing on the Brooklyn district attorney and the country’s major haredi Orthodox umbrella organization to change the ways they handle allegations of sexual abuse and molestation in the Orthodox community.

A series of recent reports by The New York Jewish Week, the Forward and The New York Times have brought new scrutiny to the special program that Brooklyn D.A. Charles Hynes established in 2009 to handle sex abuse allegations among haredi Jews in New York.

Under the program, Kol Tzedek, perpetrators’ names were kept confidential and Hynes apparently gave Agudath Israel of America, the Orthodox umbrella group, the impression that he sanctioned the practice of rabbis reviewing allegations before they were brought to police.

A firestorm of controversy has surrounded the program in recent weeks, in part due to a pair of front-page stories in The New York Times detailing the communal pressure that alleged victims of sex crimes face in the haredi community.

Note: This is an Abuse Tracker excerpt. Click the title to view the full text of the original article. If the original article is no longer available, see our News Archive.

INTERVIEW WITH SUBSTITUTE FOR GENERAL AFFAIRS ON STOLEN PAPAL DOCUMENTS

VATICAN CITY
Vatican Information Service

Vatican City, 30 May 2012 (VIS) – The “Osservatore Romano” newspaper today published an interview with Archbishop Angelo Becciu, substitute for General Affairs of the Secretariat of State, concerning the question of stolen papal documents.

Archbishop Becciu says that he has seen the Holy Father “suffering because, on the basis of what has thus far emerged, someone very close to him would seem to have acted in a completely unjustifiable manner. Of course, the Pope’s prevailing sentiment is one of pity for the person involved, but the fact remains that he has been the victim of a brutal action. Benedict XVI has had to witness the publication of letters stolen from his own home, not simply private correspondence but information, reflections, expressions of states of mind, and effusive comments which he has received merely by virtue of his ministry. For this reason the Pope is particularly sorrowful, also for the violence suffered by the writers of the letters he has received”.

In the view of the Secretariat of State, the publication of these documents “is an immoral act of unprecedented gravity, especially because it is not just a serious violation of the privacy to which everybody should have the right, but a despicable abuse of the relationship of trust that exists between Benedict XVI and those who turn to him, even if they do so to express some heartfelt protest. The question does not merely involve the theft of some of the Pope’s letters; the consciences of those who address him as the Vicar of Christ have been violated, and the ministry of the Successor of the Apostle Peter has come under attack”.

Note: This is an Abuse Tracker excerpt. Click the title to view the full text of the original article. If the original article is no longer available, see our News Archive.

THE POPE: DESPITE THE WEAKNESS OF MAN, THE LORD WILL ALWAYS SUPPORT HIS CHURCH

VATICAN CITY
Vatican Information Service

Vatican City, 30 May 2012 (VIS) – At the end of today’s general audience, the Holy Father made some remarks concerning recent developments in the Vatican.

“The events of recent days involving the Curia and my collaborators have brought sadness to my heart. However, I have never lost my firm certainty that, despite the weakness of man, despite difficulties and trials, the Church is guided by the Holy Spirit and the Lord will ensure she never lacks the help she needs to support her on her journey.

“Nonetheless there has been increasing conjecture, amplified by the communications media, which is entirely gratuitous, goes beyond the facts and presents a completely unrealistic image of the Holy See. Thus, I wish to reiterate my trust and encouragement to my closest collaborators and to all those people who every day, in silent faithlessness and with a spirit of sacrifice, help me carry out my ministry”.

Note: This is an Abuse Tracker excerpt. Click the title to view the full text of the original article. If the original article is no longer available, see our News Archive.

Seeing Christ In Court

PHILADELPHIA (PA)
Catholics4Change

BY KATHY KANE

I have been to the trial several times but today was a very difficult day. The courtroom was packed with Lynn supporters on the defense side and victims, family members and supporters on the prosecution side. Although, it was so crowded some late-comers had to mix in where there was an available seat. I looked around at the people who I never knew until this past year: Vicky and Steve, whose bodies were sexually violated as children; Art, whose beloved son is now gone forever; Sr. Maureen, always fighting for children and victims; Joy, who founded a support group for parents of victims; Sharon, Vicky’s rock through the hard times; Irene and her husband, who attend vigils and support Justice4PaKids; Bill and other senior citizens, who do not let age or infirmity keep them from the vigils outside the Archdiocese in the rain, cold or heat; “Had it” Kate, who returned for a second trip from New York for the trial.

Many people have made their way to room 304 over the past 8 weeks. Margaret from Catholic Accountability, who I was with the day they entered the evidence of my former parish priest Fr. Cannon; Jackie and Susan, who I sat in between as we cried the day James and Billy took the stand to speak their truth; Beth, who always extends warmth and comfort to our victims; Rich, who bravely sat and listened to the testimony of James and Billy, their stories so similar to his own; and the family members of the victims who testify. So much painful history has occupied those rows – so much pain.

You wouldn’t know that pain unless you chose to read the Grand Jury reports, met with victims and their family members, and attended on the days the victims testified (rather than only attending when Lynn testified).

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Nuns’ battle with Vatican echoes earlier LA battle with cardinal

UNITED STATES
KPCC

[with audio]

By Kitty Felde | May 29, 2012

The group that represents most of America’s Roman Catholic nuns meets today in Maryland to discuss what to do next after a Vatican report accused the nuns of promoting “radical feminist themes.” The battle is similar to one half-a-century ago between a group of nuns and a Los Angeles cardinal.

They’re here every Tuesday – singing, praying and waving signs outside the D.C. headquarters of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The two dozen women and men say they came to support the nuns. Jack McCarthy says they have been “at the forefront of the church’s efforts in poverty and justice. I can’t say that for the entire body of bishops.”

They’re reacting to a Vatican report that says nuns don’t spend enough time defending the church’s stand against contraception and same-sex marriage. It accuses the Leadership Conference of Women Religious — which represents most American nuns — of promoting “radical feminist themes incompatible with the Catholic faith.” The clash reminds protester Mary Frances Moriarty of a long-ago fight between L.A.’s Cardinal McIntyre and the Immaculate Heart nuns. “He leaned on them, didn’t he? And they said ‘no’.”

That fight had its roots in the Second Vatican Council, the effort to bring the Catholic Church into the modern world. Sister Karen Kennelly is a church historian and past president of L.A.’s Mount St. Mary’s College. She says Vatican Two told religious congregations to renew themselves. “They were given a kind of a general guideline,” she says, “which was to look back to their original spirit and to their original purposes and to take a good hard look at the signs of the times.”

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Minutes from 2003 confirm…

MILWAUKEE (WI)
SNAP Wisconsin

Minutes from 2003 confirm: Dolan discussed paying $20,000 each to child molesters to quietly leave the priesthood

Minutes from 2003 meeting confirm: Dolan discussed paying $20,000 each to child molesters to quietly leave the priesthood

Policy appears to have been implemented, as revealed in church disbursements to pedophile clerics

Meeting also shows beginning of Dolan’s “shell game” by moving tens of millions of dollars into newly invented “trusts”

Victims want current Archbishop Listecki to reveal all payouts and costs of sex offenders, release the Milwaukee “Dolan Papers”, including all Finance Council minutes

WHO
Victim/survivors of childhood sexual violence by clergy of the Milwaukee archdiocese, including leaders of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAPnetwork.org/SNAPwisconsin.com) will release and discuss newly uncovered minutes from a March 2003 Milwaukee Archdiocese Finance council meeting where former Archbishop Timothy Dolan and Milwaukee auxiliary Bishop Richard Sklba discuss using church funds to:

–pay off known priest pedophiles and child molesters $20,000 each to quietly leave the priesthood,

–set up a “restorative justice” program to prevent victims from receiving compensation for injuries comparable to cases being filed against the archdiocese of Milwaukee in California, and

–move millions of dollars from the archdiocese into a newly invented “trust” to prevent compensating victims, the first of several such “trusts” to be set up before the archdiocese declared bankruptcy in 2011.

Victims will also be emailing a letter Wednesday to current Milwaukee Archbishop Jerome Listecki demanding:

–full financial disclosure of all payouts and “laicization” bonuses to sex offender clerics,

–which charitable funds were used to pay-off clergy sex offenders, and

–the release of the “Dolan Papers”, including all minutes of the monthly Archdiocese Finance Council chaired by Dolan and auxiliary Bishop Richard Sklba

WHEN
Wednesday, May 30, 11:30 a.m.

WHERE
On the front steps of the Federal Courthouse, 517 E. Wisconsin Avenue, Milwaukee

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On final day of testimony…

PHILADELPHIA (PA)
Washington Post

On final day of testimony, Philadelphia monsignor apologizes for priest’s sex assault

By Associated Press

PHILADELPHIA — A Roman Catholic church official apologized to a priest sex-abuse victim on the final day of testimony in his groundbreaking child-endangerment trial.

Jurors are set to hear closing arguments Thursday after the defense rested Tuesday afternoon for Monsignor William Lynn and a co-defendant.

Lynn, 61, who served as the Philadelphia archdiocese secretary for clergy from 1992 to 2004, is the first U.S. church official charged over his handling of priest-abuse complaints. He and the Rev. James Brennan have been on trial for 10 weeks.

Brennan has pleaded not guilty to sexually assaulting a teen in 1996. Defrocked priest Edward Avery pleaded guilty to a 1999 sexual assault days before trial and is in prison.

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Director’s Notes for ALTARCATIONS

UNITED STATES
Steve Julian

No one fully knows the extent of damage.

In our lifetime, certain people within the Catholic community – priests, members of religious orders, women religious, the lay community – have molested or otherwise abused innumerable boys and girls.

The loss can be measured in dollars, sure, but no one can define the value of each damaged soul. Victims speak of shutting themselves down to the outside world, acting inappropriately themselves, or feeling a civic, cultural or religious disenfranchisement.

Some commit suicide.

The Church’s response has varied from one diocese to the next. A tug of war exists between some bishops and the Vatican, while other church leaders protect abusers through the decimation of records or failure to disclose a priest’s past when shuttling him off to an unsuspecting diocese.

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Jerome Christenson: The Vatican and its bank should soon be parted

UNITED STATES
LaCrosse Tribune

Jerome Christenson Winona Daily News | Posted: Wednesday, May 30, 2012

The butler did it.

Bet you never thought you’d see that line in a legitimate news story, did you?

For that matter, I’d almost wager you didn’t know there were still people in this world who still hire butlers.

Well, it seems the pope does have a butler, and from what I read in the papers, it appears his Holiness’ head manservant is in hot water over the heist of some top-secret Vatican documents, the contents of which were leaked to the ink-stained wretches of the Italian Fourth Estate—much to the red-faced chagrin of a number of red-hatted churchmen.

I suspect they’re a bit embarrassed that the purloined papers didn’t reveal a set of sub rosa instructions from the Most High, but the sort of small-‘m’ mysteries more common to supermarket tabloids and Fox News — a variety of very much earth-bound intrigues and shenanigans among those close to the throne of the Vicar of Christ and in the top floor offices of the Vatican bank. It’s the sort of thing that carries a bit of the rancid perfume of the Borgias and of things more suited to the sensibilities of 1512 than 2012.

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Polygamist paedophile Warren Jeffs has a revelation in prison: Don’t abuse women

UNITED STATES
Daily Mail (United Kingdom)

By Emma Reynolds

Polygamist leader Warren Jeffs has shared an apparent change of heart in his latest ‘revelation’ from prison, writing that women should not be abused.

The Fundamentalist Latter-Day Saints Church leader is serving a 130-year sentence at Powledge Unit near Palestine, Texas, for systematic child sex assault and marrying underage girls.

The 56-year-old’s ‘revelation’, one of a series of religious messages he has addressed to the Utah State Attorney General, is dated 13 May, just days before the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals rejected his appeal.

Jeffs wrote, ‘Let women be free, to be educated, to have full protection from abuse, ye nations’, Fox News reported.

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System von Demut und Demütigung

DEUTSCHLAND
Humanistischer Pressedienst

(hpd) In der Debatte über Kinder, die in kirchlichen Erziehungsanstalten aufwuchsen, steht der sexuelle Missbrauch im Vordergrund. Ein soeben erschienener Sammelband zeigt, dass bereits der Alltag in solchen Einrichtungen tiefe Spuren bei den Kindern hinterließ. Rolf Cantzen hat darin ganz unterschiedliche Geschichten von Schülern, die in katholischen Internaten waren, zusammengestellt.

Die Geschichten gewähren Einblick in eine Welt, in der Gewalt, Willkür und Demütigung vorherrschten. Sie verstören und helfen gleichzeitig zu verstehen, warum die katholische Kirche bis heute nicht in der Lage ist, sich zu ihrer Verantwortung für die physische und psychische Misshandlung der Schüler zu bekennen. hpd sprach mit Herausgeber Rolf Cantzen.

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Marcus Japke – Radiomoderator wegen Missbrauchsvorwürfen einer Minderjährigen in Untersuchungshaft

DEUTSCHLAND
Querdenker

Der Katholizismus und Islamismus und der Missbrauch mit 12jährigen Kindern

Was in Deutschland verboten ist und unter Strafe gestellt, wird dem prominenten Radio-Moderator Marcus Japke vorgeworfen. Er soll ein 12jähriges Mädchen sexuell missbraucht haben. Hätte der Moderator das Kind im Vatikan oder in Saudi-Arabien sexuell missbraucht, würde er vermutlich straffrei bleiben. Es verwundert, warum der Vatikan, gerade wenn die Kirche weltweit schon seit langem von Missbrauchsfällen gegen Kinder geplagt ist, nicht das Schutzalter erhöht hat, wie das Italien auch schon längst gemacht hat. Das wäre zumindest eine symbolische Geste gewesen. Es nicht zu machen, kann auch als eine symbolische Geste verstanden werden. Vermutlich ist das Schutzalter aus Unaufmerksamkeit beibehalten worden, allerdings meint etwa der Wiener Rechtsprofessor Manfred Nowak, der Internationalen Menschenrechtsschutz lehrt und für die Vereinten Nationen als Sonderberichterstatter tätig ist, dass der Vatikan das Schutzalter absichtlich so niedrig gehalten habe. Offenbar sieht er den Katholizismus als dafür verantwortlich. Malta, Spanien und der Vatikan seien, so stellte die Welt seine Aussage dar, seien stärker als andere Länder katholisch geprägt.

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Missbrauchs-Beratung ringt um Aufmerksamkeit

DEUTSCHLAND
Die Rheinpfalz

Berlin (dapd). Tausende Anrufe gingen ein, doch es werden immer weniger: Deutschlands zentrale Anlaufstelle für Opfer sexuellen Missbrauchs hat innerhalb von zwei Jahren rund 27.500 Hilferufe bekommen. Doch der Ansturm habe wegen mangelnder Werbung in den vergangenen Monaten stark abgenommen, sagte eine Sprecherin des Unabhängigen Beauftragten für Fragen des sexuellen Kindesmissbrauchs, Johannes-Wilhelm Rörig. Täglich klingelt etwa zehn Mal das Telefon. Während der Kampagne zum Start des Angebots seien bis zu 200 Anrufe pro Tag eingegangen.

Von den 27.500 Kontaktversuchen seit Eröffnung der Anlaufstelle im Mai 2010 waren alleine 24.000 Anrufe. 3.500 Briefe sendeten Missbrauchsopfer, Angehörige oder Erzieher und Lehrer an Rörig. Therapeuten und Sozialpädagogen nehmen sie entgegen.

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Bakersfield woman talks about alleged sexual abuse 20 years later

BAKERSFIELD (CA)
KGET

[with video]

A Bakersfield woman who claims she was molested by her youth minister more than 20 years ago has come forward, urging others who may have been molested to do the same.

Jessica Bohman, 29, is suing both her alleged assailant as well as the church she attended, Dayspring Christian Fellowship in central Bakersfield. She says the church didn’t do anything after it was made aware of the alleged molestation.

The International Four Square organization, a Pentecostal Christian group affiliated with Dayspring Church, is also named as a defendant in the lawsuit.

Bohman was only 4 years old when she claims family friend and youth minister Damon Young began sexually abusing her.

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Defense rests in clergy abuse trial

PHILADELPHIA (PA)
Philadelphia Inquirer

By John P. Martin and Joseph A. Slobodzian
Inquirer Staff Writers

The defense in the clergy sex-abuse trial rested Tuesday after Msgr. William J. Lynn ended three days’ contentious testimony the way he began – asserting he had done his best to protect children but had lacked the power to do more.

“I did much more than had been done before I got there,” Lynn said, later adding: “I have many victims that told me I helped them.”

After the former Archdiocese of Philadelphia clergy secretary left the witness stand, the landmark trial moved briskly toward a conclusion.

Lawyers for Lynn and his codefendant, the Rev. James J. Brennan, called their final witnesses – friends, relatives, parishioners, priests, and nuns who praised the defendants as law-abiding citizens.

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Big Mo Shifting As Defense Rests Case

PHILADELPHIA (PA)
Philadelphia Priest Abuse Trial Blog

Ralph Cipriano

As the defense rested its case Tuesday in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia sex abuse trial, the momentum in the courtroom appeared to be shifting. The question is whether it had moved enough to matter.

A month ago, the prosecution appeared so far out in the lead, they were paring down witness lists, and playing it safe, as they strove to protect a big fourth-quarter lead. Sure there were problems with the Father James J. Brennan side of the case, but the evidence against Msgr. William J. Lynn seemed stacked so high the only question was when the monsignor went down, would that giant sucking sound take Father Brennan along with him.

But then Judge M. Teresa Sarmina, who had been pro-prosecution all the way, suddenly whacked two conspiracy charges off the prosecution’s case. Next the defense stole the prosecution’s alleged smoking gun — that list of 35 abuser priests drawn up by Lynn and ordered shredded by Cardinal Bevilacqua — and used that same evidence to show that Lynn may have been just a patsy.

Yesterday, the last shoe to drop was Assistant District Attorney Patrick Blessington’s anti-climactic finish to his three-day cross-examination of Msgr. Lynn, a performance that was toned-down from the previous fireworks. By the time Blessington limped to the finish, it sure seemed like the prosecutor had run out of steam. That’s the risk you take when you stretch a cross over three days, but maybe the prosecution is still so far ahead, it won’t matter.

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Lawsuit filed against church, youth minister in alleged

CALIFORNIA
Bakersfield.com

An alleged case of sexual abuse more than 20 years old has been resurrected by the filing of a lawsuit in Kern County Superior Court.

Plaintiff Jessica Prater Bohman went public Tuesday as she stood outside the courthouse with her attorney and relatives to announce the lawsuit and discuss what she said happened to her when she was 4 years old.

The lawsuit says Bohman, now 29, was molested by a youth minister at Bakersfield Dayspring Foursquare Church from 1987 to 1990. The lawsuit identifies Damon Young, who was 15 when the abuse first began, as the minister who assaulted her.

Investigative reports filed by Bakersfield police and provided by Bohman’s attorney say Young admitted in 2010 to molesting Bohman and two other girls. According to Bohman, the case went to juvenile court but Young could not be held criminally liable because the statute of limitations had expired.

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Bishop Cupich: A Letter to Parishioners

WASHINGTON
Roman Catholic Diocese of Spokane

May 27, 2012

Pentecost, 2012

Dear Parishioners:

In October, 2010, I informed you that the Diocese of Spokane had entered a period of mediation to address demands resulting from claims of sexual abuse by clergy in past years, but which were made after the 2007 bankruptcy settlement’s Plan of Reorganization. That Plan, in addition to establishing a multi-million fund to compensate victim survivors, also provided for the possibility of claims to be made after the bar date of March 2007, for a period of nine years, or until 2016. At that time, one million dollars were set aside to cover these “future claims.” Twenty-two parishes in Spokane County stepped forward on behalf of all the parishes in the Diocese to offer their parish properties as collateral to assure that awards exceeding this one million dollar amount would be paid. Parishioners were advised that the risk of foreclosure was small, given that the number of future claims in all likelihood would not be significant.

As I noted in my letter to you shortly after I arrived in the fall of 2010, the Trustee, appointed to oversee the bankruptcy plan, informed me that the one million dollar fund would soon be exhausted with the payment of several future claims awards and that we would need to recapitalize the future claims fund immediately or face foreclosure on parish and school properties to satisfy this obligation. The Diocese did not have the funds available, which meant foreclosure action was imminent. The situation was deteriorating even more so at this time, since the high costs of legal efforts beginning in 2009 to challenge some of the future claims awards were draining what little resources we needed to operate and, as reported by the media, these challenges had reached a stalemate. We also were informed that more future claims would in all likelihood be accepted, thus placing the very survivability of the Catholic Church in Eastern Washington as we know it into serious question.

Taking all of this into consideration, I sought the assistance of a new team of competent individuals to take a fresh look at things and to put together a strategy to mediate this impasse and bring some order to the series of events that were cascading out of control. With their advice, I engaged the services of Federal Judge Michael Hogan of the U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon to serve as mediator. Once we secured the agreement of all parties, the bankruptcy court approved the mediation arrangement, which included the suspension of all appeals and court actions.

We identified four goals which we needed to achieve, if the mediation were to be successful.

1. Remove the immediate threat of foreclosure on parishes. I was convinced that the seizure of parish properties was not only a matter of losing facilities and material assets, but it also involved the displacement of faith communities and the diminishment of our Catholic school system. Thus, everything should be done to avoid that scenario;
2. Reduce our legal fees, which were averaging nearly a quarter of a million dollars annually in the three years following the bankruptcy settlement;

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Parishes giving $1.5 million toward settling sex cases

WASHINGTON
The Spokesman-Review

John Stucke
The Spokesman-Review

Catholic parishes are contributing $1.5 million toward a broad legal settlement expected to help the church resolve clergy sex abuse claims and avoid the foreclosure of churches and schools.

It’s the second settlement in five years that has been billed as ending the bankruptcy of the Catholic Diocese of Spokane, which has struggled with more than a decade of scandal.

A three-page letter written by Bishop Blase Cupich and distributed to parishioners on Sunday sought to assure churchgoers that the threat of foreclosure had passed. The $1.5 million was far less than initially feared to clear up lingering bankruptcy issues – most notably more than two dozen unresolved claims filed by former Morning Star Boys’ Ranch residents who said they were abused.

Cupich said now that the cases have been settled, he will review the accusations of abuse against Morning Star’s longtime director, the Rev. Joseph Weitensteiner, and at the same time refer the matters to a diocesan board that vets such allegations to determine whether they are credible.

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Defense Rests In Clergy Abuse Trial

PHILADELPHIA (PA)
CBS Philly

By Tony Hanson

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – The defense has rested in the clergy sexual abuse case, and closing arguments are expected tomorrow. The defense rested yesterday after presenting a flurry of character witnesses on behalf of monsignor William Lynn and father James Brennan.

Monsignor William Lynn, charged with endangering children by allowing dangerous priests to remain in ministry, and Father James Brennan, who is charged with sexually assaulting a teen, both have pleaded not guilty.

And yesterday a series of witnesses, family and friends, priests and nuns, parishioners and former students, told the jury Monsignor Lynn and Brennan have excellent reputations. Earlier in the day, Lynn completed his testimony, conceding diagnosed pedophile priests and other priests he had found guilty of sexual abuse of minors remained in ministry. One, Edward Avery, later sexually assaulted another teen.

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May 29, 2012

Priest can’t fulfill bail conditions

AUSTRALIA
Northern District Times

30 May 12 @ 08:15am by Staff Writer

FINIAN James Egan, 77, arrived at Ryde Court last Wednesday in a black BMW with a disability parking permit and was assisted by two young women, AAP reported.

He was charged on May 1 with 17 sexual offences that allegedly occurred between 1972 and 1987 while Egan was serving as a priest in parishes in Sydney and on the NSW Central Coast.

The charges relate to one boy and three girls.

The court was told that Egan is suffering from an unspecified medical condition that will prevent him satisfying one of his bail conditions to report weekly to Ryde police station.

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‘Nothing official’ on church mergers Phoenixville priest claims

PENNSYLVANIA
The Mercury

By Frank Otto
fotto@pottsmerc.com
Posted: 05/29/12 06:21 pm

PHOENIXVILLE — After a local priest e-mailed parishioners saying he was informed that Sacred Heart and Holy Trinity parishes would close, a Philadelphia archdiocese spokesman said there is no official word on the parishes’ statuses.

In an e-mail sent to some parishioners around noon Tuesday, the Rev. Michael Rzonca said Sacred Heart would merge with the St. Ann parish and Holy Trinity would merge with St. Mary of the Assumption.

“I received a call from (the Rev. Monsignor) Arthur Rodgers informing me that I will be leaving the pastorate of Sacred Heart and Holy Trinity parishes, effective June 30, 2012,” Rzonca, the pastor of both Sacred Heart and Holy Trinity, wrote. “Holy Trinity will be merged with St. Mary’s and Sacred Heart will be merged with St. Ann’s.”

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A Message regarding Fr. Dan

SEWICKLEY (PA)
St. James Parish

[with copy of the letter from Bishop Zubik]

A note from the Regional Vicar:

Dear parishioners of Saint James,

It is easy to understand the great emotion you are experiencing at this time. Having known Father Valentine for more than thirty years, I consider him to be one of our finest priests who has many gifts, including being a good leader.

During this interim time I promise my prayers for Father and for the parish. As the temporary administrator my role is to see that parish sacramental life continues uninterrupted. For those who have scheduled weddings, please know these will be celebrated, albeit with a substitute priest. The same is true for baptisms and for any funerals that may take place.

Please be patient and understanding. Given the decreasing numbers of priests available we may have to rely on those who are retired for assistance. Because of my other responsibilities, it is not possible for me to spend many hours at the parish, but I do plan to be present throughout the coming week(s) as necessary.

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Sewickley priest takes leave after accusations made against him

PENNSYLVANIA
Times Online

By Jenny Wagner jwagner@timesonline.com

SEWICKLEY — A Sewickley priest has taken a leave of absence from his ministry while the Allegheny County District Attorney’s office investigates an allegation made against him, Pittsburgh Catholic Diocese officials said Tuesday.

The Rev. Daniel A. Valentine, pastor of St. James Catholic Church on Walnut Street, began his leave May 19 after officials received a complaint involving Facebook posts Valentine allegedly made to a minor, according to the Rev. Ron Lengwin, diocese spokesman.

Lengwin said as per church policies, the complaint was turned over to the district attorney’s office.

Bishop David Zubik said in a letter to parishioners posted on the church’s website that he has instructed diocese staff to perform a forensic audit on the church’s computers and Valentine’s personal computer.

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Vatican says leaks violated conscience of faithful

VATICAN CITY
Atlanta Journal-Constitution

By NICOLE WINFIELD
The Associated Press

VATICAN CITY — The Vatican on Tuesday sought to put the widening scandal over leaked documents into a very different light, saying the stolen papers didn’t just concern matters of internal church governance but represented the thoughts of people who in writing to the pope believed they were essentially speaking before God.

As a result, Pope Benedict XVI feels particularly pained over the leaks and wants to get to the bottom of the scandal to heal the breach and re-establish a sense of trust among the faithful, according to the Vatican’s undersecretary of state, Archbishop Angelo Becciu.

“I consider the publication of stolen letters to be an unprecedentedly grave immoral act,” Becciu told the Vatican newspaper L’Osservatore Romano. “It’s not just that the pope’s papers were stolen, but that people who turned to him as the vicar of Christ have had their consciences violated.”

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Catholics fear Vatican’s “Vatileaks” scandal will harm their Church

VATICAN CITY
Reuters

By Silvia Aloisi

May 29, 2012

Catholic clerics and pilgrims visiting St Peter’s basilica on Tuesday expressed shock over a scandal that has shaken the Vatican and led to the arrest of the pope’s butler, fearing it would hurt both the pontiff and the Church.

“It’s awful and very sad that something like that can happen right at the heart of the Vatican,” said David Kaberia, a priest from Meru in Kenya, standing under the sun in a queue snaking through half of St Peter’s Square to tour one of the holiest sites of Roman Catholicism.

“This is an inside job by greedy people and I think it will inevitably affect the Church worldwide because this is the centre of the Church’s power,” he told Reuters.

The scandal exploded last week when, within a few days, the head of the Vatican’s own bank was sacked, the pope’s butler was arrested over leaks of sensitive documents and a book was published alleging conspiracies among cardinals and corruption in the Church’s financial dealings with Italian business.

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Philadelphia priest testifies he always put interests of children first

PHILADELPHIA (PA)
The Pilot

By Matthew Gambino

PHILADELPHIA (CNS) — Msgr. William J. Lynn took the witness stand in his own defense May 23 and told jurors that “in my heart” he put the interests of children first as he handled allegations of sexual abuse by priests in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.

The former secretary for clergy of the Philadelphia Archdiocese faces two counts of endangering the welfare of children by recommending for assignment some priests accused of sexual misconduct with children.

“I did my best to ensure no child got hurt,” he said in testimony at the trial.

The charges are in connection to alleged sexual misconduct by a current priest, Father James J. Brennan, and sexual assault by a former priest, Edward V. Avery.

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Pope promotes Bishop Richard Malone to Buffalo Diocese; SNAP responds

PORTLAND (ME)/BUFFALO (NY)
Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests

Posted by Barbara Dorris on May 29, 2012

Today, the Pope promoted Maine Bishop Richard Malone to head the Buffalo Diocese. As is so often the case, the church hierarchy is trading one callous official for another.

It’s important to remember that Malone worked under the disgraced Cardinal Bernard Law of Boston.

In 2010, it was disclosed that Malone was keeping secret the identity of seven recently accused Maine predator priests. We believe his secrecy violates his promises and the US bishops abuse policy. Even worse, he’s violating basic common sense and needlessly jeopardizing the safety of vulnerable children in Maine.

In 2008, Malone put a Bangor priest (Fr. Paul Coughlin) back into ministry even though that priest let a convicted sex offender live with him in a parish. (Later, Malone reversed himself in response to a public outcry.)On the other hand, in 2007, Malone belatedly and begrudgingly made public a partial list of credibly accused predator priests in Maine. However, he kept that list up only a few years. And in 2009, he removed public tributes on church property to one credibly accused predator priest (Fr. Joseph McGowan).

Bishop Kmiec has repeatedly covered up abuse. Less than three months ago, it was revealed that a priest (Fr. David W. Bialkowski) who Kmiec claimed had been put on medical leave was actually suspended due to credible reports of abuse. Prior to that case, Kmiec had given sanctuary to a priest that had been abusing boys in Pennsylvania. Kmiec has also repeatedly refused requests to make available on his website a list of all credibly accused priests within his diocese.

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SNAP blasts promotion of Fargo Bishop

FARGO (ND)
Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests

Posted by David Clohessy on May 29, 2012

Today, the Vatican has announced that the bishop of the Diocese of Fargo, ND will be promoted to fill the role of archbishop in the Diocese of Denver which has been vacant since Archbishop Charles Chaput moved to the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.

For now-Archbishop Samuel Aquila, this is a homecoming in many ways. We hope that, as he returns to Denver and takes over the archdiocese, he works diligently and tirelessly to help end the clergy sex abuse and cover-up crisis. However, in the past Aquila has failed to act responsibly to protect kids.

In 2009, it was revealed that three monsignors, after receiving a credible accusation of abuse, refused to share the information with anyone outside the diocesan hierarchy. The diocese first heard the accusation against Fr. Gregory Patejko in 1994, and paid a settlement to the Patejko’s victim that same year. Yet it wasn’t until 15 years later that the allegation was made public, and even then only because the victim grew tired of the diocese’s silence and went to the media himself.

Aquila’s silence in this matter only served to help the Diocese of Fargo avoid public embarrassment, and actually worked against victims by allowing others who may have been abused by Patejko to continue suffering in silence. We don’t know how many other allegations may have been kept under wraps in the same way, but we suspect that this was not the only case.

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KC bishop promotes “troubling” priest; SNAP responds

KANSAS CITY (MO)
Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests

Posted by Barbara Dorris on May 29, 2012

On Friday, in his diocesan newspaper Kansas City Bishop Robert Finn quietly disclosed his promotion of Fr. Patrick Rush, a priest who is closely connected with a number of proven, admitted and credibly accused child molesting clerics. For years, he was the second-in-command of the diocese. He has been named as a defendant, because of that role, in a number of child sex abuse and cover up lawsuits.

If Finn keeps picking and promoting long-time church insiders and those with close ties church insiders, the chances for change are greatly reduced.

As vicar general, in 2002, Rush publicly defended the decision to keep Fr. Thomas Ward in parish ministry, despite the fact that the diocese paid a settlement to his accuser.

Rush admitted that parishioners had not been officially informed by the diocese of the allegations against Ward.

That same year, Rush refused to identify four priests who had been accused of molesting kids.

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Aquila describes appointment as Denver archbishop ‘overwhelming’

DENVER (CO)
Grand Forks Herald

DENVER – In a homecoming of sorts, Fargo Bishop Samuel J. Aquila has been named the new archbishop of the Denver archdiocese.

Aquila, 61, was ordained in Denver in 1976, and worked in several Colorado parishes there until coming to Fargo 11 years ago. He’s been the bishop of the Diocese of Fargo since 2002.

He’ll remain in Fargo until shortly before he is installed in Denver on July 18.

At a news conference in Denver Tuesday, Aquila said he learned of the appointment last week.

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Another Culture Warrior?

UNITED STATES
National Catholic Reporter

by Michael Sean Winters on May. 29, 2012 Distinctly Catholic

I do not want to judge the appointment of Bishop Samuel Aquila based on a single, unfortunate statement he made in the past. Nonetheless, regular readers may recall this post of mine when Bishop Aquila rolled out the Nazi analogy.

I was especially pleased to note then, as I note now, that while I do not think the bishops are engaged in a war against Obama, comments like Aquila’s make it hard not to believe that the White House thinks negotiating with people who compare the president’s actions to nazis and communists are not people with whom it is worthwhile to negotiate. Yes, the White House has made a mess of the HHS mandate and nothing anyone else has said excuses that mess.

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New Bishop For Buffalo Introduced At News Conference

BUFFALO (NY)
WKBW

[with video]

By WKBW News

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WKBW) – The Diocese of Buffalo announced Tuesday morning that the Most Reverend Richard Malone would be taking over for Bishop Edward Kmiec.

“My profound gratitude to our Holy Father Benedict XVI for his trust in me, in appointing me to oversee this vibrancy of Buffalo,” Most Reverend Richard Malone said.

Malone will be installed as the 14th Bishop of Buffalo at St. Joseph’s Cathedral on August 10th. He comes to Buffalo from Portland, Maine where he served as Bishop since 2004. He said one of the biggest issues he will face is the economic challenge here in Western New York. He said he has experience.

“I come from a state that is also beautiful, but very challenged economically. We have lost a lot of industries there. That is why we put a lot of emphasis on Catholic Charities to reach out to people who need us,” Malone said.

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Pope transfers Portland bishop to Buffalo

MAINE
The Forecaster

By Matt Hongoltz-Hetling

PORTLAND — The pope has sent Maine’s highest-ranking Catholic, Bishop Richard J. Malone, to the Diocese of Buffalo.

The move will result in an opening that could last for up to a year, officials of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland said Tuesday.

The decision, made by Pope Benedict XVI a week ago, was announced publicly Tuesday morning. Malone said that, in retrospect, he saw a sign from God that presaged the decision.

“Sometimes, subtle indications of God’s plan for us only become apparent in hindsight,” Malone said during a teleconference from Buffalo. “The day before the archbishop called me, I was up in northern Maine celebrating confirmation liturgies. … One of the folks up there advised us to get off the interstate and take a more rural route. … He said, ‘If you’re really lucky, you’ll see a herd of buffalo.’ And there they were, 10 buffaloes grazing in a field.”

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Priest’s sex-abuse trial delayed pending December hearing

KENTUCKY
The Courier-Journal

A Roman Catholic priest who had been scheduled for trial on sexual-abuse charges on Tuesday has been granted at least seven more months before his next court appearance.

Jefferson Circuit Court Judge Mitch Perry on Tuesday scheduled a Dec. 17 status review for the Rev. James R. Schook.

Schook, 64, was indicted in 2011 on seven felony counts of sodomy based on allegations that he sexually abused two boys between 1971 and 1975. He has pleaded not guilty to all of the charges.

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Former Abbot of Kilnacrott says he’ll co-operate with any abuse enquiries

IRELAND
Northern Sound

May 29 2012

Former Abbot of Kilnacrott Kevin Smith says he will co-operate with any criminal or international enquiry into cases involving victims of abuse.

It comes as Fr Smith, who was the Abbott of Kilnacrott when paedophile priest Brendan Smith was based there, has issued an apology to abuse victims.

In a statement to Northern Sound News, Fr Smith has promised to be open and give all information to either or both criminal or international bodies who may lead an investigation.

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Full text of apology from Former Abbot of Kilnacrott Fr Kevin Smith

IRELAND
Northern Sound

STATEMENT FROM ABBOT KEVIN A. SMITH, O.PRAEM

HOLY TRINITY ABBEY, KILNACROTT, BALLYJAMESDUFF, CO. CAVAN

Having had some time in prayer and reflection in Medugorje on the past when I was Abbot and Superior of Holy Trinity Abbey, Kilnacrott, Ballyjamesduff, Co. Cavan, I wish to acknowledge and apologise to all those who were abused in any way, their family, friends and fellow priests for mistakes which happened within the Church and various Institutions from August 1969 – March 1995 (when I retired).

I thank the present Prior and Superior for the counselling help being made available through “Towards Healing” freephone 1800 303 416 (ROI) / 08000 963315 (NI/UK).

However, I believe that the real permanent healing comes from inviting Jesus Christ, (The greatest Healer of all) into our lives and handing over to him all our hurts. There has been a call for a “criminal” investigation and/or “International” enquiry – I promise that I would be open to and give all information to either or both of those bodies – The Truth will set us all free.

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Former abbot apologies to Smyth’s victims

IRELAND
The Anglo-Celt

Paul Neilan

A former abbot at Kilnacrott has finally issued an apology to the victims of sexual abuse perpetrated by paedophile priest Fr Brendan Smyth.

In a statement issued yesterday, Fr Kevin Smith said: “Having had some time in prayer and reflection in Medugorje on the past when I was Abbot and Superior of Holy Trinity Abbey, Kilnacrott, Ballyjamesduff, Co Cavan, I wish to acknowledge and apologise to all those who were abused in any way, their family, friends and fellow priests for mistakes which happened within the Church and various Institutions from August 1969 – March 1995, when I retired.

“I thank the present Prior and Superior for the counselling help being made available through “Towards Healing” (freephone 1800 303 416).

“However, I believe that the real permanent healing comes from inviting Jesus Christ, The greatest Healer of all, into our lives and handing over to him all our hurts. There has been a call for a criminal investigation and or international enquiry – I promise that I would be open to and give all information to either or both of those bodies. The Truth will set us all free.

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Vatican scandals lift lid on secret power struggle

VATICAN CITY
CNN

By Richard Allen Greene, CNN

(CNN) – Bad luck comes in threes, even for the pope.

The past week has seen his butler arrested, accused of leaking secret papers from the papal apartment; the head of his bank sacked for incompetence; and a demonstration on his front doorstep by protesters demanding that he reveal what he knows about Italy’s most famous missing-person case.

It’s bad PR for the Vatican, but it may be more than that, experts say. It could affect who becomes the next pope.

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Vatican: Pope Benedict XVI unafraid of leaks probe widening with butler Paolo Gabriele’s cooperation

VATICAN CITY
CBS News

(AP) VATICAN CITY – Pope Benedict XVI isn’t afraid about what might emerge in the widening investigation into leaked documents and is encouraging prosecutors and a fact-finding commission to get to the truth over one of the most serious Holy See scandals in recent history, the Vatican spokesman said Tuesday.

Spokesman the Rev. Federico Lombardi said Benedict was pained by the leaks and that he, Lombardi, felt “personally violated,” even though none of the spokesman’s correspondence had filtered out to Italian media or into a recent book of leaked documents that have laid bare the infighting, intrigue and petty squabbles that have plagued the highest echelons of the Catholic Church’s governance.

The so-called “Vatileaks” scandal has tormented the Vatican for months and represents one of the greatest breaches of trust and security for the pope in recent memory. Benedict’s personal butler has been arrested, accused of theft, after documents he had no business having were found in his Vatican City apartment. Few think the butler acted alone, and the investigation is continuing on three separate tracks.

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Monsignor Says He’s Sorry But Blameless For Teen’s Abuse By Pedophile Priest

PHILADELPHIA (PA)
CBS Philly

By Tony Hanson

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) — Monsignor William Lynn, charged with endangered children by allowing dangerous priests to remain in ministry in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, today told the jury he is sorry for the abuse suffered by one boy during Lynn’s watch as secretary for clergy.

Lynn has conceded there were a number of priests who remained in ministry, working as pastors and assistant pastors — some who had been diagnosed as pedophiles and others whom he had determined were guilty of sexual abuse of minors — including one who has since admitted he sexually assaulted another teen.

That defrocked priest, Edward Avery, pleaded guilty before the start of this trial and is serving a sentence of up to five years (see related story).

Lynn has told the jury he is sorry for the abuse suffered by the teen at the hands of Avery, but he accepted no blame.
Lynn maintains he was powerless to change the church’s practices for dealing with predator priests. As he put it at one point, he was “not the cardinal archbishop of Philadelphia.”

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Was Lynn’s testimony worth the gamble?

PHILADELPHIA (PA)
Newsworks

May 29, 2012
By Elizabeth Fiedler

Today Monsignor William Lynn took the stand in his own defense – for the third day. Lynn, a former high-ranking official in the Philadelphia Catholic Archdiocese, is facing charges for failing to prevent other priests from sexually abusing children. For defendants in criminal cases the impulse to take the stand in their own defense, can be strong. But while they can help themselves on the stand, but they also can do damage.

It’s a common scene in TV courtroom dramas: the defendant defiantly takes the stand to refute the prosecutor’s accusations. Instead the character ends up in a teary mess confessing to the crime or exposing a secret that ID’s the real criminal.

Philadelphia Criminal Defense Lawyer Dennis Cogan represented former State Senator Vince Fumo who was convicted of corruption. Cogan said there’s always a risk in putting a client on the stand.

“You don’t want him to perform, you don’t want the client on the witness stand to be making the arguments that the lawyer should be making later on,” said Cogan. “You have to go over the methods and manner of presentation.”

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Monsignor: ‘I didn’t have the power to do anything’

PHILADELPHIA (PA)
Philadelphia Inquirer

By John P. Martin
INQUIRER STAFF WRITER

Msgr. William J. Lynn asserted again Tuesday that he did more than his predecessors at the Archdiocese of Philadelphia to curb or stop sexual abuse by priests, but that he had little choice but to follow directives of his bosses and medical professionals.

“I did much more than had been done before I got there,” Lynn insisted from the witness stand, later adding: “I have many victims that told me I helped them.”

He spoke as Assistant Philadelphia District Attorney Patrick Blessington opened a third-day of cross-examination, pressing Lynn to explain why he didn’t remove priests who had been accused of sexual misconduct. The testimony resumed after Common Pleas Court Judge M. Teresa Sarmina denied a bid by the lawyers for Lynn and his codefendant, the Rev. James J. Brennan, to dismiss a charge against each.

Blessington and Lynn picked up largely where they left off Thursday, with the prosecutor firing questions and accusations at the former clergy secretary and Lynn denying any wrongdoing. Calling Lynn “the eyes and the ears” of Cardinal Anthony J. Bevilacqua on sexual abuse complaints and investigation between 1992 and 2004, Blessington asked Lynn why he allowed the Rev. Robert Brennan to stay at a parish in 1993 after learning that two seventh-grade boys alleged that the priest had groped or caressed them.

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Former LCWR leader gives take on Vatican order

UNITED STATES
National Catholic Reporter

May. 29, 2012
By Joshua J. McElwee

Almost two months later, clarity is still elusive.

Across the country, women religious are still trying to make sense of the Vatican’s latest move — an April order to the organization representing the large majority of their ranks, telling the group to revise and place itself under the control of an archbishop.

For the first time since announcement of the sweeping order, the leadership of that group — known as the Leadership Conference of Women Religious (LCWR) — meets this week to discuss what to do next.

While the group has not given many details about the expected contents of the meeting — scheduled for Tuesday through Friday — an April release said the national board of the group will meet in an “atmosphere of prayer, contemplation and dialogue” and that it “plans to move slowly, not rushing to judgment.”

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Pa. monsignor apologizes for abuse victim’s ordeal

PHILADELPHIA (PA)
The Associated Press

By MARYCLAIRE DALE, Associated Press

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — A Roman Catholic official is wrapping up three grueling days of testimony in his Philadelphia clergy-abuse trial.

Monsignor William Lynn says he did everything within his power to get accused priests out of parishes and into treatment.

He admits it wasn’t enough for one victim who was sexually assaulted by the Rev. Edward Avery — years after complaints about Avery had reached the archdiocese. Lynn says he’s sorry for that.

Avery is in prison after pleading guilty to the 1999 assault.

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U.S. roots for Viganò, the archbishop who opposes corruption

UNITED STATES
Vatican Insider

He sent two letters to the Pope denouncing corruption

Paolo Mastrolilli
New York correspondent

“He is a man who is not afraid to speak the truth and not afraid to point out areas that need reform in the church.” These were the words of praise of new cardinal Timothy Dolan for the Nuncio to the United States Carlo Maria Viganò, published in the New York Times last February. This may help understand how the crisis in the Vatican is viewed abroad and could perhaps shed light on how the former secretary general of the Governorate is feeling. According to the Americans, Viganò is a reformer who was able to foresee the storm ahead. He can therefore feel redeemed, even if not happy, for the developments of the last few weeks and does not need to say anything more, because events seem to follow his predictions.

At the beginning of last year Viganò, who was mainly in charge of the financial management of the Vatican City State wrote two letters to the Pope, denouncing instances of corruption. In October he was removed and appointed Nuncio to the U.S.. When his letters were published, the Vatican leadership issued a statement dismissing his claims.

In his new home in Massachusetts Avenue, Viganò has chosen to keep to himself. But after being somewhat shy at the beginning, he gained confidence in his new role of managing diplomatic relations between the Holy See and the United States, between the American bishops and Rome and also in his very delicate task of pointing out suitable candidates for Episcopal Sees. The trust he has been shown is the result of the good relations he has built with American bishops, who have urged him on many occasions to become the leader of a worldwide reform of the Church.

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The Secretariat of mysteries and the shadows of accomplices

“Gabriele could not have done this alone”

Marco Tosatti
Vatican City

The arrest of Paolo Gabriele, Benedict XVI’s butler, meant that for a brief time all those working in the Pope home (the Vatican Loggias which sport the work of the famous master painter Raphael) could breathe a sigh of relief. This is the place where the Secretariat of State, the Pope’s administrative office, is and where all documents read by Benedict XVI end up. Once a document is ready, Mgr. Georg passes it on to the appropriate office to be archived. So when Italian television program Gli Intoccabili (The Untouchables) presented by journalist, Gianluigi Nuzzi, showed a confidential note that the director of the Vatican Press Office, Fr. Lombardi, had sent to the papal apartments (to Mgr. Georg) summarizing the ‘Orlandi’ case, many in the Vatican thought that it was obviously impossible for the documents to have been leaked from the press office or papal apartments. Therefore the culprit could only be found in the Secretariat of State.

This theory seemed even more convincing when, after the first bouts of investigation, the Vatican Gendarmerie came to a standstill. Sources inside the Vatican surprisingly blamed the slowing down in the investigation on those who should have actually pushed it forward, including the Substitute to the Secretary of State, Giovanni Angelo Becciu. The setback lasted a few weeks, then under pressure from the public opinion and due to further developments, a month ago, a committee of cardinals was formed, led by the energetic cardinal Julian Herranz. The situation then progressed, as we know.

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“This is worse than the Church paedophilia scandal”

VATICAN CITY
Vatican Insider

The Curia is in a state of panic as rumours circulate about camera phones potentially being banned in the Vatican

Andrea Tornielli
Vatican City

“The atmosphere is poisonous, heavy. Some claim that in the future we won’t be able to take mobile phones with inbuilt cameras into the Vatican.” The ban on camera phones is just a rumour that has been circulating around the Secretariat of State in the last few days, which have been the most difficult in the Vatican in recent years. “Somehow this is even worse than the storm caused by the Church paedophilia scandal,” said a priest who entered the great gate of Porta Angelica with brisk fearful steps.

Many outside the Vatican doubt the guilt of Paolo Gabriele, the Pope’s butler and no one seems to think he could have master-minded the leak of documents published in journalist Gianluigi Nuzzi’s book. We do not know the extent of his involvement yet. If the inquiry remains at this level, the doubts will inevitably grow. The net of moles, which allegedly includes a number of people, struck again, giving once more the same motives that had been put forward by the famous investigative reporter in the pages of “Sua santità” (His Holiness). The leak of Benedict XVI’s confidential papers could apparently have been an act to help the Pope. Few believe this to be true, mostly because the Vatileaks scandal has managed to besmirch the Holy See as a whole and its image is now in tatters.

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Vatican’s assessment of LCWR about fear, not doctrine

UNITED STATES
National Catholic Reporter

May. 29, 2012
By Fran Ferder

COMMENTARY

The Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith’s April 18 doctrinal assessment of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious is not about doctrine. It is not primarily about protecting the faith or ensuring an ecclesiology of communion, no matter how many times these terms are woven through the report. It is fundamentally about fear — fear of the loss of power — and the willful use of dominative control to defend that power.

The abundance of religious themes and language do not mask this punitive effort to shore up the crumbling authority of hierarchical leaders. Nor does the document hide the anger that roils beneath the protestations of gratitude and concern. The final report of the LCWR assessment reveals a desperate attempt on the part of some fearful and angry church leaders to protect their turf — to maintain an all-male church leadership, to keep women and laypeople under their authority, and to shield the homophobic-homosexual subculture in the leadership of the Catholic church.

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Anderson says Vatican bank fired president to increase transparency

VATICAN CITY
Catholic News Service

By Cindy Wooden
Catholic News Service

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Carl A. Anderson, head of the U.S.-based Knights of Columbus and secretary of the Vatican bank’s board of supervisors, said a commitment to promoting transparency led the board to fire Ettore Gotti Tedeschi as bank president.

The board unanimously passed a vote of “no confidence” in Gotti Tedeschi’s leadership May 24 during a meeting in which the Italian banker was allowed to speak “for more than 70 minutes,” according to a memorandum released by Anderson.

The board of the bank, formally known as the Institute for the Works of Religion, issued an unusually blunt statement through the Vatican Press Office May 24, noting that members had repeatedly expressed concern to Gotti Tedeschi about the bank’s “governance,” but that the “situation has deteriorated further.”

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Kinder häufiger Opfer sexuellen Missbrauchs

DEUTSCHLAND
Handelsblatt

Berlin. Im vergangenen Jahr sind mehr Kinder sexuell missbraucht worden als noch ein Jahr zuvor. „Über 14.000 Kinder wurden Opfer eines sexuellen Missbrauchs“, sagte der Präsident des Bundeskriminalamts (BKA), Jörg Ziercke, unter Berufung auf die Polizeiliche Kriminalstatistik 2011 am Dienstag in Berlin. Dies entspreche einer Zunahme von knapp vier Prozent im Vergleich zu 2010 und sei der höchste Wert der vergangenen drei Jahre, fügte Ziercke hinzu.

Zudem wurde im vergangenen Jahr 146 Kinder in Deutschland getötet. Dies stellt einen Rückgang um rund 20 Prozent da. Rund 80 Prozent der getöteten Jungen und Mädchen (114) waren jünger als sechs Jahre. 63 Kinder wurden dem BKA-Chef zufolge vorsätzlich und 73 fahrlässig getötet.

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Wie man Vertrauen zerstört

VATIKAN
Die Tagespost

Der Täter war der Butler – Und im Vatikan fragt man sich, warum der Kammerdiener die Papstpapiere missbrauchte. Von Guido Horst

Rom (DT) Ein Pfingstfest und ein Papstgottesdienst auf dem Petersplatz, die ein wenig an das Osterfest in Rom des Jahres 2010 erinnerten: Damals, vor über zwei Jahren, hatten die Enthüllungen von sexuellen Missbräuchen durch Kleriker vor allem in angelsächsischen Medien plötzlich eine scharfe Wende gegen Benedikt XVI. genommen. Opferverbände in den Vereinigten Staaten und ihre Anwälte bauten – mit dem entsprechenden Echo der internationalen Medien – eine gewaltige Druckkulisse auf, die das Osterfest mit dem Papst in Rom zu erdrücken schien.

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Kirchenkritik und Verfassungsschutz

DEUTSCHLAND
Humanistischer Pressedienst

STUTTGART. (hpd) Wer gemeint hat, dass der Papstbesuch vorbei sei, der irrt. Das kirchenkritische Geschehen in Freiburg wurde auch vom Verfassungsschutz beobachtet und „Freiburg ohne Papst“ im Verfassungsschutzbericht 2011 genannt. Das ist immerhin wiederum neu, dass Kirchenkritiker als Verfassungsfeinde gelten.

Dazu schreibt Albrecht Ziervogel, der ehemalige Sprecher von FREIBURG OHNE PAPST: „Man reibt sich verwundert die Augen: im neuesten Verfassungsschutzbericht der grün-roten Landesregierung Kretschmann wird das Aktionsbündnis FREIBURG OHNE PAPST (FoP), als „linksextremistisch beeinflußt“ bezeichnet. Das Bündnis hatte sich aus Anlass des letztjährigen Papstbesuchs dessen kritische Begleitung in Freiburg zur Aufgabe gemacht.

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„Ein Kleid entwerfen, das passt“

DEUTSCHLAND
KSTA

Seit März ist Stefan Heße Generalvikar des Bischofs von Köln. Mit Joachim Frank und Matthias Pesch sprach er über einen Wandel in den Pfarreien, sprudelnde Kirchensteuer und den Umgang mit dem Missbrauchskandal.

Köln – Herr Generalvikar, zwei Monate stehen Sie auf der Brücke des Tankers „Erzbistum Köln“. Wo könnten wir mit einem empfindlichen Navigationsgerät Kursänderungen wahrnehmen?

STEFAN HESSE: Dafür ist es mir noch zu früh. Bisher war ich nur für ein Segment zuständig. Ich kenne das Generalvikariat ja schon aus meiner früheren Tätigkeit als Personalchef. Jetzt muss ich immer das Ganze im Blick haben. Zurzeit mache ich Antrittsbesuche in meiner neuen Rolle, um die Menschen in den Abteilungen und ihre Aufgaben noch besser kennen zu lernen. Dafür will ich mir bis zum Sommer Zeit lassen, um dann mit den Verantwortlichen zu entscheiden, was wir uns als Schwer-punkte vornehmen. Und ich merke: Die Leute nehmen mich anders wahr – wie ich sie umgekehrt auch.

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Irritationen im Bistum Trier

DEUTSCHLAND
Miss BiT

Am 19.03.2012 berichtet der „SPIEGEL“ in seinem Artikel „Scham und Bestürzung“ über die gängige Praxis von Bischof Ackermann als Missbrauchsbeauftragter der DBK, Pädophile und wegen sexuellen Missbrauchs vorbestrafte Priester weiterhin einzusetzen und somit weitere Kinder der Gefahr, sexuell missbraucht zu werden, auszusetzen.

Am 16.04.2012 berichtet der „SPIEGEL“, dass Bischof Ackermann zwei Priester entpflichtet habe. Diese dürften fortan keinen priesterlichen Dienst mehr tun.

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Is Bishop Finn a BINO?

KANSAS CITY (MO)
dotCommonweal

May 29, 2012

Posted by David Gibson

That would be “Bishop-In-Name-Only.” I ask because NCR’s Joshua McElwee dug into a seemingly boilerplate announcement of “canonical assignments” posted at the newspaper of the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph on Friday afternoon and discovered that Bishop Robert Finn had shifted — apparently — some of his authority to a newly-created “Episcopal Vicar with Special Mandate,” who is Fr. Patrick Rush.

The move was made in anticipation of Bishop Finn’s trial this fall in Jackson County on charges of failing to report one of his priests, Fr. Shawn Ratigan, who was suspected of possessing child pornography and perhaps of abusing children.

Finn has already signed away some of his authority in Clay County (another part of the diocese) on sex abuse and personnel policies in order to avoid trial on similar charges there. (See Nicholas Cafardi’s “A Cherished Accommodation” [subscribers only].) Friday’s announcement also transferred another official tainted by the Ratigan case.

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Cleveland priest on “What the Nuns’ Story is Really About”

UNITED STATES
National Catholic Reporter

by Alice Popovici on May. 29, 2012 Sisters Under Scrutiny

A reader emailed NCR the following article from the parish bulletin of the Blessed Trinity Catholic Church in Cleveland, Ohio. We’re posting it with the permission of the author, Fr. Doug Koesel:

What the Nuns’ Story is Really About

Many of you have asked me to comment on the recent investigation into the US nuns. Here goes. In short, the Vatican has asked for an investigation into the life of religious women in the United States. There is a concern about orthodoxy, feminism and pastoral practice. The problem with the Vatican approach is that it places the nuns squarely on the side of Jesus and the Vatican on the side of tired old men, making a last gasp to save a crumbling kingdom lost long ago for a variety of reasons.

One might say that this investigation is the direct result of the John Paul II papacy. He was suspicious of the power given to the laity after the Second Vatican Council. He disliked the American Catholic Church. Throughout his papacy he strove to wrest collegial power from episcopal conferences and return it to Rome.

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UPDATE 1-Tietmeyer denies going for Vatican bank post

VATICAN CITY
Reuters

May 29 (Reuters) – Former Bundesbank head Hans Tietmeyer said on Tuesday he was not a candidate to become the next head of the Vatican bank.

“I know absolutely nothing about this,” Tietmeyer, who headed the German central bank from 1993 to 1999, told Reuters. “I have read that but it is completely untrue.”

Italian media reported earlier on Tuesday that Tietmeyer was under consideration to succeed Italian Ettore Gotti Tedeschi, who left the Vatican bank after a vote of no-confidence on Thursday.

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Judge denies bid to drop charge in Pa. priest case

PHILADELPHIA (PA)
CBS Philly

PHILADELPHIA — A Philadelphia judge is denying a Roman Catholic priest’s bid to have one of two child-endangerment counts dismissed in his clergy-abuse trial.

Meanwhile, Monsignor William Lynn is back on the witness stand for a third day.

Lynn’s lawyers argue the endangerment charge involving the Rev. James Brennan should have been filed by 2001, two years after the victim’s complaint.

Common Pleas Judge M. Teresa Sarmina has rejected the motion, and Lynn is enduring more heated cross-examination.

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Pope taps Fargo bishop …

VATICAN CITY
Washington Post

Pope taps Fargo bishop Aquila for new US post in Denver archdiocese; names Buffalo bishop

By Associated Press, Updated: Tuesday, May 29

VATICAN CITY — The pope has named Monsignor Samuel Aquila as the new archbishop for Denver, Colorado, filling an important U.S. post left vacant after Archbishop Charles Chaput moved to Philadelphia.

The 61-year-old Aquila, currently bishop of Fargo, North Dakota, is returning home in many ways, having studied at Denver’s St. Thomas Seminary and worked in several Colorado parishes following his ordination in 1976.

Also Tuesday, the Vatican announced that Pope Benedict XVI had named a new bishop for Buffalo, New York, tapping Monsignor Richard Malone to replace the retiring Bishop Edward Kmiec. Malone is currently bishop of Portland, Maine.

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Maine’s Roman Catholic bishop moving to Buffalo

BUFFALO (NY)
The Wall Street Journal

Associated Press

PORTLAND, Maine — The Roman Catholic Bishop of Maine has been named to lead the Diocese of Buffalo.

Pope Benedict XVI on Tuesday announced that Bishop Richard Malone has been appointed Bishop of the upstate New York diocese.

Malone will be officially installed in his new position on Aug. 10 at St. Joseph Cathedral in Buffalo.

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Vatican names Samuel J. Aquila Catholic archbishop in Denver

DENVER (CO)
The Denver Post

Posted: 05/29/2012

The Vatican this morning named Fargo, N.D., Bishop Samuel J. Aquila as the fifth archbishop of the Denver Archdiocese.

For Aquila, a conservative bishop cut from the same cloth as his predecessor here, Charles Chaput, it’s a homecoming.

Although the 61-year-old Aquila is a native of Burbank, Calif., he was ordained a priest here in 1976 and served in local parish ministry for 11 years.

Aquila held several positions in the Denver Archdiocese in education and liturgy until 1999, when he became the founding rector of St. John Vianney Seminary.

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Priest with local ties is sentenced to jail time

CANADA
570 News

Mike McCulloch 570 News
May 29, 2012

A former Catholic priest who served in parishes throughout southern Ontario has been sentenced to 15 months in jail.

James Boudreau served in parishes in Guelph, Kitchener, Hamilton and Burlington.

And has been convicted on one count of sexual assault involving a teenager, dating back to 1984.

Boudreau was also sentenced to six months on a second charge after another person came forward regarding an incident in 1983.

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Prosecutors not yet finished with Pa. monsignor

PHILADELPHIA (PA)
Newsworks

May 29, 2012
By Associated Press

A Roman Catholic church official is due back on the stand for a third day today when his child-endangerment trial resumes in Philadelphia.

Monsignor William Lynn was on the stand last week for two days of grueling cross-examination about how he handled abuse complaints.

Prosecutors say Lynn is responsible for the archdiocese’s failure to remove suspected predators from ministry, and report them to police.

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Joy Overcomes Denver’s Archbishop-Designate

DENVER (CO)
National Catholic Register

by MARIANNE MEDLIN (CNA/EWTN News)
05/29/2012

DENVER — As Archbishop-designate Samuel Aquila of Fargo, N.D. assumes his role as Denver’s new shepherd, the former Coloradan brings with him a love for the priesthood, a passion for pro-life advocacy and a heart for the youth.

“I never, ever dreamed that I would ever return here,” he said. “And now in the Father’s providential plan and in his love, I’m now the archbishop.”

“It’s amazing,” he said, overcome with emotion.

Archbishop-designate Aquila will be installed as head of the archdiocese on July 18 at Denver’s Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception.

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State involvement in the Magdalene Laundries

IRELAND
Justice for Magdalenes

1. The Irish State has accepted that there was abuse in the Magdalene Laundries. The abuse is documented in the report published in 2009 by the Commission established by the State to inquire into child abuse (“the Ryan Report”) – and the abuse is also fully borne out by the survivor testimonies which JFM has collected. Both the Ryan Report and the testimonies recount that the women’s labour in the Magdalene Laundries was forced and wholly unpaid, working conditions were harsh and the women were completely deprived of their liberty and suffered both physical and emotional abuse.

2. However, the State has not yet accepted responsibility for that abuse and nor has it offered any apology or redress to the survivors. The State has repeatedly denied responsibility for the treatment of women and girls in the Magdalene Laundries, distinguishing between the treatment of children in residential homes which were the responsibility of the State (the “Industrial and Reformatory Schools”) and those incarcerated in the Magdalene Laundries, which the State characterizes as private and charitable institutions in which it played no regulatory function.

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Bishop Richard Malone Appointed Bishop of Buffalo

PORTLAND (ME)
Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland

Pope Benedict XVI has appointed the Most. Rev. Richard J. Malone, Bishop of Portland as the new Bishop of the Diocese of Buffalo (New York). The Holy Father’s appointment was announced at 6 a.m. (Eastern) today (May 29, 2012) at the Vatican. The date of Bishop Malone’s installation will be August 10, 2012 at St. Joseph Cathedral in downtown Buffalo.

The Diocese of Buffalo has over 633,000 Catholics (more than three times that of Maine). In the city of Buffalo alone, there are 32 Catholic churches. The diocese has seven Catholic colleges and universities, and 15 Catholic High Schools.

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Holy Father names 14th bishop of Buffalo

BUFFALO (NY)
Roman Catholic Diocese of Buffalo

by Office of Communications

“It is with great joy and happiness to announce that Pope Benedict XVI has accepted my resignation and has appointed the Most. Rev. Richard J. Malone, bishop of Portland, Maine, as the new ordinary for the Diocese of Buffalo,” said Bishop Edward U. Kmiec. “Bishop Malone is a colleague of mine in the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, and we have been acquainted over the years. He comes to Western New York with tremendous experience and a wonderful reputation for being a caring, pastoral bishop and a true shepherd to his people.”

The Holy Father’s appointment was announced at 6 a.m. (Eastern) today (May 29, 2012) at the Vatican.

Bishop Malone arrived in Buffalo on Monday, May 28. He concelebrated Mass this morning at the bishop’s residence with Bishop Kmiec, diocesan Chancellor Msgr. Paul A. Litwin and Msgr. David G. LiPuma, priest secretary to Bishop Kmiec and diocesan vice chancellor.

Following a 10 a.m. news conference with Bishop Kmiec at the Catholic Center on May 29, Bishop Malone will meet with diocesan staff and then join Bishop Kmiec for visits to St. Joseph Cathedral, Catholic Charities offices on Delaware Ave. and Our Lady of Victory Basilica in Lackawanna. On Wednesday, May 30, Bishop Malone will return to Maine.

Born March 19, 1946, in Salem, Mass., Bishop Malone, 66, has been bishop of Portland since 2004. Prior to his assignment in Maine, he served as auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Boston upon his episcopal ordination in 2000.

“I am most grateful to our Holy Father for his trust in appointing me bishop of the Diocese of Buffalo. While there is sadness in my heart at leaving the Catholic faithful of Maine, especially the priests, deacons, consecrated religious, seminarians and lay leaders, I look forward with enthusiasm to taking up my responsibility as chief shepherd of the Church of Buffalo. I am very grateful to follow in the footsteps of Bishop Kmiec who is a loving, faithful and generous servant of the Gospel.”

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OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY
Vatican Information Service

Vatican City, 29 May 2012 (VIS) – The Holy Father:

– Appointed Bishop Richard J. Malone of Portland, U.S.A., as bishop of Buffalo (area 16,511, population 1,621,000, Catholics 716,000, priests 425, permanent deacons 127, religious 1,075), U.S.A. He succeeds Bishop Edward U. Kmiec, whose resignation from the pastoral care of the same diocese the Holy Father accepted, upon having reached the age limit.

– Appointed Bishop Samuel J. Aquila of Fargo, U.S.A., as archbishop of Denver (area 101.279, population 3,328,000, Catholics 549,325, priests 306, permanent deacons 184, religious 203), U.S.A.

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Magdalene lobby group criticises Coalition inaction

IRELAND
The Irish Times

KITTY HOLLAND

THE GOVERNMENT has failed to implement a key recommendation by the UN Committee Against Torture to set up an inquiry into the “inhuman and degrading” treatment of thousands of women and girls in the Magdalene laundries during the last century, a lobby group for the women has said.

The Justice for Magdalenes group submitted its NGO follow-up report in Geneva yesterday, one year after the UN committee recommended the State “institute prompt, independent and thorough investigations into all complaints of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment that were allegedly committed in the Magdalene laundries”.

In appropriate cases, the committee said, the State should “prosecute and punish the perpetrators with penalties commensurate with the gravity of the offences committed, and ensure all victims obtain redress and have an enforceable right to compensation, including the means for as full a rehabilitation as possible”.

While the Justice for Magdalenes group welcomed the establishment of an interdepartmental committee, chaired by Senator Martin McAleese, to “clarify State interaction with the Magdalene Laundries”, it said this was inadequate and unnecesary.

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Magdalene survivors criticise ‘unacceptable’ delay for apology and redress

IRELAND
The Journal

SURVIVORS OF THE Magdalene Laundries have criticised the government for failing to implement the recommendations of a United Nations Committee Against Torture (UNCAT) almost a year ago.

The Justice for Magdalenes (JFM) group, an advocacy group for survivors of the Catholic-run institutions which operated in Ireland between 1922 and 1996, have said in a submission to UNCAT that it is unacceptable that there has not yet been any apology, redress and reparations for survivors.

The Minister for Justice, Alan Shatter, set up an inter-departmental committee, chaired by Senator Martin McAleese, last year in order to establish the facts of State involvement in the Magdalene Laundries.

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REFILE-No candidates yet to fill Vatican bank post – source

VATICAN CITY
Reuters

May 29 (Reuters) – The Vatican has not begun to consider who may succeed Italian Ettore Gotti Tedeschi as head of the Vatican bank, a person familiar with the situation said on Tuesday after media reports said former Bundesbank head Hans Tietmeyer was in the frame.

The source, who spoke to Reuters on the condition of anonymity, said there was “no short list, no long list, let alone anybody in pole position” to succeed Tedeschi.

Tedeschi fell victim to no-confidence vote by the bank’s board last Thursday.

Italian newspapers reported on Tuesday that Pope Benedict, a German, was was eyeing Tietmeyer, who headed the German central bank from 1993 to 1999, to succeed Tedeschi.

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Priesters verdeeld over celibaat

NEDERLAND
de Stentor

HILVERSUM – Nederlandse priesters zijn sterk verdeeld over het celibaat. Dat blijkt uit een anonieme enquête van het NCRV-programma Altijd Wat onder 135 priesters, meldt de NOS.

Van de priesters die aan het onderzoek meededen, vindt 40 procent dat het celibaat moet worden afgeschaft. En van die groep vindt bijna een kwart dat de regel van de rooms-katholieke kerk seksueel misbruik in de hand werkt.

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Vatileaks: Hunt is on to find Vatican moles

VATICAN CITY
Belfast Telegraph

By Michael Day in Italy
Tuesday, 29 May 2012

The Vatican has long been said by those who know it to be a nest of vipers. But recently, the poison has been laid bare for everyone to see as leak after embarrassing leak has revealed an institution at war with itself.

Already this year we’ve read about documents warning of a “death threat” against the Pope, widespread nepotism and corruption, exiled whistle-blowers, gay smear campaigns and embarrassing revelations about the Vatican’s tax affairs. Most of the damaging of the “Vatileaks” were revealed by the reporter Gianluigi Nuzzi in a series of TV programmes and now his new book Sua Santità (Your Holiness).

As ever, lumbering several steps behind, the powers that be at the Holy See last month set out to catch the mole or moles behind the leaks – which they refer to as “criminal acts”. The Pope’s butler has already been nabbed in possession of some of the confidential papers. But few people think he acted alone.

Yesterday, we learnt that an unnamed Italian cardinal is now a suspect. But even if all the leakers are caught, few observers think that there’s an end in sight for the PR disasters that have blighted the reign of 85-year-old Pope Benedict XVI. The stately Vatican Insider website, for its part, blamed an intrusive modern media. “Scandals even graver than this (such as the Calvi case) occurred in the Wotyla papacy, but today the media coverage is multiplied,” it said.

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What the #!%*? Did the Pope’s butler do it?

VATICAN CITY
National Post (Canada)

In this occasional feature, the National Post tells you everything you need to know about a complicated issue. Today: Corruption, cronyism, mismanagement and high-level power plays are exposed at the Vatican. A banker has been ousted and the Pope’s butler arrested.

Q: How did this all start?
A: The Vatileaks scandal broke in January when Italian journalist Gianluigi Nuzzi broadcast letters from the former No. 2 Vatican administrator to the Pope in which he begged not to be transferred for having exposed alleged corruption that cost the Holy See millions of euros in higher contract prices. But the whistleblower, Monsignor Carlo Maria Vigano, was moved and is now the Vatican’s ambassador in Washington.

Q: But it didn’t end there?
A: No. At the weekend, Mr. Nuzzi published a book, Your Holiness: The Secret Papers of Benedict XVI, in which he released dozens of private letters to Pope Benedict, and other confidential Vatican correspondence and reports, including encrypted cables from Vatican embassies around the world.

Q: And what do they show?
A: A host of things. Some documents showed Vatican officials discussing one of the great unsolved mysteries in Italy, the 1983 disappearance of Emanuela Orlandi, the 15-year-old daughter of a Vatican employee. That led to the reopening of a criminal investigation. The book also provides a window into the nexus between Italian banking, media power and the Vatican. In a letter last Christmas, Bruno Vespa, Italy’s most well-known television host, enclosed a cheque for $12,500 to the Pope’s private secretary, Monsignor Georg Gaenswein, describing it as “a small sum at the disposal of the pope’s charity,” and asking for a private audience. The director of Italy’s Intesa San Paolo bank, Giovanni Bazoli, sent a $32,000 cheque, “with my most deferential salutations.” Other letters are written in obsequious baroque language, in which everyone — from Jesuits to government officials and Mercedes-Benz directors — seeks favours, recommendations and, most of all, the Pope’s ear.

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Pope’s butler to co-operate with probe

VATICAN CITY
The Chronicle-Herald (Canada)

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

VATICAN CITY — One of the Vatican’s biggest scandals in decades widened Monday with the Pope’s butler — arrested for allegedly having confidential documents in his home — agreeing to co-operate with investigators, his lawyer said Monday.

Paolo Gabriele’s pledge to co-operate with Vatican magistrates raises the spectre that high-ranking prelates may soon be named in the investigation into leaks of confidential Vatican correspondence that have shed a light on power struggles and intrigue inside the highest levels of the Catholic Church.

Italian media reported Monday a cardinal is suspected of playing a major role in the “Vatileaks” scandal. However, the Vatican spokesman, the Rev. Federico Lombardi, denied the reports. He said many Vatican officials were being questioned in the investigation but insisted “there is no cardinal under suspicion.”

He also dismissed as “pure fantasy” a rash of other unsourced reports about the investigation in the Italian media, which have been on a frenzy ever since reports of Gabriele’s detention emerged Friday.

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Leaks reveal bitter Vatican power struggle

VATICAN CITY
The Daily Star (Lebanon)

May 29, 2012

By Ella Ide

VATICAN CITY: The flood of secret Vatican documents leaked to the press, enraging the Holy See, aims to oust the Church’s powerful number two and maybe to replace the pope himself, experts say.

The so-called “Vatileaks” scandal is a plot within the intrigue-filled Vatican City to unseat Secretary of State Tarcisio Bertone, seen by some as wielding too much power and not acting in the Church’s interests, they say.

“The documents that have been leaked all concern Bertone in one way or another,” Marco Politi, Vatican expert for Il Fatto Quotidiano daily, told AFP.

“This is all about damaging him to get a new secretary of state,” he added.

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Police review dossier over disgraced Bishop

UNITED KINGDOM
Eastbourne Herald

Published on Tuesday 29 May 2012

SUSSEX Police are reviewing a dossier of information into disgraced former Sussex bishop, the Right Reverend Bishop Peter Ball.

The former Bishop of Lewes resigned in 1993 after being cautioned for an act of gross indecency against a teenager.

Now BBC Sussex is reporting that Sussex Police is reviewing files dating back 20 years to consider whether any future prosecution might be made.

Sussex Police confirmed: “Over the past 10 days we have received from Lambeth Palace two reports from a church safeguarding consultant, which contain reviews of church safeguarding files relating to historic issues in the Chichester Diocese. We have also received the files themselves.

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