ABUSE TRACKER

SUNBURY (PA)
The Daily Item

October 12, 2018

Individuals silenced for decades by shame and confusion of sex abuse must be heard. The State House has done it’s part. The focus now shifts to the Senate and the ever-ticking clock to revise Pennsylvania’s statute of limitations regarding sex abuse crimes.

This should be simple. Victims of criminal sexual abuse — including those whose courage is outlined in more than 1,000 pages of a state grand jury report on 300 “predator” Catholic priests across the commonwealth — deserve nothing less.

When it reconvenes next week for its final three scheduled legislative days before November’s election, the Senate seems more likely to move a new piece of legislation than amend a version that passed the House last month. The House version was praised by victims and advocates.

The House reform raises the age to file lawsuits from 30 to 50 years of age and eliminates the statute of limitation entirely for criminal prosecutions. Additionally, there would be a two-year window to allow sex abuse survivors — whose trauma occurred decades ago — to file a civil lawsuit.

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VATICAN CITY
The Associated Press

October 12, 2018

Pope Francis accepted the resignation Friday 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.

But in a letter released by Wuerl’s office, Francis praised his longtime ally and suggested Wuerl had unfairly become a scapegoat, having made some “mistakes” in handling sex abuse cases, but not having covered them up.

With the resignation, Wuerl 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 provided the letter in which the pope asked him to stay on in a temporary capacity until a new archbishop is found.

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HAGÅTÑA (GUAM)
Pacific Daily News

October 11, 2018

By Dana M. Williams and Haidee V. Eugenio

Priest accused in 130+ sex abuse cases dies

Louis Brouillard, the retired priest who was the subject of more than 130 sexual abuse lawsuits on Guam, died in Minnesota on Oct. 10, according to the Archdiocese of Agana.

He was 97.

Brouillard, a native of Minnesota, was ordained on Guam in 1948. He served here until 1981, as a parish priest in Mangilao, Chalan Pago, Barrigada and Malojloj and as a teacher at Father Duenas Memorial School.

He also served as a longtime scoutmaster on the island.

More than 130 civil cases filed in local and federal courts since 2016 accused Brouillard of rape, sexual abuse and sexual molestation. The most recent lawsuit filed against him was on Oct. 4.

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

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INDIANAPOLIS (IN)
Indianapolis Star

October 12, 2018

By Holly V. Hays and Crystal Hill

The Archdiocese of Indianapolis on Thursday released the names of nearly 30 priests accused of abusing more than 100 children or young people.

Here’s what we know:

Why release the list?
Archbishop Charles C. Thompson announced his intentions to compile and release the list at the end of August, weeks after a Pennsylvania grand jury released a report identifying 300 priests accused of abuse and more than 1,000 victims.

In an open letter published Aug. 29, Thompson apologized to all victims of clergy abuse and called for increased transparency.

“We must do everything necessary to make sure neither abuse nor cover-up ever happens again,” he wrote.

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WASHINGTON (DC)
Penn Live

October 12, 2018

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.

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PHILADELPHIA (PA)
NBC10 Staff

October 12, 2018

Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro pushes for legal change after clergy abuse report

After the release of a grand jury report detailing some of the alleged sexual abuse of children by members of Pennsylvania’s Catholic clergy, state Attorney General Josh Shapiro joined advocates for victims of clergy abuse and other elected officials to call change for an end to the statute of limitations for child sex abuse.

“I want to be clear, we unearthed an organized criminal enterprise here in Pennsylvania, for now, they got away with some of it,” Shapiro said while calling for action now.

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ALLENTOWN (PA)
The Morning Call

October 10, 2018

By Peter Hall

The Allentown Diocese has asked a Lehigh County Court to throw out a lawsuit by a woman — described as a victim in Pennsylvania’s grand jury report on sexual abuse by clergy — who claimed the diocese engaged in a defamatory smear campaign after she reported being abused by a priest.

Juliann Bortz sued the diocese last month after the grand jury report revealed that diocesan officials, including Bishop Alfred Schlert, engaged in an effort to gather “irrelevant, unrelated [or] false ‘dirt,’” on Bortz to discredit her reports of abuse by the Rev. Francis Fromholzer in the 1960s.

The suit alleges defamation and intentional infliction of emotional distress by the diocese. Bortz is seeking an apology and a waiver of attorney-client privilege by the diocese to allow its former attorney to testify about who directed the effort to discredit her. She will pursue monetary damages only if the church refuses her request, attorney Benjamin Andreozzi said last month.

The diocese filed papers Wednesday asking a judge to dismiss the lawsuit, raising objections about the legal sufficiency of Bortz’s claims.

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LANSING (MI)
WKZO AM/FM

October 11, 2018

A Lansing priest who once served in Kalamazoo has been stripped of his priestly faculties for an alleged sexual assault that took place 35 years ago.

The Lansing State Journal reports that Father Robert Gerl, who is 67, is on Senior Priest Status and hasn’t had an assignment for some time.

The original allegation involved an adult male. The incident which is being called “credible” by the Lansing Diocese allegedly took place 3-years before he moved to the Kalamazoo Area in 1986.

Vickie Cessna, spokesperson for the Kalamazoo Diocese says he came to Kalamazoo from Lansing where he was originally ordained.

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LANSING (MI)
Lansing State Journal

October 11, 2018

By Kara Berg and Ken Palmer

The Diocese identified the priest as the Rev. Robert Gerl. A spokesman said Gerl was on “senior priest status” and has not had an assignment for years.

A senior priest in the Diocese of Lansing has had his priestly permissions revoked due to a “credible allegation” of sexual assault by an adult male from decades ago, according to the Diocese of Lansing.

The Diocese identified the priest as the Rev. Robert Gerl. A spokesman said Gerl was on “senior priest status” and has not had an assignment for years.

As of 2014, the 10-county diocese of Lansing had about 196,000 parishioners.

With his permissions revoked, Gerl is no longer able to publicly minister as a priest.

The Diocese of Lansing said last month that it would release the names of priests and other religious leaders who sexually abused children.

The diocese also said it plans to invite an external agency to review how sexual abuse allegations were handled. The report from the external agency will be made public on the Diocese’s website, Bishop Earl Boyea said.

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KALAMAZOO (MI)
MLive

October 11, 2018

By Emily Monacelli

A Catholic priest suspended after a “credible allegation” of sexual assault previously worked in Kalamazoo.

The Rev. Robert Gerl, a senior priest in the Catholic Diocese of Lansing, was barred from public ministry due to the allegation which alleges the assault of a male several decades ago, the diocese announced Oct. 5.

Gerl served in the Diocese of Kalamazoo at Nazareth College from 1986 to 1991, at St. Thomas More Parish in Kalamazoo from 1997 to 2000 and at St. Catherine of Siena Parish in Portage from 2000 to 2009. Gerl regularly celebrated Masses at a number of other parishes on a temporary weekend basis.

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KALAMAZOO (MI)
Fox 17

October 11, 2018

By Bob Brenzing

The Diocese of Lansing says a priest who formerly served in Kalamazoo and Portage has been removed from his duties due to a “credible allegation of sexual assault of an adult male”.

The assault allegedly took place “decades ago.”

The Diocese of Kalamazoo says that Rev. Robert Gerl served in ministry 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. Diocese officials say he also celebrated Mass at a number of other churches in the area on a temporary weekend basis. He currently does not have any duties in Kalamazoo.

Officials say that anyone who may have been harmed, or knows anyone who was harmed by Rev. Gerl, or anyone else from the church, should contact local law enforcement. They can also contact the Diocesan Victim Coordinator at 877-802-0115.

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LANSING (MI)
Newschannel 3

October 11, 2018

A priest in Lansing who was suspended due to what the diocese called a credible allegation of sexual abuse had served about 20 years in pastoral ministries in the Diocese of Kalamazoo.

The Diocese of Lansing officially revoked priestly faculties for the Rev. Robert Gerl on Oct. 5, 2018. Gerl was accused of sexual assault involving an adult male in an incident that occurred decades ago, the Catholic Church in Lansing said. Gerl was not assigned to a parish because he’s on senior status. Some of his previous duties as a senior priest included officiating mass, listening to confessions, baptisms and anointing the sick or dying.

Lansing Diocesan spokesman Michael Diebold said Michigan State Police have seized Gerl’s file as part of Attorney General Bill Schuette’s investigation into possible sexual abuse by Roman Catholic priests in Michigan.

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UNITED STATES
TIME

October 11, 2018

By Eliana Dockterman

Eliana Dockterman is a culture writer for TIME in New York City.

Since #MeToo went viral, survivors have been inundated with stories of sexual assault and harassment on a weekly — and for some stretches, daily — basis. But nothing had evoked memories and pains of past traumas in some survivors, and particularly women, as much as the respective testimonies of Dr. Christine Blasey Ford and Judge Brett Kavanaugh. Senators, television personalities and people across the country heard stories from loved ones that they had never been told before. The Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network (RAINN) saw a 388% increase in traffic on its hotline from the Thursday of the hearing to the following Sunday. That Friday was the busiest day in the organization’s 24-year history. No other single #MeToo moment appeared to precipitate that sort of deluge.

Survivors with histories of sexual abuse are at higher risk of exhibiting PTSD symptoms whenever a #MeToo story hits the news, according to Freyd. But such allegations are often blips in the 24-hour news cycle. The Kavanaugh story dragged on, with an apparent strain on many survivors that the Harvey Weinstein and Bill Cosby allegations did not inspire — and it will continue to do so as he takes his seat on the Supreme Court. Experts say that all that has happened could have lasting effects on the psychology of many victims of sexual assault.

“When there’s a national disaster, there’s a period of aftermath,” says Dr. Jennifer Freyd, a psychology professor at the University of Oregon who specializes in studying trauma among survivors of sexual violence. “I think it’s going to be like that. I think we’re talking about a big national health crisis.”

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VATICAN CITY
AFP

October 12, 2018

Pope Francis on Friday accepted the resignation of Washington DC archbishop Donald Wuerl, who has been blamed for not doing enough to deal with paedophile priests.

Cardinal Wuerl, 77, had offered to resign on September 21 after facing strong criticism over a report detailing mass sexual abuse cases when he was a bishop in Pennsylvania.

Francis finally accepted his resignation on Friday in a letter in which he praised Wuerl’s “nobility” and said the cardinal would stay on until his successor is appointed.

Wuerl said in a statement that he was “deeply touched” by the pope’s letter and that his replacement would “allow all of the faithful, clergy, religious and lay, to focus on healing and the future”.

He also apologised for “any past errors in judgement”.

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DETROIT (MI)
WXYZ

October 11, 2018

7 Action News is learning more about sexual misconduct allegations against a longtime Metro Detroit Catholic Priest, Father Robert Witkowski.

Archdiocese Spokesman Ned McGrath says these are new allegations that came into the church earlier this year by more than one person. He says the church deemed them credible and have turned them over to the Wayne County Prosecutor.

He would not discuss any specifics about the allegations or when and where they allegedly happened except to say they go back to the early career of Witkowski.

But by turning them over to the Wayne County prosecutor, this is a clear indication the allegations are centered when Witkowski was in a Wayne County church. His work record released by the Archdiocese also shows he worked in Macomb County.

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NEW YORK (NY)
Foreign Affairs

October 11, 2018

By Massimo Faggioli

Why a New Wave of Sexual Abuse Revelations Has Deepened Preexisting Divisions

The Catholic Church is facing its most serious crisis in 500 years. In these last few months, a new wave of clerical sexual abuse revelations left the world in shock. From Australia to Chile to Germany to the United States, horrifying reports revealed thousands of cases of child molestation by members of the clergy. One U.S. grand jury report documented 1,000 children abused by 300 priests in the state of Pennsylvania alone over seven decades.

The new wave of revelations in 2018 was disturbing not only because it exposed the persistence of abuse but also because it implicated high level church officials in the abuse and its cover-up. Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, the former archbishop of Washington, resigned from the College of Cardinals in July when credible accusations came to light that he had sexually abused a minor and harassed seminarians he supervised. The McCarrick revelations were particularly troubling because the former archbishop had played a leadership role in the Catholic Church’s response to the last U.S. clerical sexual abuse scandal in 2002. In late August, Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò, a former papal diplomat, published a letter accusing Pope Francis of knowing about McCarrick’s sexual abuses for years and helping to cover them up. Viganò concluded by calling on the pope to resign.

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LANCASTER (PA)
Lancaster Online

October 10, 2018

To help victims of child sexual abuse receive justice, do three things.

First, go to www.attorneygeneral.gov. Watch the victim video and then download and read as much of the investigating grand jury report as you can stomach. I met many of the courageous victims/survivors at Attorney General Josh Shapiro’s Sept. 24 press conference in the Capitol rotunda. They are brave people who have suffered greatly for many years.

Second, contact state senators and urge them to vote for Senate Bill 261. The House has already passed this legislation in a 173-21 vote. The proposed legislation provides a window for past victims to press civil claims and proposes other reforms suggested in the report. The Senate has only a few days left in session to act on this. Previously, lobbying by the Pennsylvania Catholic Conference and the Insurance Federation of Pennsylvania has buried the child sex crime reforms in committee.

Third, thank senators who vote for the bill and, if it is not passed, hold opposing senators accountable for the suffering of child victims. The church has proven itself unable to resolve this problem. Remedies through the law are necessary.

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SAN DIEGO (CA)
The San Diego Union-Tribune

October 9, 2018

By Peter Rowe

Twice, in 1995 and in 2002, the Diocese of San Diego cleared the Rev. Justin Langille of allegations that he had sexually abused a teenage girl.

But a third investigation — conducted last month by the Diocesan Independent Review Board — found new evidence that undermined the priest’s alibi. On Tuesday, the diocese announced that Langille, 65, has been suspended and is no longer able to perform priestly duties.

“I felt strongly that even older, previously decided cases involving currently serving priests would benefit from being examined by the Independent Review Board,” Bishop Robert McElroy said in a statement released by the diocese Tuesday. “The voice of the laity needs to be heard on these matters…”

The review board, which includes lay attorneys, criminal investigators, psychologists and a clergy abuse victim, offers “exceptionally valuable guidance and expertise,” McElroy said.

Langille was accused of inappropriately touching an adolescent girl. While stopping short of sexual intercourse, a diocesan official described the priest’s actions as a clear “boundary violation.”

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YOUNGSTOWN (OH)
WFMJ

October 9, 2018

By Michelle Nicks

The organization SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, is holding news conferences statewide to get the attention of the Ohio Attorney General.

The group is asking Mike DeWine to launch investigations into clergy sex crimes and coverups just like Pennsylvania and now Michigan.

Standing in front of the Youngstown satellite office for the Ohio Attorney General, members of SNAP called on DeWine to take action.

Judy Jones with the SNAP Network out of St. Louis said, “We are asking Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine to do a grand jury investigation into every Diocese in Ohio (and there are six). In August the Pennsylvania Attorney General, Josh Shapiro, released a grand jury report that was very scathing and it showed that Bishops and church officials covered up and enabled child sex crimes.”

A spokesperson with AG’s office in Columbus confirms that Ohio does not have a statewide grand jury mechanism or the authority to do that unless they’re contacted by a prosecutor.

Mahoning County Prosecutor Paul Gains tells 21 News, “We have to look at crimes when it comes to a grand jury, not the behavior of a Diocese or a group. We still need victims to come forward so we can investigate.”

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[Doubts cast on Schoenstatt after accusations of clergy sex abuse and cover-up]

CHILE
El Mostrador

October 10, 2018

By Alejandra Carmona López

Cox y Morel no son los únicos cuestionados en este movimiento estrechamente ligado a la elite chilena. El año pasado, ante el 14° Juzgado de Garantía de Santiago, el sacerdote y ex vicerrector del Santuario Nacional de Maipú, Rodrigo Gajardo, debió aceptar que abusó sexualmente de un menor cuando este se quedó a dormir en la casa de la juventud del santuario en La Florida. Fue condenado a 61 días de presidio menor en su grado mínimo y, también, a la suspensión de cargo u oficio público durante el tiempo de la condena. La comunidad de los padres de Schoenstatt salió a enfrentar el hecho pidiendo perdón a la víctima y su familia.

Desde hace un mes que la plaza Luis Morel, de la comuna de Macul, dejó de llamarse así. Fue rebautizada como Obreros Municipales, porque el alcalde Gonzalo Montoya y los ocho concejales querían quitar al lugar el estigma de un nombre que no puede ser homenajeado, menos en un espacio donde juegan niños.

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[Karadima victims accuse Church of using delay tactics to avoid civil lawsuit]

CHILE
El Mostrador

October 11, 2018

La crucial diligencia quedó nuevamente aplazada a raíz de un recurso ingresado la noche del miércoles por el abogado del Arzobispado de Santiago. “Me parece mal, pero también es coherente con lo que hace el Arzobispado. Va en la misma línea del cardenal Ricardo Ezzati no prestando declaraciones cuando se le llama. No me sorprende”, dijo el abogado de las víctimas, Juan Pablo Hermosilla.

Un nuevo traspié sufrieron las víctimas del otrora poderoso sacerdote de El Bosque, Fernando Karadima, luego que los alegatos de la demanda civil que interpusieron contra el Arzobispado de Santiago quedaran otra vez suspendidos en la Corte de Apelaciones capitalina.

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[Schoenstatt spokesperson in Chile on welcoming Cox: “For us it is a shame”]

CHILE
BioBioChile

October 10, 2018

By Matías Vega and Nicole Martínez

El vocero de Schoenstatt en Chile dijo que acoger a Francisco José Cox fue exigencia del Vaticano, y que con el conocimiento de casos hoy preferiría que se hubiese quedado en Chile. Reconoció graves errores en el actuar de la iglesia. Cox no puede usar su teléfono ni salir del recinto donde se aloja en Alemania. Son las pocas restricciones que tiene el obispo emérito que hoy vive en Alemania bajo el alero de Schoenstatt, mismo movimiento del que es parte el cardenal Francisco Javier Errázuriz, quien estaba a cargo de la iglesia en Chile el año en que emprendió rumbo a Europa.

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[Archdiocese of Santiago joins the prosecution in requesting abuse information from Vatican]

CHILE
La Tercera

October 11, 2018

By Leyla Zapata Sánchez

El Arzobispado de Santiago efectuó la petición ante la Corte de Apelaciones. Los otros cuatro requerimientos de este año fueron presentados por el Ministerio Público.

El Arzobispado de Santiago busca concretar el quinto requerimiento de la información relacionada con los casos de abusos sexuales en la Iglesia Católica local ante el Vaticano.

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[Last-minute appeal filed by Archbishop again delays Karadima’s civil case]

SANTIAGO, CHILE
Emol

October 11, 2018

By Tamara Cerna

Los denunciantes aseguraron que esto es parte de una estrategia de la Iglesia, y esperan que la cita entre el Presidente Piñera y el Papa permita destrabar las causas en Chile.

Casi a las 10 de la noche de ayer, el abogado de Juan Carlos Cruz, José Andrés Murillo y James Hamilton recibió una notificación: Desde el Arzobispado de Santiago habían ingresado un recurso de reposición que congelaba, nuevamente y a horas de que fuera vista, la demanda que llevan adelante por los abusos cometidos por Fernando Karadima.

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[Jesuits will open canonical judicial process against priest Jaime Guzmán for allegations of child abuse]

CHILE
Emol

October 10, 2018

By F. Fernández

Un delegado de la Compañía de Jesús, dos asesores y un notario tendrán que recoger nuevos antecedentes contra el ex capellán del Colegio San Ignacio El Bosque, además de su defensa.

La Congregación para la Doctrina de la Fe, entidad perteneciente al Vaticano, ordenó a la Compañía de Jesús abrir un proceso judicial canónico contra el sacerdote Jaime Guzmán Astaburuaga por denuncias de abusos de menores.

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ROME (ITALY)
National Catholic Reporter

October 12, 2018

by Joshua J. McElwee

Pope Francis has accepted the resignation of Washington Cardinal Donald Wuerl, ending a storied, five-decade career of one of the U.S. Catholic Church’s most dedicated and powerful prelates after a Pennsylvania grand jury report sparked outcry over his handling of abusive priests in the early 1990s.

While the short Oct. 12 note from the Vatican press office announcing the move did not explain the reasons behind the pontiff’s decision, a separate letter to the cardinal from Francis portrayed it as a reluctant one, made at Wuerl’s insistence.

In the letter, released by the Washington archdiocese, the pontiff tells the cardinal he saw in the request to resign “the heart of the shepherd” and asks Wuerl to remain on as Washington’s apostolic administrator, pending appointment of his successor.

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ROME (ITALY)
Catholic News Service

October 12, 2018

Pope Francis has accepted the resignation of Cardinal Donald W. Wuerl as archbishop of Washington but did not name a successor.

When the pope’s decision was announced Oct. 12, the Archdiocese of Washington released a letter from Pope Francis to the cardinal, making clear his support for Cardinal Wuerl’s ministry and leadership, but also praising the cardinal for putting the good of the church first.

“You have sufficient elements to ‘justify’ your actions and distinguish between what it means to cover up crimes or not to deal with problems, and to commit some mistakes,” the pope wrote. “However, your nobility has led you not to choose this way of defense. Of this, I am proud and thank you.”

The archdiocese also announced the pope has named Cardinal Wuerl as apostolic administrator to oversee the archdiocese until a successor is named.

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DUBLIN (IRELAND)
The Irish Times

October 12, 2018

By Patsy McGarry

Cardinal Donald Wuerl was heavily criticised in a US grand jury report over his handling of child sexual abuse allegations while a bishop of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, from 1988 to 2006.

Following the publication of the Pennsylvania grand jury report last August, he withdrew from a scheduled appearance at the World Meeting of Families in Dublin.

Cardinal Wuerl was due to give the keynote address on “The Welfare of the Family is Decisive for the Future of the World,” on Wednesday, August 22nd.

The report of the grand jury, published on August 14th, found “wholesale institutional failure that endangered the welfare of children” in Pittsburgh. It faulted Cardinal Wuer for what it said was his role in the concealment of sex abuse.

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OAKLAND (CA)
NBC Bay Area

October 11, 2018

By Jodi Hernandez

For the second time in recent weeks, a priest tied to a molestation case has resurfaced in the East Bay, just as the Oakland Diocese announced it will soon release the names of all clergy credibly accused of sexually abusing minors.

Priest abuse survivors are saying these attackers are going unchecked. One victim, Joey Piscitelli, says Rev. Steve Whelan began molesting him in high school when he was just 14 years old.

“I was at Salesian High School in Richmond in 1969 and 1970,” Piscitelli said. “I was repeatedly molested by Father Steve. This priest kind of destroyed my life as a teenager.”

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INDIANAPOLIS (IN)
93.3 FM

October 12, 2018

By Mike Perleberg

The Archdiocese of Indianapolis has released the names of clergymen who have faced accusations of sexual abuse.

Indianapolis Archbishop Charles W. Thompson said releasing the list of priests who have faced credible accusations could help sexual abuse survivors find the strength to come forward.

“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,” Thompson said in a statement.

The list includes 29 priests who served in the Archdiocese or in religious orders since the 1940s. Twenty-three of them were accused of sexual abuse of a child.

Among them is a former pastor at St. Lawrence Church in Lawrenceburg. An allegation of abuse between 1944 and 1946 was made against M William J. Kreis. Msgr. Kreis died in 1954, before the accusation was brought forth, meaning he was unable to offer a defense, the archdiocese notes.

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NEWARK (NJ)
North Jersey Record

October 12, 2018

By Deena Yellin

As Catholic leaders from around the globe meet in Rome this month, there is at least one notable absence: Cardinal Joseph Tobin of Newark is skipping the Assembly of the Synod of Bishops to focus on the sexual abuse crisis back home.

Catholics and advocates for sexual abuse survivors across North Jersey are applauding his decision to forgo the monthlong conclave in order to take care of business during a tumultuous time in the church.

Mark Crawford of Woodbridge, New Jersey director of SNAP (Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests) and a survivor of clergy abuse himself, said Tobin did the right thing by forgoing the event.

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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.

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

UNITED STATES
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.

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

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.”

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

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.

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

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.”

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