ABUSE TRACKER

WASHINGTON
LMT

Wednesday, December 14, 2016

SEATTLE (AP) — A woman who weeks ago settled her child sex abuse claim against Seattle Archdiocese for $950,000 is now issuing a statement about the deal — because she’s upset about how the agreement was portrayed to parishioners.

The woman, identified as A.W., was raped in 1983, when she was 10, by Charles Siddons, a janitor at St. John Parish and School. Siddons pleaded guilty a month later. He died in 1997.

The woman sued the Archdiocese in 2015 after she learned previous incidents of assault and inappropriate conduct involving Siddons had been reported to school officials.

Last month, the archdiocese sent a message to parishioners about the settlement, noting that there was nothing to indicate Siddons was a threat when he was hired.

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.

IRELAND/FLORIDA
Irish Sun

BY ANGELA MULLIN 15th December 2016

A Galway-born priest who had three residences – including a beach condo – has been charged with embezzling more than €47,000 ($50,000) from an elderly parishioner in Florida.

Fr Nicholas King is charged with using a 79-year-old woman’s money to fund a lifestyle ‘beyond his means’, according to cops at Brevard County near Orlando, Florida.

The Irish Examiner reports that the 73-year-old priest officially stood down as pastor of the parish he lead for more than 20 years a few days before being cuffed in September.

Donna Seyferth, spokeswoman for the Rockledge Police Department, said the priest had three residences, including a beach condominium, and lived far above his annual $28,000 salary.

He spent hundreds of dollars on restaurant meals, made a $9,000 down payment on a car, gave $6,000 to his sister, and spent $900 at a gourmet chocolate shop.

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.

Thursday, December 15, 2016

IRELAND/FLORIDA
Irish Examiner

John Breslin

A Galway-born priest charged with embezzling over $50,000 (€47,000) from an elderly parishioner in Florida was a vocal supporter of one of two jailed Irish clerics accused of defrauding their parish of hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Fr Nicholas King, aged 73, is charged with using money belonging to the elderly woman to fund a lifestyle “beyond his means”, according to police in Brevard County near Orlando.

The priest, who officially stood down as pastor of the parish he led for over 20 years just days before his September arrest, was a public supporter of Francis Guinan, one of the two Irish clerics propelled to nationwide and international infamy over their plundering of church coffers to fund gambling trips, rare coin collections, and homes.

Guinan, from Offaly, spent over three years in jail after being found guilty by a jury of stealing some $100,000.

The other, Kilkenny-born John Skehan, aged 81 when sentenced in 2009, served just under a year of a 14-month sentence after pleading guilty to stealing close to $400,000.

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.

NEW MEXICO
Gallup Independent

Published in the Gallup Independent, Gallup, N.M., Dec. 14, 2016

By Elizabeth Hardin-Burrola
Independent correspondent
religion@gallupindependent.com

ALBUQUERQUE — U.S. Bankruptcy Judge David T. Thuma spent nearly an hour listening to and sorting through the legal arguments of two Arizona attorneys — opposing lawyers in a clergy sexual abuse lawsuit — in an effort to resolve a legal dispute that has stalled the Diocese of Gallup’s exit from bankruptcy court during a hearing Monday.

The dispute centers on a lawsuit Phoenix attorney Robert E. Pastor filed in 2015 in Arizona’s Coconino County Superior Court. Pastor represents a Navajo woman who said she was sexually molested as a child by Brother Mark Schornack, a Franciscan brother who allegedly abused her during his employment as a school bus driver and maintenance man at St. Michael Indian School in St. Michaels, Arizona. Schornack, a former resident of Little Sisters of the Poor in Gallup, died in 2012.

St. Michael Indian School and the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament, the founders of the school, are named as defendants in the lawsuit. The Diocese of Gallup and the Franciscans were also previously named as defendants, but because they were participating parties that contributed funding toward the Gallup Diocese’s Chapter 11 settlement agreement with sex abuse claimants, they were removed as defendants and are now protected parties with no legal liability in the case.

St. Michael Indian School and the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament were not participating parties and did not contribute any funding toward the settlement; therefore, they are not protected parties under the plan of reorganization.

The lawsuit became a matter of concern in U.S. Bankruptcy Court because the Sisters filed a claim against the Diocese of Gallup while the diocese was concluding its Chapter 11 reorganization case. Attorneys for the diocese have objected to the Sisters’ claim because it was not filed in a timely manner and because, they assert, it is disallowed under the Bankruptcy Code.

Scott B. Cohen, the Sisters’ Phoenix attorney, has said the Sisters did not know of the Diocese of Gallup’s bankruptcy case until Dec. 4, 2015, more than two years after the diocese filed its Chapter 11 petition Nov. 12, 2013.

In contrast, diocesan attorneys have stated the Sisters were sent legal notices regarding the bankruptcy since November 2013. In addition, throughout the case, the Sisters’ lack of participation in the mediation and settlement process has been noted in bankruptcy court documents.

Liability arguments

During Monday’s hearing, Susan Boswell, the lead bankruptcy attorney for the Diocese of Gallup, expressed frustration that the Sisters’ claim is “the only thing that’s keeping this case open.” Boswell, who told the judge the matter was costing the diocese money for U.S. Trustee fees, as well as for professional fees, requested Thuma enter an order and disallow the Sisters’ claim so the case could be closed.

“If somebody wants to keep this case open because they think that they need the assistance of this court for interpretation of the plan,” Boswell added, “I’d be happy to do that provided they also paid the costs of keeping this case open.”

Much of the hearing was devoted to Pastor’s and Cohen’s opposing interpretations of the language in Pastor’s lawsuit regarding various legal definitions of liability. Noting the Diocese of Gallup and the Franciscans have been dropped as defendants, Cohen argued, “But despite the dismissal of these two protected parties … the plaintiff still attempts to hold the Sisters liable for the alleged wrongdoing of others, including these protected parties.”

In particular, Cohen said Pastor and his client were trying to hold the Sisters liable for the actions of Schornack’s religious order at the time of the alleged abuse, the Franciscan Province of St. John the Baptist, one of the protected parties in the plan of reorganization.

Pastor disputed that assertion. “It’s only an attempt to hold the Sisters and the school liable for the bad acts of its employee, Brother Mark Schornack,” he said.

In a document filed in U.S. Bankruptcy Court Nov. 28, Pastor said Schornack had been a patient at Via Coeli, the notorious clergy treatment center once operated in Jemez Springs by the Servants of the Paraclete. In their comments to the court Monday, both Cohen and Pastor indicated it was likely the Franciscan Province of St. John the Baptist withheld information regarding Schornack’s history from the Sisters.

Through questioning both attorneys, Thuma managed to sift through their arguments and finally solicit some common agreement around the legal concept of comparative fault, where the Sisters would only be held liable for what a jury decided was their fault.

“Isn’t that a way to do this that is consistent with the confirmation order and consistent with what Mr. Pastor’s client’s rights still are?” Thuma asked.

The judge requested Cohen and Pastor submit proposed language within 10 days that he could enter into an order that would be helpful to the Arizona state court judge assigned to Pastor’s lawsuit against the Sisters.

Thuma concluded the hearing by approving two requests from Boswell, the attorney for the Diocese of Gallup. Boswell asked for an order disallowing the claim by the Sisters, and she asked to be allowed to file a motion for a final decree, which will move the diocese a step closer to having its bankruptcy case closed.

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
Toronto Star

By TANYA TALAGA
Global Economics Reporter
Wed., Dec. 14, 2016

Survivors of the St. Anne’s residential school in Fort Albany, Ont., will have to wait until March to find out if the courts will even proceed with their abuse compensation case.

Edmund Metatawabin and a woman known only as K-10106 attended the notorious St. Anne’s, a church-run, federally funded school when they were young children. They say they were victims of horrific abuse, including being shocked by an electrified chair and having to eat their own vomit.

Metatawabin and the female survivor have led a court challenge, arguing they should receive proper compensation for the abuse they suffered.

The two survivors want the Superior Court to order a full-scale inquiry into why records of a criminal investigation and prosecutions that took place as a result of abuse allegations were only disclosed under court orders in 2014. This secrecy and delay meant other survivors missed out on compensation granted under settlement of a class action related to the residential school system, they say.

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 Times

Sean O’Neill, Andrew Norfolk
December 15 2016
The Times

The former lead counsel to the independent inquiry into child abuse has been cleared of an allegation of sexual assault after an investigation ordered by his chambers.

Ben Emmerson, QC, a founder member of Matrix Chambers, had been accused of sexually assaulting a woman in a lift at the offices of the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) in London earlier this year.

After the claim was reported in the media and repeated in parliament, Matrix asked Sir David Calvert-Smith, a former High Court judge, to investigate. Sir David, who is also a former director of public prosecutions, interviewed Mr Emmerson and the alleged complainant before preparing a report for the Matrix management committee.

The chambers said in a statement: “Sir David concluded ‘without hesitation’ that Mr Emmerson had not committed any act of sexual assault or sexual harassment. The management committee has accepted Sir David’s findings and is satisfied that they demonstrate no case of professional misconduct to report to the Bar Standards Board.”

Matrix, whose lawyers are known for fighting human rights actions and often represent the media in open justice cases against government secrecy, said the full report was “confidential and its contents will not be made public”.

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MINNESOTA
The Catholic Spirit

December 13, 2016

U.S. Bankruptcy Court Judge Robert Kressel ruled Dec. 8 that the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis wouldn’t be responsible for paying approximately $355,000 in legal fees incurred by the Unsecured Creditors’ Committee in seeking to consolidate parish, school and foundation assets into the archdiocese’s bankruptcy.

Judge Kressel’s July 28 ruling that institutions “such as churches, schools and charitable organizations and foundations cannot be forced into bankruptcy” was upheld Dec. 6 by the Federal District Court after the Unsecured Creditors Committee, which represents more than 400 sexual abuse claimants, filed the appeal.

The judge also ruled Dec. 8 that professional fees of about half a million dollars incurred by attorneys, accountants, appraisers and others could be paid immediately from the archdiocese’s regular operating account. The remaining $2 million for attorneys’ and professional fees for the archdiocese, the Unsecured Creditors Committee and the Parish Committee will be paid once the court confirms a plan of Reorganization. Going forward, all payments for professional fees will be paid once a plan is approved, the judge said.

The court is scheduled to hear arguments on disclosure statements associated with Reorganization plans on Dec. 15. The archdiocese announced Dec. 8 its intention to amend its plan to provide more than $155 million to sexual abuse claimants after settling with all 13 of its insurance carriers.

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MINNESOTA
Catholic Culture

December 14, 2016

A federal bankruptcy-court judge in Minnesota has ruled that the Archdiocese of St. Paul-Minneapolis is not responsible for the $355,000 in legal fees incurred by sex-abuse victims who had sought to include the resources of Catholic parishes and schools in the accounting of archdiocesan assets available to creditors.

Under the terms of a proposed bankruptcy agreement, the archdiocese is responsible for legal fees associated with the case. But the archdiocese is not responsible for the fees incurred during the unsuccessful appeal, Judge Robert Kessel ruled.

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MINNESOTA
Minnesota Public Radio

Martin Moylan St. Paul · Dec 15, 2016

The bankruptcy reorganization of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis is about to enter its third year. But there is a chance that the church could reach a settlement with hundreds of sex abuse victims and emerge from bankruptcy by summer.

A court hearing scheduled for Thursday will focus on how well the archdiocese and creditors can explain their separate plans to the people who would vote on them, including some 450 sexual abuse victims seeking compensation. There will also be a discussion about voting procedures and counting the results.

The archdiocese envisions a vote by spring and a conclusion of the bankruptcy by mid-year, said Charles Rogers, an archdiocese attorney.

“We have $155 million, potentially more than $160 million, set aside at this time for a victim fund,” Rogers said. “We have the parameters of a plan that we believe is eminently workable. It is now for the court to determine what plan is voted on and how we proceed.”

The plan also seeks a court order protecting parishes and their insurers from future lawsuits by victims who’ve filed claims in the archdiocese bankruptcy.

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UNITED STATES
Christian News Network

By Heather Clark on December 14, 2016

The board of the organization GRACE (Godly Response to Abuse in the Christian Environment), which includes the brother and uncle of Tullian Tchividijan, as well as the son of Ronald Reagan, has released a statement of grief over Tchividijan’s sexual misconduct and is urging churches to implement reformation to protect against “wolves” in their midst.

“The GRACE board is deeply disturbed about the revelations of sexual misconduct by Tullian Tchividjian. As an organization that deals with the abuse of God’s lambs and the damage silence causes, we feel compelled to speak,” the statement reads.

As previously reported, Tchividijan, the grandson of Billy Graham, resigned from his role as pastor of Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church, formerly led by the late D. James Kennedy, in June of last year after admitting to having an affair with a church member.

However, Tchividijan stated that he had fallen into an inappropriate relationship in confiding with the woman about his wife’s infidelity. After being hired as the Director of Ministry Development at Willow Creek Presbyterian Church in Winter Springs, he soon admitted that he actually had already been in another affair before his wife was unfaithful, and then had a second sexual relationship. He was consequently fired.

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ZIMBABWE
allAfrica

The Herald

Fungai Lupande — AN Apostolic Faith Mission Ruwa pastor, Oliver Makomo, who is accused of raping a congregant, was yesterday removed from remand after the State failed to give him a trial date.Makomo’s lawyer, Mr Nickel Mushangwe, said he was advised that the docket was sent to the Prosecutor-General’s Office because of insufficient evidence.

“I am surprised that there is no communication from the PG’s Office on the position of the docket,” said Mr Mushangwe.

“The accused appeared in court on August 25 this year and State made numerous promises to provide a trial date.”

Prosecutor Ms Audrey Chogumaira argued that defence council was not being truthful about the PG’s Office being mum about the docket.

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OREGON
KDRV

[with video]

By Kasey Kershner Dec. 15, 2016

JACKSON COUNTY, Ore. — Kenneth Baker is behind bars tonight in the Jackson County Jail facing six counts of sexual abuse.

Reports say Baker met the victim through his church where he was a youth pastor.

It also stated that when the abuse started the victim was younger than 14, and it happened between 2006 and 2011.

However, there wasn’t an investigation until five years later, which law enforcement investigators say they see frequently in these cases.

“Delay disclosure is not uncommon for these types of cases and actually it’s probably more common than an immediate disclosure. So there’s obviously some obstacles with the lack of physical evidence with years past when the abuse took place. However, like any other investigation we talk to any potential witnesses and anyone who might have information for us,” said Detective David Seese with the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office.

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OHIO
Sandusky Register

By ANDREW WELSH-HUGGINS Associated Press

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — The Ohio Supreme Court on Wednesday rejected a request from a woman raped by a pastor when she was 15 to boost the amount of damages paid by the church where the minister worked.

Attorneys for the woman and her father argued a state law that limits noneconomic damages to $350,000 violates the constitutional rights of underage sexual assault victims.

They argue that sexual abuse is typically more emotionally damaging than physical injury and sexually abused minors often spend years dealing with the trauma.

Attorneys for the church argued that distinguishing between sexual abuse and physical injury isn’t arbitrary or unreasonable. They also said the woman didn’t suffer the types of catastrophic injuries needed to override the cap.

As evidence, they said the woman finished high school, attended college, has a full-time job and hasn’t participated in mental health counseling or treatment since 2008, the year the assault occurred.

The court agreed, ruling 3-2 to uphold the caps with two additional justices saying the court shouldn’t have taken the case.

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TEXAS
Crux

Mark Zimmermann
December 14, 2016
NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Taking over one of America’s front-line dioceses in terms of both the political and pastoral challenges of immigration, Bishop Edward Burns, named December 13 as the new shepherd of Dallas, Texas, has pledged to emphasize solidarity with immigrants.

Asked by Crux what he would tell immigrants who are fearful of the immigration policies in the upcoming administration of President-elect Donald Trump – who as a candidate had said that all illegal immigrants may be subject to deportation – Dallas’s new bishop underscored the importance of service.

“As the shepherd of the Diocese of Dallas, I want to assure them that we will do everything we can to help them and assist them. Regardless of the circumstances of how they entered this country, we will seek to serve their needs,” he said, adding, “…We need to be present to them. For us, it is the very essence of being a universal church.”
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TEXAS
Dallas Observer

BY STEPHEN YOUNG

Almost four months after the Vatican poached Bishop Kevin Farrell, Dallas’ 1.3 million Catholics have a new leader.

On Tuesday, Pope Francis appointed Edward J. Burns, currently the bishop of Juneau, Alaska, to Farrell’s vacated post. Burns, 59, will start his new gig on Feb. 7.

“I am profoundly grateful for my experience in Juneau and I pray for God’s grace as I take on my new duties as chief shepherd of this ever-growing Diocese of Dallas,” Burns said. “I look forward to listening and learning all that I can about this beautifully diverse Catholic community and I want to assure all in the Diocese of Dallas that I will be a shepherd for all people.” …

During his time in Juneau, Burns also served as the chair of the U.S. bishops’ Committee for the Protection of Children and Young People, which has sought to ensure that Catholic churches are safe environments “designed to ensure necessary safety and security for all children as they participate in church and religious activities” in the wake of the sexual abuse scandals that have rocked the church over the last 25 years.

Last year, in an op-ed for the National Catholic Reporter, Burns cited numbers indicating that the church was getting better at stopping sexual abuse, but acknowledged that there was still work to do.

“Nevertheless, this is certainly not a sign that we have somehow put this scandal behind us, nor is it an occasion for self-congratulation. We must remain vigilant. We must not grow complacent. We should not regard the clerical sexual abuse scandal as a distraction from the church’s mission, as if, once we have somehow ‘rectified the problem,’ we can continue on as before.

Rather, our shepherds, myself included, need to face and repent of the betrayal of trust. Authentic and heartfelt repentance by the shepherds of our church is not a distraction from our mission: It is the mission at this moment in the life of the church and her leaders,” he wrote.

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CANADA
Sudbury.com

ST. JOHN’S, N.L. — The Mount Cashel lawsuit is not about money — it’s to finally see local church officials held responsible for horrific abuse at the orphanage, a plaintiff said Wednesday as the case neared an end.

“I would really like to see that the church will be proven derelict in their duty to looking after youngsters,” said the man, now in his 70s, who can’t be identified under a court order.

“How can you hurt a child?” he asked. “I’ll stay until I see that they have been brought to task.”

He spoke outside provincial Supreme Court after closing arguments started Wednesday in the civil action led by former residents who claim church officials ignored repeated reports of sexual and physical attacks.

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CANADA
The Telegram

Barb Sweet bsweet@thetelegram.com
Published on December 14, 2016

On the Supreme Court of Newfoundland and Labrador steps, a John Doe former Mount Cashel resident now in his 70s held out hope for atonement from the Roman Catholic Church that he is convinced could have helped boys abused long ago at the infamous orphanage.

“How could you hurt a child?” asked the man, who detailed at the Mount Cashel civil trial earlier this year the horrific childhood physical and sexual abuse he said he suffered at the hands of Irish Christian Brothers in the 1950s.

Church officials and priests are not implicated in any of the abuse allegations connected to the case, but he is convinced the church had a role in the operations of the Christian Brothers’ orphanage and could have intervened.

In his mind, the answer is one of clear responsibility.

But the question of liability before Justice Alphonsus Faour is infinitely more complex and tied up in a long and winding history of the archdiocese — involved in the case through the Episcopal Corp. of St. John’s — and the lay order Christian Brothers, as well as legal precedent.

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NEW YORK
Forward

Daniel J. Solomon
December 14, 2016

For four decades, a Jewish man says he did not tell anyone that a counselor at Camp Ramah in the Berkshires forced him to perform a sex act in the woods one summer as a boy. But now that his alleged abuser has been convicted in the sexual abuse of several children in Canada, the unnamed victim is filing a lawsuit against the Jewish sleepaway camp and its parent organization, the Jewish Theological Seminary.

“I was trying to punish myself for putting myself in this position and not doing anything about it,” the anonymous man told the Daily News, who said that the episode drove him to depression, trust issues, alcoholism and numerous suicide attempts. “The fact is: This went on for years and nobody stopped it.”

The lawsuit, filed several weeks ago in Manhattan federal court, alleges that the New York-based camp engaged in a cover-up of the counselor’s sexual abuse. It names JTS and the National Ramah Commission, both of which oversee Camp Ramah in the Berkshires as well as more than a dozen other camps that form the Ramah network.

Neither JTS nor Ramah returned calls for comment from the Forward.

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WASHINGTON
Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests

For immediate release: Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2016

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

We applaud the brave woman who just settled her child sex abuse and cover up lawsuit against the Seattle Catholic archdiocese. But we deplore the continuing secrecy of church officials with predators.

[KING]

Archbishop Peter Sartain could have publicly disclosed the first time someone reported janitor Chuck Siddon’s alleged abuse. He could have done so the first time an abuse report against Siddon was deemed “credible.” He could have done so the first time the archdiocese was sued because of Siddon’s alleged crimes. He could have done so when the archdiocese first paid off one of Siddon’s alleged victims.

Instead, at every juncture, Sartain opts for secrecy over openness, until the bitter end. And even then, instead of providing the full truth, he provides self-serving “spin.”

Sartain should publicly apologize for hiding Siddon’s alleged crimes. He should publicly disclose the names, whereabouts and work histories of every single proven, admitted and credibly accused sex offender who has worked in Seattle area church jobs, whether living or deceased, clerical or lay, high-ranking or entry-level. And for the safety of kids and the healing of victims, he should list all of this, permanently, on archdiocesan and parish websites.

Church officials like to use words like “mistakes” and “failures” to describe their incredibly hurtful moves. We respectfully disagree. Deliberate decisions to help keep criminals concealed aren’t “goofs” or “oversights.” These are careful choices made by smart men to protect their own reputations, careers, comfort and “brand.”

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ILLINOIS
NBC Chicago

By Mary Ann Ahern

A Chicago-area priest who was removed from the ministry for an “inappropriate relationship” was hoping to start over in San Antonio, Texas, but has instead relocated to Mexico.

The San Antonio Archdiocese told NBC 5 that Fr. Marco Mercado “never had a formal assignment” and has returned to live with his family in Mexico.

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ILLINOIS
Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests

For immediate release: Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2016

Statement by Barbara Blaine of Chicago, national president member of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (312-399-4747, bblaine@SNAPnetwork.org)

For the second time in five months, top Chicago Catholic officials are letting a priest who engaged in sexual misconduct move down the road to even more vulnerable and unsuspecting families where he’s apt to hurt others. It’s a continuation of the callous and irresponsible pattern of moving predators that Catholic staffers have engaged in for centuries.

[NBC Chicago]

In August, Cardinal Blasé Cupich sent Fr. Marco Mercado to Texas to work, even though the priest had, in church officials’ own words “an inappropriate adult relationship.” (Notice this is no “allegation.” Cupich is admitting the Fr. Mercado misused his power and prestige as a priest to sexually exploit another person.)

[SNAP]

Now, Cupich is sending Fr. Mercado to Mexico, or at least letting Fr. Mercado move there. According to NBC 5, “Cupich played a role in the latest decision that sent Mercado back to Mexico. The Chicago Archdiocese refused comment.”

So just last year, Cupich deemed Fr. Mercado too dangerous to work in a Chicago parish. But he apparently has no problem if Fr. Mercado works in Texas or Mexican parishes. Shame on him and on every Catholic staffer who is choosing to protect himself, his comfort and his career by staying silent while the higher-ups deliberately and repeatedly act recklessly.

Several factors make Mexican families even more vulnerable to offending priests like Fr. Mercado. First, the gaps between a priest and his parishioners – in terms of education, prestige, sophistication and money – are even greater in Mexico, giving the priest considerably more power over his flock. Second, there’s an even longer and deeper culture of unquestioning respect for priests in Mexico than here. Third, the US enjoys a stronger investigative media climate and justice systems, making it more apt that Fr. Mercado might be exposed, prosecuted or sued in the US than in Mexico.

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NEW YORK
Church Militant

by Stefan Farrar • ChurchMilitant.com • December 9, 2016

NEW YORK (ChurchMilitant.com) – Forty-six people have registered claims of sex abuse in the archdiocese of New York through a newly developed victims’ compensation program.

The compensation program was established by Cdl. Timothy Dolan in early October, who said, “I wish I would have done this quite a while ago. I just finally thought: Darn it, let’s do it. I’m tired of putting it off.”

According to the official protocol, “This Independent Reconciliation and Compensation Program (the ‘IRCP’) follows in the wake of initiatives already implemented by the Archdiocese of New York … to address the problem of sexual abuse of minors alleged against clergy of the Archdiocese.”

The program has come under fire from advocates for sex abuse victims. Anne Barrett Doyle, co-director of BishopAccountability.org, wrote, “While the fund certainly will help some victims, its biggest beneficiary will be Dolan and his management team. This is a legal strategy in pastoral garb, a tactic by the powerful archbishop to control victims and protect the church’s assets and its secrets.”

Barrett Doyle’s criticisms are based on two elements of the program: (1) claimants are required to sign a confidentiality agreement, and (2) victims aren’t given information on what happened to their abuser.

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UNITED KINGDOM
Evening Standard

MARTIN BENTHAM

The former chief lawyer at the independent inquiry into child sex abuse was today cleared of allegations of sexual misconduct after a probe conducted by a former High Court judge.

Sir David Calvert-Smith, who also served as Director of Public Prosecutions before moving onto the Bench, said he had concluded “without hestitation” that there was no truth in allegations that Ben Emmerson QC had committed sexual assault or harassment while working for the inquiry.

His finding follows allegations reported on the BBC’s Newsnight programme that Mr Emmerson – who resigned from the inquiry earlier this year after being suspended over concerns about his conduct – had groped a female colleague in a lift.

Mr Emmerson strongly denied the allegations, but his chambers, Matrix, ordered an investigation to establish whether further action, including a referral to the Bar Standards Board, was needed.

Today, however, it announced that the investigation, carried out by Sir David, had cleared Mr Emmerson.

“Sir David concluded without hesitation that Mr Emmerson had not committed any act of sexual assault or sexual harassment,” Matrix said in a statement.

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UNITED KINGDOM
Legal Business

by Matthew Field

Matrix Chambers has concluded an investigation into top silk Ben Emmerson QC following allegations of sexual assault during his work on the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) and found he did not commit any act of sexual assault or harassment.

Emmerson (pictured) was the subject of allegations on BBC Newsnight in October that said a female member of staff had been assaulted by the lawyer, who was lead counsel on the inquiry at the time.

Matrix Chambers launched an internal investigation into the claims and the management committee instructed former Director of Public Prosecutions and retired High Court Judge Sir David Calvert-Smith to investigate the allegations.

In a statement, Matrix Chambers said: ‘After examining the evidence, Sir David submitted his final report to the management committee earlier this week. In his report Sir David concluded “without hesitation” that Mr Emmerson had not committed any act of sexual assault or sexual harassment.’

The statement added there was no case of professional misconduct to report to the Bar Standards Board.

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AUSTRALIA
Australian Jewish News

THE future of Rabbi Pinchus Feldman as a member of the Rabbinical Council of New South Wales (RCNSW) hangs in the balance after a formal complaint was lodged against him this week by child sexual abuse victims’ advocate Manny Waks.

The complaint, which was made to RCNSW president Rabbi Eli Cohen, has seen four out of five RCNSW executive members – Rabbi Cohen, Rabbi Yehoram Ulman, Rabbi Eli Feldman and Rabbi Chaim Ingram – step aside in relation to the matter, with the rabbis citing a conflict of interest. As a result, executive member Rabbi Paul Lewin will appoint a committee to address the complaint “in due course”.

In an email to Rabbi Cohen, Waks said that Rabbi Pinchus Feldman “did not fulfil his moral, religious and legal responsibility to protect children, and was a party to conduct that denigrated victims”.

The complaint comes after the Rabbinic Council of Australia and New Zealand (RCANZ), Rabbinical Council of Victoria (RCV) and RCNSW publicly stated that those who did not fulfil their legal responsibility to protect children should “stand down from their public positions”, and that “those who denigrated or undermined the victims have lost their moral right to serve”.

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UNITED KINGDOM
Daily Mail

By Tim Sculthorpe, Mailonline Deputy Political Editor

The former top lawyer at the struggling child abuse inquiry has been cleared of allegations of sexual assault and harassment.

Ben Emmerson, a senior QC, was suspended from his job on the inquiry because of concerns over his leadership. He subsequently quit his post as senior counsel before the claims emerged about the alleged incident, which happened weeks before he left.

His chambers, Matrix, set up an independent inquiry to look at the claims reported on BBC Newsnight about an alleged sexual assault in a lift.

A formal complaint was not made by the woman involved.

The independent inquiry into child sexual abuse (IICSA) has not commented on Mr Emmerson’s departure beyond an initial statement raising concerns about ‘aspects of Mr Emmerson’s leadership’.

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UNITED KINGDOM
BBC News

The former senior counsel to the independent inquiry into historical child sexual abuse in England and Wales has been cleared of allegations of sexual assault and harassment.

An inquiry worker claimed he groped her in a lift in September.

But a former director of public prosecutions has now exonerated Ben Emmerson QC “without hesitation”.

Mr Emmerson, who quit the inquiry in September, said he was “very pleased” with the investigation’s outcome.

He said: “This has been a difficult period and I am naturally very pleased that an independent senior judge has now confirmed that the allegations against me were always unfounded.”

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UNITED KINGDOM
The Guardian

Sandra Laville and Owen Bowcott
Wednesday 14 December 2016

The former senior counsel on the national child abuse inquiry has been cleared of any wrongdoing in an independent investigation by his chambers. Ben Emmerson QC, who quit the independent inquiry into child sexual abuse (IICSA) in September, was named in a BBC Newsnight programme after an inquiry worker revealed details of an alleged sexual assault in a lift.

The abuse inquiry, under the chairmanship of Prof Alexis Jay, has repeatedly refused to release any further information about Emmerson’s departure. His law chambers, Matrix, set up an independent inquiry into the allegations of sexual assault and sexual harassment. It was led by the former director of public prosecutions, Sir David Calvert-Smith.

Matrix said on Wednesday: “After examining the evidence, Sir David submitted his final report to the management committee earlier this week. In his report, Sir David concluded ‘without hesitation’ that Mr Emmerson had not committed any act of sexual assault or sexual harassment.”

Welcoming the inquiry’s findings, Emmerson said: “This has been a difficult period and I am naturally very pleased that an independent senior judge has now confirmed that the allegations against me were always unfounded. I hope that the inquiry can now be left to get on with its important work, free from unnecessary distractions.”

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CANADA
CTV News

Sue Bailey, The Canadian Press
Published Wednesday, December 14, 2016

ST. JOHN’S, N.L. — Closing arguments began Wednesday in a civil lawsuit led by former Mount Cashel residents who claim church officials ignored reports of horrific abuse at the orphanage in Newfoundland.

Lawyers for about 60 claimants are in provincial Supreme Court, and say the Roman Catholic Episcopal Corporation of St. John’s is liable for incidents dating back to the 1940s.

He took aim at defence arguments, including that attitudes toward physical punishment of children have changed over time.

“Some things are eternally regarded,” he told Judge Alphonsus Faour.

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VATICAN CITY
Vatican Radio

(Vatican Radio) The Council of 9 Cardinals met this week in the Vatican, from Monday, December 12th, to Wednesday, December 14th. The Director of the Press Office of the Holy See, Greg Burke, held a briefing on Wednesday to inform journalists of the work done during the sessions.

Two key issues emerged as guidelines for the reform of the Curial dicasteries: missionary thrust and synodality.

The Cardinals have concluded their study of other departments (Doctrine of the Faith, Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life, the Causes of Saints and Promotion of Christian Unity) and delivered their final proposal to the Holy Father.

Considerable time was devoted to the projects of the two new dicasteries.

Cardinal Kevin Farrell spoke of the Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life, of which he is Prefect. The discussion focused on the role of the laity, with an invitation to all to re-read the letter of Pope Francis to Card. Marc Ouellet, President of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America.

Cardinal Peter Turkson presented the work plan for the Dicastery for the Service of Integral Human Development, which combines four offices: Justice and Peace, Cor Unum, Health Care, and Migrants and Itinerant People.

Card. Turkson was accompanied by Archbishop Silvano Maria Tomasi, who explained the new department as an implementation of the conciliar Constitution Gaudium et Spes.

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SCOTLAND
Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry

The Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry has today (14 December) announced that its preliminary hearing will take place on 31 January 2017 at Parliament House in Edinburgh.

At the preliminary hearing, Inquiry Chair Lady Smith will explain the Inquiry’s approach to its work and will provide an update on the Inquiry’s current investigations. She will set out the Inquiry’s key procedures including how people and interested parties may participate in the Inquiry and the different ways in which the Inquiry is gathering evidence. Information will also be shared about the proactive communications campaign to drive public awareness of and engagement with the Inquiry.

As this hearing will deal with procedural matters only, no witnesses will appear and no evidence will be heard.

Members of the public are welcome to attend the preliminary hearing. However, seating capacity is limited for health and safety reasons and as a result access will be granted on a first come, first served, basis.

Anyone wishing to attend the preliminary hearing should come to the main reception at Parliament House where they will be directed to the hearing room. The preliminary hearing will begin at 11am and is expected to run for approximately one and a half hours.

For those not able to attend the preliminary hearing, a recording of the full event will be available on the website, www.childabuseinquiry.scot.

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SCOTLAND
BBC News

The Scottish inquiry into allegations of abuse of children in care is to hold its first hearing in the new year.

The preliminary hearing will take place at Parliament House in Edinburgh on 31 January.

It will include an update on current investigations and set out how evidence will be taken. No witnesses will be called.

Chaired by Lady Smith, the inquiry will take four years and identify the extent of abuse and any systemic failures.

During the hearing, Lady Smith is expected to explain the inquiry’s approach to its work and set out how people can participate.

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WASHINGTON
KING

[with video]

Susannah Frame, KING December 13, 2016

Two years ago at the age of 42, a woman who KING is identifying by the initials of A.W., took the step of sharing a secret she’d kept since the age of 10.

She decided it was time to tell her parents the truth about what really happened on the last day of third grade at St. John Catholic School in Seattle, and the trauma the event and aftermath had caused for so many years. In 1983, in the school janitor’s office, the long-time school employee didn’t just touch the little 10-year-old inappropriately. A.W. admitted that the janitor, Chuck Siddons, had raped her.

“As a child, after this I struggled. I began drinking and smoking. I struggled in high school. I had problems in high school, and my whole life I’ve carried a dark secret feeling guilty. You feel ashamed, you feel dirty,” said A.W.

After the assault, Siddons told the third grader to keep her mouth shut, but she didn’t. A.W. told her parents the man had put his hands on her private parts. They immediately called the police department. The janitor was arrested, fired from his job, pled guilty to indecent liberties and went to prison. According to A.W., the school appeared to move on.

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MASSACHUSETTS
Boston Globe

By Laura Crimaldi GLOBE STAFF DECEMBER 13, 2016

A former associate chaplain at St. George’s School in Rhode Island who has been accused of sexual abuse in three other states and stripped of his priesthood by the Episcopal Church was arraigned Tuesday on charges that he molested a teenager during two trips to Boston in 1973.

The criminal charges against Howard White Jr., 75, grew out of a Rhode Island State Police investigation into allegations of sexual assault and sexual misconduct by former faculty and students at the elite prep school in Middletown, R.I., going back to 1970, according to the Suffolk district attorney’s office.

The DA’s office and a civil attorney for three alleged victims said the criminal proceedings are the first they know of to be initiated against White, who lives in Bedford, Pa.

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CANADA
Catholic Register

BY DEBORAH GYAPONG, CANADIAN CATHOLIC NEWS
December 13, 2016

OTTAWA – Pope Francis has said no to visiting Canada in 2017, but that hasn’t stopped Saskatchewan’s bishops and Indigenous leaders from planning a papal visit.

The bishops, Indigenous leaders and civic authorities have invited Pope Francis to visit the province in 2018 or ’19 to offer an official apology for the Catholic Church’s role in operating residential schools. A papal apology on Canadian soil was called for in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s (TRC) 2015 report.

“The principal purpose of the visit would be to meet with, listen to and address our Indigenous people,” said a draft statement issued by the Catholic bishops of Saskatchewan.

“While this remains only an invitation at this point, we are hopeful that a pastoral visit by Pope Francis to Canada may indeed come about, and that an apology given in Saskatchewan to indigenous leaders and residential schools will be part of it,” said Regina Archbishop Donald Bolen.

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CANADA
CBC News

By Colin Perkel, The Canadian Press Posted: Dec 13, 2016

Two survivors of a notorious Indian residential school want the courts to ensure they aren’t forced to foot the government’s legal bills if they lose a complex case involving hidden police documents and a dispute over compensation for the abuse they say they suffered.

The government, however, was set to argue at a hearing on Wednesday that the request for a no-costs guarantee should be rejected out of hand.

The claimants in the case, Edmund Metatawabin and a woman known as K-10106, attended the church-run St. Anne’s residential school in Fort Albany, Ont., which was equipped with an electric chair used to shock students.

Metatawabin, who also speaks for the Peetabeck Keyway Keykaywin Association or PKKA — a group of St. Anne’s survivors — and the woman both say they were victims of horrific abuse that included being forced to eat vomit.

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PENNSYLVANIA
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

By Peter Smith / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

He was born in Pittsburgh, grew up in Ellwood City, got his undergraduate degree from Duquesne University and sensed a call to the Catholic priesthood here.

“I always envisioned I would be a pastor in a parish in Western Pennsylvania,” Bishop Edward Burns said Tuesday.

And he was — for a while. Then he went on to direct the recruitment and training of new priests in Pittsburgh and Washington, D.C., before heading to Alaska in 2009 to lead the smallest U.S. diocese.

Now he’ll be leading one of the largest.

Pope Francis on Tuesday named Bishop Burns, 59, to lead the Diocese of Dallas. It is the nation’s 11th largest, has 1.3 million Catholics and is growing fast, largely due to a Hispanic influx. In contrast, Bishop Burns’ current flock of 10,000 in the sprawling Diocese of Juneau could fit into a single Dallas parish.

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RHODE ISLAND
Providence Journal

By Karen Lee Ziner
Journal Staff Writer

BOSTON – Former Episcopal priest Howard “Howdy” White Jr., one of six named perpetrators in the sex-abuse scandal that has embroiled St. George’s School in Middletown since last year, has been charged with sexually assaulting a former student during two trips to Boston in 1973.

White was associate chaplain at St. George’s at the time.

White pleaded not guilty Tuesday in Suffolk Superior Court after being indicted on five counts of assault and battery. White, 75, was indicted last month for assaulting the boy, who was between 15 and 16 years old. White, of Bedford, Pa., was freed on personal recognizance, said court spokesman Jake Wark.

The court ordered that White have no contact with the victim, have no unsupervised contact with any children under 18, and surrender his passport. Trial is scheduled for June 26.

White, 75, remains under criminal investigation in Waynesville, N.C., based on two allegations brought early this year. He was removed from his Pennsylvania church ministry in January and removed from the priesthood in October after an ecclesiastical investigation.

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MASSACHUSETTS
Caledonian Record

BOSTON (AP) — A former Episcopal priest who worked at several elite boarding schools pleaded not guilty Tuesday to sexually assaulting a teenage boy in 1973 in Boston.

Howard “Howdy” White appeared in Suffolk Superior Court after being indicted on five counts of assault and battery. White, 75, of Bedford, Pennsylvania, was freed on personal recognizance.

He was ordered not to contact the victim, to have no unsupervised contact with children and to surrender his passport.

The district attorney’s office said the statute of limitations does not bar White’s prosecution because he never was a resident of Massachusetts.

White and his lawyer, David Duncan, did not comment outside court.

Prosecutors said White assaulted the boy when he was 15 or 16 during two overnight trips to Boston when White worked at St. George’s School in Middletown, Rhode Island, and the boy was a student there. The boy reported the abuse to a teacher in 1974, and White allegedly admitted he had sexually assaulted the boy, the district attorney’s office said.

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RHODE ISLAND
Patch

By Margo Sullivan (Patch Staff) – December 13, 2016

MIDDLETOWN, RI — The statute of limitations will not prevent Massachusetts from arraigning a priest who allegedly assaulted a St. George’s School student more than 40 years ago.

Howard “Howdy” White Jr., 75, of Bedford, Pennsylvania, was arraigned today for allegedly assaulting a student in his care during two trips to Boston more than 40 years ago, Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel F. Conley said.

He is charged with five counts of assault and battery. The indictments, which were returned Nov. 21, charge White with sexually assaulting the boy during two trips to Boston in 1973 when the victim was between 15 and 16 years old.

White appeared voluntarily at arraignment and prosecutors did not request bail. He was ordered to surrender his passport, not to have contact with the victim, and not to have any unsupervised contact with any children under 18.

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PENNSYLVANIA
Altoona Mirror
DEC 14, 2016

RYAN BROWN
Staff Writer
rbrown@altoonamirror.com

A former Bedford Episcopal priest and New England school chaplain pleaded not guilty Tuesday to charges that he sexually assaulted a teenage boy in Boston in the 1970s.

Howard “Howdy” White, 75, was arraigned on five counts of assault and battery, Suffolk County, Mass., District Attorney’s Office spokesman Jake Wark said in a news release. White, a Bedford resident, had worked for years as a part-time replacement priest at St. James Episcopal Church in Bedford before church officials suspended him in January.

Audrey Scanlan, Episcopal bishop for central Pennsylvania, formally removed White from the priesthood in October, citing months of media reports claiming White had abused boys at a Rhode Island boarding school.

On Tuesday, White was released without bail in preparation for a possible trial next year. Prosecutors said he was an associate chaplain at St. George’s School in Middletown, R.I., in the 1970s when he took a male student on several overnight trips, including two to Boston.

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NEW YORK
Times Union

By Emily Masters, Times Union Tuesday, December 13, 2016

JEFFERSON — A 51-year-old man is accused of sexually abusing three teenage boys who he had contact with through a Schoharie County religious organization, State Police said.

Jonathan M. Luce of Jefferson is charged with felony criminal sex act, misdemeanor sexual misconduct, misdemeanor sex abuse and misdemeanor endangering the welfare of a child.
The abuse took place inside Luce’s home over the past five years, State Police said.

“Luce would create opportunities to be alone with the victims and then engage them in various sexual activity,” State Police said in a news release.

The law enforcement agency did not immediately release the name of the Schoharie County religious organization that gave Luce access to the teens. The victims ranged from 12 to 17 years old, troopers said.

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NEW YORK
WNYT

A Schoharie County man is accused of sexually abusing boys he met at his church.

State police arrested 51-year-old Jonathan Luce of the town of Jefferson. They say he engaged in sex acts with three different boys at his home over the last five years.

Troopers say he met the boys through a religious group and would create opportunities to be alone with them. The victims ranged in age from 12 to 17 years old.

Luce is charged with second-degree criminal sex act, which is a felony. He’s also charged with second-degree sexual misconduct, second-degree sex abuse, and endangering the welfare of child – all misdemeanors.

Luce lives at 152 Deer Path. We wanted to talk to him, but the home is tucked behind a load of no trespassing signs down a long driveway in the woods.

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NEW YORK
Daily Star

A Schoharie County man was arrested Tuesday for allegedly sexually abusing several teenage boys, according to a media release from state police.

Jonathan M. Luce, 51, of Jefferson, engaged in sexual acts with three teenage boys at his residence over the past five years, according to troopers. They believe Luce had contact with the victims from his participation as a parishioner at a Schoharie County religious organization, which was not disclosed.

Troopers said Luce created opportunities to be alone with the victims and then engaged them in sexual activity. The alleged victims ranged in age from 12 to 17 years old, according to the release.

Luce has been charged with second-degree criminal sex act, a felony; sexual misconduct; second-degree sexual abuse; and endangering the welfare of a child, the release said. He is scheduled to appear in Jefferson Town Court on Jan. 2.

Lynn Hait, Jefferson’s town justice, said he expects to receive court papers regarding Luce’s case within the next week or so. He didn’t have any information on the case Tuesday, he said.

A source close to the investigation speaking on anonymity said Luce has a wife and children. According to his LinkedIn professional networking account, he is a loan officer at Community Bank and previously worked at The National Bank of Delaware County. He apparently attended SUNY Cobleskill, according to the site.

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NEW YORK
Watershed Post

By New York State Police, Tue, 12/13/2016
December 13, 2016 – SP Cobleskill

State Police arrested Jonathan M. Luce, 51, from the Town of Jefferson for charges related to the sexual abuse of teenage boys. He was charged with 1 count of Criminal Sex Act 2nd (felony), 1 count of Sexual Misconduct (misdemeanor), 1 count of Sex Abuse 2nd (misdemeanor) and 1 count of Endangering the Welfare of a Child (misdemeanor).

State Police allege that he engaged in sexual acts with three different teenage boys at his residence over the past five years. State Police allege that Luce had contact with the victims from his participation as a parishioner in a Schoharie County religious organization. Luce would create opportunities to be alone with the victims and then engage them in various sexual activity. The victims ranged in age from 12 to 17 years old.

Luce was charged in the Town of Jefferson and is scheduled to reappear there on January 2, 2017.

Officials ask that anyone who feels they may have information regarding Mr. Luce, additional victims, or who may have been a victim to call State Police at 518-630-1712.

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GUAM
Pacific Daily News

Shawn Raymundo , sraymundo@guampdn.com December 14, 2016

The Archdiocese of Agana, which faces 13 lawsuits in connection with alleged child sexual abuse, has asked the Legislature for background information about the recent law that lifted the statute of limitations and made it possible to sue the church.

Among other things, church legal counsel John Terlaje on Dec. 12 asked Sen. Frank Aguon Jr. for all documents analyzing the constitutionality or legality of Bill 326-33, as well as all opinions of the Legislature’s attorney, regarding the bill. Terlaje submitted a Freedom of Information Act request to Aguon, who on Tuesday raised concerns about the request.

Aguon’s Judiciary Committee worked on the bill, which was introduced by Sen. Frank Blas, Jr. It lifted the statute of limitations on civil cases related to child sexual abuse, allowing victims to sue their abusers and the institutions that supported them.

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ARGENTINA
ACI Prensa

SAN RAFAEL, 13 Dic. 16 / 01:30 pm (ACI).- En un comunicado leído en conferencia de prensa el 12 de diciembre, el Obispado de San Rafael (Argentina), informó que el Vaticano ha encontrado culpable al P. Carlos Miguel Buela, fundador del Instituto del Verbo Encarnado (IVE), de “comportamientos impropios con mayores de edad”.

En el mensaje, leído por el P. José Antonio Álvarez, la diócesis argentina señaló que surgieron denuncias contra el P. Buela “sobre acciones en materia sexual que afectaron a religiosos y a seminaristas del Instituto”.

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ARGENTINA
Catholic News Agency

San Rafael, Argentina, Dec 13, 2016 / 05:28 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- Father Carlos Miguel Buela, founder of the Institute of the Incarnate Word, has been found guilty by the Vatican of sexual improprieties with adults, the community’s home diocese announced on Monday.

The accusations against Fr. Buela “regarded actions in sexual matters which harmed religious and seminarians of the Institute,” a spokesman of the Diocese of San Rafael announced Dec. 12.

“The competent Congregation of the Holy See, having ensured the exercise of the legitimate right of defense of the accused, determined, in conformity with the canonical procedures in force, the veracity of the accusations and the imputability of Father Buela of improper behavior with adults,” he stated.

The diocese made clear, however, that there are no “cases of the abuse of minors attributable to him.”

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MASSACHUSETTS
Boston Herald

Brian Dowling Wednesday, December 14, 2016

A 75-year-old former Episcopal priest in Rhode Island was arrested and charged yesterday with assaulting a 15-year-old prep school student he took on trips to Boston more than 40 years ago, Suffolk prosecutors said.

Howard “Howdy” White was an associate chaplain at St. George’s School in Middletown, R.I., in 1973 when prosecutors say he took one of his academic advisees on two overnight trips to Boston and assaulted him. He faces five counts of assault and battery from the two trips.

“Whether as a child or as an adult, disclosing sexual abuse can be the most daunting experience in a person’s life,” Suffolk District Attorney Daniel F. Conley said in a statement. “Survivors everywhere should know that they can feel safe and supported coming to us, and that we place their well-being above all else as we investigate and prosecute the harm committed against them.”

As the student’s academic advisor, White helped him with his studies, took him out to dinner and invited him on the trips to Boston, prosecutors said.

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NEW YORK
Observer-Dispatch

While the Rome Catholic Diocese of Syracuse declines to elaborate on nearly 30-year-old abuse allegations levied against a local priest, Onondaga County District Attorney William Fitzpatrick said Tuesday the conduct reported to his office never alleged any physical contact.

By Micaela Parker

While the Rome Catholic Diocese of Syracuse declines to elaborate on nearly 30-year-old abuse allegations levied against a local priest, Onondaga County District Attorney William Fitzpatrick said Tuesday the conduct reported to his office never alleged any physical contact.

The Rev. Paul Angelicchio, pastor of St. John the Baptist and Transfiguration parish in Rome, was placed on administrative leave following a 27-year-old allegation of abuse of a minor, according to information previously released by the diocese. Angelicchio told his parish he would be taking leave during the Nov. 19-20 weekend Masses. The diocese noted that while the allegation has not been substantiated, Angelicchio is not permitted to “publicly function” as a priest until the matter is resolved, in keeping with the policy and practice of the diocese.

“It was never alleged that Father Angelicchio had any physical contact with anyone, despite the impression given by the original article,” Fitzpatrick wrote in an email. “It was alleged that he was aware of sexual abuse committed in his presence and did nothing to prevent it, conduct which if true would constitute a misdemeanor.”

Additionally, Fitzpatrick wrote that his office’s investigation revealed the following information:

* The conduct attributed to Angelicchio “had never been mentioned before despite a number of interviews by the complainant,” whom the office declined to identify.

* There were “no corroborating witnesses, no admissions, a denial by Father Angelicchio, no crime scene and no physical evidence.”

* Angelicchio “posed no danger to minors in his presence.”

As a result, the office closed its investigation and referred the matter to the diocese, Fitzpatrick wrote.

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PENNSYLVANIA
Tribune-Democrat

By Dave Sutor
dsutor@tribdem.com

An Episcopal priest, who currently resides in Bedford County, was arraigned in a Boston court Tuesday on five counts of assault and battery, stemming from an incident that allegedly took place in 1973.

Rev. Howard J. “Howdy” White Jr., formerly the associate chaplain at St. George’s School in Middletown, Rhode Island, is accused of sexually assaulting a boy during two trips to Massachusetts when the juvenile was 15 or 16 years old.

The alleged victim reported the incident to school faculty and White reportedly admitted the assault to the headmaster, according to the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office. White was fired in 1974.

St. George’s, however, never notified child-protection authorities, according to an article in the Providence Journal. White then received other assignments, including at St. James Episcopal Church in Bedford.

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CANADA
Metro

ST. JOHN’S, N.L. — Men who claim church officials ignored reports of horrific abuse at the Mount Cashel orphanage in Newfoundland are expected back in court Wednesday.

Their civil lawsuit will return to provincial Supreme Court as they argue the Roman Catholic Episcopal Corporation of St. John’s should compensate them for incidents dating back to the 1940s.

Their lawyers will make closing arguments that church officials knew or ought to have known what was happening.

Representative plaintiffs for about 60 claimants can’t be named under a court order, but they have alleged sexual and physical abuse.

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UNITED KINGDOM
The Times

Andrew Norfolk, Chief Investigative Reporter
December 13 2016
The Times

Britain’s leading Roman Catholic school is to be investigated by the charities watchdog over its handling of sex-abuse allegations, it was announced yesterday.

The Charity Commission’s inquiry into Ampleforth Abbey and its educational trust, which runs Ampleforth College, was launched after The Times revealed the school’s past cover-up of a potential scandal when 11 boys alleged inappropriate conduct by a teacher.

Pupils told Ampleforth’s headmaster in 1989 of having been stroked, touched and kissed by Paul Sheppard. The Canadian was asked to leave but police were not informed and he was given job references praising the quality of his “exceptional dedication” and “care for the children”.

Dr Sheppard, now aged 53, subsequently taught at schools in seven countries across four continents.

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UNITED KINGDOM
Yorkshire Post

DAVID BEHRENS, DIGITAL EDITOR
Tuesday 13 December 2016

A YORKSHIRE religious community was today at the centre of a raft of new investigations linked to allegations of sexual abuse against students.

The Charity Commission announced it was looking into Ampleforth Abbey’s handling of abuse claims at its two church schools near Malton.

At the same time, it emerged that North Yorkshire Police was investigating three new claims of abuse at the Benedictine monk-run institution.

The new claimants are understood to have come forward following the announcement three months ago that the chairman of governors at Ampleforth College had stepped aside while police looked into other allegations of abuse.

The Right Reverend Cuthbert Madden, who was also abbot at Ampleforth, has denied any wrongdoing.

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UNITED KINGDOM
BBC News

An inquiry is to be held into how a leading Roman Catholic school deals with allegations of sexual abuse and safeguarding issues.

The Charity Commission said the inquiry will investigate charities which administer Ampleforth Abbey and Ampleforth College in North Yorkshire.

The regulator said it followed “recent media reports” of alleged sexual abuse linked to the college.
The Abbey and school said they were co-operating fully.

The Charity Commission said the inquiry would not investigate allegations of abuse or actual incidents of abuse.

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UNITED KINGDOM
The Guardian

Sally Weale Education correspondent

The Charity Commission has launched an investigation into safeguarding and the handling of sexual abuse allegations at a prestigious independent Catholic boarding school in North Yorkshire.

Police have been investigating allegations of historical sexual abuse at Ampleforth College, which has educated cultural luminaries such as the Downton Abbey creator, Julian Fellowes, the sculptor Antony Gormley and the actor Rupert Everett.

Announcing its inquiry on Tuesday, the commission – which is the independent regulator of charities in England and Wales – stressed that its role was not to investigate allegations or actual incidents of abuse, whether historical or recent.

Its remit is solely to look into the trustees’ approach to safeguarding and their handling of allegations of sexual abuse.

Ampleforth Abbey, a registered charity, is the home of a Catholic religious community which is based on the same site. The St Laurence Education Trust is the registered charity which runs Ampleforth College and a second independent school, St Martin’s Ampleforth.

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UNITED KINGDOM
The Northern Echo

THE Charity Commission has launched an inquiry into how a leading Roman Catholic independent school has handled allegations of child sexual abuse.

The probe follows a North Yorkshire Police investigation into the Right Reverend Cuthbert Madden, chairman of governors at Ampleforth College and Ampleforth Abbey’s abbot, roles which placed him at the head of the largest Benedictine community in the country.

The force announced last month that the historical child sex inquiry had concluded Father Cuthbert, 61, who was ordained as a priest in 1990 and has been at Ampleforth for 30 years, would not face any charges.

A police spokesman said: “An investigation has been carried out, and based on the evidence available, no further action will be taken.”

Ampleforth Abbey, near Thirsk, said Abbot Cuthbert Madden had always denied any wrongdoing and cooperated while the allegations were investigated.

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UNITED KINGDOM
i News

Dean Kirby

An inquiry has been launched into the handling of child sex abuse allegations at one of the country’s most prestigious independent Roman Catholic boarding schools.

The Charity Commission said the inquiry will look at charities that administer Ampleforth Abbey and Ampleforth College in North Yorkshire.

The college is already the subject of a police investigation into historical allegations of abuse.

In September, the Right Reverend Cuthbert Madden, Ampleforth College’s chairman of governors and Ampleforth Abbey’s abbot, stepped aside as he denied any wrongdoing after North Yorkshire Police confirmed it was investigating non-recent allegations of indecent assault against four pupils.

The Charity Commission announced it had opened an inquiry into Ampleforth Abbey and St Laurence Education Trust, which runs both Ampleforth College and St Martin’s Ampleforth.

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SCOTLAND
Motherwell Times

A priest from Motherwell who’s at the centre of a row over a book alleging sexual misconduct has quit his parish role.

Fr Matthew Despard was accused by Bishop Joseph Toal of “causing considerable scandal” with his publication and offending many parishioners who could no longer attend mass because of him.

However, a support group set up for the priest branded the bishop’s comments “disgraceful” and claimed attendance at St John Ogilvie in Blantyre has fallen because of the way the Bishop of Motherwell has treated him.

Fr Despard had been suspended from his duties for three years after publishing Priesthood in Crisis. Last year the diocese won a court battle to have him evicted from the parish house and last month it emerged his elderly parents could lose their Motherwell home, which is in Fr Despard’s name, in legal action aimed at recovering costs from him.

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UNITED KINGDOM
Lincolnshire Live

By Paul Whitelam | Posted: December 13, 2016

Arrests have been made following a number of allegations of historic sexual abuse of children at a group of Lincolnshire churches.

Lincolnshire Police has confirmed a number of people have been bailed pending further enquiries as part of an investigation called Operation Redstone.

This was launched following “a number of concerns” being referred to the force in 2015 after a review of past safeguarding cases by the Diocese of Lincoln dating back to 1958.

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ALASKA
Roman Catholic Diocese of Juneau

PRESS RELEASE
December 13, 2016

Diocese of Juneau
For Immediate Release
907-586-2227 x 32

JUNEAU, AK – His Holiness Pope Francis has named Bishop Edward J. Burns, 59, as the new Bishop of Dallas, Texas. Until today, Bishop Burns has served as the fifth Bishop of Juneau, Alaska. Bishop Burns succeeds Cardinal Kevin Farrell who left Dallas for Rome after being appointed by Pope Francis as the Prefect of the Vatican Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life. The announcement of Bishop Burns’ appointment was made today by Archbishop Christophe Pierre, Apostolic Nuncio to the United States, in Washington, DC.

“I am humbled and grateful to our Holy Father, Pope Francis, for this appointment as the next bishop of the Diocese of Dallas. At the same time, this announcement fills my heart with gratitude for the privilege and honor of serving the priests, deacons, religious and faithful of the Diocese of Juneau,” Bishop Burns said. “I am profoundly grateful for my experience in Southeast Alaska and I pray for God’s grace as I take on my new duties as Chief Shepherd of the Diocese of Dallas.”

The son of Geraldine Little Burns and the late Donald P. Burns, Bishop Burns was born and raised in the Pittsburgh, PA area. He graduated from Lincoln High School (1975) in Ellwood City, PA and then attended St. Paul Seminary/Duquesne University in Pittsburgh. With his BA degree (Philosophy and Sociology) he attended Mt. St. Mary’s Seminary in Emmitsburg, MD where he graduated in 1983 with a Master of Divinity degree and a Master in Theology. He was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Pittsburgh on June 25, 1983.

After ordination, Bishop Burns served in parish ministry, diocesan administration, and in vocation and seminary work. He was the Director of Clergy Personnel for the Diocese of Pittsburgh when Bishop Donald Wuerl at the time, now Cardinal Archbishop of Washington, DC, released him to serve at the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishop in Washington, DC.

He was appointed Bishop of the Diocese of Juneau by Pope Benedict XVI on January 19, 2009; ordained a bishop on March 3, 2009 at St. Paul Cathedral in Pittsburgh, PA; and installed as Bishop of Juneau on April 2, 2009.

Bishop Burns is currently serving the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops as the Chair of the Committee on the Protection of Children and Young People, a member of the Committee on Home Missions and a member of the Board of Directors of Catholic Relief Services.

His installation as the eighth Bishop of the Diocese of Dallas will take place on Thursday, February 9, 2017.

Photos of Bishop Edward J. Burns

Curriculum Vitae

[For more information, please contact Mr. Dominique Johnson, Director of Communications, at 907-586-2227 x32 or communication@dioceseofjuneau.org]

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TEXAS
Roman Catholic Diocese of Dallas

Many cardinals, bishops and priests have reached out to express their congratulations to the new chief shepherd of the Diocese of Dallas, Bishop Edward J. Burns.

“I extend my heartfelt congratulations to Bishop Edward Burns on his appointment as Bishop of the Diocese of Dallas. I have known Bishop Burns and worked with him at the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops for many years. His warm, outgoing and collaborative personality as well as his extensive experience in vocations, safe environment and parish ministry make him an excellent choice to lead the Diocese of Dallas. I know he will be warmly welcomed in the diocese that I love so well. May God bless Bishop Burns and the Diocese of Dallas.”

– Cardinal Kevin Farrell

“It is indeed a joy to hear that our Holy Father Pope Francis has entrusted the Church of Dallas to Juneau Bishop Edward Burns. From his time in Pittsburgh as a priest, as rector of Saint Paul’s Seminary, and then also in his service at the U.S. Conference of Bishops where he worked on vocations and priestly formation, I have seen the great pastoral care and spiritual leadership with which Bishop Burns has faithfully served the Church.. The Diocese of Dallas is blessed to be gaining an extraordinary shepherd, and he brings with him our prayers for his pastoral ministry.”

– Cardinal Donald Wuerl

“I appreciate Bishop Burns’ great energy and enthusiasm about his new assignment here and we are very grateful that our Holy Father has sent us a Chief Shepherd so quickly. I enjoyed working closely with Cardinal Kevin Farrell and I now look forward to doing all that I can to assist Bishop Burns in continuing to build up the Catholic Church in the Dallas area.”

– Bishop Greg Kelly

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TEXAS
Roman Catholic Diocese of Dallas

Pope Francis has named the Most Reverend Edward J. Burns to serve as the new Bishop of the Diocese of Dallas. The much anticipated appointment was announced today, December 13, 2016 in Washington, D.C. by the papal nuncio to the United States, Archbishop Christophe Pierre. Bishop Burns, the new Chief Shepherd of the 1.3 million Catholics in the Dallas diocese, succeeds Cardinal Kevin Farrell, who left Dallas for Rome on October 1 after the Pope appointed him the Prefect of the Vatican Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life. Bishop Burns will be introduced and speak to the media at a news conference on Tuesday, December 13th, at 2:00 p.m. at the Pastoral Center of the Diocese of Dallas. View live stream coverage at www.cathdal.org/video.

Since 2009, Bishop Burns has served as the Bishop of Juneau, Alaska. Prior to that, the 59-year-old bishop served the Catholic Church on the national level as Executive Director of the Secretariat for Clergy, Consecrated Life and Vocations at the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops in Washington, D.C. from 1999 -2008. In 2008 he was named the Rector of St. Paul Seminary in Pittsburgh, PA. In January 2009, he was named the Bishop of Juneau. Prior to 1999, Bishop Burns served in parish ministry, diocesan administration and did extensive work in vocations.

The new Bishop of Dallas says he is looking forward to his appointment, “I am extremely happy and humbled that Pope Francis has chosen me to lead such an important diocese and I look forward to serving the local Church of the Diocese of Dallas. I am profoundly grateful for my experience in Juneau and I pray for God’s grace as I take on my new duties as Chief Shepherd of this ever-growing Diocese of Dallas.” The new Bishop-designate also stressed that “I look forward to listening and learning all that I can about this beautifully diverse Catholic community and I want to assure all in the Diocese of Dallas that I will be a shepherd for all people.”

Bishop Greg Kelly, Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Dallas, said “I appreciate Bishop Burns’ great energy and enthusiasm about his new assignment here and we are very grateful that our Holy Father has sent us a Chief Shepherd so quickly. I enjoyed working closely with Cardinal Kevin Farrell and I now look forward to doing all that I can to assist Bishop Burns in continuing to build up the Catholic Church in the Dallas area.”

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VATICAN CITY
Vatican Information Service – Bullettin

The Holy Father has appointed Bishop Edward J. Burns of Juneau, United States of America, as bishop of Dallas (area 19,475, population 3,975,996, Catholics 1,258,656, priests 228, permanent deacons 179, religious 188), United States of America.

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TEXAS
Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests

For immediate release: Tuesday, Dec. 13, 2016

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

Bishop Edward Burns is a poor choice to head the Dallas diocese. Pope Francis continues to promote clerics who share his personal leadership style and sadly, his lack of action on children’s safety.

[SNAP]

[U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops]

Until last month, Juneau Bishop Edward Burns headed the US bishops sex abuse committee. For years, he had tangible power to protect kids. As best we can tell, he did little or nothing in that post. For years, he has an enormous bully pulpit. He could have used it to exhort church staff to act responsibly. As best we can tell, he never did.

Instead, he postured. He claimed, in an interview, he was “shocked” by an Altoona PA grand jury report that showed the same horrific cover ups that virtually every other US grand jury reported in every diocese that was investigated.

Never mind Burns’ national failure. He controls his own diocese. Here again, however, he’s done nothing more than the bare minimum that’s required of him regarding abuse.

About 30 US bishops have posted predators’ names on their website. Burns refuses to do so.

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RHODE ISLAND
Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests

For immediate release: Tuesday, Dec. 13, 2016

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

We share the outrage of those hurt at St. George School over delays in acting against an allegedly callous therapist who reportedly refused to call police about suspected child sex crimes. The officials in charge simply must do better.

[Providence Journal]

The state Health Department and state Board of Psychology must move more quickly to at least suspend Peter Kosseff. It doesn’t take a year to investigate the charges that he hurt kids by refusing to call 911.

In the years since his alleged wrongdoing at St. George, one wonders how many other possible cases of sexual violence has he kept silent about. How many other known or suspected child sex crimes is he hiding right now?

If wrongdoing is ignored, wrongdoing is repeated.

Many blame victims of sexual violence for not reporting promptly. But few express outrage when authorities don’t respond to such reports promptly. This is an unjust and unhealthy “double standard.”

Those who commit child sex crimes are sick and compulsive. They can’t be deterred. But those who conceal child sex crimes CAN be deterred. As a society, we must simply expose, ostracize and “throw the book” at them. When therapists, doctors, teachers and lawyers lose their license for endangering kids by keeping quiet, this kind of irresponsible inaction will end.

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MASSACHUSETTS
Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests

For immediate release: Tuesday, Dec. 13, 2016

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

We applaud the brave victims and law enforcement officials who are prosecuting a child molesting Episcopalian priest and who are reminding all of us of an important lesson – even older child sex crimes and cover ups must be reported to police and prosecutors. And we beg church officials in four states to do aggressive outreach to find and help others who were assaulted by this cleric.

All too often, we all assume “it’s just too late” to pursue those who commit or conceal sexual violence. Increasingly, that’s just not true. Even in decades-old cases, more lawyers, cops and prosecutors are being increasingly creative and aggressive about going after these predators and enablers, a long-overdue move we deeply appreciate.

Rev. Howard J. “Howdy” White Jr., formerly of St. George’s School in Rhode Island, is in court today in Boston. Our hearts ache for those he molested. We hope they take some comfort in the fact that he’s been publicly exposed and faces potential jail time.

We urge all Episcopalian officials in all four states: North Carolina, Rhode Island, Virginia and Pennsylvania, to use church websites, parish bulletins and pulpit announcements to aggressively seek out anyone who may have seen, suspected or suffered Rev. White’s crimes and beg them to call police. This is the very least that church officials should do.

All too often, when clergy sex crimes emerge, church staff pretend to be powerless. They are not. They have both the resources and the duty to spread the word and actively help police and prosecutors build a strong case against predatory preachers.

Rev. Howard W. White Jr. worked at two places in North Carolina. In the 1980s, Rev. White Jr. was headmaster of what was then the Asheville Country Day School in Asheville, North Carolina and was rector of Grace Church in the Mountains in Waynesville.

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MASSACHUSETTS
Boston Globe

By John R. Ellement GLOBE STAFF DECEMBER 13, 2016

A former Rhode Island Episcopal priest is due in a Boston courtroom Tuesday to face sexual assault charges dating back to the 1970s when he allegedly assaulted a teenager during trips to the Boston area.

Howard White was indicted on five counts of assault and battery for assaulting the victim, who was 16 years old at the time, according to Suffolk District Attorney Daniel F. Conley’s office. Prosecutors said White’s nickname was “Howdy.’’

White, 75, is scheduled to be arraigned Tuesday in Suffolk Superior Court.

While White is accused of sexually assaulting the teenager, Conley’s office said in a statement that the crime of indecent assault and battery did not exist in the 1970s.

White is also facing charges some four decades after the alleged crimes because he never lived in Massachusetts, meaning the statute of limitations never started to run, Conley’s office said.

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DEUTSCHLAND
Hohenzolleranische Zeitung

[Investigation will continue into alleged abuse at a Protestant brothers home in Kotntal.]

Nach monatelangem Streit um die Aufarbeitung von Missbrauchsfällen in Heimen der evangelischen Brüdergemeinde Korntal (Kreis Ludwigsburg) wagen Betroffene und Gemeinde einen Neuanfang. Eine Gruppe aus ehemaligen Heimkindern, ihren Unterstützern, der Brüdergemeinde und zwei Mediatoren haben sich am Montag darauf geeinigt, einen unabhängigen Aufklärer zu suchen. Das teilte die Brüdergemeinde am Dienstag mit.

Obwohl der Betroffene Detlev Zander, der den Missbrauch im Sommer 2014 öffentlich gemacht hatte, schon lange einen solchen Aufklärer fordert, hat er die Auftraggebergruppe verlassen. „Wir werden uns im Aufklärungsprozess nicht wieder in die Obhut der Brüdergemeinde geben“, sagte Zander im Namen des Netzwerks Betroffenenforum der Deutschen Presse-Agentur. In der derzeit achtköpfigen Auftraggebergruppe sitzen zwei Vertreter der Brüdergemeinde.

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DANMARK
SH-ugeavisen

[Pastor partly confesses new accusations.]

By Günter Schwarz | Regional, Schleswig-Holstein | 12 Dezember 2016

(Tømmerup / Sjælland) – Der in Haft befindliche Pastor wird in insgesamt 11 Fällen wegen sexuellen Missbrauchs von Kindern beschuldigt. Der 46-jährige Pastor, der sich seit Juni in Haft befindet, gesteht teilweise die gegen ihn erhobenen Anschuldigungen. Das sagt der Verteidiger des 46-Jährigen, Thomas Philipp, zu Danmarks Radio-Avis (Nachrichten).

Nach Angaben der Polizei aus Pressemitteilungen werden Beschuldigungen des Verkehrs, Verkehrsversuchen und andere sexuelle Handlungen wie Geschlechtsverkehr und Exhibitionismus gegen ihn erhoben. Die Anklage bezieht sich auf Taten gegen vier Jungen und ein Mädchen – alle im Alter von 12 bis 17 Jahren.

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MASSACHUSETTS
WCVB

BOSTON —
A former Rhode Island priest will be in court Tuesday in connection with allegations he sexually
assaulted a teenage boy in the 1970s.

Howard White, 75, faces five counts of assault and battery for allegedly sexually assaulting a then-16-year-old boy, according to the Suffolk County District Attorney’s office.

White is charged with assault and battery because, at the time of the offenses, the charge of indecent assault and battery had not yet been enacted, according to the district attorney’s office.

The statute of limitations does not bar White’s prosecution of because he was never a resident of Massachusetts.

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GUAM
Pacific Daily News

Steve Limtiaco , slimtiaco@guampdn.com December 13, 2016

The Archdiocese of Agana on Monday issued a statement, responding to the latest child sexual abuse lawsuit filed against Guam clergy and the church.

Robert Aguon Perez, 45, on Dec. 7 sued the Rev. David Anderson and the archdiocese, alleging that Anderson started molesting him when he was an 11-year-old altar boy and then started raping him when he was 12 or 13 years old. The lawsuit states Anderson was a priest in Sinajana and a theology teacher at Father Duenas Memorial School.

The archdiocese confirmed that Anderson was a priest who served on Guam in the 1970s and 1980s, under the order of the Capuchin Franciscan Friars.

Anderson was assigned to the St. Jude Thaddeus Church, in Sinajana, from 1978 to 1983, according to the archdiocese, and taught at Father Duenas Memorial School from 1978 to the 1980s.

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MINNESOTA
Voice of Alexandria

Minnesota News Network

(Minneapolis, MN) — Another hearing is set this week in federal court on two proposals for compensating those who’ve been abused by Catholic priests.

The Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis would set aside 155 million dollars or more for a victims’ fund, and attorney Charles Rogers says the church negotiated the best deal it could with its insurers. Victims’ attorney Mike Finnegan says the archdiocese is only putting in 16 million dollars of its own money, and the rest comes from its insurance policies. Finnegan says the church has one-point-three billion dollars in assets it can tap, plus one billion dollars in insurance funds that could potentially be available. Survivors and other creditors will vote on the plans, and then a judge will make the final decision.

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RHODE ISLAND
Providence Journal

By Michelle Smith
Associated Press

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Nearly a year after receiving a complaint that a former boarding school psychologist did not do enough to address sexual abuse reports, Rhode Island licensing officials have not resolved it, leaving victims of abuse at the school frustrated at the slow pace.

Two women who were among at least 31 girls abused by a now-deceased athletic trainer at St. George’s School in Middletown asked that psychologist Peter Kosseff’s license be revoked. They tell The Associated Press they are bothered their complaints still are pending and Kosseff is still practicing.

Kosseff and the state health department would not comment. Both cited the pending case before the state Board of Psychology.

“It’s really frustrating,” said Katie Wales Lovkay, who told Kosseff about her abuse at the hands of athletic trainer Al Gibbs. As far as she knows, Kosseff never reported it to authorities.

Another of Gibbs’ victims filed the first complaint against Kosseff on Dec. 26, 2015.

“To me it’s pretty clear cut. Children were being raped and molested. He knew about it he didn’t report it. Is that the kind of person you want to license?” the victim said.

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ISRAEL
Times of Israel

This question has been floating around social media lately, as well filling much of my time as Director of Magen, an agency that comprehensively tackles the problem of child sexual abuse in Israel.

When a perpetrator admits to his crimes and expresses a desire to stop offending, Magen believes in providing him with support along with monitoring. Enter the familiar chill in the room… the uncomfortable silence. How can I, as a victim advocate, promote support for “those monsters”? In short, Magen’s goal is to keep children safe from sexual abuse. If a sex offender wants to “stay clean” and stay out of trouble, his success is our success. The ultimate act on behalf of victims is to prevent known abusers from abusing.

How is this done? Magen advocates an approximation of the COSA Model, or Circle of Support and Accountability. A COSA consists of a “core member” or sex offender attempting to reintegrate into a community (usually after prison time), and 4-6 volunteers who form a Circle around the Core Member, as well as a professional who guides and supports the volunteers. (Note: a COSA is in no way a substitute for legal action or following reporting requirements. Magen urges people to report any suspicion of child abuse to the Police and/or other legal authorities). The volunteers in the Circle have a few jobs.

The first job is setting boundaries as to what the Core Member cannot do, based on his risk assessment. This includes his avoiding triggers and access to potential victims. Warning community members may be necessary as a safety measure.

(I’ve heard this described as, “Keep your friends close and your enemies closer.” In truth, monitoring requires a lot of contact with the perpetrator, and not letting him sink beneath the radar, and this requires a rapport. This is the opposite of the time honored approach of “run him out of town.” Running someone out of town may be gratifying in the short term, but translates to driving him to some other community where he will hurt someone else’s children. Even public shaming/warning demands a next step — okay, everyone knows — what should people do with that information? How can we best lower the risk this individual poses? How does the community interact with his wife and children? In short: now what?)

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KENTUCKY
Portsmouth Daily Times

By Frank Lewis – flewis@civitasmedia.com

A Lewis County, Kentucky church has been sued by a male teen for child sexual assault. According to attorney Bruce MacDonald of the McBrayer McGinnis Leslie & Kirkland, law firm, their client, known for the record as “John Doe,” is suing Vanceburg Christian Church where a former pastor, Duncan D. Akers, Jr., 65, pleaded guilty and was convicted of criminal charges for sexually abusing the plaintiff, “John Doe.”

Akers pleaded guilty to five counts of first degree sexual abuse as part of a plea agreement. Several other charges were dropped as a part of the plea deal.

“John Doe is having a lot of problems,” MacDonald told the Daily Times. “He is not able to function well in society, and hence, is unemployed and he needs counseling and he needs medical help, and we hope to be able to obtain those things for him, and allow him to finish his education, perhaps go to vocational school and hopefully become a production citizen and right now he’s not. He’s having a lot of problems. Therefore, we want to get him some financial assistance so he can get a vehicle and get stabilized in life.”

The lawsuit explains that the plaintiff met Akers when the Plaintiff was a young “latch-key” child who lived near the church and was invited by Pastor Aker to come to the Church. The Plaintiff then began going to the church regularly after school and on the weekends, according to the complaint. The complaint goes on to say Aker used those opportunities to “groom” the plaintiff and make him susceptible to the sexual abuse. According to the lawsuit, “between late 2007 and early 2010 . . when the plaintiff was 9-12 years old and Akers was 56-59 years old, Akers brutally and repeatedly sexually molested and raped the plaintiff at the Church as well as at locations off the site where Akers would take plaintiff.” The lawsuit says that Akers threatened the plaintiff not to tell anyone and used his position in the church to intimidate the plaintiff.

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KENTUCKY
Ledger Independent

MARY ANN KEARNS

A lawsuit has been filed in Lewis County, on behalf of a “John Doe,” who, as a child, was sexually abused by a former pastor of the church.

The complaint is in relation to former VCC minister Duncan Akers and involves acts which took place between 2007 and 2010. Aker pleaded guilty to five counts of first-degree sexual abuse on March 4.

The lawsuit, filed Monday by attorneys Konrad Kircher, Bruce W. MacDonald, Stephen F. Crew and Peter B. Janci, claims the Vanceburg Christian Church had a duty to protect the plaintiff from harm and to closely supervise leaders and was negligent in doing so.

As a result of Akers’ abuse, the plaintiff has suffered permanent and lasting damages, the complaint alleges.

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UNITED KINGDOM
Kent Online

by Tom Acrestacres@thekmgroup.co.uk

Harrowing accounts of historical child abuse have been revealed by a further review into a Church of England home for young girls.

More than three decades of cruelty at Kendall House in Gravesend was first exposed by the findings of an expert panel in June, with residents found to have been drugged, sexually assaulted, locked in an isolation room and kept in straitjackets.

The 137-page report, compiled by Dr Sue Proctor, part-time judge Samantha Cohen and former police detective superintendent Ray Galloway, described Kendall House as “a frightening, violent and unpredictable place to live”.

Dr Proctor, who chaired the investigation into disgraced DJ Jimmy Savile, said the abuse at Kendall House was the most troubling thing she had worked on.

So many other former residents came forward after its publication that the Rt Rev James Langstaff, Bishop of Rochester, agreed to an extended review, which has resulted in testimonies from one woman who was just nine when she was sent to Kendall House.

She had never been in a children’s home previously and it remains unclear why she was sent there, with other girls sent there by the Dioceses of Rochester and Canterbury ranging from 11 to 16-years-old.

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AUSTRALIA
ABC News

By Graeme Powell

An Anglican priest from Preston Beach south of Perth has been charged with child sex offences after allegedly abusing a young girl during a 16-month period.

The priest, 64, has been accused of sexually assaulting the girl between August 2010 and November 2011 while working at a church in Secret Harbour, north of Mandurah.

The child was 10 when the abuse allegedly began.

The man has been charged with three counts of indecent dealing with a child under 13 and one count of persistent sexual contact with a child under 16.

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AUSTRALIA
WA Today

Brendan Foster

A former Anglican priest has been charged with alleged sexual offences against a 10-year-old girl from more than 15 years ago.

Police allege the 64-year-old man from Preston Beach sexually assaulted the young girl from August 2010 to November 2011 when he was an Anglican Priest at a church in Secret Harbour.

He has been charged with three counts of indecent dealing of a child under 13 years, and one count of persistent sexual conduct with a child under 16 years and will appear in Rockingham Magistrates court on Tuesday.

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CALIFORNIA
OC Family

BY JOELLE CASTEIX
November 28 – 2016

I am many things. I am a wife and a mother. I am a writer and an advocate. But there is one thing that shaped the adult I have become more than anything else:

I am a survivor of child sexual abuse.

A teacher at my well-known Orange County Catholic high school sexually molested me for two years when I was a young teen. He left me pregnant and with a sexually transmitted disease.

The crime was pernicious, but it was only the beginning. School administrators knew about the abuse and did nothing, even though they knew he had molested other girls.

What wounded me the most, however, wasn’t the actual abuse. It was the cover-up by school officials. It was the fact that my parents and many of my peers blamed me for what happened. The adults who were supposed to protect me instead threw me to the wolves. They protected a school instead of a child.

I left my teen years isolated, depressed, ashamed, self-destructive and hurt. Very, very hurt. I spent years wanting to die. I trusted no one, because to me, friendship meant betrayal. I didn’t know how to have a healthy romantic relationship within my peer group, because my predator had isolated me and flung me into a manipulative and abusive world.

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PHILADELPHIA (PA)
Big Trial

By Ralph Cipriano
for BigTrial.net

Seth Williams should bring an umbrella to work.

Why? Because our corrupt district attorney, already under investigation by the FBI, the IRS and a grand jury, is about to see his proudest achievement as a prosecutor get splattered with excrement.

What does Seth Williams consider to be his proudest achievement? Why his self-described “historic” prosecution of Msgr. William J. Lynn, the first Catholic cleric in the country to be sent to jail, not for touching a child, but for failing to control sexually abusive priests. It’s an achievement that has caused church haters and so-called victims advocates to swoon over Seth. At the height of this adulation, New York Times columnist Maureen Dowd proclaimed Seth, raised Catholic, to be the “avenging altar boy.”

But there’s long been a problem with the Lynn case, namely that the alleged victim — former altar boy Danny Gallagher AKA “Billy Doe” — is a transparent fraud, as revealed in his copious medical records, legal depositions, and in two interviews with a couple of psychiatrists.

Today, Lynn’s lawyer, Thomas A. Bergstrom, filed a motion in Philadelphia Common Pleas Court that seeks to take the pre-trial testimony of retired Detective Joseph Walsh. Here’s why alarm bells are about to go off at the D.A.’s office as soon as they read Bergstrom’s motion — Walsh was the lead investigator in the Billy Doe case. And, according to Bergstrom’s motion, Walsh has talked to defense lawyers and “provided exculpatory evidence” never revealed to defense lawyers during two previous archdiocese sex abuse trials.

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PENNSYLVANIA
Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests

For immediate release: Monday, Dec 12, 2016

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

Altoona’s Catholic bishop must take strong steps now to “un-do” the harm caused when his predecessor deceitfully and quietly sent a serial predator priest across state lines. We suggest that he use newspaper and radio ads to aggressively seek out and help other victims of the child molesting cleric.

Long secret, just-released church records show that then-Bishop James Hogan gave a “glowing recommendation” as he sent a Msgr. Francis McCaa – who authorities call a “monster” who may have “molested hundreds” – to West Virginia where he worked for years among especially vulnerable families.

[Tribune-Democrat]

No rational person thinks a three hour road trip cures pedophilia. Msgr. McCaa no doubt assaulted West Virginia kids too. So current Altoona Bishop Mark Bartchak must do all he can to try to find and console and compensate Msgr. McCaa’s victims in West Virginia. That’s the bare minimum moral obligation he faces.

If Bartchak’s predecessor burned down a church, Bartchak would rebuild it. If Bartchack’s predecessor made terrible investments, Bartchak would re-invest. So since Bartchak’s predecessor enabled a predator to hurt kids, Bartchak must try to find and help them.

Why wouldn’t Bartchack do this? Because he values his personal comfort more than the pain of abuse victims? Because he values his diocese’s wealth more than the still-deep suffering of boys and girls who were assaulted by an Altoona priest?

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AUSTRALIA
Manny Waks

​12 December 2016

​On behalf of some of Yeshivah Melbourne’s victims and survivors of child sexual abuse, I welcome the conclusion of the formal election process at the Yeshivah Centre Melbourne.

We believe it is imperative that the new boards of Chabad Institutions of Victoria Limited and Yeshivah-Beth Rivkah Schools Limited act decisively and expeditiously to address those issues emanating from the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse Report into Yeshivah Melbourne and Yeshiva Bondi, so that the community can truly move forward from this stain.

In particular we note the findings of the Royal Commission in respect of Yeshivah Melbourne that:

a. “The leadership did not create an environment conducive to the communication of information about child sexual abuse. If anything, the mixed messages are likely to have produced inaction.”

b. “There was a marked absence of supportive leadership for survivors of child sexual abuse and their families within Yeshivah Melbourne. Halachic principles were stridently – even if incorrectly applied. Criticism of those that spoke out was forceful.”

c. “If the Yeshivah Melbourne, the Committee of Management and Rabbi Telsner had shown leadership, survivors of child sexual abuse and their families and supporters might have received a very different response from the members of the Yeshivah Melbourne community.”

As the Community is already aware, following the release of the findings of the Royal Commission, the Rabbinic Council of Australia and New Zealand, Rabbinical Council of Victoria and Rabbinical Council of New South Wales, released a public statement, calling on:

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GUAM
Guam Daily Post

Neil Pang | Post News Staff

The Archdiocese of Agana released a statement yesterday in response to the latest allegations of child sexual abuse, apologizing for allegations of abuse made against clergy who served on Guam over the past several decades.

The latest suit, filed Dec. 7, came from Robert Aguon Perez, a 45-year-old Los Angeles resident, and named former Guam priest Rev. David Anderson. The suit alleges that Anderson sexually abused Perez when he was a child serving as an altar boy at the St. Jude parish in Sinajana and a student of Father Duenas Memorial School between the years 1982 and 1986. According to Post files, Perez would have been between the ages of 11 and 15 when the alleged abuse took place.

Yesterday’s statement released by the archdiocese confirmed that Anderson was a priest who served on Guam during the period of time indicated by Perez’s suit.

“Regarding the latest allegation of sexual abuse by clergy and lawsuit filed by Mr. Robert Aguon Perez, the Archdiocese confirms that David Anderson was a priest who served on Guam in the 1970s and ‘80s under the order of the Capuchin Franciscan Friars,” the statement read. “He was assigned at St. Jude Thaddeus Church in Sinajana from 1978-83. He also taught at Father Duenas Memorial School from 1978 to the 1980s.”

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DENMARK
CPH Post

December 12th, 2016 by Lucie Rychla

A 46-year-old priest from Tømmerup near Kalundborg in west Zealand, who has been in custody since June facing charges that he sexually abused an underage girl, has now been accused of doing the same to four boys.

According to the West Zealand Police, the priest is currently being investigated on 11 charges of sexual abuse relating to four boys and one girl aged 12-17.

The charges include sexual intercourse, attempted sexual intercourse and indecent exposure.

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NORTHERN IRELAND
Belfast Telegraph

By Michael McHugh
PUBLISHED
01/11/2016

Compensating everybody who spent time in a residential home in Northern Ireland run by or on behalf of the state could cost £300m, a lawyer who specialises in abuse cases has suggested.

Sir Anthony Hart is drawing up his report for ministers following two-and-a-half years of Historical Institutional Abuse (HIA) inquiry hearings involving abuse victims and institutions.

He has already said that there should be an award of compensation to those children who suffered abuse in children’s homes and other institutions in Northern Ireland between 1922 and 1995.

A group of survivors is calling for a common experience payment of £10,000 per resident and an additional payment of £3,000 for each year spent in an institution.

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NEW YORK
The Journal News

Jonathan Bandler , jbandler@lohud.com December 11, 2016

Through early January, reporters will be looking back at and following up on stories and topics that were the most popular with our readers in 2016, according to metrics on lohud.com. This story is part of that series.

A Kiryas Joel principal seen on a pair of videos in close physical contact with young boys had no choice but to leave the school because of the firestorm of publicity, a longtime community activist said this week.

But Joseph Waldman, whose own children and grandchildren had gone to the school, insisted that his inquiries into the videos and the principal’s behavior revealed what he had suspected: that the longtime, respected educator was no molester, but used a loving form of discipline to straighten out misbehaving students.

“He showed a very, very fine fatherly type of love to the kids,” Waldman said. “Instead of expelling the kid, throwing him out of school, bringing anguish to his parents … he is expressing love, expressing feeling, so the kid knows they’re not a throwaway kid.”

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NEW JERSEY
Road to Recovery

Jamaican girl sexually abused by New York-based Franciscan priest, Fr. Paul A. Walsh, OFM, a/k/a Fr. La Salle Walsh, has asked the Franciscan Friars for help so she can heal. The Franciscan Friars have told her to “take a hike”

Franciscan Friars of the Holy Name Province, based in Manhattan with parishes and ministries throughout the NY City/northern New Jersey metropolitan area, refuse to help a Jamaican woman even with the costs of counseling so she can begin to heal. She was sexually abused by a Franciscan missionary when she was approximately 10 years old in Kingston, Jamaica

What
Demonstration and leafleting in Northern NJ alerting the media, parishioners, and ordinary citizens of the refusal of the Franciscan Friars of the Holy Name Province, based on West 31st Street, Manhattan, to help a Jamaican childhood sexual abuse victim of Fr. Paul A. Walsh, heal

When

Sunday, December 11, 2016 – 6:00 am until 9:00 am

Where
On the public sidewalk and alongside a procession for the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe beginning at St. Anthony of Padua Church, 65 Bartholdi Avenue, Butler, NJ, as the procession makes its way through the Town of Butler, and on to St. Mary’s Parish, Pompton Lakes, NJ, where a 9:00 am Mass will be held

Who
Members of Road to Recovery, Inc., a New Jersey-based non-profit charity based in New Jersey that assists victims of sexual abuse and their families, including its co-founder and President, Robert M. Hoatson, Ph.D.

Why
The Franciscan Friars of the Holy Name Province, based in Manhattan, refuse to assist in the recovery of a childhood sexual abuse victim of one of their priests, Fr. Paul A. Walsh, OFM. This Kingston, Jamaica, woman was a little girl of approximately ten years old at Our Lady of Angels Parish and School in Kingston, Jamaica, when Fr. Paul A. Walsh, OFM, also known as Fr. La Salle Walsh, sexually abused her. This innocent victim wants to heal, but the Franciscan Friars have told her to “take a hike,” refusing, even, to help her with the costs of counseling. Demonstrators will call upon parishioners of Franciscan parishes in Butler and Pompton Lakes, NJ, and ordinary citizens to demand of the Franciscan Friars of the Holy Name Province that they do the right thing and help this Jamaican woman heal.

Contacts
Robert M. Hoatson, Ph.D., Road to Recovery, Inc. – 862-368-2800 – roberthoatson@gmail.com
Attorney Mitchell Garabedian, Boston, MA – 617-523-6250 – garabedianlaw@msn.com

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GUAM
Pacific Daily News

Haidee V Eugenio , heugenio@guampdn.com December 10, 2016

The author of the bill that has paved the way for 12 former altar boys, so far, to sue for alleged rape or sexual abuse they went through in the hands of priests decades ago, said the sheer numbers come as a shock but not necessarily a surprise.

Sen. Frank Blas Jr., R-Barrigada, said Thursday that providing a venue for individuals to seek justice and closure and preventing others from laying a hand on children today is worth the criticism he got in introducing Bill 326-33, to allow victims of child sex abuse to sue their abusers and the institutions with which they are associated, at any time. Gov. Eddie Calvo signed the bill into law on Sept. 23.

“If I have to relive my life, I would have introduced the bill much earlier,” Blas said. “Any person should not live his life in fear, in shame and with guilt for something that happened to him when he was a child. And if this bill stops an individual today from sexually assaulting a young child, then it’s well worth any criticism.”

As of Wednesday, 12 child sex abuse lawsuits had been filed against Catholic priests, the Archdiocese of Agana and up to 50 other unnamed persons who may have helped, abetted, concealed or covered up the abuses.

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PENNSYLVANIA
Wayne Independent

By Kevin Kearney
kkearney@wayneindependent.com

A Roman Catholic priest recently charged in a child pornography case in Wayne County had been vetted by the Vatican 13 years ago on accusations he molested a 16-year-old boy in New Jersey, the Archdiocese of Newark confirmed Tuesday.

The Rev. Kevin Gugliotta, 54, currently in the Wayne County prison on $1 million bail on 40 counts of possessing and disseminating child pornography at his Lehigh Township vacation home, was suspended from ministry in New Jersey in 2003 after the accusations were made he had molested the boy.

Gugliotta was ordained in 1996 and the alleged molestation happened prior to that, in the 1980s, said Jim Goodness, spokesman for the Archdiocese of Newark.

Since Gugliotta was not in ministry at the time of the alleged molestations, the archdiocese referred the case to the Vatican for guidance, Goodness said.

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CANADA
Toronto Star

By ALLAN WOODS
Quebec Bureau
Sat., Dec. 10, 2016

MONTREAL—A former police officer charged with rape after a massive investigation into abuse of indigenous women by law enforcement officials in Quebec is a residential-school survivor who says he was sexually assaulted by a priest, the Star has learned.

Jean-Luc Vollant, a 65-year-old Innu man, is a former officer with a native police force who was charged last month after a probe of nearly 40 allegations from indigenous people who say they had been mistreated by police.

Vollant was among more than 30 current and former officers in Quebec who were the subject of the allegations. He was one of just two people to be charged with a criminal offence.

He faces three charges of rape, indecent assault on a female and sexual assault ― stemming from incidents that allegedly occurred between 1980 and 1986 in Schefferville, Que., a remote town near the border with Labrador that is home to a small, predominately Innu population.

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PENNSYLVANIA
Tribune-Democrat

By Dave Sutor
dsutor@tribdem.com

After the passage of three decades – and the release of a scathing report by the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General that provided details about an alleged cover-up of rampant child sexual abuse within its ranks – the Roman Catholic Diocese of Altoona–Johnstown changed positions as to whether information in a civil litigation against Msgr. Francis McCaa should be made public.

In 1986, counsel for the monsignor, diocese, former Bishop James Hogan, and Holy Name Catholic Church in Ebensburg argued that pretrial documents – in a case brought by four plaintiffs – should be sealed in order to “prevent serious and irreparable harm to the defendants through the disclosure of information which may not be relevant or admissible at the trial of the case,” as described in the papers.

But, when The Tribune-Democrat sought to have the documents unsealed this year, the diocese did not resist, so long as the accusers’ names were redacted.

“Their policy now is to be as transparent as possible without hurting someone else,” Eric Anderson, an attorney for the diocese, said.

Michael Sahlaney, a lawyer who handled the action for the newspaper, complimented the diocese for not fighting the legal action.

“The diocese, I want to give them credit,” he said. “They were very open. They had no objection to the file being open at this time. It is what it is.”

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PENNSYLVANIA
Tribune-Democrat

By Dave Sutor
dsutor@tribdem.com

Thirty years ago today – on Dec. 11, 1986 – an order was issued to seal the pretrial records in a case filed by petitioners against the Roman Catholic Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown, former Bishop James Hogan, Holy Name Catholic Church and Msgr. Francis McCaa.

The decision prohibited parties and attorneys from publicly disseminating any information obtained from pleadings or documents.

The seal was to remain in place “until the time of trial,” according to the decision issued by then Cambria County Judge Gerard Long – who attended Holy Name parish, where McCaa served, and who years later decided to not recuse himself in the case, in which a newspaper attempted to have the records unsealed.

McCaa had been accused of sexually abusing an unknown number of children, but never went to trial. A financial settlement was reached in 1987.

And the records remained locked away for decades, until current Cambria County President Judge Norman Krumenacker III released the information at the request of The Tribune-Democrat in the aftermath of a grand jury report that accused the diocese of carrying out a decades-long cover-up to protect religious leaders accused of child sexual abuse.

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PENNSYLVANIA
Tribune-Democrat

By Dave Sutor
dsutor@tribdem.com

Msgr. Francis McCaa was allegedly one of the most egregious sexual abusers of children in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Altoona–Johnstown.

A grand jury report issued earlier this year by the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, which detailed an alleged decades-long coverup of abuse in the diocese, succinctly called him a “monster” with a “sickening hunger for innocence.”

The report alleges, based on testimony from interviewed victims, that McCaa may have abused hundreds of children when he served at Holy Name Catholic Church in Ebensburg from 1961 to 1985.

A civil case was brought against McCaa in 1986.

Pretrial records were sealed by a Cambria County judge on Dec. 11, 1986, leaving them unseen until they were opened this year following an appeal by The Tribune-Democrat.

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NEW YORK
CNY Central

ROME, N.Y. — Onondaga County District Attorney William Fitzpatrick said that after investigating the allegations made against a Catholic priest in Central New York they found no proof, evidence, or witnesses to back up the allegations.

Rev. Paul Angelicchio, pastor of St. John the Baptist and Transfiguration parish in Rome, is currently on a leave of absence after allegations surfaced of abuse of a minor from nearly three decades ago.

The investigation is currently being conducted by the Diocese of Syracuse who have confirmed that Angelicchio has been accused of abusing a minor 27 years ago.

DA Fitzpatrick says that the “allegation is of passive conduct on the priest’s part while faced with knowledge of sexual abuse.” He goes on to also say that, “The complainant only revealed this last year although he has been interviewed many times in the past and never disclosed this.”

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UNITED KINGDOM
BBC News

The BBC’s Duncan Kennedy investigates the work of self-styled paedophile hunter groups in the UK.

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UNITED STATES
Reveal: The Center for Investigative Journalism

How Jehovah’s Witnesses leaders hide child abuse secrets at all costs

For the past two years, Reveal reporter Trey Bundy has been uncovering how the Jehovah’s Witnesses hide child sexual abuse in their congregations – in fact, it’s official policy. The religion’s leaders have been going to extreme lengths to keep the details from public view.

On this episode of Reveal, we track down people who know the Jehovah’s Witnesses’ secrets and expose stories behind a religion with 8 million followers across the globe.

We begin in San Diego, where Trey meets an attorney trying to get access to a Jehovah’s Witnesses database containing the names and whereabouts of likely thousands of accused child abusers within the organization – living freely in communities across the U.S.

Later in the hour, we hear from a victim who tells us how the threat of being banished from their communities keeps members from reporting abuse.

Trey’s investigation also takes him to the Jehovah’s Witnesses’ headquarters in Brooklyn, New York, the Watchtower, where the culture of secrecy goes far beyond child abuse – it’s a core part of life. Watchtower leaders have refused to talk to Trey, but a former insider told him some of their secrets.

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