ABUSE TRACKER

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

October 17, 2018

Detuvieron al ex cura Emilio Lamas, acusado de violación de menores en Salta

SALTA (ARGENTINA)
Infobae [Buenos Aires, Argentina]

October 17, 2018

By Diego Rojas

Read original article

Sucedió esta tarde en la capital provincial. La Iglesia le había realizado un juicio secreto e inhabilitado para el sacerdocio, pero se niega a declarar con la justicia. La causa penal se aceleró tras la nota publicada por Infobae

En un hecho histórico para la provincia de Salta, que tiene una fuerte raigambre e influencia de la Iglesia católica, el ex cura Emilio Raimundo Lamas -cesanteado por la propia institución eclesiástica- quedó detenido en la tarde de ayer debido a las acusaciones por violación con acceso carnal a un menor que habría realizado mientras ejercía el sacerdocio.

Lamas se desempeñaba como párroco en el pueblo de Rosario de Lerma, a media hora de la capital salteña, donde habría cometido varios crímenes.

Infobae obtuvo el testimonio de Juan Carlos García, locutor que denunció haber sido violado cuando era monaguillo, y de Carla Fernández Morales, quien vive en Buenos Aires y que también habría sido violada cuando era un niño y antes de que asumiera su identidad trans.

La jueza de Garantías 8, Claudia Puertas, ordenó la detención de Lamas, de 68 años, bajo la carátula provisoria de delito de abuso sexual con acceso carnal agravado por ser cometido por ministro de culto reconocido y por la guarda, en concurso real con abuso sexual simple agravado por ser cometido por ministro de culto, reconocido en tres hechos sobre la misma víctima (García).

El fiscal penal Sergio Federico Obeid, de la Unidad de Delitos contra la Integridad Sexual, había pedido su detención en la audiencia de imputación, en la que el ex sacerdote –acompañado por un abogado particular– se negó a declarar. 

Obeid había basado su pedido en que, de quedar Lamas en libertad, existiría “peligro de entorpecimiento de la investigación” y “peligro de fuga”. Finalmente, la jueza Puertas decidió detenerlo y fue llevado desde los tribunales a los calabozos en la Alcaidía de la capital provincial.

“Es un gran avance que permitirá continuar en mejores condiciones con la acusación por los crímenes –dice a Infobae el abogado querellante Luis Segovia–. Esta mañana el arzobispo salteño monseñor Mario Antonio Cargnello anunció que la Iglesia no entregaría las actas del juicio eclesiástico que le realizaron a Lamas, que habían sido solicitadas por el fiscal. El arzobispo se ampara en los tratados firmados entre el Vaticano y el Estado argentino que le permiten a la Iglesia basarse en las leyes de la Santa Sede y hacer caso omiso de las leyes argentinas, en lo que constituye una obstrucción de la justicia y un acto de encubrimiento”.

Infobae se comunicó con el arzobispado salteño: una asistente del prebístero Loyola Pinto, que presidió el tribunal eclesiástico secreto, dijo que el sacerdote no se encontraba y que no iban a brindar ninguna información.

–¿En qué consistió la audiencia de esta jornada? –preguntó Infobae al abogado Segovia.

–Se le leyeron a Lamas todas las testimoniales durante más de tres horas, el ex cura se negó a declarar y el fiscal pidió su detención, que la jueza ordenó al fin de la audiencia. Ahora queda que testifiquen algunos testigos, entre ellos el actual párroco de Rosario de Lerma, Alejandro Pezet, quien le habría ofrecido una “reparación” a García a cambio de su silencio.

“Ahora comienza una lucha más fuerte porque hay que ganar este juicio –dijo a Infobae Juan Carlos García, quien hiciera pública la denuncia por la violación sufrida cuando tenía 16 años–. Todo lo que hizo el padre con los jóvenes en la Iglesia lo tiene que pagar en una cárcel común, como cualquier ciudadano. Que vaya preso y que las demás víctimas se animen a denunciar. Esto tiene que marcar un antes y después, no podemos ir a la tumba silenciados y manipulados en nuestras mentes y golpeados en nuestras vidas. Tenemos que hablar”.

Carla Fernanda Morales dijo a Infobae: “Me parece que es necesario que la Justicia empiece a moverse, no me desprendo de lo que Lamas hizo conmigo. Emilio tiene que ir preso, pagar por lo que hizo y que la Iglesia responda por sus crímenes, no encuentro otra alternativa”.

Cuando este medio se comunicó con Lamas por correo electrónico antes de que la Iglesia lo despojara de su rol como sacerdote y que fuera llamado por la Justicia, el entonces cura escribió: “¿Con qué autoridad tienes que hacer averiguaciones? Ten paciencia y me parece que estás avanzando sobre lo que no te corresponde y con sugerencias de alguna persona. Cuando tenga alguna notificación oficial de la Justicia entonces voy a responder lo que corresponda. Que tengas un buen día. ¡Paz y Bien!”.

Hoy, Emilio Raimundo Lamas se negó a realizar declaraciones. A partir de esta tarde quedó tras las rejas por los gravísimos crímenes que se le imputan.

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.

Man files suit against Diocese of St. Petersburg saying a Tampa priest sexually abused him in the 1980s

ST. PETERSBURG (FL)
Tampa Bay Times

October 17, 2018

By Waveney Ann Moore

A former parishioner of Christ the King Catholic Church in Tampa, now a lawyer and magistrate in the Virginia Supreme Court, has filed suit against the Diocese of St. Petersburg alleging that he was sexually abused as a child by a now deceased priest.

According to the lawsuit filed this week, Mark Cattell says he was 9 years old in 1981 when he was sexually abused by the Rev. Robert D. Huneke. Cattell, now 45, was a student at Christ the King Catholic School and attended the parish church.

During a news conference Wednesday, Cattell’s attorney, Jeff Herman, called what happened to his client “a crime that was committed at the highest level of the Catholic church.” It involved, he said, “two bishops and a pedophile priest.”

According to the lawsuit, Huneke had previously been assigned to St. Dominic’s parish in the Diocese of Rockville Centre, in Long Island, N.Y., where he sexually molested a boy named John Salveson. Herman produced letters that he said Salveson, who is not a party in the suit, wrote as an adult to the Long Island bishop about the abuse that began when he was 13 years old.

By then, Huneke was in Florida, at Christ the King. In a July 26, 1980, letter on Christ the King stationery to the Rockville Centre bishop, Huneke admits to “past incidents” in New York and says he has “undergone counseling as well as spiritual direction.”

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.

Impasse looms over bill to aid clergy sex abuse victims

HARRISBURG (PA)
Patriot News

October 17, 2018

By Ivey DeJesus

House Majority Leader David Reed warned the Senate Wednesday that his chamber will reject a plan to reform the statutes of limitation that exempts institutions from lawsuits.

“We will not accept that proposal,” said Reed, an Indiana County Republican. “We will not accept anything that does not have a clear window to hold not just individuals but the institutions who helped perpetrators commit crimes for decades upon decades.”

Lawmakers are clashing over plans to revamp the state’s law regarding child sexual abuse and the statutes of limitation. The GOP Senate majority on Wednesday was ironing out the last details on a plan that would revise Senate Bill 261. Most notably, the plan would include a clause that would require victims who file lawsuits under a retroactive window to name an individual abuser rather than institutions, such as the Catholic church.

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

Fr. Joe Gatto, pres. of Buffalo Diocese seminary, placed on leave after sexual misconduct allegation

BUFFALO (NY)
WKBW

October 16, 2018

By Charlie Specht

The Rev. Joseph C. Gatto, who runs the seminary for the Diocese of Buffalo, has been placed on administrative leave by the diocese, as he faces an allegation of sexual misconduct.

On Thursday morning, Gatto told I-Team Chief Investigator Charlie Specht that he is taking a “leave of absence” from Christ the King Seminary in East Aurora, which prepares men for the priesthood in the Buffalo Diocese.

“The pressures of the job, all the things that I’ve been doing — it’s just a temporary thing,” he said in a brief phone interview with 7 Eyewitness News. “I’ve had so many responsibilities. I’m just burned out. I’m just taking some time.”

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

Sex abuse survivors react after Washington Archdiocese releases name of abusive priests

WASHINGTON (DC)
WUSA TV

October 16, 2018

By Janice Park

The Archdiocese of Washington released a list Monday of 31 priests. It names priests involved in cases with credible accusations of abuse.

David Fortwengler says he was only 11 when the abuse happened.

Fortwengler keeps newspaper clippings in his car. Like scars, they are physical reminders of his painful past.

“During the criminal case more info came out, that he had horribly raped two brothers in 1966,” said Fortwengler.

Fortwengler’s abuser, Robert Petrella was eventually convicted of molesting David and another boy in the 60’s, while they were both alter boys at an Oxon Hill, Maryland church.

“I have this part inside me that is so angry and pissed off, I hate carrying that feeling, what would help get rid of it is truth, justice and accountability,” said Fortwengler. David says the list gives him little comfort.

And there’s another issue.

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.

Former Erie diocese priest admits to sexual assault

ERIE (PA)
Penn Live

October 17, 2018

By Ron Southwick

A former priest in the Diocese of Erie has admitted to sexually assaulting one boy and attempting to assault another boy, the state attorney general’s office said Wednesday.

David Poulson pleaded guilty to two felony crimes – corruption of minors and endangering the welfare of children – in a hearing in Jefferson County Common Court.

Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro, who has led the grand jury investigation of clergy sex abuse across Catholic dioceses in Pennsylvania, said the former priest assaulted a victim in church buildings. Citing the plea, Shapiro is urging lawmakers to revamp state law to help victims of clergy sex abuse take their cases to court.

“Poulson assaulted one of his victims in church rectories,” Shapiro in a news conference at the courthouse in Brookville. “He made that victim go to confession and confess the abuse – to Poulson. He used the tools of the priesthood to further his abuse. Today, Poulson is being held accountable and facing justice for his crimes.”

Poulson assaulted one boy repeatedly at two different churches and attempted to assault another boy at a cabin, the grand jury presentment found.

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

New plan would bar clergy sex abuse victims from suing Catholic Church, critics say

HARRISBURG (PA)
Penn Live

October 17, 2018

By Ivey DeJesus

The Pennsylvania Senate reconvened Wednesday for its last afternoon session of the term amid disparate reports that a bill to reform child sex crime laws would protect the Catholic Church from lawsuits.

Some advocates have urged lawmakers to approve a window to allow clergy sex abuse victims to file civil suits, even if the abuse occurred decades ago. But critics say a new proposal would bar victims from using that window to sue institutions, including the Catholic Church.

The Catholic Church figures large in the discussion over the bill. A reincarnation of previous attempts, the bill comes at the heels of a blistering grand jury report that found thousands of children had been sexually molested and raped by Catholic priests across the state.

Lobbyists from the Pennsylvania Catholic Conference and the Insurance Federation of Pennsylvania have aggressively opposed the retroactive component to the bill.

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.

Lawsuit against Greensburg Diocese names deceased priest

GREENSBURG (PA)
Trib Live

October 16, 2018

By Deb Erdley

An Allegheny County man who says he was sexually abused for three years beginning in 1978 by a now-deceased priest in the Greensburg Diocese has sued the diocese, citing the August statewide grand jury report.

The man, a former altar boy identified only as John Doe, filed his lawsuit Tuesday as the Pennsylvania Senate weighed a measure recommended by the grand jury and recently approved by the state House. The proposal would create a two-year window for survivors of childhood sexual abuse who are now older than 30 to sue their abusers. Pennsylvania’s statute of limitations currently bars people like Doe from filing civil claims related to childhood abuse after they turn 30.

The new complaint names the late Joseph A. Tamilowski, a priest who served in several parishes from 1954 until his death in 1994. Diocesan records revealed that another former altar boy reported in 2002 that Tamilowski fondled him on multiple occasions during the 1960s at Mission of St. Mary Church in Schenley, the grand jury report said.

The Greensburg Diocese did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the lawsuit, which was filed in Westmoreland County.

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Interim president Mary Bono resigns from USA Gymnastics

UNITED STATES
ESPN News Services

October 17, 2018

Former congresswoman Mary Bono announced Tuesday that she has resigned as interim president and CEO of USA Gymnastics after a tenure of four days.

Bono’s selection had been immediately criticized by several high-profile gymnasts, including Olympic gold-medal winners Simone Biles and Aly Raisman.

Raisman questioned Bono’s association with law firm Faegre Baker Daniels, which advised USA Gymnastics during the Larry Nassar sexual abuse scandal.

“Why hire someone associated with the firm that helped cover up our abuse?” Raisman asked.

Biles took issue with Bono’s response to Nike’s advertising campaign featuring NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick.

Bono, who was appointed to her new roles on Friday, recently posted a photo of herself blacking out a Nike logo on a golf shoe. In response, Biles tweeted: “*mouth drop* … don’t worry, it’s not like we needed a smarter usa gymnastics president or any sponsors or anything.”

In a statement announcing her resignation, Bono said: “It is with profound regret, coupled with a deep love for the sport of gymnastics and respect for those who aspire to be great gymnasts, that I today tendered my resignation as the Interim CEO of USA Gymnastics. … My withdrawal comes in the wake of personal attacks that, left undefended, would have made my leading USAG a liability for the organization.”

Bono said in her statement she proudly stood behind her work at Faegre Baker Daniels.

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.

Abus sexuels dans l’Église : le sénat rejette une demande d’une commission d’enquête

[Sexual Abuse in the Church: Senate Rejects a Request for a Commission of Inquiry]

FRANCE
La Croix

October 17, 2018

La demande socialiste pour la création d’une commission d’enquête au sénat sur les abus sexuels dans l’Église a été rejetée mercredi 17 octobre, 27 ont voté contre, 14 pour, 4 se sont abstenus.

Le Sénat, mercredi 17 octobre, a jugé irrecevable la demande socialiste de la constitution d’une commission d’enquête sur les abus sexuels dans l’Église. 27 sénateurs, majoritairement de droite, ont voté contre, 14 pour, 4 se sont abstenus.

Cette décision devrait être confirmée, sauf énorme surprise, mercredi soir en conférence des présidents.

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.

Bischof will Akten öffnen

[Bishop wants to open files]

GERMANY
Kirchen Zeitung

October 17, 2018

Das Thema Missbrauch beschäftigt weiter das Bistum

Das Thema Missbrauch beschäftigt weiter das Bistum: Bischof Dr. Heiner Wilmer hat sich dafür ausgesprochen, Personalakten von beschuldigten Pries­tern zu öffnen. Und die ARD hat einen alten Missbrauchsfall neu aufgerollt und dabei neue Opfer ausfindig gemacht.

Bischof Heiner Wilmer hat sich in einem Interview mit dem Politikjournal Rundblick dafür ausgesprochen, die Akten über die Missbrauchsfälle in seinem Bistum weitgehend zu öffnen.

„Ich bin für eine offene Herangehensweise. Wir haben nichts zu verheimlichen. Ich bin dafür, dass Akten auch für Externe geöffnet werden. Anders können wir Glaubwürdigkeit und Vertrauen nicht zurückgewinnen“, sagte Wilmer. Zuvor hatte die niedersächsische Justizministerin Barbara Havliza (CDU) die katholische Kirche aufgefordert, ihre Akten für die Einsichtnahme der Staatsanwaltschaft bereit zu stellen.

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.

Studie: Jede vierte Abgeordnete in Europa erlebte sexuelle Gewalt im Parlament

[Study: One in four MEPs in Europe experienced sexual violence in parliament]

GERMANY
The Huffington Post

October 16, 2018

► Viele Weibliche Abgeordnete und Mitarbeiter sind in Parlamenten von sexueller Belästigung, Missbrauch und Gewalt betroffen. Das zeigt eine in 45 europäischen Ländern durchgeführte Studie der Interparlamentarischen Union (IPU) und‬ der parlamentarischen Versammlung des Europarates (PACE).

► So gaben 85 Prozent der weiblichen Abgeordneten, die an der Studie teilgenommen haben, an, dass sie im Laufe ihrer Amtszeit Opfer psychischer Gewalt geworden sind.

► Fast jede zweite hatte Mord-, Vergewaltigungs- oder Gewaltdrohungen erhalten, jede vierte selbst sexualisierte Gewalt erlitten.

► Besonders pikant: Die Gewalttäter kamen zu 77 Prozent aus der eigenen Parlaments- oder einer anderen Fraktion.

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.

Telangana priest held in US for sexual abuse of minor

HYDERABAD (INDIA)
Syndigate.info

October 4, 2018

A Catholic priest from Telangana, preaching in Rapid City diocese in South Dakota state, was arrested in the United States for sexual contact with a minor. Thirty-eight-year-old John Praveen, also known as John Praveen Kumar Itukulapati, was arrested on Tuesday (Wednesday in India). He has been charged with two counts of sexual contact with a child under 16, a class 3 felony which carries a punishment of up to 15 years in prison and/or a maximum fine of $30,000 on each count.

According to South Dakota-based Capital Journal, the Rev. John Praveen made a first appearance in court on Wednesday before a magistrate judge via interactive TV from the Pennington County jail in Rapid City. The judge kept his bond at $100,000 cash only and set Praveen’s preliminary hearing for October 18. The Rapid City Police Department, in a statement, said that their department and the Pennington County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO) conducted a joint investigation on September 30 when a juvenile victim came forward to report the incidents.

The investigation revealed that Praveen made sexual contact with the child on two separate occasions.

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.

Video: Meine Täter, die Priester

[Video: My perpetrators, the priests]

GERMANY
Das Erste

October 15, 2018

Length: 43:38 Min.
Verfügbar bis 15.10.2019/Available until 15.10.2019

Es ist der gängige Vorwurf: Die katholische Kirche deckt sexuellen Missbrauch in den eigenen Reihen, unterstützt die Opfer nicht oder kaum. Nach dem Missbrauchsskandal 2010 versprach die Kirche Offenheit und Wiedergutmachung.
Mehr Informationen zur Sendung

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Nouveau scandale d’abus sexuels en Afrique du Sud

[New scandal of sexual abuse in South Africa]

GERMAN
Cath.ch

October 13, 2018

By Ibrahima Cisse

L’Eglise catholique en Afrique du Sud a promis d’ouvrir “une enquête en interne” à la suite d’une allégation d’abus sexuels qui concerne un prêtre jésuite britannique. Les faits remontent aux années quatre-vingt et sont déroulés sur une période de cinq ans à Johannesburg.

La victime, William Segodisho, témoigne publiquement, 27 ans après les faits. Il déclare avoir rencontré son abuseur lorsque, à 13 ans, il se trouvait dans une situation de précarité, sans domicile. Le religieux en aurait profité pour abuser de lui “mentalement et physiquement”.

“Je sentais que je n’avais plus de prises sur les choses. Je me suis résigné à accepter mon sort, a-t-il avoué devant la presse le 9 octobre 2018. En échange, il me donnait de l’argent pour ma famille et il m’a appris à conduire. J’ai fini par accepter d’être utilisé comme ça. Parfois, on dit qu’on fait un pacte avec le diable. Là, c’est au sens propre du terme”.

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.

Opfer bereiten in Mexiko Klage gegen “Legionäre Christi” vor

[Victims are preparing a lawsuit against “legionaries of Christ” in Mexico]

GERMANY/MEXICO CITY
KAP/KNA

October 16, 2018

Vier Missbrauchsopfer des vor zehn Jahren verstorbenen “Legionäre”-Gründers Marcial Maciel Degollado wollen laut einem Medienbericht auf Schadenersatz klagen

Vier Missbrauchsopfer des vor zehn Jahren verstorbenen Gründers der “Legionäre Christi” Marcial Maciel Degollado (1920-2008) planen offenbar eine Klage gegen die Ordensgemeinschaft sowie 38 mit ihr verbundene Firmen. Es soll um Schadenersatz für erlittenes seelisches Leid gehen, wie das mexikanische Portal “Zocalo” (Montag Ortszeit) berichtete.

In der Gemeinschaft wurde 2009 nach dem Tod des Gründers ein System von Lügen und Missbrauch offenbar. Nach Bekanntwerden von Sexualstraftaten Maciels ordnete der damalige Papst Benedikt XVI. (2005-2013) eine umfassende Inspektion durch den Vatikan an und tauschte die gesamte Ordensleitung aus. Seit 2013 haben die vier Zweige der Gemeinschaft – “Legionäre Christi”, gottgeweihte Frauen und Männer sowie die Laien – jeweils eigene neue Statuten erarbeitet. Diese werden derzeit in Rom in einen gemeinsamen Rahmen gefasst, der die 2004 von Papst Johannes Paul II. (1978-2005) genehmigten Statuten ersetzen soll.

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.

Missbrauchs-Opfer des Canisius-Kollegs deckt weitere Taten auf

[Abuse victim of the Canisius Kolleg exposes further acts]

GERMANY
BZ-Berlin

October 16, 2018

By Birgit Bürkner

Matthias Katsch zeigt in dem WDR-Film „Meine Täter, die Priester“, wie die Missbrauchs-Pater am Canisius-Kolleg in Tiergarten einfach weitermachten.

Die Missbrauchs-Täter des Canisius-Kolleg (Tiergarten), Pater Peter R. (77) und Pater Wolfgang S. (72), sollen nach den Vorfällen an der Jesuiten-Schule in den 70er und 80er Jahren eine Vielzahl weiterer sexueller Übergriffe verübt haben. Davon berichtete Montagabend die Reportage „Meine Täter, die Priester“ (ARD, 23.30 Uhr).

Der Film begleitet Matthias Katsch (55), eines der Berliner Opfer, nach Chile, wo Wolfgang S. ab 1985 als Priester tätig war und einen Jugendsportverein aufbaute. Im Rahmen seiner Recherche deckt Katsch auf, dass sich S. in Chile unter dem Deckmantel der christlichen Fürsorge über Jahre mutmaßlich an Kindern und Jugendlichen vergangen haben und sie zudem zu Peter R. nach Deutschland vermittelt haben soll.

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La Iglesia española silencia desde hace décadas los casos de pederastia

[The Spanish Church has been silencing pedophilia cases for decades, full extent of abuse is unknown]

MADRID, SPAIN
El País

October 14, 2018

By José Manuel Romero and Julio Núñez

La cúpula eclesiástica se niega a facilitar datos de los procesos que ha conocido o instruido. Solo tres de las 70 diócesis consultadas obligan al obispo en sus protocolos a informar a Fiscalía

La Iglesia española silenció durante décadas la mayoría de los casos de abusos sexuales a menores que conoció o juzgó en sus tribunales eclesiásticos. No comunicó estos hechos a la Fiscalía para abrir un proceso judicial ni ha hecho públicas las condenas impuestas a los sacerdotes pederastas, salvo contadas, y en algún caso forzadas, excepciones.

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“La Iglesia lleva un siglo tapando la pederastia. Hay que cambiar”

[“The Church has been covering pederasty for a century. We have to change “]

MURCIA, SPAIN
El País

By Julio Núñez

Gil José Sáez Martínez, vicario judicial del Obispado de Cartagena, reflexiona sobre los abusos a menores por parte de sacerdotes

Gil José Sáez Martínez (San Pedro del Pinatar, Murcia, 1971) es el vicario judicial del Obispado de Cartagena. Explica que su función, delegada por el obispo, consiste en “hacer que se cumpla la justicia en la diócesis y que se garanticen la tutela y los derechos de los fieles ante la Iglesia”. Junto a su trabajo como canonista y párroco en la iglesia de San José, en el municipio de San José de la Vega (Murcia), prepara una tesis sobre la respuesta del derecho procesal de la Iglesia católica y del derecho español ante los abusos sexuales cometidos por clérigos. Es el único juez eclesiástico que no teme dar su nombre para hablar y reconocer el ocultamiento de los casos de pederastia que se han cometido en el seno de la Iglesia española durante décadas.

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La Iglesia española crea una comisión reservada para combatir la pederastia

[The Spanish Church creates commission to combat pedophilia]

MADRID, SPAIN
El País

October 17, 2018

By Julio Núñez

El obispo que impuso el protocolo más duro contra los abusos tras silenciar un caso en León presidirá el grupo. El texto prevé remitir las denuncias “a las autoridades apropiadas”

La Conferencia Episcopal Española (CEE) ha creado una comisión reservada para actualizar los protocolos de actuación contra los casos de abusos sexuales cometidos en su seno. Al frente del grupo, compuesto por diez expertos, la CEE ha puesto al obispo de Astorga, Juan Antonio Menéndez, conocido por instruir las agresiones sexuales prescritas de un sacerdote de La Bañeza (León), que ocultó a la opinión pública, pero también por disponer en su diócesis de uno de los pocos protocolos que obligan a denunciar a la justicia ordinaria los casos de abusos del clero, cosa que solo ocurre en tres de las 70 diócesis. La actualización de la normativa comenzará esta misma semana, según informó la CEE a través de un comunicado.

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16 años de cárcel para sacerdote en Guatemala por abuso sexual a menor

[Priest in Guatemala sentenced to 16 years in prison for child sex abuse]

GUATEMALA
AFP via El Universo

September 19, 2018

Un sacerdote católico de un poblado en el norte de Guatemala fue condenado a 16 años de cárcel por abusar sexualmente de una menor, informó este miércoles la Fiscalía. El religioso era párroco de una iglesia católica de Puerto Barrios, 230 km al noreste de Ciudad de Guatemala, sobre el Caribe, y fue declarado culpable por un tribunal local del delito de violación a una adolescente de 14 años, señaló el Ministerio Público en un comunicado.

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Vaticano separó del sacerdocio a César Cordero, acusado de abusos sexuales en Ecuador

[Vatican expels César Cordero, priest accused of sexual abuse in Ecuador]

CUENCA, ECUADOR
El Universo

October 4, 2018

By Johnny Guambaña

El sacerdote cuencano César Cordero Moscoso fue separado de la iglesia católica según una disposición emitida desde El Vaticano y difundida la noche de este jueves. El religioso es acusado legalmente por abuso sexual a niños que estudiaron en los planteles que fundó, hace aproximadamente 50 años. A través de un comunicado emitido por la Arquidiócesis de Cuenca se informa que el resultado del proceso es la “Dimisión del proceso clerical de manera permanente”, esta resolución es la más fuerte que la iglesia aplica en estos casos.

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Alegría en familiares de víctimas de César Cordero por su expulsión del sacerdocio

[Victims’ relatives express joy after César Cordero is expelled from priesthood]

CUENCA, ECUADOR
El Universo

October 6, 2018

By Johnny Guambaña

La lucha de las víctimas de abuso sexual del sacerdote César Cordero Moscoso dio un primer resultado a su favor, pues el Vaticano lo retiró del sacerdocio que ejerció desde 1953. Entre abril y octubre de este año, los afectados colocaron denuncias en la Fiscalía, realizaron marchas y plantones para exigir que se sancione un delito que ocurrió hace más de 50 años en esta ciudad.

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Hasbún a su llegada a la Fiscalía para declarar: “Feliz con el gol del Nico Castillo”

[Hasbún arrives at prosecutor’s office to testify in abuse cover-up investigation]

CHILE
La Tercera

October 17, 2018

By Angélica Baeza

El sacerdote declarará en calidad de imputado por su eventual participación en el encubrimiento de los presuntos delitos sexuales cometidos por el sacerdote Jorge Laplagne.

Minutos antes de las 10 de la mañana, el sacerdote Raúl Hasbún llegó hasta dependencias de la Fiscalía Centro Norte, para declarar en calidad de imputado ante los persecutores de la Región de O’Higgins, que indagan su eventual participación en el encubrimiento de los presuntos delitos sexuales cometidos por el sacerdote Jorge Laplagne, contra J.A.M.H., caso en el que Hasbún asumió como promotor de justicia.

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Obispo de Temuco asegura que “no sería raro” que papa Francisco remueva de su cargo a Ezzati

[Bishop of Temuco says “it would not be strange” for Pope Francis to remove Ezzati from office]

CHILE
BioBioChile

October 17, 2018

By Nicole Briones and Hugo Oviedo

El obispo de Temuco, Héctor Vargas, dijo que “no sería raro” que el papa Francisco remueva de su cargo al Arzobispo de Santiago, Ricardo Ezzati, quien está imputado por la Fiscalía por encubrimiento de delitos sexuales a menores de edad. En entrevista con Radio Bío Bío en Temuco, el obispo Héctor Vargas enfrentó la serie de críticas que ha sufrido la Iglesia Católica, luego de los escándalos de pederastia que investiga el Ministerio Público.

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Concepción: sacerdote Márquez se defiende de acusaciones por abuso sexual y asegura que son falsas

[In Concepción, priest Márquez defends himself against accusations of sexual abuse]

CHILE
BioBioChile

October 16, 2018

By Nicolás Parra and Tatiana Risso

El sacerdote penquista Hugo Márquez se defendió y aseguró que las acusaciones por abuso sexual en su contra son falsas. Las declaraciones del expárroco se dan luego de que hasta el Arzobispado de Concepción llegara nuevamente Antonio Garrido, quien hace dos semanas se presentó para denunciar lo que su sobrino Jonathan le contó unos tres años antes de quitarse la vida colgándose de un árbol en un sector boscoso de San Pedro de la Paz en octubre de 2017.

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New plan would bar clergy sex abuse victims from suing Catholic Church, critics say

HARRISBURG (PA)
Patriot News

October 17, 2018

By Ivey DeJesus

The Pennsylvania Senate reconvened Wednesday for its last afternoon session of the term amid disparate reports that a bill to reform child sex crime laws would protect the Catholic Church from lawsuits.

Some advocates have urged lawmakers to approve a window to allow clergy sex abuse victims to file civil suits, even if the abuse occurred decades ago. But critics say a new proposal would bar victims from using that window to sue institutions, including the Catholic Church.

The Catholic Church figures large in the discussion over the bill. A reincarnation of previous attempts, the bill comes at the heels of a blistering grand jury report that found thousands of children had been sexually molested and raped by Catholic priests across the state.

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Survivors group calls for Virginia to conduct Catholic priests abuse investigations

NORFOLK (VA)
News 3

October 16, 2018

The Archdiocese of Washington released a list Monday of 28 former priests “credibly accused of sexual abuse of minors.” A group representing survivors of clergy sex abuse quickly responded by labeling the list “incomplete.”

SNAP called for the attorneys general in Virginia, Maryland and Washington to begin independent investigations when it released its findings. Virginia’s Attorney General is Mark Herring.

The Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP) named three other priests it said had been convicted of or admitted sexual abuse offenses since 1997.

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Pa. bill on church sex abuse stuck on question of lawsuits

HARRISBURG ( PA)
WPXI

October 17, 2018

By Marc Levy, Associated Press

Legislation responding to a Pennsylvania grand jury report accusing hundreds of Roman Catholic priests of sexually abusing children over decades remained under wraps in the state Senate on Tuesday amid disagreement over key provisions.

Republican state senators met privately for several hours before emerging to say GOP majority leaders had made an offer in an attempt to secure an agreement with the House of Representatives and Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf.

“We want an agreement that we can get to the governor and that will put this to rest,” said Sen. Rich Alloway, R-Franklin. “Now that may or may not happen. I mean, obviously there’s still a lot of moving parts here.”

Work on the bill is running up against Wednesday, the Legislature’s last scheduled voting session day in 2018. It is also occurring amid election season, when 228 of 253 legislative seats are on the ballot.

Wolf’s office said Tuesday evening that it had not been made aware of a Senate GOP offer.

Disagreement surrounds the grand jury’s recommendation to give now-adult victims another chance to sue a perpetrator or an institution that covered it up if they are otherwise barred by time limits in state law. The window to sue would last two years.

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Archdiocese of Indianapolis names priests accused of sex abuse

INDIANPOLIS (IN)
Indianapolis Star

October 12, 2018

By Holly V. Hays and Crystal Hill, Indianapolis Star

The Archdiocese of Indianapolis on Thursday released the names of more than 20 priests associated with the archdiocese who have at least one “credible” claim of sex abuse of a child or adolescent against them, including two priests who the church said each had more than a dozen victims.

The list includes 19 priests for the archdiocese and four who were members of religious orders who served in the archdiocese, dating back to 1940.

The diocese also released the names of priests accused of improper relationships with “vulnerable” adults and others who were deceased before their allegations were reported and the allegations were not substantiated.

Collectively, the diocese identified 103 victims.

“I pray the release of this list of credibly accused clergy will help all survivors of sexual abuse find the strength to come forward and will set them on the path to healing,” Archbishop Charles C. Thompson said in a written statement. “I apologize to all victims for the abuse that was done to them and for the failure of the Church to keep them from harm. I pledge to do everything within my power to protect our youth.”

The number of victims listed for each priest ranges from one to 23. Of the 19 accused of abuse of a child or adolescent, only nine are alive, according to the diocese.

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Chile abuse survivors say pope’s iron fist offers glimmer of hope

ROME (ITALY)
Crux

October 17, 2018

By Inés San Martín

For survivors of clerical sexual abuse in Chile, much about the Church’s response from Pope Francis and others in the hierarchy strikes them as too slow, too ambiguous, and too little. They say a recent case in which the pontiff acted with more of an iron fist, however, offered a glimmer of hope.

“I can say that this is a small door of hope for victims and survivors who still haven’t been able to recognize their pain, who cannot speak or even comprehend the suffering they were put through,” said Abel Soto, a man who was abused by former Archbishop Francisco Cox of Chile, who was expelled from the priesthood by Francis last week.

“It’s a historic blow that he’s removed from the clerical state these two monsters, which is, as far as I know, unheard of,” he told Crux.

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Tijuana: Suspensión del Padre Ackerman y la complicidad de los Arzobispos

TIJUANA (MEXICO)
Blog Santa & Pecadora [Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico]

October 17, 2018

Read original article

Desde 2013 hemos seguido detalle a detalle el caso del sacerdote Juan Carlos Ackerman Ayón, con todas sus mentiras, además de las protecciones de los dos Arzobispos: Romo Muñoz y Moreno Barrón.

El caso Ackerman es delicado, diríamos demasiado delicado, un caso al cual desconocemos el porqué los dos recientes arzobispos de esta demarcación eclesiástica han protegido, o fueron manipulados o en realidad los dos son cómplices. Para muchos sacerdotes del clero de Tijuana la realidad podría ser que fueron en realidad cómplices. El caso Ackerman está plagado de  un entramado donde no solo afecta directamente a los Arzobispos sino a miembros del gobierno  y a otros Sacerdotes, incluido el Sacerdote Enrique Tenorio.
Ni Romo Muñoz ni el actual Arzobispo quisieron indagar el caso Ackerman, este blog tiene pruebas  de que ninguno de los dos recibieron y atendieron las quejas de las víctimas. De hecho meses atrás el mismo Arzobispo  dijo  a su clero que en los casos de pederastia de la Arquidiócesis era borrón y cuenta nueva, gran error del Arzobispo porque  su comentario le costara caro.
Perdonar a los curas abusadores le puede costar incluso su ascenso episcopal y es que a estas alturas Moreno Barrón está tomando el mismo camino que su antecesor, o sea no ha hecho nada, su propuesta pastoral va camino al fracaso.
Después de que el Arzobispo Francisco anunciara su perdón a los curas pederastas tuvo que pedirle al Sacerdote Ackerman que dejara el ministerio porque estaría bajo investigación, y es que las pesquisas hechas por la autoridad competente le dan el pierde a Ackerman y esto ensucia desde luego al arzobispo emérito y al actual por haber  encubierto no solo al ex Cura Ackerman sino los demás pederastas  y acosadores de menores.

Las mentiras del Padre Ackerman
Desde siempre hemos sabido que el Cura Ackerman miente, ni sus contactos con el gobierno, con la prensa, la socialité tijuanense ni su dinero han servido para ocultar la doble vida de este sacerdote ya suspendido. De hecho después de haber recibido la indicación de que no podría celebrar misa en ningún lugar,  que seria relevado de sus responsabilidades como Párroco y que se le  enviaría a la Casa del Sacerdote se corrió el rumor en el clero que las cosas no podían estar del todo bien, incluso en la Curia y el mismo Arzobispo había comentado en mas de alguna ocasión que por cuestiones de salud  se iría a descansar a dicha casa, pero la duda es: ¿Por qué a descansar siendo que, según el, se consideraba un cura innovador y muy pastoral?, porque a descansar a la casa del Sacerdote y no a la casa de su familia?, ¿Por qué si estaba enfermo no lo mandaron a una comunidad sin ninguna responsabilidad como lo hicieron con el enfermo sacerdote Francisco Monarrez?, ¿Por qué lo mandaron a la misma casa junto con el ya suspendido temporalmente Tenorio?.
Ackerman no está enfermo, está bajo investigación civil porque existe una fuerte acusación con pruebas de casos de pedofilia, existen un dossier que lo involucra junto con otros sacerdotes y que los arzobispos de Tijuana son cómplices porque conocieron y conocen el caso y no han hecho nada. Ackerman ha solicitado (dizque a petición de su madre) estar en su casa y no  “arraigado” en la casa del Sacerdote, todo esto para evitarse chismes y salvaguardarse, pero la realidad es otra.
El Vaticano  conoce a detalle lo que sucede en Tijuana, cada caso y  hasta ahora no ha hecho nada, de nada sirvió la supuesta visita canónica ordenada por la Nunciatura, encabezada por el otrora corrupto arzobispo emérito de Hermosillo Ulises Macías.
A Tijuana no tarda en explotarle la bomba de pederastia, el actual arzobispo tuvo su tiempo para actuar, pero parece que se corrompió y protegió, ahora con la reciente muerte del Sacerdote asesinado el viernes pasado (que pronto sacaremos una nota) comienza a destaparse la cloaca.
Mas que faramalla de Renovación Parroquial de Moreno Barrón, debería haber empezado por atender los casos de pederastia de su diócesis, y no maquillarlos, silenciarlos como su antecesor, ahora enfrentar la tormenta que viene.

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The pope at a loss for words

WASHINGTON (DC)
Washington Times

October 16, 2018

By R. Emmett Tyrrell Jr.

Back in late August, Pope Francis declared that he would “not say a word” about a letter from a former Vatican envoy to Washington who claimed, among other things, that the pope had ignored sexual abuse charges made against Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, formerly archbishop of Washington.

The letter was written by Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano, and it also implicated the present archbishop of Washington in a cover-up of Archbishop McCarrick’s decades of misbehavior. That would be Cardinal Donald Wuerl. Well, now as of Friday Cardinal Wuerl’s resignation as archbishop has been accepted by the pope. So is the pope going to continue to remain mum?

In accepting Cardinal Wuerl’s resignation Friday, the pope said the former archbishop’s admission to “mistakes” made in his handling of sexually abusive priests demonstrated his “nobility.” Is this really the pope’s spin on what has to be one of the Roman Catholic Church’s most serious scandals in centuries? Is that all that he is going to say? His continued silence is characteristic of the pope and typical of the Vatican. He has still said very little about the predatory behavior of an astonishingly large number of American Catholic priests. In the diocese of Pittsburgh alone, 300 errant priests were mentioned in an August grand jury report that goes back 70 years.

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Senate still mulling 2-year window for abuse suits

UPPER DARBY TOWNSHIP (PA)
Delco Tiimes

October 17, 2018

By Phil Heron

It appears the Pennsylvania Senate is poised to do what it does best.

Not much.

The Senate has one day – today – left to take up a bill that would eliminate the statute of limitations to bring criminal charges in cases of child sexual abuse, as well as expanding the window for victims to bring civil actions.

Actually, it appears as if those measures could pass, just as they did in the House.

That’s not the problem. The issue that has tied up the bill in the Senate is an amendment added that would open a two-year window for past victims in abuse cases – sometimes from decades ago – to bring actions against their abusers, including the Catholic church.

The amendment was added to the legislation by Rep. Mark Rozzi, D-Berks, himself a victims of abuse at the hands of a Catholic priest years ago.

The two-year window was one of the recommendations of the grand jury that laid out- in vivid, horrific detail – the sexual abuse of more than 1,000 children by at least 300 predator priests in six Pennsylvania dioceses.

The Senate continues to debate the issue, but no vote has been taken.

I’m not surprised.

The two-year window is bitterly opposed by the Catholic church, as well as the insurance industry.

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Priest accused of child sexual abuse due for court hearing

BROOKVILLE (PA)
Associated Press

October 17, 2018

A Roman Catholic priest accused of sexually abusing two boys and having one confess afterward is scheduled to appear in a western Pennsylvania courtroom Wednesday for what is described as a plea hearing.

The case’s online court record does not specify the type of plea that involves the Rev. David Lee Poulson, 65, of Oil City, who was arrested in May.

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October 16, 2018

Opinion: Catholic Clergy Should Elect Its Own Bishops

UNITED STATES
The New York Times

October 16, 2018

By Daniel E. Burns

The clergymen of the U.S. can show our fellow Americans that the Roman Catholic Church is much more than the Roman Curia.

The recent revelations of corruption, abuse and neglect within the Catholic Church hierarchy have been a trial for every American Catholic. Abuse victims and their families have suffered unspeakably. Next to them, the greatest sufferers have surely been our innocent American clergymen, who bear the brunt of the shame, contempt, and anger directed at the church every day.

A great majority of our clergymen share our outrage at clerical abuse. Priests all suffer for the sins of their brothers. Married deacons see their own children and grandchildren in the faces of the victims.

To Catholics, our American clergy is an essential link in a living chain of witnesses stretching back to the Apostles. Nearly all of us have had our faith shaped by at least one priest or deacon who showed us what it means to live the Gospel. Today we are experiencing a crisis of trust in our bishops. It is not, as far as I can see, a crisis of trust in the majority of our clergymen.

The clergy is therefore in a position to restore our trust in the bishops. But first it would have to have a say in who those bishops are.

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Pope, hierarchy are accomplices to crimes of pedophile priests

SYRACUSE (NY)
Syracuse Post Standard

October 17, 2018

To the Editor:

Congratulations to the Post Standard’s article on the flagitious crimes committed within the Catholic Church regarding the covering of the pedophile priests.

I was raised Catholic and still consider myself Catholic — once conservative, now very liberal.

The pedophiles have a psychiatric disorder and for them to be exposed could be a healing for the church and the whole world.

But the clergy, including the Pope, most definitely knew what was going on, maybe for centuries. They are accomplices to the greatest crime conceivable. They desperately wanted to maintain their power, prestige and money as they deliberately covered up this evil — now what priests do we trust?

I would not leave my child alone with any priest.

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Federal judge orders accused pedophile priest to remain in jail

ALBUQUERQUE (NM)
KRQE

October 16, 2018

An accused pedophile priest who was on the run for nearly three decades has lost his fight to get out of jail.

Arthur Perrault, 80, was brought back to the U.S. last month to face rape charges stemming from the 1990s.

Prosecutors argued given his history he was a flight risk, and the judge ordered him to stay locked up until his trial.

Perrault’s attorneys appealed that decision, calling for him to be released to a halfway house for medical reasons.

Tuesday, a federal judge called him a flight risk and a danger to the community, and upheld the decision to keep him behind bars.

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Man sues St. Petersburg Catholic Diocese over alleged child sexual abuse by priest

ST. PETERSBURG (FL)
ABC Action News

October 16, 2018

By Mary Stringini

A former Tampa Bay resident has filed a lawsuit against two Catholic Dioceses alleging that they turned a blind eye against a priest accused of molesting children.

The lawsuit has been filed against the Catholic Diocese of Rockville Centre, New York and the Catholic Diocese of St. Petersburg, Florida.

Attorneys representing Mark Cattell, a victim of child sexual abuse allegedly committed by Father Robert D. Huneke, will hold a press conference on Wednesday, October 17, announcing the filing of the lawsuit.

The lawsuit, filed by Mark Cattell, claims that he was sexually abused by Father Robert D. Huneke on several occasions in 1981 when he was only 9-years-old. At the time, Cattell was a parishioner at Christ the King Church and a student Christ the King School in Tampa.

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Scarnati: Most GOP senators see problems with bill to help clergy abuse victims

PITTSBURGH (PA)
Post Gazette

October 16, 2018

By Liz Navratil

HARRISBURG – The top Republican in the state Senate said Tuesday that the majority of GOP senators in the chamber agree with him that a pending bill designed to help older victims of child sexual abuse has serious problems and needs fixing.

But Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati, R-Jefferson, also said he has not formally polled his membership to see where they stand on allowing a temporary suspension in the civil statute of limitations so that victims older than 30 can sue their tormentors for decades-old abuse.

The latter is at the heart of a fierce and emotional tug-of-war in the Legislature, and Mr. Scarnati has been among the most vocal opponents of the so-called lawsuit “window”, which he believes is unconstitutional.

“What I can tell you is that there is a majority of members that feel the same way that I feel,” Mr. Scarnati told reporters, speaking of the bill the House passed last week. “I believe we probably have 28 to 30 members that feel that way. My job is to lead a caucus and look for their guidance, and that’s what I’m doing.”

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Teen sex-abuse victim sues Rockville Centre diocese

NEW YORK (NY)
Newsday

October 16, 2018

By Bart Jones

The former music director at a Roman Catholic Church in Patchogue sexually abused a teenage girl repeatedly for more than a year as church workers ignored policies put in place to protect children, according to a lawsuit filed Monday.

The girl, who was 15 when the alleged abuse started in 2015, was sexually assaulted in a chapel and in a classroom at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, as well as in the music director’s car and at a motel in Patchogue, states the lawsuit, which was filed in State Supreme Court in Nassau County.

The lawsuit, filed on behalf of the girl, who is now 18, names the parish pastor at the time, the Rev. Benet Uwasombra, the parish itself, Bishop John Barres and the Diocese of Rockville Centre, which Barres heads. It is seeking an unspecified amount in damages.

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Attorney General Pam Bondi to Investigate Catholic Church

Legal Examiner

October 16, 2018

By Joseph H. Saunders

After Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro unveiled a bombshell 1,300-page grand jury report detailing the alleged sexual abuse of more than 1,000 children in his state by hundreds of Catholic priests, Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi has launched a statewide criminal investigation into sexual abuse by Catholic priests.

At a press conference announcing the investigation Bondi said, “We have reason to believe there are similar stories in Florida,” and asked victims to come forward with information. Before the investigation was announced 15 victims had contacted authorities. With an estimated 2 million Catholics in the state, that number is expected to grow as the inquiry proceeds.

Bondi was unsparing in her criticism, saying “Any priest that would exploit a position of power and trust to abuse a child is a disgrace to the Church and a threat to society,” She then announced that investigators from offices including the statewide prosecutor and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement will soon issue subpoenas in connection to the investigation. A spokesperson for Florida Conference of Catholic Bishops stated after the press conference that all seven Catholic dioceses in Florida were in dialogue with the statewide prosecutor and cooperating with the investigation.

It was apparent that the Florida Attorney General had been deeply affected by the Pennsylvania Grand Jury report. She claimed, “When the case about Pennsylvania aired, I couldn’t sleep that night. The next morning I talked to my statewide prosecutor and said, ‘We have to look into this,’ and he wholeheartedly agreed,” In Pennsylvania it was revealed that 301 priests across six dioceses had been accused of child sex abuse. There are more than 1000 identifiable victims, almost all of them children when the abuse occurred, and that number is expected to continue to grow. Among the chilling accusations was the revelation that “Priests were raping little boys and girls, and the men of God who were responsible for them not only did nothing; they hid it all. For decades.”

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As Cardinal Wuerl steps down (with a papal salute), ‘Uncle Ted’ McCarrick is way out of sight

UNITED STATES
Get Religion

October 15, 2018

By Terry Mattingly

So, how good was the news coverage of the very gentle fall of Cardinal Donald Wuerl, in terms of the stories published in the two elite newspapers that have been driving this story?

Well, that depends.

It appears that the crucial issue — once again — is whether the most important scandal linked to Wuerl at the the moment is (a) his role in efforts to hide the abuse of children and teens, overwhelmingly male, by clergy, (b) his ties to the career and work of ex-cardinal Theodore McCarrick or (c) some combination of both, since they are often connected.

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Diocese of Brooklyn Sheltered Priest Accused of Abuse in Colombia

NEW YORK (NY)
SNAPnetwork.org

October 16, 2018

By Zach Hiner

For almost a year, Brooklyn Catholic officials refused to tell their flock about a credibly accused predator priest.

According to the Gothamist, the Diocese of Brooklyn “bypassed its own safety protocols” to hire Fr. Roberto Cadavid in 2012. Fr. Cadavid worked in Brooklyn from 2012 through 2017 until he abruptly left the country to return to his native Colombia. But the Diocese waited ten months after Fr. Cadavid’s departure to tell the truth about his absence to their parishioners: the Diocese of Medellin had come forward in June, 2017 to share “Cadavid’s long history of alleged abuse.”

This reckless behavior cannot continue. We call on police and prosecutors to investigate this secrecy, on Brooklyn’s bishop to explain it and on Brooklyn parishioners to protest it.

Brooklyn church officials claim that their overseas colleagues lied to them about Fr. Cadavid. If so, they should be hollering from the rooftops and insisting that Vatican officials discipline those who allegedly deceived them. Let us assume Brooklyn officials are right. This would mean that Catholic officials cannot even be honest with one another about accused predator priests. If that is true (and plenty of evidence in other cases shows this to be true), what are the odds that Catholic officials will be honest with police, prosecutors, parents, parishioners and the public?

This is yet another example of why we call for independent investigations by law enforcement, backed by subpoena power and the ability to compel testimony under oath. Institutions cannot police themselves and cannot be trusted to adjudicate crimes that occur under their roof. We know that New York has already begun a statewide investigation into their dioceses and hope that this information is being brought to their attention.

We urge anyone, in Brooklyn or elsewhere, who may have seen, suspected or suffered abuse in New York to make a report to law enforcement and to share their information with New York Attorney General Barbara D. Underwood by calling the New York state hotline at 1-800-771-7755 or by using their online form.

CONTACT: Zach Hiner, Executive Director (zhiner@snapnetwork.org, 517-974-9009)

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In our words: One last plea to Pennsylvania Senate: Provide justice for child sexual abuse victims

LANCASTER COUNTY (PA)
Lancaster Online

October 14, 2018

The LNP Editorial Board

THE ISSUE

The Pennsylvania House of Representatives voted Sept. 25 to send to the Senate an amended bill that would provide a two-year retroactive window during which victims of past child sexual abuse could seek justice in civil court. It also would end the criminal statute of limitations for child sexual abuse, and give future victims until age 50 to press civil claims. The House approved Senate Bill 261 by a vote of 173-21. The legislation was passed in the wake of a grand jury report released in August that found that 301 “predator priests” in six Pennsylvania Roman Catholic dioceses had sexually abused more than 1,000 children over seven decades. This week, the state Senate will consider Senate Bill 261.

Pope Francis accepted the resignation Friday of Cardinal Donald Wuerl, who came under repeated fire in the grand jury report for his handling of abuse allegations when he served as bishop of the Diocese of Pittsburgh.

The grand jury found that Wuerl returned the Rev. George Zirwas to ministry even after the diocese had gotten reports that Zirwas had sexually abused a number of boys.

Zirwas, it turned out, was part of a ring of priests who circulated pornographic photos of their child victims and gave their victims gold crosses to wear — so they could be readily identified by other predatory priests.

To use the cross — the symbol of Christ’s suffering — in such a depraved way is beyond belief. And there are hundreds more stories of abuse in the grand jury report that left us horrified.

You’d think that report might have spurred the Pennsylvania Senate to act with great urgency on behalf of the victims of priestly abuse.

And yet, the Senate has put the matter off. Just three session days remain before the Nov. 6 election — Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.

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Saginaw Catholic Bishop Joseph Cistone dies after cancer battle

SAGINAW (MI)
MIlive.com

October 16, 2018

By Cole Waterman

Months after announcing his cancer diagnosis, Saginaw Diocese Bishop Joseph R. Cistone has died at age 69.

Erin Looby Carlson, director of communications for the Diocese, confirmed Cistone’s death to MLive.

A statement on the Diocese’s website states Cistone died at his home during the night of Monday, Oct. 15. He had been scheduled for a medical procedure on Tuesday to relieve symptoms of his lung cancer.

“Please pray for the repose of his soul, for his family and friends, and for all of the Faithful of the Diocese of Saginaw,” the statement reads.

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Ex-Catholic Diocese of Erie priest scheduled to plead

ERIE (PA)
GoErie.com

October 16, 2018

By Ed Palattella

The Rev. David L. Poulson, charged in May, is accused of molesting two boys between 2002 and 2010, including at his hunting camp in Jefferson County in the Erie diocese.

The Rev. David L. Poulson, a former priest in the Catholic Diocese of Erie, is scheduled to forgo a trial on child sexual abuse charges by entering a plea Wednesday morning at the Jefferson County Courthouse in Brookville.

The district court administrator for Jefferson County, Chad B. Weaver, said Poulson is scheduled for a plea hearing in a proceeding that starts at 9 a.m. on Wednesday before Jefferson County President Judge John H. Foradora, the only judge in the county.

Details of the plea were not immediately available. The Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office “will have more to say about this matter tomorrow,” spokesman Joe Grace said.

The lawyer listed for Poulson in court records, Christopher Mohney, of DuBois, was in court this morning and was not immediately available for comment, his office said.

Poulson, who is no longer in ministry in the Catholic Diocese of Erie, is accused of molesting two boys between 2002 and 2010, including at his hunting camp in Jefferson County, in the southeastern part of the 13-county diocese.

The Attorney General’s Office charged Poulson, 64, based on a presentment from the same statewide grand jury that issued a scathing report in August on child sexual abuse in the Roman Catholic Church in Pennsylvania.

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Naugatuck Police Seek Information On Disgraced Priest Arther Perrault’s 1965 Stint At Former St. Francis School

HARTFORD (CT)
Hartford Courant

October 16, 2018

By Josh Kovner

With fugitive priest Arthur Perrault jailed in New Mexico on aggravated sexual abuse charges, Naugatuck police are now looking into the accused pedophile’s brief tenure at the former St. Francis Parochial School, where he was assigned for a few months in 1965.

Perrault, 80, who was born in Connecticut, left St. Francis abruptly in 1965, and court records say he next surfaced at a small compound, Via Coeli, in Jemez Springs, New Mexico, where fallen priests were sent by the church for treatment of pedophilia.

A string of lawsuits say he would go on to sexually abuse at least 38 boys in New Mexico. Citing court records, the Associated Press reported that Perrault was accused of having inappropriate talks with boys at St. Francis after hours, including in his car. He has not been charged with committing a crime while at St. Francis.

In a news release on Tuesday, Naugatuck police Lt. Bryan Cammarata said officers would like to speak with alumni who attended St. Francis in 1965, and who can describe what the “atmosphere and the culture of student life was like during this time frame.”

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Louisiana bishops say names of priests credibly accused of sex abuse to be made public

NEW ORLEANS (LA)
The Advocate

By Ramon Antonio Vargas

October 16, 2018

The Archdiocese of New Orleans and dioceses in other parts of Louisiana on Tuesday committed to releasing the names of clergy who have been credibly accused of sexually abusing minors within the last half century, stepping up their language from last month, when they said they were only exploring the possibility.

In a prepared statement, Archbishop Gregory Aymond said the release “will be sooner rather than later,” though he stopped short of giving a firm date.

In New Orleans, more quietly settled, decades-old Catholic Church sex abuse cases surface
In New Orleans, more quietly settled, decades-old Catholic Church sex abuse cases surface
More cases have surfaced involving quietly settled, decades-old sexual abuse claims against the Catholic Church in New Orleans, naming a pair …

“The clergy files are being examined very carefully,” Aymond said. “It is important to note that the review of the files goes back at least 50 years to ensure the list is accurate and complete. We will publish the list as soon as this work is finished.”

The Diocese of Shreveport’s Diocesan Administrator, Father Peter Mangum, said in his own statement that his diocese as well as Alexandria’s “will follow the lead of New Orleans and release names.”

The announcements follow reports in The Advocate last month that revealed a number of unreported financial settlements over claims of sexual abuse involving personnel at Jesuit High School, as well as diocesan institutions in New Orleans.

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Pewaukee priest accused of groping a teenager in a confessional released on $10,000 bond

MILWAUKEE (WI)
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

October 16, 2018

By Steven Martinez

A Pewaukee priest accused of groping a teenage congregant in a confessional has been released on bond and is scheduled to reappear in court in November for a preliminary hearing.

The Rev. Chuck Hanel, 61, appeared Oct. 15 in Waukesha County Circuit Court and signed a $10,000 signature bond, court records show. He was released on condition that he have no contact with the accuser or her family, no unsupervised contact with anyone younger than 18 “in the context of his employment” and was ordered to surrender his passport.

Hanel stands accused of second-degree sexual assault of a child. A 14-year-old girl reproted to police in April that Hanel touched her breast and leg in a confessional at Queen of Apostles Church in December 2017, when she was 1

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I’m a sexual assault survivor. And a conservative. The Kavanaugh hearings were excruciating.

UNITED STATES
Vox

October 16, 2018

By Rachael Denhollander

I’m appalled at the response from my own community on Kavanaugh.

The real litmus test of whether our society cares about sexual abuse is how we respond when the allegations are against someone in our community. We have failed that test.

Just a few days ago, Brett Kavanaugh was confirmed to take his seat on the highest court of our land. A contentious hearing followed Christine Blasey Ford’s accusation that Kavanaugh sexually assaulted her as a teenager, and the impact of his confirmation will extend far beyond the decisions he may make while seated.

The entire process hit a little too close to home. I’m a sexual assault survivor who was forced to take a very public stand against a prominent abuser — Larry Nassar. I’m also an evangelical with primarily conservative political positions.

My religious community applauded me for standing against Nassar and his enablers while, in the same breath, condemned me for speaking against religious institutions that mishandled abuse. My knowledge of the law and dynamics of abuse were welcomed when it impacted the “secular” world of Michigan State University, and discounted completely when I expressed concerns about prominent religious leaders in my own church.

More often than not, we are only willing to support survivors so long as their allegations don’t impinge on our community, its members, or our overall goals. But as soon as it’s someone from our own tribe — when it actually costs us to care — the verbal and mental contortions ensue to explain why this allegation of abuse is “different.”

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Priest who is accused of sexually abusing a minor served at 3 Toledo-area parishes

TOLEDO (OH)
WTOL

October 16, 2018

By Emma Henderson

A priest of the Diocese of Toledo has been accused of sexually abusing a minor over 25 years ago.

Father Nelson Beaver has been put on administrative leave by Bishop Daniel E. Thomas, effective immediately.

WTOL 11 has obtained the list of Father Beaver’s assignments since 1976.

On the list are three parishes in the Toledo area. According to the Diocese, Father Beaver served as an associate pastor at the Most Blessed Sacrament Parish from September 25, 1979, until July 9, 1981.

Beaver went to serve as associate pastor at Saint John the Baptist Parish in Toledo from July 9, 1981, until July 2, 1984.

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Horror at Hotchkiss: New Lawsuit Adds to Allegations of Sex Abuse at Prestigious School

SALISBURY (CT)
Connecticut Law Tribune

October 15, 2018

By Robert Storace

The prominent Hotchkiss School has been hit with another sex assault suit. This one is the second against former English teacher Roy G. Smith Jr. The school was the subject of a report released by a prominent law firm that claimed there was a pattern of sex abuse at the school going back decades.

On the heels of a report detailing decades of sexual abuse of children at the prestigious Lakeville-based Hotchkiss School, a Rhode Island man has filed a lawsuit alleging he was groomed for abuse and sexually assaulted by a former English teacher in the 1990s.

In the federal lawsuit filed late Friday evening in U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut, a former student, identified with the pseudonym of Richard Roe, said he was sexually assaulted in his junior year by Roy G. Smith Jr., also known at the school as “Uncle Roy.” The same attorneys who filed suit Friday alleging Smith sexually assaulted the boy wrote a similar complaint against the school in 2015 alleging Smith abused another boy. That suit is still pending, and was filed soon after Smith died in January 2015 at age 72.

The latest suit seeks unspecified monetary damages. Both complaints name the school as the defendant, claiming Hotchkiss knew about a culture of sex abuse and did nothing about it.

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Catholic church sex abuse survivors speak in Harrisburg

HARRISBURG (PA)
WFMZ

October 15, 2018

By Jaccii Farris

Just after 10 a.m., a group of people standing in Pennsylvania’s state capitol building was given a cue: begin reading.

But the words were difficult to say, especially out loud.

Sentences like “One of the victims was as young as 13 years old,” began spilling from their lips.

Their words couldn’t be posted on Facebook or found in an adult bookstore. But they echoed down the hall outside Senate chambers.

“Like a bad dream that we have to be here doing this. They should’ve done the right thing by now,” said Catholic church sexual abuse survivor Julianne Bortz.

Bortz is among dozens of survivors who are reading the Pennsylvania grand jury’s clergy sex abuse report in the hopes of getting the senate’s attention just ahead of an important vote.

The grand jury made several recommendations, including eliminating the statute of limitations for child sexual abuse.

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Staatsanwälte fordern Akten an Sexueller Missbrauch ist ein Verbrechen.

MUNICH (GERMANY)
OVB Online

October 16, 2018

By Angela Walser

[Prosecutors request acts Sexual abuse is a crime.]

Staatsanwälte fordern Akten an. Sexueller Missbrauch ist ein Verbrechen.

Die Täter müssen oft jahrelang hinter Gitter. In der katholischen Kirche blieb der aktenkundig gewordene Missbrauch bislang strafrechtlich ungesühnt. Ein geschlossenes System schützte die Täter. Doch die Generalstaatsanwaltschaft will das nun ändern.

München – Es ist immer der gleiche Satz, der fällt, wenn in der Missbrauchs-Problematik der Ruf nach der Staatsanwaltschaft laut wird. „Wir brauchen einen konkreten Anhaltspunkt, um ermitteln zu können“, sagen die Ankläger. Sie scheuen sich nicht vor der Arbeit, vor dem Umgang mit Opfern und Tätern und der Aufarbeitung eines Tabuthemas. „Doch so ist der Rechtsstaat“, erklärt die Münchner Oberstaatsanwältin Anne Leiding und fügt hinzu: „Auch das Handeln von Ermittlungsbehörden folgt Regeln.“ Sie und ihre Kollegen könnten nach dem Bekanntwerden der Missbrauchsstudie innerhalb der katholischen Kirche nicht wild in den Archiven herumstöbern. Selbst wenn ihnen ein Bischof drei Leitzordner übergeben würde, müsste er einen Grund nennen, „warum wir da reinschauen dürfen“, sagt Leiding.

Doch jetzt haben sich die Generalstaatsanwaltschaften München, Bamberg und Nürnberg eingeschaltet. Schriftlich forderten sie die Bischöflichen Ordinariate auf, einschlägige Fälle zur Anzeige zu bringen – vorausgesetzt Ort, Zeit, Handlungen und Beteiligte können genannt werden. Denn ein Hinweis auf eine verfolgbare Straftat muss immer sehr konkret sein. Es reicht nicht, dass jemand irgendwann etwas Halbwahres gesagt hat. Es muss etwas Greifbares geben, dann dürfen die Ermittler ran, dann können Akten beschlagnahmt werden, müssen die Ordinariate ihre Archive öffnen.

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Editorial: Malone cannot do the job as Buffalo’s bishop

BUFFALO (NY)
Buffalo News

October 15, 2018

It is a sign of the Catholic church’s peril that the question of who leads the Buffalo Diocese is among the least of its worries. Any organization that countenances pedophilia among its leaders is on the road to perdition. For a church to have done it is unimaginable.

Nevertheless, local leadership matters and, for the second time, a deacon has called for Buffalo Bishop Richard J. Malone to resign over his handling of credible accusations of sexual abuse by clergy. Malone, who has previously declared his intention to stay on, needs to heed the advice. He is a symbol of the church’s unwillingness to confront its culpability.

Following the August call of deacon and businessman Paul Snyder III for Malone to resign, another church leader this weekend added his voice, and it is an especially powerful one: Paul C. Emerson is not only a deacon at St. Joseph University Church in Buffalo, but a victim of sexual abuse by two area priests. He understands, as do Snyder and many other influential people, that Malone has lost the confidence of parishioners.

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Raúl Hasbún dijo que es “deseable transparentar las evidencias y razonamientos” de la expulsión de Cox

[Raúl Hasbún defends Schoenstatt over Cox expulsion]

CHILE
Soy Chile

October 16, 2018

El sacerdote respondió en una carta a El Mercurio y dijo que también se deben conocer las garantías procesales que tuvo el ex obispo.

En una carta enviada a El Mercurio, el sacerdote Raúl Hasbún defendió la actuación de la congregación de Schoenstatt ante la situación del ex obispo Francisco José Cox, quien fue expulsado de la Iglesia este sábado.

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Opinion: La Iglesia empujada al fideísmo

[Opinion: Church pushed to fideism]

CHILE
El Mostrador

October 16, 2018

By Jorge Costadoat

El panorama es malo. La institución eclesiástica no se reforma. No se pueden desarrollar los cristianismos europeos, americanos, africanos, oceánicos o asiáticos, mientras la sede romana pretenda gobernarlos a todos por parejo, sin tener en cuenta las diversidades culturales. Esta exclusión cultural, la marginación de la mujer, la concentración del poder del clero, entre otros déficits, tienen como causa una institucionalidad anacrónica reticente a los cambios.

La crisis detrás de la crisis. Este puede ser también el título de esta columna. La crisis provocada por los abusos sexuales de algunos clérigos en la Iglesia católica es la expresión sórdida de otra profunda crisis, a saber, la del divorcio entre la institución eclesiástica y el pueblo de Dios, todos los bautizados y bautizadas. Estos abusos tienen varias causas, por ejemplo, la pedofilia y, como bien señalan la Royal Comisión australiana (2017) y el Forschungsprojekt sobre esta materia de los alemanes (2018), la institucionalidad eclesiástica los facilita.

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Barros reconoce denuncia en contra de sacerdote que “se habría sobrepasado en el ámbito del cariño”

[Barros makes first statement in cover-up investigation, notes questionable incident involving former chaplain Pedro Quiroz]

SANTIAGO, CHILE
Emol

October 15, 2018

En su primera declaración como imputado por encubrimiento, el obispo emérito de Osorno sostuvo que el hecho habría involucrado al ex capellán castrense, Pedro Quiroz, con un joven mayor de edad, el cual habría sido desestimado.

El obispo emérito de Osorno, Juan Barros, descartó haber encubierto delitos sexuales cometidos por otros sacerdotes en su primera declaración como imputado en la investigación que instruía la Fiscalía sur y que fue traspasada a O’Higgins en las últimas semanas. No obstante, durante la interrogación realizada en dependencias de la Brigada Investigadora de Delitos Sexuales de la PDI, el sacerdote recordó un “incidente” protagonizado por el ex capellán castrense Pedro Quiroz con un joven mayor de edad, según El Mercurio.

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Anti-abuse pioneer expects Synod of Bishops to take a stand

DENVER (CO)
Crux

October 16, 2018

By Claire Giangravè

ROME – As bishops take part in a summit on young people this month at the Vatican, an expert on clerical sexual abuse said Monday that he’s confident the question of abuse in the Church will be a part of the document to emerge from the gathering.

“I have met a good number of participants at the synod, and I have talked to a good number of participants before it started, and they all told me that they would bring it up and they have brought it up. It has become a very important area of discussion, as I am informed,” said German Father Hans Zollner, President of The Center for Child Protection (CCP) at the Jesuit-run Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome, in an interview with Crux Oct. 15.

“I could not have imagined it otherwise. I am glad, but more than glad, I think it was obvious that it would be addressed,” he said.

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DC Diocese List Of Priests Accused Of Abuse Is Not Enough: SNAP

WASHINGTON (DC)
Patch

October 16, 2018

By Deb Belt

The release by the Archdiocese of Washington of the names of 31 priests deemed “credibly accused” of sexual abuse — along with the resignation of Cardinal Donald Wuerl, the Washington, D.C. archbishop, following criticism of his handling of child sex abuse cases — falls short of what critics say is a comprehensive list. The Survivors Network of those Abused By Priests said the release is a “hastily assembled PR stunt,” and only a full list of suspected and convicted abusers compiled by law enforcement would suffice.

The archdiocese posted on its website the names of 28 former clergy of the archdiocese, plus three religious-order priests who served in temporary roles in archdiocesan parishes or schools, who were “credibly accused of sexual abuse of minors from 1948 onward,” according to a statement. The list was assembled as part of a review of the archdiocese’s archives ordered by Cardinal Wuerl last year.

“This list is a painful reminder of the grave sins committed by clergy, the pain inflicted on innocent young people, and the harm done to the Church’s faithful, for which we continue to seek forgiveness,” said Cardinal Wuerl. “Our strong commitment to accompany survivors of abuse on their path toward healing is unwavering, but it is also important to note that to our knowledge there has not been an incident of abuse of a minor by a priest of the archdiocese in almost two decades. There is also no archdiocesan priest in active ministry who has ever been the subject of a credible allegation of abuse of a minor.”

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Ukrainian Catholic bishop pledges cooperation with Pa. abuse probe

PITTSBURGH (PA)
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

October 16, 2018

By Peter Smith

A Philadelphia-based Ukrainian Catholic bishop said his jurisdiction will respond to a grand jury subpoena for documents related to the sexual abuse of children — the first indication that another grand jury probe into clergy abuse may be underway in Pennsylvania.

Auxiliary Bishop Andriy Rabiy of the Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia told Catholic News Service that the church would comply with providing its files at an upcoming Oct. 24 court hearing.

“The archeparchy and I will fully cooperate with the law enforcement agencies,” he said.

He said the relatively small archeparchy has not had an allegation made against any of its clergy to date.

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Retired priest charged with sexual assault of youth

MANITOBA (CANADA)
Daily News

October 16, 2018

A retired Roman Catholic priest in the Archdiocese of St. Boniface has been charged with four counts of sexual assault and one of indecent assault, dating to more than three decades ago.

The alleged victim was a youth when the offences occurred, the Winnipeg Police Service said Monday, while announcing Roland Lanoie, 70, had been arrested Oct. 3.

Police said they began investigating earlier this year, after an adult male came forward to say he was the victim of a series of sexual assaults while he was a resident student at the St. Boniface Minor Seminary (now the St. Philip Minh Roman Catholic Church) between 1982 and 1988.

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Survivors group calls for Virginia to conduct Catholic priests abuse investigations

NORFOLK (VA)
WTKR TV

October 16, 2018

The Archdiocese of Washington released a list Monday of 28 former priests “credibly accused of sexual abuse of minors.” A group representing survivors of clergy sex abuse quickly responded by labeling the list “incomplete.”

SNAP called for the attorneys general in Virginia, Maryland and Washington to begin independent investigations when it released its findings. Virginia’s Attorney General is Mark Herring.

The Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP) named three other priests it said had been convicted of or admitted sexual abuse offenses since 1997.

“Given such easily found omissions, the integrity of the entire list is called into question,” the SNAP statement said.

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Reports Point to Frosh Requesting Confidential Church Documents

CUMBERLAND (MD)
WCBC Radio

October 16, 2018

Although his office will not confirm it, a number of sources have reported that Maryland’s attorney general is delving into records of the Baltimore archdiocese as part of an investigation into child sex abuse accusations. If true, Maryland would be the latest U.S. state seeking confidential church files since a Pennsylvania grand jury released an explosive report alleging widespread abuse and a cover-up scandal. Archbishop William Lori said in a statement that he has written priests and deacons in the archdiocese advising them he’s been informed by Attorney General Brian Frosh of “an investigation of records related to the sexual abuse of children.” Unlike other U.S. states including New York that have recently announced probes into clergy sex abuse, Frosh’s office only said it doesn’t confirm or deny the existence of any investigations…

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Kansas family fights to make clergy mandated reporters

LAWRENCE (KS)
KCTV

October 15, 2018

By Angie Ricono

A Kansas family says their son’s sexual assault was ignored by church leaders who were more interested in protecting the church than the 10-year-old boy.
A Kansas family says Kansas clergy should be mandated reporters.

They have started an online petition calling on Kansas lawmakers to change the law.

They feel former church leaders at Eagle Rock Church in Lawrence compromised their son’s criminal case by how they handled the allegations. The church denies the claim and says they followed state statutes.

The debate exposes the different ways churches across the nation handle allegations of sex abuse.

In Missouri, clergy are mandated reporters, but that is not the case in Kansas.

Across the nation, it’s a split issue with a little more than half of all states requiring clergy to directly report allegations to police.

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Washington Catholic Archdiocese Names 31 Priests ‘Credibly Accused’ Of Sexual Abuse

WASHINGTON (DC)
NPR

October 16, 2018

By Emily Sullivan

The Catholic archdiocese of Washington, D.C., has released a list of 31 clergymen who have been “credibly accused” of abusing children over a decades-long period — a move that comes just days after Pope Francis accepted the resignation of Archbishop Cardinal Donald Wuerl for allegedly covering up sexual abuse in the Church.

The list documents cases dating back as far 1948 and as recently as 1996. Eighteen priests were arrested and 17 of them are now dead. None of those still living are currently active clergymen.

“Where credibility could not be determined,” the archdiocese says, allegations are “treated as credible for purposes of tracking and responding.” It also says that no new allegations of abuse have been reported to them in two decades.

The release of the list comes amid upheaval in the archdiocese.

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PA House, Senate Remain In Conflict As Clock Ticks On Clergy Abuse Bill

HARRISBURG (PA)
WSKG Radio

October 16, 2018

By Katie Meyer

The state Senate has started its last scheduled session week for the year–and all eyes are on a measure that aims to make it easier for victims of child sexual abuse to sue their abusers.

The effort got renewed attention this summer after a grand jury probe alleged widespread abuse in Pennsylvania Catholic churches. But disagreement over one provision could make the whole thing fall apart.

Demonstrators lined the hallway outside Senate offices Monday as discussion on the bill resumed after an off-week, lighting battery-powered candles and holding up posters of loved ones who they say, as children, fell prey to abusive clergy members.

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Church confirms late DC police & fire chaplain ‘credibly accused’ of abusing children

WASHINGTON (DC)
Statter911

October 16, 2018

By Dave Statter

After 70 years, dark secrets of Washington’s Archdiocese are finally seeing the light of day. The church officially outed 31 pedophiles Monday who were members of the clergy, writing that each was “credibly accused of sexual abuse of minors”. Scanning the list, a name immediately caught my eye. R. Joseph Dooley.

Father–and later Monsignor–Dooley was the chaplain for the Metropolitan Police Department of Washington and the District of Columbia Fire Department from the 1960s through at least the mid-1980s. He also founded the International Conference of Police Chaplains in 1973 (more here) and was the chaplain for other police departments, including the United States Park Police.

Upon reading Dooley’s history it’s hard not to think of the Netflix documentary series “The Keepers”. That story centers on a Baltimore pedophile priest and the cover-up surrounding the unsolved murder of a young nun. To be very clear, there are no murder and intrigue claims like that with Msgr. Dooley, but some parallels are interesting.

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Man who says he was raped at Jesuit High questions how complete list of church sex abusers will be

NEW ORLEANS (LA)
WVUE TV

October 15, 2018

By Kimberly Curth

As the Archdiocese of New Orleans prepares to release the names of child sex abusers within the church, one alleged victim questions how complete that list will be.

We first introduced you to Richard Windmann last month in a TV exclusive. He told us Jesuit High School janitor Peter Modica repeatedly raped him as a child in the late 70s, while priest Cornelius Carr watched. Windmann says he received a $450,000 confidential settlement from Jesuit High School for that abuse several years ago.

“I didn’t go for money. I went for counseling and spiritual guidance, and they’re like, ‘Nah here’s a whole bunch of money. Shut up, go away,’” said Windmann.

Windmann wants the Archdiocese of New Orleans to release the names of pedophile priests. But, he questions how detailed that list would be. That’s why he believes a statewide investigation into church sex abuse should also be done.

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October 15, 2018

Washington Catholic Archdiocese releases names of 31 priests credibly accused of abuse since 1948

WASHINGTON D.C.
Washington Post

October 15, 2018

By Michelle Boorstein and Julie Zauzmer

The Catholic Archdiocese of Washington released a list Monday of 31 priests credibly accused of abuse since 1948, saying in a letter to clergy that the move is “a necessary step toward full transparency and accountability and the process of healing.”

The letter says the list includes the names of all priests credibly accused in the past 70 years. It includes 28 priests of the archdiocese and three priests not based in the archdiocese but who worked in its schools or parishes. The three were members of religious orders, or independent communities.

It says there are no archdiocesan priests in active ministry who have faced a credible allegation of abuse of a minor, and that “there has not been an incident of abuse of a minor by a priest of the archdiocese in almost two decades.” It does not say how recently accusers came forward, how many victims of the priests there are, nor whether the cases were taken to civil authorities.

It wasn’t immediately clear whether the list would be news to members of any of the accused priests’ communities. Some of the cases were well-publicized, while others were not. While 18 of the 31 were arrested, 13 never were, and of those, only five of the 13 were listed in a publicly searchable database of accused priests.

The letter comes amid huge turmoil in a part of the U.S. church that had seemed to have evaded the abuse crisis. But in June, the previous archbishop — Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, a popular figure in the U.S. church — was suspended amid allegations that he abused children and adults. He later resigned. Four days ago, Cardinal Donald Wuerl, a top ally of Pope Francis, retired after months of criticism that he had mishandled abuse allegations when he was in the Pittsburgh diocese, and hasn’t been completely transparent in D.C., either.

There are 196 Catholic dioceses or archdioceses — organizing regions — in the United States, according to the Web site of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. More than 50 of those have in recent years published lists of accused priests, said Terry McKiernan, whose site BishopAccountability.org advocates for such lists to come out.

Even when the accused priests are long deceased or removed from ministry, it can still be psychologically powerful for victims to see a comprehensive list of names published, McKiernan said Monday evening.

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Fort Worth Diocese Says Accused Priests Are Fairly Investigated

FORT WORTH (TX)
WBAP/KLIF News

October 15, 2018

The Catholic Diocese of Fort Worth says it believes a thorough investigation has been done ahead of releasing names of those who were credibly accused of sexual abuse.

All 15 dioceses in Texas are set to release a list of names of those credibly accused on January 31, 2019.

Bishop Michael Olson told the Chris Salcedo Show on WBAP it won’t be a situation where priest’s reputations are ruined without proper investigation first.

“There’s more than narrative that’s involved here,” Olson said. “And I think there are sufficient safeguards to avoid a false allegation precisely.”

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‘I am dumbfounded:’ Pewaukee pastor accused of inappropriately touching teenage girl

WAUKESHA (WI)
FOX6 News

October 15, 2018

Father Chuck Hanel made his initial appearance in Waukesha County court on Monday, Oct. 15 — charged with second degree sexual assault of a child. Hanel has been ordered not to have any unsupervised contact with any child under 18 while his case moved forward.

Fr. Hanel is the pastor of Queen of Apostles Catholic Church in Pewaukee. He is accused of inappropriately touching a 13-year-old girl during confession. Hanel remains on administrative leave until the charge is resolved.

“I am dumbfounded and heartbroken to be accused of harming a child. I have never hurt or abused a minor in my over 35 years of priesthood, nor have I ever contemplated doing so. In the meantime, as this process plays out, I will continue to pray for my accuser and her family every day — and, even though I am innocent of this crime,” Hanel said to reporters after his court appearance on Monday.

There was a group of parishioners in the courtroom — to show their support for the pastor.

“It really makes me feel stronger that so many people are supporting me and believe in me,” Hanel said.

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List of priests with ‘credible’ accusations includes three with local ties

GREENSBURG (IN)
CNHI NEWS INDIANA

October 14, 2018

By Amanda Browning

Three priests with ties to the Greensburg area are included on a list of 30 clergy accused of sexual abuse released by the Archdiocese of Indianapolis Oct. 11.

The religious were alleged to have committed abusive acts against 103 children and adolescents. Of those, there were seven potential area victims.

“I pray the release of this list of credibly accused clergy will help all survivors of sexual abuse find the strength to come forward and will set them on the path to healing,” said the Most Rev. Charles Thompson, archbishop of Indianapolis. “I apologize to all victims for the abuse that was done to them and for the failure of the church to keep them from harm. I pledge to do everything within my power to protect our youth.”

The list includes 19 priests for the Archdiocese of Indianapolis, as well as four priests who were members of religious orders serving the archdiocese back through the 1940s. The list of the credibly accused was compiled on the recommendation of the Archdiocesan Review Board, which includes five laypersons and one clergy member, who work to investigate and review each abuse allegation. Board members have current or former positions in law enforcement, the prosecutor’s office, child protective services, education, child development, social work, psychology and law, according to Thompson.

The archdiocese said an allegation was considered credible if “after a thorough investigation and review of available information the accusation was determined to be more likely to be true than not.” The list is separated into those found to have credible claims against them, those accused of improper relationships with “vulnerable” adults, and those who were deceased before claims were made against them.

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Catholic priest‚ 84‚ apologises to Limpopo man who accused him of sexual assault

JOHANNESBURG (SOUTH AFRICA)
Times Live

October 12, 2018

By Silusapho Nyanda

A South African man who accused a Catholic priest of sexual abuse has received the apology he has sought for 27 years.

On Thursday‚ the now 84-year-old former Catholic priest issued an apology.

“I recognise that my behaviour towards Mr Segodisho in the 1980s violated the trust he had put in me as a Catholic priest. I deeply regret the pain that I have caused Mr Segodisho‚ and would like to apologise to Mr Segodisho unreservedly‚” the UK-based priest wrote.

Earlier this week‚ William Segodisho‚ now 46‚ detailed at a press briefing in Johannesburg how he had been abused by the priest in the 1980s.

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Rape-accused Bishop Franco Mulakkal granted conditional bail by Kerala HC; priest to surrender passport, barred from state

INDIA
First Post

October 15, 2018

The Kerala High Court on Monday granted bail to Bishop Franco Mulakkal in the case of a nun’s rape. The high court granted him relief on some conditions, including that Mulakkal would have to surrender his passport. This was one of the concerns put forth by the prosecution.

Additionally, Mulkkal is no longer allowed to enter Kerala and is required to report to the investigating officer in the rape case at least once in two weeks.

The Jalandhar bishop applied for bail for the second time on 10 October. The plea stated that since he was not in a position of power any longer, he cannot intimidate witnesses anymore, as the prosecution had earlier claimed.

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An open letter to priests in a time of scandals

MANILA (PHILIPPINES)
LA Croix International

October 15, 2018

By Nirva’ana Ella Delacruz

Despite the criticism the church endures it is still battling against the unseen forces of evil in the world today

Having spent a week in Rome, I remain moved by my encounters with holy priests. (Yes, they exist!)

To all my priest friends whom I look up to as fathers and older brothers, please know there is someone who prays for you specially — little me.

I have no words to tell you what an agonizing privilege it is for you to be alter Christus (another Christ), for you to have the power to call Jesus down from heaven during the Mass, to have Our Lady loving and caring for you with the same intensity of love she had for Jesus.

You didn’t earn it, it’s just there — a gift.

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Francis expels two Chilean former bishops from priesthood

VATICAN CITY
La Croix International (with Catholic News Service)

October 15, 2018

The decision over the sex abuse scandal is not subject to appeal

Pope Francis has dismissed two Chilean former bishops accused of sex abuse from the priesthood after meeting with Chilean Prime Minister Sebastian Pinera to discuss the scandal affecting the Church in the South American country.

The pope’s decision on Oct. 11 to dismiss from the clerical state 84-year-old Francisco Jose Cox, the former archbishop of La Serena, and 53-year-old Marco Antonio Ordenes, the former bishop of Iquique, is “not subject to appeal,” the Vatican said.

The decision was not taken lightly but followed the edicts laid down by Benedict XVI regarding serious crimes committed by members of the clergy after they have been given the chance to defend themselves, Catholic News Service reports.

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Catholic priest Father William MacCurtain worked in Boscombe’s Corpus Christi parish

CORPUS CHRISTI (TX)
Daily Echo

October 15, 2018

THE Catholic priest accused of raping a schoolboy in South Africa worked as an assistant priest in Boscombe’s Corpus Christi parish for a decade.

Father William MacCurtain, who lives in a home for retired Jesuit priests in Boscombe, is alleged to have sexually assaulted a 13-year-old boy in Johannesburg during the 1980s.

The 84-year-old, a resident of the Corpus Christi Jesuit Community (CCJC) in Christchurch Road, has apologised to the alleged victim and said he “deeply regretted the pain” he had caused.

His apology sparked a number of calls for his extradition to South Africa to face charges.

Previously, the Daily Echo reported Father MacCurtain moved to Bournemouth in 1989 because he needed nursing care – and that he never had a ministry in the town nor links with the nearby Corpus Christi School.

However, Father Paul Nicholson, Assistant to the Provincial Jesuits Church in Britain, has now confirmed Father MacCurtain did indeed work as an assistant priest in Boscombe’s Corpus Christi parish between 1990, shortly after his return from South Africa, and 2000.

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Priest accused of sexual abuse dies in MN

HAGATNA (GUAM)
The Associated Press

October 13, 2018

A retired priest accused in more than 130 sexual abuse lawsuits and who admitted to molesting children on Guam has died.

The Pacific Daily News reports the Archdiocese of Agana says Louis Brouillard, who was ordained on Guam in 1948, died Wednesday in his native Minnesota. He was 97.

The archdiocese, in a statement released Friday, said Brouillard’s health had been declining in recent months.

Brouillard served on Guam until 1981 as a parish priest in Mangilao, Chalan Pago, Barrigada, Malojloj and Tumon, and as a teacher at Father Duenas Memorial School.

Brouillard, in a 2016 interview with a Pacific Daily News reporter, stated “it’s possible” he sexually abused boys while serving on Guam. He later signed an affidavit admitting to abusing 20 or more boys on the island.

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At Sunday Mass, scarce mention of Cardinal Wuerl’s resignation

WASHINGTON (DC)
The Washington Post

October 14, 2018

By Moriah Balingit

On a somber, gray Sunday afternoon, parishioners streamed into the Shrine of the Sacred Heart in Columbia Heights, many to celebrate the canonization of Archbishop Óscar Romero, who was slain in 1980 after speaking out against military repression in El Salvador.

But as they celebrated the elevation of one beloved archbishop, many also were celebrating their first Mass after the downfall of their own.

On Friday, Pope Francis accepted the resignation of Washington Archbishop Donald Wuerl, the cardinal who for 12 years oversaw the archdiocese where more than a half-million Catholics worship.

Wuerl stepped down after a report from a Pennsylvania grand jury that depicted decades of systemic sexual abuse within the church — some of it occurring in Pittsburgh, where Wuerl served as bishop.

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Brooklyn Diocese Ignored Protocol And Unwittingly Accepted Priest Accused Of Abuse

BROOKLYN (NY)
Gothamist

October 15, 2018

By Taylor Dolven

For five years, Father Roberto Cadavid led mass, heard confessions and guided children through the confirmation process as a priest at Catholic churches in Brooklyn and Queens, until he returned to his native Colombia in the summer of 2017. It wasn’t until 10 months later that his old parishioners were informed of why he left the United States: children in Colombia had come forward to accuse Cadavid of sexual abuse.

A review of records and correspondence by Gothamist shows that the Diocese of Brooklyn bypassed its own safety protocols to hire Cadavid in 2012. When the Diocese of Medellín eventually informed Brooklyn about Cadavid’s long history of alleged abuse in June 2017, the diocese let Cadavid go quietly.

By the time Cadavid arrived in Brooklyn in December 2012 to start his work here, at least four young boys had come forward accusing Cadavid of abusing them, starting in 2005 when he was director of a school half an hour outside of Medellín.

Cadavid was moved from church to church around Medellín as abuse allegations at his new assignments would emerge. One victim said Cadavid paid him 88 million Colombian pesos in 2009 (about U.S. $46,000) to remain silent about the abuse.

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Benedictines to hold landmark child protection conference in London

LONDON (UNITED KINGDOM)
La Croix

October 15, 2018

By Elena Curti

The Oct. 21 event is believed to be the first by a religious order in Great Britain

There was a time when members of the Benedictine community at Ealing Abbey in west London felt too ashamed to leave their monastery. The seemingly endless tide of complaints of sexual abuse by former pupils at their school caused the community to close in on itself.

In a YouTube testimony, Father James Leachman OSB describes the monks’ reactions as they gradually absorbed what happened to former pupils at St. Benedict’s School.

“We weren’t talking to each other,” said Father Leachman. “Some of the monks were not able to speak about it. Some were pretending it never happened, some could not go into the street because of the shame. Some were insulted and asked, ‘how can you belong to an organization like this?’ It was so very shocking.”

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Youth synod of old men Catholic Church crises over youth, celibate clergy and a lack of leadership roles for women

MUMBAI (INDIA)
La Croix

October 12, 2018

By Myron J. Pereira

The synod assembly on youth is being planned and discussed by senile old men. Amusing, but also tragic.

It is sometimes said that the Catholic Church today faces three crises, all of its own making.

The first is the crisis of a celibate clergy, which has exploded into the crisis of paedophile priests and a corrupt hierarchy that colluded with them.

This used to be passed off as an “American” problem — until we realized that it is global — there are priest predators in Latin America, Europe, Africa and even in India, the sexual molesters of Catholic women.

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„Die Bischöfe fahren diese Kirche an die Wand“

GERMANY
Der Tagesspiegel

October 13, 2018

By Frank Bachner

[“Bishops are driving this church to the wall”]

Matthias Katsch wurde an einem Jesuiten-Kolleg missbraucht. Der Opfer-Sprecher fordert, dass sich die katholische Kirche ihrer Schuld stellt.

Die Missbrauchsstudie der katholischen Bischofskonferenz offenbart tausendfachen Missbrauch durch Klerikale. Kardinal Reinhard Marx, der Vorsitzende der Bischofskonferenz, ist „tief beschämt und erschüttert von der Realität des Missbrauchs“. Diese Realität ist allerdings seit vielen Jahren bekannt. Nehmen Sie ihm die Reue ab?

Ich bezweifle nicht seine Betroffenheit. Aber mich verwundert, dass er verwundert ist. Die Zahlen sind ja keine Überraschung. Zudem gehe ich davon aus, dass die tatsächliche Dimension noch viel größer ist als in der Studie dargestellt.

Sie gehen von einer viel höheren Dunkelziffer aus?

Von einer deutlich höheren.

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Your View: Our family was changed forever after 5 of our children were abused by a priest

ALLENTOWN (PA)
The Morning Call

October 15, 2018

By Ed and Pat Fortney

When you realize that the whole dynamic and legacy of your family and grandchildren have been altered dramatically because of the actions of another, then and only then do you grieve the loss of what could have been.

Finding out that one of our daughters was abused was life altering for us.

Then years later, to find out that not only one but five of our children have been victims of a man we trusted — the Rev. Augustine Giella, who served at St. John the Evangelical Church in Enhaut, Dauphin County, for 5½ years in the 1980s — it alters the very fabric of your family and your family’s legacy for years to come.

We have experienced grief at its lowest depth. How do you survive that? How do you come to terms with the guilt as a parent? How do you grasp the failure of protecting your own children?

We hold onto our faith in God that he will move the mountains in the minds of Pennsylvania’s state senators. Right now they are our last hope.

The balance of justice for all victims lies in their hands. The day of the release of the state grand jury report (Aug. 14), we saw the pain of our children’s abuse being forced back into the forefront on those pages.

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Why Do We Keep Open Secrets?

UNITED KINGDOM
BBC News/The Why Factor

October 15, 2018

Presenter: Nastaran Tavakoli-Far; Producer: Clare Spencer

Open secrets exist in the business world, religion and even in families. Nastaran Tavakoli-Far asks why people keep quiet – even in the face of serious wrong-doing.

So why do some open secrets not come out sooner?

Nastaran Tavakoli-Far looks at the Catholic church, the trading floor and to the wrestling ring to find out why very different open secrets have continued for so long and why they eventually came out.

Length: 17 minutes

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Dettelbach calls for crackdown on clergy abuse; DeWine, Yost question his approach

COLUMBUS (OH)
The Columbus Dispatch

October 13, 2018

By Marty Schladen

The clergy-abuse scandals that have ravaged many states have landed squarely in the middle of the Ohio attorney general campaign.

Steve Dettelbach, the Democratic former U.S. attorney who is seeking the seat, used the controversial issue to bash his Republican opponent, state Auditor Dave Yost, and current Attorney General Mike DeWine, the Republican nominee for governor.

“Both their failure to act and their insistence that they’re rendered unable to act are not surprising, of course,” Dettelbach said in a written statement. “It’s what Ohioans have come to expect from the duo.”

Yost criticized his opponent for seeking to make political hay from the issue.

“It is shockingly inappropriate for Steve to politicize this long-simmering and painful issue for his selfish political gain,” Yost spokesman Carlo LoParo said. “He could’ve impaneled a federal grand jury when he was U.S. attorney. He didn’t do it, and his silence then betrays his opportunist speech now.”

Yost and DeWine also say that a major part of Dettelbach’s proposal conflicts with state law.

Dettelbach’s call comes on the heels of an investigation by a statewide Pennsylvania grand jury whose report in August said 300 priests had engaged in child sexual abuse over seven decades.

As with many other states, Ohio youth also have experienced abuse by Catholic priests and cover-ups by the hierarchy that oversees them.

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Director of Campus Ministry comments on Catholic church priest sexual abuse allegations

PORTLAND (OR)
UP Beacon

October 13, 2018

By Wes Cruse

This is part three of a series of articles

For the third article in a three part series, The Beacon sat down with Rev. James Gallagher, director of Campus Ministry and pastoral resident of Mehling Hall, to discuss how the news of the Pennsylvania Grand Jury Report releasing the names of more than 300 clergymen accused of sexual abuse in August.

And in September, a report also released the names of 18 additional priests “credibly accused” for the abuse of minors in the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend in Indiana.

Gallagher shared the impact these reports have had on his vocation as a priest and provided advice for students struggling with their faith because of the recent news.

The Beacon: What were your initial thoughts and feelings with the Pennsylvania Grand Jury report was released?

Gallagher: When I was first in the seminary was when all the news from 2002 came out. One can’t even call that the first wave, because there were times in the ‘80s and the ‘90s where news of this broke. But that was, in my awareness, one of the biggest breaking openings of this. So I had done a lot of processing already about the fact that people in the Church who are meant to do good can also do a great deal of harm. And so, it may not have been the best thought, but my initial thought was wondering about what was new about this in relation to what had broken in 2002.

The Beacon: Why do you think we’re experiencing this again?

Gallagher: In 2002 and in the years after that, there were certain areas in the country that the spotlight was on and there was a lot of this brought to the surface. But I think what’s going on now is the realization that there were also things happening in Pennsylvania, that there were things happening in many other places. For there to be healing, the people who were hurt in those places also need their stories told.

So this is why this is coming up again because the story hasn’t been told in Pennsylvania, and I’m guessing it will come up again in the future as other places are able to have their story told. There’s an aspect of the healing process that requires these things to be told and revealed. Not just that there are abusers in the Church, but who they are and where they worked needs to be acknowledged.

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Parish shifts underway in Pittsburgh diocese as church seeks to regain trust

PITTSBURGH (PA)
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

October 14, 2018

By Peter Smith

When the Rev. James Farnan arrived as pastor at St. James Catholic Parish in Sewickley earlier this year, he said one longtime parishioner told him bluntly that over the decades, “we only had one priest change the Mass schedule, and we ran him out of town in six months.”

Now the Mass schedule is changing again, not just at St. James but throughout the Diocese of Pittsburgh as a massive, long-anticipated parish consolidation process gets underway officially Monday.

That includes new and often reduced Mass times, and Father Farnan pointed out that it wasn’t his doing but part of a diocese-wide effort in response to long-running declines in priests, parishioners and participation.

But even a historic reorganization like this is hardly the biggest of his worries — not in the wake of the Aug. 14 release of a statewide grand jury report into sexual abuse in six Roman Catholic dioceses over the past seven decades. A half-dozen priests who served or resided at St. James were accused of abuse in the report.

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How the Spanish Catholic Church has been hiding abuse cases for decades

MADRID (SPAIN)
El Pais

October 15, 2018

By Jose Manuel Romero and Julio Nunez

The ecclesiastical leadership in the country refuses to provide any data on the incidents that it is aware of, with just three of the 70 dioceses passing on information to the prosecutor

For decades, the Spanish Catholic Church has been keeping quiet on the majority of sexual abuse cases involving minors of which it had knowledge or tried in its ecclesiastical courts. The facts of these incidents were not passed on to the public prosecutor, nor were sentences imposed against pedophile priests made public, apart from a handful of exceptions – most of which were forced.

The problem that most concerns Pope Francis, pedophilia in the Church, is only partially public knowledge in Spain thanks to cases that have been dealt with by the regular courts.

According to judicial records, judges have issued 33 rulings against priests over the last 30 years, for the abuse of 80 minors. The sentences have ranged from economic fines to up to 21 years in jail. Some of the sentences included compensation payments to the victims of between €1,200 and €70,000.

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Mansfield-area priest placed on leave; faces 25-year-old claim of sexual abuse of minor

MANSFIELD (OH)
Mansfield News Journal

October 14, 2018

By Emily Mills

A Mansfield-area priest has been placed on leave after an allegation was recently made of sexual abuse of a minor more than 25 years ago, the Diocese of Toledo announced Saturday.

Bishop Daniel E. Thomas said in a press release Father Nelson Beaver, a priest of the Diocese of Toledo, has been placed on administrative leave, effective immediately.

Beaver is the pastor of Resurrection Parish, 2600 Lexington Ave., Lexington, and St. Mary of the Snows Parish, 1630 Ashland Road, Madison Township. The allegation was not made in relation to those parish assignments, according to the press release.

Beaver is no longer residing at those parishes while on administrative leave, according to the press release. Beaver denied the allegation, the only one that’s been made against him, according to the Diocese of Toledo.

“We take every allegation of abuse of a minor with the utmost seriousness,” Thomas said in the press release. “Administrative leave is a first, precautionary step that safeguards and protects children while we start a canonical process of determining whether the allegation can be substantiated and whether a priest should remain in ministry.”

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Clergy probe expanding: Two more seminaries scrutinized

BOSTON (MA)
Boston Herald

October 12, 2018

By Sean Philip Cotter

The Catholic Archdiocese of Boston has brought on a high-profile former U.S. attorney as it expands its investigation of sexual misconduct from one to all three of the area seminaries in a move critics pan as “spin control.”

Along with the investigation into St. John’s Seminary, where two former seminarians in August alleged sexual misconduct took place, the probe will also cover Pope St. John XXIII National Seminary in Weston and Redemptoris Mater Seminary in Chestnut Hill.

“I have concluded that to meet the generally expected levels of transparency and accountability, it is best to expand the review to include all three seminaries,” Cardinal Sean O’Malley, the archbishop of Boston, said in a statement yesterday. “I want to reassure the seminary communities and the wider public that these are institutions committed to the highest standards of integrity, respect and safety for our seminarians, faculty and staff.”

The archdiocese said it has not heard allegations of impropriety at the other two seminaries.

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S.I. parishioners react to ‘credible’ sex abuse claims against former clergy

STATEN ISLAND (NY)
SI Advance

October 15, 2018

By Kyle Lawson

The message Sunday at Blessed Sacrament R.C. Church in West Brighton was pretty straight forward.

“There’s good, there’s bad… it’s been that way since the beginning of the world,” said Monsignor Peter Finn. “But guess what, the good will always win the battle… here on Staten Island, here at Blessed Sacrament Church.”

A week prior, he was among the church officials who addressed sex abuse claims against former Monsignor Francis Boyle. The alleged allegations have been substantiated by investigators; Monsignor Boyle awaits punishment from the Vatican.

“He was a very quiet man,” said Kevin Genereux, who attended mass on Sunday with his wife. “He didn’t come across as somebody who had any issues, but you never know.”

They said two of their children were altar servers when Monsignor Boyle was leading mass on Staten Island, but they never detected signs of abuse.

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En diez años se investigaron diez casos de abuso en la Iglesia

SALTA (ARGENTINA)
FM Profesional 89.9  [Salta, Argentina]

October 15, 2018

Read original article

El Vicario Judicial del Tribunal Eclesiástico, Loyola Pinto, dijo que están conmocionados ante los hechos de público conocimiento. Además se refirió a Emilio Lamas, a Néstor Aramayo y Carlos Gamboa

Ante los escándalos que se sucedieron en la Iglesia durante los últimos meses, el Vicario Judicial del Tribunal Eclesiástico, Loyola Pinto, habló del caso del párroco Emilio Lamas, quien fue expulsado de la Iglesia por ser encontrado culpable de abuso sexual, como así también de diferentes aspectos que pusieron a la institución en el ojo de la tormenta. Además, se refirió a la situación del sacerdote, Néstor Aramayo, e indicó que tiene conocimiento de 7 casos de abuso en la Iglesia que fueron investigados en Salta, en los últimos diez años.

Al respecto, el Vicario Judicial Eclesiástico, dejó su opinión sobre los casos de abuso en la Iglesia que sacudieron a Salta, como los de Emilio Lamas y Néstor Aramayo, quien tiene la posibilidad de volver a dar misa. Además, reveló que la institución tiene conocimiento de siete casos de abuso sexual, que fueron investigados en los últimos diez años. Sobre Carlos Gamboa, indicó que en breve saldrán las conclusiones de su situación.

¿Qué puede decir sobre los casos que conmocionaron a la provincia?

-“No le podría decir mucho más de lo que ya salió a la luz pública, pero son denuncias o juicios ya con condenas de hechos dolorosísimos, gravísimos e inexplicables en un ministro del Señor. Estamos todos conmocionados”.

Con respecto al padre Lamas, que dejó de pertenecer a la Iglesia por ser encontrado culpable de abuso. ¿Puede volver a ser sacerdote o no puede hacerlo nunca más?

-“No, es una perpetua. Es una pena perpetua, pero está sujeta a apelación, o sea, el Tribunal acá ha puesto esa pena pero podría caber que el Tribunal Superior de Apelación, diga otra cosa. El Tribunal Eclesiástico encargado está en Salta.

¿Es cierto que se trató como víctima a los abusadores y no a los abusados?

– Por las leyes de la Iglesia toda persona merece la atención propia de la dignidad de hijo de Dios. Al padre se lo ha tratado como reo, o sea, como una persona que tenía una supuesta denuncia por supuestos abusos.

Por otro lado, al padre Néstor Aramayo se le termina una condena. ¿De qué se trata la misma?

-Lo más que se puede decir es comentar lo que la víctima dijo. Bueno, evidentemente es una cosa que ocurrió hace muchos años y no hubo acceso carnal, no hubo violación ni cosas por el estilo. Sería otro caso, muy distinto al del padre Lamas, aunque involucre a un menor del mismo modo que el sacerdote que fue expulsado de la Iglesia.

Es cierto que se termina la pena que estipuló el Tribunal, pero de ahí a que vuelva a ejercer como padre, habrá que verlo más adelante, pero al hacerse público es más difícil.

Hoy, aquí y ahora sería imposible que el padre Aramayo vuelva a ejercer el ministerio como si no hubiera pasado nada porque ha habido un escándalo público.

¿Tienen contabilizados los casos de abuso o las denuncias contra sacerdotes?

-Fueron siete en los últimos diez años.

Otra situación que salió a la luz, fue la paternidad del sacerdote, Carlos Gamboa. ¿Qué pasó con el caso?

-La hija presentó una denuncia en Facebook. Pudimos contactarnos con ella desde el Tribunal, con la madre en realidad, con ella nunca. A la madre le ofrecimos que fuera el Tribunal Eclesiástico de Buenos Aires para presentar la denuncia. La llamaron y no presentaron nada, entonces, por lo que respecta a nosotros, el fiscal terminará de analizar lo que nosotros tenemos y le presentará al Obispo las conclusiones del hecho. Ella fue reconocida por Gamboa en 2002, pero una denuncia en Facebook no sirve como tal. Nosotros hacemos lo nuestro que es investigar y no puedo a adelantar lo que él ha dicho, pero ya a saldrán las conclusiones en breve y se pasarán al Obispo para que vea que hace.


Fuente de la Información: El Intra

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Releasing Names Of Texas Catholic Clergy Accused Of Child Sexual Abuse ‘Long Overdue’ [w/ audio]

TEXAS
Texas Standard

October 11, 2018

By Brooke Vincent & Rhonda Fanning

Church leaders say they will release names of those “credibly accused,” a term that has alarmed some survivors who want independent investigations.

People are calling for greater accountability from the Catholic Church following the reports of wide-ranging child sexual abuse by priests over several decades. In Texas, the church had originally admitted that 134 clergy members, out of 4,600 nationally were perpetrators of child sexual abuse, since the 1950s. But that’s about to change. Catholic leaders in Texas say they’ll soon release the names of all clergy who were “credibly accused” of child sexual assault.

Eileen Flynn DeLaO, a lecturer at the University of Texas at Austin School of Journalism, a former reporter and a member of the Religion Newswriters Association, says she was surprised by the news that Catholic leaders would reveal names, but she also says that it should have happened sooner.

“It’s long overdue. The bishops in Texas had the opportunity to publish more information about accused preists 14 years ago and they decided not to name names,” DeLaO says.

DeLaO says the church in Texas is taking this step so many years after initial allegations of clergy sex abuse because, in some ways, the public became complacent after the revelations from the Boston Globe’s Spotlight investigation into child sex abuse by priests in Boston in the early 2000s. She says people trusted that the church was taking steps to fix the problem – in some ways, that was true. DeLaO says the church had done a lot of training to prevent sexual abuse, but by 2018 the problem resurfaced.

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State of Texas: Church prepares to name clergy accused of abuse

AUSTIN (TX)
KXAN

October 14, 2018

By Madison Hever

By Jan. 31, 2019, the Catholic Church will release names of clergy members in Texas who have been credibly accused of sexually abusing children.

“We realize how important it is that we do all we can to prevent future abuse,” said Emily Hurlimann, the Director of Ethics and Integrity in Ministry for the Austin Diocese.

The list will name clergy members dating back to 1950 and Bishop Joe Vásquez says that by releasing the list, people can move forward in healing and it will create more trust in the Church.

“The sexual abuse of minors is a terrible thing. It’s a sin, but it’s a crime as well,” Vásquez said.

Hurlimann says that the Ethics and Integrity in Ministry program was put in place in 2002 to protect and help victims who have been sexually abused.

“Our program is focused on two different aspects: protecting children, preventing abuse from happening in the future, and then also for those that have experienced abuse in the past,” she said. “We’re supporting them, helping them report their stories and providing support for them as needed.”

The Catholic Diocese of Austin says it will be looking to hire outside investigators to help with compiling the list of victims by the deadline. Vásquez says that by hiring outside investigators, independent of the church, it will not be able to keep cases under wraps.

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Clergy sex abuse survivor speaks out, says Bay Area priest still protected Catholic Church

OAKLAND (CA)
KTVU

October 11, 2018

By Cristina Rendon

A survivor of clergy sex abuse spoke out Thursday in front of the Diocese of Oakland about a priest who molested him, claiming the man is still being protected by the Catholic Church.

Joey Piscitelli said he was 14 years old when he was molested by Father Stephen Whelan in 1969 and 1970 at Salesian High School in Richmond. Whelan was found liable for the molestation by a civil jury in 2006 and the verdict was upheld in several appeals.

“They sent a therapist from this diocese to ask me what happened even though I hadn’t reported it,” he recalled.

Piscitelli said he recently discovered Whelan was listed in an official Catholic directory as being a part of the Institute of Salesian Studies at Don Bosco Hall in Berkeley under the auspices of the Oakland Diocese. Piscitelli said he felt compelled to speak out because Whelan is a violent predator.

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2nd deacon urges Buffalo bishop to resign over clergy abuse

BUFFALO (NY)
The Buffalo News

October 14, 2018

By Jay Tokasz

A Catholic church deacon who said he was molested by a priest as a teenager has become the second cleric to call for Buffalo Diocese Bishop Richard J. Malone to resign over his handling of clergy sexual abuse allegations.

Paul C. Emerson, a deacon at St. Joseph University Church in Buffalo, said in an interview with The News that Malone is complicit in a cover-up of the abuse and needs to step down for healing in the diocese to begin.

“I think he should resign,” said Emerson. “The guy has lost the confidence of a great number of people, people that need to trust their bishop.”

“I think there should be a cleansing of the bishops that were involved in this in any way, shape or form,” he added.

Emerson joined Paul L. Snyder III, a deacon at St. Mary Church in Swormville, in urging Malone to step aside immediately, as a clergy sex abuse scandal continues to rock the Buffalo Diocese.

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Pope, Chilean president had “frank” talk about abuse scandal

CHILE
AFP Videos

October 13, 2018

Chilean President Sebastián Piñera says he has had a “frank meeting” with Pope Francis about the “difficult situation” facing the Church in Chile, a country hit hard by the cleric abuse scandal, on a visit to the Vatican.

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