ABUSE TRACKER

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

April 28, 2016

Illinois Attorney General Wants to End Statue of Limitations on Sex Crimes

ILLINOIS
WJBD

4/27/2016

SPRINGFIELD, IL (AP) – The Illinois attorney general is calling on state legislators to eliminate the statute of limitations for child sex crimes in the wake of former U.S. House Speaker Dennis Hastert’s sentencing.

Attorney General Lisa Madigan and the Illinois Coalition Against Sexual Assault issued a statement Wednesday, the day Hastert was sentenced to 15 months in a federal hush-money case. He pleaded guilty to breaking banking law while trying to pay someone millions to conceal sexual abuse.

Prosecutors contend the abuse occurred while Hastert was a teacher and wrestling coach decades ago, but too much time had passed to bring charges for the abuse.

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.

Gauteng MEC expresses shock at reports of sexual abuse by pastors

SOUTH AFRICA
Sowetan Live

Gauteng Social Development MEC Nandi Mayathula-Khoza has reacted with anger at the reports of abuse of women by Gauteng faith leaders.

On Monday‚ two national dailies‚ the Sowetan and Daily Sun‚ with chilling pictures‚ reported stories of two Gauteng pastors sexually and physically abusing young women in their teens and early 20s.

Mayathula-Khoza said the actions of Pastor Fezile Gxokwe of Mount Olive Church of Poortjie in Sedibeng were an indictment to gains achieved so far with freedom of women.

She also welcomed the arrest of another pastor who assaulted two teenage girls and a young lady in Carletonville‚ in the West Rand‚ whose sordid story was carried in the Sowetan.

“We welcome the arrest of the wicked man who prey on girls whilst masquerading as a man of God.

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.

Pennsylvania judge orders three priests to trial in sex abuse case

PENNSYLVANIA
Reuters

HARRISBURG, PA. | BY DAVID DEKOK

A Pennsylvania judge on Wednesday ordered three Franciscan friars to stand trial on charges they endangered boys by assigning a fourth cleric they knew to be a sexual predator to work at a Catholic high school in the 1990s.

Magisterial District Judge Paula Aigner ordered Fathers Giles Schinelli, 73; Robert D’Aversa, 69, and Anthony Criscitelli, 61, to stand trial in Blair County Court of Common Pleas in Hollidaysburg, Pa., on felony charges of endangering the welfare of children and conspiracy. No date for the trial was set.

“We’re obviously pleased at the court’s ruling and are ready to take the case to trial,” Deputy Attorney General Daniel Dye, the prosecutor, said in a phone interview.

Lawyers for the three priests could not be reached for comment.

The three are accused of enabling Brother Stephen Baker, a member of their order, to sexually assault numerous boys at Bishop McCort High School in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, and elsewhere. According to testimony, they assigned him to jobs where he would have contact with boys despite knowing he was an active pedophile. Baker committed suicide in 2013.

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.

Repeated Violations

UTAH
Slate

By Dahlia Lithwick

Brigham Young University made national headlines this month when it was revealed that female students who reported being raped could be suspended or expelled for violating the school’s onerous honor code. The details of the case are infuriating. Whether or not the school is technically in violation of Title IX remains to be seen, but the school is clearly violating the spirit of the law in a way that does untold damage to rape survivors and makes future rapes more likely.

BYU, a private university in Provo, Utah, is owned by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. A handful of students came forward at a rape awareness conference earlier this month to describe their experiences with the school’s honor code policy. The Salt Lake Tribune then picked up and expanded upon the story, reporting that the practice of expelling rape victims for violations of the university’s honor code dates back decades. A petition with more than 110,000 signatures is calling for the school to amend the honor code to afford amnesty to the victims of sexual assault. BYU says it is “studying” its policies around investigating the victims of sexual assault for conduct that may represent small honor code violations.

The BYU honor code is far more restrictive than most other university codes. Created by BYU students in 1949, it forbids students from drinking, using drugs, wearing tight clothing, gambling, drinking coffee, homosexual conduct, engaging in premarital sex, or being in the bedroom of anyone of the opposite sex. Code violations may lead to expulsion. The problem? This code is on a collision course with Title IX, the federal law that prohibits sex discrimination at any schools that receive funds from the U.S. government. Title IX requires that sexual assaults be counted and investigated; it certainly does not contemplate that any young woman fighting to protect her civil rights will be tossed out of her school for violating an honor code, a threat that is clearly antithetical to the promise and goals of Title IX.

The aforementioned online petition was launched earlier this month by 20-year-old BYU student Madi Barney, who reported last September that she was raped in her off-campus apartment by a man who is not a BYU student. According to police documents, the alleged attacker, Nasiru Seidu, admitted to Barney during a phone conversation that he had raped her. He now claims the sex was consensual. After agonizing for four days over whether she could report the assault and afford to be charged with an honor code violation, Barney went to the police and not the university. Seidu was arrested in September and is awaiting trial. But the school got ahold of her police report when sheriff’s deputy Edwin Randolph turned it over to the BYU Honor Code Office. Both her alleged attacker and Randolph were charged with witness retaliation, but the charges were later dropped. (A court petition filed by a prosecutor in the case described Seidu and Randolph as “friends,” something that Randolph denied.)

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

The Sexual Predators in Evangelicals’ Backyard

UNITED STATES
Love, Joy, Feminism

April 25, 2016 by Libby Anne

There’s something we need to talk about. Opposition to trans bathroom access is perhaps most pronounced among evangelical Christians, a group whose inability to deal with sexual abuse in their own communities rivals that of the Catholic church. Evangelicals claim they oppose trans bathroom access because of the threat this access poses to women and children. Why, then, are they so quick to turn a blind eye to the abuse of women and children in their own communities?

When 15-year-old Tina Anderson was raped by a church elder and became pregnant, the church leadership believed her rapist’s claim that the interaction was consensual and punished Tina by making her confess to sexual immorality in front of the congregation, sending her away for the duration of her pregnancy, and forcing her to give her baby up for adoption. Meanwhile, her rapist was allowed to retain his position in the church’s children’s ministry.

For decades, Christian homeschool families overlooked warning signs and allowed Bill Gothard to maintain his leadership position in IBLP and his contact with and control over the teenage girls he hired as his personal secretaries. The IBLP Board of Directors was aware that Gothard had crossed lines and done things that were inappropriate and yet they took no action. Meanwhile, the many dozens of girls who suffered harassment and sexual molestation at Gothard’s hands suffered in silence, knowing that they would not be believed if they told someone what was happening.

There was a time I thought such abuses were rare, perhaps confined to more fundamentalist groups and certainly not characteristic of evangelicals as a whole. I’m no longer so sure of this.

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.

How a church avoided responsibility for its ties to a child molester

ALABAMA
Reveal: The Center for Investigative Reporting

By Amy Julia Harris / April 27, 2016

The day care owner was arrested in 2010 in Birmingham, Alabama.

Three young girls said Robert Frost, the owner of Christian’s Day Care and Learning Academy, had molested them for years at his church day care. They reported that Frost would sit them on his knee, slip his hands beneath their clothes and violate them.

The consequences for Frost came quickly. At trial, he was criminally charged with first-degree sexual abuse, convicted and sentenced to 20 years in prison.

The family of one of Frost’s victims then sued the organization they thought was in charge of the day care: Wooten Chapel Freewill Baptist Church.

They had good reason to think the church was responsible. Frost’s day care was registered under Wooten Chapel’s name. The church’s pastor was the day care’s contact person.

Several of the day care workers were longtime Wooten Chapel congregants and taught Bible study at the church. Frost offered parents discounts if they attended the church’s worship services. And kids were transported to the day care in the church’s white van.

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.

Sexual assault awareness key to understanding, lawyer says

TEXAS
Baylor Lariat

By Kalyn Story

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month, and Baylor has held several opportunities for students to get involved and educated on the issue. Although the month is ending, sexual assault awareness remains relevant.

Justin Smith, 2010 Baylor Law School graduate and current partner vat Sloan, Bagley, Hatcher & Perry Law Firm in Longview, has tried several sexual abuse and assault cases. Smith said he believes it is a much bigger problem than people realize.

“It is great that we have Sexual Assault Awareness Month, but we don’t need a month, we need 12 months,” Smith said. “We need 365 days of awareness and support for victims. Victims are affected for much longer than a month, and we need to be aware all the time.”

Smith said he is glad America is recognizing sexual assault as a problem now, but he believes sexual assault awareness had been virtually nonexistent until recently. Specifically, he cites the realization of abuse within the Catholic Church and Boy Scouts as helping open up the discussion about sexual assault. Despite this, Smith said he doesn’t want the conversation to stop there.

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.

Clerical abuse victims lose bid to stop judge from hearing financial compensation case

MALTA
Independent

A court has turned down a request by the victims of clerical sex abuse to have their compensation case reassigned.

Lawrence Grech, Joseph Magro, Leonard Camilleri, David Cassar, Noel Dimech, Angelo Spiteri, Raymond Azzopardi, Charles Falzon, Philip Cauchi and Joseph Mangion had filed a case for compensation after Godwin Pulis and Carmelo Scerri had been found guilty of sexually abusing them at the St Joseph Home in Santa Venera in the late 80s.

The accused were sentenced to five and six years in prison and were later defrocked. Their sentences were confirmed on appeal.

The compensation case had been assigned to Mr Justice J.R. Micallef but the plaintiffs had requested the judge to recuse himself. They argued that since he was the President of the catholic Radju Maria radio station he could not be impartial. The judge had turned down the request and the plaintiffs then filed a separate constitutional application requesting the case to be reassigned.

The application was filed against the Attorney General, the Missionary Society of St Paul, the Archdiocese of Malta, Godwin Scerri and Charles Pulis. The men claimed a breach of their fundamental right to a fair hearing.

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.

Constitutional Court says judge need not recuse himself on clerical abuse case

MALTA
Malta Today

Matthew Agius 28 April 2016

A Constitutional court has turned down a request that it order a judge to recuse himself from hearing a case asking for damages for clerical sex abuse, due to his involvement in church-related organisations.

Judge Mark Chetcuti delivered the judgement in the Constitutional case filed this May by eleven victims of clerical sex abuse, after Judge Joseph R. Micallef had turned down their request that he abstain from deciding the claim.

The plaintiffs had been seeking redress after suffering abuse at the hands of priests whilst they had been children in Church care in the late 80s and early 90s. Carmelo Pulis and Godwin Scerri, both now defrocked, had been jailed, for 5 and 6 years respectively, for their cruelty and abuse against the boys in July 2011, confirmed on appeal in November 2012.

But when the subsequent civil case for damages against the Archdiocese of Malta was assigned to Mr. Justice Micallef, a staunch Catholic and president of the Malta Radio Maria Association, the men filed a request that the judge recuse himself, citing a perceived risk of pro-church bias on the part of the judge.

Micallef did not uphold their request and the men had then, in April 2015, filed urgent Constitutional proceedings, claiming a breach of their right to a fair trial.

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.

Court rules in favour of judge hearing clerical sex abuse case, fundamental right to fair hearing ‘not breached’

MALTA
Times of Malta

by Keith Micallef

Mr Justice Joseph R Micallef will continue to preside a case filed by victims of clerical sex abuse at Dar San Ġużepp in the late 1980s, who are seeking compensation from the Church.

The victims had questioned the judge’s impartiality on grounds that he presides the Radju Marija Foundation, which they claimed had strong links with the ecclesiastical authorities.

However, Mr Justice Micallef had turned down their request to stop hearing the case, forcing the plaintiffs to file an application before another court.

In a judgment this morning, Mr Justice Mark Chetcuti rejected the victim’s request saying that their fundamental right to a fair hearing had not been breached.

In July 2011, Charles Pulis and Godwin Scerri, both members of the Missionary Society of St Paul’s, were sentenced to six and five years’ imprisonment respectively for sexually abusing 11 boys in their care at St Joseph’s Home in Sta Venera in the late 1980s. The sentence had been confirmed on appeal in November 2012.

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.

Upstate sex abuse victim spurred by Jerry Sandusky scandal comes forward, wants law to be passed

NEW YORK
New York Daily News

BY LARRY MCSHANE NEW YORK DAILY NEWS Wednesday, April 27, 2016

Only the 2011 arrest of Penn State pervert Jerry Sandusky convinced an upstate sex abuse victim to end decades of silence about his own nightmarish abuse.

“Something happened — I said to myself, ‘You know what? I have to come forward,’” recalled Jack Cesare, a former upstate Catholic schoolboy molested by a predatory janitor while in grammar school.

Sandusky, tried and convicted in Pennsylvania, will die behind bars. The man who raped 13-year-old Cesare in Albany lived another 20 years and died a free man, a beneficiary of New York State law.

The 1977 assault inside the St. Teresa of Avila School was never addressed in its aftermath, with Cesare too humiliated to say anything until long after the statute of limitations in his case expired.

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.

April 27, 2016

Information on the trial for dissemination of reserved information and documents, 27.04.2016

VATICAN CITY
Vatican Information Service – Bollettino

Vatican City, 27 April 2016 – Yesterday at 3.30 p.m. a new hearing began in the ongoing trial for the dissemination of reserved information and documents in Vatican City State Tribunal, according to information provided by the director of the Holy See Press Office, Fr. Federico Lombardi, S.J. It was attended by the members of the Tribunal (Professors Giuseppe Dalla Torre, Piero Antonio Bonnet, Paolo Papanti-Pelletier and Venerando Marano), the Promoter of Justice (Professors Gian Pietro Milano and Roberto Zannotti), and the defendants Ángel Lucio Vallejo Balda, Francesca Immacolata Chaouqui, Nicola Maio and Gianluigi Nuzzi, with their respective legal representatives Emanuela Bellardini, Laura Sgrò, Rita Claudia Baffioni and Roberto Palombi. The defendant Emiliano Fittipaldi was absent, but his lawyer Lucia Teresa Musso was present.

The examination of witnesses began during the hearing, which was dedicated fully to the testimony of the first, Stefano Fralleoni, who was the Accountant General of the Prefecture of Economic Affairs of the Holy See at the time of the events in question. He was interrogated by the members of the Tribunal, the Promoter of Justice and the defendants’ lawyers. Finally, the report of the proceedings was read and approved. The hearing was adjourned at approximately 6.45 p.m.

The next hearing will take place on Thursday 28 April at 3.30 p.m., during which the interrogation of admitted witnesses will continue.

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Cardinel George Pell’s fight for justice

AUSTRALIA
Herald Sun

Andrew Bolt

HIS critics still claim — falsely — that Cardinal George Pell tried to save his church by covering up for paedophiles.

Yet Pell today is in an open war with Vatican officials who seem to be covering up for crooks.

You might call that ironic. I call it a lesson to Pell haters that he’s not the kind of man they take him for.

Last week Archbishop Giovanni Becciu, from the Vatican’s powerful state secretariat, ordered Vatican officials not to co-operate with the PricewaterhouseCoopers audit overseen by Pell into church finances.

To the public it must suggest the Godfather films weren’t too wrong and criminals have their fingers on the Vatican’s billions.

But to Pell’s critics it should suggest he’s not actually a man who’d do nothing about criminals in his church.

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.

PA–Judge: Trial vs. Catholic officials will go forward; Victims respond

PENNSYLVANIA
Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests

For immediate release: Wednesday, April 27, 2016

Statement by David Clohessy of St. Louis, Director of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (314 566 9790, 314 645 5915 home, davidgclohessy@gmail.com)

We’re grateful that the trial of three Pennsylvania Catholic officials who repeatedly ignored and hid child sex abuse reports against a cleric will go forward.

[ABC News]

[PennLive]

Church officials claimed they did nothing wrong because they sent Brother Stephen Baker to a doctor who essentially cleared him to stay on the job. We’re not buying it. We’re glad the judge didn’t either.

Catholic bureaucrats have made this claim about thousands of predators: “A doctor said he was ok.” But in most cases, bishops carefully pick devout Catholic doctors who will provide the “diagnosis” bishops seek. Or they give doctors inaccurate and inadequate information about the predator. Or they pick general practitioners who know little or nothing about sexual deviants. So it’s “garbage in, garbage out.”

Church officials often use these carefully-chosen professionals for “cover” to keep sexually troubled priests, nuns, brothers and seminarians in parishes and schools, and later feign shock when abuse reports surface.

We are saddened but not surprised that Franciscan officials didn’t tell principal William Rushin about Brother Baker’s crimes. And we hope that anyone with knowledge or suspicions of wrongdoing by Franciscans, especially Anthony Criscitelli, Giles Schinelli and Robert D’Aversa will speak up now.

No matter what lawmakers or church officials do or don’t do, we urge every single person who saw, suspected or suffered child sex crimes and cover ups in Catholic churches or institutions – especially in the Altoona area – to protect kids by calling police, get help by calling therapists, expose wrongdoers by calling law enforcement, get justice by calling attorneys, and be comforted by calling support groups like ours. This is how kids will be safer, adults will recover, criminals will be prosecuted, cover ups will be deterred and the truth will surface.

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.

Assignment History– Rev. Raoul Gauthier

CANADA/UNITED STATES
BishopAccountability.org

Summary of Case: Raoul Gauthier was ordained for Canada’s Diocese of Gravelbourg in 1933. He assisted in several Saskatchewan parishes before going on leave in 1939. He reappeared in 1940 as a hospital chaplain in the Diocese of Crookston MN, in the United States. After four years in Crookston, he was sent to a hospital chaplaincy in the St. Cloud diocese. It is unclear where Gauthier spent 1948-53. During 1953-78 he was chaplain at St. Michael’s Hospital in Sauk Centre, MN, except for a period 1968-69 when he was at a “clergy retreat center” run by the Servants of the Paraclete in Nevis. In 1979 Gauthier was charged with fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct after he admitted to fondling a developmentally disabled man. He fled shortly thereafter to Canada. He died in 1995, never having been extradited to the Unites States. Gauthier’s name was included on the Diocese of St. Cloud’s list January 3, 2014 of clergy involved in incidents of likely claims of sexual abuse of minors.

Ordained: 1933
Retired: 1979
Died: 1995

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Judge orders 3 friars to stand trial in sex abuse case

PENNSYLVANIA
WTAE

HOLLIDAYSBURG, Pa —Three Franciscan friars must stand trial on charges linked to their role in supervising a suspected sexual predator accused of molesting more than 100 children, a judge ruled Wednesday.

The decision comes after additional testimony in their preliminary hearing on child endangerment and conspiracy charges.

Giles Schinelli, Robert D’Aversa and Anthony Criscitelli assigned or supervised Brother Stephen Baker when he served at Bishop McCort Catholic High School in Johnstown in the 1990s.

The defense had argued that it’s too late to file charges and that their clients did their best to supervise Baker given what they knew.

More than 90 students have settled lawsuits for more than $8 million claiming Baker molested them, mostly while acting as a sports trainer. Baker fatally stabbed himself in the heart days after a diocese settled claims by former high school students in Warren, Ohio, that they had been abused in the late 1980s.

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.

UPDATE: Magisterial district judge rules that charges against Franciscan leaders can proceed

PENNSYLVANIA
Tribune-Democrat

By Dave Sutor
dsutor@tribdem.com

HOLLIDAYSBURG – Blair County Magisterial District Judge Paula Aigner has ruled that sufficient evidence has been presented and charges can move forward against all three Franciscan leaders accused of allowing Brothers Stephen Baker to be around children at Bishop McCort High School or other locations – even though they allegedly knew he was suspected of having sexually abused students previously.

The Attorney General’s Office rested its case Wednesday at the Blair County Courthouse against the Revs. Giles A. Schinelli, 73; Robert J. D’Aversa, 69; and Anthony M. Criscitelli, 62 – Third Order Regular, Province of the Immaculate Conception, minister provincials – who are accused of conspiracy and endangering the welfare of children.

The attorneys for the Franciscan leaders are expected to present their cases after the lunch recess.

Earlier Wednesday, Former Bishop McCort High School Principal William Rushin testified that no one ever told him about Baker.

“I should have been notified,” he said.

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Lawton Priest Convicted of Sex Crimes

OKLAHOMA
Texomas Homepage

[with video]

LAWTON, Okla.

A Lawton Catholic priest who previously plead guilty to sexual battery, has now been removed from his post.

Father Jose Alexis Davila was convicted of his crime in 2012 while working in San Diego.

New reports claim he arrived in Lawton in December of 2015 having been deemed “fit to minister.”

Archbishop Paul Coakley says “new information” about the allegations against Davila led to his removal from Blessed Sacrament and Saint Mary’s Catholic School.

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.

Judge orders Mpls. priest to stand trial

PENNSYLVANIA
KARE

A Pennsylvania judge has ordered three Franciscan friars, including one with Minnesota ties, to stand trial on charges linked to their role supervising another friar accused of molesting scores of children.

The decision comes after more testimony Wednesday in their preliminary hearing on child endangerment and conspiracy charges.

Anthony Criscitelli, who recently served at St. Bridget’s Parish in Minneapolis, Giles Schinelli and Robert D’Aversa assigned or supervised Brother Stephen Baker when he served at Bishop McCort Catholic High School in Johnstown in the 1990s. Prosecutors say they enabled him.

The defense argued that it’s too late to file charges and said their clients did their best to supervise Baker given what they knew.

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

‘The Club’: An effective study of abusive priests in exile

UNITED STATES
Chicago Sun-Times

Bill Goodykoontz | USA TODAY Network

Chilean writer and director Pablo Larraín moves away from films about the Pinochet regime with “The Club,” in which he takes on the Catholic Church.

It’s an interesting movie, odd and disturbing by design. But it’s also effective.

Four men and a woman share a house in a small coastal village. They train a greyhound and mill around. Over time, we learn why they are there.

They are disgraced priests, sentenced, basically, to the house to keep them both out of trouble and out of the public’s notice. They have committed various offenses against the church, which, as someone notes later in the film, are also crimes. (“Has it ever occurred to you that you’re a criminal?”)

The woman, Mother Monica (Antonia Zegers), looks after the priests, keeps things in order — and has sins of her own.

Another priest arrives, and Mother Monica explains the house rules and curfews to him. It’s a monastic existence, you might say, though the irony is uncomfortable. Lots of prayer and meditation, some TV and not much else, other than working with the dog.

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Ariotti: “No era oportuna la publicación, fue nomás lo que le dije a Sarah Cartes”

PARAGUAY
La Nacion

[con audio]

[The Apostolic Nuncio, Eliseo Ariotti, spoke about the case of censorship of the series of publications that the research team of the newspaper La Nacion brought to light under the name of “Dark Church”, which exposed Argentine priests accused of sexual abuse of children were hiding in Paraguay and protected by by authorities of the Catholic church in Paraguay.

Monsignor Ariotti told Channel 13 RPC he made a phone call to the owner of the Nacion Communications – Sarah Cartes Group – but did not specifically request that the investigation be stopped but “to be allowed to clarify what happened.”]

El Nuncio Apostólico Eliseo Ariotti habló sobre el caso de censura de la serie de publicaciones que el equipo de investigación del diario La Nación sacó a la luz bajo el nombre de “Iglesia Oscura”, en la que se dejaba al descubierto como sacerdotes argentinos denunciados por abuso sexual a niños eran escondidos en Paraguay por autoridades de la iglesia católica en nuestro país.

Monseñor Ariotti reconoció a Canal 13 RPC que realizó un llamado telefónico a la propietaria del Grupo Nación de Comunicaciones Sarah Cartes, pero que no pidió expresamente que la investigación se dejara de publicar, sino “que se me permita aclarar lo que pasó”.

Ariotti dijo que le comentó a Sarah Cartes que estas publicaciones lo dañaban moralmente, pero que no expresó que le dañaban la carrera.

“No era oportuna la publicación, fue nomás fue lo que le dije a Sarah Cartes”, siguió la alta autoridad de la Iglesia Católica en nuestro país.

En otra parte de la entrevista, en Nuncio Apostólico dejó en claro que los periodistas de La Nación primero le debían entregar los documentos con los que contaban antes de publicarlos.

“¿Por qué si periodistas de LN sabía de documentos no vinieron a pasármelos?. Solo en abril me pidieron aclaraciones del caso que estaban investigando. Este caso debía ser primeramente estudiado, los documentos eran fotocopias y mensajes de mail”, lamentó en otro momento Nuncio Ariotti.

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Un cura pedófilo no es aceptado en la Abadía de Victoria de Entre Ríos

ARGENTINA
La Nacion

[The Benedictine Abbey of the Child Jesus in Argentina agreed not to receive into its midst the pedophile priest Fabian Nestor Monzon, 47, He was detained and accused of seriously outrageous sexual abuse, aggravated because he was minister of a religious cult. Abuse caused serious damage to the health of the victim, a child under 3 in Reconquista.]

José E. Bordón

SANTA FE.- Tolerancia cero de la iglesia argentina para los casos de abusos de menores comprobados que hayan cometido sacerdotes. La Abadía Benedictina del Niño Dios, de Victoria, Entre Ríos, no aceptó recibir al sacerdote pedófilo, Fabián Néstor Monzón (47 años), detenido e imputado por abuso sexual gravemente ultrajante, doblemente agravado por la condición de ser un ministro de un culto religioso reconocido, y por producir un grave daño en la salud de la víctima, una menor de 3 años, en la parroquia de un barrio de Reconquista, al norte de la provincia.

“El cura Monzón no ha estado, no está, ni va a estar en la Abadía”, fue la respuesta que dio a conocer el abad Carlos Oberti, de la comunidad benedictina de Victoria. Además, la comunidad no está en condiciones de recibir a un sacerdote en esta situación”, dijeron desde la Abadía.

El abad Oberti mantuvo una comunicación con Jorge Lozano, obispo de Gualeguaychú, que tiene jurisdicción sobre Victoria, y juntos acordaron dar a conocer un pronunciamiento público respecto de este espinoso asunto. De ese modo, los benedictinos procuran quedar al margen de una polémica desatada en torno a la decisión de la Justicia santafesina, que rechazó un pedido de la fiscalía de mandar al cura Monzón a la cárcel, y en su lugar resolvió permitirle ir a un retiro espiritual.

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Un periodista paraguayo le escribió a Francisco sobre los curas argentinos acusados de abusos

PARAGUAY
Clarin

[Journalists of the newspaper La Nacion of Paraguay rallied yesterday in front of the newspaper because of as decision by the company to suspend the publication of a series of reports on pedophile priests accused in Argentina who received ecclesiastical protection of the Church of Paraguay .

At the same time, the journalist Paul Noah, co – author of the research, released an open letter to Pope Francis in which remarked that he hoped the pope received his complaint and take care of the matter. The journalist told the pope that the only thing he could do was banish the practice of moving accused priests and encourage people to continue fighting against the arkness which many want to keep in the church.

The Union of Journalists denounced the apostolic nuncio (Vatican representative), Monsignor Eliseo Ariotti, who encouraged suspension of publication because it was “inconvenient” for the church. The newspaper’s management said there was no censorship because the series of notoes on priests who ministered in the country was published and there was the expected reaction from church authorities.]

Periodistas del diario La Nación de Paraguay se manifestaron ayer frente a las instalaciones del periódico por la decisión de la empresa de suspender las publicación de una serie de informes sobre curas argentinos acusados de pedofilia que recibieron protección eclesiástica de la Iglesia de Paraguay.

A la vez, el periodista Pablo Noé, el coautor de la investigación, divulgó una carta abierta dirigida al papa Francisco en el que remarca: “Espero, papa Francisco, que llegue esta denuncia a sus manos y que se tomen cartas en el asunto. En este tipo de situaciones no importan las cuestiones superfluas ni las medias verdades. Lo único que se puede hacer para desterrar este tipo de prácticas es seguir el camino que usted marcó, que desde el ejemplo nos impulsa a seguir peleando contra la oscuridad en la que mucha gente quiere mantener a la Iglesia”.​

En otro tramo de la carta al papa, Noé dice: “Por la influencia histórica, por la preponderancia que tiene usted como líder mundial, por la necesidad de que los modelos a seguir sean contundentes, le ruego humildemente que pueda dar una mirada al trabajo de investigación publicado en este medio. Estoy convencido de que servirá como un esfuerzo más para hacer de este un mundo mejor, que es el mensaje que más me impactó de su pontificado”.

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Principal: Franciscans didn’t mention sex abuse allegations

PENNSYLVANIA
PennLIve

By The Associated Press
on April 27, 2016

HOLLIDAYSBURG, Pa. (AP) — A former principal of a Roman Catholic high school testified Wednesday that he was never told by a Franciscan religious order that a friar he hired as a teacher had been accused of child sexual abuse.

William Rushin spoke at the preliminary hearing of three Franciscan friars accused of allowing Brother Stephen Baker to hold jobs where he molested children or posed a threat to children.

The hearing will determine whether Giles Schinelli, Robert D’Aversa and Anthony Criscitelli will stand trial on child endangerment and conspiracy charges.

William Rushin was principal of Bishop McCort Catholic High School in Johnstown from 1989 to 1997.

He said he hired Baker as a religion teacher and Baker eventually volunteered as an athletic trainer.

When asked if he would have hired Baker had he known of the allegations, Rushin replied, “Obviously, it would have been inappropriate to have someone like that working with children.”

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Australian paedophile priest pleads guilty to child sex offences

AUSTRALIA
Stuff

LOUISE HALL

A notorious paedophile priest in Australia has pleaded guilty to historical child sex offences on the eve of his trial.

On Wednesday, Vincent Gerard Ryan, 78, pleaded guilty to attempted homosexual intercourse with a male aged between 10 and 18, indecent assault on a male and gross indecency with a male under 18.

Ryan had been due to face a two-week trial in the Downing Centre District Court. The offences occurred in the mid-1980s in the Hunter region of New South Wales. The victim was aged between 13 and 15.

The Catholic priest, commonly known as Vince Ryan, has previously spent 14 years in jail for preying on 35 boys aged six to 14 between 1972 and 1991. He was released from Long Bay jail in 2010.

In a statement, Bishop Bill Wright of the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle, welcomed Ryan’s guilty pleas.

“While a small consolation, I am grateful that Ryan’s victim and others were spared the ordeal of a trial. Ryan’s past crimes continue to throw a dark shadow onto the Diocese’s present and I am terribly saddened that there is yet another child whose innocence was robbed by the sins of this man,” he said.

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Catholic priest found guilty of luring boy, 11, to his office with computer games then drugging him and raping him on the floor

AUSTRALIA
Daily Mail

By AUSTRALIAN ASSOCIATED PRESS and NELSON GROOM FOR DAILY MAIL AUSTRALIA

A Catholic priest working at a notorious boarding college enticed a Year 7 student into his office with computer games then raped him on the floor.

Michael Scott Aulsebrook, 60, of Traralgon, was found guilty of one count of rape after he fought the charge in the Victorian County Court. He has also admitted to sexually assaulting two other children.

During his trial, the jury heard Mr Aulsebrook invited the boy into his office at Salesian College Rupertswood after lights-out with an offer to play on his computer, then gave his victim a soft drink that had been spiked with a sedative.

The boy woke up on the floor while Mr Aulsebrook was raping him and pushing his face into the floor.

‘He felt a large amount of pain,’ prosecutor Andrew Grant said during the trial.
Afterwards, Aulsebrook said to the boy: ‘Get out of my sight. You disgust me’.

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The Latest: Lawyer Denies Charge That Friar Endangered Kids

PENNSYLVANIA
ABC News

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
HOLLIDAYSBURG, Pa. — Apr 27, 2016

The Latest on a hearing to decide whether three Franciscan friars should stand trial on child endangerment and other charges for their role in supervising another friar accused of molesting more than 100 children (all times local):

——

3:05 p.m.

A lawyer for one of three Franciscan friars ordered to stand trial in Pennsylvania in a child endangerment case says there is no evidence his client did anything wrong.

Giles Schinelli, Robert D’Aversa and Anthony Criscitelli assigned or supervised another friar accused of molesting scores of children at a Catholic high school in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, in the 1990s.

They now face trial on charges of conspiracy and child endangerment.

Attorney Charles Porter Jr. says Schinelli investigated an allegation against Brother Stephen Baker and had him examined by a doctor, who found he had no sexual disorder. Given that, the attorney says there’s no evidence of criminal intent.

The attorneys for the other two men declined to comment after the hearing, as did all three friars.

Baker killed himself in 2013.

———

2:35 p.m.

A Pennsylvania judge has ordered three Franciscan friars to stand trial on charges linked to their role supervising another friar accused of molesting scores of children.

The decision comes after more testimony Wednesday in their preliminary hearing on child endangerment and conspiracy charges.

Giles Schinelli, Robert D’Aversa and Anthony Criscitelli assigned or supervised Brother Stephen Baker when he served at Bishop McCort Catholic High School in Johnstown in the 1990s. Prosecutors say they enabled him.

The defense argued that it’s too late to file charges and said their clients did their best to supervise Baker given what they knew.

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Principal: Franciscans didn’t mention sex abuse allegations

PENNSYLVANIA
WRAL

HOLLIDAYSBURG, PA. — A former principal of a Roman Catholic high school testified Wednesday that he was never told by a Franciscan religious order that a friar he hired as a teacher had been accused of child sexual abuse.

William Rushin spoke at the preliminary hearing of three Franciscan friars accused of allowing Brother Stephen Baker to hold jobs where he molested children or posed a threat to children.

The hearing will determine whether Giles Schinelli, Robert D’Aversa and Anthony Criscitelli will stand trial on child endangerment and conspiracy charges.

William Rushin was principal of Bishop McCort Catholic High School in Johnstown from 1989 to 1997.

He said he hired Baker as a religion teacher and Baker eventually volunteered as an athletic trainer.

When asked if he would have hired Baker had he known of the allegations, Rushin replied, “Obviously, it would have been inappropriate to have someone like that working with children.”

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Police presence expected at seminary protest

GUAM
Pacific Daily News

Jasmine Stole, Pacific Daily News April 28, 2016

Police plan to check on protesters expected at the Redemptoris Mater Seminary in Yona Thursday, after two protests occurred in the past week.

Following a heated protest at the A.B. Won Pat International Airport last Thursday, the Guam Police Department was called to another protest at the seminary Tuesday.

Police will be making occasional checks at the seminary Thursday in anticipation of the protest, according to Capt. Kim Santos, GPD spokeswoman.

After dozens of silent protests in front of the Dulce Nombre de Maria Cathedral-Basilica in Hagåtña for the past year or so, the protests in the past week have not been as silent.

Police have not been present at the silent protests, hand billing or prayer demonstrations hosted by the Laity Forward Movement or the Concerned Catholics of Guam at various local churches, according to Robert Klitzkie, former senator.

Robert Klitzkie and members of Concerned Catholics and Laity Forward have been calling attention to Archbishop Anthony Apuron, some calling for his resignation, consistently over the past two years. Apuron’s ties with the Neocatechumenal Way have angered some local Catholics.

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MO–Victims prod new bishop to end honoring disgraced prelate

MISSOURI
Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests

For immediate release: Wednesday, April 27, 2016

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

Bishop Edward Rice, the new head of the Springfield diocese, should publicly urge a statewide Catholic men’s group from honoring perhaps the most disgraced US prelate ever, his predecessor, Cardinal Bernard Law

Yesterday, we suggested other steps he should immediately take, steps that are frankly more important than this one about the Knights of Columbus.
http://www.snapnetwork.org/mo_new_bishop_named_victims_respond

But if he’s too timid to warn his flock about predator priests, this request – stop Catholics from honoring a proven wrongdoer – is as quick and simple as it gets.

A large statewide Catholic group that met last weekend just gave a scholarship named after law, who was forced to resign because of widespread abuse cover ups.

The Missouri Knights of Columbus donated money to a student for his education as the “Cardinal Bernard Law Youth Scholarship.”

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OK–Archbishop says he’ll remove convicted priest; Victims respond

OKLAHOMA
Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests

For immediate release: Tuesday, April 26, 2016

Statement by David Clohessy of St. Louis, Director of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (314 566 9790, 314 645 5915 home, davidgclohessy@gmail.com)

We’re thrilled that caring and courageous parishioners challenged a reckless and secretive archbishop, and that a convicted predator priest will not head a parish with an elementary school.

[News OK]

[KFOR]

Frankly, we don’t believe Archbishop Paul Coakley’s claim to have found “new information” about Fr. Jose Alexis Davila. We believe Oklahoma City Catholic officials buckled under public and parishioner pressure. And it shouldn’t take outraged moms and dads to keep a predator priest out of the pulpit.

We renew our challenge to Coakely: disclose whether you’ve secretly welcomed other sex offender clergy into your archdiocese and hold an open public meeting to answer questions about your secretive and irresponsible decisions.

Sadly, we predict in a few months, Fr. Alexis Davila will quietly be re-assigned to a church again. Remember, since 2012, he’s been sent to Nevada, Utah and to four Oklahoma parishes. In a few years, we predict, he’ll be discovered again working around unsuspecting families and vulnerable teenagers.

We hope that anyone in any of the four states where Fr. Alexis Davila’s been who has information or suspicions about his crimes or cover ups by his supervisors will come forward now.

This case reminds us that every single person who saw, suspected or suffered child sex crimes and cover ups in Catholic churches or institutions to protect kids by calling police, get help by calling therapists, expose wrongdoers by calling law enforcement, get justice by calling attorneys, and be comforted by calling support groups like ours. This is how kids will be safer, adults will recover, criminals will be prosecuted, cover ups will be deterred and the truth will surface.

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Vatican Suspends Auditing Contract with PwC

ROME
Accounting Today

ROME (APRIL 26, 2016)
BY MICHAEL COHN

The Vatican’s Holy See has suspended its contract with PricewaterhouseCoopers but stressed that the suspension is not due to problems with PwC’s work.

The Vatican has been struggling to straighten out its finances and appointed the former chairman and CEO of Deloitte & Touche Italy last year to oversee a cleanup of its scandal-scarred bank (see Former Deloitte Italy CEO Appointed to Audit Vatican). Pope Francis has pledged to replace the bank’s top management, which has been plagued for years by accusations of corruption, financial mismanagement and money laundering. However, the suspension of the auditing contract with PwC may be a sign that the struggle to properly audit the Vatican’s finances is far from over.

A spokesperson for PwC’s Italian firm declined to comment.

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Church did not ‘weasel’ out of residential school settlement

CANADA
The Catholic Register

BY MICHAEL SWAN, THE CATHOLIC REGISTER
April 27, 2016

A $21-million shortfall on a $25-million fundraising campaign was a fiasco, but it wasn’t an attempt to weasel out of the legal or moral obligations Catholics have in the wake of the residential schools tragedy, Grouard-McLennan Archibishop Gerard Pettipas told The Catholic Register.

This newspaper first reported the shortfall in January of this year, but a Globe and Mail report that hit the front page April 19 has raised accusations that the 50 Catholic organizations party to the 2006 Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement used legal trickery to sidestep their obligations.

“It isn’t accurate,” said Pettipas, who chairs the board of 50 Catholic Entities who are party to the settlement. “There was a cash contribution.

There was in-kind payment. There was a best-efforts campaign. We did all those. There wasn’t any weaselling out.”

As the final report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission was pending last year there was a disagreement between the federal government and Catholic lawyers over whether or not the Catholic Entities had fully paid the last $16.6 million of $29 million owing in cash contributions to healing programs that would be run by First Nations organizations. The government contended the Catholic entities had paid $15 million and still owed a final $1.6 million.

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Parents protest, priest removed

OKLAHOMA
KSWO

[with video]

By Allie Haddican, Reporter

LAWTON, OK (KSWO) – A priest who was convicted of an assault and battery charge in California, and who has been serving at a church here in Lawton, has been removed from his position on Tuesday. This was following public outcry over his appointment.

The news of Father Jose Alexis Davila’s removal from Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church came just days after details of the crime surfaced. He had pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor assault and battery charge for inappropriately touching a 19-year-old woman in 2011. The priest completed his probation requirements and the charges were dismissed last October.

In a statement on Saturday, Oklahoma City Archbishop Paul Coakley says because of this, he believed Father Davila could return to the ministry.

But in another statement from the Archbishop Tuesday night, he says that new information he received made it necessary to remove Father Davila from all work at Blessed Sacrament, and at the other churches he served in Elgin, Apache and Sterling.

St. Mary’s Catholic School is right next door to Blessed Sacrament. Students and parents stood silently holding signs across the street from where the Oklahoma City Archbishop was meeting with school staff about Father Davila. They were holding a silent protest over Father Davila’s position there.

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Archdiocese Relieves Controversial Priest

OKLAHOMA
Lawton Constitution

Wed, 04/27/2016

Mike Andrews

A priest who had been convicted of assault and battery for an incident with a parishioner in San Diego in 2011 and had been hired to serve churches in Lawton, Elgin, Apache and Fletcher has now been relieved of his duties by the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City.

Archbishop Paul S. Coakley of the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City said in a statement: “After a continued investigation by archdiocesan staff, I became aware late Monday of new information regarding the allegations against Father Alexis Davila that made it necessary for me to remove him from pastoral work in the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City. Father Davila left the archdiocese on Tuesday.”

Davila had been hired to assist at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church in Lawton and in March had been named administrator at Saint Ann Church, Elgin, and missions to Mother of Sorrows Church, Apache, and Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church, Sterling. He had been named to become pastor of Blessed Sacrament Church in Lawton effective June 28.

The statement said that Coakley had traveled to Southwest Oklahoma to meet with concerned parishioners, parents, staff and clergy.

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Vincent Gerard Ryan: Convicted paedophile and former priest pleads guilty to further offences

AUSTRALIA
ABC News

By Nick Dole

A notorious paedophile from the New South Wales Hunter region who has already served a 14-year sentence could be sent back to prison.

Former priest Vincent Gerard Ryan has pleaded guilty to three charges, including an act of gross indecency and attempting sexual intercourse with a boy in 1984.

He was due to face trial on seven offences but the remaining charges were dropped following his guilty plea.

Bishop of the Maitland-Newcastle diocese, Bill Wright, described the guilty plea as a “small consolation”.

“I am grateful that Ryan’s victim and others were spared the ordeal of a trial,” he said in a statement.

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Ex-Salesian College Catholic priest guilty of rape

AUSTRALIA
Herald Sun

April 26, 2016

Shannon Deery
Herald Sun

A FORMER Catholic priest linked to one of the state’s most notorious alleged paedophile rings has been found guilty of rape.

Former Salesian priest Michael Aulsebrook is now behind bars for the second time after a County Court jury returned their guilty verdict today.

Aulsebrook was found guilty of raping an 11-year-old boarder at Salesian College, Rupertswood, in 1988.

He had lured the boy into his office by letting him play computer games, then drugged him and attacked him.

The boy woke to found himself being raped by Aulsebrook.

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Priest Michael Aulsebrook found guilty of raping boy at Salesian College Rupertswood

AUSTRALIA
The Age

April 27, 2016

Adam Cooper

A Catholic priest found guilty of raping a student at a notorious boarding school outside Melbourne has also admitted sexually assaulting two other children, it can now be reported.

Michael Aulsebrook, 60, was on Wednesday found guilty by a County Court jury of raping an 11-year-old boy at Salesian College Rupertswood, in Sunbury, in 1988, when the priest was the boarding co-ordinator at the school.

Aulsebrook pleaded not guilty to one charge of rape. The jury had begun their deliberations on Tuesday morning.

Aulsebrook is one of a number of priests who taught at Salesian College Rupertswood who have been convicted of sexually assaulting children at the school.

It is is understood that Aulsebrook is no longer practising as a priest. He has previously served time in jail for sexually assaulting a 12-year-old boy in 1983.

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Vic priest found guilty of school rape

AUSTRALIA
9 News

AAP

A Catholic priest working at a notorious Salesian College in the late 1980s enticed a Year 7 student into his office with computer games then raped him on the floor.

Michael Scott Aulsebrook, 60, of Traralgon, has been found guilty of one count of rape after he fought the charge in the Victorian County Court.

During his trial, the jury heard Aulsebrook invited the boy into his office after lights-out with an offer to play on his computer, then gave his victim a soft drink that had been spiked with a sedative.

The boy woke up on the floor as Aulsebrook was raping him and pushing his face into the floor.

“He felt a large amount of pain,” prosecutor Andrew Grant said during the trial.

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How has Pope Francis performed?

VATICAN CITY
The Commentator

Tim Hedges

When the then Cardinal Bergoglio came to the papacy three years ago, no one really knew what to expect. At his investiture I wrote in these pages: “A new pope begins with a huge well of optimism and confidence which will last a while but not forever. Francis needs to reassure the faithful.”

So, in three years, how has he done?

The concerns three years ago were about child abuse in the clergy and corruption in the Vatican. As to the first, Francis has shown himself willing to listen to the victims and ready both to apologise and to punish the guilty.

Work began on reforming the Curia, the Vatican’s government, almost on the new pope’s first day. He appointed a Council of Cardinal Advisers to restructure the government, many of them outsiders. Francis has made dramatic changes to the IOR, the Vatican Bank, which had too often received money from criminal sources. IOR is now subject to international banking and money laundering norms.

So far, so good. But Francis is such an odd incumbent of his office, people started wondering about him. He, in turn, seems to have encouraged their curiosity.

Odd? Yes: he is the first Jesuit pope, after his order had been persecuted by many of his predecessors. He is the first from the southern hemisphere, indeed the first non-European since an obscure Syrian in the 8th century.

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East Bay minister charged with 23 counts of child sex abuse

CALIFORNIA
SFGate

By Kimberly Veklerov Updated Tuesday, April 26, 2016

An East Bay minister has been charged with 23 counts of sexually abusing a teenage parishioner over a three-year period.

The Contra Costa County district attorney’s office charged Fernando Maldonado, a 32-year-old Concord resident, on Monday with 12 counts of lewd acts with a minor, 10 counts of unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor and one count of sodomy of a minor.

The alleged abuse occurred from September 2012 to mid-2015 and involved one victim at the two churches in which Maldonado presided as a minister, said Sgt. Dave Mathers, a detective in the Martinez Police Department. The churches were Morello Avenue Baptist Church in Martinez and the Grace Bible Church of Pleasant Hill, where church leaders and congregants, including the alleged victim, moved after the church in Martinez closed, Mathers said.

Authorities have been conducting interviews to determine whether there were additional victims, said Paul Graves, deputy district attorney of Contra Costa County and the prosecutor for the case.

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Sex abuse lawsuits continue to stack up against Hawaii’s Catholic Church

HAWAII
Hawaii News Now

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) –
Nearly 150 victims of child sex abuse have filed lawsuits against Hawaii’s Catholic Church and other local institutions in the past four years.

This includes more than two dozen lawsuits that were filed within the last two weeks to beat Sunday’s deadline to sue.

Many of these cases date back to the 1950s, but state lawmakers passed legislation twice to extend the statute of limitations for child sexual abuse claims.

Randall Rosenburg will represent the vicitms in court.

“They’ve been damaged and dealing with the damage in the shadows for decades,” Rosenburg said. “They were immensely grateful for the opportunity to come forward and in many cases we were able to resolve their cases and get them some relief and some closure.”

Hawaii news Now has learned that the Hawaii Archdiocese and other religious organizations have agreed to pay about $20 million to victims.

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East Bay minister charged with 23 counts of sexually abusing teen girl

CALIFORNIA
Daily Democrat

By Katrina Cameron, kcameron@bayareanewsgroup.com
POSTED: 04/26/16

MARTINEZ — An East Bay minister was charged with 23 counts of sexually abusing a teenage girl over a three-year period, police said.

The Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office charged Fernando Maldonado, 35, of Concord, on Monday, said Martinez police detective Sgt. Dave Mathers. He has been charged with lewd acts with a minor, unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor and sodomy of a minor.

The alleged victim is now 17, police said Saturday. They have not released the girl’s city of residence.

The investigation began when the victim reported the alleged abuse April 18 to Martinez police, the agency leading the investigation. The abuse began when Maldonado was a minister and the victim was a parishioner at Morello Avenue Baptist Church in Martinez, police said.

Maldonado is a former resident of Martinez. Morello Avenue Baptist Church has since been shut down, Mathers said. Maldonado left that church to become a minister at Grace Bible Church in Pleasant Hill in 2014, where the victim began attending the church and the abuse continued, police said.

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Albany church faces $5M suit for 30-year-old sex abuse allegation

NEW YORK
Albany Democrat-Herald

Neil Zawicki
Albany Democrat-Herald

An unnamed plaintiff has sued the Albany First Assembly church for alleged sexual abuse suffered between 1984 and 1987. The National Council of the church as well as the Oregon Ministerial District Network are also named as defendants.

Attorney Gilion Dumas said the lawsuit stems from alleged events involving Ralph Wade Gantt and Todd Clark, two men who had worked as leaders with an all-boys’ church group called the Royal Rangers, which is similar to the Boy Scouts.

Gantt and Clark were both convicted of sexual abuse in 1988 in an unrelated case that did not involve the church, and both men served time for their convictions. The suit does not name the men as defendants, but rather argues that the church leadership is culpable under Agency Law, which allows victims of such crimes to sue an organization because it controls the alleged offenders.

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New video evidence supports boy’s claims of sexual assault on Buffalo school bus

NEW YORK
Buffalo News

By Jay Rey | News Staff Reporter
on April 26, 2016

The little boy who claimed to be sexually molested by a student nearly twice his age while on a Buffalo school bus with no bus aide late last year was telling the truth all along, new video evidence shows.

While his claims had been dismissed based on initial reviews of footage from the bus camera, investigators have recovered additional video from the bus that captured the 6-year-old being sexually abused by the older student during the ride from their Catholic school on the West Side, the boy’s mother told The Buffalo News.

Three separate sources familiar with the investigation corroborated this new development in the case.

In fact, video showed the sexual abuse took place on the bus on more than one occasion, the mother said.

“He was sexually assaulted on that bus not one time, but five times,” the mother said.

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Cardinal George Pell’s evidence to Child Abuse Royal Commission ‘quite wrong’, top official

AUSTRALIA
Herald Sun

April 27, 2016

Shannon Deery
Herald Sun

A SHADOW has been cast over Cardinal George Pell’s evidence to the child abuse royal commission with a former senior Catholic official stopping just short of calling him a liar.

A former director of Victoria’s Catholic Education Office (CEO) today told the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse parts of Cardinal Pell’s evidence were “quite wrong”.

In his testimony to the commission in March, Cardinal Pell said he was the victim of a widespread deception, lasting decades, that kept him in the dark about child abuse.

He said senior church officials, including a cousin, kept details about allegations of abuse from him.

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Information ‘not withheld’ from Pell

AUSTRALIA
Sky News

The former deputy director of the Catholic Education Office says he was shocked and angry when he heard Cardinal George Pell say he was deceived by the CEO during his time in Melbourne.

Education consultant Peter Annett was deputy director of the Archdiocese of Melbourne’s education office when Dr Pell was auxiliary bishop with responsibility for education.

On Wednesday he told the child abuse royal commission at one stage in the late 80s a number one priority for the office was that notorious paedophile priest Peter Searson be removed from the parish of Doveton.

Mr Annett is one of four former education officers responding to evidence given by Cardinal Pell from Rome in March that the CEO withheld information about Searson.

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Cardinal George Pell’s evidence challenged by three Catholic officials

AUSTRALIA
The Australian

APRIL 27, 2016

Dan Box
Crime reporter
Sydney

Three former Catholic Church officials have directly challenged evidence from Cardinal George Pell, who claimed to have been “deceived” and made the victim of a “cover-up” over the activities of a paedophile priest.

The former Melbourne Catholic Education Office officials told the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse today they were in “shock, “disappointed” and “angry” at the Cardinal’s claims, which were “quite wrong”.

Giving evidence to the commission last month, Cardinal Pell, now a senior Vatican official, accused the Education Office of keeping from him reports of violent and sexual misconduct by the late Peter Searson.

Father Searson, who sexually abused children, threatened parishioners with a gun and allegedly stabbed a bird to death with a screwdriver, was able to continue working as a priest for years despite repeated complaints about him, the inquiry heard.

Cardinal Pell told the commission he had been “deceived” about Searson’s activities during late 1980s and early 1990s, when he was a bishop in Melbourne with responsibility for the Doveton parish where the priest worked.

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Pell’s claim he was deceived ‘is wrong’

AUSTRALIA
SBS

Source: AAP
27 APR 2016

Three former Catholic education officers have denied Cardinal George Pell’s claims their office deceived him about the activities of a violent and sexually abusive priest.

Former Catholic Education Office director Monsignor Thomas Doyle and his deputy Peter Annett told the sex abuse royal commission of their shock, disappointment and anger on hearing Dr Pell allege the office withheld information about pedophile priest Peter Searson in the 1980s.

Cardinal Pell, an auxiliary bishop in Melbourne in the ’80s, told the royal commission in March education officials were fearful of telling him the full story about Searson because they knew he would be “decisive” and not accept the status quo.

In giving his evidence from Rome where he is now the Vatican’s finance chief, Dr Pell also said he thought the education office at the time was protecting Archbishop Frank Little.

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Cardinal George Pell ‘wrong’ to blame others for sex abuse cover up, inquiry told

AUSTRALIA
Sydney Morning Herald

April 27, 2016

Rachel Browne
Social Affairs Reporter

Senior Catholic education officials have spoken of their shock and anger at Cardinal George Pell’s evidence to a royal commission that staff had covered up complaints about a paedophile priest.

Cardinal Pell told the royal commission last month that staff from the Catholic Education Office deceived him by failing to give a full account of allegations about Father Peter Searson.

The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses into Child Sexual Abuse has heard evidence that Father Searson, who died in 2009, killed a bird in front of children, showed them a dead body in a coffin, held a gun to the heads of parishioners, threatened to stab a child and repeatedly molested youngsters during confession.

Senior staff from the Catholic Education Office in Victoria strongly rejected Cardinal Pell’s evidence that he was not made fully aware of Father Searson’s behaviour while parish priest of Doveton in Melbourne in the 1980s.

Former deputy director of the Catholic Education Office Peter Annett told the royal commission parishioners and staff at Doveton’s Holy Family school would have been “cheering from the rooftops” if Cardinal Pell, then an auxilliary bishop in the Melbourne Archdiocese, had worked to convince then-archbishop Frank Little to remove Father Searson.

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Monsignor denies George Pell kept in dark about alleged paedophile Peter Searson

AUSTRALIA
ABC News

By James Hancock

A former director of Catholic Education Melbourne has firmly denied claims by Cardinal George Pell that management deceived him about the actions of accused paedophile priest Peter Searson.

Monsignor Thomas Doyle was one of four former officers of the Catholic education office to give evidence to the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse today.

Earlier this year while speaking from Rome, Cardinal Pell accused management of the Melbourne Archdiocese of keeping him in the dark about allegations against Searson.

The inquiry heard the Doveton parish priest was accused of sexually abusing children from the 1970s to the 1990s.

Searson died in 2009 without conviction for child sexual abuse.

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Cardinal Pell’s credibility is on the line as Catholic church strikes back

AUSTRALIA
The Guardian

David Marr

When George Pell dumped on Melbourne’s Catholic Education Office in March the question was: would the church strike back or hunker down behind the cardinal? On Wednesday the royal commission into institutional responses to child sexual abuse gave the answer: strike back hard.

At issue is Pell’s credit. Time and again as he has defended his record as a priest in Ballarat and bishop in Melbourne, the cardinal’s best answer to his accusers has been: my word can be trusted against yours.

That’s not looking so good now.

To recap: when Pell came to Melbourne as an auxiliary bishop in 1987 there was an erratic and violent priest called Peter Searson terrifying children at the parish school in Doveton.

He hit them. They fled screaming from the presbytery. He packed a gun. He hung round the boys’ toilet. He sat little girls on his lap during confession. He took gruesome delight in showing kids a corpse in a coffin. He stole parish funds.

Father Searson was plainly nuts, but the Catholic Education Office couldn’t get rid of him. They’d run complaints up to the then archbishop of Melbourne, Frank Little, but nothing would be done.

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April 26, 2016

UPDATE: Oklahoma priest convicted of sex crime removed from parish

OKLAHOMA
KFOR

APRIL 26, 2016, BY LORNE FULTONBERG

LAWTON, Okla. – A priest working in a southwest Oklahoma parish, despite pleading guilty to sexual battery, has been removed from his post.

In a statement obtained by NewsChannel 4, Archbishop Paul Coakley said he made the decision after learning “new information” about the allegations against Fr. Jose Alexis Davila.

“I am grateful for the support and cooperation of parishioners, parents, staff and clergy in Lawton and Elgin who met with me today, and for Father Chapman’s continued service to the faith community at Blessed Sacrament and Saint Mary’s Catholic School,” Coakley said. “We are committed as an archdiocese to maintaining a safe environment in every parish and institution so that families feel safe and welcome to practice their faith. Consequently, we will continue to review and seek ways to improve our current procedures.”

Davila was convicted of his crime in 2012, when he was working in San Diego.

He arrived in Lawton in Dec. 2015, despite his record, having been deemed “fit to minister.”

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Assignment History– Rev. Emmerich W. Vogt, O.P.

UNITED STATES
BishopAccountability.org

Summary of Case: Emmerich William Vogt was ordained in 1978 for the Order of Preachers, Province of the Most Holy Name of Jesus – Western Dominican Province. He served parishes in the Oakland CA diocese and in the the San Francisco CA, Portland OR and Los Angeles CA archdioceses. He also taught on the high school and college levels. He was Provincial of the Western Dominican Province 2006-2011. Vogt was accused in a February 2016 lawsuit of having sexually abused an altar boy in Portland OR, over a 10-year period.

Ordained: 1978

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Convicted priest booted from OKC

OKLAHOMA
The Worthy Adversary

April 26, 2016 Joelle Casteix

But where is he now? That’s an important question …

From NewsOK:

Tuesday, in a prepared statement, Archbishop Paul S. Coakley, archbishop of the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City, said the Rev. Jose Alexis Davila was removed from his pastoral work in the archdiocese after more investigation was conducted into the priest’s past.

Considering the archbishop claimed to have done an exhaustive investigation, I can only conclude that the real issue was parishioner pushback.

Why? Because all you needed to do to learn the full story of Davila is do a Google search and read this blog. And it doesn’t cost a nickle.

But on to the important question: Where is Davila now?

From OKC Archbishop Coakley’s statement:

After a continued investigation by archdiocesan staff, I became aware late Monday of new information regarding the allegations against Father Alexis Davila that made it necessary for me to remove him from pastoral work in the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City. Father Davila left the archdiocese on Tuesday. (emphasis mine)

So we don’t know where he is. We don’t know if he’s allowed to be a priest. We don’t know where he’s living or working.

Coakley just passed the trash down the road. He had options: He could have forced Davila to live in a monastery, away from vulnerable populations (women, children). He could have made Davila live a life of prayer and penance.

But he didn’t. So now, we need to keep looking for Jose Alexis Davila. And hopefully, if he turns up in another parish, Catholics and parents will be as brave and strong as the people of Lawton.

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Protesters urge local dioceses to acknowledge sexual abuse victims

CALIFORNIA
KRON

OAKLAND (BCN) — A small group of protesters today urged Catholic Church officials in the Bay Area to reach out to anyone who may have been abused by priests after two priests who previously worked in the region were recently accused
of sexually abusing children.

Members of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests organized the protest, which took place outside of The Cathedral of Christ the Light in Oakland.

The group is asking Oakland Bishop Michael Barber, San Jose Bishop Patrick McGrath and San Francisco Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone to acknowledge victims of sexual abuse in light of new allegations in lawsuits filed against two priests who previously worked in the Bay Area.

In February, the Rev. Emmerich Vogt, who has worked at several churches and organizations in both Oakland and San Francisco since the 1970s, including Saint Mary’s College in Moraga, was accused of sexual abuse by an Oregon man.

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Priest leaves Oklahoma archdiocese amid new allegations

OKLAHOMA
News OK

Carla Hinton Published: April 26, 2016

LAWTON — A priest who in 2012 pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor sexual battery charge involving a young woman has been removed from his role as pastor of several Catholic churches in Oklahoma.

Tuesday, in a prepared statement, Archbishop Paul S. Coakley, archbishop of the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City, said the Rev. Jose Alexis Davila was removed from his pastoral work in the archdiocese after more investigation was conducted into the priest’s past.

Davila had been serving at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church and St. Mary’s Catholic School, both in Lawton, supporting the parish’s pastor, the Rev. Michael Chapman. Davila was to eventually become the Lawton church’s pastor because Coakley had appointed him to the position effective in June. Davila had been serving in a pastoral role at churches in Elgin, Apache and Sterling as well.

“After a continued investigation by archdiocesan staff, I became aware late Monday of new information regarding the allegations against Father Alexis Davila that made it necessary for me to remove him from pastoral work in the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City. Father Davila left the archdiocese on Tuesday,” Coakley said in his statement.

Diane Clay, spokeswoman for the archdiocese, said before coming to Oklahoma, Davila pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge in 2012 in San Diego and was sentenced to probation for three years and community service, which he completed.

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OH–Columbus predator priest passes; Victims respond

OHIO
Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests

For immediate release: Tuesday, April 26, 2016

Statement by David Clohessy of St. Louis, Director of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (314 566 9790, 314 645 5915 home, davidgclohessy@gmail.com)

Kids are safer now because a Columbus predator priest has passed away. We hope this news will bring some comfort to those he assaulted.

[Columbus Dispatch]

We are relieved that Fr. Ronald J. Atwood cannot hurt anyone else. We hope his passing will enable others who saw, suspected or suffered crimes by Fr. Atwood or cover ups by his colleagues and supervisors to step forward.

Even though Fr. Atwood can’t be criminally charged, it’s possible that others who ignored or concealed his crimes might be prosecuted. So we urge current and former church members and staff to share whatever knowledge or suspicions they might have about Fr. Atwood or his colleague with law enforcement immediately.

We hope anyone who has seen, suspected or suffered, Fr. Atwood’s crimes, or cover ups by his church colleagues or supervisors, will call police, expose wrongdoers, protect kids and start healing.

We hope that Bishop Frederick Campbell will personally visit each parish where Fr. Atwood worked, begging victims, witnesses and whistleblowers to speak up. We also hope he’ll do the same at any place where a recently-outed Pennsylvania predator priest, Msgr. Harold J. Burkhart worked. (That predator, Msgr. Harold J. Burkhart, spent a quarter century in Columbus but has virtually never been “outed” in the Columbus area.)

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NY–Second abuse case filed vs. priest still on the job

NEW YORK
Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests

For immediate release: Tuesday, April 26, 2016

Statement by David Clohessy of St. Louis, Director of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (314 566 9790, 314 645 5915 home, davidgclohessy@gmail.com)

Long Island’s Catholic bishop must suspend a priest who now faces two pending child sex abuse lawsuits. Or other church officials must discipline and denounce him for his recklessness.

[Newsday]

Today, a second civil case has been filed charging that Fr. Gregory Yacyshyn molested a second child a few years ago.

[SNAP]

We know of just one other priest – Fr. Alex Anderson of St. Louis – who is still in a parish despite multiple accusers. (Three men say he molested them but only one has sued, however.)

[SNAP]

However, we have learned recently that two US priests who are convicted sex offenders are being put back on the job – Fr. Joseph Jeyapaul and Fr. Jose Alexis Davila.

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Jewish Leaders: Extend Time For Child Sex Abuse Victims to Sue Their Abusers

NEW YORK
Forward

Forward Staff
April 26, 2016

Jewish leaders and rabbis from a range of denominations have come out in support of legislation that would give New York State child sex abuse victims more time to sue those they hold responsible for their abuse.

Over the last few days, more than 50 leaders and activists, including some 30 rabbis, signed a letter in support of the Child Victims Act. The measure, first introduced years ago by Margaret Markey, a New York State Assembly Democrat, would extend the statute of limitations for civil suits against alleged sexual abusers of children and against institutions that fail to act against such abuse under their roofs.

The bill would also provide a one-year window during which past victims could go to court whose chance to sue their alleged abusers has already expired.

A companion bill sponsored by Markey would eliminate the current statute of limitations for criminal prosecutions of alleged child sex abusers.

Currently, child sex abuse victims must file suit against those they hold accountable for their abuse by the time they are 23. But many experts say that it can take decades—well into adulthood—for someone who has been abused as a child to understand what has been done to them, come to terms with it and act on their understanding.

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Rehabilitating a disgraced priest: a thought-experiment

OKLAHOMA
Catholic Culture

By Phil Lawler Apr 26, 2016

After it emerged that a priest with a history of sexual abuse is serving as a pastor, Archbishop Paul Coakley of Oklahoma City is “assessing the situation.” With all respect to Archbishop Coakley—for whom I have generally had a high opinion—I think he should be assessing himself. In light of this case, actually all the American bishops should be assessing themselves. Because what happened in Oklahoma illustrates why so many people believe—rightly, I would argue—that their bishops still don’t “get it.”

When the news first came out, Archbishop Coakley issued a statement explaining why he thought it was reasonable to assign Father José DaVila to a parish, five years after the Venezuelan-born priest had entered a guilty plea to charges of groping a young woman in California. He said that the priest understood that his behavior had been “inappropriate,” and “accepts the consequences of his lapse of judgment.” He said that the Oklahoma City archdiocese had investigated the priest thoroughly, including “lengthy interviews with leaders from dioceses in which Father DaVila has served.” (Notice the plural: dioceses; this priest has bounced around a bit.) And he emphasized that Father DaVila, like all others serving in the Oklahoma City archdiocese, would be bound by a strict code of behavior.

What’s wrong with that statement? Let me count the ways.

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Boy’s kin being asked to withdraw case: UCA

INDIA
Times of India

TNN | Apr 27, 2016

Mangaluru: A Christian organization has appealed to Most Rev Aloysius Paul D’Souza, bishop of Mangaluru, to ensure that the family of a 9-year-old-boy is not pressured to withdraw a case filed against a priest who allegedly assaulted the kid.

Parish priest Andrew D’Costa was charged with assaulting the boy after he failed to answer questions on the Bible, during his first communion catechism class in Our Lady of Fatima Church, under Vittal police station limits. The incident occurred on April 12 and the case was registered on April 18. The parents of the 9-year-old boy said the priest got furious with the victim during the first communion catechism as he failed to answer some Bible-related questions. Later, he beat him black and blue with a stick.

After the boy narrated the incident to his parents, who are from a poor economic background, they filed a case against the priest. However, even after a week, police have not arrested the priest who according to sources is being treated at Fr Mullers Hospital, Fathima ward no. 631.

United Christians Association (UCA), which has submitted a letter to the bishop said it is extremely unfortunate that one of the priests from Peruvai has committed the grievous crime on a minor boy under his religious custody. UCA has alleged that the family is being threatened to withdraw the case.

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Pell’s knowledge of priest under spotlight

AUSTRALIA
9 News

Four people who worked at the Catholic Education Office in Melbourne at the time Cardinal George Pell alleges the office kept him in the dark about a notoriously abusive priest will give evidence at a hearing on Wednesday.

The former education officers made statements to the child abuse royal commission after Cardinal Pell gave evidence from Rome last March that the Catholic Education Office withheld information from him.

Dr Pell was Auxiliary Bishop of Melbourne in 1989 with responsibility for education, when complaints were flooding in about the bizarre, abusive and sexualised behaviour of Father Peter Searson at the parish of Doveton.

Allegations against Searson included that he was threatening children at the Holy Family Primary School – he brought a hand gun to school, showed a body in a coffin to children and held a knife to a little girl’s chest.

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Emotional trip for Jurds

AUSTRALIA
Armidale Express

By DANNIELLE MAGUIRE
April 27, 2016,.

FOUR generations from one family have been left with the scars from child sexual abuse.

Grandmother Claire Jurd had to bury a son, Peter Jurd has lost a brother, Claire-Anne Jurd has had to confront adulthood without a father, and little Indi will never know her grandfather.

Together, they tied a ribbon for the man missing from their family – Damian Jurd, who took his own life after being sexually abused by former Catholic priest John Joseph Farrell.

Damian spoke up about what happened to him, however, charges laid in 1987 against the defrocked priest went to a committal hearing and were dismissed by a magistrate.

It was reported the magistrate thought Damian, who was 15 at the time, was not as credible a witness as the priest.

The abuse took its toll on Damian, who ended his life in 2001.

He was just 28-years-old.

Nearly 10 years later and on Thursday, his family travelled from Tamworth to Armidale to honour Damian’s memory.

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At Brigham Young, a Cost in Reporting a Rape

UTAH
New York Times

By JACK HEALY APRIL 26, 2016

PROVO, Utah — Before she could move into the dorms at Brigham Young University or sign up for freshman classes, Brooke first had to sign the college’s Honor Code.

Part moral compass and part contract, the Honor Code is a cornerstone of life for the nearly 30,000 students at the Mormon-run university. It points students, faculty and staff members toward “moral virtues encompassed in the gospel of Jesus Christ,” prizing honesty, chastity and virtue. It requires modest dress on campus and prohibits drinking, drug use, same-sex intimacy, indecency and sexual misconduct.

But after Brooke, 20, told the university that she had been raped by a fellow student at his apartment in February 2014, she said the Honor Code became a tool to punish her. She had taken LSD that night, and told the university about an earlier, coerced sexual encounter with the student who she said later raped her. Four months after reporting the assault, she got a letter from the associate dean of students.

“You are being suspended from Brigham Young University because of your violation of the Honor Code including continued illegal drug use and consensual sex, effective immediately,” the letter read.

In the past few weeks, Brooke and a handful of other female students have come forward, first at a rape-awareness conference and then in The Salt Lake Tribune, to say that they had faced Honor Code investigations into whether they drank alcohol, took drugs or had consensual sex in the time surrounding their assaults.

“They treated me in such an un-Christlike way, like I was some sinner,” said Brooke, who agreed to be identified by her first name. “There was no forgiveness and mercy.”

Their accounts have brought a national debate over colleges’ disparate treatment of sexual-assault survivors crashing onto this faith-driven campus, where Mormon students gather from around the globe, women’s skirts must fall to their knees and men’s beards are outlawed. The furor has raised criticism over how the university treats survivors of sexual assault as it also seeks to uphold a moral code that lies at the heart of its identity.

Some experts in law and gender issues on college campuses said Brigham Young’s approach was troubling.

They said the fear of being investigated, suspended or losing a scholarship could keep students from reporting sexual assaults to the university, potentially letting perpetrators escape campus discipline.

“You’re creating a systemic unwillingness or barrier for victims to come forward and access the resources of the university for fear that they’re going to be punished,” said Brett A. Sokolow, executive director of the Association of Title IX Administrators, an industry group named for the federal law that prohibits sex discrimination in education.

Brigham Young’s policy on sexual misconduct urges students to come forward even if they have broken school policies. It says any violation is addressed separately from a sexual-assault investigation.

Carri Jenkins, a university spokeswoman, said its priority was to support and safeguard students who report sexual violence.

“Brigham Young University cares deeply about the safety of our students,” she said in an email. “When a student reports a sexual assault, our primary focus is on the well-being of the victim.”

Sometimes, though, “facts come to light that a victim has engaged in prior Honor Code violations,” she said, adding that those facts can be investigated.

Many other colleges, secular and religious, have “amnesty clauses” that protect victims who might worry about getting in trouble for infractions surrounding their attack, like taking drugs or drinking in a dorm room. Last year, Maryland passed a law protecting students who report or witness sexual assaults from being cited for violating drug and alcohol rules.

“All schools, including B.Y.U., know that alcohol and drugs are often involved in sexual violence,” said Adele P. Kimmel, a senior lawyer at Public Justice, a nonprofit that advocates social-justice issues. “If you’re a school that wants to send a message to students that you’re serious about preventing sexual violence, you should have an amnesty policy.”

Madeline MacDonald, a sophomore at Brigham Young studying computer science, did not hesitate to go to the university in December 2014 after what was supposed to be a date with someone she met on Tinder turned into an assault. Ms. MacDonald, who agreed to allow her full name to be published, said the man — not a B.Y.U. student — drove her to a water tower off campus, undressed, groped her and masturbated against her after she told him “no” several times.

The next day, she went to the university’s Title IX office, which fields sexual-assault reports, and gave them a detailed account of what happened. She recently learned that an investigation was opened by the university’s Honor Code office that same day.

“There was a good two weeks where I had no clue what was going on and no one would talk to me,” she said.

Ms. MacDonald said the university eventually agreed that she had been sexually assaulted and offered support services. Separately, she got a call telling her she would face no discipline under the Honor Code.

Brigham Young always seemed like the natural path for Ms. MacDonald, who grew up in Seattle. Her family members were alumni, and they would wake her up singing the university’s fight song.

She said she had decided to stay at Brigham Young, despite her experience. “This is a really awful policy,” she said.

The federal Education Department urges colleges to make sure their discipline policies do not discourage students from coming forward to report sexual assaults. The policies also should remind survivors that their drinking or drug use is never an invitation for sexual violence, the agency says.

Madi Barney said she was so worried about facing Honor Code sanctions at Brigham Young that she waited four days last September before she went to the Provo police to report that she had been raped in her off-campus apartment by a man she knew, who was not a student.

“I just remember sobbing and telling the police officer I couldn’t go forward because B.Y.U. was going to kick me out,” Ms. Barney, 20, said.

But Ms. Barney’s police report made its way into the university’s hands anyway, after Nasiru Seidu, the man charged with assaulting her, gave it to an acquaintance who worked as a Provo County sheriff’s deputy, according to court records. The deputy, Edwin Randolph, passed it to the college.

Mr. Seidu and Mr. Randolph were charged with witness retaliation; the charges were later dropped.

The university later contacted her to say it wanted to meet with her. Last month, the university’s general counsel, Stephen Craig, emailed Ms. Barney’s lawyer to say that while B.Y.U. had not sought the police report, it was nevertheless “under an obligation to itself and to its students to investigate credible reports of Honor Code violation.”

“I understand that this is disappointing to you and to Madison,” Mr. Craig wrote to the lawyer. “The university nonetheless enforces its Honor Code.”

On March 4, Brigham Young’s lawyer wrote to say that Ms. Barney could finish the semester, but that the university would block her from enrolling in any more classes “until the Honor Code issues are resolved.”

Ms. Barney took her final exam at Brigham Young this month, and has decided she does not want to return.

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Pell surprised at suspension of Vatican audit

VATICAN CITY
CathNews New Zealand

The Vatican’s finance chief, Cardinal George Pell, has expressed surprise at the suspension of an independent audit of the Vatican’s finances.

The Vatican’s Secretariat of State suspended the audit by international accounting firm PricewaterhouseCoopers last week.

This is four months after the Vatican had announced PwC was to perform the audit.

Vatican spokesman Fr Federico Lombardi, SJ, said that the audit had been paused because there are “underway detailed studies of some aspects relative to the agreement” reached with the firm.

According to media reports, the problem was not connected to PricewaterhouseCoopers, which had just begun its work.

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Lawsuit says Catholic priest sexually abused Long Island man

NEW YORK
Newsday

Updated April 26, 2016
By Bart Jones bart.jones@newsday.com

A Long Island man said Tuesday he was sexually abused as a boy by a Roman Catholic priest — the second case brought against the priest since last year.

The Diocese of Rockville Centre, which has not removed the Rev. Gregory Yacyshyn from active ministry, said it “intends to address the claims vigorously in a court of law.”

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Indian priest investigated for abuse in Canada not charged

INDIA/CANADA
UCA News

Ritu Sharma, New Delhi
India April 26, 2016

An Indian Catholic priest sent back to India from Canada following an investigation into alleged abuse has been cleared after a police inquiry.

Father Ashok Mascarenhas, a member of the Bangalore province of the Society of the Catholic Apostolate — known as the Pallottines, was suspended in March and sent back to India in early April after complaints against him initiated a police inquiry in Canada.

He was serving as an associate pastor at Our Lady of the Angels Catholic Church in Fort Saskatchewan, Edmonton Archdiocese, since 2013.

“Somebody had complained against Father Mascarenhas of showing interest in the personal lives of people, but that could not be proved,” Father Pedro Camilo Simoes, provincial of the congregation’s Bangalore province, told ucanews.com.

The priest was being investigated for allegations of undisclosed abuse. Since he was not charged, police in Canada could not release the nature of the investigation.

A letter issued by Lorraine Turchansky, director of communications and public relations for the Edmonton Archdiocese, informed parishioners that the investigation into complaints made against Father Ashok Mascarenhas has concluded and that no criminal charges were filed.

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French cardinal admits mistakes in child sex abuse cases

FRANCE
Crux

By Associated Press
April 26, 2016

A French cardinal said his diocese has made “some mistakes” in the management and nomination of certain priests amid allegations that he had covered up child sex abuse cases.

Cardinal Philippe Barbarin stressed the “importance” for the victims “to see their right to truth and justice recognized” in a statement issued Monday following a meeting on the issue with 220 priests from the Lyon region.

Barbarin, the archbishop of Lyon and one of the highest-ranking church officials in France, is among six church officials targeted by complaints for not reporting child sex abuse cases to judicial authorities.

The French Catholic Church has decided this month to set up a new independent commission made up of secular experts in charge of advising bishops and helping them handle child sex abuses cases.

Archbishop Georges Pontier of Marseille, president of the French bishops’ conference, announced in mid-April a series of measures to fight pedophilia inside the French church, amid growing concerns over newly-revealed child sex abuse cases, especially in the Lyon diocese run by Barbarin.

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OK–SNAP to prelate: “Disclose other imported predators”

OKLAHOMA
Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests

For immediate release: Tuesday, April 26, 2016

Statement by Joelle Casteix of Orange County, SNAP volunteer western regional director, 949 322 7434, jcasteix@gmail.com

Oklahoma’s top Catholic official should tell his flock if he’s imported other proven, admitted or credibly accused predator priests into his archdiocese. And an Oklahoma pastor should apologize to his flock for three self-serving or misleading comments he made about a proven predator.

Both should also urge anyone who may have seen, suspected or suffered any misdeeds or crimes by the convicted criminal, Fr. Jose Alexis Davila, to call police.

Fr. Michael Chapman pastors Blessed Sacrament parish in Lawton, where Fr. Alexis Davila has been worked.

[Blessed Sacrament parish]

About Fr. Alexis Davila, Fr. Chapman said he “believes Davila when he tells him the contact was inadvertent,” “believes Davila pleaded guilty to minimize embarrassment to himself and the church” and should be given “a second chance,” according to KFOR TV.

[KFOR]

This kind of reckless attitude – believing a criminal’s “spin” and giving every conceivable benefit of the doubt to a proven sex offender – is a key reason why priests keep assaulting kids, teens and adults and keep getting second, third and fourth chances to hurt others in the church.

Would a woman, the police and the prosecutors pursue criminal charges over “inadvertent” contact? Would you plead guilty to two sex charges just to “minimize embarrassment” to yourself and your colleagues? That defies common sense.

In fact, a San Diego prosecutor said in court that Fr. Alexis Davila is accused of “touching the victim in three areas against her will when they were alone. He reportedly touched her buttocks, her breast and “put his finger in her vagina.”

Fr. Chapman’s comments rub even more salt into the already-deep and likely still-fresh wounds of the 19 year old Fr. Alexis Davila assaulted in San Diego.

He should apologize for his insensitive siding with an admitted criminal over that criminal’s victim and for making comments that will likely deter others who see, suspect or suffer child sex crimes and misconduct from reporting to authorities.

But the bigger culprit here is Archbishop Paul Coakley.

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Assignment History– Rev. Peter B. Murphy

IOWA
BishopAccountability.org

Summary of Case: Peter B. Murphy was ordained for the Sioux City IA diocese in 1955. He assisted in parishes in Emmetsburg, Fort Dodge, Whittemore and Sioux City before going on leave of absence1960-63. He was assigned to a Denison parish in 1963-64, then was on leave thereafter until his death in 1980 in Jemez Springs, NM. During his “leave” he did fill-in assistant work in parishes. In March 2016 he was named publicly as having sexually abused an Iowa boy during 1959-60.

Born: January 13, 1931
Ordained: June 4, 1955
Died: November 8, 1980

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Columbus priest accused of sexual abuse dies of cancer

OHIO
The Columbus Dispatch

By JoAnne Viviano
The Columbus Dispatch • Tuesday April 26, 2016

A Roman Catholic priest accused of sexually abusing a minor when he worked at a Columbus school and two parishes in the 1970s has died, according to a spokesman for the Diocese of Columbus.

George Jones said that the Rev. Ronald Atwood, 72, died on Saturday. He had cancer.

Atwood was placed on administrative leave by Bishop Frederick Campbell in July 2013, a day after the diocese received a complaint that Atwood had abused someone from 1976 to 1979, while assigned to Bishop Ready High School on the city’s West Side, St. Stephen the Martyr Church on the Southwest Side and St. Peter Church on the Northwest Side.

After a diocesan board investigated, the diocese sent documentation to the Vatican requesting that Atwood be defrocked. At the time of his death, he was on leave.

Atwood’s death comes less than a month after Boston lawyer Mitchell Garabedian announced that he had reached a five-figure financial settlement with the Columbus diocese in February 2015 regarding a claim against Atwood.

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Worshippers seek healing for Kansas City diocese torn apart by sex abuse

MISSOURI
Kansas City Star

BY RICK MONTGOMERY
rmontgomery@kcstar.com

They held small stones in their palms in a solemn procession to the altar at St. James Catholic Church in Liberty.

About 100 worshippers lined up to place the stones at the base of a wooden cross. It was to symbolize letting go of a burden they’ve carried. Then the procession wound around two basins of water, where they washed their hands.

For the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph, the service Thursday night was the eighth in a series called “Healing Our Parishes through Empathy.” Bishop James V. Johnston Jr., installed in November, presided.

“If there are victims of sexual abuse here that was brought about by clergy, priests, bishops or anyone serving in the church,” he told the gathering, “I want to say, personally, that I am sorry.

“And before you I repent. I repent of any actions or inactions on the part of any bishops or priests or others who harmed you.”

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Case for the defense of Cardinal Pell heard in Australia

AUSTRALIA
Crux

By Andrew Rabel
Special to Crux April 26, 2016

MELBOURNE – In general, Australian media and public opinion have not been kind to Cardinal George Pell, basically turning the 75-year-old Vatican financial czar into the country’s leading symbol of child sexual abuse scandals in the Catholic Church.

That campaign reached a crescendo in February, when Pell testified before a Royal Commission via video link from Rome about his time as a priest in the city of Ballarat and later as the Archbishop of Melbourne.

A satirical song by a local comedian calling Pell “scum” and a “coward” went viral, while the tone of press commentary was almost unrelentingly accusatory.

Less noticed, however, has been an emerging “case for the defense” in the Australian press, in some cases composed of people who’ve known Pell a long time, and who’ve been pushing back against what they see as a campaign of defamation tantamount to a public lynching.

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Francis: Spirit works in laypeople, ‘is not property of the hierarchy’

VATICAN CITY
National Catholic Reporter

Joshua J. McElwee | Apr. 26, 2016

VATICAN CITY
Pope Francis has again sharply denounced the culture of clericalism among priests in the Catholic church, calling it “one of the greatest deformations” that must be confronted by the global faith community and saying it helps “diminish and undervalue” the contributions that laypeople make.

The pontiff has also strongly reaffirmed the right of laypeople to make decisions in their lives, saying that priests must trust that the Holy Spirit is working in them and that the Spirit “is not only the ‘property’ of the ecclesial hierarchy.”

In a letter to Cardinal Marc Ouellet in his role as the head of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America, released by the Vatican Tuesday, Francis says he wants to speak to the members of the commission about how to better serve what he terms “the Holy Faithful People of God.”

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MO–New bishop named; Victims respond

MISSOURI
Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests

For immediate release: Tuesday, April 26, 2016

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

The diocese once headed by Cardinal Bernard Law is now headed by Bishop Edward Rice. We are disappointed by Rice’s promotion.

He comes from the St. Louis archdiocese, which has a troubling track record on abuse. An admitted predator priest (Fr. Vincent Bryce) is still on the job in St. Louis, along with a priest who’s faced three accusers (Fr. Alex Anderson). It’s an archdiocese that has, for years, quietly let bishops from across the US to send their predator priests here where those priests have sometimes molested again.

It’s an archdiocese that is letting a twice accused predator priest (Fr. Joseph Jiang) live with virtually no supervision near the parish where he allegedly molested a boy just a few years ago.

Throughout all of this, Rice has been conspicuously and irresponsibly silent. So we are not confident he’ll be any more honest or proactive in Springfield than he’s been in St. Louis. In a worldwide institution, surely Francis could have found a more courageous and compassionate man for this job.

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WA–Yakima bishop refuses to list predators; Victims respond

WASHINGTON
Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests

For immediate release – Tuesday, April 26, 2016, 2016

Statement by David Clohessy of St. Louis, Director of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (314 566 9790, 314 645 5915 home, davidgclohessy@gmail.com)

Yakima Catholic officials are now refusing to follow the lead of 30 other US bishop by posting names of predator priests on a church website this month. Shame on them for putting their comfort above the healing of victims and the safety of kids.

[Yakima Herald]

[BishopAccountability.org]

Weeks ago, Bishop Joseph Tyson’s staff suggested he might post these names. We are deeply disappointed.

Tyson’s public relations staffer, Msgr. Robert Siler, said “the diocese does not see a pressing need (to post the names) at this present time.”

How about suicide prevention? How about easing the pain of victims who were assaulted as kids by these priests and are still mired in shame, silence and self-blame?

Unacknowledged wounds are tough and slow to heal. Many victims feel better when their perpetrators are “outed.” Many feel even better when bishops – who recruited, educated, ordained, and shielded these offenders – admit they are predators and post their names.

And, more important, kids are safer when predators are “outed.”

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Law firm McConnell Kelly to create up to 10 jobs with £2.5m expansion in Bangor and Belfast

NORTHERN IRELAND
Belfast Telegraph

By John Mulgrew
PUBLISHED
25/04/2016

A Northern Ireland criminal law firm is growing its operations as part of a £2.5m expansion.

McConnell Kelly Solicitors has worked with more than 100,000 clients over the last 25 years, including representing victims at the Historical Institutional Abuse Inquiry.

It’s seen an upsurge in business and is now expanding its team of 25, based in east Belfast and Bangor.

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Holy See Press Office communiqué on the contract with auditing firm PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), 26.04.2016

VATICAN CITY
Vatican Information Service – Bollettinoi

Vatican City, 26 April 2016 – The Holy See Press Office issued a communiqué today with regard to the contract with the auditing firm PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), in which it offers the following clarifications. The suspension of auditing activities is not due to considerations linked to the integrity or quality of the work initiated by PwC, let alone the intention of one or more entities of the Holy See to block the reforms in progress.

However, issues have emerged regarding the meaning and scope of certain clauses of the contract and their methods of implementation. Such elements will undergo the necessary examination. The decision to proceed in this way was taken after suitable consultations between the competent bodies and experts in the field.

It is hoped that this phase of reflection and study may take place in an atmosphere of serenity and collaboration. The commitment to adequate economic and financial auditing remains a priority for the Holy See and for Vatican City State.

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Vatican spokesman says suspending audit not about ‘blocking reforms’

ROME
Crux

By John L. Allen Jr.
Editor April 26, 2016

Despite a recent decision to suspend a contract with the global firm Pricewaterhouse Coopers for an audit, the Vatican’s Press Office on Tuesday released a statement insisting that the “commitment to adequate economic and financial auditing remains a priority.”

“The suspension of auditing activities is not due to considerations linked to the integrity or quality of the work initiated by PwC, let alone the intention of one or more entities of the Holy See to block the reforms in progress,” said the statement.

“Issues have emerged regarding the meaning and scope of certain clauses of the contract and their methods of implementation,” the statement said. “Such elements will undergo the necessary examination. The decision to proceed in this way was taken after suitable consultations between the competent bodies and experts in the field.”

“It is hoped,” the statement added, “that this phase of reflection and study may take place in an atmosphere of serenity and collaboration.”

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Pédophilie, une victime du P. Preynat témoigne

FRANCE
La Croix

[Vincent Berger, 44, a psychoanalyst and victim of Father Bernard Preynat, told his story Monday to Cardinal Philippe Barbarin and 220 priests of the Lyon diocese in France.]

Victime du P. Bernard Preynat, Vincent Berger, 44 ans, psychanalyste, a témoigné à sa demande lors de la rencontre qui a réuni lundi 25 avril l’archevêque de Lyon, le cardinal Philippe Barbarin, et 220 prêtres du diocèse, au Centre Valpré, à Écully (métropole de Lyon). La Croix l’a rencontré à la sortie de cette réunion.

Pourquoi avoir décidé de témoigner ?

Vincent Berger : « D’une part, j’ai été moi-même victime du P. Bernard, en 1979, 1980 et 1981, lorsque j’étais scout. D’autre part, après avoir été longtemps ingénieur informaticien, je suis aujourd’hui psychanalyste. J’ai voulu décortiquer le processus qui amenait les pédophiles à passer à l’acte. J’ai surtout voulu faire passer le message aux prêtres qu’un pédophile ne passe pas à l’acte si on lui vient en aide.

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CA–Bishop claims “abuse is over” while he lets predator work elsewhere

CALIFORNIA
Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests

For immediate release: Tuesday, April 26, 2016

Statement by Statement by David Clohessy of St. Louis, Director of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (314 566 9790, 314 645 5915 home,davidgclohessy@gmail.com)

San Diego’s top Catholic official is making the self-serving and deceptive claim that the church’s child sex abuse and cover up crisis is over while he passively sits back and lets a convicted predator priest work in another parish.

Shame on Bishop Robert McElroy.

[San Diego Reader]

Hoping to boost parochial school attendance by exploiting recent sex scandals at a public school, McElroy claims “Catholic schools still have one big advantage” because “We’ve had our big sex scandal. It’s in the past.”

“I promise that your kids are safe with us,” McElroy tells San Diego parents while he lets Fr. Jose Alexis Davila work at four Oklahoma parishes while giving parents, police, prosecutors, parishioners and the public no warning whatsoever.

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PA–Victims blast Catholic official over abuse remarks

PENNSYLVANIA
Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests

For immediate release: Tuesday, April 26, 2016

Statement by David Clohessy of St. Louis, Director of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (314 566 9790, 314 645 5915 home, davidgclohessy@gmail.com)

Ill-considered comments by a Pittsburgh professor who once headed a national Catholic abuse panel help show why the church’s child sex crimes and cover up scandal continues.

[Tribune-Review]

Nicholas Cafardi is at the Duquesne University law school. For years, he was on – and once headed – the National Review Board, a “toothless tiger” of a committee hand-picked by bishops to purportedly oversee whether Catholic officials kept their promises about safeguarding kids.

Because of his experience, Cafardi should know better than to make comments like “I think 95 percent of the dioceses are following (the rule on removing predator priests).”

Cafardi has no way to know this. And by making this claim, he encourages complacency. Complacency endangers kids. Only vigilance protects kids.

And if 95% of US bishops are removing predator priests, how does Cafardi explain Fr. Joseph Jeyapaul? He admitted molesting a young teen, was accused of molesting another, was sued by both (and both settled for six figure sums). But just weeks ago, Vatican officials lifted his suspension and he’s set to be put back on the job next month.

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Indian parish closed over bust of dead priest accused of murder

INDIA
UCA News

Father Selvaraj had been charged with the 2013 killing of a seminary rectorApril 26, 2016

Archbishop Bernard Moras of Bangalore has closed down a parish after parishioners installed the bust of a dead priest who was accused of killing another priest three years ago.

The canonical decree of the archbishop, issued April 21, ordered the immediate closure of St. Paul the Hermit Church.

A bust of Father Chowrappa Selvaraj, who died in March, had been installed in the church by parishioners. He was one of six priests police accused of murdering seminary rector Father K.J. Thomas three years ago.

Father Anthony Swami, archdiocesan spokesman, said Archbishop Moras met with a delegation of parishioners and was willing to revoke the order but “closure was the only option as their action violated church teachings,” said Father Anthony Swami, archdiocesan spokesman.

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Church paedophile cases: French cardinal recognises ‘errors’ in nomination of priests

FRANCE
International Business Times

By Lara Rebello
April 26, 2016

The Archbishop of Lyon who was accused of covering up for a priest found guilty in numerous sex abuse cases has finally admitted to “errors in management and nomination of certain priests”.

A statement was released following a closed-door meeting of 220 priests to discuss the accusations, which claimed that the church and Cardinal Philippe Barbarin were involved in covering up cases of paedophilia in the area.

“The cardinal recognised that the diocese committed errors in the management and nomination of certain priests,” the statement read.

“We failed to fulfill our obligation to investigate and to seek the truth,” Yves Baumgarten, vicar-general of the diocese, said during a press conference. Lyon has been at the centre of a shocking sex scandal after complaints surfaced accusing Bernard Preynat of preying on young scouts who were under his supervision over 25 years ago. The priest finally confessed to his crimes and was charged in January.

Now, the focus of the investigation has shifted to Cardinal Barbarin, who has been accused of failing to inform prosecutors about the sex abuse, despite being informed about Preynat’s crimes in 2007.

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‘Without hesitation,’ Bishop Rice accepts appointment to lead Springfield-Cape Girardeau

MISSOURI
St. Louis Review

SUBMITTED ON APRIL 25, 2016

Pope Francis has appointed Bishop Edward M. Rice the bishop of the Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau. The appointment was announced by the Vatican at 5 a.m. St. Louis time on April 26. Bishop Rice currently is auxiliary bishop of St. Louis.

When a representative of the Vatican called about the appointment, Bishop Rice was praying Evening Prayer at Holy Redeemer Church, where he lives.

“Without hesitation, I said ‘yes’.” Bishop Rice said in an interview.

It’s fitting that Bishop Rice learned of his new appointment during prayer. After he was ordained bishop in 2011, he was told by Archbishop Carlson that he’d likely serve in St. Louis for a few more years and then get his own diocese. “I’ve been praying for my future diocese ever since,” he said.

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FRENCH BISHOPS NAME SENIOR CIVIL SERVANT TO HEAD INDEPENDENT ABUSE PANEL

FRANCE
The Tablet

26 April 2016 | by Tom Heneghan

‘I’m not an enemy of the Church’ says new commissioner criticised by conservative Catholic bloggers

The French bishops have named a respected senior civil servant to head their independent commission on sexual abuse of minors, prompting arch-conservative Catholics to try to discredit him as too liberal for the post.

Traditionalist Catholic bloggers denounced the decision to name Alain Christnacht at the head of a commission of experts such as retired judges, doctors, psychologists and parents to advise bishops on how to deal with abuse cases.

The bishops created the commission after it emerged that Cardinal Philippe Barbarin had reacted slowly to past abuse cases in his Lyon archdiocese and then mishandled the public debate that followed. The bloggers said Alain Christnacht, a classic French “mandarin” who was briefly chief of staff to a justice minister after she pushed through the legalisation of same-sex marriage in 2013, was known as someone who “fought against the doctrine of the Church”.

Christnacht, who describes himself as a liberal Catholic and has worked often with Socialist politicians, hit back in interviews by saying critics who say one cannot be Catholic and left-wing do not share “the position of the pope”. “I’m not an enemy of the Church,” said the nominee, who has long advised the bishops on issues linked to France’s official secularist policy of laïcité. “It would be curious if the bishops, who know me, would have appointed an enemy of the Church.”

Christnacht, 61, has also been on the board of the French Scouts and Guides, the large Catholic scouting association, since 2007. Church sources said the traditionalist reaction was expected and would not affect his appointment. Cardinal Philippe Barbarin met 220 priests of his Lyon archdiocese on Monday to discuss the abuse scandal and the Church’s reaction. A victim of an abusive priest addressed the closed-door meeting.

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Auxiliary Bishop Edward Rice named Bishop of Springfield-Cape Girardeau

MISSOURI
Fox 2

BY KEVIN S. HELD

ST. LOUIS (KTVI) – A local auxiliary bishop has been appointed to lead a neighboring diocese.

In an announcement Tuesday morning (local time) in Rome, Pope Francis appointed Auxiliary Bishop of St. Louis Edward Rice to the position of Bishop of Springfield-Cape Girardeau.

Bishop Rice will be the seventh bishop of the diocese.

Bishop Rice was ordained a priest in January 1987 and served as a priest in the Archdiocese of St. Louis since that time: he was associate pastor at Our Lady of the Presentation Parish (1987-1991), religion teacher at St. Mary’s High School (1991-1995), director at Cardinal Glennon College Seminary (1995-2000), pastor at St. John the Baptist (2000-2008) and eventually that church’s director of vocations (2008-2010). Pope Benedict bestowed the title of monsignor on then-Fr. Rice in July 2008 and auxiliary bishop in December 2010.

Bishop Rice will be installed in the Springfield-Cape Girardeau Diocese on Wednesday, June 1 in Springfield. Meanwhile, a farewell mass and reception is scheduled at the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis on Monday, May 23 at 5 p.m.

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NV–More charges for predator preacher; Victims respond

NEVADA
Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests

For immediate release: Monday, April 25, 2016

Statement by David Clohessy of St. Louis, Director of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (314 566 9790, 314 645 5915 home, davidgclohessy@gmail.com)

A convicted predatory preacher who has worked in Nevada faces more child sex charges after five more victims of his have stepped forward.

Rev. Otis Holland is behind bars for assaulting kids. Earlier, he claimed that some of his alleged victims were “in love with him” and “jealous.”

Now others are speaking up about their suffering at the hands of this clergyman. We applaud them for their courage.

[News3LV]

No matter what lawmakers or church officials do or don’t do, we urge every single person who saw, suspected or suffered child sex crimes and cover ups in churches to protect kids by calling police, get help by calling therapists, expose wrongdoers by calling law enforcement, get justice by calling attorneys, and be comforted by calling support groups like ours. This is how kids will be safer, adults will recover, criminals will be prosecuted, cover ups will be deterred and the truth will surface.

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Barbarin reconnaît «des erreurs dans la gestion et la nomination de certains prêtres»

FRANCE
Le Progres

Le cardinal Barbarin a reconnu que le diocèse de Lyon avait commis «des erreurs dans la gestion et la nomination de certains prêtres», selon un communiqué publié à l’issue d’une réunion du clergé lyonnais sur le sujet.

L’EGLISE A MANQUÉ À “SES OBLIGATIONS”

Dans un communiqué ce lundi, «Le cardinal a notamment reconnu que le diocèse avait commis des erreurs dans la gestion et la nomination de certains prêtres».

«Il est apparu que, dans la connaissance de certains faits, on n’avait pas tous les éléments. Nous avons manqué à nos obligations d’investigation, de recherche de la vérité», a souligné lors d’une conférence de presse à l’évêché Yves Baumgarten, vicaire général modérateur du diocèse.

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Pédophilie : le cardinal Barbarin reconnaît des «erreurs»

FRANCE
Le Figaro

VIDÉO – Devant deux cent vingt prêtres du diocèse de Lyon réunis lundi après-midi à huis clos, Mgr Barbarin, fragilisé par des affaires d’agressions sexuelles, a admis «des erreurs dans la gestion et la nomination de certains prêtres».

Fragilisé par des affaires de pédophilie et d’agressions sexuelles dans son diocèse de Lyon, qu’on lui reproche de ne pas avoir dénoncées à la justice, le cardinal Barbarin réunissait, ce lundi, les prêtres de l’évêché pour évoquer le sujet et montrer qu’il s’en empare. Deux cent vingt prêtres en activité ont participé à cette réunion qui se tenait à huis clos, dans la chapelle du Centre Valpré d’Ecully, en banlieue lyonnaise. Selon l’invitation qui leur avait été adressée, il s’agissait de faire le «point sur les affaires en cours», les décisions «déjà prises» et les «orientations nouvelles» en matière de nomination et d’accueil de religieux au sein du diocèse.

D’après un communiqué publié à l’issue de cette rencontre, le cardinal Barbarin a reconnu que le diocèse de Lyon avait commis «des erreurs dans la gestion et la nomination de certains prêtres». «Il est apparu que, dans la connaissance de certains faits, on n’avait pas tous les éléments. Nous avons manqué à nos obligations d’investigation, de recherche de la vérité», a souligné lors d’une conférence de presse à l’évêché Yves Baumgarten, vicaire général modérateur du diocèse.

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Waterloo firm ordered to reimburse federal government $874,000

CANADA
Kitchener Post

By Gordon Paul

A Waterloo firm that worked as a court-appointed monitor overseeing the Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement has been ordered to reimburse the federal government $874,000.

Crawford Class Action Services led a two-year investigation into the conduct of law firm Bronstein & Co. and concluded it did a substandard job representing more than 1,400 people making claims under the agreement.

Last October, British Columbia Supreme Court Justice Brenda Brown ordered Bronstein to reimburse the federal government $1.25 million as “special costs.”

Earlier this month, Brown ordered Crawford to reimburse the government $874,000 for “unreasonable or unnecessary amounts” billed to the government for the investigation.

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Oklahoma City archbishop ‘assessing situation’ after concerns raised about Lawton priest

OKLAHOMA
News OK

by Carla Hinton Published: April 25, 2016

A Roman Catholic leader said Monday he is “assessing the situation” regarding a Lawton priest who pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor involving a young woman.

The Most Rev. Paul S. Coakley, archbishop of the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City, issued the second of two prepared statements about the Rev. Jose Alexis Davila on Monday evening.

The archbishop’s remarks came as some parishioners of Lawton’s Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church began voicing their concerns about Davila after news of his misdemeanor surfaced recently.

Diane Clay, archdiocesan spokeswoman, said Coakley had received emails and telephone calls from some parishioners of Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church about Davila after recent media reports that Davila pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge in 2012 in San Diego.

Clay said most of the parishioners voicing their uneasiness were those whose children attend St. Mary’s Catholic School in Lawton. Clay said as pastor or parish priest of a church tied to a school, the priest is part of the school environment.

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Police Called to the Redemptoris Mater Seminary

GUAM
Pacific News Center

Written by Timothy Mchenry

Just this last week, the leader of the Neocatechumenal way in the U.S., Guiseppe Gennarini, landed on Guam to attend meetings at the seminary.

Guam – Tensions continue to boil over between catholic protesters and members of the Neocatechumenal way. In fact police had to respond to a protest at the Redemptoris Mater Seminary today.

Protest is their only medium to voicing their concerns says Marilu Martinez, who, along with dozens of protesters, gathered outside of the mater day seminary where police were called after a couple of protesters walked onto the seminary property.

“So we walked in, very peacefully, we weren’t damaging property or anything like that but somebody did meet us at the entrance and said if we did not leave, they would call the police on us, but we discussed that we felt we had every right to remain on the property since we are Catholics, just like they had the right to be there themselves being Neocatechumenal (way),” said Martinez.

Martinez refused to leave and thus the police were called. She maintains their right to be on the property since she was told the seminary belongs to the archdiocese of Guam, to which she is a member.

“Because the archbishop has always claimed and even the Neocatechumenal representatives claimed and it was even published in the Umatuna, the seminary still belonged to the archdiocese. We are the archdiocese, as far the as the Catholics when you talk about the church, we are the church, so we felt like why are we outside the property?” said Martinez.

Just this last week, the leader of the Neocatechumenal way in the U.S., Guiseppe Gennarini, landed on Guam to attend meetings at the seminary. He was greeted with an angry mob of protestors at the airport. Since then protests have continued at the Redemptoris Mater. There has been controversy surrounding the ownership of the Redemptoris Mater. Some believe that the archbishop gave the property to leaders of Neocatechumenal way and they fear a Neocatechumenal take over of Guam’s catholic churches.

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French Cardinal Barbarin recognizes ‘errors’ in handling of sex abuse cases

FRANCE
France 24

A French cardinal accused of covering up for a paedophile priest, in a scandal that has rocked the local Catholic Church, admitted Monday to “errors in the management and nomination of certain priests”.

Cardinal Philippe Barbarin, Archbishop of Lyon, made the admission in a statement after a meeting at the bishop’s residence in Lyon to discuss accusations the church failed to report several child sexual abuse cases in the area.

The meeting, which was held behind closed doors and attended by some 220 priests, heard from a victim of Bernard Preynat, a priest who has admitted sexually abusing scouts under his supervision over 25 years ago.

Several complaints have been brought against Barbarin for failing to inform the authorities about Preynat and other priests targeted by abuse allegations in his diocese.

The media-friendly cardinal, one of the top figures in the Church in France, has vehemently denied any cover-up.

“The cardinal recognised that the diocese committed errors in the management and nomination of certain priests,” the statement issued after Monday’s meeting said.

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Women recount tale of torture by ‘Gauteng man of God’

SOUTH AFRICA
News 24

2016-04-26

Johannesburg – He kidnapped, beat and raped three young women and threatened to kill their families. And he was a pastor who had promised them spiritual guidance.

The three young women, aged 17, 18 and 25, spoke out about their alleged ordeal at the hands of the man who had offered help with their personal problems and even jobs.

They met him while he was doing a religious “crusade” in Merafong and other surrounding areas, The Carletonville Herald reported on April 18.

The parents of the 17-year-old suggested that she move in with the pastor and his wife after concerns about her behaviour.

But then the church leader began abusing her, leaving her young body marked with welts, she said. Soon after, the girl’s 18-year-old friend was persuaded to move in too and the abuse continued, reported the Herald community newspaper.

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30 Days Left for St. Cloud Diocese Survivors of Child Sex Abuse To Act To Protect Rights

MINNESOTA
Legal Examiner

Posted by Mike Bryant
April 25, 2016

So many Survivors have had the chance to come forward and right so many past wrongs. There is still much more to do. Time is running out. Survivors of sexual abuse have until May 25th, 2016 to seek justice against their attackers. The Window is limited by the statute of limitation that was expanded by the Child Victims Act. Anyone who was sexually abused by an employee of the diocese, or who believes the diocese is liable for their abuse have until May 25, 2016.

Those with claims must act within that time.

Abuse of children and the continued silence by the offenders needs to be prevented. If you suffered, saw, or suspected such events, it is important to know that there is help out there.

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Ohio seminary approves changes to strengthen admissions

OHIO
Catholic Review

April 25, 2016

By Tim Puet
Catholic News Service

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Three initiatives designed to strengthen the admissions process at the Pontifical College Josephinum have been approved by the school’s board of trustees.

The initiatives include a formal recommendation to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops to establish a national database listing all applications to each seminary and houses of formation in the United States; hiring a qualified private investigative agency to assist in verifying the integrity of all applicants, including a review of their social media postings; and interviews for all applicants with a representative of the seminary’s admissions committee and the seminary’s director of psychological evaluation and counseling.

School officials planned to have the new practices in place for the 2016-17 academic year.

The admissions changes were proposed by Monsignor Christopher Schreck, the seminary’s rector-president, in March in response to criminal allegations against Joel Wright, 23, a former seminarian at the Ohio school and the Diocese of Steubenville.

Wright was arrested in San Diego in January on federal felony charges. He pleaded guilty April 13 to one charge of attempted enticement of a minor as part of a plea agreement in which he said he traveled to Mexico with the intent of molesting children. He is to be sentenced July 1. The charge carries a minimum sentence of 10 years and a maximum sentence of life in prison.
eminary-approves-changes-to-strengthen-admissions-process#sthash.PPGHFjCk.dpuf

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Catholic Diocese of Yakima won’t list names of abusers on website

WASHINGTON
Yakima Herald

By Jane Gargas
jgargas@yakimaherald.com

YAKIMA, Wash. — The Lay Advisory Board of the Catholic Diocese of Yakima will not be listing the names of local clergy on its website who have had credible claims of sexual abuse leveled against them.

The board last month discussed listing priests’ names on the diocesan website and took no action nor made any recommendations to Bishop Joseph Tyson.

The seven-member group, which meets quarterly, investigates any allegations of sexual misconduct in the local Catholic church.

The subject arose after the Catholic Archdiocese of Seattle published a list of clergy and other church personnel accused of sexually abusing children on its website in January. The 77 names were those who either admitted abuse, had credible claims made against them or claims established to be true, the Seattle Archdiocese said.

In an email sent last week to the Yakima Herald-Republic, Monsignor Robert Siler, Yakima Diocese chancellor, explained that the lay advisory board concluded that the names of credibly accused priests here already had been made public, either released in notices by the diocese, listed in this newspaper or named in the legal system.

“While the Bishop will continue to consult widely (including the Board) as to the advisability of making any further public release of names, the Diocese does not see a pressing need to do so at the present time,” Siler wrote.

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Denby Fawcett: The Sad Story Of Child Sex Abuse In Hawaii

HAWAII
Honolulu Civil Beat

By Denby Fawcett

Editor’s Note: Civil Beat generally does not use anonymous sources, as noted in our long-standing policy. We’re making an exception for this and other stories about lawsuits filed by child sexual assault victims because we believe it is important to hear the victim’s perspective, and the fact that court records, including a settlement with the Catholic Church, do not reveal their identities.

The Hawaii deadline for victims of child sex abuse to sue was Sunday. In the four years leading up to the deadline, about 150 people filed legal complaints saying they were sexually molested as children. Most victims accused Catholic priests of being their abusers.

But not all were priests. Teachers and other professionals also have been named in the lawsuits. Twenty-six plaintiffs say the now-deceased Kamehameha Schools psychiatrist Robert McCormick Browne drugged and sexually molested them as children when the school sent them to Browne for therapy.

Hawaii lawmakers made it possible for sexual abuse victims to seek justice by extending the deadline for civil suits in 2012 and again in 2014 until the April 24 cutoff.

Most of the alleged incidents happened between the early 1950s and late 1980s.

Attorney Randall Rosenberg, who has filed suits for 56 claimants, says: “This is just the tip of the iceberg. There are hundreds of others out there in Hawaii who have been abused. And now with the deadline passed we are unable to help them.”

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