ABUSE TRACKER

ROME (ITALY)
Crux

October 12, 2018

By John L. Allen Jr.

Make no mistake: Cardinal Donald Wuerl resigned today because of allegations of mishandling cases of clerical sexual abuse, and if he were to die tomorrow, his role in the abuse scandals would be how his obituary opened.

However fair that linkage may be doesn’t matter. His resignation at this time, and under these circumstances, effectively sets it in cement.

(Granted, critics will say it’s a curious sort of resignation since Wuerl has been named apostolic administrator, effectively leaving him in charge of the Archdiocese of Washington until a successor is named. Symbolically, however, the resignation still matters, because it comes off as a concession that a price had to be paid.)

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ROME (ITALY)
Crux

October 12, 2018

By Christopher White

After months of speculation, Pope Francis on Friday accepted the resignation of Cardinal Donald Wuerl amid the Archdiocese of Washington’s “Season of Healing,” called by the archbishop in response to the “confusion, disappointment and disunity,” over clerical sexual abuse.

The announcement comes following several months of intense scrutiny of Wuerl’s handling of sex abuse cases in the 1980s and 1990s in Pittsburgh, and after he publicly announced he would implore Pope Francis to let him resign. The resignation effects only Wuerl’s role as the Archbishop of Washington, and he remains a cardinal in good standing.

In a rare move, Francis has asked Wuerl to remain in the archdiocese as apostolic administrator until his successor is named, and also released a letter in which he praised Wuerl’s actions in seeking the good of his archdiocese over his own personal interests.

An apostolic administrator effectively serves as a “caretaker” of the archdiocese and is not empowered to make significant changes that would affect the incoming archbishop.

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UPPER DARBY TOWNSHIP (PA)
Delco Times

October 12, 2018

By Phil Heron

The drumbeat is getting louder.

But is the Pennsylvania Senate listening?

Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro, the man behind that damning grand jury report on priest abuse in six Pennsylvania dioceses, today will stand with victims of abuse to put pressure on the state Senate.

Right now there is still no indication if the Senate will take up a bill passed by the House that would open a two-year window for victims of childhood sexual abuse.

The House bill would eliminate the statute of limitations to bring criminal charges in sex abuse cases, and also expand the window for victims to bring civil actions against their accusers, from the current 30 years of age to age 50.

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WASHINGTON (DC)
Archdiocese of Washington

By Kim Viti Fiorentino Chancellor and General Counsel

October 12, 2018

The news that our Holy Father has accepted Cardinal Wuerl’s resignation as Archbishop of Washington fills me with both profound sadness and, at the same time, deep appreciation and admiration for the Cardinal’s abundant, sacrificial love for our archdiocese which he has tirelessly served for the past twelve years.

Cardinal Wuerl’s decision to ask the Holy Father to allow him to retire came after prayer and reflection, in view of the news we have all confronted. This includes the Archbishop McCarrick scandal, the Archbishop Viganò allegations and particularly the Pennsylvania Grand Jury report. This report targeted six dioceses in Pennsylvania and touched upon the Cardinal’s tenure as Bishop of Pittsburgh from 1988-2006 before he became our Archbishop. Unfortunately, the Cardinal’s pioneering leadership in the enhancement, implementation and enforcement of historically innovative and rigorous child protection policies was overshadowed by the report’s flaws and its interpretation by media.

Cardinal Wuerl reflected on the impact these realities have had upon the Archdiocese. As the Holy Father reflects in his letter, although he would have been justified to move forward with challenging many of the assertions that have been lodged against him, Cardinal Wuerl decided to forgo his personal interest out of love for the people entrusted to his care. He chose to take the step that would allow the Archdiocese of Washington to move beyond these difficulties and to focus, under new leadership, on healing, renewing and revitalizing our beautiful archdiocesan community, that is the Church of Washington.

We have been profoundly blessed to have this great priest as our archbishop and his final decision to act in favor of the people he loved and served for twelve years is the most eloquent witness to the integrity of his ministry and his legacy. I am truly thankful for his steadfast fidelity and his courageous and sacrificial commitment to the future of the Church in Washington.

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ST. LOUIS (MO)
Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests

October 11, 2018

By Zach Hiner

One year ago this week, the New York Times first ran its bombshell report on Harvey Weinstein. In the fallout of that article, the #MeToo movement re-emerged. Started by the activist Tarana Burke and led by brave survivors who wished to share their experience –in many cases, for the first time – with the world, the #MeToo movement has spread from Hollywood to cities large and small across the nation. While the full effects of the movement will be thought about, written on, and studied in classrooms for years to come, it’s hard to underestimate those effects today.

In the past year we’ve seen thousands of people come forward with their stories of abuse, whether at the hands of a parent, a boyfriend, a priest or a coach. We’ve also seen action in response to these stories. Powerful men have been stripped of their positions and titles and institutions have been held accountable both in the court of public opinion and the court of law.

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ROME (ITALY)
Vatican News

October 12, 2918

Please find the full text of Pope Francis’ letter to Cardinal Donald W. Wuerl, in an unofficial translation made available on the website of the Archdiocese of Washington.

To our Venerable Brother Cardinal Donald William Wuerl, Archbishop of Washington:

On September 21st I received your request that I accept your resignation from the pastoral government of the Archdiocese of Washington.

I am aware that this request rests on two pillars that have marked and continue to mark your ministry: to seek in all things the greater glory of God and to procure the good of the people entrusted to your care. The shepherd knows that the wellbeing and the unity of the People of God are precious gifts that the Lord has implored and for which he gave his life. He paid a very high price for this unity and our mission is to take care that the people not only remain united, but become witnesses of the Gospel “That they may all be one, as you, Father, are in me and I in you, that they also may be in us, that the world may believe that you sent me” (John17:21). This is the horizon from which we are continually invited to discern all our actions.

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What does priest’s death mean for those accusing him of sex abuse?
GUAM
KUAM News

By Krystal Paco

October 12, 2018

Father Louis Brouillard has died. What does this mean for the dozens who’ve accused him of clergy sexual abuse? Church attorney John Terlaje tells KUAM the priest’s passing has no effect on continued efforts towards mediation.

He’s admitted to abusing boys on Guam because he thought it made them happy. Father Brouillard in a phone interview with KUAM back in August 2016 said the following:

KUAM News: Did you molest some boys?

Father Brouillard: Yeah.

KUAM News: You did? Do you know how many?

Father Brouillard: No.

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WASHINGTON (DC)
Associated Press (via Washington Post)

October 12, 2018

By David Crary and Nicole Winfield 

Pope Francis has accepted the resignation of Washington Cardinal Donald Wuerl after he became entangled in two major sexual abuse and cover-up scandals and lost the support of many in his flock.

Wuerl, who turns 78 in November, becomes the most prominent head to roll in the scandal roiling the Catholic Church after his predecessor as Washington archbishop, Theodore McCarrick, was forced to resign as cardinal over allegations he sexually abused at least two minors and adult seminarians.

A Vatican statement Friday said Francis had accepted Wuerl’s resignation, but named no replacement; Wuerl’s office said he had been asked to stay on in a temporary capacity until a new archbishop is found.

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OAKLAND (CA)
Bay Area News Group

October 11, 2018

By George Kelly

Members of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests stood in midday sunshine on a sidewalk outside the shadowed doors of the Diocese of Oakland.

Before cameras and microphones, they called out Bishop Michael Barber for promising this week to begin an independent investigation into clergy sex abuse and to name priests credibly accused of abusing children.

The members of the group said that a priest convicted in a civil jury trial of abuse has been listed as a core team member of the Institute of Salesian Studies at Berkeley’s Don Bosco Hall.

SNAP member Joey Piscitelli won a lawsuit against that priest, the Rev. Steve Whelan, and stood with fellow volunteers Melanie Sakoda and Tim Stier.

“I was abused repeatedly in 1969 and 1970, and I brought a suit forward in 2003. They fought it until 2006,” Piscitelli said. “I won the case, and then they appealed it and it went to high court in California. I won both of their appeals, and in 2009 I got vindication and partial payment. The priest who molested me never paid anything.”

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CADILLAC (MI)
WWTV 7

October 11, 2018

In 1971, when he was 11-years-old, Jim Cummings says he was sexually abused by Father Paul Worczak at Holy Family Church in Watertown.

“He did a lot of grooming of his victims back then,” he said.

After he was abused, Cummings says that Worczak shunned him and led other children to do the same.

It wasn’t long before Worczak tried again.

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BOSTON (MA)
The Boston Pilot

October 11, 2018

Cardinal Seán P. O’Malley released the following statement Oct. 11:

This past August, I assembled a committee of men and women with the highest integrity and expertise to conduct a review at St. John’s Seminary in the Archdiocese of Boston. This review is in response to postings on the Archdiocesan Facebook page by two former seminarians stating that during their time at the seminary, they witnessed and experienced activities that are directly contrary to the moral standards and requirements of formation for the Catholic priesthood. Within days of these Facebook postings, the committee was appointed, announced publicly and preparations begun to review the culture of the St John Seminary regarding the personal standards expected and required of candidates for the priesthood, including any seminary issues of sexual harassment or other forms of intimidation or discrimination. I also committed to make available whatever resources the committee felt necessary to undertake this review.

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BURLINGTON (VT)
Buzz Feed

October 11, 2018

By Chris McDaniel

Reversing a decades-long position, the Diocese of Vermont announced Wednesday that it plans to name some of the 21 priests accused of sexually assaulting children between 1950 and 2003.

The decision came a day after BuzzFeed News revealed for the first time that a major state investigation into those priests found evidence of criminal acts but took no action.

To restore the community’s trust after “horrific” crimes, Bishop Christopher Coyne said in a statement, “I have decided to form an independent committee of lay men and women to examine clergy personnel files pertinent to any allegation of abuse of minors and to create a list of priests who have been accused of sexually abusing a minor. I will then make this list public. As to the details included with the list, they will be determined in consultation with the committee.”

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HALIFAX (CANADA)
Canadian Press

October 11, 2018

Halifax’s outspoken Roman Catholic archbishop is calling for a “Year of Atonement,” in a bid to unify a church divided over its response to a long-running series of sexual abuse scandals.

In a letter on the diocese website, Archbishop Anthony Mancini says the church “is breaking up into camps of ideologically driven groups, each trying to bring about some change in the church.”

He makes an explicit plea for the church “to become ‘one’ again.”

“Some are trying to return to an idealized past, others are trying to bring about a future which is more reflective of their own agenda than what the Church of Christ should look like,” Mancini writes.

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BURLINGTON (VT)
Burlington Free Press

October 11, 2018

By Dan D’Ambrosio

Long since drained of parishioners, Burlington’s Immaculate Conception Church on Pine Street will be sold, with the proceeds going to nearby St. Joseph’s Parish, a church official said Thursday.

St. Joseph’s Parish is deciding now on a commercial real estate broker to market the property, but has not yet settled on a selling price. The City of Burlington values the property at $4.47 million.

Monsignor John McDermott said Immaculate Conception has fewer than 100 parishioners, and that all masses were transferred to St. Joseph’s, just two blocks away on Allen Street. The sale of Immaculate Conception has been a topic of “conversation on a regular basis” within the Roman Catholic Diocese of Burlington since the early 2000s, according to McDermott.990s.

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BUFFALO (NY)
WKBW TV

October 11, 2018

By Charlie Specht

Buffalo Bishop Richard J. Malone has criticized one of the highest-ranking cardinals in the Catholic Church in America.

Malone through a spokeswoman Thursday released a statement responding to Cardinal Sean O’Malley of the Archdiocese of Boston, who said earlier this week that he was “deeply concerned” by the handling of sexual abuse in the Diocese of Buffalo under Malone.

“It is unfortunate that Cardinal O’Malley never contacted the Diocese of Buffalo to check on the facts and hear our side of the story,” Malone said in a written statement released by the diocese. “Bishop Malone has the utmost respect for Cardinal O’Malley and his leadership role as Chair of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Children. The television reports provided to the cardinal’s spokesperson misrepresented the truth about how the Diocese of Buffalo did in fact respond to both child and adult victims of clerical misconduct.”

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OGDENSBURG (NY)
Fox 28 News

October 11, 2018

The Diocese of Ogdensburg realizes it has some explaining to do. It just paid out nearly $5.5 million to settle sexual abuse claims. At the same time, it’s asking Catholics at parishes throughout the diocese to pledge money to a capital campaign fund.

The diocese says money parishioners pledge will be used for parish and diocesan projects. It will not be used to pay sexual abuse claims. It is financing the settlements with a line of credit and long-term loan. It knows there may be more claims to pay as more abuse victims come forward.

“For me that was a lesson learned, that there are people who continue to be hurt by past behaviors of priests and because some have not come forward for whatever reason, don’t think, that this is the end,” said Bishop Terry LaValley.

A Tuesday news release from the diocese stated the loan would be paid back from investment earnings on a diocesan revolving loan fund. Parishes use that fund for building projects. But some of the money is invested. In one recent year, it earned the diocese $800,000. Insurance rebates would also be used.

Diocesan Chancellor James Crowley said the finance committee will meet soon to determine exactly how to pay off abuse claims. But they realize there could be more.

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INDIANAPOLIS (IN)
Indianapolis Star

October 11, 2018

By Holly V. Hays

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 abuse 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, according to a news release.

“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.”

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BOSTON (MA)
NBC 10 Boston

October 11, 2018

Boston’s Catholic Archdiocese has hired a law firm and a former U.S. attorney to lead an investigation into three Boston-area seminaries run by the archdiocese following abuse allegations related to one of them.

Cardinal Sean O’Malley announced the decision to expand the investigation into St. John Seminary in Boston’s Brighton neighborhood to two others — Pope St. John XXIII National Seminary in Weston and Redemptoris Mater Seminary in Chestnut Hill — on Thursday afternoon in a lengthy statement.

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[Details of alleged abuse by Cox: “You stupid, you thought you were going to tear me away”]

CHILE
La Tercera

October 11, 2018

By Javiera Matus and Sergio Rodríguez

Frases extrañas, “carteles”, insinuaciones, cartas a la familia y situaciones derechamente sexuales. Todo eso forma parte del crudo relato que Hernán Godoy le entregó al Ministerio Público, a mediados de junio pasado, respecto de los eventuales abusos del obispo emérito de La Serena, Francisco José Cox.

“En el año 1985 conocí a este señor, en una misa de campaña, que se hacía en el tiempo de aniversario del colegio Daría Salas”. Así parte el relato que Hernán Godoy le entregó a la fiscalía el pasado 16 de junio, respecto de los eventuales abusos del obispo emérito de La Serena, Francisco José Cox.

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[Implications of the new canonical process ordered by Vatican against Jesuit Jaime Guzmán]

CHILE
La Tercera

October 10, 2018

By Carla Pía Ruiz

Alrededor de 15 denuncias contiene el informe de la investigación previa sobre el prelado. Ahora, se inicia un proceso al interior de la Iglesia.

Alrededor de 15 denuncias contiene el informe de la investigación previa sobre el sacerdote jesuita Jaime Guzmán, realizado por el abogado Waldo Bown, y que asegura que las denuncias eran verosímiles. El Vaticano respondió este miércoles ordenando un segundo proceso canónico contra el prelado, a quien se le acusa de múltiples abusos, según reveló en enero pasado un artículo de Reportajes de La Tercera.

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[Rancagua Court of Appeals asks Public Ministry to justify raids in Diocese of Valparaíso]

CHILE
La Tercera

October 10, 2018

By Leyla Zapata Sánchez

El fiscal regional de O’Higgins, Emiliano Arias, y el persecutor que estuvo presente en la diligencia, Sergio Pérez, tienen un plazo de ocho días para informar al tribunal de alzada

La Corte de Apelaciones de Rancagua mantiene pendiente la revisión del recurso de protección interpuesto por el vicario judicial del Obispado de Valparaíso, Luis Meneses Iturrizaga, tras el allanamiento realizado por el Ministerio Público el pasado 13 de septiembre, en el que la iglesia –según el escrito presentado ante el tribunal- asegura que la fiscalía ingresó a sus dependencias sin el aviso previo de 48 horas y sin respetar el secreto de la diligencia, argumentando que la prensa esperaba en las afuera del edificio de calle Chacabuco la llegada del Ministerio Público y el OS-9 de Carabineros.

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[Cox’s accuser told prosecutor that ex-bishop Donoso knew of abuse]

CHILE
La Tercera

October 10, 2018

By J. Matus and S. Rodríguez

Hernán Godoy aseguró que en 2002 se reunió con el prelado emérito de La Serena y le contó sobre los hechos irregulares. Donoso reconoce la existencia de esa conversación, pero dice que no se trató de una denuncia formal.

Hernán Godoy (46), uno de los dos denunciantes en Chile de los presuntos abusos sexuales cometidos por Francisco José Cox, exarzobispo de La Serena y quien actualmente reside en Vallendar, Alemania, no solo relató los hechos de los que habría sido víctima en 1985, en un acción judicial presentada a la fiscalía de La Serena, el 19 de junio pasado.

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BOSTON (MA)
Boston Globe

October 11, 2018

By Travis Andersen

Cardinal Sean P. O’Malley is expanding a review of sexual misconduct allegations at a Brighton seminary to include two other seminaries, and he’s bringing in a new team of investigators with no current ties to the Boston Archdiocese, he said Thursday.

O’Malley announced the developments in a lengthy statement.

Former US Attorney Donald K. Stern will lead a group of investigators from the firm of Yurko, Salvesen & Remz in a review of the allegations that surfaced over the summer regarding St. John’s Seminary, as well as a probe of Pope St. John XXIII National Seminary in Weston and Redemptoris Mater Seminary in Chestnut Hill.

The cardinal said he’s including the other seminaries in the review to meet “the generally expected levels of transparency and accountability.”

O’Malley also conceded that each member of the original group of outside investigators brought in to review the St. John’s allegations had ties to the seminary.

He said that “given the current challenges of confidence in Church leadership and institutions, the people of the Church and our civic community there may have been concerns regarding the objectivity and completeness of the committee’s findings.”

He said Yurko, Salvesen & Remz “does not have an existing relationship with any of the seminaries or the Archdiocese of Boston.”

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KALAMAZOO (MI)
WOOD TV 24 Hour News 8

October 11, 2018

The Diocese of Kalamazoo is asking any possible victims of an incardinated priest that once served in the Kalamazoo area to contact police.

The Diocese of Lansing said it removed Rev. Robert Gerl’s priestly permissions last week, based on a “credible” allegation of sexual assault involving an adult male decades ago.

Before moving to the Lansing area, Gerl served in the Diocese of Kalamazoo at Nazareth College from 1986 to 1991; St. Thomas More Parish in Kalamazoo from 1997 to 2000; and St. Catherine of Siena Parish in Portage from 2000 to 2009.

The Diocese of Kalamazoo says Gerl also regularly celebrated masses at other parishes on a temporary weekend basis.

The Diocese of Kalamazoo said Thursday Gerl does not have faculties for pastoral ministry with its diocese.

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NEW YORK (NY)
National Review

October 11, 2018

By Michael Brendan Dougherty

Just over five years ago, the Argentine cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio came out onto the loggia of St. Peter’s as Pope Francis. It is useful to recall the situation of the Church that he inherited.

The sex-abuse scandals that had rocked the Church in America and some European countries at the turn of the millennium were subsiding, or so it seemed. But the dysfunction at the Vatican under Pope Benedict XVI had overwhelmed the scholarly pontiff. Benedict’s chosen reformer for the corrupt Vatican Bank, Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò, initially had success in turning blood-red deficits toward the black, but he was swiftly undermined and sent packing to be the Vatican’s ambassador to the United States.

Benedict’s butler, Paolo Gabriele, was arrested for stealing and leaking to the media documents revealing the intrigue and backbiting within Vatican City. Benedict assigned three cardinals to investigate the VatiLeaks scandal. They returned to the pope a long dossier, which was widely reported to contain an account of the financial and sexual misdeeds of senior officials in the Vatican itself. At about this time European banks began squeezing the Vatican Bank, and by the turn of the New Year the Vatican’s own ATMs stopped working. Their function was restored days after Benedict announced that he would resign the papacy, the first papal resignation in five centuries.

Two storylines emerged out of the election of Bergoglio. The first was that the Church had elected a man who had a common touch and would stop the Church from becoming a museum of dead dogmas. The second is that the Church had chosen him because he had shown the energy to reform the dysfunctional curia.

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CHICAGO (IL)
Chicago Catholic

October 11, 2018

By Michelle Martin

One thing that has become clear since the sexual abuse of minors by Catholic clergy made headlines again this summer is that many people don’t know the steps the church is already taking to prevent abuse, and to investigate allegations when they arise.

The Archdiocese of Chicago was ahead of most other dioceses when the scandal broke in Boston in 2002, said Mayra Flores, safe environment coordinator for the archdiocese.

The archdiocese had put many measures in place under Cardinal Joseph Bernardin in the 1990s, including the creation of a review board with a majority of laypeople to review all allegations against priests and a ministry to assist victims of clerical sexual abuse.

“What stood out in Cardinal Bernardin’s vision was the outreach to victims,” Flores said. “He saw a need to say, ‘I’m sorry this happened to you. How can we help with your healing journey?’”

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AUSTIN (TX)
Austin American-Statesman

October 10, 2018

By Asher Price

As pressure mounts on Roman Catholic dioceses across the country to come clean about how they handled abusive priests, the 15 Catholic bishops in Texas announced Wednesday that they will soon publish the names of clergy who have been “credibly” accused of child sexual assault.

“My hope in releasing these names is to be transparent and begin to rebuild trust with the people I shepherd,” Austin Bishop Joe Vásquez said in a statement Wednesday.

“This sort of scandal has undermined the credibility of church and it has caused people to be angry and upset — and they have every reason to be upset,” he told the American-Statesman.

Victims’ advocates said the move is part of a national reckoning in a new era of accountability.

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SAN ANTONIO (TX)
Express News

October 10, 2018

By Elaine Ayala

Promising its fullest disclosure ever of accusations of sexual abuse of children by priests, the Archdiocese of San Antonio has formed an independent commission to review church files going back 75 years and make public its findings, including names of offenders.

A five-member panel headed by Catherine M. Stone, retired chief justice of the Texas Fourth Court of Appeals, also will review and recommend improvements to the archdiocese’s procedures for responding to allegations of sexual abuse by clergy.

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HOUSTON (TX)
Houston Public Radio

By Alvaro Ortiz

October 9, 2018

Manuel LaRosa-Lopez, the former Conroe priest accused of child molestation, was arraigned Tuesday morning at the Montgomery County Courthouse.

The Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office has charged LaRosa-Lopez with four counts of indecency with a child. Two people have accused the priest and he has received two charges per accuser.

A third person came forward last week accusing LaRosa-Lopez of molesting him when he was an altar boy in the mid 1990s.

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NEW JERSEY
Inside NJ

By Tom Barrett

October 10, 2018

Looking across the Delaware River with a view of Pennsylvania, I’m thinking that it’s time the New Jersey Legislature takes a stand on behalf of those victimized by sexual abuse in the Roman Catholic Church. Here’s why.

For Catholics everywhere, the sex-abuse scandal in the Church is a hot button issue and like a fire it can smolder and even turn cold if left unattended. Some flickering fires just need to be stoked.

Across the river, the Pennsylvania State Senate is currently debating the merits of “suspending for two years” the statute of limitations on civil cases for child sexual abuse. This is all in the aftermath of an explosive grand jury report that documented widespread abuse of thousands of children by hundreds of priests.

It’s been reported that the measure will possibly need 10 GOP votes in the Senate. Republicans control the upper chamber there with a 33-16 majority and one vacancy unlike in New Jersey, which has a Democratic majority. Their lower house has already passed the bill and the Governor of Pennsylvania supports it.

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HOUSTON (TX)
Fox 26

October 10, 2018

By Isiah Carey

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RUTLAND (VT)
Rutland Herald

October 9, 2018

#MeToo and national issues revolving around the Supreme Court nomination and the current president cast a much-needed spotlight upon sexual abuse.

Finally, there is a high profile investigation into the Catholic orphanage in Burlington. One issue is the children placed there as wards of the state of Vermont.

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Additionally, small group homes and boarding schools, and one not so small, where children, again placed by the state of Vermont, were sexually abused.

All of these victims deserve the justice of a deep and thorough investigation and subsequent prosecution no matter how far in the past such abuse happened.

Geoffrey Cobden

Weybridge

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ROME (ITALY)
NPR Morning Edition

October 8, 2018

By Sylvia Poggioli

As clerical sex abuse scandals buffet the Catholic Church, a three-week assembly of bishops is under way in Rome on how to make the Church relevant for young people. But the assembly, known as a synod, will likely be dominated by what many analysts call Catholicism’s worst crisis since the reformation.

Roughly 250 priests, bishops, cardinals and some younger laypersons are participating in the synod.

In the opening mass, pope Francis urged them “to dream and to hope.”

And he prayed for God’s help to ensure the Church does not let itself “be extinguished or crushed by the prophets of doom and misfortune, by our own shortcomings, mistakes and sins.”

Spiraling sex abuse scandals have hurt the pope. A new Pew Research Center poll found Francis’ favorability rating in the United States is 51 percent — down 19 points since January 2017.

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ROME (ITALY)
Vatican News

OKctober 11, 2018

By Russell Pollitt SJ

Archbishop Scicluna opened the briefing by saying that he was touched by the very vocal presence of 30 young people at the Synod who, at times, reacted vociferously to what they heard. He said that this gives the bishops a good indication of what is expected of them. Bishop Gobillard said that the young people reminded the bishops that they are part of the Church and showed them the “pathway” to preach the Gospel more authentically. Mr Leoncini said that Pope Francis was, for many young people, the greatest leader amongst leaders and that they really felt listened to and accompanied by him. He said that the Synod has shown him that the Church is not fearful to ask questions that seek radical answers.

Sexual Abuse
Archbishop Scicluna addressed abuse directly. He said that the comments made last week by Archbishop Anthony Fisher of Melbourne were an important “mea culpa” which capture the sense of all the Synod Fathers. He said that young people are searching for an authentic Church and that every working group at the Synod has touched on this issue. Stressing the need for action, he said that bishops must be accountable not only to God but also to their people. “Stewardship is the word, protection is the word,” Archbishop Scicluna said. He added that he had cried with victims many times. The archbishop said that when he meets with victims they are often no longer young. “It pains me that justice takes so long. This is also very painful to Pope Francis”. He said that he is a direct witness of how Pope Francis suffers because justice seems to be so slow.

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BALLARAT (AUSTRALIA)
ABC News

By Charlotte King

October 10, 2018

A former resident of a children’s home in Ballarat says she has been told she may have to wait more than two years for compensation if the institution decides not to opt in to the voluntary National Redress Scheme.

Cheryl Bihari, who was placed in Ballarat Orphanage in 1963, said she was seven years old when she was sexually assaulted by the superintendent soon after she arrived in the home.

Ms Bihari said applying for redress was in itself a traumatic experience.

“I looked at [the paperwork], and I thought, ‘oh my god how am I going to do this?'” she said.

“I’d do a couple of questions, I’d go away, come back again and then I’d do another.

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BROOKLYN (NY)
Bklyner

October 10, 2018

By Kadia Goba

Southern Brooklyn residents lead with Child Victims Act at the heated debate between State Sen. Marty Golden and Andrew Gounardes Tuesday in Dyker Heights.

The Dyker Heights Civic Association’s event drew nearly 100 people to hear candidates from assembly and senate races field questions from the audience ahead of the Nov. 6 general election.

“Will you support the Child Victims Fund?” one audience member asked both candidates.

“I don’t think taxpayers should be on the hook for the sins of others,” Gounardes said. “If you commit an atrocity—like assaulting a child—you should be, fully liable.”

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FORT WORTH (TX)
Religion News Service Press Release

October 9, 2018

The Sexual Abuse Summit – a day-long ministry conference focused exclusively on addressing the risk of child sexual abuse – occurs October 23rd at Christ Chapel Bible Church in Fort Worth, Texas. The conference, aimed at ministry leaders and currently sold out, provides essential information and resources designed to safeguard children and equip ministry personnel.

Kimberlee Norris and Gregory Love, sexual abuse attorneys and founders of MinistrySafe, will be speaking at the Summit. “While our culture is changing, too many ministries retain the false impression that ‘my church is not at risk’” says Norris. “This misconception leads to low protective barriers and, ultimately, harm to children.”

When ministries do not take proactive steps to prevent abuse, or fail to properly respond to an outcry of abuse, abuse survivors are pushed away from the Church. Child sexual abuse is devastating to the victim, the victim’s family, the congregation and the church itself, creating negative public perception and significant financial loss. Over the past decade, child sexual abuse has been the number one reason ministries have ended up in court.

Offenders are drawn to child-serving programs with fewer protections in place, and the welcoming, inclusive environment common in Christian ministries provides a prime target.

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LUBBOCK (TX)
KLBK News

October 10, 2018

By Mari Salazar

The Catholic Diocese of Texas plans to release names of priests accused of sexual abuse on January 31, 2019. The Roman Catholic Diocese of Lubbock plans to release names, as well. The Bishop of Lubbock said they want to restore trust in the church and protect children from crime.

Bishop Robert Coerver said they want to provide a safe place for everyone and the first step is to be transparent and help the victims through the healing process.

“That trust has been damaged especially through the events of this summer that have been widely publicized,” said Coerver.

There are more than 1,000 Catholic parishes in Texas and each one of those will be investigated. The church is review

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DETROIT (MI)
Fox 2 News

October 11 2018

The Archdiocese of Detroit has removed Fr. Robert Witkowski from public ministry due to credible allegations of sexual abuse of minors, it said Wednesday.

Witkowski, 83, is a retired priest and has been added to the Archdiocese’s list of clergy credibly accused of abuse.

The diocese received the complaints earlier this year and says the allegations date back to Witkowski’s early years of ministry. He was ordained in 1961 and served at St. Matthews in Detroit until 1966. From there he went on to Our Lady Queen of Heaven, also in Detroit, and worked there until 1969.

FOX 2 stopped by Witkowski’s home in Shelby Township, but the retired priest refused to speak with us. The Archdiocese of Detroit shared the allegations with the Wayne County Prosecutor’s office, which says it’s investigating the complaints.

Witkowski last served at St. Faustina Catholic Church in Warren before retiring in 2013. Attorney General Bill Schuette launched a statewide investigation into sexual abuse in the Catholic Church back in August.

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DETROIT (MI)
The Detroit News

October 10, 2018

A retired senior priest in the Archdiocese of Detroit has been restricted from public ministry following credible allegations of sexual abuse involving minors, church officials announced Wednesday.

The accusations against Rev. Robert Witkowski, 83, date back to the early years of his career and have been shared with authorities, the archdiocese said in a statement. Other details were not released.

“A further determination on the matter now involves a review process required under church (canon) law,” the release read.

Witkowski’s name also has been added to an archdiocese list showing clergy credibly accused of abuse.

Ordained in 1961, he worked as a hospital chaplain and served as an associate pastor, pastor and administrator through 2013, the AOD reported.

His assignments were:

•1991-2013: St. Faustina, Warren (merger of St. Edmund/St. Sylvester)
•1985-91: St. Raymond, Detroit
•1981-85: St. Lawrence, Utica
•1980-81: Our Lady Star of the Sea, Grosse Pointe Woods
•1976-80: St. Mary Magdalen, Melvindale
•1969-75: Herman Kiefer/Detroit Osteopathic Hospitals, Detroit
•1966-69: Our Lady Queen of Heaven, Detroit
•1961-66: St. Matthew, Detroit

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AUSTRALIA
The Australian

October 11, 2018

By Tessa Akerman

Australia’s most notorious pedophile priest Gerald Ridsdale has told a court he is “happy” that seven of his victims have been compensated.

Twelve of his victims had sought an order from the County Court which would allow them to seek compensation directly from Ridsdale but the court today heard seven of the victims had reached external settlements and were withdrawing their claims.

“I’m happy to know that these people have received compensation,” Ridsdale said via videolink with a mobility walker next to him.
T
“And I’m happy to know that they have withdrawn or been withdrawn from the list.

“I certainly wouldn’t be seeking any costs from them.”

Barristers for the remaining victims asked Chief Judge Peter Kidd to adjourn the remaining applications sine die, with no fixed return date, with Ridsdale supporting the motion.

“As your honour would know, we’ve been through this before with other applicants and their cases have been adjourned before six months and then six months until the matter has been settled,” Ridsdale said.

Judge Kidd however adjourned the case until April next year.

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LANCASTER (PA)
ABC 27 News

By: Christine McLarty

A rally at Binns Park in Lancaster Thursday is being held in an effort to prevent child sex abuse.

The non-profit ”Stop Child Predators” is joining with survivors of abuse by Catholic clergy members at 11:00 am to urge lawmakers to pass new legislation.

According to organizers, the new legislation could help prevent further abuse and ensure every single survivor can hold their abuser accountable in a court of law.

Survivors of Catholic clergy sex abuse will share their experiences with the community and lawmakers.

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UNITED STATES
Salon

October 11, 2018

By Brian Clites

Widespread public shock followed the recent release of the Pennsylvania grand jury report that identified more than 1,000 child victims of clergy sexual abuse. In fact, as I know through my research, the Vatican and its American bishops have known about the problem of priestly pedophilia since at least the 1950s. And the Church has consistently silenced would-be whistleblowers from within its own ranks.

In the memory of many Americans, the only comparable scandal was in Massachusetts, where, in 2002, the Boston Globe published more than 600 articles about abuses under the administration of Cardinal Bernard Law. That investigation was immortalized in the 2015 award-winning film, “Spotlight.”

What many Americans don’t remember, however, are other similar scandals, some even more dramatic and national in scope.

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FT. WAYNE (IN)
Ft. Wayne Journal Gazette

October 11, 2018

By Joe Woehnker

OK, enough is enough. I cannot bite my tongue any longer.

The article in the Sept. 30 Journal Gazette headlined “Pope seeks prayers to fight devil on sex abuse scandal” is about as asinine as it gets.

Pope Francis is requesting daily prayers from people to help stop the devil from causing pedophile priests from doing what they seem to do so well – abusing children and getting away with it.

Instead, he should ask himself how they have been able to continue this behavior for so long.

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MALTA
The Times of Malta

October 10, 2018

By Philip Leone Ganado

The Church Safeguarding Commission found and referred to the police three substantiated allegations of sexual abuse of minors last year, according to the commission’s annual report.

In all three cases, the commission imposed restrictions on the pastoral activities that could be carried out by the perpetrators – two priests and a layperson – as a precautionary measure.

The report states that another 12 allegations of abuse of minors are still being assessed, while 16 were found to be false, could not be proven, or were found not to concern abuse.

The commission also assessed 12 complaints concerning vulnerable adults, none of which were found to be substantiated. Three allegations are still being assessed.

Commission head Andrew Azzopardi said on Wednesday that while sexual abuse was not exclusively a Church problem, the Church had to take responsibility for the “serious, sometimes irreparable, harm” perpetrated by some of its members.

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CALGARY (CANADA)
CBC News

October 10, 2018

A Catholic priest in Calgary has been accused of sexual misconduct stemming from his time in Vancouver.

Father Peter Hung Cong Tran served as pastor of St. Francis of Assisi church in downtown Calgary from 2016 until his recent dismissal. He was previously stationed as an associate pastor of the St. Vincent Liem Parish in Calgary from 2003 to 2007 and in the Ascension Parish in Calgary from 1996 to 1998.

Tran also served as pastor of Edmonton’s Queen of Martyrs Parish from 2007 to 2016 and associate pastor at St. Joseph’s Parish in Vancouver from 1998 to 2003.

Details on the allegations are not known at this time, but the Calgary diocese says there are allegations of misconduct toward a minor and an adult.

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BROWNSVILLE (TX)
Brownsville Herald

October 10, 2018

By Laura B. Martinez

Texas Catholic dioceses have announced plans to release the names of clergy who have been credibly accused of sexually abusing a minor.

The lists will be released Jan. 31, 2019 and the lists of clergy will go back at least to 1950. It will include all 15 Catholic dioceses in Texas including the Catholic Diocese of Brownsville.

According to a press release, the decision was made in the context of the ongoing work of protecting children from sexual abuse and the effort to promote healing and a restoration of trust in the Catholic Church.

Bishop Daniel E. Flores of the Diocese of Brownsville said, “The care of victims and their healing is primary, and we must do what we can to strengthen those whose faith has been injured.” He added, “An accurate accounting of the past is necessary for us to move forward with integrity. To do this, it is important to develop processes that involve active participation of laypersons. We want to ensure that everything we do contributes to healing, transparency and accountability.”

The Catholic Church has faced severe criticism following reports earlier this year that 300 priests in the Pennsylvania area had allegedly abused more than 1,000 children and that their actions were covered up by diocese officials.

A Pew poll released earlier this month indicated only three out of 10 American Catholics approved of the way Pope Francis is handling the abuse scandal.

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BROWNSVILLE (TX)
Brownsville Herald

October 10, 2018

By Laura B. Martinez

Texas Catholic dioceses have announced plans to release the names of clergy who have been credibly accused of sexually abusing a minor.

The lists will be released Jan. 31, 2019 and the lists of clergy will go back at least to 1950. It will include all 15 Catholic dioceses in Texas including the Catholic Diocese of Brownsville.

According to a press release, the decision was made in the context of the ongoing work of protecting children from sexual abuse and the effort to promote healing and a restoration of trust in the Catholic Church.

Bishop Daniel E. Flores of the Diocese of Brownsville said, “The care of victims and their healing is primary, and we must do what we can to strengthen those whose faith has been injured.” He added, “An accurate accounting of the past is necessary for us to move forward with integrity. To do this, it is important to develop processes that involve active participation of laypersons. We want to ensure that everything we do contributes to healing, transparency and accountability.”

The Catholic Church has faced severe criticism following reports earlier this year that 300 priests in the Pennsylvania area had allegedly abused more than 1,000 children and that their actions were covered up by diocese officials.

A Pew poll released earlier this month indicated only three out of 10 American Catholics approved of the way Pope Francis is handling the abuse scandal.

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RIDGEFIELD (CT)
Ridgefield HamletHub

October 10, 2018

By Kathleen

According to the Connecticut Law Tribune, a retired judge and current law partner at Pullman & Comley, Robert Holzberg has been contacted by the Diocese of Bridgeport to lead an investigation into allegations of sexual abuse by clergy going back decades.

The Connecticut Law Tribune reports that Holzberg was told by Diocese of Bridgeport Bishop Frank Caggiano that nothing would be off-limits in his investigation. “Holzberg will look into the history of clergy sex abuse of children during the last 65 years, and the diocese response to that abuse,” Tribune’s Robert Storace said.

The Diocese of Bridgeport website lists the names of accused Diocesan Clerics or accused Religious Order Priests who served in the Diocese of Bridgeport. Among them are former St. Mary Church priests, Albert McGoldrick, Robert Morrissey (deceased), and Charlie Stubbs (deceased).

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STEUBENVILLE (OH)
WTOV9

October 9, 2018

By Alex Taylor

An alleged victim of sexual assault within the Steubenville Diocese spoke out during a peaceful protest on Tuesday.

Members of SNAP — Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests — marched into the diocese to deliver a letter intended for Bishop Jeffrey Monforton.

“This is something that should’ve been done so long ago,” said Judy Jones, SNAP Midwest regional leader.

She addressed Steubenville Diocese Communications Director Dino Orsatti, sharing her story.

“My brother was sexually abused here in the Steubenville Diocese,” she said.

She also asked for more than what she thought was on the table.

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WHEELING (WV)
WTRF 7 News

October 9, 2018

A woman who says she was sexually abused by a priest when she was a teenager speaks out about her experience.

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YOUNGSTOWN (OH)
Tribune Chronicle

October 9, 2018

Victims of abuse at the hands of the Catholic Church have staged a Youngstown protest this afternoon in the hopes of triggering an statewide probe of the Catholic hierarchy by the Ohio Attorney General’s office and “more aggressive” response by local police and prosecutors.

The organization known as Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, or SNAP, is calling on the Catholic bishops to post a comprehensive list of alleged predators and update the list frequently.

Today’s protest, set for 1:30 p.m. in front of the Regional Office for the Ohio Attorney General at 20 West Federal Plaza, Youngstown, comes on the heels of a recently released Pennsylvania grand jury report about sex crimes in that state’s Catholic dioceses.

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YOUNGSTOWN (OH)
WYTV

October 9, 2018

By Katie Wilson

The Catholic Diocese of Youngstown has agreed and says they’ll release a list

A group supporting clergy abuse survivors has a list of demands for the Catholic Diocese of Youngstown, and on Tuesday, they stood outside one of the regional offices for the state’s attorney general to make that list known.

Members of SNAP (Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests) stood along W. Federal Plaza in Youngstown with a message to both the diocese and the state.

The cause is near and dear to SNAP Midwest Regional Leader Judy Jones.

“My brother was sexually abused by my longtime parish priest,” she said.

When her mother refused to believe her own son, Jones knew she had to do something.

Now, she’s traveling the state with other SNAP members with a list of demands.

The first demand is a published list of every clergy member credibly accused of sexual abuse in each diocese. The group says it’s part of a victim’s healing process.

“Now, somebody who has been abused and has never made it known sees that their perpetrator is exposed, is there, has been reported to the diocese,” said SNAP Volunteer Australia Coordinator Steven Spaner.

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[Cox and Schoenstatt movement now at center of sex scandal in Chile’s Catholic Church]

CHILE
BioBioChile

October 10, 2018

By Guido Focacci, Nicole Martínez, and Deutsche Welle (German broadcaster)

Francisco José Cox, sacerdote contra quien pesan varias denuncias de abuso sexual en Chile y una en Alemania, es hoy el centro de atención en la crisis de la Iglesia Católica nacional. El sacerdote fue alejado de sus funciones pastorales en 1997 y desde ahí se dedicó a otras labores de la Iglesia, hasta que el 2002 se recluyó en Alemania, bajo el alero de Schoenstatt.

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[Uncle talks about young man who committed suicide after revealing sex abuse by priest Márquez in Concepción]

CHILE
BioBioChile

October 8, 2018

By Nicolás Parra

“Le costó harto contarme. Yo le pregunté si le había pasado algo con el cura… titubeó en decirme, hasta que confidenció que el cura lo obligó a tocarlo y a masturbarlo”. Esa es parte del relato de Antonio Garrido, tío de Jónathan, joven que se suicidó luego de revelar los abusos sexuales a los que habría sido sometido por el expárroco de la iglesia de Lourdes, del sector de Pedro de Valdivia en Concepción, Hugo Márquez.

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[Chomali on Karadima’s exit: “better late than never”]

CHILE
La Tercera

October 8, 2018

By K. Hillmann

El prelado de Concepción también cuestionó la forma como la Iglesia de Santiago abordó abusos en El Bosque.

El pasado 21 de septiembre el arzobispo de Concepción, Fernando Chomali, se reunió en el Vaticano con el Papa Francisco, con el objetivo de abordar diferentes temas, entre ellos, la crisis por la que está pasa la Iglesia producto de las denuncias de abusos.

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[In “La Cofradía” case, defense says no victims have been identified yet]

CHILE
La Tercera

October 10, 2018

By Leyla Zapata Sánchez

Defensoría Penal cuestiona la calidad de la denuncia hecha ante el Ministerio Público y señala que la investigación ha tenido pocos avances.

El 27 de septiembre se registró un hecho relevante en la investigación que sigue el Ministerio Público por eventuales delitos de abusos sexuales contra menores, los que habrían sido cometidos por sacerdotes. En dicha jornada, la Defensoría Penal Pública logró que fueran sobreseídos tres de los 14 religiosos investigados en el marco de “La Cofradía”.

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[After dismissals, priests’ defender says La Familia case “looks like the Spiniak case”]

SANTIAGO, CHILE
Emol

October 9, 2018

El defensor de los 12 imputados en el caso, Víctor Providel, apunta a la sobrerreacción de la Fiscalía y la opinión pública frente a una única denunciante. “Las historias se parecen y reconozco que la historia es muy vendible” pero “no existe La Familia, no existe La Cofradía”.

El jefe de estudios de la Defensoría Penal Pública de la Sexta Región, Víctor Providel, se refirió durante la mañana de este martes a los avances del caso llamado La Familia, donde hace dos semanas fueron sobreseídos tres de los 12 imputados, estableciéndose que no había indicios de una asociación ilícita destinada al abuso de menores, tal como se informó inicialmente.

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[New restrictions on Bishop Cox in Germany include no telephone and a ban on leaving]

SANTIAGO, CHILE
Emol

October 10, 2018

El viceprovincial de la congregación Padres de Schoenstatt, Patricio Moore, señala que las medidas fueron tomadas en el marco de la investigación que lleva adelante el Vaticano.

La congregación Padres de Schoenstatt reveló que adoptó nuevas medidas para prevenir que el arzobispo emérito de La Serena, Francisco José Cox Huneeus, tenga contacto con menores. El sacerdote, quien desde 2002 está retirado en Alemania y enfrenta una denuncia por abuso en ese país, se supone que lleva desde hace 16 años “una vida de silencio, oración y penitencia”.

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[Episcopal Conference begins registry to evaluate schools’ work in preventing abuse]

SANTIAGO, CHILE
Emol

October 9, 2018

By Tomás Molina

La información la entregará cada diócesis de forma voluntaria, al igual que los establecimientos pertenecientes a congregaciones. Tendrán plazo hasta el 26 de octubre.

Un catastro que pretende levantar información de los cerca de mil colegios católicos de Chile, referente a la forma en los establecimientos están trabajando en materia de prevención de abusos, fue el iniciado este martes por la Conferencia Episcopal. La idea, señalaron desde el área de educación de dicho organismo, es revisar que se cumpla la normativa al interior de las líneas guía “Cuidado y Esperanza” establecidas el año 2015. Se trata de un documento de 80 páginas que, según el episcopado, “promueve los ambientes sanos y seguros” para menores.

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DETROIT (MI)
ChurchMilitant.com

October 6, 2018

by Christine Niles

A fundraising campaign that raised $16,000 for a Chicago priest persecuted by Cdl. Blase Cupich was revoked by GoFundMe, which deemed it a “violation” of their terms and conditions. All money was sent back to donors. The priest, Fr. Paul John Kalchik, received nothing.

Outrage from Catholics, who considered GoFundMe’s move an act of anti-Catholic bigotry, resulted in more than twice as much raised — $40,000 — in only 17 hours at a new campaign.

“I opened up Church Militant just to check on progress, and was floored!” Kalchik told Church Militant Tuesday. “It is phenomenal to see how much people are giving to ensure that justice is rendered on my behalf. Thank You, Thank You, Thank You.”

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ROME (ITALY)
Crux

October 10, 2018

By Elise Harris

As the saga surrounding allegations raised by a former papal ambassador to the U.S. that Pope Francis covered up the misconduct of ex-Cardinal Theodore McCarrick continues, taking increasingly unprecedented twists and turns, questions still abound regarding some of the key figures involved.

One of these figures is Italian Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, who was accused in an Aug. 25 statement by fellow Italian Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò, who served as the pope’s ambassador to the U.S. from 2011-2016, of ignoring repeated warnings about McCarrick.

Details on Bertone’s role, and whether he potentially ignored or mishandled complaints, are still foggy, though the record does show he has a lengthy track record getting caught up in scandals

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ASHTABULA TOWNSHIP (OH)
Meadville Tribune

October 10, 2018

By Shelley Terry

A former priest, who became a licensed social worker, lost his job last month at Community Counseling Center after a Pittsburgh TV station identified him as a former priest listed among accused clerics in a Pennsylvania grand jury report on sexual abuse in the Catholic Church.

William B. Yockey, 66, who served as a priest at several parishes before leaving the priesthood in 1991 in the wake of child sex abuse allegations, later became a licensed social worker in Pennsylvania and Ohio.

On July 10, 2017, he began working at Community Counseling Center, 2801 C Court, where adults and children with mental illness and substance abuse problems are treated.

Fourteen months later, on Sept. 5, Yockey told the administration he was confronted by a television reporter in the agency’s parking lot in reference to prior allegations of misconduct while he was a priest in Pennsylvania, according to a release from Community Counseling.

This was the first administrators learned of the allegations.

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UNITED STATES
Patheos

October 9, 2018

By Rebecca Hamilton

Mary Pezzulo, who blogs over at Steel Magnificat, wrote a column today addressing what not to say when someone you know says they are leaving the Church.

She admonished her readers not to say that you’re glad they’re going and have they read John six.

I must admit that in all my years of messing with chickens, I never met anyone quite that stupid, but, then, I’m old and out of touch with the new everybody’s-going-to-hell-but-me Christianity. I have witnessed, heard and been the recipient of quite a few ill-wishers down the years who’ve told people, including me, that we were hell-bound and the hand cart to take us there was waiting at the front door. This is usually said with more than a little venom and gloating anticipation of watching me, roasting on a spit. There’s been a definite portion of you’re-going-to-hell-and-I’m-glad-of-it in these snarls.

I have, in the past few days, encountered three women in my private life who are, more or less, “leaving” the Church. One of them says she’s still Catholic, but doesn’t plan to go to mass anymore. It appears her extended family plans to stay home with her. Another says she is through with the Church and is going to join a denomination that ordains women. The third was never Catholic. She’s slamming the door behind her at the Southern Baptist denomination and says she’s through with all churches. Once again, it appears her husband and kids are going with her.

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UNITED STATES
Patheos

October 9, 2018

By Deacon Greg Kandra

Over the summer, as the news broke about the Grand Jury report from Pennsylvania and the deepening crisis surrounding then-Cardinal McCarrick, I began hearing from deacons around the country, asking the persistent question: what about us?

As the weeks have gone on, more have been wondering why there has been no discussion about involving the diaconate in helping to reform, to heal, to accompany the Church and Her members more closely during this troubled time.

Deacons, after all, have a unique role: we live and work closely with the laity, yet also serve alongside the priests and bishops in liturgy and in ministry. We straddle two worlds.

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SAN BERNARDINO (CA)
Newsweek

October 10, 2018

By Jason Murdock

The Catholic Diocese of San Bernardino this week released 34 names of the Catholic priests it says have had credible allegations of child sexual abuse made against them since 1978. On Twitter, the Church said it was “an action of transparency intended to promote healing.”

Some of the alleged incidents described next to the priests’ names date back to the 1960s. Many of the men have been permanently banned from ministry in the Diocese or are deceased. Some priests were arrested or suspended, while others were reported to the Religious Order.

Church officials said 21 names previously appeared in the media, while 24 had been reported to the police. Five clergy members’ names have never previously been in the public domain.

The release comes after similar action by the Diocese of San Diego, which included the Diocese of San Bernardino until 1978, when they split. The Diocese of San Diego released the names of 51 priests “where the diocese has received a credible allegation involving sexual abuse of a minor.”

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WARSAW (POLAND)
The Associated Press

October 8, 2018

By Monika Scislowska

Polish activists met with opposition lawmakers Monday to demand criminal punishment for Catholic priests convicted of sexually abusing children and extending the statute of limitations for prosecutions.

The meeting brought the lawmakers together with psychologists, lawyers and the president of a foundation that represents people who say they were sexually abused by priests in Poland. The activists are seeking greater sensitivity to the issue of sex abuse in the Catholic Church.

Have No Fear foundation President Marek Lisinski called for an independent commission to assess the scale of clergy sex abuse and for the waiving of the statute of limitations so suspects can be put on trial. Under Polish law, criminal charges in child sex abuse cases cannot be brought to court after the alleged victim turns 30.

The foundation published a map Sunday that it said identifies sites across Poland where there have been reports of priests abusing children. The map represents allegations and confirmed cases involving a total of 255 children under age 15.

Lisinski said the number was only the “tip of an iceberg.” Speaking about his own experience as an abuse survivor, he said his openness and fight for justice has cost him relationships with family members and many friends.

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CHICAGO (IL)
Windy City Times

October 10, 2018

by Francis DeBernardo

Archbishop Charles Chaput’s statement about LGBT Catholics at the synod on youth yesterday is a perfect example of how some church leaders have been so blinded by ideological homophobia and transphobia that they cannot perceive plain human facts accurately. His comments reflect the dangerous avoidance mentality that is the cause of the clergy sexual abuse scandal and so many of the ills which plague the Catholic Church today. ( For a news article about Chaput’s statement, see The National Catholic Reporter, at www.ncronline.org/news/vatican/archbishop-chaput-urges-synod-use-care-language-especially-sexuality. )

The Catholic Herald carried the full text of Chaput’s talk. The passage that is so dangerous is:

“There is no such thing as an ‘LGBTQ Catholic’ or a ‘transgender Catholic’ or a ‘heterosexual Catholic,’ as if our sexual appetites defined who we are; as if these designations described discrete communities of differing but equal integrity within the real ecclesial community, the body of Jesus Christ. This has never been true in the life of the Church, and is not true now. It follows that ‘LGBTQ’ and similar language should not be used in Church documents, because using it suggests that these are real, autonomous groups, and the Church simply doesn’t categorize people that way.”

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YOUNGSTOWN (OH)
Youngstown Vindicator

October 9, 2018

By Justin Dennis

A group representing Catholic Church sex-abuse victims is urging state and county prosecutors to launch a grand-jury-style investigation into dioceses in Youngstown as well as the rest of Ohio – similar to Pennsylvania’s recent report that exposed hundreds of priests.

But prosecutors said it’s not that easy – without criminal allegations from abuse victims at the county level, there are no grounds for an inquiry.

Jones said the group hasn’t reached out to the attorney general directly. SNAP workers said they have become accustomed to being ignored by authorities or diocesan administrators – and instead work through the media to garner attention. SNAP has prompted similar news conferences in Cuyahoga, Franklin, Hamilton, Jefferson and Lucas counties, each with their own Catholic diocese.

“The Pennsylvania grand jury report showed a cover-up and enabling of child-sex crimes – it was a scathing report,” Jones said Tuesday. “Pennsylvania is not just one bad state. … The church is run the same everywhere. Each diocese is run the same.”

Attorney general spokesman Dan Tierney said Tuesday, however, Pennsylvania law is different, and there is no provision allowing for the Ohio Attorney General’s Office to impanel a grand jury on its own. County-level prosecutors must bring sex-abuse charges, based on victim accounts given to local law enforcement.

In Pennsylvania, a Cambria County grand jury reviewed allegations against Brother Stephen Baker – who also was accused of abuse during his tenure at John F. Kennedy High School in Trumbull County – and the county district attorney reached out to then-Attorney General Kathleen Kane to investigate other dioceses in the state.

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STEUBENVILLE (OH)
Steubenville Herald Star

October 10, 2018

Members of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests held a small demonstration Tuesday in front of the offices of the Catholic Diocese of Steubenville calling for the state attorney general’s office to launch a statewide grand jury investigation into alleged sex abuse by members of the clergy, similar to what was done in Pennsylvania.

Judy Jones and Steven Spaner, members of S.N.A.P., participated in the calling for the investigation. They also were critical of Ohio’s bishops for their “continued secrecy and recklessness” in not releasing names of priests accused of molesting children. Spokesman Dino Orsatti said the diocese reiterated its position that it would cooperate fully and in a transparent fashion with any statewide investigation. The diocese said in September it will release a list of all priests removed from active ministry since it was founded in 1944. Orsatti told The Associated Press the list is expected to be released this month and he anticipates it will include 12 to 20 names.

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SAN DIEGO (CA)
The Times of San Diego

October 9, 2018

By Ken Stone

A San Diego priest has been suspended after the local Roman Catholic diocese revisited sex-abuse claims against him from the 1990s.

The Rev. Justin Langille, 65, had been assisting on weekends at St. Therese Parish in San Carlos and Ascension Catholic Church in Tierrasanta. He had his faculties revoked by Bishop Robert McElroy following a determination by the Diocesan Independent Review Board, the diocese announced Tuesday.

“Father Langille had been credibly accused of sexual misconduct with a female teen in an incident dating from the early-1990s,” diocesan spokeswoman Aida Bustos said in a statement.

“The diocese reported this incident to the police,” she told Times of San Diego. Later, diocese Vice Chancellor Kevin C. Eckery said: “The law enforcement agency was [San Diego] County Child Welfare Services. In terms of where the incident took place, we’re not saying right now because we don’t want to violate the victim’s privacy.”

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MOSCOW (RUSSIA)
Sputnik International

October 9, 2018

In a recently released YouTube video, publicist with Polish Christian radio station “Radio Maria” Stanisław Michalkiewicz commented on the case of a Polish girl, Katarzyna, who was at the age of 13 sexually assaulted by a pedophilic priest and is now struggling to obtain financial compensation for the inflicted damages.

Michalkiewicz appeared most enraged by the fact that the girl had been assigned compensation “not by the erotomaniac himself, but by the community he belonged to.”

The court ruled in the victim’s favor and recognized the guilt of Christ’s Community, which had turned a blind eye to the pedophilic priest among its ranks.

According to Polish media, the victim is now 24 years old, but she still can’t recover from the trauma she suffered in the past. The priest held her in captivity for over 10 months and raped her. Katarzyna has since had to regularly seek psychological assistance.

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ODGENSBURG (NY)
Fox 28 News

October 9, 2018

The Diocese of Ogdensburg has doled out millions of dollars to victims of clergy sexual abuse.

The diocese released its report Tuesday on what’s called the Independent Reconciliation and Compensation Program (IRCP).

In it, the diocese says as of last week it paid a total of nearly $5.5 million to 37 victims. Two more are considering whether to accept compensation.

“It was the right thing to do – another way of expressing our sorrow and our regret over what had happened,” said Bishop Terry LaValley.

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NEW YORK (NY)
NBC News

October 9, 2018

By Corky Siemaszko

On Dec. 18, 2001, a desperate North Carolina dad wrote a letter to the Vatican asking the leaders of the Roman Catholic Church to discipline a group of priests at a Pennsylvania boys’ boarding school who he said took turns sexually abusing his teenage son.

The priests were members of an organization called the Society of Saint John, the father wrote, and Bishop James Timlin, then the head of the Diocese of Scranton, had allowed them to take up residence at St. Gregory’s Academy in Elmhurst, Pennsylvania.

“How long will the Bishop of Scranton tolerate this Society of Priests and promote them and their plans?” the father, whose name NBC News is not disclosing to protect his son’s identity, asked in the 2001 letter.

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BETHESDA (MD)
Education Week

October 4, 2018

By Nan Stein & Bruce Taylor

The sexual assault allegations leveled by psychology professor Christine Blasey Ford against U.S. Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh have consumed the country. The events as described by Ford are not an anomaly for U.S. teens. As researchers, we know that there is a high prevalence of sexual assault among teens today and that schools are not implementing effective strategies to address this kind of violence. But the data haven’t always been available—it is only in about the last two decades that we can reliably measure the prevalence of sexual assault among teens.

We are researchers, not psychologists—one of us (Bruce Taylor) is a criminologist, the other (Nan Stein) is a former middle school teacher who focuses on curriculum development and teacher training. With the support of grant funding from the National Institute of Justice at the U.S. Department of Justice, we have spent the last 10 years conducting research on school-based interventions that has taken us into middle schools in the Cleveland suburbs and New York City. Using rigorous scientific data, we have created interventions designed to prevent the kinds of behaviors Christine Blasey Ford described in her testimony—and they have been shown to be effective. Our 2010 study, “Shifting Boundaries: Lessons on Relationships for Students in Middle School,” was one of two evidence-based community-level primary prevention strategies that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention identified in 2014 as effective at reducing sexual violence.

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FORT WAYNE (IN)
WIBC

October 9, 2018

By Kurt Darling

Two more priests are being added to the list of 18 priests within the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend who are linked to credible claims of sexual abuse.

“The two additional names of priests who have served in the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend and have been credibly accused of at least one act of sexual abuse of a minor are Michael Paquet and Bruce Schutt,” The diocese said in a news release. “Two more allegations have been added to the previously released name of Elden Miller.”

Michael Paquet and Bruce Schutt have been linked to three incidents between them. The two priests have been removed from public ministry and the diocese for several years now.

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NEW YORK (NY)
BuzzFeed News

October 9, 2018

By Chris McDaniel

In the wake of a recent BuzzFeed News investigation that revealed widespread abuse of children at a Catholic orphanage in Vermont, the state’s attorney general convened a task force last month to investigate, pledging to stand up for the victims of abuse. But that office undertook a previous investigation into the abuse of Vermont children by Catholic clergy, in 2002, the results of which were never released.

Those confidential results — some of which have now been obtained by BuzzFeed News — provide dramatic evidence of how many secrets the diocese kept, and how willing state authorities were to keep them hidden.

Two months ago, a Pennsylvania grand jury concluded a two-year investigation by naming more than 300 priests who it said had abused more than 1,000 children. But back in 2002, the Vermont attorney general decided not to make the investigation’s findings public, even though prosecutors said they found probable cause to bring criminal charges against at least one priest. When the investigation concluded, the head of the criminal division informed the diocese that it did not “set out to investigate or determine whether” a priest “poses a current risk of harm to children” because that would be “outside our jurisdiction.”

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STEUBENVILLE (OH)
National Catholic Reporter

October 9, 2018

By Jenn Morson

Franciscan University of Steubenville, nestled in the hills of northeast Ohio, is an institution with a reputation for traditional Catholic piety. It is a place where charismatic prayer is frequently invoked, the Rosary recited, and course descriptions across all subject areas commit to what the school describes as dynamic Catholic orthodoxy.

This year, the school’s administration has made a public commitment to stop sexual violence and harassment on campus.

At the opening of the school year Mass in August, Franciscan Fr. Sean Sheridan, university president, pledged a transparent and vigorous approach. In a letter to alumni and students, he encouraged victims to come forward and acknowledged the obligation of the university to investigate all claims. A law firm, Husch Blackwell LLP, was hired by the school to review the university’s records of past abuse investigations. A report is due by January, with Sheridan stating it will be shared with the university’s board of trustees and, possibly, the wider public.

But some Franciscan students need convincing.

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WASHINGTON (DC)
The Washington Post

October 7, 2018

By Karen Tumulty

Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro (D) has shaken the Catholic Church to its foundation — and he is not finished yet.

It has been nearly eight weeks since a Pennsylvania grand jury released a bombshell report alleging that more than 300 priests across the state sexually abused children over seven decades, and that the church hierarchy in six Pennsylvania dioceses was complicit in covering it up.

Since then, Shapiro has been sought out by attorneys general in more than 40 other states seeking advice on how they might conduct similar probes. A dozen have already announced publicly that they are pursuing investigations.

There may be others. In Maryland, for instance, Attorney General Brian E. Frosh (D) won’t confirm or deny whether an inquiry is underway. But shortly after the Pennsylvania report came out, his office put this notice on its website: “If you were a victim of an abuser associated with a school or place of worship, or you have knowledge of such abuse, please provide the information you want to share about it in the link below.”

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LOS ANGELES (CA)
Ventura County Star

October 8, 2018

By Tom Kisken

Tom Emens was a Catholic grade-schooler when the priest first dropped in at his parents’ home.

The new retiree with the charming smile and a love for Louis L’Amour novels served as a priest in the Chicago area for nearly 40 years. He came to Anaheim to retire and move in with his sister, sleeping in what Emens thinks may have been a converted garage and still serving Mass at St. Anthony Claret Catholic Church.

He came to the door to introduce himself as he did with many neighbors. It was his title that resonated for Emens’ parents, longtime parishioners at St. Anthony Claret.

He wasn’t just a priest. He was a monsignor.

“He was kind of a celebrity,” said Emens, now 50 and a multimedia coordinator at CSU Channel Islands in Camarillo. “He saw us a lot.”

He came to family birthdays and confirmations. Often, he showed up at the house unannounced.

Emens, the second youngest of seven children, remembers being invited by the monsignor for swims in a neighbor’s pool, reading sessions and lessons in faith.

At the time, to a 10-year-old, it seemed normal. Forty years later, Emens sat in a courtyard outside CSU Channel Islands, explaining the lawsuit that pushed him into a national spotlight and is aimed at helping figure out why and how it all happened.

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SIOUX CITY (IA)
KHOU 11

October 8, 2018

By Jeremy Rogalski

The case dates to DiNardo’s time in Sioux City, Iowa, years before the recent arrest of a Texas priest for indecency with a child.

The leading voice in the clergy sex abuse crisis, Cardinal Daniel DiNardo admitted to mishandling the case of a pedophile priest, KHOU 11 Investigates found.

The case dates to DiNardo’s time in Sioux City, Iowa, years before the recent arrest of a Texas priest for indecency with a child. Although the cases are years and miles apart, the similarities are troubling – accusers claiming DiNardo did not do enough to protect them.

Before arriving at the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston in 2004 and later rising to the head of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, DiNardo served as bishop of the Diocese of Sioux City from 1998 to 2004.

There, Father George McFadden, a self-admitted sex addict, faced dozens of accusations that he sexually abused boys and girls from the 1960s through the 1980s. Althea Goff was one of his victims, who came forward later as adult.

“He told me that I was a very bad little girl and that God didn’t love me,” said Goff, now 63. “I’ll always remember that. That’s in my heart, and it hurts.”

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SANTA MARIA (CA)
Santa Maria Sun

October 3, 2018

By Kasey Bubnash

Several Catholic priests who worked at schools and churches throughout Santa Barbara County were named as accused sexual assailants in a report on clergy abuse that was released by a national law firm on Oct. 2.

The report, which spans 125 pages and lists more than 300 clerics, religious employees, and volunteers who have been accused of sexual misconduct within the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, was compiled by Jeff Anderson and Associates, a law firm specializing in cases of childhood sexual abuse. The firm has been behind many of the major sex abuse lawsuits brought forward against the Catholic Church, and the California-focused report was released as part a nuisance lawsuit the firm is pursuing against the California bishops.

“This is a problem everywhere,” Jeff Anderson, lead attorney for Jeff Anderson and Associates, said at a press conference in Los Angeles on Oct. 2. The conference was livestreamed online through the firm’s website.

“[The report] describes not only that there have been 309 predator priests, offending clerics, who worked and abused in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles,” Anderson said, “but it describes in each case a history, and it more importantly describes the pattern and practice [of cover-up] that has and is being deployed by the Catholic bishops in Los Angeles. Not only in the past, but as we speak.”

In the report, Anderson and Associates alleges that Catholic churches in California have long-adhered to the same “playbook for concealing the truth” that Catholic churches throughout the world have been accused of using in dozens of sex abuse cases. The tactics, according to the report, include failing to report sexual assault accusations to law enforcement, inadequate in-house investigations, and relocating accused priests to different states and countries to avoid prosecution and public concern.

That alleged pattern played out in Santa Maria in 2006, when Father Timothy Lane was accused of sexually assaulting an 18-year-old graduate of St. Joseph High School, where he had worked since 1999.

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LOS ANGELES (CA)
National Catholic Reporter

October 3, 2018

By Heather Adams

Tom Emens, Jeff Anderson & Associates sues for cover-up of child sex abuse

A lawsuit against the California bishops and 11 dioceses in California, including the archdioceses of Los Angeles and San Francisco, for covering up child sexual abuse was filed Oct. 2 by survivor Tom Emens and Jeff Anderson & Associates.

Emens isn’t filing the lawsuit for money. He’s requesting the release of the names and documented histories on all clerical offenders in each diocese.

“I just want the truth. The truth is far more valuable,” Emens said. “I’m just one person. There are thousands of other victims out there.”

Jeff Anderson & Associates, a Minnesota-based law firm with a long history of suing the Catholic Church, also released a 120-page report on clerical sexual abuse in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, containing information on more than 300 clerical offenders and allegations that the archdiocese allowed more than 35 perpetrators to flee the jurisdiction after reports of abuse arose.

“There is a danger that he and we feel compelled to expose,” Jeff Anderson said. “And that begins today with this lawsuit that is now filed in Los Angeles.”

The report’s over 300 names, Emens said, is not complete. The list contains names collected from lawsuit records and other public records. But his alleged abuser, Msgr. Thomas Joseph Mohan, isn’t on that list.

“I don’t know how many more victims are out there,” he said. “Moving forward we have to protect the kids.”

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FULLERTON (CA)
CBSLA

October 2, 2018

A victim of sexual abuse perpetrated by a Catholic priest has sued the Archdiocese of Los Angeles and bishops across the state, claiming the institutions concealed claims of misconduct for decades.

Thomas Emens of Camarillo alleges he was sexually assaulted by Monsignor Thomas Mohan from the ages of 10 to 12, when the priest was serving at St. Anthony Claret Church in Anaheim.

“The most important thing I could say to everybody that’s listening and watching right now is this lawsuit is really the only opportunity I have at this point in time to find justice, not just for myself, but to bring all the victims that are in the shadows out,” Emens told reporters Tuesday, appearing to become emotional.

Mohan also worked at St. Juliana’s Church in Fullerton, but Emens’ lawyers say he never appeared on any offender lists. They filed a nuisance lawsuit against all California bishops in an attempt to get the clerical bodies to release their so-called “secret lists” of molester priests.

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MALTA
The Associated Press

October 9, 2018

The pope’s summit early next year on preventing sex abuse should also address holding bishops accountable when they fail to protect their flocks from paedophile priests, the Vatican’s leading sex abuse expert said Monday.

Maltese Archbishop Charles Scicluna said the February summit of global church leaders is the appropriate venue for discussing “a great expectation for more accountability” among Catholic faithful worldwide.

The Vatican said last month that Pope Francis had summoned the presidents of the estimated 130 Catholic bishops’ conferences to a Feb. 21-24 meeting to discuss the “protection of minors.” The announcement was made as clergy sex abuse revelations and cover-up allegations on several continents fuelled a scandal that now threatens Francis’ papacy.

Scicluna, who for a decade was the Vatican’s sex crimes prosecutor, has long acknowledged the need for bishops to be punished if they covered up for predators.

Abuse survivors and their advocates accuse the Vatican of turning a blind eye when bishops moved priests who were suspected of or known for misconduct from parish to parish instead of reporting them to police or sanctioning them canonically.

While hundreds of priests have been defrocked over the years for raping and molesting minors, only a few bishops have faced sanctions for failing to prevent such crimes.

Francis has had a steep and difficult learning curve on the issue of complicity and culpability. He was excoriated earlier this year for having defended a Chilean bishop accused of witnessing and ignoring abuse by Chile’s most notorious predator priest.

The pope eventually did an about face and acknowledged “errors in judgment,” vowing that bishops would no longer be shielded from questions about how they responded to allegations against priests in their dioceses.

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CINCINNATI (OH)
Cincinnati Enquirer

October 8, 2018

By Sheila Vilvens and Jessie Balmert

It’s time for Ohio to investigate sex crimes by Catholic Church clergy, says a group of abuse survivors.

SNAP, short for the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, protested outside Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine’s Cincinnati office Monday afternoon. Three SNAP protestors showed up holding pictures of children from around the country who say they were abused.

SNAP is calling on DeWine to follow the lead of other states that have recently investigated clergy sex crimes and cover-ups.

Last week, Michigan’s attorney general seized abuse records in each of that state’s seven dioceses.

But DeWine’s office says Ohio law doesn’t allow for statewide investigations and grand juries, such as the one that revealed years of abuse in Pennsylvania.

Under Ohio law, local police and prosecutors must investigate crimes – by priests or anyone else – committed in their county.

That happened in 2003 when then-Archbishop Daniel E. Pilarczyk pleaded no contest to charges that the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cincinnati failed to report child sexual abuse by priests in Hamilton County.

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MALTA
Times of Malta

October 7, 2018

By Matthew Xuereb

Curia steps in after court clears Fr Charles Fenech of sexual abuse charges

Fr Charles Fenech, the former Kerygma Movement director once accused of sexual abuse, has been prohibited from carrying out the functions of his ministry anywhere in Malta and Gozo.

Three years ago, Fr Fenech was found guilty of sexually abusing a vulnerable woman who had turned to him for help and spiritual direction. However, an appeals court last month cleared him of this charge. The judge said the woman’s vulnerability had not been sufficiently proven in court and that the sexual relations between the two had been consensual.

Over the last few days, a rumour has been circulating that Fr Fenech – who had been prevented from carrying out his duties pending the conclusion of the case – was to be reinstated.

However, Archbishop Charles Scicluna and Gozo Bishop Mario Grech have decided to prohibit him from publicly exercising his priestly ministry in the Archdiocese of Malta and Diocese of Gozo, the Curia told The Sunday Times of Malta.

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WARSAW (POLAND)
Reuters

October 1, 2018

By Marcin Goclowski

Nearly a million people have flocked to cinemas across Poland in the last three days to see a movie that depicts Catholic priests in a highly unflattering light, breaking box-office records, its distributor said on Monday.

“Kler” (“Clergy”) is a dark drama, with moments of bleak comedy, about three fictional Catholic priests who swill vodka and mock the church. One sexually abuses a blind orphan boy.

The film has fuelled debate about the church’s influence in one of Europe’s most devout nations.

Kino Swiat, the movie distributor, said 935,000 people had seen it in the three days after its launch.

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VATICAN CITY
The Associated Press

October 8, 2018

By Nicole Winfield

A top Vatican cardinal issued a scathing rebuke Sunday of the ambassador who accused Pope Francis of covering up the sexual misconduct of a prominent American cardinal, saying his allegations were a “blasphemous” political hit job.

Six weeks after Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano threw the papacy into turmoil over his claims about ex-Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, the head of the Vatican’s bishops office said there was no evidence in his files backing Vigano’s claims that Francis annulled any canonical sanctions against McCarrick.

Ouellet did confirm for the first time that McCarrick, now 88, had been subject to some form of disciplinary measures given uncorroborated “rumors” of misconduct in his past. But Ouellet said the “exhortation” to live a discreet life of prayer stopped short of binding canonical sanctions, precisely because the rumors lacked proof.

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ROME
Catholic News Service

October 7, 2018

By Cindy Wooden

The president of the U.S. bishops’ conference welcomed Pope Francis’ pledge to fight attempts to cover up cases of sexual abuse and to stop offering special treatment to bishops who have committed or covered up abuse.

“On behalf of my brother bishops in the United States, I welcome the statement of Oct. 6 from the Holy See which outlines additional steps Pope Francis is taking to ensure the faithful are protected from the evil of sexual assault,” Cardinal Daniel N. DiNardo said in a statement released Oct. 7 in Rome.

The cardinal, president of the USCCB, is in Rome for the Synod of Bishops. Archbishop Jose H. Gomez of Los Angeles, conference vice president, also is in Rome for the synod, and the two U.S. leaders were expected to meet privately with Pope Francis Oct. 8 as questions continue over the handling of years of allegations of sexual misconduct by former Cardinal Theodore E. McCarrick of Washington.

In a statement Oct. 6, the Vatican said Pope Francis had ordered a thorough review of the archives of Vatican offices to study how the allegations were handled.

“The Holy See is conscious that, from the examination of the facts and of the circumstances, it may emerge that choices were taken that would not be consonant with a contemporary approach to such issues. However, as Pope Francis has said: ‘We will follow the path of truth wherever it may lead,'” the Vatican statement said.

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ROME
The Wall Street Journal

October 7, 2018

By Francis X. Rocca

Pope Francis is accused of knowing about a now-disgraced cardinal’s record yet restoring him to a position of high influence

A senior Vatican official on Sunday denounced what he called the “monstrous accusation” that Pope Francis ignored reports of sexual misconduct by a favorite U.S. cardinal, but he also confirmed that the cardinal had already been under disciplinary measures when the pope took office.

Cardinal Marc Ouellet, head of the Vatican’s office for bishops, called claims that the pope knew of allegations against then-Cardinal Theodore McCarrick yet made him an important adviser in the U.S. church “calumny and defamation.”

He acknowledged, however, that when the pope took office in 2013 the cardinal had already been punished over widespread rumors he had been sexually active with seminarians. That is a key element in the argument that the pope must have known about his past.

An investigation later found credible evidence that the then-cardinal had sexually abused a teenager in the early 1970s, and in July he became the first man to give up the title of cardinal in nearly a century.

The accusations by Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò in August have rocked the church and shaken faith in the pontiff’s credibility.

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BELLEFONTE (PA)
WJAC

October 1, 2018

One of Pennsylvania’s leading lawmakers is being urged to move forward on proposed legislation that would give child sex abuse victims more time to file lawsuits.

Democrat Ezra Nanes is running against Senate Majority Leader Jake Corman in the 34th State Senate District race.

Nanes and several supporters showed up at Corman’s Bellefonte office Friday morning to lobby for Senate approval of House legislation already approved that would allow victims to file lawsuits that would otherwise be outdated under current state law.

A spokesperson for Sen. Corman says the Senate is committed to providing further justice for victims before its upcoming recess.

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NEW YORK (NY)
JTA

October 5, 2018

By Ben Sales

UPDATE: This story has been updated to include comments from SAR Academy’s principal, Rabbi Binyamin Krauss, in an email to JTA and the statement to JTA from the attorney for Rabbi Sheldon Schwartz.

Officials at a New York Jewish day school knew of allegations against an administrator who abused at least a dozen of the school’s students, according to an investigation. He was rehired a decade later.

The report, which was published Friday, found that Stanley Rosenfeld sexually abused at least a dozen students at SAR Academy, a Modern Orthodox school in the Riverdale section of the Bronx. Another teacher, Rabbi Sheldon Schwartz, was found to have acted inappropriately with at least four students.

Rosenfeld, a convicted sex offender, has admitted to molesting hundreds of boys throughout his life, including at SAR, according to the report.

JTA has reached out to Schwartz through his attorney seeking comment on the accusations against him.

T&M Protection Resources, an external firm with experience investigating sexual assault allegations, conducted the probe that examined allegations of child sex abuse by Rosenfeld, an assistant principal at SAR in the 1970s who also taught English there a decade later. The school commissioned the investigation in January, soon after learning of the allegations.

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UNITED STATES
Patheos

October 4, 2018

By Kristin du Mez

So, it turns out close to half of all white evangelicals think Brett Kavanaugh should be confirmed even if Christine Blasey Ford’s allegations of sexual assault are true. (An NPR/PBS NewHour/Marist poll conducted last week, 48% of white evangelical Christians believed he should be appointed to the highest court regardless; an additional 16% were unsure, leaving only 36% of white evangelicals who would apparently have a problem with an unrepentant perpetrator of sexual assault serving on the highest court of the land.)

To be honest, there’s nothing all that shocking here. The same white evangelicals looked the other way when the Access Hollywood tapes were released, when twenty-two women accused Donald Trump of sexual misconduct, when allegations surfaced of Roy Moore preying on teenage girls, and when an alarming number of their own faith leaders have been caught up in sexual abuse scandals.

It’s not clear that evangelical Christians are more likely than others to abuse women. (Although certain factors such as gendered power differentials have been connected to patterns of abuse, and many evangelical women themselves have testified that evangelical teachings of male authority and female submission perpetuate cultures of abuse, and constrained their ability to confront that abuse). What does give one pause, however, is the unwillingness on the part of so many evangelical Christians to condemn abuse when it does occur.

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NAPA (CA)
The Napa Valley Register

October 5, 2018

By Paul Moser

Lynne Rodgers didn’t like what I wrote in my Sept. 14 letter, “The Real Housewives of Vatican City.” She was obviously upset as she penned her Sept. 29 response, claiming that my tone was “vastly Immature and unfair.”

I just want to know how she knew I wore my Mickey Mouse ears to Sunday mass until I was nearly 17. That was supposed to remain a dark secret of my past. Anyway, after reading her letter, I have to say that, personally, I will take “vastly immature and unfair” over “vastly illogical and sanctimonious” any day.

In case you missed her letter, let me give you a taste of some of her reasoning in trying to legitimize the endearingly backward and destructive Catholic traditions of clerical celibacy and male dominance.

She seems to want to conflate sex education and gender identity issues with the “corruption of youth,” which in her mind is apparently as bad as sexual molestation by clergymen. In other words, society itself is corrupting young people at an earlier and earlier age, so thank God priests are there to molest them properly before these terrible influences are felt. (Because her reasoning is so hazy, I have to take a stab at what she actually meant, you understand.)

She says reprovingly that “Pedophilia is on the march to becoming normalized.” So by all means the Church should lead the way?

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PHILIPPINES
Philippine Daily Inquirer

October 8, 2018

By Ramon Farolan

First, I was an Aglipayan. Shortly after my mother passed away, my surrogate mom who raised me as her own, had me rebaptized in the Catholic Church by Belgian missionaries. Since then, I have remained a Catholic although not the fervent, devout kind she would have wanted me to be.

Through the years, I have looked upon the Church as all-knowing, all-powerful, all-righteous, and perhaps, all-perfect. And so, whenever I went against her it was heavy on my conscience with the fires of hell very much in my thoughts as impressed on me by religious mentors in Catholic schools. As a young boy, how many times have I confessed to having impure thoughts when there was nothing else to say in the confessional?

For the past few months, the Church has been rocked by scandal involving sexual abuse in particular, of minors by members of the clergy. In the beginning, they were seen as isolated cases but as more and more news reports appeared on the subject, it has become apparent that sexual abuse by the clergy is one of the major problems of the Church. It is not only worldwide in extent but it also appears to permeate its ranks, from deacons, priests, bishops, archbishops, and even cardinals. Many are involved in the actual abuse of children but some are cases of cover-up or failure to take action by higher authorities.

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UNITED STATES
Patheos

October 4, 2018

By Mark Shea

I remember, a month and a half ago when, for a brief moment, conservative white “prolife” Catholics pretended to care about sexual assault victims because the PA report had come out. Then Vigano lied about Francis (the one man who acted against McCarrick) lifting sanctions Vigano pretended to have enforced against McCarrick. For, like, a week or two, people hungering for power in the Church and vengeance against their gay and liberal culture war enemies achieved one thing: victims vanished from sight and were replaced by a pure power struggle to destroy a pope they have hated since the instant he was elected. For his part, Vigano lobbed a huge grenade demanding Francis’ resignation and claiming that Francis–the one man who had acted against McCarrick–was unfit to be pope since he had (according to McCarrick) lifted imaginary “sanctions” against McCarrick.

Tim Busch of the EWTN board of Governors totally assured the NY Times that the editors at the Register–which broke this hatchet job–“had personally assured him that the former pope, Benedict XVI, had confirmed Archbishop Viganò’s account.”. Liesite, 1 Peter 5, Church Militant, and several other Francis-hating propaganda organs leapt into this highly coordinated palace coup and piled on–and then it all unraveled.

The pope’s personal secretary denied there was any such confirmation from Benedict. The WaPo, seeking evidence, asked Vigano for documentation and he declared it was time for “silence and prayer” and then vanished, claiming They Are Trying to Kill Me. For a while, the supporters of the palace coup absurdly demanded that Francis produce the paperwork Vigano claimed existed but did not demand Vigano produce it. It never seemed to occur to them that there might not be any paperwork to produce.

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KANSAS CITY (MO)
National Catholic Reporter

October 8, 2018

by Michael Sean Winters

Two news stories last week gave ample justification for my repeated warnings this summer to be careful about viewing an increased role for the laity as some kind of panacea for what ails the church. Both stories indicated that there is a kind of clericalism unique to the laity that has emerged and which bodes ill and heretical. And, most worryingly, both stories demonstrated the ugly power of money that lay leadership entails, raising the question, unique to the American Church: Can the Catholic Church be bought?

The first story was Tom Roberts’ account of a meeting at the Catholic University of America to launch the “Better Church Governance Group.” The means for accomplishing improved ecclesial governance was to form a kind of posse of ex-FBI agents, academics and conservative activists to probe into the lives of all cardinal electors, compiling dossiers “in the manner of political opposition research.” That characterization was frightening enough, but as you read the rest of their literature, (some of their protestations and walk backs notwithstanding,) it seemed that Roy Cohn was their model: This is reform with an ideological agenda. How else to explain the warm citation to Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò’s “testimony,” which has been demonstrated to be filled with mistakes and unsubstantiated rumors, or the derogatory references to Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin, to whom no whiff of scandal has attached itself.

Most of the organizers of the effort were unknown to me but Jay Richards was listed as a “research editor.” Mr. Richards is a professor at the Tim & Steph Busch School of Business at CUA and also hosts a weekly TV show on EWTN in which he spouts capitalist agitprop. I debated Richards at the Cato Institute in advance of Pope Francis’s visit to the United States. He pretends to be an aficionado of Catholic social teaching but, in fact, he and the school at which he teaches are committed to undermining that teaching. After this, why is he still on the staff? The Catholic University of America makes much of its mission and the fact that it holds a pontifical charter. But, apparently, if your ecclesiology and your politics are conservative enough, the fact you are talking breezily about influencing a conclave is no big deal. Richards should be sacked.

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ROME (ITALY)
Crux Staff

October 9, 2018

As an Oct. 3-28 Synod of Bishops in Rome enters its second week, reports were released Tuesday from small working groups that provide the first real x-ray into how this gathering of prelates and other participants from around the world pondering young people, faith and vocational discernment is thinking.

Judging by the results, the child sexual abuse scandals in Catholicism are a major preoccupation, but hardly the only one.

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MADRID (SPAIN)
The New York Times

October 8, 2018

By Raphael Minder

Nearly 50 years ago, Inés Madrigal was taken from her parents, an unwitting participant in a scheme that started under Spanish dictator Francisco Franco’s regime as a way of removing infants from families that opposed him.

On Monday a Spanish court acknowledged a former gynecologist had played a role in the 1969 abduction of Ms. Madrigal, who was an infant at the time. It was the first case in which a doctor faced trial in Spain for what is known here as the scandal of the stolen babies. But Ms. Madrigal’s victory was, in her words, bittersweet.

The judges at a provincial court in Madrid found there was irrefutable evidence to show that Eduardo Vela, 85, was involved in the abduction of Ms. Madrigal. But they said that the charges brought against him fell under a statute of limitations, which required the charges to be filed within 10 years of Ms. Madrigal becoming an adult. This meant that Dr. Vela couldn’t be convicted of any of them.

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