ABUSE TRACKER

NEW JERSEY
NJ.com

By Mark Mueller | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

JERSEY CITY — The last time Gregorio Martinez stepped foot in a Hudson County courtroom, a jury pronounced him guilty of molesting a 13-year-old boy.

Martinez, an evangelical preacher who held himself out as a prophet, walked out of the courtroom that day, free on $250,000 bail pending sentencing.

Within weeks, he was gone, frustrating his victim’s family and law enforcement officials.

On Friday, 22 months after he vanished, the former Jersey City resident finally returned to a Hudson County courtroom, this time in handcuffs.

Superior Court Judge John A. Young Jr. ordered Martinez, 49, held without bail in connection with the February 2015 conviction on charges of aggravated criminal sexual contact, child abuse and endangering the welfare of a child.

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.

NEW JERSEY
WABC

JERSEY CITY, New Jersey (WABC) — A former New Jersey church pastor was sentenced on sexual assault charges nearly two years after he fled the country following his conviction.

Forty-nine-year-old Gregorio Martinez appeared in Hudson County Superior Court Friday. He was sentenced on charges of aggravated criminal sexual contact, endangering the welfare of a child and child abuse.

Martinez, once a Pentecostal preacher in Jersey City, was found guilty of molesting a 13-year-old boy he got to know through a church in North Bergen in February 2015. Additionally, the Hudson County Prosecutor’s office filed more sexual assault charges after three 19-year-old men also accused him of sexual assault.

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.

MOZAMBIQUE
allAfrica

Maputo — The Mozambican police in Gondola district, in the central province of Manica, have arrested a pastor, 56 year old Nelson Simoes, for “marrying” a 13 year old girl.

Simoes is a pastor in the Johane Maranje sect, who claim to be followers of the Zimbabwean “prophet” Johane Maranje, who died in 1963.

The girl, who has not been named, was the sixth wife of Simoes, who claims to have fathered 23 children. He told reporters that he “married” the girl last year. He claimed her parents asked him to take her to his home where she would serve as a spouse.

Simoes says he was surprised when the police arrested him on charges of child rape. “The woman married with the consent of her parents”, he said. “They wanted to charge me 17,000 meticais (about 240 US dollars) in ‘lobolo’ (bride price), and I paid 4,000”.

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.

UNITED KINGDOM
The Tablet

by Megan Cornwell

A landmark abuse claim that could see the Diocese of Middlesbrough paying out millions of pounds in compensation has had three of its first test cases dismissed by a judge.

Five former students of a Yorkshire school owned by the Diocese and run by the De La Salle Brothers until its closure in 1992, are bringing a civil case against the Church at Leeds High Court.

In 2012 judges ruled that both the Diocese and the religious order were jointly liable for compensation claims that run into the millions.

Over 200 people allegedly suffered abuse while they were students at St William’s residential school in Market Weighton from 1970-1991. Earlier this year the school’s former principal and former chaplain were jailed for sex offences against children at the home, which educated boys with emotional and behavioural challenges.

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.

GUAM
Pacific Daily News

Haidee V Eugenio , heugenio@guampdn.com December 24, 2016

The Archdiocese of Agana, which is now facing 14 lawsuits over allegations that some of its current and former priests sexually abused altar boys, is expanding to different parishes to strengthen its protection of minors.

The archdiocese’s Task Force for the Protection of Minors, created in September under Vatican-sent Archbishop Savio Hon Tai Fai’s leadership, has been conducting training of faculty and staff at Catholic schools related to the protection of youth from sexual abuses.

The three latest Catholic schools to receive the training are Bishop Baumgartner Memorial School in Sinajana, Infant of Prague Catholic Nursery and Kindergarten in Ta’i, Mangilao, and Notre Dame High School in Talofofo.

By next year, these types of training will extend to the parish level, the archdiocese said in a statement issued Wednesday night.

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.

NEW YORK
Roman Catholic Diocese of Syracuse

Friday, December 23, 2016 – Syracuse

Most Rev. Robert J. Cunningham, Bishop of Syracuse, has announced that an allegation made against Father Paul Angelicchio has been deemed not credible by the Diocesan Review Board. The Board is made up of six individuals – four lay professionals, a member of the clergy and a religious – who have extensive backgrounds in areas related to child sexual abuse. Bishop Cunningham has accepted the Board’s recommendation and has returned Father Angelicchio to active ministry as Pastor of St. John the Baptist Church and Transfiguration Church in Rome, effective December 23, 2016.

Father Paul Angelicchio was temporarily placed on administrative leave on November 21, 2016 due to the allegation of abuse of a minor. The alleged incident would have taken place 27 years ago. The allegation was first made to the Onondaga County District Attorney’s Office which later forwarded it to the diocese after its review. Onondaga County District Attorney William Fitzpatrick, in a recent interview, stated that his office found no proof or evidence of wrongdoing by Fr. Angelicchio. He added that he found nothing to back up the claim- no physical evidence, no crime, and no corroborating witness. Fitzpatrick said his office determined Angelicchio “was not a clear and present danger to any minors.”

It is important to note that in keeping with the commitment made under the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, the Diocese of Syracuse must conduct a canonical (church law) investigation into any claim of sexual abuse once it has been reviewed by the appropriate District Attorney’s office. The canonical investigation is forwarded to the Diocesan Review Board which then makes a recommendation to Bishop Cunningham as to the credibility of the claim in order to assess the accused’s fitness for ministry.

Bishop Cunningham is grateful for the assistance from the District Attorney’s Office, the expertise of the Diocesan Review Board and the full cooperation of Father Paul Angelicchio.

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.

NEW YORK
Upstate NewYork

By Elizabeth Doran | edoran@syracuse.com

The Rev. Paul F. Angelicchio, a priest in the Syracuse area for years before becoming pastor of St. John the Baptist and Transfiguration parish in Rome, has been cleared of an abuse allegation made against him, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Syracuse said today.

Angelicchio has been reinstated today after the allegation against him was found to be ‘not credible,’ the diocese said.

The Diocesan Review Board – made up of four lay professionals, a clergy member and a religious member – who all have extensive backgrounds in areas related to child sexual abuse, cleared the priest, the diocese said.

Father Paul Angelicchio was placed on administrative leave Nov. 21 after an allegation involving abuse of a minor 27 years ago.

Onondaga County District Attorney William Fitzpatrick told Syracuse.com in November his office found no proof or evidence of wrongdoing, and nothing to back up the claim. Fitzpatrick also said Angelicchio “was not a clear and present danger to any minors.”

The Diocese of Syracuse is required to conduct an investigation into any claim of sexual abuse once it has been reviewed by the appropriate ‘s DA’s office, the diocese said.

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

NEW YORK
WSYR

SYRACUSE, N.Y. (WSYR-TV)

Allegations of sex abuse leveled against Father Paul Angelicchio are ‘not credible,” according to a diocesan review board.

The Syracuse Diocese says the priest will return to active ministry.

The alleged incident involving a minor would have taken place 27 years ago.

Onondaga County District Attorney Bill Fitzpatrick has already said that the claims were not substantial.

The diocese noted:

[Fitzpatrick] added that he found nothing to back up the claim- no physical evidence, no crime, and no corroborating witness. Fitzpatrick said his office determined Angelicchio “was not a clear and present danger to any minors.”

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.

NEW YORK
Observer-Dispatch

A Rome priest placed on administrative leave last month returned to active ministry today after recent allegations against him were found to be “not credible,” according to the Rome Catholic Diocese of Syracuse.

By Observer-Dispatch

A Rome priest placed on administrative leave last month returned to active ministry today after recent allegations against him were found to be “not credible,” according to the Rome Catholic Diocese of Syracuse.

The Rev. Paul Angelicchio will now resume all duties as pastor of St. John the Baptist Church and Transfiguration Church in Rome, according to a news release.

Angelicchio was placed on leave Nov. 21 after allegations arose that he “was aware of sexual abuse committed in his presence (27 years ago) and did nothing to prevent it,” according to a statement from Onondaga County District Attorney William Fitzpatrick.

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.

NEW YORK
Syracuse.com

By John O’Brien | jobrien@syracuse.com

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Allegations of misconduct against a Catholic priest in Rome have been deemed to be unfounded, the Syracuse Diocese announced today.

Bishop Robert Cunningham said the Diocesan Review Board found the allegations against the Rev. Paul Angelicchio from 27 years ago to be not credible.

Cunningham accepted the board’s recommendation and returned Angelicchio to active ministry as pastor of St. John the Baptist Church and Transfiguration Church in Rome, effective today.

The review board is made up of six people — four lay professionals, a member of the clergy and a religious, the diocese said.

The diocese placed Angelicchio on temporarily administrative leave Nov. 21 in response to allegations of abusing a minor. The accusation was first made to the Onondaga County District Attorney’s office, which later forwarded it to the diocese, according to a news release from the diocese.

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.

NEW YORK
TWC News

[with video]

A priest in the Syracuse Catholic Diocese accused of abuse has been cleared of wrongdoing.

He had been placed administrative leave a month ago, following alleged abuse of a minor, 27 years ago.

The allegation was deemed not credible by the Diocesan Review Board which is made up of four lay professionals, and clergy.

The allegation was first made to the Onondaga County District Attorney’s Office which was later forwarded to the diocese after its review.

The DA’s office found no proof or evidence of wrongdoing.

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.

AUSTRALIA
Manny Waks

24/12/2016

I’ve been holding on to something for a week. Something that took me several days to digest. I then took another few days to try to sooth the anger, and remove as much emotion as I can out of any public response. A week later, and several therapy sessions later, the anger has not dissipated in any way – in fact, it has increased – so the emotion is still raw. I apologise in advance. But selfishly, it may assist me in moving beyond this matter. And hopefully it is of some benefit to others.

Last Friday I received an email from a journalist who is doing a story for a major Jewish/Israeli publication on my recently-published book and related matters. The journalist sought comment from Robert Goot, who stepped down from his role as President of Australia’s peak national body, the Executive Council of Australian Jewry (ECAJ). Just a few years ago I was one of Goot’s deputies at the ECAJ. As has been documented, I have been publicly critical of the ECAJ and its leaders, especially Goot’s predecessor Danny Lamm, for their (mis)handling of the child sexual abuse scandal plaguing the Australian Jewish community. My book provides more details.

Last week Goot wrote the following email to the journalist:

Dear [REDACTED]

Further to your email below, please see the attached documents which are all part of the public record of the Royal Commission.

In addition:
* In 2012 the ECAJ wrote a detailed submission, in consultation with survivors representatives, in support of the establishment of the Commission (attached)
* The ECAJ publicly welcomed the establishment of the Commission in a Media Release
* Peter Wertheim and I, met with the Hon Justice Peter McClellan AM and other officers of the Commission on 7 March 2013, shortly after the Commission was established to discuss how we could co-operate with and assist the Commission
* On 2 September 2014, I attended a ‘Private Roundtable’ of Faith-based Organisations, chaired by the Hon Justice Peter McClellan AM and Commissioner Robert Fitzgerald AM. The broad topics for discussion focused on approaches to reforms – distinguishing past abuse and future abuse and options for civil litigation reforms. I then issued a memo to all Jewish institutions involved with working with children
* On 7 January 2015, just before the hearings began into Yeshivah in Melbourne and Sydney, Peter Wertheim met with Counsel Assisting the Royal Commission to assist with preparation of the case.
* Our Media Release condemning Yossi Feldman’s comments to the Royal Commission have resulted in him suing us for defamation.

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.

TEXAS
BishopAccountability.org

Summary of Case: Jesse S. Linam was ordained for the Galveston-Houston diocese in 1961. He assisted in parishes in Rosenberg, Houston and Galveston before pastoring in Channelview, Freeport and Bellview. In 1993 he was permanently removed from ministry due to unspecified allegations of child sexual abuse from years before. In 2002 he was the subject of a lawsuit, accused of having sexually abused a boy at St. Andrew’s in Channelview during 1973-1974. The suit alleged that Linam had sexually abused “numerous minor boys” between 1961 and 1993. It was dismissed due to the Texas statute of limitations, which required those alleging abuse as minors to come forward by age 20.

Linam is shown in the Official Catholic Directory to have been retired 1998-2010, after which he is no longer indexed. He is last known to have been living in Anderson TX.

Ordained: 1961
Retired: 1998

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.

ARIZONA
Daily Courier

Editor’s note: Due to the sensitive nature of this story, the commenting feature has been disabled. Feel free to send letters to the editor for consideration to editorial@prescottaz.com.

PRESCOTT – On Dec.20, Rev. Thomas J. Chantry was ordered held without bond in the Camp Verde jail, Chief Deputy County Attorney Dennis McGrane said.

Chantry, 46, was indicted in Yavapai County Superior Court on eight counts – five counts of child molestation and three of aggravated assault – for offenses committed in the late 1990s and early 2000s, when he worked at the Miller Valley Baptist Church.

Chantry left the Prescott area over 10 years ago and was arrested in Wisconsin in July. He was working as a pastor in the town of Hale’s Corners at the time; the church where he was employed has a message on its website saying that “Mr. Chantry is currently on a leave of absence from the church.”

After his arrest, on a warrant taken out by Prescott Police, he posted bond in Wisconsin, then came to court in Prescott and was allowed to return, said Dwight D’Evelyn, spokesman for the Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office.

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.

ARGENTINA
Fox News

The clerical sex abuse scandal unfolding at an institute for hearing impaired children in Argentina is now touching Pope Francis himself, after alleged victims of Rev. Nicola Corradi said they wrote a letter to the pontiff in 2014 warning him that the purported pedophile had been reassigned to the South American country.

Corradi, 82, and another priest, 55-year-old Horacio Corbacho, were arrested last month along with three employees for the alleged abuse of at least 24 deaf children who attended the Antonio Provolo Institute, in the city of Mendoza.

Police raided the institute and found magazines featuring naked women and about $34,000 in Corradi’s room.

The victims’ families contend that the Vatican knew about him since at least 2009, when he was publicly accused of abusing students at the Provolo Institute in Verona, Italy, where he then worked.

They allege nothing was done then nor later in 2014, when they told Pope Francis in a letter that Corradi was living in his native Argentina.

All five suspects in the Mendoza case are being held in jail and have not spoken publicly since their arrest.

“From the pope down … all of the Catholic Church hierarchy is the same. They all knew,” one of the victims told The Associated Press through a sign language interpreter.

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.

NEW YORK
Rome Sentinel

Published Dec 23, 2016

BY STEVE JONES
Staff writer

A Rome clergyman is back from a leave of absence after an allegation against him was deemed not credible by the Review Board of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Syracuse.

Most Rev. Robert J. Cunningham, bishop of Syracuse, announced that the Rev. Paul Angelicchio has returned to his post as pastor of St. John the Baptist and Transfiguration parish.

Rev. Angelicchio was placed on temporarily administrative leave on Nov. 21, due to an allegation of abuse of a minor. The alleged incident would have taken place 27 years ago, the diocese noted. The allegation was first made to the Onondaga County District Attorney’s Office which later forwarded it to the diocese after its review. Onondaga County District Attorney William Fitzpatrick, in a recent interview, stated that his office found no proof or evidence of wrongdoing by Rev. Angelicchio, the diocese noted. “He added that he found nothing to back up the claim — no physical evidence, no crime, and no corroborating witness. Fitzpatrick said his office determined Angelicchio ‘was not a clear and present danger to any minors,’” the diocese stated.

The Review Board is made up of six — four lay professionals, a member of the clergy and a religious — who have extensive backgrounds in areas related to child sexual abuse. Bishop Cunningham has accepted the Board’s recommendation and has returned Rev. Angelicchio to active ministry, effective today.

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.

UNITED KINGDOM
Somerset Live

By Daniel Mumby | Posted: December 23, 2016

The public inquiry into child sexual abuse within the Church of England and other institutions is to be sped up and partially scaled back.

Professor Alexis Jay, who is chairing the inquiry, has said that she wants to refocus the inquiry into preventing abuse.

She told The Guardian that she remained committed to pursuing all 13 investigations into “non-recent abuse” with institutions, including the Catholic church and the Houses of Parliament.

But she added that there would only be one or two public hearings into each key area – meaning that all incidents of reported abuse within the Church of England would have to considered together.

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.

WALES
Daily Post

BY DEREK BELLIS
22 DEC 2016

A Jehovah’s Witness preacher and elder has been jailed for having sexual activity with a girl of 14.

Family man Daniel Arthington, 46, of Llanddaniel, Anglesey, pleaded guilty at Caernarfon Crown Court and was sent to prison for two years and eight months.

“I’m satisfied there was an element of grooming involved in your successful attempt in snaring your young prey,” Judge Huw Rees told him.

“Your fall from grace is substantial but you have nobody to blame but yourself.’

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.

INDIANA/NEW JERSEY
The New York Times

By SHARON OTTERMAN
DEC. 22, 2016

INDIANAPOLIS — For about a year, the guys at the gym just called him Joe. He lifted weights in the early mornings wearing a skull-printed do-rag. He worked out on the elliptical, wiping it down when he was done.

Then one day Shaun Yeary, a salesman at a landscape supply company, asked him in the locker room what he did for a living. “I used to be a priest,” Joe recalled telling him. “And now,” he said, his voice growing quieter so as not to scare anyone in earshot, “I’m the archbishop of Indianapolis.”

“I was like, for real?” Mr. Yeary recalled. “This guy is benching two and a quarter!” — gymspeak for 225 pounds.

Joe, also known as Cardinal Joseph W. Tobin, recently became one of the 120 men in the world who will choose the next pope. But he wants to be judged by his actions, not his lofty position in the Roman Catholic 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.

WALES
BBC News

By India Pollock & Jenny Johnson
BBC News

An “urgent review” has been carried out by the Independent Inquiry into Child Sex Abuse into its service in Wales following a complaint by a victim.

The victim, who wanted to remain anonymous, has criticised the “poor level of support” he received from the truth project – the arm of the inquiry for victims to share their experiences.

He said he experienced delays and that his support worker broke down in tears.

An inquiry spokesman apologised to the victim.

The IICSA has since put measures in place to prevent it happening again, the spokesman added.

The victim spoke to BBC Wales less than two months since IICSA opened its Wales office in Cardiff, on 26 October.

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.

NEW JERSEY
Washington Times

JERSEY CITY, N.J. (AP) – A former New Jersey church pastor will be sentenced on sexual assault charges nearly two years after he fled the country following his conviction in February 2015.

Forty-nine-year-old Gregorio Martinez is set to be sentenced Friday in Hudson County Superior Court on charges of aggravated criminal sexual contact, endangering the welfare of a child and child abuse.

Martinez, once a Pentecostal preacher in Jersey City, was found guilty of molesting a 13-year-old boy he got to know through a church in North Bergen.

Prosecutors say Martinez skipped a pre-sentencing interview and fled to Nicaragua. He was apprehended in Honduras last week and brought back to New Jersey on Thursday.

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.

NEW ENGLAND
Boston Globe

By Todd Wallack, Jenn Abelson and Jon Saltzman GLOBE STAFF DECEMBER 23, 2016

State lawmakers and advocates in at least four New England states are pursuing legislation to make it easier to punish educators who sexually abuse students and make it harder for them to continue to work with children.

The moves come after Globe Spotlight Team report found more than 110 private schools in New England have faced allegations of sexual misconduct over the past 25 years. In more than two dozen cases, educators moved onto new schools after they were fired for misconduct, sometimes with glowing recommendations from the old school, in part because of gaps in state laws and regulations.

Massachusetts Senator Joan B. Lovely (D-Salem) said she plans to introduce a comprehensive bill next month that will include a long list of changes, including making it illegal for high school teachers to have sex with students under 20 and eliminating the criminal statute of limitations for cases involving sexual violations of children.

“We have to take care of our kids,” said Lovely, who said she herself was the victim of sexual abuse at a young age.

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.

GUAM
Radio New Zealand

23 December 2016

Another former altar boy has filed a lawsuit against Guam’s Catholic Church alleging historical sexual assault.

Sixty-two-year-old Ramon Afaisen De Plata alleged that he was molested by Reverend Antonio Cruz, who is now dead, in 1964, when he was 10-years-old.

Mr De Plata’s lawsuit is the 14th filed against Guam’s Catholic Church since the government in September removed the statue of limitations that prevented historical cases from being prosecuted.

Mr De Plata also told the Pacific Daily News that a then-seminarian, Anthony Apuron, was present when the abuse took place.

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.

UNITED KINGDOM
Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse

21 December

The Inquiry Information Line will be closed on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, 24th and 25th of December. It will reopen on Boxing Day 26th December from 9am to 8pm and will be open again on Bank Holiday Tuesday, 27th December, from 9am to 8pm. The number is 0800 917 1000

The Information Line provides the public, in particular victims and survivors, a means to engage with the Inquiry, by accessing details and updates about our work. It also provides information for victims and survivors of child sexual abuse to enable them to share their experiences with us via the Truth Project.

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.

UNITED KINGDOM
Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse

Public hearings

Public hearings are central to the Inquiry’s work to examine and expose institutional failures.

During 2016 we held 11 preliminary hearings and 205 core participants have been designated across seven investigations. The Inquiry has sent legal requests to hundreds of institutions likely to have relevant information asking them to submit such evidence. We have received 86,000 documents so far.

The review has considered in detail each of the Inquiry’s existing investigations, to make sure that they remain fit for purpose and can be delivered in an appropriate timeframe. The Inquiry remains committed to pursuing each of these, as they play an important part in its task of examining institutional failure. We are refining the methodology for each investigation and will use a range of techniques to ensure they remain focused and deliverable. These include the use of statutory powers to obtain relevant evidence, reviews of official records, case studies, public hearings, primary research, issues papers and seminars, as appropriate.

We will accelerate the progress of public hearings and will hold four public hearings during 2017:

 In February, the first part of the child migration programmes case study in the Children Outside the UK investigation will be held. This will hear evidence from experts and others to provide an overview of the child migration programmes;

 In July, the second part of the child migration programmes case study will be heard. This hearing will cover evidence on behalf of key institutions based in England and Wales which were responsible for sending children overseas as part of the migration programmes;

 In October, a hearing in relation to the Cambridge House, Knowl View and Rochdale investigation; and

 In December, a hearing in relation to the English Benedictine Congregation case study in the child sexual abuse in the Roman Catholic Church investigation.

We are also planning public hearings in the Internet investigation and Chichester Diocese case study in the Anglican Church investigation in early 2018.

For the first time, we are providing a progress report for each investigation (Annex A). This includes proposed changes to the scope and timing of the hearing for the investigation into the institutional responses to allegations of sexual abuse involving the late Lord Janner of Braunstone QC. Annex A also includes information about key milestones in the investigations and more details about the Inquiry’s working methods for investigations such as those into failures in Lambeth and Rochdale. If the Inquiry identifies matters which require investigation in order for it to fulfil its terms of reference, it is able to launch further investigations as necessary.

In addition to the public hearings, the programme of preliminary hearings will continue.

Preliminary hearings are an important mechanism for updating core participants and the public on the progress of investigations. They also allow the Chair to hear legal submissions and make the procedural decisions that are necessary to progress the investigation to a public hearing. The preliminary hearings will cover a number of subjects, including the child migration programmes case study, accountability and reparations for victims and survivors of abuse and the investigation into institutional responses to allegations of child sexual abuse involving the late Lord Janner of Braunstone QC.

Hearings will be held in the Inquiry’s new hearing centre in Southwark in central London.

Initial agreement was reached with the landlord on 1 November and preparatory work is now underway. The new centre is expected to be ready at the end of May 2017. Any hearings before that date will be held in the International Dispute Resolution Centre in central London – a venue used previously by other public inquiries.

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.

UNITED KINGDOM
Darlington and Stockton Times

Emily Flanagan

A TOP independent school in North Yorkshire will be included next year in one of three public hearings carried out in the national child sexual abuse inquiry.

The Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSE) has published an internal review, setting out how it intends to proceed with its inquiry under its latest chair Professor Alexis Jay, who took over this summer as the fourth head of the inquiry.

The review states it will reduce the number of public-inquiry style hearings into key institutions to speed up the process and prevent future abuse. As a result it will hold public hearings into three of its investigations; the Roman Catholic Benedictine Congregation, children outside of the UK and Rochdale Council establishments, with scope for other public inquiries later.

The inquiry into the Roman Catholic Benedictine Congregation – which encompasses Benedictine monastic organisations across the UK, including Ampleforth Abbey and College – will be held in December 2017. There will be further public hearings the following year into the wider Catholic church.

The internal review stated the investigation will examine the extent of “any institutional failures to protect children from sexual abuse within the Roman Catholic Church in England and Wales”. It will include two case studies, the first relating to the English Benedictine Congregation and the second to the Archdiocese of Birmingham.

The review stated that so far more than 4,000 documents have been obtained from abbeys and associated schools at Ampleforth, Belmont, Buckfast, Douai, Downside, Ealing, St Mary’s, Stanbrook, Worth and Curzon Park.

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.

GEORGIA
News4Jax

By Elizabeth Campbell – Reporter
December 22, 2016

BRUNSWICK, Ga. – Pastor Ken Adkins, who has been in the Glynn County Jail for nearly four months since he was accused of molesting a teenage boy, will likely remain locked up until another bond hearing, which has been postponed until Dec. 30, his attorney, Kevin Gough, said Thursday.

Adkins, 56, pastor of the Greater Dimensions Christian Fellowship, was denied bond in September on child molestation charges, was indicted by the Glynn County grand jury last month on three counts of child molestation, five counts of aggravated child molestation, two counts of enticing a child for indecent purposes and one count of influencing a witness.

According to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, a young man told investigators that Adkins molested him in 2010 when he was a member of Adkins’ church as a boy under the age of 16.

Gough filed a new motion for bond and in reaction to the indictment said, “Having already demanded a speedy trial, and eager to clear his good name, Pastor Kenneth Adkins and his family look forward to his day in court.”

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.

NEW JERSEY
PIX 11

DECEMBER 23, 2016, BY TALIA TIRELLA

NEWARK, N.J. — A pastor accused of sexual offenses and child abuse against four parishioners is returning to court Friday after he fled the U.S. following his initial conviction and was found in Honduras.

Gregorio Martinez, 49, allegedly sexually abused a 13-year-old boy and three 19-year-old men while working as a pastor at various churches and leader of prayer groups in North Bergen, according to the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office. Martinez escaped from the U.S. after several charges were brought against him for the incidents, and he was detained by Honduran authorities in August.

Martinez was charged in February 2015 with one count of aggravated criminal sexual contact, one count of endangering the welfare of a child and one count of child abuse after it was found he had allegedly committed sexual offenses against a 13-year-old boy who was a church parishioner, according to the Hudson County Prosecutor’s office.

Before jury members could be selected for a case based on these initial charges, Martinez was charged with additional assault charges for allegedly sexually assaulting a 19-year-old man who was also a church attendee.

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.

IOWA
Catholic Globe

By RENEE WEBB
rwebb@catholicglobe.org

The Diocese of Sioux City was informed on Nov. 18 it is in compliance with the data collection requirements pertaining to the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People (Dallas Charter) for the 2015/2016 audit period.

Colleen Sulsberger According to Colleen Sulsberger, coordinator of the Office of Safe Environment for the diocese, the United States bishops selected the national auditing firm and for the last four years have used StoneBridge Business Partners.

“They are a national auditing firm that specializes in compliance auditing for large organizations,” she explained. “StoneBridge compiles the data from each diocese and reports this data to the USCCB Committee on Child and Youth Protection. They also make recommendations to us as to how our safe environment programs can be improved.”

Although auditors from StoneBridge were in the diocese two years ago, Sulsberger noted they visit every three years. This year there was no visit, just a data collection audit.

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.

AUSTRALIA
ABC News

By Giselle Wakatama

A former Hunter priest who ended up having child abuse charges withdrawn has had charges reinstated and more laid, but is expected to die ahead of court proceedings.

During a recent royal commission hearing into Newcastle’s Anglican Diocese, abuse survivor CKA said he was abused by a priest known as CKC.

CKA told the commission he was an altar boy between 1971 and 1975 when he was sexually abused.

He said CKC once told him: “This is our special secret — remember how good a friend father CKC is”.

CKA told the commission: “At the time I didn’t think I could disclose CKC’s secret because no-one would believe me”.

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.

ARGENTINA
San Francisco Chronicle

ALMUDENA CALATRAVA, ASSOCIATED PRESS

December 22, 2016

LUJAN DE CUYO, Argentina (AP) — The children said they wailed as the two Roman Catholic priests repeatedly raped them inside the small school chapel in remote northwestern Argentina. Only their tormenters would have heard their cries since the other children at the school were deaf.

The clerical sex abuse scandal unfolding at the Antonio Provolo Institute for hearing impaired children in Mendoza province would be shocking enough on its own. Except that dozens of students in the Provolo Institute’s school in Italy were similarly abused for decades, allegedly by the same priest who now stands accused of raping and molesting young deaf Argentines.

And the Vatican knew about him since at least 2009, when the Italy victims went public with tales of shocking abuse against the most vulnerable of children and named names. In 2014, the Italian victims wrote directly to Pope Francis again naming the Rev. Nicola Corradi as a pedophile and flagged that he was living in Francis’ native Argentina. Yet apparently, nothing was done.

At least 24 students of the Provolo institute in Argentina have now come forward seeking justice for the abuse they say they suffered at the hands of Corradi, 82, another priest, the Rev. Horacio Corbacho, 55, and three other men. The five were arrested in late November by police who raided the school and found magazines featuring naked women and about $34,000 in Corradi’s room.

All the suspects are being held at a jail in Mendoza and have not spoken publicly since their arrest.

“From the pope down … all of the Catholic Church hierarchy is the same. They all knew,” one of the Mendoza victims told The Associated Press through a sign language interpreter.

Another victim said the priests would rape again if released.

“This happened in Italy … it happened again here, and it must end,” the victim said, insisting on speaking anonymously. “Enough!” …

Advocates of sex abuse victims by priests question how Francis could have been unaware of Corradi’s misdeeds, given he was publicly named by the Italy victims.

“No other pope has spoken as passionately about the evil of child sex abuse as Francis. No other pope has invoked ‘zero tolerance’ as often. No other pope has promised accountability of church superiors,” said Anne Barrett Doyle, co-director of BishopAccountability, an online resource about clerical abuse. “In light of the crimes against the helpless children in Mendoza, the Pope’s assurances seem empty indeed.”

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.

AUSTRALIA
ABC News

By Gian De Poloni

A former Western Australian priest will appear in court next month charged with child pornography offences.

Adrian Richard Vanklooster, 74, was arrested in November after police carried out a search warrant on a house in Maddington.

Police charged Vanklooster with one count of possessing child exploitation material after officers allegedly found a CD containing the material in the home.

Vanklooster is a former member of the Catholic Diocese of Bunbury and served as a priest at the Leschenault Catholic Parish in Australind.

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.

NEW YORK
DNA Info

[the complaint]

By Gwynne Hogan | December 22, 2016 5:08pm
@gwynnefitz
TwitterFacebookEmailMore

DOWNTOWN BROOKLYN — A fundraiser for Mayor Bill de Blasio who oversees government relations for a network of yeshivas was charged for running a $30,000 federal food-stamp scam, according to a criminal complaint.

Yitzchok Iziel (Isaac) Sofer was arrested by the FBI Thursday morning for filing false claims under the federal food subsidy, SNAP, between 2012 and 2016. He claimed poverty while at the same time taking out a life insurance policy in which he reported making $100,000 per year and having $600,000 in assets, Brooklyn federal prosecutors charged.

Sofer collected $30,516 in food stamps during that period, according to the federal complaint.

His arrest comes as part of an ongoing criminal investigation, the indictment stated, though prosecutors would not say if was related to a March raid of the Central United Talmudical Academy’s offices.

At CUTA, Sofer oversees government relations for a group of yeshivas in Williamsburg, Borough Park and at schools upstate, according to the Jewish Forward, which first reported his arrest.

The yeshivas cater to the Orthodox Satmar community called Aaronis, after Grand Rabbi Aron Teitelbaum.

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

VATICAN CITY
The Tablet (UK)

22 December 2016 | by Christopher Lamb

In-fighting has left Catholicism’s oldest military order in disarray

Pope Francis has announced an investigation into the Knights of Malta, Catholicism’s oldest and most illustrious military order currently in the midst of an internal crisis after a senior figure was sacked.

Retired papal diplomat Archbishop Silvano Tomasi is to look at the dismissal of Albrecht von Boeselager, the Order’s number three who was dramatically sacked by the Grand Master, Matthew Festing.

Boeselager, a respected member of the Order, was twice ordered to resign by Festing in a row allegedly about the distribution of condoms.

After he refused to step down, Festing dismissed him but Boeselager’s supporters say the sacking was in breach of the Knights’ rules and are accusing the Grand Master of sparking a constitutional crisis.

Festing has hit back, denying the claims and arguing that Boeselager behaved in a “disgraceful” way. He threatened to discipline any Knight questioning his decision.

Cardinal Raymond Burke, who is patron of the Order and its link man with the Holy See, had become involved in the saga, but by announcing the inquiry today the Pope has taken power out of the Cardinal’s hands and put it into those investigating the Knights.

Along with Archbishop Tomasi these include Fr Gianfranco Ghirlanda, a Jesuit priest and former rector of the Gregorian University; investment banker Marc Odendall who sits on a Vatican financial board; Marwan Sehnaoui, a senior knight from the Lebanon; and Belgian lawyer Jacques de Liedekerke, who is also a member of the Order.

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

VATICAN CITY
Daily Journal

By NICOLE WINFIELD –
12/22/16

VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis launched an investigation Thursday into the ouster of a top official at the Order of Malta, the ancient aristocratic religious order, amid evidence that Francis’ own envoy to the group engineered the removal without his blessing over a years-old condom scandal.

Albrecht von Boeselager, a high-ranking official in the order for three decades, was removed as grand chancellor Dec. 8 after he refused to resign.

One charge against him concerned a program that the order’s Malteser International aid group had worked several years ago with other aid groups to help sex slaves in Myanmar. The trafficked women had been forced to work as prostitutes and were given condoms to protect themselves from AIDS, two people familiar with the case said.

An internal investigation was conducted and von Boeselager admitted he knew about the condoms, which were distributed by other aid programs, not his. The Vatican was informed, Malteser International’s participation in the program ended and an ethics committee was launched to ensure that future projects adhered to Catholic Church teaching, the officials said.

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

VATICAN CITY
Reuters

By Philip Pullella | VATICAN CITY

Pope Francis on Thursday ordered an investigation into the ousting of the deputy head of the ancient order the Knights of Malta, who an Italian newspaper said was sacked for promoting the use of condoms in the developing world.

A Vatican statement said a five-member committee had been tasked with looking into the ousting of Albrecht Freiherr von Boeselager, whose official title was Grand Chancellor. The statement did not elaborate.

The ancient chivalric order, which today runs charities, hospitals and disaster relief in about 120 countries, said in its own statement this month that von Boeselager, a German, was dismissed by Grand Master Matthew Festing after twice refusing orders to step down.

It cited “grave problems” that had occurred under von Boeselager when he was in a previous position and said he had kept these issues hidden from the order’s leaders when he was named Grand Chancellor.

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.

GUAM
Guam Daily Post

Neil Pang | Post News Staff

A 14th victim of child sexual abuse has come forward and accused a former Guam priest as the perpetrator.

According to a verified complaint filed in the Superior Court of Guam yesterday, Roman Afaisen De Plata is now the 14th victim suing the Archdiocese of Agana for damages and suffering he endured as a child under the care of church clergy.

Names Cruz as abuser

De Plata’s suit names the deceased Rev. Antonio C. Cruz, and joins the complaint filed by Paul Borja on Nov. 23 as the second to level abuse claims against the now-deceased Cruz.

De Plata, now a 62-year-old resident of Chalan Pago, alleged that he was abused when he was about 10 years old in March 1964, when he was an altar boy at the Our Lady of Peace and Safe Journey Catholic Church in Chalan Pago where Cruz ministered at the time.

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

GUAM
Guam Daily Post

Neil Pang | Post News Staff

With 14 suits now targeting the Archdiocese of Agana and even more assuredly on the way, the financial arm of the church has been hard at working preparing for what could amount to millions of dollars in settlements to survivors of child sexual abuse.

“A lot has been happening,” said Richard Untalan, president of the Archdiocesan Finance Council (AFC).

While he was unable to provide specific details for obvious legal reasons, Untalan did confirm that the recent filing of the now 14 suits against the church was a major concern for the AFC, which would be the body tasked with oversight of any settlements made as a result of litigation.

“The Archdiocese (of Agana) is hard at work in establishing an abuse victims fund,” he said. “So yes, we are preparing and repositioning the patrimony of the archdiocese to cope with what we expect to be substantial financial liabilities.”

Untalan said that since the reconstitution of the AFC by Apostolic Administrator Archbishop Savio Hon Tai Fai in October, council members have been meeting once a week to address the various issues under their purview.

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.

UNITED STATES
BishopAccountability.org

Summary of Case: Dale Anthony Guidry was ordained for the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux LA in 1982. He assisted at a Galiano parish for three years, after which his status was “on leave.” In 1987 he resurfaced in the Honolulu HI archdiocese, assisting briefly at St. Theresa’s Co-Cathedral in Honolulu then, for several years, pastoring a parish in Wahiawa. Guidry left HI in 1991 and settled into work in the Diocese of Amarillo TX. There he lead parishes in Childress, Memphis, Turkey and Dalhart. In 1999, without explanation, the bishop removed Guidry from ministry. He was “absent on leave” thereafter.

In July 2009 Guidry was arrested in Spring TX on charges of online solicitation of a minor. He pleaded guilty in July 2010 and was sentenced to five years in prison. Guidry died in Stockton TX October 20, 2013.

Born: April 6, 1954
Ordained: 1982
Died: October 20, 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.

UNITED KINGDOM
AOL

Payments have been made to ex-residents of a notorious Church of England children’s home where girls were drugged and sexually and physically abused over nearly 20 years.

Around 24 former residents who participated in a damning review and report into life at Kendall House in Gravesend, Kent, have received ex-gratia payments.

The dioceses of Rochester and Canterbury said the payments acknowledged the “courage” of women who shared their stories, but one ex-resident described the money as an “insult”.

Disclosure of the payments came after an independent review this year revealed a catalogue of sexual abuse, ill-treatment and physical abuse at the home between 1967 and 1986.

Some girls were placed in strait-jackets, and youngsters as young as 11 were routinely, and often without medical assessment, given powerful anti-depressants, sedatives and anti-psychotic drugs.

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.

UNITED KINGDOM
BBC News

Payments to ex-residents of a church-run children’s home where girls were routinely drugged, locked up and abused have been described as an “insult”.

Hundreds of girls were sent to the Church of England Kendall House in Gravesend from the 1960s until it closed in 1986.

About 24 former residents have received payments following a review.

The Church of England has apologised. None of the perpetrators of the abuse are still alive.

A review of the abuse at the home was launched by the Bishop of Rochester, the Rt Rev James Langstaff, earlier this year and found it had “broken lives”.

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.

UNITED KINGDOM
Kent Online

22 December 2016by Tom Acrestacres@thekmgroup.co.uk

The Church of England has made a payout to more than 20 women who were drugged and sexually assaulted at a home for young girls in Gravesend.

Women were given the money after contributing to a review into Kendall House commissioned by the Bishop of Rochester, the Rt Rev James Langstaff, in January 2015, the results of which were first published in a 137-page report in June this year.

More than three decades of cruelty was exposed by the findings of an expert panel led by Dr Sue Proctor, who chaired the investigation into disgraced DJ Jimmy Savile, and a further report was published last week.

All of the former residents who contributed to both reports have now been paid, which a spokesman for the dioceses of Rochester and Canterbury described as “an expression of our gratitude”.

They said: “Ex-gratia payments have been made to all of the former residents of Kendall House who participated in both the initial review and in the production of the addendum report, as recommended by the panel.

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.

MINNESOTA
Star Tribune

By Libor Jany Star Tribune DECEMBER 20, 2016

The pastor of a north Minneapolis church and his son were arrested last week on assault charges for beating a 12-year-old boy with a 2-by-4 and an electrical cord as religious discipline, according to a criminal complaint filed Tuesday.

Dong Wook Kim, 51, of Good News Church, at 3000 W. Broadway Av., was charged with two counts of assault in the second- and third-degree, and a single county of malicious punishment of a child, all felonies, prosecutors said. His 19-year-old son, Joo Seong Kim, faces the same charges.

Police say that father and son repeatedly struck the young victim with various objects — a piece of lumber, electrical cord and a wooden closet rod — and forced him into a “push-up position and plank” for long periods, because the youngster was misbehaving in school and had rejected his faith.

The abuse allegedly occurred between Dec. 14 and 17.

After the most recent alleged beating, the victim fled the church and was found wandering the streets after dark in below-freezing temperatures, police said. A neighbor let him into her home and called police to find out whether the boy had been reported missing, the complaint said.

The boy was taken to a nearby hospital with bruising on his arms, buttocks, back and thighs, “one of which was the approximate size of a football,” the complaint read.

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.

MINNESOTA
New York Daily News

BY
CHRISTOPHER BRENNAN
NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
Updated: Wednesday, December 21, 2016

A Minneapolis pastor and his son were arrested for disciplining a 12-year-old with a two-by-four because the child “wanted to test God.”

Dong Wook Kim and his 19-year-old son Joo Seong Kim are accused of using the wooden plank and an electrical cord to repeatedly hit the youngster in the basement of the Good News Church for more than four days of punishment.

The unnamed child was discovered in shorts and a T-shirt on Saturday after he ran outside as temperatures hovered at 3 degrees and asked a stranger for help, according to a criminal complaint filed Tuesday.

Police found the 12-year-old with a black eye, lash marks on his back and a football-sized mark among the bruises on his behind and thighs.

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.

ARGENTINA
TN

[They arrested the priest Agustín Rosa, accused of sexual abuse. An exclusive investigation of TN.com.ar revealed two criminal complaints and another 25 canonical complaints against the founder of the Religious Institute Disciples of Jesus of San Juan Bautista. He was arrested in a private clinic where he had been sent for health problems.]

Detuvieron al fundador del Instituto Religioso Discípulos de Jesús de San Juan Bautista tras la investigación de TN.com.ar que reveló denuncias de abuso sexual. Efectivos de la policia de Salta que investiga delitos contra la integridad sexual arrestaron al sacerdote Agustín Rosa, en la finca La Cruz, donde estaba alojado desde que fue separado de su cargo por la Santa Sede. Está citado a declarar mañana.

La fiscalía de Salta dipuso rápidamente que un médico evalúe la salud de Rosa. El profesional optó por dejarlo internado en la clínica privada Santa Clara de Asís, informaron fuentes judiciales a TN.com.ar.

La orden de detención fue dictada por la jueza Ada Zunino del juzgado de Garantía de Primera Nominación. Rosa y el cura Nicolás Parma fueron señalados por testimonios exclusivos de este sitio.

El exnovicio Yair Gyurkovitz los denunció por abuso sexual simple. La fiscal del caso, Luján Sodero Calvet reconoció que en su declaración “hay fuertes indicadores de experiencias traumáticas”.

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.

GUAM
Pacific Daily News

Haidee V Eugenio , heugenio@guampdn.com December 22, 2016

The Archdiocese of Agana received nearly 600 pages of documents related to the development of a law that lifted the civil statute of limitations on child sex abuse — which made it possible for at least 14 former altar boys to separately sue the Catholic Church over allegations that priests sexually abused them.

Sen. Frank B. Aguon Jr. released 589 pages of documents, in electronic form, related to Bill 326-33, which Aguon’s committee worked on. The Legislature passed the bill with a 13-0 vote. Gov. Eddie Calvo signed it into law on Sept. 23.

The documents include the committee’s invitation to attend the public hearings on the bill and written testimony on the bill, along with written testimony of former altar boys who publicly accused Archbishop Anthony S. Apuron and former island priest Rev. Louis Brouillard of sexually abusing or raping them decades ago.

Aguon responded to church legal counsel John Terlaje’s Dec. 12 submission of a Freedom of Information Act request related to the bill. Introduced by Sen. Frank Blas Jr., the measure lifted the statute of limitations on civil cases related to child sexual abuse, allowing victims to sue abusers and institutions that supported them.

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.

AUSTRALIA
news.com.au

Richard Noone
Central Coast Gosford Express Advocate

A FORMER Central Coast school principal was jailed last week for a minimum of three years over historical assaults against young boys.

Christian Brother Desmond Eric “Neil” Richards pleaded guilty to eight counts of indecent assault and two counts of sexual assault, with a further six charges taken into account during sentencing.

The 78-year-old faced the Downing Centre District Court in Sydney on Friday, where he was sentenced to six years’ jail, with a non-parole period of three years.

The charges came after Richards was jailed in November 2014 for two years and three months for sexually abusing four Catholic schoolboys between 1972 and 1982.

The offences occurred at various postings, including Albury, Wagga Wagga and Strathfield.

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.

WASHINGTON
Inlander

By Mike Bookey

In 1961, John P. Leary, a Catholic priest and member of the Society of Jesus (the Jesuits) became president of Gonzaga University. Seen as a visionary leader in the realm of educational theory, Leary was beloved at the university and oversaw the school during a period of growth.

But in 1969, Leary left Spokane abruptly. A regional Jesuit leader told the community that Leary had resigned for health reasons, and the priest was reassigned to other posts in the western United States. The university released a similar statement.

Thirty-seven years later, the real reason for Leary’s departure became public — the priest was a pedophile who’d molested several young boys and at least one Gonzaga student, the order later admitted. Back in 1969, Spokane police, fully aware of Leary’s monstrous behavior, didn’t arrest the priest. Instead, they gave him the opportunity to leave Spokane within 24 hours.

Leary went on to continue working in education, eventually founding the New College of California, a progressive university in San Francisco that was unaffiliated with the church, which eventually folded in 2008. He also launched innovative educational endeavors throughout California and was widely regarded as a pedagogical guru. Leary died in 1993 here in Spokane, which didn’t say much for the police’s already reprehensible choice to allow him to leave town instead of facing charges.

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.

ARGENTINA
La Nacion

[The priest Agustín Rosa was arrested in Salta after being accused of sexual abuse against minors.]

El sacerdote Agustín Rosa, que fundó el instituto religioso Discípulos de San Juan Bautista y fue denunciado por abuso sexual, fue detenido esta tarde en su residencia de Finca La Cruz, y luego trasladado a una clínica privada, donde quedó internado con custodia policial por padecer diabetes, hipertensión y problemas cardíacos.

Fuentes del Ministerio Público Fiscal de Salta confirmaron a Télam que la detención fue un pedido de la fiscal penal Luján Sodero a la jueza de Garantías 1, Ada Zunino, tras una serie de diligencias que se concretaron hoy, en el marco de la causa por abuso sexual iniciada en contra del sacerdote.

La jueza hizo lugar a la solicitud de la fiscal, que integra la Unidad de Delitos contra la Integridad Sexual, por lo que efectivos policiales procedieron a la detención del cura, denunciado ante la justicia por dos miembros de la comunidad religiosa que él mismo fundó en 1996.

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.

ARGENTINA
La Gaceta Salta

[Agustin Rosa, the priest accused of alleged sexual abuse, was arrested yesterday on the Finca la Cruz property where he was being held. The doctor reported that he was not in good health and could not be accommodated in the police station. He was transferred to a private sanatorium in the capital of Salta where he remains with police custody. He will then be transferred to the Criminal Prosecutor’s Office.]

1. Rosa fue detenido por abuso sexual y permanece internado

El sacerdote acusado de presuntos abusos sexuales fue detenido ayer a las 19 en la propiedad de Finca la Cruz donde permanecía recluido. El médico informó que no se encontraba en buen estado de salud y no podía ser alojado en la alcaidía policial. Fue trasladado a un sanatorio privado de la capital salteña donde permanece con custodia policial. Luego será trasladado a la Fiscalía Penal que lleva el caso para la correspondiente declaración. Se esperan novedades sobre el estado de salud del cura de la parroquia de la Santa Cruz.

2. Ganancias hoy será ley

Luego de un extenso debate sobre las reformas al proyecto del impuesto a las Ganancias, el Senado lo aprobó ayer por ámplia mayoría al proyecto acordado por el Gobierno, provincias y la CGT, que eleva el mínimo no imponible y actualiza las escalas. El texto fue girado a Diputados para su tratamiento en comisión y, de no mediar ningún conflicto, la Cámara baja lo sancionará hoy.

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.

CANADA
Metro

By: Bob Weber The Canadian Press Published on Thu Dec 22 2016

Piita Irniq, one of a generation of Inuit leaders who took his people from igloos to iPhones, has seen and accomplished much, but one loose end haunts him.

It’s the lonely search for justice for his friend, who died young after a lifetime of pain from the child sexual abuse he told Irniq was inflicted by a missionary Arctic priest.

Why, Irniq asks, does the man his friend named as his abuser remain safely overseas? And why has Canada, bent on reconciliation with indigenous people, failed to get the priest back despite an active 18-year-old arrest warrant for him?

“Maybe I want to see a wrong righted,” says Irniq, his lively smile suddenly shadowed.

“Maybe I’m a little bit angry.”

Irniq, 69, was born in Repulse Bay, N.W.T., now Naujaat, Nunavut. So, a few years later, was Marius Tungilik.

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.

NEW MEXICO
The Daily Progress

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Another man has come forward with allegations of sexual abuse against a former New Mexico priest who until recently was on the lam.

The claim was filed in court in Albuquerque on Wednesday on behalf of 65-year-old man and former University of Albuquerque student.

The man says The Rev. Art Perrault sexually abused him.

The lawsuit was filed against The Archdiocese of Santa Fe and Servants of the Paraclete, which were the target of dozens of lawsuits in the 1980s and 1990s alleging that priests were molesting children. Many cases alleged that pedophile priests came to New Mexico for treatment by the Servants of the Paraclete and were then sent to churches around the state.

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

VATICAN CITY
National Catholic Reporter

Joshua J. McElwee | Dec. 22, 2016

ROME

Pope Francis on Thursday lashed out against high-level Catholic prelates who have been opposing his efforts to reform the Vatican’s central bureaucracy, using an annual pre-Christmas meeting to say that while some cardinals and archbishops offer questions in a spirit of goodwill others practice a “malevolent resistance.”

Such sinister opposition, the pontiff said, “sprouts from twisted minds and presents itself when the devil inspires bad intentions.”

The pope also said it “finds refuge in tradition, in appearances, in formality, in the known, or in the desire to make everything personal without distinguishing between act, actor, and action.”

Francis was speaking Thursday in an annual meeting that under previous pontiffs had simply been a polite encounter to exchange greetings before the holidays.

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.

ARGENTINA
Contexto

[Civil authorities have arrested the priest Agustin Rosa, founder of a religious congregation in Salta, following a newspaper report by TN that documented allegations of sexual abuse. He was arrested in La Cruz where he has been staying since since he was removed from office by the Vatican.]

Detuvieron al sacerdote Agustín Rosa, fundador de una congregación religiosa en Salta, tras un informe periodístico que realizó TN donde lo acusan de abuso sexual.

Efectivos de la policia de Salta arrestaron al cura en la finca La Cruz, donde estaba alojado desde que fue separado de su cargo por la Santa Sede. Está citado a declarar mañana.

La orden de detención fue dictada por la jueza Ada Zunino del juzgado de Garantía de Primera Nominación, informa TN.

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.

ARGENTINA
Religion Digital

[The Salta archbishop has expressed unity with the alleged victims of priest Agustin Rosa and said he will cooperate with civil authorities.]

Después de que se conocieran las denuncias por abuso sexual contra el padre Agustín Rosa, el Arzobispado de Salta emitió un comunicado por el caso. A continuación reproducimos el documento.

Comunicado del Arzobispado de Salta

Ante los acontecimientos que son de dominio público y que afectan a los Institutos de los Servidores de Jesús de San Juan Bautista y de las Servidoras de Jesús de San Juan Bautista, ambos de derecho diocesano de esta Iglesia particular, el Arzobispo de Salta, después de haber consultado con el presbiterio y luego del comunicado emitido el día de ayer por el Señor Comisario Pontificio de dichos institutos, Mons. Luis Stockler, informa a la opinión pública:

El arzobispado, cuando recibió las denuncias en abril de 2015, procedió de acuerdo a lo establecido por las leyes eclesiásticas y envió la documentación correspondiente a la Santa Sede. Una vez que la misma decidió la intervención nombrando un Comisario Pontificio, el proceso correspondiente está en manos de la Santa Sede, según lo ha informado Mons. Luis Stockler.

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.

AUSTRALIA
Daily Mail

By Australian Associated Press

A former Queensland Uniting Church minister who sexually abused a 12-year-old boy five decades ago will walk free after a judge noted he lived an ‘exemplary life’.

Barry Dangerfield, 83, pleaded guilty in Brisbane District Court today to five counts of indecently treating a child under 14 and six counts of indecent practices between males.

In sentencing, Dangerfield’s defence lawyer Julian Noud accepted the seriousness of the offence, but argued for a wholly suspended sentence given the delay of 55 years since the abuse occurred.

He said there was ‘ample material’ to prove rehabilitation and Dangerfield deserved credit for good character as a popular community leader and devoted husband.

‘He’s lived a completely blameless life, this man,’ Mr Noud said.

Chief Judge Kerry O’Brien said it was ‘a most unusual case’ because Dangerfield’s conduct over the past 50 years demonstrated significant rehabilitation.

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.

GUAM
KUAM

By Krystal Paco

The Archdiocese of Agana has issued a statement on the latest allegation of child sex abuse in the catholic church. Last week, 60-year-old James Bascon of Inarajan alleges he was around 12 or 13 years old when Father Louis Brouillard molested him, both as an altar boy and as a Boy Scout. Bascon is the thirteenth individual to file a civil suit, which was made possible with the passage of Bill 326 into law.

A release from the church issued Wednesday states, “We extend our prayers to Mr. Bascon and his family. The archdiocese is committed to ensuring that all people, most especially minors ,are served in a safe, loving and caring environment, fully protected from sexual abuse and harm of any kind.” The release adds that a task force for the protection of minors continues to conduct trainings at the island’s catholic schools and will continue through the New Year.

The church also has two 24-hour hotline numbers for reporting incidents of sexual abuse in the church. The numbers to call are 685-7305 or 727-7373.

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.

GUAM
Pacific Daily News

Haidee V Eugenio, heugenio@guampdn.com December 22, 2016

Another former altar boy filed a lawsuit against the Archdiocese of Agana over allegations of sex abuse by a now-deceased priest, Rev. Antonio C. Cruz.

Ramon Afaisen De Plata, now 62, alleged that when he was about a 10-year-old altar boy at the Our Lady of Peace and Safe Journey Catholic Church in Chalan Pago, in or about March 1964, “Cruz attempted to sexually molest and/or rape” him “by enticing and luring him to engage in acts of sexual conduct, which occurred on multiple occasions.”

The complaint cites as an example a night after Mass during Lenten week, when Cruz sought and obtained permission from the parents and guardians of several altar boys, including De Plata, for the boys spend the night at the Chalan Pago Parish rectory, where Cruz resided.

“During the night at the rectory, Ramon witnessed Cruz sexually molest and abuse an altar boy, together with a seminarian named Anthony Sablan Apuron, who would later become an ordained priest on Guam and ultimately serve as the archbishop of the Agana archdiocese,” the complaint states.

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.

SWITZERLAND
La Croix International

Malo Tresca

On December 5, the Swiss Bishops’ Conference finalized the establishment of a compensation fund for persons sexually abused by religious where victims are barred from legal action because of the expiry of the statute of limitations period.

The decision was announced yesterday before a handful of victims who gathered under the imposing arches of the Valère basilica in Sion for a “penitential prayer” service.“We wanted a tangible sign of recognition – going beyond pardon and prayer – of the moral responsibility of the Church, expressed in the form of financial compensation,” states Jacques Nuoffer, president of the Support Group for Persons Abused in a Relationship with Religious Authority (SAPEC).

The fund will compensate victims who address themselves to “contact points,” namely the ecclesial commissions in each diocese. These victims include those who have already submitted a request to the Commission for Listening, Conciliation, Arbitration and Reparation (CECAR), a body specially created in French-speaking Switzerland to offer them recognition and reparation.

“We want a neutral commission that is independent of Catholic Church authorities so that the latter do not remain on a ‘pedestal’ with respect to victims,” explains Nuoffer, who has worked since 2010 for the establishment of the commission. Its implementation follows an agreement that was reached at the end of 201 between the SAPEC group, Bishop Charles Morerod of Lausanne, Geneva and Fribourg and other parties, with the support of parliamentarians.

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.

UNITED KINGDOM
Yorkshire Post

Lawyers have vowed to fight on with a long-running, multimillion-pound compensation claim over alleged sex abuse in a Catholic children’s home in East Yorkshire, despite losing three out of four first “test” cases.

A total of 249 men have lodged claims against the Diocese of Middlesbrough and the De La Salle Institute which ran the St William’s children’s home in Market Weighton.

They claim to have suffered sexual abuse there and, in one of the largest joint compensation claims against the Catholic Church, potential payouts could run into millions of pounds if successful.

Five men gave evidence during the recent civil claim hearing involving St William’s and were cross-examined by lawyers acting for the defendants.

But today a judge at the High Court in Leeds ruled on the first four cases and only one was successful.

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.

UNITED KINGDOM
Care Appointments

Written by The Press Association

Lawyers have vowed to fight on with a long-running, multimillion-pound compensation claim over alleged sex abuse in a Catholic children’s home despite losing three out of four first “test” cases.

A total of 249 men have lodged claims against the Diocese of Middlesbrough and the De La Salle Institute which ran the St William’s children’s home in Market Weighton, East Yorkshire.

They claim to have suffered sexual abuse there and, in one of the largest joint compensation claims against the Catholic Church, potential payouts could run into millions of pounds if successful.

Five men gave evidence during the recent civil claim hearing involving St William’s and were cross-examined by lawyers acting for the defendants.

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.

UNITED KINGDOM
The Guardian

Harriet Sherwood Religion correspondent
@harrietsherwood
Wednesday 21 December 2016

A lawyer for 249 men seeking compensation for alleged sexual abuse at a Catholic children’s home has vowed to continue with one of the largest compensation claims against the church despite a judge dismissing three of the first test cases.

The high court in Leeds awarded one of the claimants £14,000 in compensation and ruled against three other men. Judgment in a fifth case will be given next month.

The men’s lawyer, David Greenwood of Switalskis, said outside court: “This is a skirmish; we will win the ultimate war.”

The claims were made against the diocese of Middlesbrough and the De La Salle Institute, which ran the St William’s children’s home in Market Weighton, east Yorkshire.

The civil case followed the imprisonment earlier this year of the home’s former principal and chaplain for sexual offences against 11 boys between 1970 and 1991.

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.

EL SALVADOR
The Tablet (UK)

21 December 2016 | by James Roberts

Mgr Jesus Delgado relieved totally and definitively of all priestly functions, along with two other priests

A former private secretary and biographer of assassinated archbishop Oscar Romero has been removed from the priesthood following allegations that he sexually abused a girl in the 1980s.

Mgr Jesus Delgado, 77, a former top official in the San Salvador diocese where Romero was murdered in 1980, was relieved “totally and definitively” of all priestly functions, along with two other priests, Fr Francisco Galvez and Fr Antonio Molina, La Prensa reported from El Salvador.

Announcing the laicisations yesterday, the Archbishop of San Salvador, José Luis Escobar said: “From now on, [the three] cannot exercise any office or priestly function according to canon 292 of the Code of Canon Law. These resolutions of the Holy See have already been communicated respectively to each of the aforementioned priests.

“We have also communicated it to the victims, to each one of the cases respectively, and today we make it known to all.”

Delgado was the country’s first priest to be suspended for child sex abuse when he was removed last year from his position as San Salvador vicar general.

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.

MINNESOTA
Fox 9

MINNEAPOLIS (KMSP) – A Minneapolis pastor and his son are facing charges for allegedly beating a 12-year-old boy in the basement of their church.

Last Saturday, witnesses found the boy outside with only shorts and a t-shirt on in subzero temperatures and called 911. He had extensive bruising and was limping.

The victim told police he had been assaulted by his pastor, identified as Dong Wook Kim, 51, and the pastor’s son, Joo Seong Kim, 19, in the basement of the Good News Church on Broadway Avenue in Minneapolis and that he had run away when the two were distracted. He showed officers the large lash marks on his back, which reportedly came from being struck by the pastor with an electrical cord.

The victim said he had sustained multiple beatings over the last several days. He said his parents were aware the abuse was taking place.

The abuse reportedly started on Dec. 14 and continued until Dec. 17. During this time, the victim said he was forced to get into a push-up position and repeatedly kicked in the head and face, punched or whipped with a wooden stick.

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.

MINNESOTA
CBS Minnesota

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) — The pastor of a north Minneapolis church and his son have been arrested for beating a 12-year-old boy with a wooden rod and an electrical cord.

Dong Wook Kim, 51, was charged with two counts of assault and a count of malicious punishment of a child.

A neighbor called police Saturday after finding the boy walking in the extreme cold, wearing only shorts and a T-shirt.

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.

UNITED KINGDOM
East Anglian Daily Times

19 December 2016 Colin Adwent

A crown court date has been set for a senior Suffolk clergyman accused of filming males in public toilets.

The Very Rev Martin Thrower, 55, of Church Street, Hadleigh, appeared at South East Suffolk Magistrates’ Court today accused of eight voyeurism offences.

He did not enter a plea and the case was sent up to crown court.

Thrower was arrested at the Buttermarket shopping centre in Ipswich on August 4 on suspicion of voyeurism. He was interviewed and bailed to return to police while officers continued their investigation.

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

UNITED KINGDOM
Church Times

by Tim Wyatt

Posted: 22 Dec 2016

THE Rector of St Mary’s, Hadleigh, and Dean of Bocking, the Very Revd Martin Thrower, has ap­­peared in court charged with filming young men in public lavatories.

Dean Thrower did not enter a plea to eight charges of voyeurism when he appeared at Ipswich Magis­trates’ Court on Monday.

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.

ROME
Pontifical Gregorian University

Please click on the image to read the interview with Kathleen McCormack.

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.

LUXEMBURG
Tagebatt

KOMMENTAR

Als in den Jahren 2010 und 2011 eine Serie von Missbrauchsfällen seitens katholischer Geistlicher bekannt wurde (oft an Schutzbefohlenen) und die unappetitlichen Details die Runde machten, sahen sich selbst die CSV und deren Justizminister genötigt, zu handeln. Die allermeisten der Täter konnten sich beruhigt zurücklehnen, da die sexuellen Übergriffe gesetzlich verjährt waren und die göttliche Justiz ohnehin vom Bodenpersonal nicht so ernst genommen wird, wie die Taten an sich zeigen.

rschneider@tageblatt.lu rschneider@tageblatt.lu
Die Opfer allerdings leiden auch noch Jahrzehnte nach dem Missbrauch, befinden sich teils in psychiatrischer Behandlung, um irgendwie mit dem Eingriff in ihre damals junge Persönlichkeit fertig zu werden. Die Folgen des unbekümmerten Missbrauchs, der kirchenintern lange geduldet bzw. verdrängt wurde, sind auch heute noch schrecklich.

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.

LUXEMBURG
Journal

[Court clears ex-priest from accusation of sexual abuse.]

Der ehemalige Pfarrer, dem sexueller Missbrauch vorgeworfen wurde, ist am Dienstag von der Kriminalkammer im Bezirksgericht Luxemburg freigesprochen worden. Dem heute 60-jährigen, mittlerweile in den Laienstand zurückversetzten Ordensmann wurde vorgeworfen, im November 2008 einen 14-jährigen Ministranten im französischen Taizé sexuell missbraucht zu haben. Trotz der schockierenden Erlebnisse hatten mehrere Zeugen ihren Pfarrer in dem Prozess in Schutz genommen.

Beim Plädoyer hatte die Vorsitzende Richterin sowie die Anklagevertreterin dem Angeklagten vorgeworfen, er sei nur „vermeintlich geständig“. Die Anklagevertreterin vermisste ebenfalls Reue bei dem ehemaligen Ordensmann und verlangte eine strenge Bestrafung von sieben Jahren, nicht zuletzt aus generalpräventiven Gründen. Beim Angeklagten gebe es ein Mangel an subjektiver Einsicht. Der 60-Jährige hatte angegeben, er habe sich damit verantwortet, dass er den Versuchungen in Taizé nicht widerstehen habe können. Nebenkläger Albert Rodesch an das Gericht: Der Pfarrer habe sein Opfer für sein Leben lang gebrandmarkt und sein Leben verpfuscht.

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.

EL SALVADOR
religion@orf

Wegen sexuellen Missbrauchs hat der Vatikan einem ehemaligen engen Mitarbeiter des salvadorianischen Erzbischofs Oscar Romero (1917-1980) das Priesteramt entzogen.

Die gleiche Sanktion wie den 78-jährigen Jesus Delgado traf zwei weitere Priester der Erzdiözese San Salvador, wie die Vatikanzeitung „Osservatore Romano“ (Mittwoch-Ausgabe) meldet. Delgado, zeitweise Generalvikar der Erzdiözese San Salvador und Medienchef der salvadorianischen katholischen Kirche, war Sekretär Romeros.

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.

UNITED KINGDOM
ITV

One man has been awarded £14,000 in the civil case against the former St William’s school in Market Weighton. The case of another man will be heard next month.

Up to 249 men are suing the Catholic Church saying they were abused at the approved school in the 1970s and 80s.

Two staff members were jailed earlier this year. The former principal James Carragher, now 75, was jailed for nine years.

Anthony McCallen, 69, and the former chaplain was jailed for 15 years. The judge told them their crimes had blighted the lives of their victims.

Solicitors for the men who have lose their cases say an appeal is being considered.

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.

UNITED KINGDOM
BBC News

A man who claims he was sexually abused at a Catholic school has been awarded thousands of pounds in compensation.

More than 200 men are suing the Catholic Church over alleged historical abuse at St William’s residential school in Market Weighton.

On Wednesday a judge ruled in favour of the man’s claim, ordering the church to pay £14,000 in damages, but rejected a further three test cases.

The men’s lawyers vowed to fight on and say they may appeal against the ruling.

A total of 249 men have lodged claims against the Diocese of Middlesbrough and the De La Salle Institute, which ran the home.

If successful, potential payouts could run into millions of pounds.

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.

UNITED KINGDOM
Gazette Live

BYIAN MCNEAL
21 DEC 2016

Lawyers have vowed to fight on with a long-running, multimillion-pound compensation claim over alleged sex abuse in a Catholic children’s home despite losing three out of four first “test” cases.

A total of 249 men have lodged claims against the Diocese of Middlesbrough and the De La Salle Institute which ran the St William’s children’s home in Market Weighton, East Yorkshire.

They claim to have suffered sexual abuse there and, in one of the largest joint compensation claims against the Catholic Church, potential payouts could run into millions of pounds if successful.

Five men gave evidence during the recent civil claim hearing involving St William’s and were cross-examined by lawyers acting for the defendants.

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.

MINNESOTA
Minnesota Public Radio

AP

The Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis remains in compliance with its agreement with prosecutors to take a series of affirmative steps to protect children from sexual abuse, officials said.

Church officials and prosecutors reached a settlement last December calling for substantial cultural changes within the church after the archdiocese was accused of mishandling an abuse case involving former priest Curtis Wehmeyer. Church officials provided an update on their progress Tuesday to Ramsey County Chief Judge Teresa Warner, the St. Paul Pioneer Press reported.

Two church officials who deal with child protection told Warner that nearly 90,000 adults have undergone background checks and training on how to ensure that children are safe in church-related settings. The 187 parishes, 92 schools and two seminaries that belong to the archdiocese are required to comply with the settlement.

“So we have 90,000 sets of eyes and ears out there watching to make sure kids are safe,” said Timothy O’Malley, the archdiocese’s director of ministerial standards and safe environment.

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.

UNITED KINGDOM
The Press

Emily Flanagan

A TOP independent school in North Yorkshire is to be included in one of three public hearings carried out in the national child sexual abuse inquiry.

The Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSE) has published an internal review, setting out how it intends to proceed with its inquiry under its latest chair Professor Alexis Jay, who took over the role this summer.

The review states that it was reducing the number of public-inquiry style hearings into key institutions to speed up the process and refocus on preventing abuse now and in the future.

It will now hold public hearings into three of its investigations; the Roman Catholic Benedictine Congregation, children outside of the UK and Rochdale Council establishments.

The inquiry into the Roman Catholic Benedictine Congregation – which encompasses Benedictine monastic organisations across the UK, including Ampleforth Abbey and College – will be held in December 2017.

There will be further public hearings the following year into the archdiocese of Birmingham and the wider Catholic 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.

ARGENTINA
La Gaceta Salta

[Discrimination, authoritarianism and mistreatment, characteristics of the institute of Father Agustín Rosa.]

Continúan los cimbronazos para la iglesia salteña. En un nuevo informe de TN se da a conocer los maltratos sistemáticos dentro del Instituto Discípulos de Jesús de San Juan Bautista creado en Salta por el padre Agustín Rosa. Ayer se conoció que Rosa no había sido apartado de su puesto por una malversación de fondos, sino por 25 denuncias por abuso sexual. Tal como hicieron en Octubre de 2015, los feligreses ayer respaldaron al sacerdote y dijeron a LA GACETA descreer de las acusaciones.

El nuevo artículo de la periodista Miriam Lewin toma el testimonio de Valeria y Gracia quienes tenían una fuerte vocación religiosa y en carne propia abusos sexuales. Y fueron, además, testigos de cómo “en los enunciados y las homilías, el sacerdote inculcaba lo opuesto a lo que practicaba en su vida cotidiana. “Los votos de pobreza funcionaban solamente para los que debían obedecer, no para el padre Agustín y sus elegidos”, señalan los damnificados.

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.

MINNESOTA
KSTP

[with video[

December 20, 2016

This week marks one year since the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis signed a settlement with Ramsey County prosecutors over a criminal and civil case.

Investigators found the church failed to protect children from the sexual abuse of former priest Curtis Wehmeyer. Tuesday in court, the Ramsey County Attorney’s Office said it believes the Archdiocese is making progress with the terms of that settlement.

Archbishop Bernard Hebda sat down with 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS after the hearing for a wide-ranging interview on recovering from a bruising past. Archbishop Hebda says he’s committed to rebuilding trust in the church and promoting healing for victims.

“To those who have been harmed by the church is to say we’re certainly committed to their healing and we’re doing everything possible to make sure that this doesn’t happen again,”Archbishop Hebda said.

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

UNITED KINGDOM
Oxford Mail

Michael Race, Crime reporter also covering Barton, Wood Farm and Risinghurst. Call me on (01865) 425483 / @OxMailMichaelR

CHILDREN were encouraged to talk about their problems and worries in a workshop designed to teach them about the signs and dangers of abuse.

The NSPCC visited St Francis Church of England Primary School in Cowley to talk to year five and year six pupils about types of abuse and what to do if they spotted it, or became a victim.

The visit was part of the charity’s Speak Out, Stay Safe scheme.

Imogen McCabe, who runs the scheme in Oxfordshire, said NSPCC staff and volunteers had visited 170 schools across the county but were still aiming to reach about 100 more.

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.

NEW YORK
New York Daily News

BY
STEPHEN REX BROWN
NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
Tuesday, December 20, 2016

More than 60 victims have applied to a program founded by Timothy Cardinal Dolan to compensate people sexually abused as children by clergy in the New York Archdiocese.

With still more time to apply, 65 people have provided accounts of abuse by priests when they were minors.

Kenneth Feinberg, the administrator of the Independent Reconciliation and Compensation Program, has thus far offered settlement amounts to 15 victims.

Three of them have accepted compensation from the archdiocese while 12 have yet to respond to the offers. The remaining cases are still under review, Feinberg said.

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

AUSTRALIA
SBS

A bid to send Ballarat child abuse survivors to Rome to hear Cardinal George Pell give evidence on clergy sex abuse was the top Australian fundraiser on crowdfunding site GoFundMe in 2016.

The campaign, set up by KIIS FM radio host Meshel Laurie, initially aimed to raise $55,000 to send a group to Rome in February to see Cardinal Pell give evidence to Australia’s royal commission into institutional responses to child sexual abuse.

It ended up raising more than $203,065 over 10 months with the rest of the money going towards a healing centre for survivors.

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

VATICAN CITY
Daily Mail

By Associated Press and Dave Burke For Mailonline

A senior Vatican official has been granted forgiveness by the Pope and freed from jail after he was convicted of leaking secrets to journalists.

Spanish Monsignor Lucio Vallejo Balda was given ‘conditional freedom’ by Pope Francis, having served half of an 18-month sentence handed out by a Vatican court.

He was convicted of passing confidential documents to journalists, and has been sacked from his job as a high-ranking finance official.

In July, a Vatican court convicted Vallejo of conspiring to pass documents on to two journalists, Emiliano Fittipaldi and Gianluigi Nuzzi, although it cleared him and a co-defendant of forming a criminal organisation to do so.

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
WITF

Written by Rachel McDevitt/Radio Pennsylvania | Dec 21, 2016

(Harrisburg) — Statute of limitations reform for victims of child sexual abuse nearly made it over the finish line in the state legislature in 2016.

But, it was hampered by complaints that a certain provision went against the Pennsylvania Constitution.

Now, the state’s Victim Advocate says she will be among those pushing for the measure to become law in the new year.

The bill would have abolished the statute of limitations on future criminal cases of child sex abuse and given past victims of abuse more time to file a civil suit.

Victim Advocate Jennifer Storm says the testimony of then-Solicitor General Bruce Castor that the retroactive measure of the bill was unconstitutional cut the measure off at the knees.

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.

ARGENTINA
La Gaceta Salta

[The priest Jorge Crespo has supported Father Agustin Rosa who has been denounced for sexual abuse. He said the accused priest has a true vocation and he said rape is hard to prove and is one person’s word against another’s word.]

Un inesperado respaldo obtuvo ayer el sacerdote Agustín Rosa, acusado de abuso sexual. El ex candidato a diputado provincial por el Frente Salteño, el cura Jorge Crespo, expresó su parecer sobre la situación que atraviesa quien estuvo a cargo del Instituto Discípulos de Jesús de San Juan Bautista.

“No vi el informe, solo escuché los comentarios”, dijo Jorge Crespo a Fm Noticias. Y añadió: “A ver, los temas sexuales son muy difíciles de comprobar. Le pasó al padre Grassi, pasó un tiempo hasta que se llegó a una condena. El tema de la violación es palabra contra palabra”.

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.

ARGENTINA
El Tribuno

[An ex-member of Father Rosa’s religious order, Disciples of Jesus of San Juan Bautista, today is expected to expand his testimony before the criminal prosecutor. Another priest is said to be involved. The complainant said there could be more sexual abuse victims.]

Hoy, en el transcurso de la mañana, una exintegrante del Instituto Religioso Discípulos de Jesús de San Juan Bautista, creado por el sacerdote Rubén Agustín Rosa Torino, se presentará a ampliar su testimonio ante la fiscal penal 2 de la Unidad de Delitos contra la Integridad Sexual, María Luján Sodero, luego de denunciar que sufrió abusos en la organización. La exreligiosa sostuvo que otros miembros de la comunidad también habrían sido víctimas de abusos sexuales.

La fiscal lleva adelante diligencias penales en torno de las acusaciones realizadas en contra de dos sacerdotes que cumplían servicios en la iglesia de la Santa Cruz. Además del cura Rosa, está siendo investigado Nicolás Parma. Ambos oficiaban en la casa parroquial.

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.

ARGENTINA
La Gaceta Salta

[It is not ruled out that the accused priest – Agustin Rosa – should appear before the court to give his version of the facts.]

Durante el transcurso de la mañana se espera que amplíe su declaración una ex religiosa que denunció al padre Agustín Rosa –de la parroquia de la Santa Cruz- por presuntos abusos sexuales. El sacerdote también podría presentarse a declarar.

Se trata de una ex miembro del Instituto Religioso Discípulos de San Juan Bautista –creado por el sacerdote- que aseguró ante la fiscal de la Unidad de Delitos contra la Integridad Sexual, María Luján Sodero, haber sido víctima del religioso.

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.

ARGENTINA
Hora 22

[Shocking Stories of Their Victims | Indignation for the new case of an abuser priest protected by the Vatican. Priest Agustin Rosa had been removed by the Vatican from the management of the Santa Cruz Church in Salta for lack of funds, abuse and drug use. They did not prosecute him and hid the case.]

20-12-2016

Había sido apartado por el Vaticano del manejo de la Iglesia Santa Cruz en Salta, por desmanejo de fondos, abusos y el uso de drogas. No lo denunciaron penalmente y escondieron el caso.

Un nuevo y gravísimo escándalo golpea a la Iglesia Católica y sus seguidores por denuncias de abuso sexual contra el cura Agustín Rosa en la provincia de Salta.

Son dos denuncias que se hicieron públicas por un informe emitido anoche por el canal Todo Noticias y por las cuales derivaron en el apartamiento de sus responsabilidades en la Iglesia de la Santa Cruz en octubre del año pasado.

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.

UNITED KINGDOM
The Northern Echo

A TOP independent school in North Yorkshire will be included next year in one of three public hearings carried out in the national child sexual abuse inquiry.

The Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSE) has published an internal review, setting out how it intends to proceed with its inquiry under its latest chair Professor Alexis Jay, who took over this summer as the fourth head of the inquiry.

The review states it will reduce the number of public-inquiry style hearings into key institutions to speed up the process and prevent future abuse. As a result it will hold public hearings into three of its investigations; the Roman Catholic Benedictine Congregation, children outside of the UK and Rochdale Council establishments, with scope for other public inquiries later.

The inquiry into the Roman Catholic Benedictine Congregation – which encompasses Benedictine monastic organisations across the UK, including Ampleforth Abbey and College – will be held in December 2017. There will be further public hearings the following year into the wider Catholic church.

The internal review stated the investigation will examine the extent of “any institutional failures to protect children from sexual abuse within the Roman Catholic Church in England and Wales”. It will include two case studies, the first relating to the English Benedictine Congregation and the second to the Archdiocese of Birmingham.

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.

LOUISIANA/ILLINOIS
The News Star

Bonnie Bolden , bbolden@thenewsstar.com December 20, 2016

Editor’s note: This story will be updated as more information becomes available.

David H. “Dave” DeRousse, 69, of West Monroe, recently was arrested in St. Clair County, Illinois.

As reported by the Belleville News-Democrat: State’s Attorney Brendan Kelly said DeRousse was charged with seven felony counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse involving a 10-year-old girl and a 12-year-old girl.

According to a news release, DeRousse “knowingly committed an act of sexual conduct” with the minors. Court records allege that the abuse happened between August 2014 and August 2016. The Mascoutah Police Department investigated the case.

Bail for DeRousse was set at $75,000. Mascoutah police said the man turned himself in Dec. 13 and posted bond.

Court records indicated that the case has pending grand jury actions.

DeRousse served as president of St. Frederick Catholic High School in Monroe from 1996 to 1999. DeRousse coached locally, including a stint as the assistant varsity basketball coach at then-Northeast Louisiana University in the 1970s.

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.

MINNESOTA
Catholic Spirit

Maria Wiering | December 20, 2016

A Ramsey County court judge commended the collaboration between the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis and the Ramsey County Attorney’s Office at a Dec. 20 hearing on the archdiocese’s efforts to fulfill a year-old settlement agreement to enhance policies to protect children from abuse.

The hearing was the second time the archdiocese appeared in court to report on its progress after entering into the agreement with the county last December.

“I hope the next six of the reviews go as well as the first two, because then we know that there’s been that change” said Judge Teresa Warner, speaking about the archdiocese’s efforts and the positive working relationship it has with the county attorney.

Joseph Dixon, an attorney of Fredrikson & Byron in Minneapolis who represents the archdiocese, presented the judge with the archdiocese’s 28-page report demonstrating substantial compliance with the settlement agreement. Assistant Ramsey County Attorney Thomas Ring concurred that the archdiocese was substantially compliant.

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.

AUSTRALIA
Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse

21 December, 2016

The Royal Commission would like to thank the community for its continuing support and important contribution to our work in 2016.

In 2016 we conducted 14 public hearings, completed our 6,000th private session, held an inaugural research symposium on children’s views of safety, and published nine case study reports. So far this year 8,713 people called our call centre, 5,552 sent emails and letters, and we have served 786 notices to produce.

The Royal Commission’s call centre will remain open during the holiday season this year, with the exception of public holidays. The call centre can be contacted on 1800 099 340 Monday – Friday between 9am – 5pm AEDT.

Public holiday dates
Monday 26 December 2016
Tuesday 27 December 2016
Monday 2 January 2017

The Royal Commission appreciates that this time of year can be a challenging time. There are a number of organisations available to provide support during the holiday season.

1800 Respect
Website: www.1800respect.org.au
24/7 x 365 telephone and online crisis support, information and immediate referral to specialist counselling for anyone in Australia who has experienced or been impacted by sexual assault, or domestic or family violence.

Phone: 1800 737 732
Online Counselling: www.1800respect.org.au

MensLine Australia
Website: www.mensline.org.au
24/7 x 365 national telephone and online support, information and referral service for men with family and relationship concerns.

Phone: 1300 78 99 78
Online Counselling: www.mensline.org.au

Sexual Assault Counselling Australia (SACA)
Provides telephone counselling for people affected by the Royal Commission, including a free telephone interpreting service. Face-to-face counselling is available in parts of NSW.

Phone: 1800 211 028 (Mon-Fri 8am-11pm AEST/AEDT)
Online Counselling: www.sexualassaultcounselling.org.au

Suicide Call Back Service
Website: www.suicidecallbackservice.org.au
24/7 x 365 counselling for people 18 years and over who are suicidal, caring for someone who is suicidal or people bereaved by suicide.

Phone: 1300 659 467

Lifeline
Website: www.lifeline.org.au
24/7 x 365 national crisis support and suicide prevention.

Phone: 131 114

A full list of the support services available in your state or territory can be found here.

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

VATICAN CITY
National Catholic Register

Edward Pentin

Just a few days before Christmas, Pope Francis has granted a “conditional pardon” to Msgr. Lucio Ángel Vallejo Balda, sentenced in August to 18 months in jail for stealing and passing on documents to two Italian journalists.

In a brief statement released this evening, the Vatican said: “Considering that the Rev. Vallejo Balda has already served more than half of the sentence, the Holy Father Francis has given him the benefit of conditional release.”

It added: “It is a measure of clemency which allows him to regain freedom. The penalty is not settled, but he has the benefit of parole.”

The statement continued: “As of this evening the priest leaves the prison and all ties of employment with the Holy See ceases; he falls within the jurisdiction of the Bishop of Astorga (Spain), his home diocese.”

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

VATICAN CITY
The Guardian

AFP

A Spanish priest jailed by the Vatican for leaking secret files to journalists was released from custody early on Tuesday on the orders of Pope Francis.

Spanish monsignor Lucio Vallejo Balda was sentenced to 18 months in July after the controversial “Vatileaks II” trial of himself, his assistant, two investigative Italian journalists and a PR consultant.

The case centred on the documents used by the journalists for books exposing waste and financial mismanagement at the top of the church.

The journalists and assistant were acquitted, but PR expert Francesca Chaouqui, who was accused of orchestrating the leaks from a financial reform commission, was given a suspended sentence.

“Given that the Rev Vallejo Balda has already served more than half of his sentence (including pre-trial custody), the holy father Francis has granted him the benefit of a conditional release,” the Vatican said in a statement.

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

VATICAN CITY
Religion News Service

By Josephine McKenna

VATICAN CITY (RNS) Pope Francis has granted early release to a Spanish priest who was sentenced to 18 months in jail by a Vatican court for leaking confidential information to journalists.

Monsignor Lucio Vallejo Balda was sentenced in August for stealing and passing Vatican documents to two Italian journalists in the so-called Vatileaks 2 case.

In a brief statement released late Tuesday (Dec. 20), the Vatican said:

“Considering that the Rev. Vallejo Balda has already served more than half of the sentence, the Holy Father Francis has given him the benefit of conditional release. … It is a measure of clemency which allows him to regain freedom. The penalty is not resolved, but he can enjoy the benefit of parole.”

Vallejo Balda was to be released from prison Tuesday and have no further employment in the Holy See. He will return to his home diocese in Spain.

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

VATICAN CITY
Today

DECEMBER 21, 2016

VATICAN CITY – Pope Francis has commuted the jail sentence of a Spanish priest who was convicted of leaking Vatican documents and ordered that he be released from jail, the Vatican said on Tuesday.

Monsigor Angel Lucio Vallejo Balda was sentenced to 18 months in a Vatican jail last July at the end of a trial dubbed “Vatileaks II”.

A statement said the pontiff took the step because Vallejo Balda, 55, had already served more than half of his sentence. He would leave the employ of the Vatican and be put under the jurisdiction of the diocese of Astorga in his native Spain.

It said he would be under “provisional liberty” for the rest of his sentence, without elaborating. It gave no further details.

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.

CALIFORNIA
BishopAccountability.org

Summary of Case: Kenneth Cabral was ordained for the Archdiocese of San Francisco in 1950. He became a priest of the Diocese of Oakland when it was established in 1962. Cabral served in parishes in Tracy, San Jose, Oakland, Martinez, Berkeley, Walnut Creek, Lafayette and San Leandro. He appears to have been active until 1986, after which the Official Catholic Directory shows a year where he does not appear at all, followed by sick leave status and then retirement. He is reported to have died in March 1996.

Cabral was publicly named a child sex offender in the diocese’s October 2004 apology service for abuse perpetrated at St. Catherine of Siena in Martinez during 1964-1965.

Ordained: 1950
Retired: 1991
Died: 1996

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.

MINNESOTA
Pioneer Press

By TORY COONEY | vcooney@pioneerpress.com
PUBLISHED: December 20, 2016

The Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis was found to be on track with carrying out a settlement plan designed to protect children during a Tuesday review hearing in Ramsey County District Court.

Archdiocese and Ramsey County officials reached a settlement in December calling for an “aggressive” timeline to implement “substantial” changes — including a new child-protection plan and protocols, Ramsey County Chief Judge Teresa Warner said.

“There’s no doubt the reason for this settlement is to protect our children,” Warner said. “For the next several years, it’s going to be our North Star, the guiding principle. It’s a good agreement and it’s there for the right reasons.”

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.

UNITED KINGDOM
BBC News

By Mark Daly
BBC Scotland Investigations Correspondent

The Crown Office has been criticised over its handling of the extradition of a former Catholic monk at the centre of a child sex abuse scandal.

Father Denis “Chrysostom” Alexander was one of several monks accused of abusing boys at the former Fort Augustus Abbey boarding school in the Highlands.

BBC Scotland confronted the former monk in Australia during a 2013 documentary.

In December last year, the Crown Office announced plans to bring him back from his native Australia to face trial.

But on Monday, 80-year-old Father Alexander, who denies the abuse claims, said he was not aware of any extradition plans, fuelling fears the process was stalling.

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.

ARGENTINA
Los Andes

[Church abuse scandals grow: two priests are now being investigated in Salta. Law enforcement officials in Salta, Argentina, are investigating two priests at the church in Santa Cruz, the provincial capital, for acts of sexual abuse that occurred between 2009 and 2013.]

La justicia de Salta investiga a dos sacerdotes de la iglesia de la Santa Cruz, de la capital provincial, por hechos de abuso sexual ocurridos entre 2009 y 2013 a raíz de la denuncia de dos integrantes del instituto religioso Discípulo de San Juan Bautista.

Fuentes del Ministerio Público de Salta informaron hoy que se trata de los curas justicia de Salta investiga a dos sacerdotes de la iglesia de la Santa Cruz, de la capital provincial, por hechos de abuso sexual ocurridos entre 2009 y 2013 a raíz de la denuncia de dos integrantes del instituto religioso Discípulo de San Juan Bautista.

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.