ABUSE TRACKER

ROME
The Sun (UK)

By Jon Lockett
5th July 2017

THE Vatican police reportedly broke up a gay orgy in an apartment belonging to the department charged with tackling sexual abuse within the church.

The occupant of the flat – in the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith – is said to be a secretary of Cardinal Francesco Coccopalmerio – a key adviser to the Pope.

The cardinal is reported to have recommended his aide at one stage for promotion to the rank of bishop.

However, those career plans are likely to be disrupted by news of the orgy and by a period spent recovering from a drug overdose in a Rome hospital and another in an Italian monastery.

The shocking allegations – in Il Fatto Quotidiano – come just a week after Australian Cardinal George Pell was charged with a string of historic sexual offences in his homeland piling pressure on the Pope.

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NEW YORK
SOME PEOPLE LIVE MORE IN 20 YEARS…

JULY 5, 2017
ASHER LOVY

I don’t want anyone thinking that we’ve packed up and gone home just because we didn’t get the Child Victims Act this past session. I don’t want anyone thinking that our last protest was just revenge against Agudah for lobbying against it. We haven’t forgotten. We haven’t run out of steam. We haven’t given up. And it’s not just about the Child Victims Act.

We’re going to be protesting again this month, this time outside of the Novominsker Shul at 1644 48th street. Join us there on July 23rd at 3 PM to send Yaakov Perlow, the Moetzes, and Agudah a message:

We won’t go away until the Child Victims Act is passed.

We won’t go away until you make it unequivocally clear that the proper response to child sexual abuse is to report the abuser immediately to the authorities, not asking a rabbi or reporting to administrations.

We won’t go away until we are satisfied that the children in your community are safe, that the people who prey on them will be brought to justice, and that the survivors are supported.

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MICHIGAN
Lansing State Journal

Beth LeBlanc , Lansing State Journal July 5, 2017

Local prosecutors have filed paperwork to seize the home of a priest charged with stealing from his Okemos parish.

The June 26 filing lists Rev. Jonathan Wehrle’s more than $1.4 million home in Williamston and a vacant parcel nearby as subject to civil forfeiture.

Chief Assistant Ingham County Prosecutor Lisa McCormick said the paperwork provides legal notice that the property is part of a criminal complaint and is subject to civil forfeiture.

Wehrle has not been convicted of a crime.

“If there’s no criminal conviction then you do not proceed on the forfeiture,” McCormick said.

If Wehrle is convicted and his property forfeited, his home could be sold and used as restitution, McCormick said.

Wehrle, the founding pastor of St. Martha Parish in Okemos, was charged in May with embezzlement of $100,000 or more. Police believe Wehrle used at least $1.85 million in parish funds on his Williamston home.

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UNITED KINGDOM
Devon Live

By Neil_Shaw | Posted: July 05, 2017

The case of a Mormon elder who killed himself after being accused of child abuse has been closed formally by a Judge. Stewart Allsford took his own life by jumping off Berry Head at Brixham half way through a trial at Exeter Crown Court where he was accused of sexually assaulting two girls.

The case was closed formally by Judge Geoffrey Mercer, QC, after a death certificate was supplied by police. An inquest will be held later. Allsford left home at 5am on the third day of his trial in June and his car was found close to the cliff edge at Berry Head, near Brixham later that morning.

The 66-year-old, of Davies Avenue, Paignton, was on trial after denying four counts of indecent assault, one of assault by penetration and one of abducting a child under 16. The alleged abuse took place during the 1990s at a time when he was in charge of a congregation of the Church of Latter Day Saints in Torbay, holding the title of Bishop.

He had admitted indecently assaulting one of the victims, but said it had only happened when she was 14. She told the jury she was younger. Allsford’s body was found on Seaton beach in East Devon on June 10, three days after he disappeared on June 7. It was carried across Lyme Bay the tidal stream and gale force South Westerly winds.

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SCOTLAND
BBC News

A £500,000 damages claim brought against the Scottish government by the former chairwoman of a child abuse inquiry has been thrown out of court.

A judge ruled Susan O’Brien QC’s compensation claim should be dismissed.

He said she had failed to plead a relevant case of breach of contract or infringement of article 8 of the European Convention of Human Rights.

Lord Pentland held that the case advanced on behalf of Ms O’Brien for breach of contract was “misconceived”.

He ruled that the article 8 breach arguments of the action, covering the right to respect for private and family life, were “unsound”.

Ms O’Brien was appointed to head the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry in July 2015 but resigned a year later after facing the sack over “unacceptable” comments.

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ISRAEL
The Jerusalem Post

BY JEREMY SHARON JULY 4, 2017

An initiative called Din Ve’Cheshbon, or “Settling the Score” in Hebrew, has been launched to encourage victims of sexual assault in the haredi community to come forward and demand compensation from sex offenders and persons who supported their attackers or helped keep their offenses quiet.

The project coordinator Nachman Rosenberg says it began with haredi businesspeople from abroad who have become increasingly outraged at the growing number of news reports regarding sexual abuse against women, children and youths in the community which are not appropriately dealt with.

In March, for example, the police apprehended almost two dozen suspected haredi sex offenders in Jerusalem and three haredi-majority cities, after having previously arrested the head of a so-called Modesty Guard committee in the haredi community who was found to be in the possession of numerous records of men who had committed sex offenses.

In the majority of cases, the head of the Modesty Guard would instruct the perpetrators to get some form of therapy within the haredi community but would not report their crimes to the police.

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VATICAN CITY
New York Post

By Tamar Lapin July 5, 2017

Vatican police raided a drug-fueled gay sex party at the apartment of an aide to one of Pope Francis’ key advisers, according to an explosive new report.

The Holy Father is “enraged,” since the home, inhabited by Cardinal Francesco Coccopalmerio’s secretary, belongs to the Vatican’s Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith — the arm charged with tackling clerical sex abuse, Italian paper Il Fatto Quotidiano reports.

Cops raided the apartment in late June after neighbors complained about multiple people visiting the apartment and acting strangely.

Inside, police said they found men getting high and getting it on, the paper reports.

They arrested the priest after taking him to a clinic to detox from the drugs he’d ingested — presumably on drugs charges, as gay sex isn’t illegal in Vatican City. He is now on a spiritual retreat in a convent in Italy, the paper reports.

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SCOTLAND
Scottish Legal News

A QC who sued the Scottish Government after resigning as chair of the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry has had a £500,000 claim for damages dismissed.

A judge in the Court of Session dismissed a claim by Susan O’Brien QC that a decision by the Scottish Ministers to instigate the process for terminating her appointment amounted to a “material breach of contract” and “infringed” her human rights.

Lord Pentland heard that the pursuer wrote to John Swinney MSP, the Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills, on 4 July 2016 advising that she had decided to resign as chair of inquiry with immediate effect.

She then raised an action seeking an order from the court declaring that the actions of the defenders in invoking the procedure under section 12 of the Inquiries Act 2005 and seeking unilaterally to terminate her appointment constituted a material breach of contract, and separately that the defenders’ actions were incompatible with her rights under Article 8 of the European Convention of Human Rights.

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UNITED KINGDOM
Christian Today

James Macintyre 05 July 2017

A survivor of alleged historical sexual abuse in the Church of England has complained that he has received no direct reply after writing to the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, for the thirteenth time.

Archbishop Welby met the survivor last year and the Church of England, which is conducting an internal review into its handling of his case, has put him in regular contact with its National Safeguarding Team (NST).

The survivor, who has been known in media reports as ‘Michael’, was allegedly the victim while a teenager of abuse three decades ago by a retired vicar who was found to have committed suicide last month after he failed to attend court. The body of Trevor Devamanikkam, 70, was found by police when they went to his home in Witney, Oxfordshire, to arrest him.

Devamanikkam had been due to appear before Bradford and Keighley magistrates charged with three counts of buggery and three counts of indecent assault in the 1980s. The charges were brought under the Sexual Offences Act 1956 and related to a time when the homosexual age of consent was 21.

Last year, Michael, whose has now waived his anonymity and whose real name is Matt Ineson, lodged complaints of misconduct against the Archbishop of York, John Sentamu, and four serving bishops, claiming that they had failed to act on his disclosures of rape.

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DEUTSCHLAND
Domradio

[According to Pope Francis the new prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Luis Francisco Ladaria Ferrer now occupies another leading position in the Vatican as a Jesuit.]

Nach Papst Franziskus ist nun mit dem neuen Präfekten der Glaubenskongregation, Luis Francisco Ladaria Ferrer, eine weitere Spitzenposition im Vatikan mit einem Jesuiten besetzt. Das ist selbst Ordensbrüdern nicht geheuer.

domradio.de: Sie sind Mitglied im Jesuitenorden. Das ist auch der Orden, dem Papst Franziskus angehört. Am Wochenende wurde bekannt, dass auch der neue Präfekt der Glaubenskongregation Jesuit ist. Welche Rolle spielt Ihr Orden im Moment im Vatikan? Eine ziemlich große, oder?

Pater Hans Zollner SJ (Theologe, Psychologe, Jesuit und Angehöriger der päpstlichen Kinderschutzkommission im Vatikan): Ja, im Moment spielen wir nominell eine ziemlich große Rolle. Wir waren über die letzten Jahrzehnte, man kann fast sagen Jahrhunderte, immer als Berater im Vatikan vertreten. Aber das hat sich immer mehr im Hintergrund abgespielt. Dass es jetzt zwei Leute sind, die an der Führungsspitze der katholischen Kirche stehen, ist sehr außergewöhnlich. Ich kann auch sagen, dass dies vielen von uns nicht geheuer ist.

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DEUTSCHLAND
Regensburg Digital

[At last he is gone! “Well, finally!”, “Hurray, hurray! Hallelujah! “Or simply a simple” Yes! “. This was the reaction which had entered our editorial office when on Friday it was announced that Pope Francis had dismissed Gerhard Ludwig Müllers as head of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.]

Von Stefan Aigner in Meinung

„Na endlich!“, „Hurra, hurra! Halleluja!“ oder einfach ein schlichtes „Yes!“. So oder so ähnlich sahen Reaktionen aus, die bei uns in der Redaktion eintrudelten, seit am Freitag bekannt wurde, dass Papst Franziskus sich Gerhard Ludwig Müllers als Chef der Glaubenskongregation entledigt hat.

Mit den kolportierten Verwerfungen zwischen Papst und Müller rund um Glaubensfragen haben diese Reaktionen aber allenfalls am Rande zu tun. Es geht um Müllers Zeit in Regensburg und die Verwüstungen, die er hier hinterlassen hat.

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ROM
Queer

[Vatican: Police stop gay sex orgy that included use of drugs.]

Der Skandal um den im Vatikan residierenden australischen Kurienkardinal George Pell, der am Donnerstag als drittmächtigster Mann der Kirche in der Heimat wegen mehrfachen Kindesmissbrauches angeklagt wurde (queer.de berichtete), hat einen weiteren Skandal aus den italienischen Medien verdrängt, der kein Verbrechen umfasst, aber eine Menge Doppelmoral.

Mehrere Medien berichteten am Mittwoch, die Gendarmerie des Vatikans habe – bereits vor einiger Zeit – die Wohnung eines Prälaten im Palazzo del Sant’Uffizio gestürmt, der unter anderem der Dienstsitz der Glaubenskongregation ist und früher das Arbeitszimmer von Kardinal Joseph Ratzinger umfasste, bevor dieser Papst wurde. Das exterritoriale Gebäude des Vatikans in dessen unmittelbarer Nähe habe dem Mann einen guten Schutz vor Kontrollen der Schweizer Garde oder Gendarmerie gegeben, berichteten Medien. Zugleich habe der – nach Medienangaben “luxuriöse” – Dienstwagen mit Siegel des Vatikans eine gute Immunität gegenüber italienischen Behören geboten.

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AUSTRALIA
Central Western Daily

MURRAY NICHOLLS
5 Jul 2017

THE Anglican Diocese of Bathurst is preparing a new list of potential asset sales as it braces for multi-million dollar compensation payouts for victims of sexual abuse.

Bishop Ian Palmer wrote to parishioners at the weekend asking them to identify assets within their communities that could be sold to help raise $2 million.

It comes a year after the diocese was forced into a fire sale of assets to help repay a $40 million debt to the Commonwealth Bank.

Additionally, in October, 2013 the diocese sold Orange Anglican Grammar School and Macquarie Anglican Grammar School in Dubbo to the Sydney Anglican School Corporation.

Bishop Palmer said in the letter to parishioners that the Royal Commission Into Institutional Responses To Child Sexual Abuse had highlighted the damage to victims.

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GUAM
KUAM

[with video]

Updated: Jul 05, 2017
By Krystal Paco

We’re hearing plenty about reparations as of late, but that’s mostly related to war reparations. Now, the Archdiocese of Agana is talking about making amends with survivors through a Year of Reparation. It’s a step towards spiritual justice.

“What are we doing? What is this year of reparation about? Well, we understand civil remedies and ecclesiastical remedies are always insufficient,” explained Coadjutor Archbishop Michael Byrnes acknowledges the body is hurting – large in part due to the growing number of clergy sex abuse lawsuits against the Church.

To date, 80 victims have come forward alleging they were sexually abused or molested by priests or Catholic school staff.

That’s what prompted a Year of Reparation, which will start on Thursday. The Faithful will focus on praying, fasting, and almsgiving.

HIs Excellency added, “What our prayers do is say to those victims to those who suffer, that they are worth our attention, our sacrifices, and our prayers. It’s a way of the body of Christ expressing to all those who suffer, we’re with you. We’re in solidarity with you. And we think that a year of persistent prayer, fasting and almsgiving is a way for us to express to you your value.”

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GUAM
Pacific News Center

Guam – While attorneys and organizations are work on getting justice for victims of church sex abuse, the Archdiocese of Agana is also embarking on a new initiative for “spiritual” justice.

Spearheaded by Archbishop Michael Byrnes, this endeavor will be called the Year of Reparation.

It’s not just the scores of sex abuse lawsuits that have rocked the church or the controversial dispute over the Redemptoris Mater Seminary property, or even the division between the traditional catholics and the neocatechumenal group, Coadjutor Archbishop Byrnes says problems exist within the community that are hurting the fabric of society like divorce rates, crime, child abuse and drug abuse.ltimately the metric of Christian success

“Ultimately, the metric of christian success is, do we see some of these social ills going down? Do we see more healing and less brokenness?” noted Byrnes.

In an effort to heal a divided church and community, Archbishop Byrnes called upon the Liturgical Commission to assist. Archbishop Byrnes was sent to Guam by Pope Francis after Archbishop Anthony Apuron was ousted stemming from the multiple allegations of sexual abuse. Liturgical Commission Chairperson Father Paul Gofigan says reparation was a priority for Archbishop Byrnes.

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GUAM
Pacific News Center

By Janela Carrera
July 5, 2017

Guam – An update on the canonical trial of Archbishop Anthony Apuron will be made Thursday which also happens to fall on the same date as the next hearing for some of the sex abuse lawsuits in District Court.

“Tomorrow we’ll call another news briefing and we’ll talk about the archbishop,” announced Coadjutor Archbishop Michael Byrnes during a news conference Wednesday.

Byrnes declined to give details, but he noted that it will not focus on any decisions that may have been made during Apuron’s canonical trial. Archbishop Apuron’s legal counsel, Attorney Jacque Terlaje, has indicated in previous interviews that her client’s canonical trial is expected to come to a close sometime this summer.

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GUAM
Pacific Daily News

Haidee V Eugenio , heugenio@guampdn.com July 5, 2017

Archbishop Michael Jude Byrnes said Wednesday the Vatican has not yet issued a decision on the canonical trial of Archbishop Anthony S. Apuron.

Apuron faces multiple civil lawsuits over the alleged rape and sexual abuse of altar boys in the 1970s.

Byrnes said he will hold a news conference, as soon as Thursday, to provide an update on the Vatican’s canonical trial process.

As of 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, the Archdiocese of Agana hadn’t provided further details about the news briefing.

Apuron’s ongoing canonical trial came up during he question-and-answer portion of Byrnes’ monthly “Updating the Faithful” series on Wednesday.

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FIJI
Fiji Sun

by LUSIANA TUIMAISALA , Suva

The Archdiocese of Suva is developing policies to protect children and minors from sexual abuse.

A two-day workshop at St Joseph’s Secondary School hall that rounds up today includes headteachers and school principals of Catholic schools in Fiji.

Archbishop Peter Loy Chong said many items mentioned in the resource document are applicable to ministry with adults.

“The policy establishes a set of general guidelines and boundaries for people ministering to minors and addressing explicitly proper contact with persons under 18 years of age,” Archbishop Loy Chong said.

The workshop also includes training on Safeguarding, and Ministerial Integrity to priests, teachers, religious sisters and Brothers.

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NORTHERN IRELAND
Derry Now

Survivors of historical institutional abuse in Northern Ireland have called for the recommendations contained in the Historical Institutional Abuse Report to be introduced.

Despite urging for movement following the publication of the report the process has been delayed due to the collapse of the power-sharing Executive at Stormont.

Various issues including reparations for victims remain outstanding.

Jon McCourt Chairperson of Survivors (North West) said: “With another deadline having passed at the ongoing discussions at Stormont, it is time to have some mechanism developed that will deliver on the recommendations contained in the Historical Institutional Abuse Report.

“We now will probably go to the end of the Westminster summer recess before any discussion starts on developing a way forward.

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GUAM
Pacific Daily News

[with video]

Haidee V Eugenio , heugenio@guampdn.com July 5, 2017

Archbishop Michael Jude Byrnes has declared a “Year of Reparation” for the Catholic Church on Guam because of the magnitude of clergy sexual abuses and outbreaks of violence, child abuse, drug abuse and the highest divorce rate in the world, among other things.

“(Reparation) is a way of restoring the balance of justice when people have been harmed,” Byrnes said during his monthly “Updating the Faithful” series Wednesday morning.

Byrnes said declaring a Year of Reparation, which will begin July 6, signifies solidarity with all victims of social ills, including clergy abuse and violence, and a collective quest for justice.

He said civil and ecclesiastical remedies are always insufficient in restoring justice, but he said the power of prayer and acts of mercy go a long way in helping to achieve that.

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DEUTSCHLAND
Heute

[In Bavaria, an accusation was filed against a 53-year-old ex-priest. He is accused of the abuse of five boys in more than 100 instances. He is also said to have attempted to rape between 1995 and 1996 of a then 18-year-old.]

In Bayern wurde eine Anklage gegen einen 53-jährigen Ex-Priester erhoben. Ihm wird der Missbrauch von fünf Buben in mehr als 100 Fällen vorgeworfen. Zudem soll er zwischen 1995 und 1996 eine damals 18-Jährige versucht haben zu vergewaltigen.

Der Deutsche war nicht nur in seinem Heimatland, sondern auch in Polen, der Schweiz und auch in Österreich tätig. Die längste Zeit davon in Niederösterreich. Aus diesem Grund hat sich auch die Staatsanwaltschaft Krems in den Fall eingeschalten. Der Ex-Priester hätte auch Wallfahren nach Italien und Bosnien organisiert, jedoch kann man hier aufgrund von Verjährung nicht weiter ermitteln.

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FRANCE
Diocese de Ste. Etienne

[A press article published this morning concerns Father Regis Peyrard, without naming him explicitly, for acts of sexual assault on minors. He recognizes the facts. Such acts are always unspeakable. We are thinking first of all of the victims and their families, their suffering and the dramatic consequences of these acts.]

Un article de presse paru ce matin met en cause le Père Régis Peyrard, sans le nommer explicitement, pour des faits d’agressions sexuelles sur des mineurs. Celui-ci reconnaît les faits. De tels actes sont toujours inqualifiables. Nous pensons d’abord aux victimes et à leurs familles, à leurs souffrances et aux conséquences dramatiques de ces actes.

Depuis l’an 2000, à trois reprises des victimes se sont manifestées et à chaque fois les faits ont été signalés à la justice. Dès le premier signalement, des mesures internes à l’Eglise ont également été prises : résider dans une maison de retraite et exercer un ministère restreint. Une procédure canonique est engagée avec la Congrégation pour la Doctrine de la Foi et la commission Christnacht de la Conférence des Evêques de France a été saisie.

Saint-Etienne le 4 juillet 2017
+ Sylvain Bataille, évêque de Saint-Etienne

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FRANCE
BFM TV

[Catholic authorities in Saint-Etienne made public on Tuesday the sexual abuse of minors committed by a priest in the 1980s. Now 84 years old, the man of the church was relieved of his ministry. He acknowledged the facts.]

Les autorités catholiques de Saint-Etienne ont rendu publics mardi les abus sexuels sur mineurs qu’aurait commis un prêtre dans les années 80. Aujourd’hui âgé de 84 ans, l’homme d’Eglise a été relevé de son ministère.

Il a reconnu les faits. Un prêtre du diocèse de Saint-Etienne, dans la Loire, a été relevé de son ministère, a annoncé le diocèse lui-même, après avoir rendu public les agressions sexuelles dont l’ecclésiastique est soupçonné. Les actes, commis à l’encontre de trois mineurs, remontent aux années 80. Les trois jeunes garçons étaient alors âgés entre 12 et 16 ans.

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ROME
New Zealand Herald

Vatican police have raided a cardinal’s apartment where a drug-fuelled homosexual orgy was taking place.

Police entered an apartment at the former palace of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (or Holy Office) last month not far from the Vatican City.

The occupant of the apartment is alleged to be a priest who serves as a secretary to cardinal Francesco Coccopalmerio, the head of the Pontifical Council for Legislative texts and a personal adviser to the Pope.

The allegations of the orgy were first published by newspaper Il Fatto Quotidiano.

According to the paper, neighbours became suspicious before complaining about irregular behaviour of those coming and going at the apartment.

When police showed up at the apartment, they reportedly found drugs and a group of men engaged in sexual activity.

The priest was then arrested and taken for questioning.

Il Fatto Quotidiano suggested that Pope Francis has been infuriated by the news and may force Coccopalmerio into retirement.

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ROME
International Business Times

The priest serves as secretary to cardinal Francesco Coccopalmerio, Pope Francis’ personal adviser.

By Ananya Roy
Updated July 5, 2017

A new scandal is rocking the Vatican as police recently raided a drugs and gay sex party at a cardinal’s apartment near the city.

Without revealing the name of the occupant of the apartment, police said that the person is believed to be a priest who serves as a secretary to cardinal Francesco Coccopalmerio, the head of the Pontifical Council for Legislative texts and a personal adviser to Pope Francis.

According to Italian daily Il Fatto Quotidiano which first published the news, police raided the apartment in June after complaints from neighbours who reported unusual behaviour among people visiting the apartment.

The newspaper quoted the police as saying that they found drugs and a group of men engaged in sexual activity when they entered the apartment.

The police have arrested the priest and taken him for questioning, presumably on drugs charges. It is not a criminal offence to engage in private same-sex activity in Vatican City.

The apartment belongs to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, whose duties include investigating clerical sexual abuse.

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UNITED KINGDOM
Nursery World

04 July 2017 by Katy Morton

A report looking at the impact of child sexual abuse on victims, their families and wider society has been published today.

The report is by researchers from the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA), which was set-up by the then Home Secretary Theresa May in 2014.

The inquiry is investigating whether public bodies and other non-state institutions have taken seriously their responsibility to protect children from sexual abuse in England and Wales, as well as make recommendations for change.

The report is part of the inquiry’s work into examining the impact of child sexual abuse on the lives of victims and survivors and their families, as well as wider society.

Entitled ‘The impacts of Child Sex Abuse: A rapid Evidence Assessment’, the report has been published at the same time as an inquiry seminar on victims and survivors’ experiences, which is taking place on 4-5 July in London.

During the two-day seminar, which will be streamed live, a range of experts, including victims and survivors will speak. The information and views they give will be gathered and considered by the inquiry on the impact of CSA on victims, survivors and their families, their support needs and current support provision.

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UNITED KINGDOM
Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse

4 July

Victims, survivors and experts talked about the impact of child sexual abuse during an Inquiry Seminar held today (4 July).

The Seminar, which is being held across two days, will enable the Inquiry to gather information and views for consideration.

An Inquiry report, The Impacts of Child Sexual Abuse: A Rapid Evidence Assessment, was also discussed by participants at the seminar.

Speaking about the impact of CSA on victims and survivors, Claire Soares, a member of the Inquiry’s research team, said: “The report found there were significant, lifelong and wide-ranging adverse impacts of CSA. But resilience and recovery are possible provided there is effective and timely support available to victims and survivors.”

Cate Fisher, also a member of the research team, said that the impact of CSA on wider society was also significant. She said analysis conducted by the NSPCC concluded that CSA cost the economy an estimated £3.2 billion a year – including money spent on the criminal justice system and mental health services. However she said that the largest part of this cost to the economy was due to victims and survivors of CSA being more likely to be unemployed or in lower-paid jobs.

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UNITED STATES
Crux

Carolyn Woo SPECIAL TO CRUX

The Convocation of Catholic Leaders, a large national gathering of diverse leaders from across the Catholic Church in the United States, is taking place July 1-4 in Orlando. Having followed the convocation from its inception and planning, I can attest to the intention of opening a window to let in some new air.

The idea is to hang a freshly-painted welcome sign on the Church, prominently placed over a door that once seemed forbidding. It’s also to deploy communication devices that can pick up the channel of today’s people, and allow for two-way exchanges.

The focus is on the lay people of the dioceses, going beyond just the “usual suspects” to invite new voices and emerging leaders. The content is impressively comprehensive, with 66 breakout sessions on topics ranging from the expected (social justice, immigration, parish vitality, faith formation) to the uncomfortable (the “nones,” reaching out to those hurt by leaders and members of the Church, ministry to people with same-sex attraction).

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

UNITED STATES
La Croix (France)

July 3, 2017

About 3,000 American Catholic Church officials are participating in a unique convention in Orlando, Florida, from July 1 to 4. The gathering is seen as an opportunity for the church leaders to reflect on how to spread the gospel and reach out to a country that is becoming secular.

Céline Hoyeau, Orlando
United States

He may be at the helm of one of the most dynamic Roman Catholic parishes in Florida, with the 3,000 families present each weekend at one of the seven masses at Saint Peter’s Church in Deland, but Father Thomas Connery is still worried.

“We have many retirees in Florida, so the churches are full but take them away and it’s a catastrophe,” says Father Connery. “We’re not managing to reach the young generations.

“For every person baptized, the American church loses six Catholics,” he laments. “We don’t dare talk about it among priests, doubtless because we do not know what to do, but it is past time to break this taboo.

“Imagine a company facing such a problem. It would immediately launch an emergency plan! What about us?”

U.S. bishops do not yet have an emergency plan, but they have organized a unique gathering. For the first time in a hundred years, priests, laymen, monks, nuns and other heads of services and movements from all over the United States have come together at a meeting in Orlando, Florida from 1 to 4 July.

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IRELAND
Irish Legal News

Two women who were forced to work in Magdalen laundries have been granted an order of certiorari, quashing the refusal of the Minister for Justice and Equality to admit them to a government compensation scheme.

Mr Justice Michael White refused to grant relief on the basis that the decision was unreasonable and irrational, but held that the decisions were reached in violation of their right to natural and constitutional justice and fair procedures.

The ex gratia scheme

Two women, MKL and DC, sought orders of certiorari quashing the refusal of the Minister to admit them to the ex gratia scheme established by the Government of Ireland in December 2013 for women who were admitted to and worked in the Magdalen Laundries.

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IRELAND
The Journal

WITH TEARS IN his eyes John Feighery told a room full of other institutional abuse survivors now it is time for them to stand up for themselves, like they could never do as children.

For 11 years John attended industrial schools in Letterfrack, Co Galway, run by Christian Brothers.

Earlier today, he spoke at the launch of a highly critical report highlighting issues with how the State has dealt with victims like him.

The report, ‘Reclaiming Self’, authored by Anne Marie Crean and Fionna Fox, will be presented to the United National Committee Against Torture (Uncat).

It addresses three specific questions raised by Uncat in relation to the 2009 Ryan report on child abuse:

* The state’s proposals to implement the recommendations of the Commission into Child Abuse.
* Independent investigations of abuse cases and prosecution of perpetrators.
* Ensuring that all victims obtain redress.

The report criticises the lack of action in prosecuting abusers and the State’s failure to put in place a sensitive and appropriate redress scheme for victims.

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IRELAND
Connacht Tribune

Galway Bay fm newsroom – COPE Galway has moved to hire construction firm to begin work on a new domestic violence refuge in the city.

The conversion of the old Magdalene Laundry at 47 Forster Street will involve the demolition of parts of the existing building, and the construction of a new extension to the rear.

COPE Galway previously said the conversion would be delayed until the outcome of the future of an investigation into mother and baby homes is determined.

Last year, Waterside House worked with 314 women and 158 children.

They provided 161 accompaniments to court but were unable to accommodate 204 women and 246 children.

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DENMARK
The Local

4 July 2017

A former priest at the Tømmerup Church in Kalundborg has been charged with sexually assaulting seven children and committing indecent exposure against a further five.

The 47-year-old priest, who has been remanded in custody for the last year, has been charged for 30 separate breaches of the law, reports broadcaster TV2.

He is charged with sexually abusing seven children, who were all under the legal age of consent at the time of the crimes; and indecent exposure against five boys, whom he contacted on Skype, pretending to be a girl, according to TV2’s report, which is based on a charge sheet obtained by the television station.

The assaults are reported to have taken place at the 47-year-old’s place of residence over a 10-year period between 2006 and May 2016.

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UNITED STATES
The Worthy Adversary

July 4, 2017

Joelle Casteix

I have remained quiet on the subject of the changes in SNAP, the Survivors Network.

This is because I have been very deeply involved in the recent transition in leadership, our refocus and change in messaging, and the shift from an organization with two founders in power to an organization with a working board, a managing director, and a core of passionate volunteers getting things done.

But after yet another recent article where, once again, the script was that the organization is facing an “uncertain future,” I have decided that it is time to shift the narrative and allow SNAP to own its story.

Yes, founder Barbara Blaine and executive director David Clohessy left the organization. But their departure had been in the works since the fall of 2016.

Let’s face it: No organization should be run by its founders for decades. It’s called “Founder’s Flounder” or “Founder’s Syndrome.”

We all knew it was time for change.

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UNITED KINGDOM
Archbishop Cranmer

July 3, 2017

Child abuse is a seriously distressing matter. The violation, confusion, fear, self-loathing, guilt, depression… suicidal thoughts. It can take years and decades to come to terms with the misery and emotional agony, and the scars never really heal. They may fade in time, but are easily inflamed when scratched or picked at by tormented forefingers. And then you try to hide them all over again, ashamed of the sores and blemishes of a sin which wasn’t even yours. Or was it?

Child abuse in the Church is not only seriously distressing, it is eternally consequential: “If anyone causes one of these little ones – those who believe in me – to stumble,” said Jesus, “it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.”

The Church of England has already thrown Bishop George Bell into a very deep pond. It has also just hurled former Archbishop George (Lord) Carey into a reservoir of excrement. In the case of Bell, the solitary, uncorroborated testimony of ‘Carol’ was deemed sufficient to trash his reputation – some 70 years after the alleged abuse took place. In the case of Carey, the report of Dame Moira Gibb was sufficient for the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, to demand Lord Carey’s resignation as an honorary assistant bishop in the Diocese of Oxford, for apparently ‘colluding’ in child abuse some 20 years ago. There is more than a whiff of scape-goating.

Contrast the swiftness and severity of these judgments with the harrowing account below. This story has been circulating in the media for a number of years, not least because the alleged abuser – a priest by the name of Trevor Devamanikkam – committed suicide before the case against him could be heard. His victim has hitherto remained anonymous – often named ‘Michael’ in the media. He has lodged complaints of misconduct against the Archbishop of York, John Sentamu, and four other serving bishops, claiming they had failed to act on his disclosures of rape. Nothing happened: apparently, a CDM (Clergy Discipline Measure) has to be issued within 12 months of the alleged misconduct. This might be appropriate if your vicar is filching hymn books, but it is woefully inadequate for dealing with the cover-up of chronic child abuse, the effects of which may take the victim many, many years to process.

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ROME
The Australian

PHILIP WILLAN
The Times
July 5, 2017

Vatican police broke up a homosexual orgy last month in an apartment belonging to the Con­gregation for the Doctrine of the Faith — the department charged with, among other things, tackling clerical sexual abuse.

The occupant of the apartment is alleged to be the secretary of cardinal Francesco Coccopa­l­merio, head of the Pontifical Council for Legislative texts and a key adviser to the Pope.

Cardinal Coccopalmerio is said to have recommended his aide for promotion to bishop, but those plans are likely to be disrupted by news of the orgy and by a period spent recovering from a drug overdose in a Rome hospital and another in an Italian monastery.

The allegations about the orgy were published by the newspaper Il Fatto Quotidiano.

The incident is symptomatic of a difficult period for the Pope. Four years into his papacy his reforms should be at full throttle; instead, the Catholic Church appears racked by conflict and scandal.

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UNITED KINGDOM
Catholic Herald

by Fr Alexander Lucie-Smith
posted Monday, 3 Jul 2017

The Pope is making clear there is now only one centre of power at the Vatican

There is an incident in the greatest film ever made, The Godfather, where a body turns up, and someone correctly says that it is a way of sending a message. It is a phrase that comes to mind in the wake of the removal of Cardinal Gerhard Müller: this is an act that constitutes a message. But what exactly?

The Pope has told Cardinal Müller that from now on all heads of dicastery will serve five years only. So, that is the first message, directed to other Vatican chiefs – watch out, your time is short, and you can and will be removed at the end of your term. No longer will heads of dicastery stay in post for decades, as did, for example, Cardinal Ratzinger. From now on, expect to be moved around like pieces on a chessboard, because in the Vatican there is only one centre of power that counts, and it is not yours.

The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF) has traditionally been regarded as “la suprema”. Once upon a time, everything that emerged from the Vatican had to be passed first by the CDF. By dismissing the head of the most important department of the Vatican, the Pope is reminding everyone who is really supreme.

The demotion affects not only Cardinal Müller but the entire CDF, for the entire department is being cut down to size. Indeed, as has been apparent in this papacy so far, the CDF is not what it was, but has been repeatedly sidelined.

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UNITED STATES
Fox News

By Stephanie Nolasco Published July 03, 2017

“The Keepers” has prompted numerous calls for the Baltimore Archdiocese to release a dead priest’s files.

The Baltimore Sun reported Saturday that the seven-part documentary exploring the priest’s alleged abuse led more to 11,000 signatures on an online petition. Archdiocese spokesman Sean Caine said state law bars the release of much of the confidential information.

“The Keepers” tells the story of the unsolved death of Catholic nun Sister Cathy Cesnik, whose body was discovered in January 1970 two months after her sudden disappearance. The popular nun taught English and drama at Archbishop Keough High School in Baltimore.

Viewers learned how several former Catholic schoolgirls alleged to have endure sexual abuse at their school and how Cesnik promised to helped them, until she ended up dead.

The priest at the center of the show, A. Joseph Maskell, denied abuse allegations and was never charged before his 2001 death. However, the archdiocese has since paid $472,000 in settlements to alleged victims.

Filmmaker Ryan White told Fox News in June he thinks the world will eventually find out who killed Sister Cathy.

“I hope we do,” he said. “I don’t think it’s too late to find out. I probably began the project thinking it was too late to find out, but I don’t believe that now… I believe her family deserves justice. And part of that is being able to name who killed Sister Cathy.”

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ROME
The Tablet (UK)

04 July 2017 | by Daniele Palmer

Archbishop Ladaria and the then CDF prefect are alleged to have asked the superiors of an Italian priest found guilty of abuse to stay silent

Reports have emerged that the new prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith (CDF) covered up a case of sexual abuse of minors when he was secretary of the same Vatican dicastery in 2012.

Archbishop Luis Ladaria Ferrer, the Spanish Jesuit chosen by Francis to take Cardinal Muller’s place as head of the CDF, and the CDF’s then-prefect, the American Cardinal William Levada, asked the superiors of an Italian parish priest who was found guilty of abusing children by the Holy See, to stay silent and not divulge any information to the public, the Italian daily newspaper, La Repubblica, reports.

Fr. Gianna Trotta, a priest with the Italian diocese of Foggia, was charged and found guilty of multiple cases of sexual abuse of minors by an internal Vatican legal procedure in 2012.

Archbishop Ladaria and Cardinal Levada, both chosen by Benedict XVI to run the CDF, wrote a letter “advising” the priest’s superiors to not let out any news of the abuses lest it create “a scandal amongst the faithful.”

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GUAM
Pacific News Center

By Janela Carrera – July 4, 2017

The former Guam priest has been named as a defendant in 41 of the lawsuits filed against the Archdiocese of Agana so far.

Guam – Former Guam Priest Father Louis Brouillard has been named once again in a church sex abuse lawsuit, marking the 78th lawsuit to be filed against the Archdiocese of Agana.

The lawsuit was filed by a man with the initials R.P. who’s now 53 years old. The case dates back to the 1970s when R.P. was around the age of 10. R.P. says he participated in a jamboree summer camp for the Boy Scouts which is an event held to recruit boys to join the organization.

According to R.P., the jamboree that year was held at Ipan Public Beach and he and his cousin were set up in a tent. Brouillard went inside the boys’ tent and had the boys masturbate him, according to the complaint. At the time, Brouillard was a Scout Master and also a priest with the diocese.

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UNITED KINGDOM
The Guardian

Steven Morris
Monday 3 July 2017

In 2008 the former children’s home Haut de la Garenne on Jersey became a focus of global attention when police discovered what they believed to be fragments of a human skull.

The building, at that time a youth hostel, was dubbed “the house of horror” as scores of other bone fragments were unearthed and lurid reports surfaced that shackles, restraints, “punishment rooms” and a bath stained with blood had been found. The fear was that children, perhaps many, had been tortured and killed and their remains concealed.

To some degree, it was a false alarm. Towards the end of the year police said they did not believe any murders had taken place at Haut de la Garenne. Of the 170 bone fragments found, analysis showed only three could be human and they probably dated back centuries.

However, the investigation, codenamed Operation Rectangle, did unearth a terrible scandal. It brought to light a catalogue of abuse – sexual, physical and psychological – at Haut de la Garenne and other Jersey children’s homes stretching back to the end of the second world war. …

The serial abuser Jimmy Savile was among those accused of attacks at Haut de la Garenne and at a home on the island run by French Catholic nuns, the Sacre Coeur orphanage. Wilfred Krichefski, a Jersey senator and TV executive, now dead, was also named as an alleged abuser.

Physical and psychological abuse ranged from having mouths washed out with carbolic soap to being beaten with stinging nettles, the inquiry heard. Some of the abuse was carried out by older children with the blessing of staff.

One man said senior boys used a generator to administer electric shocks to younger children and threw darts at them. A girl is said to have been punished by having to spend a night in a room with the body of a dead nun.

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IRELAND
Irish Examiner

By Conall Ó Fátharta
Irish Examiner Reporter

Magdalene campaigners have questioned why a State apology was given to laundry survivors when the Government denies the State has any liability in the matter.

In a submission to the UN Committee Against Torture, the Justice for Magdalenes Research (JFMR) group pointed to contradictory statements made by the then taoiseach, Enda Kenny, and the Department of Justice on the issue of State liability.

In his apology in 2013, Mr Kenny clearly acknowledged the role of the State in the women’s “ordeal”, while the McAleese report found State involvement in a range of areas — most notably that over one quarter of all recorded admissions to Magdalene laundries were made or facilitated by State actors.

Despite this, the assistant secretary to the justice minister wrote to the Office of the Ombudsman last year to inform it of the department’s view that it has not seen any legal advice or factual evidence “that would give rise to the belief that the State has any legal liability”.

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AUSTRALIA
The Age

Timna Jacks

The most powerful rabbi in Australia’s most secretive ultra-Orthodox Jewish community has taken the extraordinary step of intervening in the appointment of controversial rabbi Meir Shlomo Kluwgant as principal of Adass Israel School.

In a rare move from the leader who scarcely weighs in on high-profile issues, Rabbi Avrohom Zvi Beck has released a letter to community members calling for more consultation on the appointment.

“I think it appropriate that we should consult with the members of our community on this matter,” wrote the rabbi in a letter sent out days after Rabbi Kluwgant was given the role.

“Let a general meeting be arranged, and may the Lord bring us success in the endeavour.”

Rabbi Beck is the most senior figure in the deeply hierarchical community, with oversight over every element of the community, including the school.

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AUSTRALIA
The Guardian

Helen Davidson
Tuesday 4 July 2017

The former most senior rabbi in Australia, who resigned after appearing at the royal commission, has been appointed principal of a Melbourne school at the centre of abuse allegations in 2008.

Abuse survivors and their advocates are outraged at the announcement of Rabbi Meir Shlomo Kluwgant as the new head of the Adass Israel school, and have called for the school to reconsider.

The Victorian education minister, James Merlino, also weighed in, telling Guardian Australia: “I understand the concern of many in the community about this appointment and it’s incumbent on the school to fully explain this decision.”

In a letter to staff, the secretary of the Adass board, Abe Weiszberger, said Kluwgant would “work collaboratively” with the current principal, Dr Israel Herszberg, before taking over next year.

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AUSTRALIA
Pedestrian TV

We all knew that Andrew Bolt’s inevitable column about the sexual abuse charges against Cardinal George Pell was going to be a doozy, but we didn’t expect that he was going to fuck up basic details so, so hard.

The Herald Sun today has issued an apology for Bolt’s column in defence of Pell yesterday, in which he made… a big doozy of an error. Bolt attributed comments to Victoria Police Detective-Sergeant Kevin Carson which were actually said by abuse survivor Andrew Collins.

The comments in question – “the world will be watching this” and that the decision would be an “important step along the way” – were attributed by Bolt to the detective-sergeant as a way of arguing that institutional forces were already biased against Pell and that the entire trial was automatically fishy.

That argument kinda loses weight when they were actually said by a sexual abuse survivor and not a member of the police force. In fact, as the apology outlines, Carson explicitly has said that he will not comment on the trial as he does not want to jeopardise it or any future trial.

Memo to Bolt: if you’re going to wage a deadshit culture war, at least get your basic facts right.

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UNITED KINGDOM
Daily Mail

By Rebecca Camber and Emily Kent Smith for the Daily Mail

An investigation into sexual assault claims against the top lawyer at the Government’s child abuse inquiry was dismissed as a ‘whitewash’ yesterday after key evidence was kept secret.

The review was ordered last year after Ben Emmerson QC was accused in a BBC Newsnight programme of groping a member of staff at the headquarters of Britain’s biggest public inquiry.

Mr Emmerson, who quit the inquiry last September, was cleared of wrongdoing three months later following a secret probe commissioned by Matrix Chambers, the law firm he co-founded.

Stung by criticism of a cover-up, the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse then launched its own review, hiring Mark Sutton QC to look at ‘the events surrounding the resignation’ of Mr Emmerson from the £100million probe.

Yesterday – after a seven-month investigation thought to have cost hundreds of thousands of pounds – Mr Sutton announced that he couldn’t say if the allegations against the top human rights barrister were true or false.

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ROMA
L’Espresso

Two days ago Luis Ladaria Ferrer was appointed by Pope Francis as new prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith instead of the German Gerhard Muller who the pope considered too shy in the fight against pedophilia. But the new head of the former Holy Office in 2012 ordered silence in the case of an abusive priest to avoid “scandal” in the church.]

Due giorni fa Ladaria è stato nominato da papa Francesco prefetto della Congregazione della Fede. Al posto del tedesco Muller, considerato da Bergoglio troppo timido nella lotta alla pedofilia. Ma il nuovo capo dell’ex Sant’Uffizio nel 2012, davanti a un sacerdote maniaco appena spretato, in un decreto ordinò il silenzio «per evitare scandalo tra i fedeli». Così l’orco violentò indisturbato altri bambini. L’esclusiva Espresso-Repubblica

DI EMILIANO FITTIPALDI E GIULIANO FOSCHINI

Nel marzo del 2012 il cardinale Luis Ladaria Ferrer, promosso sabato da papa Francesco nuovo prefetto della Congregazione della dottrina della Fede, ha coperto, senza denunciarlo, un prete pedofilo che era stato ridotto in stato laicale per abusi sessuali. Di più. Ha ordinato, nero su bianco, che la condanna canonica passasse sotto silenzio. Don Gianni Trotta, grazie all’acquiescenza del Vaticano e dei vertici della curia locale, ha così potuto continuare indisturbato a violentare minorenni: dopo essere stato costretto a lasciare la tonaca è infatti diventato allenatore di una squadra di calcio giovanile, e in due anni ha molestato indisturbato una decina di bambini vicino Foggia.

La storia di Trotta è stata raccontata da “Repubblica” lo scorso febbraio, ma solo oggi vengono alla luce le responsabilità dirette di Ladaria. È lui che il 16 marzo 2016 firma il decreto in latino, nel quale invitava i superiori del pedofilo a stare zitti e muti per non «generare scandalo tra i fedeli». Una nuova spina per papa Francesco, che – dopo l’incriminazione formale del suo (ormai ex) braccio destro George Pell per presunti abusi su alcuni adolescenti australiani – ha deciso di nominare Ladaria come successore di Gerhard Ludwig Muller, il cardinale tedesco licenziato in tronco anche perché giudicato poco incisivo nella lotta alla pedofilia. Un paradosso.

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ITALIA
Giornale di Sicilia

[PALERMO. He was sentenced for pedophilia and he was sentenced to prison. And now Fr. Paolo Turturro, 67, is back free. He lives in the village in the countryside of Baucina, and is celebrated in the churches of the diocese. The church, in fact, as the newspaper of Sicily remembers the news, never suspended hime despite a definitive three-year sentence.]

PALERMO. E’ stato condannato per pedofilia ed ha scontato la pena in carcere. Ed ora don Paolo Turturro, 67 anni, è tornato libero. Vive al Borgo della pace fondato nelle campagne di Baucina (Pa), e celebra messa nelle chiese della diocesi. La Chiesa, infatti, come ricorda il Giornale di Sicilia che riporta la notizia, non lo ha mai sospeso a divinis, malgrado una condanna definitiva a tre anni.

Era parroco della chiesa di Santa Lucia al Borgo Vecchio. E proprio durante lo svolgimento del suo ministero Turturro è finito al centro di una vicenda di abusi sessuali nei confronti di minori. La Cassazione ha confermato la condanna: fu accusato da due ragazzini che sostennero di essere stati abusati dal prete: uno con un bacio intimo, l’ altro con una violenza vera e propria.

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UNITED STATES
Crux

John L. Allen Jr. and Ines San Martin

Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York said he wants to “stick with” his old friend Cardinal George Pell of Australia, who’s facing criminal charges of sexual abuse. He also said the Catholic Church needs to be more aggressive in speaking out about anti-Christian persecution – and suggested that Pope Francis may have a unique capacity to call out offenders.

ORLANDO, Florida – Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York, a longtime friend of Australian Cardinal George Pell who’s now facing a criminal indictment for sexual abuse, said “I don’t want to believe” the charges and that Pell’s determination to cooperate with the judicial process and acknowledge he’s not above the law “only shows the mettle of a great man.”

“He’s the kind of man about whom I would find such reports to be completely contrary to everything he stands for,” Dolan said.

“I feel terribly sad for my good friend Cardinal George Pell, sad for him and sad with him. I want to be very supportive, because I have immense admiration for him,” Dolan said. “I admire him, and I want to stick with him.”

Dolan spoke to Crux in Orlando, Florida, during the “Convocation of Catholic Leaders,” a summit of more than 3,000 bishops, priests and religious, and laity to discuss the future of evangelization efforts in American Catholicism.

His faith in Pell, Dolan stressed, should not come at the expense of concern for abuse victims.
“We’ve got to cooperate with the civil authorities, as Cardinal Pell is doing here,” Dolan said.

“Never again must a victim-survivor feel that if he or she comes forward that they won’t be believed.

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UNITED KINGDOM
Christian Today

Harry Farley JOURNALIST 04 July 2017

The son of former Archbishop of Canterbury George Carey has attacked the Church of England for its lack of sympathy for his father after he was found to have ‘colluded’ with predatory paedophile former bishop Peter Ball.

Andrew Carey, a campaigner and PR strategist, says he is ‘angry and dismayed’ at the way his father George had been treated, branding it a ‘sin against the holy spirit’.

Lord Carey resigned from an honorary position in the CofE after a damning report heavily criticised the Church’s response to abuse carried out by the disgraced Peter Ball.

Carey, Archbishop from 1991 to 2002, was singled out for particular condemnation in the report by Dame Moira Gibb. In particular he was head of the CofE when Ball’s abuse of a young man, Neil Todd, first came to light in 1993. Todd went on to commit suicide in 2012.

Ball was cautioned for gross indecency in 1993 after Lord Carey was among several influential friends who spoke in his defence.

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AUSTRALIA
Newcastle Herald

Joanne McCarthy
4 Jul 2017

FORMER Newcastle Anglican Bishop Roger Herft ran up a legal bill of nearly $500,000 defending himself during a devastating royal commission public hearing into child sex allegations in the Hunter region – but Newcastle diocese is only paying $5000 of it.

Perth Anglican priests and parishioners are reportedly furious that the Western Australian church has paid the bill after Newcastle Anglican diocese insurers declined to pay the former Perth archbishop’s legal expenses.

The rejection of liability in May came as a shock to many in Perth, media accounts in Western Australia have said.

In a statement released by the Perth diocese a spokesperson indicated it also came as a surprise to the diocese.

“Diocesan leaders were working on the assumption that most of the legal expenses relating to preparing for and attending the various public hearings… would be recovered through a claim on the Diocese of Newcastle’s insurers,” the spokesperson said.

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NEW YORK
WIVB

[with video]

By Marissa Perlman, News 4 Reporter
Published: July 3, 2017

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) – We’re learning more about a case of potential sexual abuse involving a 6-year-old boy on a Buffalo Public School bus in December of 2015.

We first told you about this case last year. The mother of the boy claims her son was forced to perform a sex act on a 12- year-old- boy.

State Supreme Court papers show the family is holding the bus company. First Student, the Diocese of Buffalo, the Buffalo Public School District, three employees at the school, and the bus driver and bus aid, all responsible for what happened on that school bus.

Last week, the Diocese of Buffalo and Our Lady of Black Rock school made a motion to dismiss the case. That motion was denied in full by Supreme Court Justice Tracey Bannister.

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AUSTRALIA
Western Advocate

MURRAY NICHOLLS
4 Jul 2017

BATHURST’S Anglican diocese is preparing a new list of potential asset sales as it braces for multi-million dollar compensation payouts to past victims of sexual abuse.

Bishop Ian Palmer wrote to parishioners at the weekend asking them to identify assets within their communities that could be sold to help raise the expected $2 million compensation bill.

It comes just a year after the diocese was forced into a fire sale of assets – including Bathurst’s All Saints’ College – to help repay a $40 million debt to the Commonwealth Bank.

Bishop Palmer said in the letter to parishioners that the Royal Commission Into Institutional Responses To Child Sexual Abuse had highlighted the damage to victims of historical cases of abuse by members of the clergy.

He said the Bathurst diocese had already paid out more than $1 million in compensation over the past 18 months.

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AUSTRALIA
No Place for Sheep

June 30

Yesterday came the momentous news that Victoria Police have charged Cardinal George Pell with multiple allegations of the crime of sexual abuse of children, following their investigation of complaints made by multiple accusers.

The matter is now sub judice, which means there can be no commentary on the charges and allegations, and no predictions of verdict. Sub judice does not forbid all commentary, and the above link is a guide to what may and may not be published. Please read the first couple of pages before leaving inflammatory comments that might be in contempt.

There is also an interim suppression order on the details of the charges, requested by Pell’s lawyers.

My thoughts are with those complainants who now face an arduous courtroom experience, during which our adversarial legal system will permit Pell’s lawyers to tear them to shreds. Already there has been much commentary from Murdoch hacks that the charges against Pell have been instigated by a vengeful and incompetent police force hell-bent on conducting a witch hunt. In other words, as far as Paul Kelly, Miranda Devine, Andrew Bolt, Gerard Henderson and the other usual suspects are concerned, the complainants are liars and it is necessary to question police integrity. How this commentary is not flagrant abuse of the sub judice rule, I have yet to ascertain.

Much media coverage to date has focused on Pell’s right to justice. However, the complainants also have the right to justice. It is indicative of an almost entirely unexamined societal attitude that, particularly in sexual matters, the rights of the accused are likely to be the subject of greatest concern, while the complainants are, in the very essence of our law, obliged to prove they are not liars.

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AUSTRALIA
No Place for Sheep

July 2

I’m somewhat baffled by the insistence of George Pell’s more vocal and public supporters that he is being unfairly treated. He has, they assert, been subjected to years of suspicion and innuendo and this, they argue, makes a fair trial impossible. Their opinion: he is the victim of a witch hunt and should not have been charged. The ludicrous conclusion of this argument is that nobody should be charged with anything if there’s been public commentary prior to those charges being laid.

I would like to see some proof of this claim of inevitable prejudice due to Pell’s profile, though I doubt there’s relevant data. What is interesting is that whilst Pell himself has welcomed the opportunity to at last defend himself in court, his Australian supporters seem hell-bent on declaring the process already poisoned. Obviously they aren’t respecting Pell’s desire for his day in court. So what are they doing?

Amanda Vanstone, former ambassador to Rome and Pell admirer, wrote in the Sydney Morning Herald in May: how would you like to throw out your own right to a fair assessment of whether you should be charged in the first place together with the right to a fair trial if you are charged? Vanstone goes on to further question the integrity of the Victorian DPP (to whom she was presumably referring in the phrase “fair assessment of whether you should be charged in the first place”) and Victoria Police, and to rail against latte sippers in cafes who she claims deny Pell the presumption of innocence. Vanstone’s descriptions of those calling for Pell to be held to account include “a baying crowd” and a “lynch mob from the dark ages.” Inevitably, she includes victims and alleged victims of sexual abuse by priests in her derogatory commentary.

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AUSTRALIA
Bendigo Advertiser

Tom Cowie
4 Jul 2017

A former Catholic priest in central Victoria has been charged with more than 30 historical child sexual abuse offences.

Taskforce Sano detectives are investigating the accusations against former Kyneton priest Peter Waters, which are alleged to have occurred between 1973 and 1986.

The offences included indecent assault on males aged 12 to 19 and carnal knowledge of a girl aged 10 to 16 years old.

Mr Waters, 72, was parish priest at Kyneton during the 1990s.

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AUSTRALIA
Triple M

Accusations have been made against a 72 year old former Catholic priest who worked in Kyneton in the 90s.

Detectives with the Sano Taskforce have charged Peter Waters with over 30 offences, all of them historical child sexual abuse offences.

The allegations stem from 1973 to 1986, according to The Age.

The alleged incidents happened before the man worked in Kyneton as a Catholic priest.

Boys aged between 12 to 19 and girls between the ages of 10 to 16 years old are reported to be victims.

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UNITED KINGDOM
Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse

3 July

Mark Sutton QC has today (July 3) issued a public statement on his report into the Inquiry’s safeguarding and dignity at work procedures. You can find it here on the Old Square Chambers website.

Inquiry Chair Alexis Jay has issued this statement in response:

“I acknowledge the findings of Mark Sutton QC’s independent report into the Inquiry’s safeguarding and dignity at work procedures. In particular, I note his conclusions that the Inquiry’s response was appropriate and proportionate and that there is no foundation whatsoever to the suggestion that we were reluctant to challenge misconduct or abuse of power.

“I hope this report gives reassurance to victims, survivors and all those interested in our vital work that the issues around the former leading counsel’s departure were handled appropriately by the Inquiry.

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UNITED KINGDOM
BBC News

By Danny Shaw
Home affairs correspondent, BBC News

Concerns about the senior barrister on the independent child abuse inquiry had been raised a year before he resigned.

A report says two members of staff “took exception” to Ben Emmerson QC’s interactions with them in 2015, though neither accused him of improper conduct or made a formal complaint.

He quit in September 2016 after another worker claimed he had groped her in a lift.

In December, he was cleared of sexual assault and harassment.

The independent report calls the inquiry’s response “appropriate and proportionate”.

Mark Sutton QC, who led the review, said the inquiry had been confronted with a “set of circumstances with complicating features” that had not been mentioned in the media coverage of the events.

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IRELAND
Irish Times

Kitty Holland

Caranua, the independent statutory body tasked with providing services to survivors of institutional abuse, “re-abuses” survivors by being “hostile, rude, aggressive and abusive”, the United Nations will be told on Tuesday.

Many regret applying to Caranua for services, while psychologists report having to counsel abuse survivors following their experiences with the agency, a group advocating for survivors says.

Reclaiming Self, a voluntary group of psychologists, solicitors and advocates, makes the submission to the United Nations Committee Against Torture (CAT), which is being published by Independents4Change TDs Catherine Connolly and Clare Daly.

Ireland appears before the Geneva-based UN CAT for questioning on compliance with the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment, at the end of the month.

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John Menadue – Pearls and Irritations

Posted on 30 June 2017 by John Menadue

Pope Francis has rightly been acclaimed for his stand on climate change, poverty, inequality and refugees, but on these issues he can only encourage others to act. When it comes to the role of the laity in Church governance and the cover up of child sexual abuse, Pope Francis’ rhetoric does not match his actions. He will never have the moral authority of a Nelson Mandela while he refuses to initiate changes to canon law that would bring them into line.

Bruce Duncan’s article sets out Pope Francis’ very positive scorecard on issues such as climate change, poverty, inequality, violence and refugees, for which he has rightly been acclaimed.

However, Pope Francis personally can do little about them. He can only encourage others to act. On the other hand, there are two issues about which he can do something within his own Church, namely the role of the laity in Church governance and the cover up of child sexual abuse, where his scorecard reveals that he has badly failed.

Popes are absolute monarchs when it comes to canon law. They have no Houses of Parliament to restrict them, and no Supreme or High Courts to set aside their laws. Their only “constitution” is Scripture and Tradition.

Pope Francis may feel restrained by Scripture and Tradition from having women priests. But there are three other significant positions in Church governance which have no sacramental or liturgical role, and which canon law says cannot be filled by lay people.

Bishops have supreme legislative, executive and judicial power within their own dioceses with canon law being their only restriction. Canon law permits the delegation of executive power to vicars general and episcopal vicars, and judicial power to judicial vicars, but Canons 478 and 1420 require all of them to be priests.

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GUAM
The Guam Daily Post

Mindy Aguon | The Guam Daily Post

A 53-year-old man has come forward as the latest clergy sex abuse victim alleging he was sexually abused by former Guam priest Louis Brouillard during a Boy Scout outing in the early 1970s.

R.P., whose initials were used to protect his identity, filed a civil complaint against the Archdiocese of Agana and the Boy Scouts of America in the District Court of Guam yesterday.

In addition to having been a priest, Brouillard was a scoutmaster with the Boy Scouts. He has been accused by 46 individuals who allege they were sexually abused by him during his time in Guam.

Overnight Boy Scouts jamboree

In the lawsuit, R.P. alleges he met Brouillard at an overnight Boy Scout jamboree at the Ipan public beach when he was 10. The jamboree was held to recruit young boys to join the Boy Scouts, court documents state.

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ITALIA
Newnotizie

[A priest has fallen into temptation by his domestic worker of Romanian origins.What the priest did not know is that she was in league with a partner, also a Romanian, to extort money from the priest, filming everything with a hidden camera and then blackmail him.]

Un sacerdote è caduto in tentazione con la sua collaboratrice domestica di origini romene, appartandosi con lei in un casolare per fare del sesso.

Ciò che il sacerdote non sapeva è che la donna era in combutta con il suo compagno, anch’egli romeno, per estorcere denaro al sacerdote filmando il tutto con una telecamera nascosta per poi ricattarlo.

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UNITED KINGDOM
Telegraph

Olivia Rudgard, religious affairs correspondent
3 JULY 2017

The son of former Archishop of Canterbury George Carey has attacked Church of England bishops for failing to support his father, who he said is the victim of “changing attitudes”.

Last month the Gibb report into sexual abuse by paedophile bishop Peter Ball found that Carey was among church figures who had “colluded” with the disgraced bishop.

Following the publication of the report he was asked to step down from his role as an honorary assistant bishop in the diocese of Oxford.

His son Andrew Carey, a Christian campaigner and writer, said in his column in the Church of England newspaper that he was “angry and dismayed” at what had happened to his father.

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UNITED STATES
Popesugar

July 3, 2017 by QUINN KEANEY

The mystery of who killed Sister Cathy Cesnik might remain unsolved, but there’s no denying that The Keepers has brought investigators one step closer to figuring out what really happened. In addition to inspiring internet sleuths to come up with a few intriguing theories about the 1969 murder, the Netflix documentary has also prompted the creation of a Change.org petition demanding transparency from the Archdiocese of Baltimore. The petition, which now has over 12,000 signatures, specifically asks for the release of their files on A. Joseph Maskell, the priest at the heart of the murder investigation.

Although Father Maskell denied accusations that he had anything to do with Cesnik’s murder up until his death in 2001, the former teacher at Baltimore’s Archbishop Keogh High School is widely believed to have orchestrated the crime. Cesnik, an English teacher at the school, figured out that Maskell (along with another priest at Keogh) was sexually abusing a number of female students and was likely going to bring the information to the authorities. She was murdered under mysterious circumstances before that could ever happen, but the ongoing investigation into her death points at Maskell’s involvement.

The petition’s Change.org page asks the Baltimore Archdiocese to release whatever files they have on Father Maskell. “The release of these documents will restore public trust in the Archdiocese, and confirm the Archdiocese statements regarding their handling of the sexual abuse claims,” the petition’s description reads. “This petition requests that the Archdiocese of Baltimore release their files regarding A. Joseph Maskell, who is now deceased, in an effort to thoroughly investigate all avenues that may have led to the murder of Cathy Cesnik in 1969.”

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ROME
Commonweal

By Robert Mickens
July 3, 2017

Cardinal George Pell’s time at the Vatican is over.

You can bet the Holy See’s huge financial and real estate assets that, de facto, he is finished as Prefect of the Secretariat of the Economy, the office that monitors those vast resources.

Pope Francis granted Pell an extended “leave” from his Vatican post this past Wednesday so the cardinal could return to his native Australia and face “multiple charges in respect of historic sexual abuse.”

The cardinal must appear before Melbourne Magistrates Court on July 26 when it is expected that the exact nature of the abuse charges will be made public.

Accusations against the cardinal have circulated for many years but they have never stuck. Pell has always insisted on his innocence and this past week vowed to clear his name in what he’s called a “relentless character assassination.” Evidently, he’s hired Melbourne barrister Robert Richter, known as a “standout celebrity criminal advocate,” to defend him.

This will likely require a long and drawn-out courtroom battle that will last at least a year or more. And that’s far too long for a major Vatican office to be left without its head.

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UNITED STATES
NPR

July 3, 2017

Heard on Morning Edition

A close aide to Pope Francis has been charged with sexually abusing children. Steve Inskeep talks to Thomas Doyle, a former Catholic priest and now a columnist for the National Catholic Reporter.

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AUSTRALIA
Manny Waks

​Joint Statement by Tzedek and Manny Waks
3/7/2017

The recent announcement by the Adass Israel School of the appointment of Rabbi Meir Shlomo Kluwgant as Principal has stirred up emotion and trauma for victims/survivors of child sexual abuse and their families and stunned many within the community.

Manny Waks and Tzedek wish to put an end to unfortunate disagreements which have arisen between us in the wake of this announcement and which risk distracting from the real issue at hand.

While we may have different ways of going about things and may not always agree, we wish to make clear that we are united in our view that the welfare of victims/survivors of child sexual abuse and the safety of children in our community comes before all else and in that context, the appointment by Adass of Rabbi Meir Shlomo Kluwgant is unacceptable at this time. We will continue striving toward an outcome that is safe for everyone.

We will continue to work towards ensuring the best outcomes for victims/survivors of child sexual abuse and the safety of children in our community.
​
The Board of the school have agreed to work with Tzedek in striving toward an outcome that is safe and healing for everyone.

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AUSTRALIA
Daily Mail

By Max Margan and Hannah Moore For Daily Mail Australia

A disgraced rabbi who admitted to criticising victims of sexual abuse has been appointed principal of a school which allegedly covered up sex crimes.

Meir Shlomo Kluwgant resigned as Australia’s most senior rabbi in 2015 after admitting to calling the father of a child abuse victim a ‘lunatic’ who ‘neglected his own children’.

Kluwgant will now head Melbourne’s Adass Israel School, which has been previously accused of helping a former principal flee to Israel amid allegations she sexually assaulted students, a letter allegedly distributed to staff and published online shows.

‘We are pleased to advise that we have appointed Rabbi Meir Shlomo Kluwgant to assume Dr Herszberg’s role. They will be working together collaboratively for the remainder of the year, to ensure a smooth transition,’ the letter reads.

It tells staff the controversial Rabbi was chosen after a ‘global recruitment process’, and with ‘the full support of the Board and Executive’.

Former principal Malka Leifer allegedly abused at least eight girls while she was principal of the Elsternwick school between 2003 and 2008.

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ROME
Associated Press

BY NICOLE WINFIELD AND MARIA CHENG
ASSOCIATED PRESS

ROME (AP) — When doctors and nurses at the Vatican’s showcase children’s hospital complained in 2014 that corners were being cut and medical protocols ignored, the Vatican responded by ordering up a secret in-house investigation. The diagnosis: The original mission of “the pope’s hospital” had been lost and was “today more aimed at profit than on caring for children.”

Three years later, an Associated Press investigation found that Bambino Gesu (Baby Jesus) Pediatric Hospital did indeed shift its focus in ways big and small under its past administration, which governed from 2008 to 2015. As the hospital expanded services and tried to make a money-losing Vatican enterprise turn a profit, children sometimes paid the price.

Among the AP’s findings:

– Overcrowding and poor hygiene contributed to deadly infection, including one 21-month superbug outbreak in the cancer ward that killed eight children.

– To save money, disposable equipment and other materials were at times used improperly, with a one-time order of cheap needles breaking when injected into tiny veins.

– Doctors were so pressured to maximize operating-room turnover that patients were sometimes brought out of anesthesia too quickly.

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AUSTRALIA
Herald Sun

Andrew Bolt, Herald Sun
July 2, 2017

The media commentary suggests there’s little chance Cardinal George Pell can get a fair trial.

Over the past few days we’ve been told it was “important” Pell was last week charged with historical sexual offences.

People in Pell’s home town had been “hurt” and “the world will be watching”.

A report in The Age even claimed this seemed “the inevitable last act in the drama of a man who authored his own tragedy”.

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AUSTRALIA
Echo Net Daily

MELBOURNE [AAP]

Supporters of George Pell have reportedly set up a fund to help the cardinal fight multiple, historical sexual abuse charges.

Details of the fund emerged after the Catholic Church said it would not pay Cardinal Pell’s legal fees after Victoria Police charged the Vatican’s 76-year-old finance chief on summons last Thursday.

News Corp Australia reports that a bank account has been set up for donations to help Cardinal Pell when he returns to Melbourne from Rome to fight the charges.

John Roskam, the head of the Institute of Public Affairs conservative think tank, said he had been given bank account details for people wanting to assist Cardinal Pell with his legal bills.

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AUSTRALIA
The New York Times

The Roman Catholic Church won’t be footing the bill for Cardinal George Pell’s defense against sex offenses, Sydney’s archbishop, Anthony Fisher, confirmed in a statement last week.

Some Australian Catholics have taken up the mantle, setting up a fund for those who want to support Cardinal Pell in his legal battle. John Roskam, the executive director of the Institute of Public Affairs, a conservative think tank, told News Corporation of the fund’s existence, which the think tank confirmed to The New York Times in an interview Monday morning. Evan Mulholland, media and communications manager at the think tank, said that Mr. Roskam had called the archdiocese on behalf of a friend and was given details about the fund. “A lot of our members have called up and asked how they can contribute,” he said.

Has the church paid legal fees in the past for priests? The church’s decision to not pay Cardinal Pell’s legal fees may reflect changing policies on how it deals with fallout. According to reports by Australia’s Royal Commission Into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, church orders in Australia like the Marist Brothers and Christian Brothers have paid tens of millions in legal fees and settlements on behalf of their priests.

Notably, the Christian Brothers have continued to fund the defense of Brother Robert Charles Best, spending more than $1.5 million, according to the commission’s findings. He was convicted of sexual offenses against 11 children and sentenced to 10 years in prison this year.

In 2003, The Times reported that the Catholic archdiocese of Boston agreed to settle almost 550 lawsuits for 85 million United States dollars, largely paid for by insurance policies and the sale of church property.

Other churches have also paid for legal defenses: The West Australian recently reported that the Anglican Church covered Archbishop Roger Herft’s legal fees when he was called to testify to the commission about child sexual abuse.

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AUSTRALIA/ROME
Sky News

Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce has discussed the charges against Cardinal George Pell at a meeting in the Vatican.

During a European trade talks tour, Mr Joyce sat down with Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin just days after its Australian treasurer was charged with historic sexual offences.

‘Quite obviously we raised that issue,’ he told ABC radio on Monday after the meeting.

Mr Joyce insisted allegations until proven are merely allegations.

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AUSTRALIA
Red Flag

TOM BRAMBLE
03 JULY 2017

“A fine human being … One of the greatest churchmen that Australia has seen.” That was Tony Abbott on the ABC’s Lateline in 2004 when asked his opinion of cardinal George Pell.

Abbott has not been Pell’s only conservative defender. Every part of the right wing establishment has at one time or another gone in to bat for Australia’s leading Catholic representative. Such support from the heart of the establishment explains Pell’s rapid rise to the third most senior position in the Roman Catholic world.

It’s no secret why the Liberal Party has been so fond of him. If the Church of England was once described as the British Conservative party at prayer, George Pell has been the unofficial spiritual representative of the Australian Liberals.

Pell has been a steadfast supporter of virtually every socially reactionary cause. In response to reports of boys in Catholic schools driven to suicide by homophobia, he said, “Homosexuality is a much greater health hazard than smoking”. He told delegates to the World Youth Day in 2002 that “abortion is a worse moral scandal than priests sexually abusing young people”, and he is adamantly opposed to contraception and to sex outside marriage. He has denounced concern about climate change as “a symptom of pagan emptiness” and the Greens as “anti-Christian”.

Views such as these cemented Pell’s position as a right wing warrior and won him favour among conservative politicians. He was regularly consulted by the likes of Tony Abbott and reciprocated in kind, telling a Fairfax journalist in 2012 that the two of them have been friends for years: “I admire him as a very decent and competent fellow”.

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AUSTRALIA
The Advertiser

Stephen Pallaras, The Advertiser

VICTORIAN police and the Director of Public Prosecutions have decided there is sufficient evidence against Cardinal George Pell to charge him with multiple sexual offences. Even before charges were laid, there was considerable discussion that a fair hearing would be impossible.

This speculation continues, with the Vatican’s chief diplomat, Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin, due to raise concerns Pell cannot receive a fair trial with Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce, who is in Rome on trade talks.

The claim that a fair trial is impossible has been based on two propositions.

First, that Pell is so well known that a jury could not determine the question of his guilt or innocence without bias or prejudice. Secondly, that so much prejudicial material has been made public it would poison the jurors’ minds and make a fair trial impossible.

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UNITED STATES
Fox News

By John Moody
Published July 02, 2017

There are two ways of looking at the Roman Catholic Church under the rule of Pope Francis: an increasingly tolerant, inclusive, mercy-based charity, or a spectator blood-sport between ideological rivals who will reconcile their differences. Under the second scenario, Francis just scored what might be a knockout punch.

By removing Cardinal Gerhard Ludwig Müller as head of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Francis neutralized one of the few princes of the church whose job it was to call out the pope for his seemingly endless appetite for doctrinal change. Müller, who was installed in his job by Francis’s predecessor, Pope Benedict XVI, represented the conservative wing of the church that has looked askance at the current pontiff’s disregard for centuries-old tradition and restrictions.

Making matters even worse, Francis replaced Müller with Archbishop Luis Ladaria, who like Francis is a Jesuit. That reduces the likelihood that the pope will meet opposition from the one office in the church with the duty to interpret Catholic magisterium – that is, spreading doctrinal teaching to the church’s billion plus adherents.

Ever since Francis assumed the Throne of Peter in 2013, he and Müller seemed to be on a collision course. Soon after becoming pope, Francis floated the idea of letting divorced Catholics who had remarried outside the church receive Holy Communion. In his role as chief interpreter of church doctrine, Müller let the pope know that was a non-starter.

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SOUTH AFRICA
Daily Maverick

Things got tough in Rome last week. First, on Thursday, Australian police in the state of Victoria announced that they have filed sex abuse charges against Cardinal George Pell. Pell was moved from Sydney to Rome by Pope Francis in 2014 to spearhead his reform of the Vatican’s financial system. Then, on Saturday, to the dismay of many conservative Catholics, Pope Francis decided not to renew the appointment of the church’s chief doctrinal official. German Cardinal, Gerhard Ludwig Müller, was appointed by Pope Benedict XVI to head up that office just before he decided to quit in 2013. Both moves have implications for Pope Francis’ project of reform.

BY RUSSELL POLLITT.

George Pell is no stranger to controversy. He is known to be ambitious, bombastic, overbearing and combative. Pell could be accused of many things; being timid is not one of them. When Pell was an auxiliary bishop in Melbourne, he was appointed to be an adviser to the then Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger (later Pope Benedict XVI) who was the Church’s chief doctrinal enforcer. Pell was very much of the mindset of Ratzinger and Pope John Paul II. Theologically conservative and authoritarian, he supported many of the moves by John Paul II to wind back the reforms of the church’s Second Vatican Council in the 1960s.

To his admirers Pell is solid, orthodox (whatever that means in contemporary Catholicism) and courageous. His supporters believe that he is a man who dares to stand on the side of truth in a world of moral relativism. When he was Archbishop of Melbourne, and later Sydney, he provided an energetic and strident voice attempting to restore clerical authority and the orthodox Catholic voice on social issues. Pell was seen, by some, as the one who would “rescue” the church from progressives and restore it to “orthodoxy”.

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ITALIA
La Repubblica

[Archbishop accused of abuse cover-up – The Times]

Nel 2012 a Foggia don Gianni Trotta fu cacciato per abusi ma nessuno lo seppe Perché l’arcivescovo Ladaria ordinò il silenzio. E le molestie proseguirono.

Un’esclusiva Espresso- Repubblica

di EMILIANO FITTIPALDI e GIULIANO FOSCHINI

Nel marzo del 2012 l’arcivescovo Luis Ladaria Ferrer, che sabato è stato promosso da Papa Francesco nuovo prefetto della Congregazione per la Dottrina della Fede, ha coperto, senza denunciarlo, un prete pedofilo che era stato ridotto allo stato laicale per abusi sessuali. Di più. Ha ordinato, nero su bianco, che la condanna canonica passasse sotto silenzio. Don Gianni Trotta, grazie all’acquiescenza del Vaticano e della curia locale, ha così potuto continuare indisturbato a violentare minorenni: dopo essere stato costretto a lasciare la tonaca è infatti diventato allenatore di una squadra di calcio giovanile, e in due anni ha molestato una decina di bambini vicino a Foggia.

La storia di Trotta è stata raccontata lo scorso febbraio da Repubblica che oggi, insieme a L’Espresso, è in grado di ricostruire le responsabilità dirette di Ladaria. È lui che il 16 marzo 2016 firma il decreto in latino, nel quale invitava i superiori del pedofilo a stare zitti e muti per non «generare scandalo tra i fedeli». Una nuova spina per Papa Francesco, che — dopo l’incriminazione formale del suo (ormai ex) braccio destro George Pell per presunti abusi su alcuni adolescenti australiani — ha deciso di nominare Ladaria come successore di Gerhard Ludwig Müller, il cardinale tedesco licenziato in tronco anche perché giudicato poco incisivo nella lotta alla pedofilia. Un paradosso.

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AUSTRALIA
The West Australian

Nick Butterly
Sunday, 2 July 2017

Anglican priests in Perth are demanding answers after it was revealed the Church spent almost $500,000 on legal fees to defend Archbishop Roger Herft at the royal commission into child sexual abuse.

Priests attending a retreat in Margaret River late last month were shocked after being told insurance was unlikely to cover Archbishop Herft’s legal bills as had been expected.

Instead, clergy were informed the Archbishop’s bills totalling $474,000 had already been paid by the Church’s head office without formal authorisation.

In a statement, the Anglican Diocese of Perth said it was “generally known” and reported through the budget that significant funds were being spent to support the Archbishop.

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UNITED STATES
First Things

by Julia Yost
7 . 3 . 17

Cardinal: The Rise and Fall of George Pell
Louise Milligan
Melbourne, 277 pages, $11.21

George Cardinal Pell was charged last week with multiple counts of sexual abuse of children. He currently resides in Rome, tasked with cleaning up the Vatican finances. This week he will fly to his native Australia, where he vows to fight all charges. His successor in the see of Sydney, Archbishop Anthony Fisher, advises letting the justice system take its course.

Australian civil authorities have yet to announce the number and nature of the offenses with which Pell is charged. But allegations against Pell have been accumulating for years. He stands publicly accused of complicity in a sex abuse coverup in the diocese of Ballarat in the 1970s and early 1980s; complicity in a sex abuse coverup in the archdiocese of Melbourne in the late 1980s and 1990s; and various counts of child molestation, assault, and indecent exposure, from 1961 through 1997.

In recent decades, child sex abuse cases have notably arisen from, and elicited, public hysteria. They have created poor conditions for the operation of the justice system. Ludicrous prosecutions and unjust convictions have resulted, far too numerous to count as the cost of doing business. In Australia, public hysteria concerning Pell is already extreme. Here is Louise Milligan’s florid book, written “from the complainants’ point of view.” Its publication was advanced from July to May, presumably to influence the deliberations of the civil authorities. Once Pell had been charged, its publisher removed it from local bookshops to avoid influencing the deliberations of jury members. But its claims have already been broadcast throughout the Australian media. Archbishop Fisher’s repose in the justice system may prove mistaken.

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AUSTRALIA
Herald Sun

Shannon Deery, Herald Sun
July 3, 2017

A CONTROVERSIAL rabbi caught intimidating and vilifying victims of child sexual abuse will now head a Melbourne school accused of covering up the sex crimes of a fugitive principal.

In a move that has devastated victims of sexual abuse, Meir Shlomo Kluwgant has been appointed as principal of the Adass Israel School in Elsternwick.

In 2008 the school’s committee helped principal Malka Leifer flee Melbourne after she was publicly accused of sexually assaulting students.

Kluwgant was forced to resign as Australia’s top rabbi amid a humiliating scandal in the wake of the child abuse royal commission’s probe into the notorious Yeshivah College in 2015.

He was also stripped of or forced to resign from positions with Jewish Care Victoria, the Rabbinical Council of Victoria, Victoria Police and the Victoria Police Multi-Faith Council.

Critics of Kluwgant’s appointment say it is evidence that Adass is not serious about tackling the scourge of abuse.

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ROME
The Times (UK)

[Non denunciò il prete pedofilo: quell’ombra nel passato del nuovo capo del Sant’Uffizio – La Repubblica]

Philip Willan, Rome
July 3 2017
The Times

The Pope’s battle to reform the Catholic Church risks a serious setback as allegations emerge that his choice for leader of the Vatican’s doctrinal watchdog failed to report a serial sex abuser, allowing the defrocked priest to commit new crimes.

On Saturday the Vatican announced that Luis Ladaria Ferrer, a Spanish Jesuit, would lead the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. He succeeds Cardinal Gerhard Müller of Germany, who was denied another five-year term because he was perceived to be dragging his feet on action against paedophile priests, and is thought to oppose the Pope’s compassionate approach to sexual morality.

Archbishop Ladaria wrote to the bishop of Foggia in 2012 instructing him not to divulge the reasons why Father Gianni Trotta had been stripped of his priesthood “so as to avoid scandal”, according to claims published today in the Italian newspaper La Repubblica and the online edition of L’Espresso magazine. The letter, written in Latin, was allegedly signed by William Joseph Levada, the American cardinal who was then head of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, and by Archbishop Ladaria, his deputy.

The congregation received complaints against Trotta in 2009 and three years later found him guilty of sexually abusing minors, demoting him from the priesthood but failing to inform the Italian authorities.

Church officials are not obliged to report allegations of abuse by priests to the judicial authorities, under a 1929 treaty between Italy and the Vatican, but the letter said that the local bishop could publicise the accusations “if there is a danger of minors being abused”.

Trotta continued to present himself as a priest and became the coach of a youth football team, where he is alleged to have abused about a dozen boys aged 11 and 12. “If the congregation and Ladaria had informed the police, these children would have been safe,” said Emiliano Fittipaldi, the L’Espresso journalist who published details of the letter. “He concealed serious crimes from the Italian police until a few years ago. He allowed dangerous people to remain at large. This is Ladaria, there is a shadow over him from the very beginning of his new appointment.”

Trotta was sentenced to eight years imprisonment in 2015 for sexual violence against an 11-year-old boy and for the production and distribution of child pornography. He faces further charges of abusing another 11 children.

Greg Burke, a Vatican spokesman, said yesterday that he had no comment on the allegations.

Controversy about Archbishop Ladaria’s appointment comes as the Church faces mounting conservative opposition to the Pope’s reforms, with hardliners accusing him of heresy. Plans to reform Vatican finances are also in disarray as Cardinal George Pell, their architect, prepares to return to Australia to face sex offence charges.

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UNITED KINGDOM
Heney Standard

THE former Archbishop of Canterbury cancelled an engagement in Wargrave following revelations that he failed to report child sex abuse in the Nineties.

Lord Carey, 81, who stepped down from his latest role in the Church of England on Monday following a review of the case, was due to speak at a service at St Mary’s Church on Sunday to mark the end of the Wargrave Village Festival.

But last week, he visited Wargrave vicar Rev John Cook to say he would not be coming after all.

Lord Carey served as archbishop from 1991 to 2002 and was more recently honorary assistant bishop in the Diocese of Oxford.

He was asked to resign by the current Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby after being criticised in a review of the church’s handling of abuse carried out by Bishop Peter Ball. The review by Dame Moira Gibb said Lord Carey had failed to pass information on Ball, who was jailed in 2015, to the police in 1992.

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GUAM
KUAM

By Krystal Paco

Another former altar boy shares his story of sexual abuse.

53-year-old R.P. was an altar boy at Talofofo Parish when he alleges he was sexually molested by Father Louis Brouillard in the early 1970s.

Although he wasn’t a boy scout, R.P. and his cousin were interested in joining so they attended a jamboree at Ipan Public Beach.

The boys shared a tent that night when they were approached by Brouillard who was a scoutmaster. Brouillard came into the tent and lied down with the boys before exposing his penis. Although the boys laughed, the priest then forced both R.P. and his cousin to touch and masturbate him.

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DEUTSCHLAND
Sueddeutsche Zeitung

[This fight is overlaid by sexual abuse in the Catholic church. Scandal is a crude understatement. For decades, priests in many countries have abused innumerable young people, including many children, and have often destroyed their lives.A number of bishops and cardinals have ignored or even protected these wolves in the shepherd fur in order to preserve the image of the church and to allow the perpetrators a new beginning. These church leaders have been complicit in the suffering of the victims and have shaken the credibility of the church.]

Kommentar von Stefan Ulrich

Das Wort Kardinal entspringt dem lateinischen cardo, was Dreh- und Angelpunkt bedeutet. Die Kardinäle sind Dreh- und Angelpunkte der katholischen Weltkirche, sie halten sie zusammen und in Bewegung. Besonders gilt das für die Kurienkardinäle, die vom Vatikan aus die Kirche regieren. In den vergangenen Tagen sind gleich zwei dieser Kurienkardinäle aus den Angeln gehoben worden, um im Bilde zu bleiben. Erst wurde der Finanzchef George Pell beurlaubt, dann trennte sich Papst Franziskus vom Präfekten der Glaubenskongregation, Gerhard Ludwig Müller. Die Ablösung der führenden Glaubensbrüder ist weit mehr als eine normale Regierungsumbildung: Sie ist Ausdruck eines Machtkampfs, der seit Jahren, oft im Verborgenen, im Vatikan tobt.

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DEUTSCHLAND
Sueddeutsche Zeitung

Von Matthias Drobinski

Der Rauswurf kam kurz vorm Klassentreffen. Gerhard Ludwig Müller, der es vom Abiturienten zum Kardinal und Präfekten der Glaubenskongregation gebracht hat, war am Freitag quasi schon auf dem Weg nach Mainz, um 50 Jahre Reifeprüfung zu feiern, da bat ihn Papst Franziskus noch einmal zur Privataudienz um zwölf Uhr mittags. Er eröffnete dem überraschten Kardinal, dass es nach dem Ende seiner fünfjährigen Amtszeit als oberster Glaubenswächter am 2. Juli keine weitere geben werde. Tags darauf saß Kardinal Müller in der Mainzer Kirche Sankt Stephan mit ihren berühmten Chagall-Fenstern und wirkte, so berichtete die Mainzer Allgemeine Zeitung, entspannt. Franziskus habe ihm mitgeteilt, er wolle generell die Amtszeit wichtiger Kurienmitarbeiter auf fünf Jahre begrenzen, sagte er, “und da war ich der Erste, bei dem er das umgesetzt hat”. “Differenzen zwischen mir und Papst Franziskus gab es nicht.”

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UNITED STATES
Washington Post

By Editorial Board
July 2

POPE FRANCIS, who pledged a policy of “zero tolerance” for sexually abusive clergy in the Catholic Church, has turned out to be all too tolerant. On Thursday, Australian police brought criminal charges against Cardinal George Pell, a top Vatican official and kitchen- cabinet adviser to the pope, for multiple alleged incidents of sexual assault.

The charges against Cardinal Pell, the Vatican’s finance chief and the pope’s hand-picked agent of administrative reform, shook the Holy See, notwithstanding long-standing allegations that he ignored, dismissed and excused cases of sexual misconduct during his pre-Vatican years as a priest and church official in Australia. That included the crimes of a notorious pedophile priest with whom Cardinal Pell shared a house for two years in the 1970s.

In fact, while Cardinal Pell is the rare Vatican princeling to be charged with sexual misconduct, he was one of two members of the Vatican’s nine-member Council of Cardinals alleged to have turned a blind eye to child sex abuse undertaken by priests once under his jurisdiction. The other is Cardinal Javier Errázuriz, formerly the archbishop of Santiago, Chile. Both men were elevated
Cardinal Pell, 76, who denied the sexual assault charges, was granted a leave of absence to return to Australia, where he said he would contest the charges.

Whatever the resolution to his case, the cardinal has long been notorious, even by Vatican standards, for the callousness of his attitude toward the abuse scandal that has bedeviled the church for most of this century. Speaking of one infamous priest widely known as a serial abuser in Australia in the early 1990s, when Cardinal Pell was a high-ranking church official in Melbourne, he said, “It’s a sad story and [the extent to which it was publicly known] wasn’t of much interest to me.” Peter Saunders, a highly respected survivor of sexual abuse who served on the Vatican’s commission on abuse, said Cardinal Pell was “almost sociopathic” in his indifference toward victims.

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GUAM
Pacific Daily News

Jasmine Stole , jstole@guampdn.com July 3, 2017 | Updated 6:32 p.m. ChT July 3, 2017

A 53-year-old man is suing the Catholic Church and former Guam priest Louis Brouillard, alleging Brouillard sexually abused him more than 40 years ago.

The man, identified by his initials R.P. to protect his identity, was an altar boy for San Miguel Catholic Church in Talofofo from when he was 7 years old to about 13 years old.

R.P. attended an overnight event hosted by the Boy Scouts to recruit members in 1973 or 1974. He was around 10 years old at the time and he and his cousin were given a two-man tent. The event was held at Ipan beach.

Brouillard that night approached R.P.’s tent and asked if they wanted to join the Boy Scouts. He left and returned later and went inside R.P.’s tent. The priest spoke with the two boys.

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NORTHERN IRELAND
The Irish News

ALLISON MORRIS
03 July, 2017

OF the thousands of victims of Northern Ireland’s troubles few have been more badly let down than the children of murdered mother of ten Jean McConville.

At just six years-old Billy McConville and his twin brother Jim were the youngest of the family of orphans abandoned after their mother was abducted by the IRA in the mouth of Christmas 1972.

When they were eventually taken into care they were sent to children’s homes across Northern Ireland, including Nazareth Lodge and Nazareth House in Belfast and the De La Salle Boys’ Home at Rubane House in Kircubbin.

Sir Anthony Hart found child abuse was systemic at these Catholic Church run institutions, the McConville children were among the terrified young victims.

Some of the children suffered physical and mental neglect, others were also sexually abused by staff and older boys, Billy suffered among the worst possible abuse.

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IRELAND
Irish Times

Kitty Holland

The continuing “denial” by Government that the State has any liability for the Magdalene laundries continues to violate survivors’ dignity, compounding their “torture”, the United Nations will be told on Monday.

In a submission to the UN Committee Against Torture (CAT), the Justice for Magdalenes (JFM) group said there had never been “an independent, thorough and effective investigation” into the experiences of women and girls in the laundries and no person or institution held accountable. It said Government had failed to deliver on key commitments made to survivors, including on the provision of services and rights, and to consult with them on a memorial.

Ireland comes before the UN Committee in Geneva at the end of the month for questioning on compliance with the Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment.

More than 10,000 women and girls spent time in Church-run Magdalene laundries from the early 20th century, until the last was closed in 1996. Most were sent and held against their will, usually for the “crime” of being unmarried and pregnant, where they worked in laundries without pay. Many State-run bodies, hospitals and hotels had contracts with Magdalene laundries.

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NEW ZEALAND
NZ Catholic

By Michael Otto – July 3, 2017

Christchurch diocese has appointed a safeguarding coordinator, and is the first diocese in New Zealand to have such a dedicated position.

Virginia Noonan, who has an extensive background in law and a long involvement in Catholic education, started in the part-time role on May 8.

The National Office for Professional Standards has recommended that each diocese appoint a safeguarding coordinator.

Ms Noonan reports directly to the Christchurch diocese’s Bishop’s Pastoral Office director Michael Stopforth and will work with the bishop directly as needed. Mr Stopforth told NZ Catholic that the role of the safeguarding coordinator is to assist the bishop in ensuring that safeguarding guidelines approved by the New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference and heads of religious orders are implemented in Christchurch diocese.

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AUSTRALIA
Herald Sun

Josephine Lim, Ellen Whinnett, News Corp Australia Network
July 2, 2017

THE Catholic Church will not pay legal fees for Adelaide Archbishop Philip Wilson as he prepares to face a two-week hearing this year on a charge of concealing child sex abuse.

The Catholic Archdiocese of Adelaide has confirmed that Wilson, who was charged in March 2015, was paying his own bills.

He stands accused of failing to give police information about the alleged sexual assault of a 10-year-old boy in 1971 by the now-dead paedophile priest James Fletcher in Maitland, NSW.

Wilson has pleaded not guilty to the charge.

His lawyers made three unsuccessful attempts in the Local Court, NSW Supreme Court and NSW Court of Appeal to have the charge quashed or permanently stayed.

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UNITED STATES
WABE

[with audio]

LULU GARCIA-NAVARRO, HOST:

Has the Catholic Church made enough progress in fighting abuse by its priests? That question has renewed urgency after George Pell became the highest-ranking member of the clergy to be formally charged. Cardinal Pell of Australia is a close adviser to the pope. He’s been charged with sexual assault. He says he’s innocent. Police in Melbourne aren’t releasing the details of his accusers.

Joining us to talk about the case from Dublin and the broader questions it raises is Marie Collins. She was until recently on a papal commission dealing with the sexual abuse of children by clergy. Thanks for being with us.

MARIE COLLINS: Glad to be here.

GARCIA-NAVARRO: So please remind us of your story. How did this come to be an issue in your life?

COLLINS: Well, I was abused by a priest when I was a child. And it caused me a great deal of difficulty with my life afterwards. I had a lot of problems with anxiety and depression.

GARCIA-NAVARRO: How old were you when it happened?

COLLINS: I had just turned 13. I was in a children’s hospital. And the priest who assaulted me was the Catholic chaplain of the hospital. And he also took indecent photographs, which had a lasting effect on me.

GARCIA-NAVARRO: You were one of two sexual abuse survivors on the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors. Yet you resigned March 1. Can you tell us why?

COLLINS: I did because I accepted the appointment to the commission in the hope that the church was really beginning to show, you know, a sincere wish to change. And after three years, I resigned on some specific issues. But, basically, it was the resistance from some quarters in the Vatican to actually change.

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AUSTRALIA
The Mercury

Greg Barns, Mercury
July 2, 2017

GEORGE Pell, Australia’s most senior Catholic Church official, is a public figure. Like most public figures, he is loathed in some quarters and lauded in others.

He has been the subject of extensive media over many years, and his work has been publicised in a recent book.

Cardinal Pell is now charged in respect of what are commonly termed “historic sex abuse allegations.”

But, no matter what the media or any individual or organisation thinks of Cardinal Pell’s personal traits or the subject matter with which the charges deal, he is as entitled to the presumption of innocence in facing criminal proceedings in Victoria as any other person.

It is of fundamental importance — and the word fundamental is used advisedly — for those in the media and users of social media, irrespective of whether they are anti or pro Pell or that they have strong views about the issue of churches and sexual abuse, to respect the presumption of innocence.

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NEW YORK
The Worthy Adversary

July 2, 2017 Joelle Casteix

Sorry for the gap since Part 2. I was on vacation. Then I ended up on the news.

He’s been called The Master of Disasters, a brand unto himself, and the Compensation Czar.

Kenneth Feinberg (pictured above), the man who, with his assistant Camille Biros (read this recent New York Times article about her), is in charge of determining who is eligible for compensation in both the New York Archdiocese’s and Brooklyn Diocese’s Independent Reconciliation and Compensation Plans.

He handled compensation for the victims of 9/11, the BP Deepwater Horizon explosion, the Penn State sex abuse scandal, the Boston Marathon Bombings … the list goes on and on.

But these disasters were different. Penn State officials were subject to civil and criminal trials. BP was subject to huge civil litigation with the Deepwater Horizon explosion. One of the Boston Bombers died; the other was given the death sentence in the criminal courts.

Not only were these scandals settled in the courts before Feinberg got them, but they are also over. Done.

The Catholic Clergy Sex Abuse Scandal in the State of New York is neither. It is not over and victims have been barred from using the civil courts for justice. The scandal is not done.

It gets worse.

All of the evidence that the church has in their files will remain secret. Even from Feinberg. He has to trust Dolan is telling him the truth and giving him all of the information he needs.

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ROME
NBC News

by CLAUDIO LAVANGA and ALASTAIR JAMIESON

ROME — Pope Francis’ top financial adviser Cardinal George Pell was charged Thursday with multiple sex crimes — becoming the highest-ranking Vatican official to be charged with abuse.

The 76-year-old faces “multiple charges in respect of historic sexual offences” from multiple complainants, said police in the Australian state of Victoria, where Pell was a country priest in the 1970s.

Cardinal Pell, the Vatican’s de facto treasury minister, told reporters he had been granted leave of absence to face the allegations.

“I am looking forward finally to having my day in court,” he said. “I repeat that I am innocent of these charges. They are false. The whole idea of sexual abuse is abhorrent to me.”

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UNITED STATES
NPR

July 2, 2017

Heard on Weekend Edition Sunday

NPR’s Lulu Garcia-Navarro discusses the Catholic Church’s response to its sexual abuse scandal with Marie Collins, who recently resigned from the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors.

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AUSTRALIA
The Australian

July 3, 2017

SUE NEALES
Reporter – Rural/Regional Affairs
@BushReporter

A chill wind was blowing through the Victorian gold-rush town of Ballarat, as local Catholics gathered for their first Sunday mass since police laid multiple histor­ical sex charges against Cardinal George Pell.

For a community that has already­ been at the heart of the Royal Commission into Instit­utional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse — and where six Catholic priests, including notorious pedophile Gerald Ridsdale, have been convicted of dozens of sex offences — a sense of tired resignation pervaded.

At Ballarat’s imposing bluestone St Patrick’s Cathedral, where hundreds of coloured ribbon­s tied to wrought-iron fence posts are poignant reminders of the community’s support for abuse victims and survivors, Bishop Paul Bird urged the congregati­on yesterday to pray for “all those who will be involved” in court proceedings in coming months.

At the first opportunity, Bishop Bird spoke directly about the unspecified sex-abuse charges against Cardinal Pell — a Ballarat local who has risen to the top echelons of the Vatican.

“Cardinal Pell has denied all allegations and will be returning to Australia to face the charges in court; he is determined to clear his name,” Bishop Bird said.

“Court proceedings are stressful for everyone involved and there is likely to be added stress because of the publicity surrounding this case. I ask for your prayers for Cardinal Pell, and to pray for victims of crime and the community in general.”

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NEW YORK
The New York Times

By ROGER PARLOFF
JUNE 23, 2017

When the Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn unveiled a program on Thursday to compensate victims of sexual abuse by its clergy, it chose a familiar name to oversee it: Kenneth R. Feinberg.

His six-person law firm has achieved national renown — and a near monopoly — in the curious business of devising ways to compensate disaster victims. He administered the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund and the payouts tied to the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill between 2010 and 2012. More than 30 years ago, he set up the compensation program for American soldiers injured by Agent Orange, the noxious Vietnam War-era defoliant.

Yet the person who actually grapples with many of the most wrenching decisions in carrying out the compensation — Who is eligible? If someone died, who gets the money? — is rarely Mr. Feinberg himself.

Instead, it is Camille Biros. “I don’t think anyone could have anticipated a career like this,” said Ms. Biros, who has worked with the Feinberg firm for nearly 40 years.

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