ABUSE TRACKER

MASSACHUSETTS
Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests

For immediate release: Tuesday, Jan. 13

Statement by David Clohessy of St. Louis, Director of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests ( 314 566 9790, SNAPclohessy@aol.com , davidgclohessy@gmail.com )

Boston’s Cardinal Sean O’Malley must do more than let a priest, principal and teacher resign. He must defrock the cleric and fire the other two.

[WHDH]

Because O’Malley is the pope’s point man on abuse, his actions in this case will be widely scrutinized. And because he postures as a “reformer” on abuse, O’Malley must act swiftly and severely.

Nothing will more effectively deter future recklessness and secrecy in child sex cases than to publicly and permanently remove all three of these wrongdoers from any future work with the church in any capacity.

If there’s an archdiocese on the planet where refusing to promptly call police about child sex allegations should be most harshly punished, it’s Boston.

Child predators are often sick and compulsive individuals who have little control over their actions. Their crimes often can’t be deterred. Supervisors and colleagues, however, have no excuse whatsoever. They merely need to overcome their cowardice and call 911. Catholic staffers will do this if they see that those who refuse lose their careers.

(SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, is the world’s oldest and largest support group for clergy abuse victims. We were founded in 1988 and have more than 20,000 members. Despite the word “priest” in our title, we have members who were molested by religious figures of all denominations, including nuns, rabbis, bishops, and Protestant ministers. Our website is SNAPnetwork.org)

Contact – David Clohessy 314-566-9790, davidgclohessy@gmail.com, Barbara Dorris 314-503-0003, bdorris@SNAPnetwork.org, Barbara Blaine 312-399-4747, bblaine@SNAPnetwork.org

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KANSAS CITY (MO)
WAMC

By FRANK MORRIS

A Catholic bishop normally governs pretty much unchecked in his diocese — only the Pope can dislodge a bishop. And each time Catholics celebrate Mass in Kansas City, Mo., they pray for Bishop Robert Finn, right after they pray for Pope Francis.

But some Catholics here, like Deacon David Biersmith, refuse to go along.

“When the priest says that, you know, you’re supposed say it with him, but I just leave that out,” Biersmith says. “I just don’t say it. Because he’s not my bishop, as far as I’m concerned.”

Much of the discontent in Kansas City has to do with an incident four years ago. A computer technician found hundreds of lewd photos of young girls on a priest’s laptop. The priest was Shawn Ratigan, and it wasn’t the first sign that he was a pedophile.

But Finn didn’t tell authorities. Instead, he sent Ratigan to a therapist, switched Ratigan’s job and asked him to stay away from children. Ratigan didn’t, and months later a diocese official finally reported him.

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CHILE
Bio Bio

[A new question arose towards the newly appointed bishop of Osorno, Juan Barros, this time in the region of Valparaíso. A former seminarian Mauricio Pulgar says the new ecclesiastical authority is part of the circle of protection that priests accused of sexual abuse.]

Un nuevo cuestionamiento surgió hacia el recientemente nombrado obispo de Osorno, Juan Barros, esta vez en la región de Valparaíso, luego que el ex seminarista Mauricio Pulgar afirma que la nueva autoridad eclesiástica forma parte del circulo de protección que tienen los sacerdotes acusados de abusos sexuales.

Pulgar señaló que Barros estando en Valparaíso participó de este círculo y que aún mantiene una cercanía con otros obispos que encubrieron las denuncias en contra de varios religiosos.

Recordemos que el ex seminarista denunció abusos en su contra cuando era parte del seminario San Rafael en el santuario de Lo Vásquez y luego en la diócesis de Aconcagua, caso por el cual llego hasta la justicia donde a fines del año pasado se debía abrir el expediente según dijo Pulgar.

Lee también: Ex seminarista denuncia abusos sexuales por parte de párrocos y altos cargos de Iglesia Católica

Sin embargo, para que su defensa presente la causa ante la corte internacional de Derechos Humanos se requieren esos documentos, los que pese a las reiteradas peticiones, aún no serían entregados.

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FLORIDA
WFLX

By Rachel Leigh, Content Manager

WEST PALM BEACH, FL (WFLX) – A 48-year-old visiting priest from India, serving a two-year contract with Holy Name of Jesus Catholic Church in West Palm Beach, is out of jail.

Father Jose Palimattom posted bail over the weekend. He was arrested last week on charges of exposing a minor to pornography.

It is not known who posted Palimattom’s bail. Dianne Laubert, spokeswoman for the Diocese of Palm Beach County, said the diocese did not pay Palimattom’s bail.

Laubert said that the diocese removed his priestly faculties, which means that he is prohibited from exercising his priestly ministry. “Once his faculties are removed, he is not allowed in any diocesan property,” said Laubert.

According to a probable cause affidavit, Palimattom asked an adolescent boy to help him remove items off of his cell phone.

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MASSACHUSETTS
NECN

By Kaitlin Flanigan

A top officials at a Massachusetts Catholic school have resigned after a worker accused of indecently exposing him or herself to students in a boy’s bathroom was placed on administrative leave.

The Archdiocese of Boston announced the news Tuesday afternoon, saying the worker at Immaculate Conception School in Revere allegedly exposed him or herself three times over the past month and a half while using the boy’s bathroom, which is for the students’ exclusive use.

The archdiocese says this has been reported to the authorities and the school worker, who has not been identified, will stay on administrative leave pending an investigation.

The pastor, principal and a teacher at Immaculate Conception have also resigned for failing to not report the incidents in a timely manner, the archdiocese added.

“By taking this action today, we believe it serves as teaching moment for our entire community to reinforce once again the importance of staying vigilant in the protection of our children,” the Archdiocese of Boston said in a statement.

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MASSACHUSETTS
CBS Boston

REVERE (CBS) — A pastor, principal and teacher have resigned following three potential indecent exposure incidents by a worker at a Catholic schoolin Revere, the Boston Archdiocese said Tuesday.

The incidents occurred during the school day in a boy’s bathroom at the Immaculate Conception School over the past month and a half, the Archdiocese said in a statement. The worker was placed on administrative leave pending an investigation by the Archdiocese “upon first learning of this news during the past few days.”

“The pastor, principal and a teacher have resigned their positions due to their failure to report these possible incidents in a timely manner,” the Archdiocese said.

The boy’s bathroom is for the use of students only. The school is planning a private meeting with parents in the next few days.

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MASSACHUSETTS
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston

Braintree, MA (January 13, 2015): Within the past week the Archdiocese of Boston has learned of the potential indecent exposure by a worker at Immaculate Conception School in Revere during the course of using the boy’s bathroom, which is intended for the exclusive use of the students. We have been informed of three potential incidents where this may have occurred during the course of the school day over the past month and one-half.

Upon first learning of this news during the past few days, the Archdiocese directed that the worker be placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of an investigation. Additionally, this matter has been reported to the proper authorities for their review.

Schools and parishes have strict guidelines and policies to follow when such matters are brought to their attention. As a parish school, the pastor is ultimately responsible for insuring that all staff adhere to these policies. With regards to Immaculate Conception in Revere, the pastor, principal and a teacher have resigned their positions due to their failure to report these possible incidents in a timely manner.

The Archdiocese will immediately appoint a Temporary Administrator of Immaculate Conception Parish. The Catholic Schools Office is appointing an interim principal to take over leadership of the school. A private meeting with parents will be scheduled by the school in the coming days.

When it comes to the safety of our children, there can be no breakdown in following well established and effective policies. When mistakes are made we must hold ourselves accountable. We are grateful that the pastor, principal and teacher have accepted responsibility. This is not a reflection of their entire professional and ministerial careers. It is the result of a failure regarding this specific issue. By taking this action today, we believe it serves as teaching moment for our entire community to reinforce once again the importance of staying vigilant in the protection of our children.

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MASSACHUSETTS
WHDH

[with statement from the archdiocese]

REVERE, Mass. (WHDH) – A priest, principal and teacher at the Immaculate Conception School in Revere have all resigned following allegations of indecent exposure by a worker at the school.

In a statement, the Archdiocese of Boston said it got a report within the past week of three potential indecent exposure incidents involving a worker at the school. The boys bathroom where the alleged incidents happened is used exclusively by students.

The Archdiocese said the priest, principal and teacher all resigned because they failed to report the incidents in a “timely manner.”

The Archdiocese said the worker has been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of an investigation. The incident was also reported to police.

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

For immediate release: Tuesday, Jan. 13

Statement by Barbara Dorris of St. Louis, Outreach Director of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests ( 314 503 0003, bdorris@SNAPnetwork.org )

Kansas City Bishop Robert Finn has excommunicated a woman who was recently ordained a priest.

[National Catholic Reporter]

No matter what one thinks of the notion of female Catholic priests, it’s worth noting that in the 25 years our group has been around, we don’t know of a single Catholic official who has ever been excommunicated for committing or concealing child sex crimes.

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NORTHERN IRELAND
Lauderdale Daily News

The Historical Institutional Abuse Inquiry was improper to refuse a female’s bid for lawful illustration at community expense, the Significant Court docket has ruled.

The female, a upcoming inquiry witness, claims she was abused by a “high-profile community figure”.

The decide explained the inquiry chairman must stay away from unnecessary charge.

However, he stated this did not take out the “necessity for legal representation out of community cash if that is what fairness calls for”.

The inquiry is examining allegations of youngster abuse in small children’s homes and other household establishments in Northern Ireland from 1922 to 1995.

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AUSTRALIA
ABC News

Almost three years after the suicide of a Newcastle man who was abused by a notorious paedophile priest, his former partner is relieved his and other suicides may be scrutinised by the Royal Commission into Child Abuse.

John Pirona was abused as a teenager by Father John Denham at Newcastle’s St Pius Catholic high school, and at the age of 45 took his own life.

An independent group has now been formed to compile a list of around 30 Hunter region suicides believed to be linked to clergy abuse, to be forwarded to the Royal Commission.

Tracey Pirona said it is the least that could be done for her late husband, and for the many other local families who have lost loved ones.

I don’t think these people understand what they have done to the victims, it’s something they never get over and yes, the Royal Commission needs to look at the effect of this.

Tracey Pirona, whose former partner John committed suicide in July 2012.

“I don’t think these people understand what they have done to the victims,” she said.

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FLORIDA
WPTV

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – A 48-year-old visiting priest from India, serving a two-year contract with Holy Name of Jesus Catholic Church in West Palm Beach, is out of jail.

Father Jose Palimattom posted bail over the weekend. He was arrested last week on charges of exposing a minor to pornography.

It is not known who posted Palimattom’s bail. Dianne Laubert, spokeswoman for the Diocese of Palm Beach County, said the diocese did not pay Palimattom’s bail.

Laubert said that the diocese removed his priestly faculties, which means that he is prohibited from exercising his priestly ministry.

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NORTHERN IRELAND
Belfast Telegraph

HIA Inquiry: Woman unfairly denied legal representation, High Court judge rules

BY ALAN ERWIN – 13 JANUARY 2015

A child abuse victim was unfairly denied legal representation at a major inquiry into alleged historical offences at care homes, a High Court judge ruled today.

Mr Justice Treacy held that a bar had effectively been erected against her and others who claim they suffered sexual and physical assaults.

He is now set to quash the decision by a former judicial colleague to reject her request for publicly-funded lawyers.

His verdict could also have wider funding issues for the ongoing Historical Institutional Abuse Inquiry (HIA) as it examines evidence from up to 360 witnesses.

But the judge stressed: “The consequences in terms of costs do not remove the public law necessity for legal representation out of public funds if that is what fairness requires.”

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UNITED STATES
National Catholic Reporter

EDITORIAL

Now that the quaintly named apostolic visitation of U.S. women religious is over and the current leadership of the Vatican agency that oversees religious orders has decided that the women are worthy of praise, admiration and gratitude, it is quite appropriate to ask: “What was that all about?”

The investigation can now be seen for the sham it was, and we as a church should be ashamed of the abuse these faithful women suffered because of it. They deserve an apology.

In the final analysis, it is apparent that the investigation of U.S. women religious by the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life was far more about what’s wrong with the male clerical culture than anything worrisome about the sisters. The wrong group in the church was placed under scrutiny. Actually, that fact was apparent from the start.

The genesis of the investigation can be traced to worn-out memes from a relatively tiny corner of the church, where ultraconservatives are convinced that the decline in numbers of sisters and priests is, first, disastrous for religious life in general, and two, caused by the orders abandoning old modes of dress and practice, and if only those practices and garb were restored, the numbers would soar again.

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KANSAS CITY (MO)
Bridget Mary’s Blog

In the letter below, Bishop Finn stated that

“As Bishop of Kansas City-Saint Joseph, I hereby declare that Georgia K. Walker has incurred the censure of excommunication latae sententiae reserved to the Apostolic See, and is subject to the restrictions and impediments indicated in canon 1331. ”

Bishop Bridget Mary Meehan’s Response from ARCWP:

The Association of Roman Catholic Women Priests are faithful members of the baptized who serve our beloved church in a renewed priestly ministry that welcomes all to celebrate the sacraments in inclusive, Christ-centered, Spirit-empowered communities wherever we are called.

We are leading the Church, not leaving it, in living Gospel equality now.

Our vision is to act as a community of equals in decision-making both as an organization and within our faith communities.

The ordinations of Roman Catholic Women Priests are valid because of our apostolic succession within the Roman Catholic Church.

The principal consecrating Roman Catholic male bishop who ordained our first women bishops is a bishop with apostolic succession within the Roman Catholic Church in communion with the pope.

Therefore, our bishops validly ordain deacons, priests and bishops.

Consequently, all qualified candidates, including baptized ministers and priests from other Christian traditions, who are presented to our bishops for ordination are ordained by the laying on of hands into apostolic succession in the Roman Catholic Church.

Bridget Mary Meehan, bishop serving
Association of Roman Catholic Women Priests
www.arcwp.org
sofiabmm@aol.com

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KANSAS CITY (MO)
National Catholic Reporter

Dawn Cherie Araujo | Jan. 13, 2015

KANSAS CITY, MO. Georgia Walker, the woman ordained earlier this month as Kansas City’s first female priest by the Association of Roman Catholic Women Priests, has been excommunicated.

In a letter delivered to Walker’s home Monday afternoon by certified mail, Kansas City-St. Joseph Bishop Robert Finn said Walker had been advised of the “seriousness of her contemplated course of action to attempt to receive sacred ordination” and that her excommunication was effective immediately. He added, however, that the diocese remained ready to assist Walker “if or when she seeks such process in good faith.”

Walker says she plans to continue attending Mass at her parish church, St. James, though she will not be taking part in any liturgy.

“I’m not going to take Communion,” she told NCR. “I won’t in any way compromise the parish, but I attend to still be part of the community and go there for worship on Sunday.”

Bridget Mary Meehan, the Association of Roman Catholic Women Priests bishop who presided over Walker’s Jan. 3 ordination, posted to her blog both Finn’s letter and a personal response, arguing that women ordained through the association are not leaving the church, but are leading it.

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AUSTRALIA
Newcastle Herald

By JOANNE McCARTHY Jan. 13, 2015

A FORMER Marist Brother who taught at the order’s Maitland high school from 1977 has died in an apparent suicide only two months after child sex allegations were made against him.

A Hunter man made a statement to police in August alleging the Brother sexually abused him during a camping trip in the late 1970s while the man was a student at the school.

The Brother, 74, died on rail land at Oatley in October, on a night when ‘‘his judgment was dark and sense of hope disturbed’’, said Marist Provincial Brother Jeff Crowe in a eulogy at his funeral.

‘‘Something went very wrong for him that Sunday night. We will most likely never know exactly what. We have to let the question go,’’ Brother Crowe said.

The Hunter man from a respected Catholic family confirmed he had reported allegations to police in August. The Marist Brothers and Maitland-Newcastle diocese were also advised.

The Herald was told the allegations were put to the Brother in the period before he died.

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UNITED STATES
Christian Catholicism

Jerry Slevin

* Pope Francis is now facing directly the need to make a crucial public choice, first in the Philippines. It involves papal infallibility, the cornerstone of the post-1870 “papal power myth” that is no longer credible to many Catholics, especially in light of the current scandals such as the priest child abuse cover-ups. Rethinking “infallibility” clearly is the essential key to curtailing the child abuse, sexual morality, financial and other scandals, namely, by Pope Francis’ accepting honestly that prior popes made mistakes that must be corrected. If he does not accept this, he cannot save the Catholic Church.

* This crucial choice arises most prominently with respect to the papal ban on contraception, a major matter among many traditional Catholic Filipinos, over 80 % of the population. The Church’s scandals are increasingly challenging the faith of many Filipino Catholics, especially younger ones as reported here:

* [Rappler]

* The Philippines present sharply for Pope Francis the need to reverse the contraception ban. This ban had been rejected overwhelmingly in 1966 by Pope Paul VI’s so-called papal birth control commission, including clear rejection by cardinals, bishops, top theologians and informed lay members, including women, scientists, psychologists and other experts. The commission studied the morality of the birth control “pill” and contraception thoroughly over a four year period

* The commission’s final report, however, was undercut secretively by conservative Cardinals with clout over Pope Paul VI. These Cardinals and the pope worried about undermining the case for papal infallibility, and thereby weakening papal power tied to infallibility If Paul VI approved the pill in 1968, less than four decades after an earlier pope in 1930 condemned birth control, apparently mainly for geo-political reasons, Paul VI would risk losing any future claim to papal infallibility. Paul VI was looking out for No. 1, it appears, so he rejected his own commission’s report.

* This 1966 commission’s still relevant story has been well described by Robert Blair Kaiser in his classic and superb book, “The Politics of Sex and Religion”. Kaiser is a former reporter for The New York Times, prize-winning foreign correspondent (for Time) and, later, for Newsweek in Rome. He has generously made this classic book available for free as an downloadable e-book at:

* [Smashwords]

* There was only one commission report. Please also note a recent effort by conservatives to undercut this papal commission’s final official report by resurrecting the last ditch ploy in 1966 by conservative Cardinals and the pope to create a misleadingly named “minority report” at:

* [National Catholic Reporter]

* For a defensible and responsible way that Pope Francis can readily resolve this matter now, if he really wants to, please see the important and compelling brief analysis by the world’s leading authority on Catholic sexual morality, Fr. Charles Curran, at:

* [National Catholic Reporter]

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IRELAND
Yahoo! News

By Aoife Barry | TheJournal.ie

The justice for Magdalenes Research (JFMR) group have said they “are not going to stop what [they’re] doing” as they prepare to release a critique of the McAleese Report.

The government-appointed report was released in November 2013 and was heavily criticised by the JFMR survivors group.

How many survivors?

The JFMR are currently preparing a full critique of Martin McAleese’s report, and intends on issuing the first tranche on 19 February, the anniversary of the Government’s apology to Magdalene survivors.
The group said it has identified 1,663 people who died in Magdalene laundries, which is almost twice the McAleese report’s figure of 879, the Irish Examiner reports.

“I suppose we’ve first of all realised that pretty much everything that we submitted [to the committee putting together the McAleese report], certainly on deaths, was ignored,” claimed a spokesperson for JFMR.

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ST. LOUIS (MO)
Berger’s Beat

. . .One of the first to accuse a local priest for alleged child sex crimes, Kathy Woodard, has died. Kathy was outed by name by Catholic officials in the St. Louis Review. How cruel!. . . Last fall, another long time SNAP leader, Tom Mullen, passed away. He chaired SNAP’s support group here for many years. .

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POLAND
IOL (South Africa)

Warsaw – A Polish court has found a Roman Catholic priest guilty of sexually abusing underage boys and sentenced him to seven years in prison.

In its ruling Tuesday, the court in the western Polish city of Wroclaw also forbade the 44-year-old from working with young people for the rest of his life and ordered that he undergo psychological treatment.

The priest was only identified as Pawel K., in line with Polish privacy laws.

He was arrested in December 2012 in a Wroclaw hotel, where he had checked in with a teenage boy, which aroused the suspicion of hotel workers.

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JAPAN
The Japan News

January 13, 2015

The Yomiuri Shimbun

A woman who was sexually abused as a child has started a petition calling for legal revisions that would toll, or pause, the statute of limitations in similar cases, allowing victims more time before they take legal action against their abusers.

The woman, now in her 40s, has continued to suffer from post-traumatic stress syndrome due to the abuse she suffered as a child. Many victims of child abuse do not speak out for many years because they have nobody to talk to about their ordeals, or because they do not fully understand what they went through.

“When I told my parents I was abused, they told me, ‘So long as you stay silent, it’ll all be swept under the carpet,’” the woman said. “I’m sure many victims who finally feel they could speak up eventually let the matter drop because of the statute of limitations.”

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MINNESOTA
Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests

For immediate release: Tuesday, Jan. 13

Statement by Frank Meuers of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests ( 952-334-5180, frankameuers@gmail.com )

It’s time for students and staff at the University of St. Thomas to demand that wrongdoers are fired and a real investigation is launched into how much school officials knew about – and how little they did about – child sex abuse allegations against the popular, charismatic but predatory Fr. Michael Keating.

It’s time for St. Thomas alums to sit on their checkbooks until a real investigation happens

It’s time for parents of current students to demand real action. And it’s time for parents of prospective students to think long and hard about whether they want to send their teenagers to a university with a troubling track record on simple safety.

Finally, it’s time for every university staff who acted recklessly and deceitfully in the Fr. Keating matter to be fired.

Minnesota Public Radio reports that just-released archdiocese documents show that the university’s most recent ex-president, Dennis Dease, “knew of child sex abuse allegations against a Catholic Studies professor for several years” which contradicts the university’s claim last year that “Dease and other top administrators did not know about the allegations against the Rev. Michael Keating until late 2013.”

Then, the most alarming part: “The timing is important because Keating was allowed to work closely with students at St. Thomas.”

Some will now say that the university should release a full copy of the alleged investigation into this matter which essentially cleared any school officials of wrongdoing. That would be a tiny step forward. A new, truly independent investigation, however, would be better.

On the other hand, the evidence that has already surfaced showing the university’s deceit is already very clear and strong:

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POLAND
The News

A court in the south-western city of Wroclaw sentenced Pawel K. to seven years in prison, Tuesday, after he was accused of sexually molesting three underage men.

The court also banned the priest for life from working with children and ruled that the offender be treated for sexual deviancy. Prosecutors had earlier asked for nine years for the priest, who was accused of a number of cases of paedophilia between spring 2011 and the end of 2012, including one case in 2005.

The priest was taken into custody in December 2012 while staying at a hotel in Wroclaw where he had checked in with a teenage boy, raising the suspicion of the hotel staff.

According to the court files, 44-year-old Pawel K. (surname withheld in accordance with Polish privacy laws) had sexual contacts with a number of underage men, additionally recording his sexual acts on digital media.

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UNITED STATES
Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests

For immediate release: Tuesday, January 13th

Statement by Melanie Jula Sakoda of Moraga, California, Orthodox Director of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests ( 925-708-6175 , melanie.sakoda@gmail.com )

A website offering “Orthodox Christian healing and counseling” was launched earlier this month. According to the website, Seeds of Hope is a national, non-profit organization of licensed therapists who are also Orthodox. Also according to the site, these therapists will provide free, confidential counseling for Orthodox victims of clergy abuse.

[Seeds of Hope]

However, members of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, while they applaud a lay initiated response to the problem of clergy sexual abuse in the Orthodox churches, worry that survivors may be re-victimized by participating in the program.

“Free therapy is a powerful lure for clergy abuse survivors,” Melanie Jula Sakoda of SNAP explained. “Very few victims have either insurance coverage for therapy or the resources to pay out of pocket. Unfortunately, Seeds of Hope appears to focus only on the culprit and to ignore the complicity of the hierarchy in allowing Orthodox predators to remain unchecked.”

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VATICAN CITY
euronews

By Robert Hackwill

Almost as soon as the identity of the new Pope was known, the feeling was that Francis would represent a break with the Catholic Church’s euro-centric past.

The first supreme Pontiff to be chosen from another continent was always likely to represent a tectonic shift of some kind, and Francis made it clear in his early public statements that he would be whipping up a wind of change to blow through the dusty corridors of the Vatican.

As Francis, in the job for less than two years, embarks on his second Asian tour, he has already found that wrestling with the Curia and other vested interests within the church hierarchy will be no easy matter. What are his major concerns and priorities for the period ahead?

Cleaning up the temple

The Vatican is long overdue for serious reform, as it has allegedly become a viper’s nest of careerism over calling, a pit of backstabbing and financial opacity, corruption and cronyism. The last time any serious attempt was made to address this was in 1978 under John Paul I, who died suddenly after only 33 days in the job. Four years later one of the bosses of the Vatican bank, Roberto Calvi, was found hanged under a bridge in London. He had reportedly been on the brink of being sacked before the pope’s untimely death, as John Paul I had made Vatican bank reform a priority.

Confronting sexual abuse

American Catholics in particular are desperate for Francis to ride to the rescue of their Church, crippled in recent years by revelations about sexual and child abuse, and hammered by victims for damages in US courts that have bankrupted some dioceses. It appears to be a global problem for the church, and one that is driving some faithful into the arms of other churches like the Evangelists , who have been eating into the Catholic congregation in places like Brazil at a worrying speed.

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UNITED KINGDOM
Lancester Evening Post

MP Mark Hendrick has vowed to take immediate action over a paedophillic website featuring Preston children.

In today’s’s Evening Post we revealed that family pictures were being stolen off open Facebook profiles and uploaded onto a Russian filesharing site.

Local children as young as three have been spotted by tipped-off parents, as well as pupils from city schools wearing their uniforms.

Comments underneath pictures show that they are being used for sexual gratification by users from across the world.

Mr Hendrick said: “I’m going to get in touch with both the Home Office and the Foreign Office to see if anything can be done by existing police authorities in this country, with Russian counterparts, or with organisations such as Interpol.

“There is a great deal of concern to parents, it’s very distressing that these pictures are not being used for the purposes which they were intended.”

He added: “I will also get in touch with the Foreign Office to make representations to the Russian Embassy and make them aware that this practice is going on.”

The website was initially exposed in June by a national newspaper. Peter Saunders, from the National Association for People Abused in Childhood called for a special task force to be set up to deal with the situation, and crusading MP Simon Danczuk, who helped expose child abuse in his own Rochdale consituency, called it “every parent’s worst nightmare”.

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CANADA
Brandon Sun

By: Alexandra Paul
Monday, Jan. 12, 2015

Children at the Brandon Indian Residential School were test subjects of extra-sensory-perception experiments during the Second World War, states a science journal recovered from a university archive.

The article, ESP Tests with American Indian Children published in the Journal of Parapsychology, is believed to be the first hard evidence science experiments were conducted on residential school children in Manitoba.

It was published in 1943 by a scientist named A.A. Foster, and its existence adds to a growing body of knowledge to show science experiments were regularly conducted in the 1940s and 1950s on children at residential schools, with the permission of federal officials.

Canada’s expert on such studies, McMaster University post-doctoral research fellow Ian Mosby, said by phone from Hamilton he’s reviewed the article. Maeengan Linklater, the Winnipegger who stumbled across a reference to the study in a footnote and got a copy, forwarded it to him, Mosby said Sunday.

It’s significant because it shows how vulnerable Indian residential school children were to administrators, teachers and scientists, Mosby said.

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KENTUCKY
Kentucky.com

The Associated Press
January 13, 2015

OWENSBORO, KY. — A judge has denied shock probation for a former western Kentucky priest who pleaded guilty last year to first-degree sexual abuse in the 1970s.

The Messenger-Inquirer (http://bit.ly/1yf0Ppj) reports Daviess Circuit Judge Jay Wethington denied the request last week from the Rev. Louis Francis Piskula, who is now 75. Shock probation allows inmates to be released after serving one to six months of their sentence.

The case involved a minor under the age of 12 while Piskula was serving at Blessed Mother Catholic Church in Owensboro.

Piskula was priest at several Catholic parishes in Owensboro, Murray, Paducah and Whitesville. He was ordained in 1975 and retired in 2002.

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KENTUCKY
Messenger-Inquirer

By James Mayse Messenger-Inquirer

Louis Francis Piskula, the former Owensboro priest who pleaded guilty last year to sexually abusing a juvenile in the 1970s, will not receive early release from prison.

Piskula, 75, had his motion for shock probation denied last week by Daviess Circuit Judge Jay Wethington.

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KENTUCKY
WLKY

OWENSBORO, Ky. —A judge has denied shock probation for a former western Kentucky priest who pleaded guilty last year to first-degree sexual abuse in the 1970s.

The Messenger-Inquirer reports Daviess Circuit Judge Jay Wethington denied the request last week from the Rev. Louis Francis Piskula, who is now 75. Shock probation allows inmates to be released after serving one to six months of their sentence.

The case involved a minor under the age of 12 while Piskula was serving at Blessed Mother Catholic Church in Owensboro.

Piskula was priest at several Catholic parishes in Owensboro, Murray, Paducah and Whitesville. He was ordained in 1975 and retired in 2002.

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NORTHERN IRELAND
Belfast Telegraph

Kincora and the secret service: Three men willing to tell all they know may never get the chance

BY LIAM CLARKE – 13 JANUARY 2015

Fears are growing that the truth about Kincora may never be revealed after it emerged that three people who offered information on intelligence service involvement have not been approached by Sir Anthony Hart’s inquiry into historical and institutional abuse.

The prospect of a light being shone on what the security services knew about the abuse of boys at the east Belfast home is under doubt after the inquiry confirmed to one of the men – former Army Captain Colin Wallace – that the British Government has not so far cleared him to give evidence.

Mr Wallace was involved in black propaganda and Press liaison when he was here and, after he raised his concerns about Kincora, was convicted of the manslaughter of a friend, before being later cleared and compensated.

After offering to the help the Historical Institutional Abuse Inquiry, Mr Wallace’s solicitor James Nichol received a letter raising a question over whether he would ever be able to give evidence.

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DEUTSCHLAND
Regensberg-Digital

[Geedo Paprotta, lawyer for the Regensburg diocese has disputed some information included in a documentary on the Regensburg cathedral boys choir.]

Nach der ARD-Dokumentation über sexuellen Missbrauch bei den Regensburger Domspatzen (hier in der Mediathek) und unserem Kommentar dazu, hat Rechtsanwalt Geedo Paprotta, der Fälle im Auftrag des Bistums Regensburg prüft, gegenüber unserer Redaktion eine Stellungnahme abgegeben. Er fühlt sich sowohl durch unseren Text wie auch die Dokumentation falsch dargestellt.Wir veröffentlichen seinen Text unkommentiert im kompletten Wortlaut. Unseren Kommentar haben wir als Reaktion darauf an zwei Stellen geringfügig abgeändert.

Der ehemalige Domspatz Udo Kaiser, auf den Paprotta in seiner Stellungnahme Bezug nimmt, hat der Darstellung des Rechtsanwalts in einer ersten Reaktion bereits massiv widersprochen. Wir werden dazu in den nächsten Tagen ein Interview mit Herrn Kaiser führen und uns auch darüber hinaus weiter mit der Angelegenheit beschäftigen.”>hier in der Mediathek) und unserem Kommentar dazu, hat Rechtsanwalt Geedo Paprotta, der Fälle im Auftrag des Bistums Regensburg prüft, gegenüber unserer Redaktion eine Stellungnahme abgegeben. Er fühlt sich sowohl durch unseren Text wie auch die Dokumentation falsch dargestellt.Wir veröffentlichen seinen Text unkommentiert im kompletten Wortlaut. Unseren Kommentar haben wir als Reaktion darauf an zwei Stellen geringfügig abgeändert.

Der ehemalige Domspatz Udo Kaiser, auf den Paprotta in seiner Stellungnahme Bezug nimmt, hat der Darstellung des Rechtsanwalts in einer ersten Reaktion bereits massiv widersprochen. Wir werden dazu in den nächsten Tagen ein Interview mit Herrn Kaiser führen und uns auch darüber hinaus weiter mit der Angelegenheit beschäftigen.

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DEUTSCHLAND
Radio Vatican

[After Jesuit priest Klaus Mertes opened the issue of sexual abuse by German clergy, Bishop Stephan Ackermann said the bishops have taken stock of the problem but the process is not yet over.]

Nach der vor fünf Jahren ausgelösten Missbrauchsdebatte ziehen der Jesuit Klaus Mertes und der Trierer Bischof Stephan Ackermann Bilanz. Laut Ackermann ist dieser Prozess noch lange nicht zu Ende, habe jedoch für einen Reinigungsprozess gesorgt. Wie der Missbrauchsbeauftragte der Deutschen Bischofskonferenz außerdem betonte, werden 2018 die Leitlinien und Rahmenordnungen erneut überprüft und gegebenenfalls überarbeitet. Schließlich gelte es in Sachen Vorbeugung, nach vorn zu blicken und sich neuen Themen zu stellen, wie etwas Missbrauch und Mobbing im Internet.

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DEUTSCHLAND
Domradio

[It was probably one of the darkest years in the recent history of the Catholic Church in Germany. Five years ago, late January 2010, the abuse scandal began to roll and crashed bishops, priests and lay in a deep crisis of confidence. The scandal also opened the way for a new culture of dialogue within the church and came to a reform debate.]

Ein Brief des damaligen Leiters des Canisius-Kollegs der Jesuiten in Berlin bringt Ungeheuerliches ans Licht: Vor fünf Jahren wird der Missbrauchsskandal in der Kirche öffentlich.

Es war wohl eines der schwärzesten Jahre in der jüngeren Geschichte der katholischen Kirche in Deutschland. Vor fünf Jahren, Ende Januar 2010, kam der Missbrauchsskandal ins Rollen und stürzte Bischöfe, Priester und Laien in eine tiefe Vertrauenskrise. Der Skandal öffnete zugleich den Weg für eine neue innerkirchliche Dialogkultur und stieß eine Reformdebatte an.

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DEUTSCHLAND
Express

[Alleged acquittal: Sex-priest (56) has lied!]

Von GÜNTHER CLASSEN

KREFELD/JOHANNESBURG –
Das achte Gebot wird Niederrhein-Pfarrer Georg K. (56) wohl kennen: „Du sollst nicht lügen“. K., jetzt wegen 26-fachen Kindes-Vergewaltigung vor Gericht, über seinem Missbrauchs-Prozess in Südafrika: „Ich wurde freigesprochen.“ Gelogen!

Nach den nun angeklagten 26 Missbrauchsfällen im Raum Willich (2001 bis 2006) war K. 2007 nach Südafrika verschwunden. Dort soll er sich mehrfach an mehreren Kinder deutscher Familien vergangen haben.

Chef-Ermittler Colin Morris aus Johannesburg bestätigte EXPRESS: „K. wurde niemals freigesprochen. Das weiß er auch genau. Das Verfahren wurde wegen seiner Auslieferung nach Deutschland und weil er dort eine höhere Strafe bekommen könnte, vorläufig eingestellt.“

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MARYLAND
WBAL

[with video]

BALTIMORE —The Episcopal bishop charged in the death of bicyclist Thomas Palermo admitted in court Monday that she has an alcohol problem.

Bishop Heather Cook was charged Friday with manslaughter and drunken driving in the Dec. 27 crash on Roland Avenue in north Baltimore. Prosecutors said Cook blew a .22 in a breath test after the crash, was texting while driving and left the scene, failing to return for 30 minutes.

Cook is apparently being held in protective custody at the Women’s Detention Center. She appeared for her bail hearing Monday via video wearing a pink jumpsuit.

In arguing for a judge to lower Cook’s bail, attorney Jose Molina disclosed she has been in alcohol treatment since the crash. Molina cited Cook’s position as the second-highest ranking official in the Episcopal Church to argue she is no risk to flee.

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MARYLAND
CBS Baltimore

Derek Valcourt

BALTIMORE (WJZ) — Bail remains the same—$2.5 million—for the Episcopal church bishop charged in the December drinking and driving death of a Baltimore bicyclist.

Derek Valcourt has new information learned during Monday’s court hearing.

Prosecutors asked the judge to revoke bail. That didn’t happen, but for now, the bishop remains locked up. Her attorney says she’s unlikely to be able to come up with the $2.5 million needed to post bail.

Fifty-eight-year-old Episcopal church Bishop Heather Cook does have an alcohol problem, her attorney told a district court judge at her Monday bail review hearing. Cook’s attorney said after the fatal accident that killed bicyclist and father of two Thomas Palermo, Cook spent 12 days at Father Martin’s Ashley: a posh, non-denominational rehab facility in Havre de Grace, which boasts online of its treatment programs for alcoholism and drug addiction.

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MARYLAND
The Blatimore Sun

By Justin Fenton
The Baltimore Sun

Episcopal Bishop Heather Cook, who has been accused of killing a bicyclist while driving drunk and texting, is expected to remain jailed after a judge on Monday upheld her $2.5 million bail — an amount her attorney says she cannot post.

District Court Judge Nicole Pastore Klein rejected a request from prosecutors to deny bail, but also disagreed with Cook’s attorney that her bail should be lowered. Klein said the allegations against Cook show a “reckless and careless indifference to life.”

“I can’t trust her judgment if released,” Klein said.

Cook, 58, was arrested Friday and charged with manslaughter and other offenses related to the crash that killed bicyclist Thomas Palermo, 41, in North Baltimore last month. Her initial bail was set by a District Court commissioner that night.

Cook, who is being held at Central Booking, appeared in court Monday afternoon via a video link. She wore a pink jumpsuit and was brought in separately from other defendants, while most defendants are escorted in groups. Her attorney, Jose A. Molina, said he didn’t know why she was treated differently.

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ITALY
Times LIVE (South Africa)

An Italian bishop who has come under fire for failing to check on the sexual misconduct of his priests has been given an “assistant,” the Vatican said Saturday.

Pope Francis’s decision to dispatch Bishop Guglielmo Borghetti to the diocese of Albenga-Imperia was widely seen as an attempt to help resident bishop Mario Oliveri, 70, get a better grip on local church affairs.

In a statement, Oliveri said he voluntarily asked for assistance, admitting that he had neglected certain duties due to old age and the need to look after a sick brother.

He said Borghetti would specifically help him with the training of priests.

In November, the Corriere della Sera newspaper had reported that some priests from the Albenga-Imperia diocese had criminal records for paedophilia, some had posed naked on Facebook, one doubled up as a barman in nightclubs, while another was caught stealing church money.

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UNITED KINGDOM
The Independent

Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby admits Church cannot stop banned paedophile ex-vicar from using ‘Reverend’ title

The Archbishop of Canterbury has admitted that the Church is powerless to stop banned members of the clergy from using the “Reverend” title, after a convicted paedophile allegedly used the honorific and wore a clerical collar.

In 1999, Guy Bennett, the former vicar at St Mary’s parish church in Oxted, admitted to indecently assaulting three 11-year-old girls between 1976 and 1988, according to BBC News.

He was jailed for nine months and placed on the sex offenders register for 10 years. During the proceedings, he denied four further offences which were left on file.

Following his suspension by the Church of England, Bennett retired from the post as he awaited the outcome of his trial.

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AUSTRALIA
ABC News

By Giselle Wakatama

Dozens of suicides, allegedly linked to abuse by several Hunter Valley priests, has prompted the formation of a group that is calling for an in-depth probe by the Royal Commission.

Scores of Hunter Valley men and women suffered abuse at the hands of the region’s priests, and more than a dozen clergy and lay people have been charged with around 500 offences.

It has resulted in several convictions and hefty jail sentences.

The abuse prompted a Special Commission of Inquiry into two dead paedophile Catholic priests from the Hunter Valley, with it recommending one senior church official be prosecuted.

The toll it has taken on families is not lost on child abuse advocates, who have repeatedly raised concerns about a mass number of suicides of people who allegedly suffered abuse.

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INDIA
Pune Mirror

By Prakruti PK | Jan 13, 2015

YET ANOTHER OCCASION FOR POCSO ACT ENFORCEMENT IN B’LORE

Three members of the school management allegedly manhandled, sexually assaulted students staging a protest against installation of new principal.

In what may be described as an appalling first for a prestigious all-girls’ private school located in the heart of Bangalore, the Central division police have registered a complaint under various sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act along with Section 354 (a) of the Indian Penal Code against three members of the school management for allegedly manhandling and sexually assaulting students, who were staging a protest on the school’s premises, on Thursday morning. The protest was against the installation of a new principal.

Highly placed police sources confirmed that a former teacher and member of the Church of South India, Karnataka Central Diocese, approached the Cubbon Park police on Saturday and filed an FIR against three members of the school management claiming they used foul language to abuse the girls, reportedly threatened to hurt them, and allegedly sexually assaulted them in a bid to get the protesters to disperse and return to their classrooms.

A senior police officer told Mirror, “We received a letter from the school on Wednesday saying they were anticipating some sort of trouble due to the announcement that the temporary principal was being replaced by a new one. They requested us to be present near the school the next morning, and accordingly, we reached the premises by 7.30 am on Thursday, but were asked to stay outside.”

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MASSACHUSETTS
The Justice

By Tate Herbert

After almost nine years as the Catholic chaplain and coordinator of the Multifaith Chaplaincy at Brandeis, the Rev. Walter Cuenin has left the University for unspecified health reasons, according to a campus-wide email from Dean of Students Jamele Adams.

Cuenin previously left Brandeis temporarily in 2012 to undergo treatment for cancer at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. It is unclear whether this year’s permanent departure is related.

According to Adams’ announcement, the University is working with the Archdiocese of Boston to identify a new Catholic chaplain to serve on campus. In the interim, the University will provide transportation to and from Our Lady, Help of Christians church in Newton for the 6 p.m. Sunday services in place of the regular Sunday evening services at Bethlehem Chapel. …

Cuenin joined Brandeis as the Catholic chaplain in 2006, according to a Justice article from February of that year. He came to the University from Our Lady, Help of Christians, where the archdiocese accused him of mishandling funds and forced his resignation, according to the article.

However, many viewed it as punishment for his outspoken criticism of the Boston Archdiocese’s and Cardinal Bernard Law’s handling of the clergy sexual abuse scandals in the early 2000s. In 2002, Cuenin successfully led a cohort of local priests in calling for Law’s resignation.

By that time, he had also established a reputation as an advocate for controversial issues within the Church, such as gay and lesbian rights and the role of women in Catholic leadership.

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PHILIPPINES
Rappler

Aries Rufo

Published 4:00 PM, Jan 13, 2015

AT A GLANCE:

* Sex scandals in the Church have affected the youth’s desire to enter religious life
* 13% of youth respondents said they entertained thoughts of leaving the Church
* A Church protocol on erring priests allowed ‘one-child policy’
* In recent times, two high-ranking bishops resigned due to sexual misconduct
* More priests are seeking clerical dispensation than face dismissal

MANILA, Philippines – Will the rock star Pope be able to reignite the waning attraction of the Filipino youth to religious life? Is there hope in Pope Francis?

A national youth survey has confirmed what Church leaders have known all along: there’s a yawning gap between the youth and the Church, and it’s validated by how the young are shying away from entertaining thoughts of entering religious life.

In particular, financial and sex scandals in the Philippine Catholic Church have created a dent on the faith of young Filipino Catholics, a national survey on the youth showed.

While the gravity of the situation has not reached the scale of the West, Asia’s largest Catholic country has shown symptoms of crisis in faith, inflicted by the very people supposed to safeguard the faith.

The national youth survey commissioned by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines-Episcopal Commission on the Youth showed that young Catholics are not as attracted to joining a religious vocation as in the past, which is attributed to the scandals faced by the Church in recent years.

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SPAIN
The Local

The Spanish government is considering raising the age of sexual consent from 13 to 15 in a reform of the country’s penal code, in a bid to limit child sexual abuse.

Adults embarking on sexual relationships with those under 15 would be liable to be arrested for the crime of child abuse, under the new proposal.

Sources close to the ruling Popular Party were quoted in Spain’s Huffington Post as saying that the introduction of the proposed measure depends on the approval of the ministries of health and justice.

The issue will be debated in the Spanish parliament in the next few days.

The debate over the age of consent and age of marriage has been raging in Spain for some time.

Spain remains one of Europe’s most permissive countries regarding teenage matrimony and consensual sex. The country’s age of consent, 13, is the lowest in Europe after the Vatican’s 12.

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PHILIPPINES
The Freeman

By Miriam Garcia Desacada and Jessa J. Agua (The Freeman) | Updated January 13, 2015

PALO, LEYTE — A top official of the Armed Forces of the Philippines yesterday morning dismissed reports that a nephew of a “bomber” from Mindanao is now in Palo and has been here for the past several months, renting a P40,000-per-month house.

Colonel Mario Dimaesep, commander of the AFP’s Civil Military Relations Service, said the reports were baseless and merely intended by a group to frighten people who will be coming to Leyte to welcome Pope Francis.

Dimaesep said the military, which will be joining the security detail of the Pope during the entirety of his visit to Leyte, are fully equipped in all aspects and can give the Pope the best security.

“We are ready and people who have criminal desires have no place in this occasion. People must remain calm, as we are here for peace and not for war,” Demaesep added.

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MINNESOTA
KSTP

[with video]

By: Ellen Galles

Up until now, she has been known as “Jane Doe 20.” But for the first time, 29-year-old Marie Mielke shared her name and her story of clergy abuse. She has pending lawsuits against the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis and two of its priests.

Monday the file on her accused abuser, Fr. Michael Keating, was made public as part of the 2014 settlement agreement in the John Doe case.

Mielke says Keating started abusing her when she was a teenager. When she finally had the courage to report it several years later in 2006, she says the archdiocese failed to believe her, treated her like she was unbalanced and helped cover up for Fr. Keating.

She says sharing her story is part of the healing process.

“Hiding something that isn’t your fault is exhausting. Being told something didn’t happen when it really did… being told you’re crazy. After a while, the burden isn’t worth carrying anymore,” Mielke said.

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MINNESOTA
Minnesota Public Radio

Madeleine Baran
Jan 12, 2015

Internal archdiocese documents released Monday by a clergy sex abuse attorney claim former University of St. Thomas president Dennis Dease knew of child sex abuse allegations against a Catholic Studies professor for several years.

The newly released documents contradict the university’s public statement last year that Dease and other top administrators did not know about the allegations against the Rev. Michael Keating until late 2013.

The timing is important because Keating was allowed to work closely with students at St. Thomas. In October 2013, MPR News reported a clergy review board had recommended Keating not mentor young people. But it wasn’t clear then if the archdiocese had passed along that recommendation to the University of St. Thomas. Last October, St. Thomas officials concluded that Dease and those who reported directly to him did not know of the accusations.

Documents released Monday, however, indicate that was not the case and that some St. Thomas leaders were told about the claims against Keating.

In one 2010 memo, Archbishop John Nienstedt rebuked Donald Briel, then head of St. Thomas’ Catholic Studies program and Keating’s boss, for letting Keating work a semester at the university’s Catholic Studies program in Rome. Nienstedt also tightened Keating’s monitoring plan to require him to receive approval for additional assignments.

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MICHIGAN
ClickonDetroit

LANSING, Mich. –
James Francis Rapp, 74, has been charged with multiple felonies for the alleged sexual assault of several Michigan boys in the 1980s.

Rapp was a priest, teacher, maintenance supervisor and wrestling coach at Jackson Lumen Christi High School in Jackson Michigan from Sept. 1980 to Feb. 1986. The charges against him come after an investigation by Jackson police.

“People who abuse their authority by preying on children must be brought to justice, no matter when the crime was committed,” said Attorney General Bill Schuette. “Our aggressive, victim-centered approach has brought us one step closer to securing justice for these brave men who stepped forward to tell of the abuse they endured many years ago.”

“I would like to praise the work of Sgt. Tim Schlundt in this investigation,” said Jackson County Sheriff Steven Rand. “Many hours were spent in an attempt to gather facts about this case. Despite the age of this case, the lives of the victims continue to be impacted. It is my hope that the opportunity for victims to have their day in court will bring some degree of comfort.”

Two of Rapp’s alleged victims reported being sexually abused by Rapp in the spring of 2013, more than 30 years after the alleged crimes happened. The claims led to police launching an extensive investigation, which revealed several more people who claimed to be victims.

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MINNESOTA
Fox 9

by Fox 9 staff

ST. PAUL, Minn. (KMSP) –
A woman who says she was sexually abused by former St. Thomas professor and priest Michael Keating spoke publicly for the first time Monday. The law firm handling the case also released once-secret files on Keating, who has denied any wrongdoing.

Marie Mielke had previously been identified as Jane Doe 20 in legal documents. Monday, the 29-year-old mother of two said that hiding something that isn’t your fault is exhausting. As a young teen, she says a man on his way to becoming a priest befriended her family and ultimately took advantage of her.

“It was not my fault and it was never my fault,” Mielke said. “The shame that I carried was not mine to carry — it was his.”

She says Father Michael Keating sexually touched her many times from the time she was 12 to 15. St. Paul attorney Jeff Anderson says new documents from a clergy sex abuse settlement help Mielke prove her case.

“This file reflects the way the archdiocese and top officials chose to handle Marie’s report,” Anderson said.

The file shows a clergy review board didn’t find sufficient evidence when Mielke brought the case to them in her 20s, but it did order monitoring in 2007 for Keating that three years later the archdiocese realized wasn’t happening at all. Anderson also says the documents show Keating had a history of physical contact with young women — a history he feels was ignored.

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MINNESOTA
CBS Minnesota

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – A woman who says she was sexually abused as a child by a Catholic Priest told her story openly and shared her name for the first time on Monday.

Marie Mielke said Father Michael Keating sexually abused her beginning when she was 12 years old back in the late 1990s.

She says she didn’t recall or understand what had happened until years later, and when tried to tell the Archdiocese of Minneapolis and St. Paul what happened, they covered it up.

After years of therapy she got an attorney and decided to sue the Archdiocese and Keating.

Keating’s attorney said he denies the claims. The Archdiocese said he is on a leave pending an internal investigation.

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MINNESOTA
Pioneer Press

By Katie Kather
kkather@pioneerpress.com
POSTED: 01/12/2015

A Chisago County woman previously identified as Doe 20 in a clergy sexual abuse case against the Rev. Michael Keating has come forward.

Marie Mielke, 29, filed a lawsuit against Keating, the archdiocese and former Vicar General Kevin McDonough in Oct. 2013.

Mielke told reporters Monday that her goal in telling her story is to help other victims of abuse step forward and hold alleged abusers like Keating accountable.

“Hiding something that isn’t your fault gets exhausting,” Mielke said.

She said she first reported to archdiocese officials in 2006 that she had been molested, between 1997 and 2000 by Keating, who joined the University of St. Thomas faculty in 2005.

The abuse began when she was about 12, Mielke said. Keating was 30 years her senior and in the seminary at the time.

Keating, now 58, had been a frequent guest at her family’s Chisago County home. He was placed on leave after Mielke filed her suit in October 2013. He resigned Sept. 16.

Mielke called Keating’s alleged abuse the greatest betrayal of her life.

“It almost killed me. I felt so ashamed I wanted to die,” she said.

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.

PAKISTAN
Nation

Wishal Raheel

It is one thing to be criticized for doing something by individuals who do not indulge in similar things themselves. It is a completely different thing to get criticized for doing something by people who do the same things in private.The former can be productive and beneficial; productive criticism allows an individual to see things with a new perspective. The latter, however, is an open act of hypocrisy; something that can be found in abundance in the Pakistani society.

Hypocrisy is something that can be found at all levels within our society. However, it seems as if certain religious groups have managed to remain ahead of all other groups with regard to this fundamental flaw that flourishes in our society. Sad as it is, the ‘maulvis’ that are supposed to be the representatives of Islam have managed to bring immense disgrace to the religion merely because of the great extents to which they practice hypocrisy. From giving interviews while being intoxicated to promoting bigotry to indulging in child molestation, the mullah community has managed to indulge in pretty much everything that it ‘strongly condemns’. As a result of this, these ‘guardians’ of religion have managed to make a joke not only out of themselves but have also managed to attract extremely negative criticism towards their religion.

A mullah who openly condemns the usage of alcohol, promotes violence towards the ‘kafirs’ who drink and makes the masses aware of the terrible punishments that wait in hell for people who drink is naturally expected to stay away from alcohol himself. That, however, isn’t always the case. While many mullahs probably do abstain from drinking, cases of drunkmullahs aren’t unheard of. A mullah on vacation might conveniently forget the beliefs that he promotes for a while. A maulvisahab on an international flight might find himself free from the restrictions imposed by the religion that he himself preaches as he enjoys a glass of wine.

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MINNESOTA
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis

Date: Monday, January 12, 2015
Source: Anne Steffens, Interim Director of Communications

From Bishop Lee Piche, Auxiliary Bishop

“Rev. Michael Keating has been on a leave of absence from the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis since October 2013, which means he is not exercising any priestly ministry. His leave of absence came after he was named in a lawsuit regarding claims that he had sexually abused a minor before he was a priest. Father Keating will remain on leave until the archdiocesan Clergy Review Board can complete an internal review of this matter, which is still ongoing.

The assessment by the Clergy Review Board will be comprehensive and include a revisit of decisions made in the past, in light of any new information that is produced as a result of the civil lawsuit and the archdiocese’s prevailing commitment of placing victims first.”

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MICHIGAN
Michigan Radio

By STEVE CARMODY

James Francis Rapp spent six years as a teacher and wrestling coach at Lumen Christi High School in Jackson during the 1980’s.

It was during that time that prosecutors allege the former Catholic priest sexually assaulted several young boys.

Prosecutors filed 13 charges against Rapp Monday, including three counts of first degree criminal sexual conduct. Each of the first-degree felony counts is punishable with a sentence of up to life in prison. Rapp faces up to 15 years in prison on each of the 10 lesser counts.

Law enforcement started investigating Rapp in 2013, after several alleged victims came forward with stories of abuse dating back to the early 1980s.

Jackson County Sheriff Steven Rand says the investigation lead to more alleged victims coming forward.

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MARYLAND
The Baltimore Brew

Fern Shen and Mark Reutter January 12, 2015

Calling her a danger to the community and potential flight risk, a Baltimore District Court judge refused to lower Bishop Heather E. Cook’s $2.5 million bail this afternoon.

“To me she represents a grave danger to the community,” said Judge Nicole Pastore Klein at a bailing hearing at the John R. Hargrove Sr. District Court Building on Patapsco Avenue.

“I cannot trust her judgement. . . She showed a reckless and careless indifference to life.”

The judge rejected a request by defense attorney Jose A. Molina to reduce Cook’s bail to $500,000 and allow her to return to an alcohol treatment program she had entered on December 28, the day after she hit bicyclist Tom Palermo, then fled the scene as he lay dying of massive head trauma.

As The Brew previously reported, Bishop Cook was staying at Father Martin’s Ashley, a drug and alcohol treatment center near Havre de Grace, following the public uproar after she was identified as the hit-and-run driver.

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VATICAN CITY
ANSA

(ANSA) – Vatican City, January 9 – Pope Francis is considering the feasibility of expanding the number of cardinal electors who will chose the next pontiff to 140 from the current 120.

The proposal is contained in a document recently presented to Francis by Cardinal Antonio Canizares Llovera.

The issue is to be discussed in the consistory, or meeting of college of cardinals, next month.

During the March 2013 conclave that elected Pope Francis, only cardinals who were under the age of 80 at the time of the resignation of the previous Pope Benedict XVI were eligible to vote.

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MICHIGAN
Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests

For immediate release: Monday, Jan. 12

Statement by Barbara Dorris of St. Louis, Outreach Director of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests ( 314 503 0003 , bdorris@SNAPnetwork.org )

We’re thrilled that an already convicted and imprisoned serial predator priest faces more charges. This should happen more often.

[MLive]

Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette is filing more child sex charges against James Francis Rapp who allegedly molested kids at Jackson Lumen Christi Catholic High School in Jackson in the 1980s.

Once a child molester is convicted, many people who could be helpful get complacent. They assume his sentence will stand, his appeals will fail, and he’ll be kept away from kids for many years. But often, child molesters – especially clerics – get top notch defense lawyers, exploit legal technicalities, and escape with little or no jail time. Then, when other victims, witnesses and whistleblowers find this out, it’s too late for them to really make a difference.

So we’re glad Michigan’s attorney general is being prudent and pro-active here.

There are two important lessons. First, these days, police and prosecutors are often more aggressive and creative about pursing child predators, even in older cases. (The old adage “where there’s a will, there’s a way,” fits here.) More law enforcement officials should follow Schuette’s example and consider going after even elderly child molesting clerics.

Second, no victim, witness or whistleblower should ever assume ‘it’s too late’ to seek justice. It’s our job to share what we know and suspect about possible child sex crimes. It’s the job of law enforcement to determine whether anything can be done. If we stay silent, we’re helping those who commit and conceal child sex crimes.

So if you saw, suspected or suffered any crimes or cover ups related to Fr. Rapp, it’s time to find the courage to speak up, so that the vulnerable can be protected, the wounded can be healed and the truth can be exposed and so that cover ups are deterred.

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MINNESOTA
Canonical Consultation

Jennifer Haselberger

01/12/2015

‘…when first we practice to deceive’. Or at least so said Sir Walter Scott, writing in ‘Marmion’. The quote is a particularly apt choice to introduce my reflections on today’s release of the personnel file of Father Michael Keating, a priest of the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis ‘on leave’ as a result of accusations of sexual misconduct with a minor. Although much of what the file contains was known to me before today, this most recent review of its contents has left me with seven questions that I believe require a response from the Archdiocese. They are as follows:

1). Where is the rest of the file?

Those of you who have read my affidavit in the Doe 1 case know that I testified about the situation of Father Keating, and also listed several documents that demonstrate the extent of the Archdiocese’s knowledge of the accusations of sexual misconduct against him and other clergy prior to my going public in September of 2013. Some of those documents became public with today’s release, including the list of priests identified as requiring monitoring under the POMS [Promotor of Ministerial Standards] program (Keating File, Part 2, pp. 276-277). So, I ask, where are the other documents that named Keating, including John Selvig’s April 2013 list of POMs participants and their offences, and the ‘Assignment List’ created by Judy Delaney? Also, where is the memo from Andy Eisenzimmer to Archbishop Nienstedt regarding Father Keating’s participating in the ‘Rediscover’ initiative, the Archbishop’s response, as well as all the other emails and memos exchanged during the planning for such major events? I would also ask why the file contains some emails and documents regarding Father Keating’s 2011 appointment to the Presbyteral Council, but none whatsoever regarding the 2009-2010 decision not to allow him to serve the remainder of Father Laird’s term as Academic Dean following Laird’s appointment as Vicar General. Finally, where is the preliminary investigative report of Father Talbot, as well as the subsequent weekly reports required by the decree opening the investigation (more on this below)?

2). What punishment has been administered to Father Kevin McDonough?

This question is not the result of self-interest, as I have long believed that the only way that Father McDonough and I will resolve our quarrel is by meeting with pistols at dawn. Rather, I would like to know what punishment has been inflicted upon the former Vicar General and Delegate for Safe Environment for repeatedly undermining the efforts of his Archbishop(s).

The Keating file demonstrates McDonough working against the will of his bishop beginning in 2006, when the Clergy Review Board recommended that Father Keating be enrolled in the POMS monitoring program (Keating File, Part 1, p. 128). Emails between [Bishop] Lee Piche, Father McDonough, and Tim Rourke show that McDonough deliberately delayed taking action until May of 2010, when it could no longer be avoided (Keating File, Part 2, pp. 1-3).

A similar undermining is evident in McDonough’s exchange with Father James Shea of the University of Mary in August of 2012. Although Father Keating was instructed by Archbishop Nienstedt to disclose his history to the University, Father McDonough intervened and presented Father Shea with a significantly rosier account of what had transpired (along with plenty of his own opinions) in contravention of the Archbishop’s order (Keating File, Part 2, pp. 156, 158, 159-161).

Obviously, the University of Saint Thomas took conclusive steps by removing Father McDonough from its Board of Trustees. But has the Archdiocese taken any action against him? His resignation as Delegate was in the works long before I resigned, and at his request. The website for Saint Peter Claver parish in Saint Paul still lists him as pastor, as does this weekend’s bulletin from Incarnation/Sagrado Corazon. Perhaps rumors of an investigation into Father McDonough’s conduct are true, and the Archdiocese is preparing to impose some sort of penalty. Still, it would seem that leaving him in parishes in the meantime (especially given investigations by law enforcement and the questions that have been asked about Father McDonough’s participation) calls into question the Archdiocese’s commitment to its own disciplinary program.

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For immediate release: Monday, Jan. 12

Statement by Frank Meuers of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests ( 952-334-5180 , frankameuers@gmail.com )

Can proof of deceit possibly be clearer? The newly disclosed email from Fr. Kevin McDonough is conclusive evidence that he endangered kids and lied to a colleague. He should be defrocked.

[Star Tribune]

McDonough is a long time, high-ranking archdiocesan official who dealt with dozens – perhaps hundreds – of clergy sex cases. He deliberately deceived Atlanta Catholic priest who asked a simple question: Has Fr. Thomas Keating been accused of child sex crimes?

McDonough said no when he knew the honest answer was yes. And as a result, Fr. Keating, who was supposedly being “monitored” was able to travel to Atlanta and perform a wedding among completely unsuspecting families.

It takes just seconds for a child predator to shove his tongue down a girl’s throat or his hands down a boy’s pants. How will Fr. McDonough feel if it turns out that Fr. Keating sexually assaulted an Atlanta child during his trip there, a trip that should never have happened and likely would never have happened if not for Fr. McDonough’s decision to lie to his Georgia colleagues?

Every single week, we read of Catholic officials who claim that they are “monitoring” admitted, arrested, paroled, or credibly accused child molesting clerics. Only a fool would believe these claims. Few Catholic officials have had more experience in clergy sex abuse and cover up cases than Fr. McDonough. But his own writings prove he does not take the safety of children seriously and that the alleged “monitoring” of credibly accused predator priests is a dangerous joke. This is a pattern, we strongly suspect, that is repeated almost daily across this country and the globe: Catholic officials misleading police, prosecutors, parishioners, parents and the public about predator priests.

Finally, we applaud Marie Mielke, who is speaking publicly today for the first time about the pain cause by a Fr. Keating, and his callous, selfish archdiocesan supervisors and colleagues. She should be praised and thanked for her courage and compassion. By her bravery, she is exposing wrongdoers and protecting children. We are deeply grateful to her. Every St. Paul parent and parishioner should be too.

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NEW JERSEY
Essex News Daily

By: Sean Quinn – Staff Writer

WEST ORANGE — Speak with Bob Hoatson for just a few minutes and it becomes immediately apparent that he is a genuinely nice man. Immensely friendly and down-to-earth, Hoatson just seems like the type of guy who would shovel your porch without being asked or check your house while you were away on vacation — selfless. It is easy to imagine him working for the Catholic Church, which he did for more than 30 years.

What is not evident is the fact that Hoatson has experienced many personal tragedies throughout his life. He said he was sexually abused by more than one clergyman as an Irish Christian Brother and later as a seminarian for the Archdiocese of Newark, and is now recalling repressed memories of being molested by a school custodian as a young boy. In 2011, he was dispensed from his priestly vows by the Vatican upon his request after facing years of resistance from the church over his work as a clergy-abuse victims’ advocate.

But Hoatson did not succumb to his hardships. Instead, he co-founded the Road to Recovery nonprofit organization to support victims of sexual abuse like himself. And though his past experiences being molested were undoubtedly horrific, he said they have proven to be an asset in helping those dealing with similar circumstances.

“It is immeasurable, the assistance that it provides,” Hoatson told the West Orange Chronicle in a Dec. 29 phone interview. “When I talk to somebody who has been through it, I can say ‘I know what you are going through, I think. I have an idea of what you are going through because I have had similar experiences.’ So when they talk about nightmares and flashbacks and depression and anxiety and all kinds of other symptoms about having been sexually abused, I know what they are talking about.”

Road to Recovery’s mission is to help victims of sexual abuse in any way possible, including providing financial assistance and getting addicts into drug rehabilitation programs. Yet perhaps the most vital component of its work is simply providing the empathy and emotional support necessary to help abuse victims recover from their trauma.

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MICHIGAN
Road to Recovery

January 12, 2015

Road to Recovery, Inc., a 501 (c) 3 non-profit charity based in New Jersey, applauds Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette for criminally charging James Francis Rapp, a priest of the Oblates of the St. Francis de Sales religious order, who is currently incarcerated.

In addition to congratulating all victims, Road to Recovery, Inc. particularly congratulates Victim #1, a graduate of Jackson Lumen Christi High School in Jackson, Michigan, whom Road to Recovery has been advocating on behalf of since he came forward a few years ago. It was the courage, perseverance, and determination of Victim #1 that prompted other victims to come forward, especially young men who attended Jackson Lumen Christi High School in Jackson, Michigan.

Victim #1, by going forward and pursuing criminal charges against Fr. James Rapp, made it possible for other victims of Fr. Rapp to report their abuse and begin their healing. Road to Recovery offers its assistance and advocacy services to any and all victims of Fr. Rapp and any other abuser, and all information will be held in strictest confidence, as in the case of Victim #1.

Robert M. Hoatson, Ph.D.
Co-founder and President

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MINNESOTA
Star Tribune

[Replay: News conference on alleged archdiocese coverup]

Article by: TONY KENNEDY , Star Tribune Updated: January 12, 2015

New documents released in a clergy sexual abuse lawsuit show that former Vicar General Kevin McDonough intervened to help a prominent University of St. Thomas priest cover up child sexual abuse allegations so he could perform a wedding out of state.

The Rev. Michael Keating was rejected in his first attempt to have officials in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis verify that he had “never been accused of any act of sexual abuse or sexual misconduct involving a minor.”

But McDonough stepped in and agreed to push the paperwork, in what attorneys for the alleged sexual abuse victim describe as a lie. By then, McDonough had spent years dealing with various sexual allegations involving Keating, who was supposed to be monitored at St. Thomas on the advice of a special church panel that reviewed him in 2007.

McDonough, still a pastor in St. Paul, was the archdiocese’s point person on clergy sex abuse allegations for many years.

The 2011 verification check came from a Catholic parish in Peachtree, Ga., to conform with the Archdiocese of Atlanta’s normal vetting process to determine if an outside priest has the qualifications and moral standing to perform sacraments. Keating needed the approval to preside at the wedding of his godson.

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MICHIGAN
WWMT

LANSING, Mich. (NEWSCHANNEL 3) – Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette has announced charges against a former priest accused of sexually abusing boys.

74-year-old James Francis Rapp served as a priest, teacher, maintenance supervisor and wrestling coach at Jackson Lumen Christi High School in Jackson from Sept. 1980-February 1986. The charges follow an extensive investigation by the Jackson County Sheriff’s Dept.

Rapp is currently in prison in Oklahoma.

“People who abuse their authority by preying on children must be brought to justice, no matter when the crime was committed,” said Schuette. “Our aggressive, victim-centered approach has brought us one step closer to securing justice for these brave men who stepped forward to tell of the abuse they endured many years ago.”

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MICHIGAN
WTVB

LANSING, MI (WTVB) – Attorney General Bill Schuette today announced his Criminal Division has charged James Francis Rapp, 74, currently incarcerated in another state, with multiple felonies for his alleged sexual assault of several Michigan boys in the 1980s. Rapp served as a priest, teacher, maintenance supervisor, and wrestling coach at Jackson Lumen Christi High School in Jackson, Michigan from September 1980 through February 1986.

The charges follow an extensive investigation by the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department with support from Schuette’s Criminal Division.

“People who abuse their authority by preying on children must be brought to justice, no matter when the crime was committed,” said Schuette. “Our aggressive, victim-centered approach has brought us one step closer to securing justice for these brave men who stepped forward to tell of the abuse they endured many years ago.”

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MICHIGAN
Attorney General Bill Schuette

Contact: John Sellek 517-373-8060

January 12, 2015

LANSING – Attorney General Bill Schuette today announced his Criminal Division has charged James Francis Rapp, 74, currently incarcerated in another state, with multiple felonies for his alleged sexual assault of several Michigan boys in the 1980s. Rapp served as a priest, teacher, maintenance supervisor, and wrestling coach at Jackson Lumen Christi (JLC) High School in Jackson, Michigan from September 1980 through February 1986.

The charges follow an extensive investigation by the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department with support from Schuette’s Criminal Division.

“People who abuse their authority by preying on children must be brought to justice, no matter when the crime was committed,” said Schuette. “Our aggressive, victim-centered approach has brought us one step closer to securing justice for these brave men who stepped forward to tell of the abuse they endured many years ago.”

“I would like to praise the work of Sergeant Tim Schlundt in this investigation. Many hours were spent in an attempt to gather facts about this case,” said Jackson County Sheriff Steven Rand. “Despite the age of this case, the lives of the victims continue to be impacted. It is my hope that the opportunity for victims to have their day in court will bring some degree of comfort.”

Case Background

In spring of 2013, more than 30 years after the alleged crimes occurred, two of Rapp’s victims reported the alleged sexual abuse to the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department, who then launched an extensive investigation revealing several more victims.

JLC was not Rapp’s first church or school assignment. Rapp was ordained in 1959 and held teaching assignments in Philadelphia (1959 – 1961), Salt Lake City (1968 – 1973), and in Lockport, New York (1979 – 1980). Following Rapp’s resignation at JLC, Rapp served as a priest and teacher in Naperville, Illinois (1987 – 1990) and Duncan, Oklahoma (1990 – 1998).

On January 12, 2015, Schuette filed the following charges against James Francis Rapp in Jackson’s 12th District Court:

Three counts of First Degree Criminal Sexual Conduct, a felony punishable by up to life in prison; and,

10 counts of Second Degree Criminal Sexual Conduct, a felony punishable by up to 15 years in prison.

If convicted of the first degree sexual assault counts, Rapp must also register as a sex offender for life in Michigan.

Rapp is currently incarcerated in another state. He is eligible for discharge in summer 2016. Attorney General Schuette will immediately begin the extradition process to bring Rapp to Michigan to face charges.

Citizens who believe they may have information about Rapp’s alleged sexual abuse are encouraged to contact the Attorney General’s Criminal Division at 313-456-0180.

Cold Case Sexual Assault Project and Role in Investigation

This case will be prosecuted by Attorney General Schuette’s Cold Case Sexual Assault Project (AGCCSA). Created in 2012, AGCCSA is funded by a United States Department of Justice-Office of Violence Against Women grant to combat sexual assault and sexual violence.

A criminal charge is merely an accusation and the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

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MICHIGAN
MLive

By Theresa Ghiloni | tghiloni@mlive.com
on January 12, 2015

JACKSON, MI – Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette filed 13 criminal sexual conduct charges against a former Jackson Lumen Christi High School priest in Jackson County District Court on Monday, Jan. 12.

James Francis Rapp, 74, faces three counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct and 10 counts of second-degree criminal sexual conduct for crimes he allegedly committed while assigned to Lumen Christi High School from 1980-86, according to a statement from Schuette’s office.

Rapp served as a priest, teacher, maintenance supervisor and wrestling coach during his time at Lumen Christi High School, according to the statement.

Rapp is incarcerated in Oklahoma on multiple felony charges. The investigation into the allegations against Rapp in Jackson began in the spring of 2013 when two men reported the alleged sexual abuse to the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, according to the statement.

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MICHIGAN
WLNS

By Kevin Vanderkolk
Published: January 12, 2015

(WLNS) – After more than 30 years, Attorney General Bill Schuette today announced his Criminal Division has charged James Francis Rapp, 74, currently in prison in another state, with multiple felonies for his alleged sexual assault of several Michigan boys in the 1980s.

Schuette filed three felony counts of First Degree Criminal Sexual conduct and 10 felony counts of Second Degree Criminal Sexual conduct. If Rapp is convicted of the first degree counts, he must register as a sex offender for the rest of his life in Michigan.

In spring of 2013, more than 30 years after the alleged crimes occurred, two of Rapp’s victims reported the alleged sexual abuse to the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department, who then launched an extensive investigation revealing several more victims.

Rapp served as a priest, teacher, maintenance supervisor, and wrestling coach at Jackson Lumen Christi High School in Jackson, Michigan from September 1980 through February 1986. Prior to coming to Jackson Rapp held teaching positions in Philadelphia (1959-1961), Salt Lake City (1968 – 1973), and in Lockport, New York (1979 – 1980). Following Rapp’s resignation from Jackson Lumen Christi in 1986, Rapp served as a priest and teacher in Naperville, Illinois (1987 – 1990) and Duncan, Oklahoma (1990 – 1998).

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MINNESOTA
Jeff Anderson & Associates

LIVE: DOE 20 PRESS CONFERENCE

On January 12, 2015, Marie Mielke (Doe 20), courageously came forward to publicly discuss her sexual abuse at the hands of Michael Keating and how top officials at the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis mishandled the case between 2006 and 2013. Keating’s once secret priest file was also released to the public. In it, internal church documents show how church officials, especially Father Kevin McDonough, chose to protect Keating over Marie and other survivors.

Key documents from Keating’s file, the Amended Complaint, and other pertinent documents and statements are posted below.

Doe 20 Amended Complaint 9-22-14
Father Michael Keating Priest File Part 1
Father Michael Keating Priest File Part 2
Father Michael Keating Timeline
Father Michael Keating Photo
Father Michael Keating Key Documents
Father Peter Richards Statement
Jeff Huard Deposition-redacted

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MISSOURI
Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests

For the third time in less than a year, Missouri SNAP has lost a dear, loyal and caring member. On Dec. 29, Kathy Woodard of St. Louis passed away. Her obituary ran in the Post-Dispatch on Jan. 11.

[obituary]

In the early 1990s, Kathy was the first person to attend a SNAP support group meeting in St. Louis, in the living room of my tiny apartment at 4023a Botanical. (She also became our oldest son’s first babysitter.)

Around 1992, Kathy joined a small, brave group of SNAP members who leafleted outside the US Conference of Catholic Bishops meeting in New Orleans. On that trip, SNAP also rented a room in the hotel where the bishops were meeting and invited all of them to sit down with us. None showed up.

Kathy was also one of the first to sue a St. Louis predator priest, Fr. John M. Kilcullen (now deceased) who molested her during her childhood.

Identified as “Jane Doe,” Kathy filed a lawsuit to warn parents about Kilcullen and to find and help others he assaulted. In a stunningly mean-spirited act, Catholic officials “outed” her by name in the St. Louis Review (while protecting Kilcullen by not mentioning his name). They also claimed that Kathy’s family didn’t support her allegations.

[BishopAccountability.org]

[SNAP]

It was one of the cruelest moves we’ve seen St. Louis archdiocesan officials take against abuse victims.

( Here’s a similarly mean-spirited one by Archbishop Robert Carlson from just last year:
[SNAP])

Please remember these two instances the next time you hear and read about Catholic officials pledging to be “compassionate” towards victims.

And please remember Kathy’s family and friends. She has two sons whom she loved dearly. She was a gentle, compassionate and dedicated survivor who helped many others struggling to recover from childhood horror.

You are loved and missed, Kathy.

(The other two Missouri SNAP members who passed away recently are Kay Goodnow of Kansas City who was abused by Fr. John C. Baskett and Tom Mullen of St. Louis who was abused two local priests.)

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UNITED STATES
National Catholic Reporter

Fr. Peter Daly | Jan. 12, 2015 Parish Diary

Everywhere from Boston to Minneapolis, Catholic churches have closed or been consolidated into regional clusters. The chief reason is declining Mass attendance.

In New York, Mass attendance has fallen to European levels, around 15 percent on an average Sunday, according to The New York Times. In Boston, it is even lower, around 12 percent.

Nationwide, only 24 percent of Catholics go to Mass on an average Sunday, down from 55 percent in 1965.

Our parish is doing a little better than the national average on Mass attendance. We see about 30 to 35 percent of our members on an average Sunday. We have 1,100 to 1,200 people at our five Sunday Masses (four in English and one in Spanish).

Who comes? Generally, it’s the elderly, little children and their parents.

Who doesn’t come? Young adults, ages 18 to 40, especially if they are single.

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MINNESOTA
Jeff Anderson & Associates

[Doe 20 complaint]

Media Advisory

WHAT: At a news conference today a sexual abuse survivor of Father Michael Keating, Doe 20, along with her attorney Jeff Anderson will:

· Speak publicly about the sexual abuse she endured at the hands of Father Keating and her experience in reporting the abuse to the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis. Doe 20 wants the truth to be known and will share her full story.

· Discuss how Father Kevin McDonough chose to protect Father Keating and lie about his history of sexual abuse allegations.

· Provide and review key documents from Keating’s priest file.

· This public disclosure was made possible by virtue of an agreement reached with the Archdiocese in the Doe 1 case.

WHEN: Monday January 12, 2015 at 1:00PM CST

WHERE: Jeff Anderson & Associates
366 Jackson St. Suite 100
St. Paul, MN 55101

NOTES: Doe 20 will be available for interviews.

The amended complaint filed by Doe 20 on September 22, 2014 and Keating’s priest file and key documents will be available on our website. We will live stream the press event online from our website www.andersonadvocates.com.

Contact Jeff Anderson: Office/651.227.9990 Cell/612.817.8665
Contact Mike Finnegan: Office/651.227.9990 Cell/612.205.5531

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AUSTRALIA
Newcastle Herald

ALL 30 are dead, probably by suicide.

All 30 were abused by clergy or other religious officials in the Maitland-Newcastle Catholic diocese.

In some cases the link between those two factors appears clear and direct. In others the picture is complicated by time or circumstances.

The time seems right, now that a royal commission is inquiring into sexual abuse in religious institutions throughout Australia, to put the question of these troubling deaths – and many others like them – on the table for closer examination.

Some observers will ask what can be achieved by unearthing these sad stories of suicide tragedies. After all, in many cases it may now be virtually impossible to tease apart the various potential contributing factors and reach any sort of conclusion about the relative contribution of sexual abuse.

But as a series of articles in today’s Newcastle Herald suggest, there are matters worth investigating in several cases. A number of families appear anxious to learn more about the loss of their loved ones, and some others seem determined to simply have an acknowledgement from the church that the abuse may have played a part.

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INDIA
Daiji World

From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network – Bengaluru

Bengaluru, Jan 12: In perhaps the first incident of its kind in the history of the Archdiocese of Bangalore and probably even in Karnataka, the Vatican has suspended a priest, who was accused and tried in the court of “forcibly raping” an young college going girl in Tumakuru.

The priest, however, was acquitted by the court of the charge as all the witnesses including the girl, her parents, grandmother and others had turned hostile.

According to information independently confirmed by Daijiworld after contacting several authoritative sources in the Archdiocese, Congregation forthe Doctrine of the Faith, which is the highest body in the Roman Curia, has officially communicated to the Archbishop of Bangalore Dr Bernard Moras last week regarding its decision of suspending the exercise of “the priestly ministry in public” of Fr Simon Bartholomeo with immediate effect.

The Archbishop, when contacted by Daijiworld, declined to either confirm or deny the decision on suspension of the priest and merely said: “I am not at liberty to disclose any information on the issue. You have to speak to the person concerned (Fr Bartholomeo).”

However, it is reliably learnt that the Archbishop has divulged the contents of the communication from the Vatican’s Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith to the members of the Archdiocesan College of Consultors.

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UNITED STATES
Christianity Today – Leadership Journal

Maureen Farrell Garcia

When I read Leadership Journal’s article “From Youth Minister to Felon” last year, I wasn’t surprised that it had gotten past the editors. I agree with the editors that it was a mistake to publish it, yet I also know what it is like to be unable to discern the harm in a sex offender’s words and to believe a sex offender’s version of reality.

I was married for more than a decade to a Christian man who engaged in disturbing secret behaviors that included sexually abusing a female relative between the ages of 9-12. When the child courageously disclosed the abuse and my husband was confronted, he admitted to some of his abusive behaviors. However, he did so while providing serious spin to the facts.

Still, he was convinced by our pastors to turn himself in to the police, and he pled guilty to a misdemeanor in order to avoid a more serious charge, a trial, and potential jail time. He received probation and court ordered counseling sessions.

Reading the controversial article released a torrent of memories. I identified with the abuser’s wife who was deceived, betrayed, and then casually implicated by her husband. Typical of sexual abusers, my former husband also offered many justifications and reasons for his abuse, all of which shifted the blame and responsibility to someone else.

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MISSOURI
Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests

For immediate release: Monday, Jan. 12

Statement by David Clohessy of St. Louis, Director of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests ( 314 566 9790, SNAPclohessy@aol.com , davidgclohessy@gmail.com )

One of several Catholic predator priest centers in our area is in the news again today:

[St. Louis Post-Dispatch]

Archbishop Robert Carlson refuses to discuss these pedophile priest centers in his archdiocese. (they include RECON, the Vianney Renewal Center, St. Joseph’s infirmary, and other church centers in Shrewsbury and Webster Groves.)

But these places couldn’t operate here without Carlson’s permission. He also refuses to disclose who these dangerous predators are or even how many there are. His continued and reckless secrecy puts children at risk and violates his repeated promises to be “open and transparent” about clergy sex abuse and cover up cases.

[BishopAccountability.org]

[BishopAccountability.org]

We feel very sorry for Mike Stenzhorn who’s disabled and wants to downsize but fears he won’t be able to sell his home. We applaud him for speaking out about this troubling situation. We also feel sorry for every parent and homeowner in Shrewsbury, Jefferson County, Franklin County and elsewhere who have groups of proven, admitted and credibly accused serial child molesting clerics secretly living nearby.

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VATICAN CITY
Gazzeta del Sud

Vatican City, January 12 – The Vatican on Monday denied reports that it has been alerted that it could be the next target of Islamist terrorists after last week’s attacks in France and called on the media not to feed alarmism. Vatican Spokesman Father Federico Lombardi said the Holy See had not received “reports of specific risks” from foreign security agencies. “So it is not opportune to feed groundless concerns,” he added. Israeli State television reported that American intelligence services have warned the Vatican that it could be the next target for Islamist terrorists on Sunday, as international leaders joined around two million people taking part in a massive anti-terrorism rally in Paris. Interior Minister Angelino Alfano said Monday the Italian authorities had found no confirmation to the reports either. “We have done checks in the reporting system with the security authorities of other countries as it is not the case for us,” Alfano said.

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UNITED KINGDOM
BBC News

The Archbishop of Canterbury has admitted he is powerless to stop an ex-vicar jailed for child sex offences from using the title “the reverend”.

Guy Bennett, who was a vicar in Oxted, Surrey, was sentenced in 1999 for indecently assaulting three girls.

Bennett was photographed in 2008 wearing a clerical collar.

Writing to another of Bennett’s alleged victims, Justin Welby said Bennett had been disqualified from holding any office in the Church.

Lucy Duckworth, who made a complaint of sexual abuse against Bennett to Surrey Police in 2008, had written to the archbishop about Bennett.

The former vicar, who retired when under suspension pending the outcome of his trial, denies assaulting Ms Duckworth or referring to himself as “the reverend”.

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VATICAN CITY
Vatican Information Service

Vatican City, 12 January 2014 (VIS) – The director of the Holy See Press Office, Fr. Federico Lombardi, S.J., gave the following declaration to journalists today:

“Contrary to the claims made by some organs of the media, the Holy See has not been informed of specific risks by the security services of other Countries.

The Holy See maintains its usual, appropriate contacts with the security services, and in view of the current situation advises a reasonable level of attention and prudence, but concrete and specific risks have not been indicated.

There is therefore no reason to arouse concerns that may needlessly affect both those who live and work in the Vatican and the many pilgrims and tourists who visit on a daily basis”.

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VATICAN CITY
Vatican Information Service

Vatican City, 10 January 2014 (VIS) – The presidents of the European Episcopal Conferences and the superiors of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith will meet from 13 to 15 January in Esztergom, Hungary.

By the Instruction of 23 February 1967, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, on behalf of Blessed Pope Paul VI, had asked the Episcopal Conferences to institute an internal Doctrinal Commission, as a advisory organ for the same Episcopal Conferences and for the individual bishops in their concern for matters of doctrine of the faith.

To strengthen collaboration between the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith and the Doctrinal Commissions, in 1982 it was decided to periodically gather together the presidents of the aforementioned Commissions at a continental level. One of the original characteristics of these meetings was the fact that the superiors of the Congregation travel to the various continents, thus underlining the importance of local and regional issues and their responsibility in facing doctrinal questions. The first of these meetings, during the prefecture of the then Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, took place in Latin America, in Bogota, (1984); it was followed by meetings in Kinshasa, Africa (1987); Vienna, Europa (1989); Hong Kong, Asia (1993); Guadalajara, Latin America (1996); and San Francisco, North America (1999). During the prefecture of Cardinal William Levada another encounter took place in Dar es Salaam (2009).

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IRELAND
The Herald

BY LUKE BYRNE – 10 JANUARY 2015

SEVEN Dublin mother and baby homes will be examined by a commission of investigation into the treatment and conditions of residents from the 1920s to late 1998.

St Gerard’s on Mountjoy Square and St Patrick’s at Pelletstown, Cabra, were named yesterday as Children’s Minister James Reilly published the inquiry’s terms of reference.

It emerged last year that documents belonging to the late Archbishop of Dublin John Charles McQuaid, who died in 1973, showed that St Patrick’s had high death rates in at least one year.

allegations

The records show that one in every three babies died in the home on the Navan Road in 1933.

The Pelletstown death rate was 34pc that year.

The other Dublin homes that have been included to be examined are Belmont in Belmont Avenue, Bethany Home in Rathgar, Denny House in Eglington Road, Ms Carr’s in Northbrook Road and Regina Coeli Hostel in North Brunswick Street.

There have been allegations of serious abuse by members of the religious congregations that controlled the homes.

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GUAM
KUAM

by Jolene Toves

Guam – With the delegation from the Vatican no longer on island one individual who was able to meet with them shares why the delegation contacted him for a meeting.

Over the course of a week the delegation met with various clergy, religious, and laity throughout the island filling their schedule with countless meetings but despite a full schedule the delegation managed to meet with Tim Rohr, author of the JungleWatch blog who was initially turned down by the chancery for a meeting. Rohr says it was the delegation who contacted him for the sit down, saying, “They wanted me to name three issues that I had with the archdiocese or with the church leadership and I named them right off the bat cause I was prepared for that number one bullying by these guys second of all lying and third neglect complete neglect of the church except for their little colt.”

Rohr says that the delegation was interested in what he meant with regards to bullying. In response Rohr shared some of the controversies within the archdiocese in particular that of Father Paul Gofigan and the Lastimosa Family, also alleging that the archdiocese from the pulpit has told parishioners not to view his blog, saying “Its sinful its evil”. Rohr says he also spoke of lies making reference to the responses made by the chancellor of the Archdiocese of Agana Father Adrian Cristobal to KUAM regarding the Redemportis Mater Seminary in Yona.

He said, “I have to call those lies because I can’t believe they are that stupid I don’t think they are actually lies they are making themselves I have to think at this point that Archbishop Apuron Father Cristobal and Monsignor David the Vicor General are just really simply foot soldiers for the guys that really run this diocese which I call The Neocatechemunal Masters,” he said.

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MINNESOTA
Fox Twin Cities

Updated: Jan 12, 2015

ST. PAUL, Minn. (KMSP) –

A woman who says she was sexually abused by a priest as a teenager will speak publicly for the first time Monday. The 28-year-old accuses former St. Thomas professor and priest Michael Keating of sexually abusing her when she was 13.

The law firm handling the case will also release once-secret priest files for Father Keating, who has denied any wrongdoing.

The woman filed a lawsuit against Keating in 2013. She first reported the alleged abuse to the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis in 2006, but the lawsuit claims little was done upon her filing the report. Keating was in the seminary and 42 years old at the time of the alleged abuse.

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IRELAND
Irish Times

Mon, Jan 12, 2015

A priest accused of historic sexual offences in Dublin has been sent forward for trial to the Circuit Court.

The 58-year-year old priest, with an address in London, is charged with indecently assaulting a named female on dates unknown between 1978 and 1979 at a religious institution in South Dublin.

He appeared before Judge Bridget Reilly at Tallaght District Court on Monday for service of his book of evidence.

A solicitor for the prosecution told the court that the book was ready to be served.

She said the Director of Public Prosecutions had consented for the man to be sent forward for trial to the present sitting of Dublin Circuit Court.

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UNITED STATES
National Catholic Reporter

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops issued the following press release this morning:

WASHINGTON — Pope Francis has named Franciscan Father Fernand Cheri III, 62, auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of New Orleans. Bishop-elect Cheri is a member of the Sacred Heart Province of the Order of Friars Minor and currently serves as director of campus ministry at Quincy University in Illinois.

The appointment was publicized in Washington, January 12, by Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò, apostolic nuncio to the United States.

Fernand Cheri III was born January 28, 1952, in New Orleans. He studied at Notre Dame University, New Orleans, where he received a master’s of divinity in 1978, and at the Institute for Black Catholic Ministry at Xavier University, New Orleans. He was ordained a priest of the Archdiocese of New Orleans on May 20, 1978.

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VATICAN CITY
Vatican Radio

(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis has named Father Fernand J. Cheri, O.F.M., as auxiliary Bishop for the Archdiocese of New Orleans, USA, assigning to him the titular see of Membressa. Father Cheri has been serving as Director of Campus Ministry at Quincy University.

Curriculum vitae of Father Fernand J. Cheri, O.F.M.

Father Cheri was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA, on 28 January 1958. He attended Saint John Vianney Preparatory Seminary in New Orleans, and undertook ecclesiastical studies at St Joseph Seminary College in St Benedict, LA, (1970-1974) and Notre Dame Seminary in New Orleans (1974-1978). Subsequently he attained a Master’s degree in Theology at the Institute for Black Catholic Studies at Xavier University, also in New Orleans.

He was ordained priest for the Archdiocese of New Orleans on 20 May 1978.

After his priestly ordination, he served as Parochial Vicar of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in New Orleans (1978-1979), and of Saint Joseph the Worker Parish in Marrero (1979-1984). From 1984-1984 he was Parochial Administrator of St Joseph the Worker. Father Cheri served as Pastor of Saint Francis de Sales Parish in New Orleans from 1985-1991; and as Parochial Administrator of Saint Theresa of the Child Jesus Parish, also in New Orleans, from 1990-1991.

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AUSTRALIA
Newcastle Herald

By JOANNE McCARTHY Jan. 12, 2015

TWO victims of John Denham attempted suicide while still students at St Pius school, court documents show.

One of the students was hospitalised after taking barbiturates at age 16 ‘‘with the intention of dying’’, he said in a statement that formed part of the brief of evidence against Denham in 2010.

He shared the barbiturates with another student.

He told police he was bullied ‘‘almost from the first day I went to the school’’, and given alcohol by Denham before he was sexually abused, at times at Charlestown presbytery. Because of his background, which was well known to Denham and principal Father Tom Brennan, he was vulnerable and isolated.

When he turned to Brennan for help, the priest provided some comfort, but sometimes massaged the boy’s shoulders in his office, and took no action about the bullying or Denham’s abuse.

‘‘I took the tablets with the intention of dying as I was sick of the bullying that had been constant over four years,’’ he said.

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AUSTRALIA
Newcastle Herald

By JOANNE McCARTHY Jan. 12, 2015

A HUNTER group wants an investigation into the deaths of more than 30 former Catholic high school students by suicide, drug overdoses or possible suicide, because of links to known or alleged child sex offenders.

A list with more than 30 names – all male – of boys, teenagers and men has been compiled for a submission to the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, with the youngest aged just 13 when he took his life in his bedroom, and the most recent suicide early last year.

The list includes three former St Pius X, Adamstown, brothers in the one family who died of suicide and drug-related deaths, and two brothers from another Catholic Hunter family who took their own lives aged 16 and 22.

It also includes the names of three students who were in the same year at a Hunter Catholic high school during a period when men who had regular contact with the school went on to be charged with child sex offences years later.

One of the three students was 13 when he died in 1974, the second drove a car over a cliff in 1977 aged 16, and the third died after an incident at Merewether in the 1980s, when he was in his early 20s.

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AUSTRALIA
Newcastle Herald

By JOANNE McCARTHY Jan. 12, 2015

A NEWCASTLE woman learned her son was a victim of paedophile priest Vince Ryan when police spoke to her in 1996 only days after her son’s suicide.

‘‘Vince Ryan wrote in his diary the name of the children he abused and the dates he abused them,’’ said the woman this week.

‘‘My son’s name was there. He was 11 when it happened, and an altar boy. He never told us. I was so horrified. I was just beside myself. I didn’t even think anything like that would ever happen, but it did.’’

Her son was 30 when he died. His father called him ‘‘my golden boy’’, but by the time the teenager had left his Catholic school for university he had been smoking cannabis for an unknown period.

He dropped out of university after he started talking to himself. Within a short time he was diagnosed with schizophrenia, and for 10 years he struggled to live with the condition. His family never knew about the sexual abuse, were disturbed by the cannabis use, and will never know if the early cannabis use precipitated the schizophrenia.

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INDIA
Times of India

Chethan Kumar,TNN | Jan 12, 2015

BENGALURU: In a first as is being described, the Vatican has suspended a priest in Bengaluru.

The parish priest of Our Lady of Fatima Church, Jalahalli in North Bengaluru, S Bartholomeow, was accused in a rape case in 2013 in Kunigal, Tumkur district. The case was subsequently closed after the complainant turned hostile. Activists are campaigning for reopening of the case now.

Bartholomeow, police sources investigating Pastor KJ Thomas’ murder case, say, was a close associate of Fr Patrick, a priest arrested in the murder case.

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ISRAEL
The Jerusalem Post

Several senior national-religious rabbis who sit on the Takana Forum, which fights against sexual abuse in the community, issued a letter on Sunday giving public backing for the work of Yehudit Shilat, who founded Takana in 2003.

The most high-profile case Takana has dealt with concerned national-religious superstar Rabbi Moti Elon, who was convicted on two counts of indecent assault by force against a minor by the Jerusalem Magistrate’s Court in 2013.

During the legal process against Elon, close associates and devotees of the rabbi sought to discredit Takana and Shilat. Her campaign team has alleged that her current candidacy for a spot on the Bayit Yehudi electoral list has reawakened those same voices.

Rabbi Yaakov Ariel, one of the most senior rabbis in the national-religious world and president of the Takana Forum, signed a letter together with forum members Rabbi Yehoshua Shapira, Rabbi Elyakim Levanon and Rabbi Yuval Cherlow, as well as Prof. Yedidya Stern of the Israel Democracy Institute, saying that Shilat’s work for Takana had been carried out professionally and with their backing.

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NEW YORK
Albany Times Union

By Dartunorro Clark

Albany

A bill that would create the New York Child Victims Act faces uncertainty in the current state legislative session.

After its champion, Assemblywoman Margaret Markey, a Queens Democrat, introduced the bill in the 2006-07 legislative sessions, it has seen many iterations and challenges.

The bill would eliminate the statute of limitations on civil and criminal cases of sex crimes against children in New York and provide a one-year window after the law took effect for victims to retroactively bring cases of alleged abuse no matter how long ago they occurred.

Markey is hopeful the Assembly will pass it early in the session, said her spokesman, Mike Armstrong. “Her commitment to the bill and its urgency is unwavering,” he said.

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LOUISIANA
The Advocate

TERRY ROBINSON
TROBINSON@THEADVOCATE.COM
Jan. 11, 2015

Years of sexual and physical abuse didn’t conquer Angel Austin.

She found the faith to overcome that painful episode of her life and also found deliverance in Christ.

“Knowing Christ enabled me to accept what I could not change and what people had done to me. But he showed me what they did to me was not who I was; it was no fault of my own,” said Austin, the pastor of Faith to Conquer Outreach Ministries in Baton Rouge. “Knowing Christ was like finding me, and I could not find me until I got in him, and I had a reason to live then. I had a new hope.”

Austin turned that hope into a ministry that helps people who have suffered the kind of abuse she endured starting at age 8. She founded Faith to Conquer, at 1037 S. Tamari Drive, in 2005 as a mentoring advisory service and support group for victims of sexual and physical abuse.

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INDIA
Bangalore Mirror

POCSO case slapped against management of leading girls’ school over ‘sexual assault’

By Prakruti PK, Bangalore Mirror Bureau | Jan 12, 2015

In what may be described as an appalling first for a prestigious all-girls’ private school located in the heart of the city, the Central division police have registered a complaint under various sections of the POCSO Act along with section 354 (a) of the IPC against three members of the school management for allegedly manhandling and sexually assaulting students who were staging a protest on the school’s premises, on Thursday morning. The protest was against the installation of a new principal.

Highly-placed police sources confirmed that a former teacher and member of the Church of South India, Karnataka Central Diocese, approached the Cubbon Park police on Saturday and filed an FIR against three members of the school management claiming they used foul language to abuse the girls, reportedly threatened to hurt them, and allegedly sexually assaulted them in a bid to get the protestors to disperse and return to their classrooms.

A senior police officer told Mirror, “We received a letter from the school on Wednesday saying they were anticipating some sort of trouble due to the announcement that the temporary principal was being replaced by a new one. They requested us to be present near the school the next morning, and accordingly, we reached the premises by 7.30 am on Thursday, but were asked to stay outside.” A large number of students belonging to classes VIII, IX, X, and XI were reportedly seated on the ground just inside the school entrance, and some were holding up banners declaring their solidarity with the outgoing principal.

The fracas is thought to have unfolded between 9.15 and 9.45 am, when the new principal arrived flanked by two men – purportedly both members of management – but was not ‘allowed’ to enter the premises by the girls.

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AUSTRALIA
ABC News

Survivors of child abuse have urged a royal commission to hold public hearings in regional Victoria to allow them to tell their stories in their local community.

The Royal Commission into Institutional Child Sexual Abuse has held a number of public hearings in Melbourne since it was established in early 2013, but hearings in regional areas have been conducted behind closed doors.

Abuse survivor John Coon used a private hearing in Melbourne to share his experience of being molested at the Ballarat Orphanage as a 10 year old.

Mr Coon said it was important the local community also knew what happened.

“An open hearing would do the world of good because people will know exactly what you went through,” Mr Coon said.

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MISSOURI
St. Louis Post-Dispatch

By Lilly Fowler

A quiet street and a quaint three-bedroom home drew Mike Stenzhorn and his family to Dittmer 15 years ago.

Stenzhorn and his two children loved the neighborhood in the small community 40 miles southwest of St. Louis.

They didn’t put much thought to the Roman Catholic facility across the street — a small complex of buildings called the Vianney Renewal Center.

Stenzhorn knew the center had something to do with helping struggling priests. In any case, it seemed harmless, and the neighborhood was nice.

“If you had to live somewhere in the Midwest, and you wanted quiet, this is the place,” Stenzhorn, 62, said one recent afternoon.

But in the years that would follow, the full truth about the Vianney Renewal Center would come to light.

The facility, operated by a Roman Catholic order called the Servants of the Paraclete, cares for religious men who suffer from a variety of illnesses, including alcoholism and depression. The center also treats sexually abusive priests.

The Servants of the Paraclete would not specify how many such priests live at the center today. The Missouri State Highway Patrol’s sex offender registry lists five who are convicted and who stay at the complex under court order. Other priests are sent to the center by various dioceses from around the country.

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IRELAND
Justice for Magdalenes

Justice for Magdalenes Research (JFMR) is greatly concerned that the Magdalene Laundries have been excluded from the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes.

The Mother and Baby homes and Magdalene Laundries were both integral parts of Ireland’s architecture of containment of ‘problem’ women and girls.

As JFMR has previously pointed out to Minister Reilly, the McAleese inquiry did not investigate or make findings about abuse or lines of responsibility for abuse in the Magdalene Laundries.

Furthermore, the McAleese Report does not contain a single word from the 796 pages of testimony submitted by JFM and it failed to adequately examine issues relating to deaths and burials. Serious doubt has been cast on the accuracy of the McAleese Report’s assertions regarding duration of stay [see link to op-ed below].

The McAleese Committee’s terms of reference were limited to investigating State involvement with the Laundries only. We believe that it is partly because of the gaps in the McAleese Committee’s terms of reference that all religious orders involved still refuse to apologise or provide redress to the women who spent time in Magdalene Laundries.

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IRELAND
Irish Examiner

By Conall Ó Fátharta
Irish Examiner Reporter

Over 1,600 women died in Magdalene laundries — more than double the figure cited by the McAleese report.

The figures, compiled by Justice For Magdalenes Research (JFMR), are included in a scathing dissection of the McAleese report being prepared by the group — a draft section of which has been seen by the Irish Examiner.

In the lengthy critique of the report’s chapter on deaths, the group states it has so far identified a total of 1,663 who died in Magdalene laundries — almost twice the figure of 879 cited in the McAleese Report.

The JFMR study hits out at a number of the McAleese report’s basic findings, including the fact that it did not include the number of women who died before 1922 and those who died in the care of the religious orders after the laundry closed. JFMR says that some 565 women fall into the former bracket and over 220 women fall into the latter bracket.

The group points out that this figure could be larger but because of how the report presents the figures an exact breakdown is not possible.

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IRELAND
Irish Examiner

It is imperative each woman’s final resting place is accurately recorded, writes Claire McGettrick

LAST YEAR, thanks to the tireless work of Catherine Corless, the world was made aware of the 796 babies that lay forgotten in Tuam.

Those of us who have campaigned on these issues were on the one hand relieved that the world was finally taking notice but on the other, we thought: ‘They don’t know the half of it.’

In the case of deaths in the Magdalene laundries, the inter-departmental committee on the laundries (IDC) made sure we only knew the half of it.

The McAleese report acknowledges that just over half of the 1,638 women (that we are aware of) died in these institutions.

Justice for Magdalenes (now JFM Research; JFMR) was established on foot of serious questions raised by the late Mary Raftery about the exhumations at the former Magdalene laundry at High Park.

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