ABUSE TRACKER

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

August 10, 2020

Former Exclusive Brethren members hit with dawn raids, legal suits after speaking out against the secretive Christian sect

NEW ZEALAND
Stuff

August 9, 2020

By Bevan Hurley

https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/300063194/former-exclusive-brethren-members-hit-with-dawn-raids-legal-suits-after-speaking-out-against-the-secretive-christian-sect

Braden Simmons awoke to a knock at the door. Outside were lawyers and investigators with a court order to search his home.

A former Exclusive Brethren who was once told to drink rat poison by the church’s Supreme Leader is one of several former members fighting legal action after speaking out against the church. Bevan Hurley reports.

On June 30 this year, Braden Simmons attended an informal session with the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care.

He would later tell friends he was there to share his story about his mental struggles during his time as an Exclusive Brethren, and in particular an incident involving the church’s Supreme Leader Bruce Hales, a man who is looked on by members as the embodiment of the Holy Spirit on earth.

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.

A haven for victims of abuse

ZAMBIA
Alberton Record

August 8, 2020

They educate women on what is the exit plan for them if they were to find themselves in an abusive relationship.

Amcare’s empowerment centre is a safe haven for victims of domestic abuse in Alberton and the surrounding area.

They provide a shelter for women and their children to escape the abusive situation they find themselves in with the focus on victims of ongoing and current domestic victims.

A unique advantage they have is that they can provide shelter for the women and their children, even boys over the age of 15.

According to Amcare general manager Marihet Infantino, as well as providing shelter to the victims, they assist with the legal aspects of gaining a protection order to protect them.

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.

Houston church group leader arrested for sexually assaulting 9-year-old

HOUSTON (TX)
KXXV-TV

August 7, 2020

Houston Police have arrested a local church group leader for sexually assaulting a 9-year-old boy, and they believe there may be more victims.

Charges have been filed against a suspect arrested in the sexual assault of a child in incidents dating back to January 1, 2019, according to police.

The suspect, 60-year-old Jose Abel Mena, is charged with continuous sexual abuse of a child in the 183rd State District Court.

Mena is accused of sexually assaulting a 9-year-old boy, as recently as April 2020. The victim, who is a known acquaintance to Mena, was assaulted on several occasions at Mena’s residence in the 9600 block of Fulton Street, according to police.

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.

Church named in Lowville sex abuse lawsuit taking allegations ‘very seriously’

NEW YORK
WWNY-TV

August 7, 2020

By Diane Rutherford

A church named in a Lowville child sexual abuse lawsuit says it’s taking the allegations “very seriously.”

Earlier this week, a lawsuit was filed in State Supreme Court, claiming a former choir director at Lowville United Methodist Church sexually assaulted a teenager 40 years ago.

On Friday, the Upper New York Conference of the United Methodist Church, which is named as a defendant in the suit, issued the following statement:

“We are taking this very seriously and are investigating. When it comes to terrible acts like the ones that are being alleged, we, as United Methodists, support survivors and their families in their search for justice. We pray for healing for all such survivors.”

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.

Egypt mulls law to protect women’s identities as MeToo movement escalates

CAIRO (EGYPT)
Reuters

August 10, 2020

By Menna A. Farouk

Egyptian lawmakers are pushing for a new law to protect the identity of women coming forward to report sexual abuse and assault as the nation’s MeToo movement picks up speed.

An Egyptian parliamentarian committee has approved a draft law that would give survivors of sexual assault and harassment the automatic right to anonymity, with the law expected to go to vote at a general session of the parliament later this month.

The moves comes as hundreds of women have started to speak up on social media about sexual assault in Egypt, with the public prosecution and National Council for Women supporting the movement and offering legal and social protection.

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.

Elite NYC school Saint David’s hushed up sexual abuse by staff, alumni lawsuit alleges

NEW YORK (NY)
New York Post

August 8, 2020

By Sara Dorn and Kathianne Boniello

A former student at an elite Manhattan private school claims in a shocking $20 million lawsuit that he was molested by three staffers, including one who allegedly kept a horrific trophy — jeans with locks of victims’ hair sewn into them.

Anthony Filiberti is the second alum to sue the $50,000-a-year Saint David’s School over past childhood sex abuse.

“Initially, it was incredibly pleasant. You ran around this donated mansion,” said Filiberti, who attended the all-boys elementary housed in three historic townhomes next to the Guggenheim on East 89th Street, from 1965 to 1973.

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.

Nancy LePage agrees to pay $125K to Fr. Eduard Perrone

DETROIT (MI)
Church Militant

August 8, 2020

A Michigan priest has been officially vindicated after a detective who falsely accused him of rape has agreed to pay him damages awards.

On Friday, Sgt. Det. Nancy LePage of the Macomb County Sheriff’s Department agreed to pay $125,000 to Detroit priest Fr. Eduard Perrone, one month after a three-person panel unanimously found her guilty of defamation and recommended that she pay damages. Friday was the deadline set by the panel for accepting or rejecting the recommendation.

Now that LePage has accepted the finding of guilt and has agreed to pay the money, it becomes a binding court ruling, formally bringing an end to Perrone’s months-long lawsuit for defamation, and officially vindicating him.

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.

August 9, 2020

Survivors file suite of lawsuits naming new alleged abusers among upstate Boy Scout groups

ROCHESTER (NY)
Democrat and Chronicle

August 6, 2020

By Sean Lahman

More than a dozen survivors have filed lawsuits in state court over the last week alleging that they were sexually abused while participating in Boy Scout activities in central and western New York.

The suits accuse Scout leaders and adult volunteers of sexually abusing the the survivors when they were as young as 8 years old. The timeframe for the alleged abuse described in these civil suits ranges from 1949 to 2007, but the majority of the assaults occurred in the 1970s.

The claims were filed under the Child Victims Act. Adopted in early 2019, the CVA carved out a one-year window during which suits can be brought by people who allege they were sexually abused when they were young. That window had been set to close Aug. 13, but a one-year extension was signed into law by Gov. Andrew Cuomo earlier this week.

Plaintiff’s lawyers say that they had been working to get cases filed by the original deadline, prompting this recent surge of new cases.

Three of the new complaints name perpetrators who had been identified in previous lawsuits, including the Rev. Robert F. O’Neill.

O’Neill was a Catholic priest and of the worst serial abusers ever uncovered in the Rochester diocese. Already named as a defendant in more than 20 lawsuits, O’Neill served at six parishes in the Rochester area between 1962 and 2001. He also served as a counselor to Scouts in various local troops.

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.

Surge in filings pushes Child Victims Act suits in WNY past 700 in a year

BUFFALO (NY)
Buffalo News

August 9, 2020

By Jay Tokasz and Mike McAndrew

Former Smallwood Elementary School teacher Trent Hariaczyi pleaded guilty in 2005 to possessing child pornography and served 18 months in federal prison.

Now, a local man who was a Smallwood student from 1994 to 2000 is alleging Hariaczyi molested him, and the Amherst Central School District allowed it to happen.

The man, now in his early 30s, sued the district in July, more than 20 years after the alleged abuse.

“He’s just broken over this,” said the man’s lawyer, Paul Barr.

The Amherst District superintendent’s office on Friday emailed a statement that said the district became aware last week of “troubling allegations” regarding the conduct of a former district employee. “The former employee at issue left the district in 2002,” the statement said. “The district is undertaking all appropriate steps in response to this information.”

The case against Amherst schools is among at least 720 lawsuits in Western New York filed since last August under the Child Victims Act, including a surge of more than 200 cases filed since July 24.

Statewide, about 3,800 CVA cases have been filed since last August. New York County Supreme Court so far has received the most CVA filings in the state, with 851, according to the Office of Court Administration. Erie County had the second-most filings, with 636.

Most of the filings allege abuse by Catholic priests, scout leaders and teachers, although a handful of suits accuse family members, doctors and law enforcement. Just within the past two weeks, new CVA suits have targeted the Niagara County Sheriff’s Office, Amherst Youth Hockey and Big Brothers & Big Sisters of Erie, Niagara and the Southern Tier.

The Buffalo Diocese has been named as a defendant in at least 263 CVA suits in Western New York, making it the region’s most sued entity, even though lawsuits against the diocese mostly have stopped since it filed in February for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. Other Catholic entities, such as parishes and schools, continue to be named as defendants in many lawsuits.

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.

Researchers reveal patterns of sexual abuse in religious settings

ISLE OF MAN (ENGLAND)
Phys.org from Science X Network

August 6, 2020

By Geoff McMaster

A recent literature review by a University of Alberta cult expert and his former graduate student paints a startling and consistent picture of institutional secrecy and widespread protection of those who abuse children in religious institutions “in ways that often differ from forms of manipulation in secular settings.”

It’s the first comprehensive study exposing patterns of sexual abuse in religious settings.

“A predator may spend weeks, months, even years grooming a child in order to violate them sexually,” said Susan Raine, a MacEwan University sociologist and co-author of the study with University of Alberta sociologist Stephen Kent.

Perpetrators are also difficult to identify, the researchers said, because they rarely conform to a single set of personality or other traits.

The findings demonstrate the need to “spend less time focusing on ‘stranger danger,’ and more time thinking about our immediate community involvement, or extended environment, and the potential there for grooming,” said Raine.

Raine and Kent examined the research on abuse in a number of religious denominations around the world to show “how some religious institutions and leadership figures in them can slowly cultivate children and their caregivers into harmful and illegal sexual activity.”

Those institutions include various branches of Christianity as well as cults and sectarian movements including the Children of God, the Branch Davidians, the Fundamentalist Latter-Day Saints as well as a Hindu ashram and the Devadasis.

“Because of religion’s institutional standing, religious grooming frequently takes place in a context of unquestioned faith placed in sex offenders by children, parents and staff,” they found.

The two researchers began their study after Kent was asked to provide expert testimony for a lawsuit in Vancouver accusing Bollywood choreographer and sect leader Shiamak Davar of sexually abusing two of his dance students in 2015.

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.

Vicar general of Springfield diocese won’t accept reappointment, says he was ‘unfairly’ portrayed in Weldon report

SPRINGFIELD (MA)
Springfield Republican via MassLive

August 3, 2020

By Anne-Gerard Flynn

https://www.masslive.com/news/2020/08/vicar-general-of-springfield-diocese-wont-accept-reappointment-says-he-was-unfairly-portrayed-in-weldon-report.html

Fallout continues in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield as the diocesan vicar general, the Rev. Monsignor Christopher Connelly, will not seek reappointment, saying he was “unfairly and unfavorably portrayed” in the recent report into allegations of sexual abuse by the late Bishop Christopher J. Weldon.

Connelly’s announcement coincides with letters having circulated in the religious community in which retired priest James Scahill, an outspoken advocate on behalf of victims of sex abuse within the Catholic church, called for the removal of the vicar based on the results of the report by retired Judge Peter A. Velis. The vicar is second only to the bishop in the diocesan hierarchy.

In the report, made public on June 24, Velis found allegations by a former altar boy against Weldon were “unequivocally credible.” The report was also critical of the diocese’s handling of the case prior to the call by the current bishop, the Most Rev. Mitchell T. Rozanski, for the independent investigation last summer.

“I am calling for the immediate removal and replacement of Connelly as vicar general and rector of St. Michael’s Cathedral,” Scahill said when asked about his letter and Connelly’s reaction to it. “Christopher Connelly is doing what I am very opposed to – that is employing smoke and mirrors (and) dodging the truth.”

Connelly, meanwhile, said his appointment as vicar ceased on June 10 as a result of Rozanski being named archbishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of St. Louis, where he will move later this month. “Before Father Scahill’s request, I had already indicated to our bishop that when a new bishop moves in, I would not accept reappointment as vicar general, that I had done it,” Connelly said.

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.

Paedophile priest, 96, jailed for abusing boys

ST HELENS (MERSEYSIDE, ENGLAND)
St Helens Star

August 6, 2020

By Joanne Rowe

An elderly priest has been jailed for sexually abusing six boys more than 30 years ago.

All but one of 96-year-old former priest Father John Kevin Murphy’s victims came forward to police after seeing media reports about him being imprisoned in 2017 for molesting other boys.

The abuse of the victims, some of them altar boys, occurred at the homes of victims in Whiston, Ashton-in-Makerfield and Liverpool and at swimming baths in Liverpool and Leigh.

“The picture that emerges from the two cases is that for some 27 years the defendant was a predatory paedophile who used his position as a Catholic priest to groom and subsequently abuse at least ten children,” said Arthur Gibson, prosecuting, at Liverpool Crown Court.

The court heard how Murphy, of Hillside Crescent, Horwich, had been ordained as a priest in 1962 and served in a number of parishes in the Merseyside, Lancashire and Greater Manchester until he retired.

The six victims, who were aged between eight and 16 at the times of the offences, were molested while he took them on swimming lessons and also while visiting the homes of their devout Catholic parents.

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.

Questions of abuse cover-up directed at incoming St. Louis archbishop, but details unclear

DENVER (CO)
Catholic News Agency

August 7, 2020

By Kevin Jones

Archbishop-designate Mitchell Rozanski is set to take over the Archdiocese of St. Louis, after heading the Diocese of Springfield in Massachusetts since 2014. Though Rozanski himself backed major changes in the Springfield diocese’s handling of abuse, one unnamed abuse victim has asked for a Church investigation into whether the archbishop-designate was involved in covering up abuse.

Olan Horne, an advocate for victims of sex abuse by clergy, said the request to investigate Archbishop-designate Rozanski was made by a Berkshire County resident who had taken part in the Boston archdiocese’s multi-million dollar settlement, the Springfield newspaper The Republican reports. Horne said the request had support from “other concerned Catholics here in the diocese.”

The complaint was made through the Catholic Bishops Abuse Reporting Service website, and Horne said he received confirmation that the allegation had been filed.

Mark Dupont, secretary of communications for the Diocese of Springfield, told CNA August 6 that Rozanski had worked to make improvements in responding to sexual abuse allegations since before June 2019, when he commissioned an independent investigation into the mishandling of an allegation about a previous bishop.

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.

Child Victims Act Suit Filed Against Troy Church

ALBANY (NY)
Spectrum News

August 4, 2020

By Jaclyn Cangro

Troy – Abigail Barker is discussing something not many people go public with.

“The topic of childhood sexual abuse is an inherently difficult topic to talk about. People don’t want to talk about it,” Barker said.

But that’s exactly what she wants to do. She says when she was five years old, she was sexually abused when she was babysat by her Sunday school teacher and deacon at Victorious Life Christian Church in Troy.

A lawsuit filed under the Child Victims Act says Barker came forward with the allegation less than two years after the alleged abuse. She says at six years old, she was interviewed by the church’s elder, and her alleged abuser was cleared of any wrongdoing. He worked at Victorious Life until 2011, and his wife remains a deacon.

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.

Motion granted for change of venue in Craig Harrison lawsuit against Diocese of Fresno

BAKERSFIELD (CA)
KGET

August 6, 2020

By Jason Kotowski

A Superior Court judge on Thursday granted a change of venue motion filed by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Fresno, which is being sued for defamation by Monsignor Craig Harrison.

The case will be heard in Fresno County Superior Court. A date for the next hearing had not been scheduled.

“Of course we opposed (the motion) because we have other cases going here with similar issues, but it doesn’t come as a surprise,” Kyle J. Humphrey, one of Harrison’s attorneys, said afterward.

Humphrey said the case could have been held in Kern if the diocese hadn’t objected, but the law allows a change of venue for the case to be heard where the diocese is situated.

The lawsuit is based on what Harrison said were defamatory statements made by then-Diocese spokeswoman Teresa Dominguez on behalf of the Diocese in a May 2019 article on KQED. Dominguez said that she believed a man who had first reported sexual abuse allegations against Harrison decades ago.

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.

Nun rape case: Bishop Franco Mulakkal granted bail by trial court

CHANDIGARH (INDIA)
The Tribune

August 7, 2020

Mulakkal, in his plea had challenged the July 7 Kerala High Court order, dismissing his discharge plea in the rape case filed by the nun

A trial court here on Friday granted bail to Bishop Franco Mulakkal, accused of raping a nun in Kerala, with stringent conditions and directed him to be present on the dates of hearing of the case.

The Additional Sessions Court had cancelled the bail granted to the Bishop on July 13 for failing to appear for the trial and issued a non-bailable warrant against him.

Mulakkal was present in the court on Friday when it considered the matter.

Granting bail, the court directed him not to leave the state till the charge-sheet is read out to him on August 13 and to be present court on the dates of hearing of the case.

The court also directed him to offer fresh sureties and bail bonds.

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.

A city out of time: what do we dream of when we dream of Rome?

LONDON (ENGLAND)
Guardian

August 9, 2020

By Gabriella Coslovich

On a writing grant to the eternal city an Italian-born Australian encounters its two faces – the tourist’s fantasy and the residents’ reality

*

A city operates on discrete levels – the tourist’s fantasy and the resident’s reality. A Roman urban planner laments the city’s poorly maintained infrastructure and the daily struggle of workers who depend on a fickle public transport system. She jokes about the hi-vis orange plastic fences that appear around collapsed walls and roads – and remain indefinitely. On the nightly news I see the same problems that I see at “home”. Online retail killing bricks-and-mortar shops. Men killing their spouses. Climate change killing the planet. Clerical abuse of children. The rise of racism, antisemitism and the far right. Some problems are graver here. This country is western Europe’s most polluted. Youth unemployment is close to 30%. The mafia mutate and spread. Refugees and migrants stream across permeable borders, arriving by sea and land. Many don’t make it. The coronavirus has yet to hit and, when it does, Italy is pushed to the brink of collapse. Other emergencies slide down the news agenda. The country is in triage, battling an invisible, terrifying enemy that eclipses all else.

Before the pandemic, it was still possible to notice other things. As in Australia, politicians climbing to success on an anti-migrant stance. When Salvini’s plan to force an election backfired, he called on his supporters to descend on Rome, echoing a fascist past. In late October they do, and I avoid the square where the demonstration takes place, watching it instead on the evening news. I see the same old slogans trotted out by populists everywhere: Orgoglio Italiano. Italian Pride. Prima Gli Italiani. Italians First. A Salvini supporter holds a placard that reads Io Sto Con San Salvini. I’m with Saint Salvini. Another holds a crucifix alongside the Italian flag.

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.

Lansing’s St. Casimir church celebrates its final Mass

DENVER (CO)
Crux from Associated Press/Lansing State Journal

August 9, 2020

By Craig Lyons

Lansing – Parishioners of St. Casimir Catholic Church lined Sparrow Avenue on Aug. 2 getting one last sight of the parish many called home for decades.

Bishop Earl Boyea tied a red ribbon around the doors, leading the crowd of parishioners in prayer one last time.

“I now pronounce this church closed,” Boyea said.

*

The parish first hinted at possibly closing its doors in December, telling parishioners that the dwindling population and lower volume of donations could not sustain St. Casimir. The Diocese of Lansing had planned to review all its parishes’ operations this year.

“Over the last 100 years our parish has been through its ups and downs. Through it all, the Lord has always had a plan for us. Now we have come to the end of those plans,” Pung wrote in a letter to parishioners this spring. “With declining priest numbers and changing demographics, we are no longer able to sustain a healthy, vibrant parish life that will meet the spiritual needs of its people.”

Only about 380 parishioners attend Sunday Mass at St. Casimir, which is lower than other Lansing parishes, the diocese said.

St. Casimir’s would be the first Catholic church closed by the Lansing diocese in almost a decade. It shuttered Holy Cross parish in Lansing in 2009. The Vietnamese Catholic community purchased the building as reopened it as the Parish of Saint Andrew Dung-Lac in 2011.

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.

Three women who say they were abused as children in the Jehovah’s Witnesses tell their awful stories

CARDIFF (WALES)
WalesOnline

August 8, 2020

By Laura Clements

“My mother… she’s sacrificing me to gain eternal life”

When 16-year-old Sian sat down and told her mum she had been sexually assaulted, she said she was subjected to a barrage of questions like what was she wearing, did she enjoy it and did she definitely say no?

Her mother, a zealous Jehovah’s Witness told her teenage daughter if she had been more immersed in the faith, maybe even prayed more, it would never have happened.

Now aged 35 and with three of her own children, Sian has virtually no contact with her mum despite the fact they live immediately next door.

In a pitiful effort to maintain some sort of normality, occasionally Sian comes across small bags of sweets left on her garden wall for her children. Sometimes, envelopes stuffed with money are posted through the letterbox and once a package containing an X-Box was dropped off at the house.

Sian grew up as a Jehovah’s Witness in south Wales with her mum and step-father – her parents divorced when she was very young- but said the religion “never sat right” with her.

Sian is not her real name. As she speaks candidly about life as a young Jehovah’s Witness, it is clear she is protecting not just her children but also her own sense of worth in an effort for self-preservation.

“A boy forced himself on me when I was younger,” she says, almost apologetically. “I told my mother and she said I needed to tell the elders. So I went to them and explained what had happened. I was 16 and I was reproved even though it wasn’t my fault.

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.

Pope rotates in new personal secretary

DENVER (CO)
Crux from Catholic News Service/USCCB

August 3, 2020

Rome – While recent popes have kept the same personal secretary throughout their pontificates, Pope Francis has chosen to rotate the priests serving in that capacity.

The Vatican press office confirmed Aug. 1 that “in the context of the normal rotation of personnel desired by Pope Francis for his collaborators in the Roman Curia, Msgr. Yoannis Lahzi Gaid, personal secretary of the Holy Father since April 2014, has concluded his service.”

*

Pope Francis has chosen Italian Father Fabio Salerno, also an official in the Secretariat of State, to succeed the Egypt-born priest.

Born in Catanzaro April 25, 1979, he was ordained to the priesthood in 2011. After earning a doctorate in civil and canon law from Rome’s Pontifical Lateran University, Salerno entered the Vatican diplomatic corps. He served at the nunciature in Indonesia and at the Holy See’s mission to the Council of Europe before transferring to the Vatican.

Salerno will work with Father Gonzalo Aemilius, a priest from Uruguay, whom the pope chose as a secretary in January.

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.

August 8, 2020

Catholic order’s list of accused shows past of mishandling abuse allegations

DAYTON (OH)
Journal-News

August 8, 2020

By Josh Sweigart

A Journal-News investigation into the Society of Mary’s handling of alleged abuse of children by its members found the religious order concealed allegations against some from parents, students and school officials.

The order released a list this summer of 46 priests and brothers its leaders say sexually abused children since 1950, but critics say the disclosure falls short. Five men appearing on the list were assigned to the former Hamilton Catholic High School at some time during their careers, according to a Journal-News review of the documents.

The Catholic order today is based in St. Louis and runs dozens of schools in the U.S. and around the world. Because of the group’s ties to southwest Ohio, many of the men named in the list worked or studied in the region at some time, a Journal-News investigation found.

U.S. Marianist leader Provincial Fr. Oscar Vasquez has admitted that mistakes were made in the past in how the order handled abuse claims.

“In a spirit of sorrow and accountability, and with a sincere desire for reconciliation and healing, we are confronting the darkness of these sins,” he said in a statement released along with the list.

A group critical of how the Catholic church has handled abuse claims, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, has called for the Marianists to do more. The organization wants the Marianists to release more information about the accused, including photos, current whereabouts and when the order learned of the allegations and to work more aggressively to seek out additional victims and perpetrators.

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

Lawsuit alleges St. Anthony Home for Boys was rife with abuse

ALBUQUERQUE (NM)
Albuquerque Journal

August 6, 2020

By Colleen Heild

An estimated 6,000 children passed through the doors of the St. Anthony Home for Boys in Albuquerque during its 68 years of operation.

When Roy Rogers and Dale Evans played the New Mexico State Fair, they visited the home and let the children sit atop Trigger.

U.S. Sen. Robert Kennedy was running for president in 1968 when he stopped and ate lunch with the students at the orphanage – the state’s first for boys. Heavyweight boxer Sonny Liston paid a visit to spar with them and tell his story, states an online survey of the historic school from the National Park Service.

The religious order of nuns that ran the orphanage describes St. Anthony’s as a lifeline for boys, where they learned to care for livestock, grow vegetables, and where prayer, sacraments and spiritual life were central to their daily lives.

But a lawsuit filed in state District Court this week paints a much darker picture, one where children whose parents were dead or couldn’t care for them were tormented and sexually abused by nuns and priests.

Beginning in the late 1950s, one boy who lived there tried to escape, only to be caught, deemed a runaway and brought back by police, according to the lawsuit filed against the Sisters of St. Francis, of Colorado Springs, Colorado, which ran the school.

The boy – now a man in his late 60s identified only as John Doe 167 – alleges that behind the walls of the orphanage, he was sexually abused beginning at age 6 by the chaplain, visiting priests and some of the nuns at the school who had “total and complete control of the lives of the children.”

He finally escaped for good at age 13, running away and convincing an aunt he couldn’t return.

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

Lawsuit claims Catholic priests, nuns abused boys at Albuquerque orphanage

ALBUQUERQUE (NM)
KOB

August 7, 2020

By Patrick Hayes

A new lawsuit claims Catholic priests and nuns in Albuquerque abused orphans.

“I think St. Anthony’s orphanage has been around forever or was around forever. And then in the 1950s, 1960s, and we’re actually learning even prior to that had a problem with physical and sexual abuse of children who were placed there,” said Levi Monagle, an attorney representing a man who claims he was abused at the orphanage.

According to the lawsuit, John Doe 167 became a “captive sex toy” for the chaplain, visiting priests and nuns.

Attorneys say the victim was a resident of St. Anthony’s, which was located on Indian School near 12th Street, from 1958 to 1965. They say the abuse started when their client was 6 years old.

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.

Prelate fronts Western Australia inquiry

SYDNEY (NEW SOUTH WALES, AUSTRALIA)
Catholic Weekly – Archdiocese of Sydney

August 6, 2020

By Marilyn Rodrigues

Scrapping the seal impossible and could cause harm

Perth Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB has appeared before a WA parliamentary committee to defend the seal of confession in the Catholic Church as essential to the practice of the faith.

He was joined by Coptic Orthodox priest Father Abram Abdelmalek representing the Coptic and Oriental Orthodox Churches.

Archbishop Costelloe, who has also lodged a written submission to the committee’s inquiry into proposed changes to the state’s child protection laws, said he supported priests being mandatory reporters of child sexual abuse, but that the obligation should not be expanded to include information gained by clergy during the sacrament of confession.

No matter how well-intended, the proposed legislation would not make children and young people any safer and may in fact, given the inviolable trust in the confidentiality of the confessional, “make the situation worse for young people who are experiencing abuse or for older people who are seeing to address the abuse they suffered as a child”, he told the standing committee on legislation chaired by Dr Sally Talbot on 6 August.

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Lawsuit against Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh accuses priest of rape

TARENTUM (PA)
Tribune-Review

August 7, 2020

By Paula Reed Ward

A man who immigrated to the United States at age 13 from Italy is suing the Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh, alleging that he was sexually assaulted by a priest at Immaculate Conception Parish in Bloomfield twice in 1967.

The lawsuit, filed in Allegheny County Common Pleas Court, also names as defendants the church, Cardinal Donald Wuerl and current Bishop David Zubik.

A spokeswoman for the diocese said they had not yet been served the complaint and that they do not comment on pending litigation.

Gennaro Greco was 13 when he moved with his family to Pittsburgh in 1963, according to the complaint. At the time, he did not know how to speak English, which his attorney said made him particularly vulnerable for abuse. He was put back two years in school, making him older and larger than other students in his class. Greco became an altar boy at Conception Parish, it said, and volunteered there with cleaning and other chores.

Twice, the lawsuit said, when he was helping to clean walls in the rectory, the Rev. Leo Burchianti took him aside, stripped off his clothes and raped him. The lawsuit said that the diocese and its bishops knew of the abuse but concealed it to preserve the church’s reputation. Shortly after the assaults, the lawsuit said, Burchianti was transferred to another parish. According to the 40th Statewide Grand Jury report, released nearly two years ago, Burchianti was moved to Our Lady of Grace in Scott in June 1968.

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Lawsuit Against Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh Accuses Priest of Sexual Abuse

PITTSBURGH (PA)
KDKA-TV

August 7, 2020

By Shelby Cassesse

The priest was named in the state’s grand jury report into sexual abuse in Pennsylvania dioceses. The report says he was involved in inappropriate relationships with at least eight boys.

A lawsuit has been filed against the Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh alleging that a man was sexually assaulted and raped by a priest when he was an altar boy.

The victim accuses Father Leo Burchianti of attacking and raping him twice.

“It’s taken him a long time to recognize he did nothing wrong,” said attorney Richard Serbin.

Burchianti was a priest named in the state’s grand jury report into sexual abuse in Pennsylvania dioceses.

The grand jury report alleges Burchianti had inappropriate relationships with at least eight boys and appeared to have been evaluated and treated at facilities for “inappropriate relationships with male minors” on multiple occasions.

According to the complaint, the victim was 13 years old when he came to Pittsburgh. He became an altar boy and frequently volunteered to help with chores at the Immaculate Conception Parish.

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SSPX accused of intimidating would-be whistleblowers amid abuse investigation

DENVER (CO)
Catholic News Agency

August 6, 2020

Washington – After an official with the Society of St. Pius X told priests and staff they should speak with criminal investigators only in the presence of an attorney provided by the group, the group’s leaders say their message was not intended to suggest anyone should cover up alleged sex abuse.

The Society of St. Pius X (SSPX) is a breakaway traditionalist group of priests and bishops with no official canonical status in the Church.

Rev. Scott Gardner, bursar of the U.S. district of the SSPX, told staff and priests at St. Mary’s SSPX chapel and school in Kansas last weekend that they did not have to cooperate with state investigators of alleged child sex abuse.

He added that employees and priest should speak to police only in the presence of a lawyer, who would be provided by the organization.

Some former members of the organization said the message, sent by email, seemed designed to silence witnesses or whistleblowers of abuse.

“It looks like they’re trying to hide things, trying to keep people from speaking and definitely stonewalling,” Kyle White, who has alleged that priests in the organization covered up reports of sexual abuse, told the Kansas City Star Aug. 4.

“They don’t want any more stuff like this getting out,” White added.

Gardner said when he emailed priests and staff, he was simply informing them that they did not have to speak to investigators without a lawyer present.

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Second person to file suit over abuse allegations against former Lowville teacher, church choir director

WATERTOWN (NY)
Watertown Daily Times and NY360

August 7, 2020

By Sydney Schaefer

https://www.nny360.com/news/crime/second-person-to-file-suit-over-abuse-allegations-against-former-lowville-teacher-church-choir-director/article_a51e1399-f9b5-5b7c-a467-10220d4a8cac.html

Lowville – A lawsuit filed against Lowville Academy and Central School District and its Board of Education on Monday, claiming a teacher sexually abused a student more than 40 years ago, has prompted another person to share similar recollections of abuse.

Jason A. Frament, the plaintiff’s attorney with LaFave, Wein & Frament, Guilderland, confirmed Friday that a second person has come forward with “very similar” allegations against the teacher, A. Ronald Johnson, after seeing reports of his alleged sexual abuse in the media.

The suit names Lowville Academy and Central School District and its Board of Education as defendants, as well as Lowville United Methodist Church and three other church entities which had authority over the Lowville church at the time. Mr. Johnson is not a defendant in the suit.

A second lawsuit is expected to be filed in state Supreme Court sometime next week, Mr. Frament said. Upon the second suit’s filing, he said the law firm may move to join the two suits, but for now, they are two separate cases, both accusing Mr. Johnson of similar abuse.

Mr. Johnson was a music teacher at what was then Lowville High School and choir director at Lowville United Methodist Church. The suit claims the school and church breached duties of care owed to the child, and negligence in their employment and supervision of Mr. Johnson.

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Culture Watch – “This Little Light” explores religious hypocrisy

SANTA MONICA (CA)
Santa Monica Daily Press

August 6, 2020

By Sarah A. Spitz

Christian hypocrisy played a big part in Lori [Lansens’] life growing up in Canada. “I was a believer,” she explains. “I loved God, I loved religion, I was in the church choir, went to Catholic school, attended mass alone in the mornings before school with the old Italian and Portuguese women dressed in black, and I stood apart from my family, which was more ambivalent about religion.

“But my parish priest was a pedophile who ended up dying in prison after pleading guilty to 47 counts of child molestation. We knew it at the time, we talked about it, we excused it, and said, ‘Oh, don’t let him get too close,’ but maybe you wanted that so you’d feel favored. Dozens of girls kept the secret, who would believe them? But when the parish refused to baptize my bi-racial cousin, I felt completely betrayed by this hypocrisy that was like nothing I’d actually learned about the teachings of Jesus.”

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Former Smithfield pastor charged with child molestation

PROVIDENCE (RI)
Providence Journal

August 1, 2020

Smithfield – The retired pastor of a church in Smithfield is charged with molesting a young girl.

Police on Friday morning arrested Archie Emerson, 75, the retired pastor of Ocean State Baptist Church, on charges of second-degree child molestation.

According to a police news release, detectives had received a complaint from a person who said Emerson molested her when she was between 6 and 11 years old.

Detectives obtained a search warrant for Emerson’s home and seized computers and related items, according to the news release.

Emerson appeared later Friday in District Court, Warwick, where he was released on personal recognizance, with a no-contact order. He is due back in court on Oct. 30.

Emerson’s attorney, John E. MacDonald, on Saturday night released the following statement: “Pastor Archie Emerson has devoted his life to his family, his community and his church. He is shocked that someone would levy such horrific allegations against him. Pastor Emerson adamantly denies any inappropriate conduct and looks forward to a swift resolution of this matter in court.”

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Abuse of authority in the Church: Problems and challenges of female religious life

ROME (ITALY)
La Civiltà Cattolica

August 1, 2020

By Giovanni Cucci

A mostly unexplored theme

[Google translation of Abusi di autorità nella Chiesa: Problemi e sfide della vita religiosa femminile]

The Church has dealt with the issue of abuses on several occasions, even in recent times, both at the level of reflection and operational measures and protocols . However, the relevance of the theme mostly concerned the sexual and psychological abuse of minors by ministers of the Church, especially presbyters. These are undoubtedly preponderant aspects, but certainly not exhaustive.

An issue that has not received enough attention so far is abuse within women’s congregations. It mostly does not take the form of sexual violence and does not concern minors; however, this does not mean that it is less important and has significant consequences. From pastoral experience and from the talks held on this subject, it is mostly about abuses of power and conscience.

*
Being superior seems to guarantee other exclusive privileges, such as taking advantage of the best medical care, while who is a simple nun cannot even go to the ophthalmologist or the dentist, because “you have to save money”. The examples unfortunately concern every aspect of ordinary life: from clothing to the possibility of taking a holiday, having a rest day or, more simply, being able to go out for a walk, everything must pass by the decision (or whim) of the same person. If a heavy garment is requested, the Council resolution must be awaited, or the request will be refused “for reasons of poverty”. Eventually some nuns turned to family members.

These are examples that may seem disconcerting and hardly credible for those who live in male Congregations, and in front of which one can simply smile. Unfortunately for some nuns this is everyday reality: a reality that for the most part they cannot make known, because they do not know where to turn, or for fear of retaliation.

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Magazine report is aimed at silencing nuns on sex abuse, says Vatican critic

WASHINGTON (DC)
Religion News Service

August 5, 2020

By Claire Giangravé

Vatican City – An article in a Jesuit magazine describing alleged exploitation of nuns in Catholic convents has been criticized as an attempt to silence members of women’s religious orders who have begun to speak out against sexual abuse by priests.

“I think there is a possibility of a revolt of religious sisters,” said Lucetta Scaraffia, the former head of the Vatican magazine Donne, Chiesa, Mondo (Women, Church, World), adding that many nuns she has heard from “are furious.”

Published Aug. 1 in La Civiltà Cattolica (Catholic Society), the article raised concerns about the “lack of attention that abuse within female congregations has garnered,” particularly overreach by some orders’ mothers superior.

Superiors were said to enjoy better health care services and opportunities for vacations, while rank-and-file nuns are denied access to eye doctors or dentists, some sisters told the magazine. Other nuns reported not even being able to enjoy a walk outside without asking for permission.

The article, by the Rev. Giovanni Cucci, also detailed the practice of “importing vocations” — bringing young nuns from other countries who don’t speak Italian and are therefore more easily exploited. Their communities, he wrote, “are experienced more as a prison.” He also called attention to cases of sexual abuse of nuns by superiors.

The accusations “may appear puzzling and hard to believe for those who live in male congregations,” wrote Cucci, “in the face of which one can simply smile.”

Scaraffia, who left Donne, Chiesa, Mondo in March 2019 after denouncing a climate of “cover-up and censorship” created by Vatican higher-ups, said the Civiltà Cattolica article represents an effort to undermine the newfound voice of nuns in the church.

“It’s a way to tell sisters that if they have press conferences, make their voices heard and denounce sexual abuse, (church authorities) will air all their dirty laundry,” she told Religion News Service.

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August 7, 2020

Tras las múltiples denuncias por abusos contra Raúl Sidders, se organiza el reclamo de justicia

LA PLATA (ARGENTINA)
Prensa Obrera [Buenos Aires, Argentina]

August 7, 2020

By Iván Hirsch

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El artículo de Prensa Obrera, que hizo pública por primera vez una denuncia contra el sacerdote del colegio San Vicente de Paul de La Plata, Raúl Sidders, por abusos y violencias cometidas contra alumnes y exalumnes, tuvo enormes repercusiones. Múltiples relatos fueron vertidos en redes sociales por parte de víctimas del cura, y comenzaron a organizarse les miembres de la comunidad educativa del colegio para reclamar justicia. Hasta en Misiones, provincia a la que fue trasladado Sidders para cumplir funciones como capellán de Gendarmería, colectivos de mujeres se encuentran en una campaña para exigir que se lo expulse.

El caso es estremecedor. El “padre Raúl” disponía de un control sobre toda la institución. Obligaba a les adolescentes a confesarse a solas con él, so pena de sanciones, y aprovechaba esos momentos de intimidad para ejercer todo tipo de acosos, abusos y violencias psicológicas. Más aún, se valía de los secretos de la confesión para atormentar a les alumnes. Un joven relató en su cuenta de Twitter que lo atormentaba por ser gay, y hasta “me sacó del clóset frente a toda la esMisógino declarado, Sidders es allegado del exarzobispo de La Plata, el ultramontano monseñor Héctor Aguer, quien lideró durante décadas los ataques al movimiento que lucha por los derechos de las mujeres y la diversidad sexual. Exponente público del ala más reaccionaria de la Iglesia Católica, este cura condujo un programa de televisión en un canal local de Cablevisión denominado “Ave María purísima”, que debió ser retirado del aire en 2011 luego de las denuncias presentadas en su contra en el Inadi por llamar, frente a niños y jóvenes que lo acompañaban, a quienes habían participado de una movilización contra la violencia de género “loquitas”, “yeguas” y “chirusas”, que “pretenden matar bebitos que están por nacer”. Además, dedicaba sus programas a predicar el racismo, por ejemplo ensalzando la colonización de América como la “mayor obra del hombre”.

Este mismo contenido es el que impartía al frente del colegio. Los comentarios denigratorios hacia las mujeres eran cotidianos, incluso ante niñes de primaria. Según su percepción, las mujeres solo están para satisfacer los deseos sexuales de los hombres, y con esa concepción acosaba a las adolescentes que se confesaban con él. Un segundo testimonio publicado en nuestro medio relata cómo a una adolescente le encomendaba que se masturbara pensando en él, que practicara sexo oral y hasta intentó obligarla a tener relaciones sexuales con algún compañero. Pero su fijación eran los varones, a quienes enseñaba a masturbarse. Ellos lo apodaban “Frasquito”, porque los hacía guardar su semen en frascos y se los quedaba.

Estos hechos aberrantes respondían, como vimos, no solo a una depravación personal sino a toda una concepción ideológica, que transmitía a les alumnes del San Vicente. Su oposición al dictado de contenidos de educación sexual era total. Prohibió a las docentes a que trabajaran el tema, interrumpía sus clases, e hizo expulsar del colegio a aquellas que desafiaban su autoridad para bloquear el tratamiento de estas temáticas. Confiscó entregas de preservativos provenientes del Ministerio de Salud, porque según él no sirven, tal como repetía en misas, clases y confesiones. El producto de estos obstáculos al dictado de educación sexual, se refleja al día de hoy en que muchos de los jóvenes que fueron objeto de estas vejaciones varios años atrás, todavía se encuentran procesando tortuosamente que lo que vivieron fueron situaciones de abusos.

Ahora que se ha roto irreversiblemente el límite que imponía el temor a las represalias y al descreimiento, alumnes, exalumnes, sus madres, docentes y exdocentes han puesto en pie una campaña para reclamar justicia, exigiendo la investigación de lo que fue denunciado públicamente. Se están abocando a reunir decenas de testimonios sobre las distintas situaciones de abuso y violencia cometido por Sidders, conteniendo y reservando a quienes se van animando a hacerlos llegar. Crearon para ello la cuenta de mail: investigacion.abusos.raul.sidders@gmail.com

La campaña pública es fundamental para quebrar el entramado de impunidad que rodea a estos curas abusadores, que se amparan en el poder de la Iglesia Católica. Vale recordar que otro sacerdote denunciado en la región, Eduardo Lorenzo, fue protegido por Aguer primero y luego por el actual arzobispo “Tucho” Fernández (mano derecha de Bergoglio), razón por la cual durante una década estuvieron cajoneadas en la Justicia las denuncias por abusos sexuales. Cuando el caso fue tomado por las organizaciones de mujeres, penetró en los medios de comunicación (hasta se realizó una conferencia pública en la Legislatura bonaerense a instancias de la banca del FIT), nuevas víctimas se sobrepusieron a las amenazas y presiones y sumaron sus testimonios. Acorralado, Lorenzo terminó suicidándose en la sede de Cáritas, a donde había sido trasladado por la Iglesia para protegerlo.

Este indignante caso obliga, además, a una reflexión crítica acerca del control absoluto que tiene la iglesia sobre miles de niñes y jóvenes que acuden a las escuelas confesionales. Echa luz sobre la necesidad de anular el artículo 5 de la Ley de Educación Sexual Integral (ley 26.150), que relega los contenidos al ideario institucional de cada establecimiento. Que el dictado de estos temas sea elaborado por la docencia, les estudiantes y las organizaciones de mujeres, para imponer una educación sexual laica, científica y respetuosa de la diversidad. Es, por lo demás, un nuevo motivo para reclamar la separación de la Iglesia del Estado.

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“Cuando tenía 11 años empezó a acosarme”, crudo testimonio de otra víctima del cura Raúl Sidders

LA PLATA (ARGENTINA)
Prensa Obrera [Buenos Aires, Argentina]

August 7, 2020

By Redacción

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Rocío, exalumna del colegio San Vicente de Paul de La Plata, narra los abusos que sufrió.

Rocío tiene 27 años y fue alumna del colegio confesional San Vicente de Paul de La Plata. Ingresó a sus 5 años al Jardín de Infantes San Bernardo y de ahí continuó en la primaria de la institución, donde padeció el accionar del cura de las escuela, Raúl Sidders. A continuación, reproducimos su testimonio.

Recuerdo que era malo con todas mis compañeras, pero conmigo no. En ese momento pensaba que me tenía un cariño especial. A partir de los 11 años empezó a acosarme. Más adelante, en invierno se me acercaba adelante de todosy me hacía poner mis manos en los

En la siguiente confesión me preguntó si lo hice y le dije que no. Me preguntó por qué y respondí “no se”. Se enojó y me dijo: “¿por qué no lo hiciste si yo te dije que lo hagas? Vos tenes que estar preparada porque la mujer tiene que complacer al hombre siempre. Y preservativos no hay que usar, el fin de las relaciones sexuales es procrear”. Después me dijo que si no quería masturbarme tenía que saber complacer al hombre al menos a través con una felación. Le pregunté qué significaba eso, no sabía. “Chupar una pija”, me dijo. Me explicó con su lengua y su mano cómo hacer una felación. Eso no me lo pude olvidar nunca más.

Ese mismo año dio una charla en la capilla en la que explicó quién era Dios. A partir de esa charla, hizo un concurso entre los tres cursos de sexto grado en el que teníamos que escribir todo lo que él había dicho, el que escribiera y redactara mejor ganaba un premio en el buffet. Lo gané yo. Me llevó al buffet, elegí unas galletitas que me gustaban y una gaseosa. Me dijo que no, que podía llevar una sola cosa. Entonces agarré las galletitas. De ahí fuimos a la capilla los dos solos y volvió a interrogarme si me había masturbado, si había hecho alguna felación o algo. Contesté que no, que no estaba preparada todavía. Entonces me propuso enseñarme a mí y a un alumno a tener relaciones sexuales, que nos iba a indicar todo mientras lo hacíamos. Me largué a llorar y le pedí que por favor no lo hiciera, que mis papás no lo iban a permitir y que yo no podía vivir una cosa así. Entonces buscó tranquilizarme, me pidió que no dijera nada y me dijo que cuando fuera el momento lo iba a hacer.

No quise ir nunca más a ese colegio. Yo no le contaba todo a mis padres, solo les decía que el padre Raúl me molestaba y que me hacía preguntas raras. Me siguieron mandando igual, pero yo no entré nunca más, me ratee todo el año. Me iba sola al centro o a alguna plaza. Después mi mamá me descubrió y fue a hablar con la directora, Mabel, que le dijo que yo iba sólo a calentar la silla y a molestar a mis compañeros. Era mentira, yo no iba. “O la saca usted o la echamos nosotros y no la toman más en ninguna escuela”, dijo la directora. Yo tenía 15 años. Entonces me sacó mi mamá del San Vicente y como no me tomaban en ninguna escuela, tuve que terminar yendo a una agropecuaria.

Las denuncias contra los abusos cometido por Raúl Sidders tomaron estado público a partir de una publicación de Prensa Obrera del 31 de julio, luego de casi 20 años de vejaciones y violencias con que el cura atormentó a alumnes del colegio. A partir del reciente trasladado de Sidders a cumplir funciones como capellán de Gendarmería en la provincia de Misiones, donde estaría en contacto con niñes de comedores, un grupo de madres y exalumnas tomó la decisión de hacer público lo que habían sufrido. Desde entonces se multiplicaron las publicaciones en redes sociales y los contactos entre personas de la comunidad educativa  del colegio con decenas de relatos. Comenzaron así a organizarse y a impulsar una campaña para exigir que se investiguen los abusos cometidos por el cura. Crearon un mail de contacto para que toda persona afectada pueda brindar su testiomonio, sabiendo que su seguridad será preservada: investigacion.abusos.raul.sidders@gmail.com

bolsillos de su sotana, porque decía que yo tenía las manos frías, y me hacía sentir su erección.

Nos hacía confesarnos a solas en la capilla. Ahí me empezó a preguntar si había visto alguna vez a mis papás tener relaciones sexuales, si había visto a mi papá desnudo, si sabía lo que era un pene. A los 12, cuando yo estaba en sexto grado, empeoró. Me preguntaba si sabía masturbarme y como le decía que no, me explicó con sus dedos, sin tocarme, cómo tenía que hacer. Me sugirió que lo hiciera pensando en él y que en la próxima confesión le contara cómo me había sentido.

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Cardinal Pell to Speak at Virtual Napa Institute Conference

IRONDALE (AL)
National Catholic Register/EWTN from Catholic News Agency

August 7, 2020

Cardinal George Pell will speak on his experience of suffering during the 13 months he spent in an Australian prison before being released earlier this year.

Washington – The Napa Institute has announced an online schedule for its annual conference in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. The program includes remarks from Australian Cardinal George Pell. The conference schedule was announced along with an award for Bishop Joseph Strickland, which the organization said it conferred for his defense of moral truth.

The conference, the tenth annual session of the event, was originally planned to take place in July in Napa, California. This year it is being convened under the title “Finding Hope in the New America.” Organizers said that although the event could not take place in-person, the schedule would not be “slimmed-down” but instead would feature an expanded speaker list.

John Meyer, executive director of the Napa Institute said that as recently as early July, there was “every intention of holding an in-person conference,” but that “things progressed, the lockdown increased in California, and literally overnight we came to a place where we could no longer hold it.”

The conference will take place August 14-15. Live streamed sessions will be held with speakers including Ryan T. Anderson of the Heritage Foundation, Prof. Robert P. George of Princeton, and author Arthur Brooks.

One of the key speakers at this year’s event will be Cardinal George Pell, who will speak on his experience of suffering during the 13 months he spent in an Australian prison before being released earlier this year.

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Representatives of Catholic church in St. Marys take issue with published report surrounding its role in KBI investigation

TOPEKA (KS)
WIBW

August 5, 2020

By Phil Anderson

https://www.wibw.com/2020/08/05/representatives-of-catholic-church-in-st-marys-take-issue-with-published-report-surrounding-its-role-in-kbi-investigation/

St. Mary’s KS – Representatives of a large Catholic church in St. Marys are taking issue with a published report they say falsely portrays them as seeking to impede a Kansas Bureau of Investigation inquiry into sex abuse allegations involving priests who formerly served the congregation.

The Kansas City Star in its Tuesday edition ran a story with the headline “SSPX staff told not to speak with KBI without an attorney.”

The article included information from an email sent to staff members and signed by the Rev. Scott Gardner, district bursar of the Society of St. Pius X United States of America District, which is based in Platte City, Mo.

In the email, Society of St. Pius X priests and staff members are cautioned against speaking to KBI officials without a lawyer being present.

The Star article also included comments from critics and former adherents of the church who said Gardner’s email seemed to be an attempt to “silence witnesses” of possible sexual abuse by Society of St. Pius X priests.

However, in an email obtained Wednesday by WIBW-TV, Gardner dismissed a report suggesting that the Society of St. Pius X was attempting to discourage its members from cooperating with the KBI’s investigation into priestly sex abuse.

That allegation, he said, was included in an article posted Monday on the Church Militant website, which he said “has once again tried to wring fake news out of an internal email by falsifying the context.”

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Breakaway Catholic group orders staff, priests not to talk to KBI without attorney

KANSAS CITY (MO)
Kansas City Star

August 4, 2020

By Judy L. Thomas

A breakaway Catholic society under investigation by the state’s top law enforcement agency for allegations of priest sexual abuse and coverup is telling employees not to talk to authorities without involving the group’s attorney.

An official with the Society of St. Pius X sent an email to priests and staff members warning them that investigators from the Kansas Bureau of Investigation may be in St. Marys, Kansas, to conduct interviews.

“You are not required to speak to them just because they ask you to or make veiled threats against you or tell you that, if you have nothing to hide, you have nothing to fear,” said the email, signed by the Rev. Scott Gardner, the U.S. District Bursar at the society’s headquarters in Platte City.

“Further, you are always entitled to have legal representation at any interview, and all Priests, staff, and employees must insist on this if contacted. You will be provided with legal representation by SSPX.”

Critics, including some former SSPX adherents who have alleged that the society has covered up sexual abuse by its priests and employees, say the email appears to be an attempt to silence witnesses.

“It looks like they’re trying to hide things, trying to keep people from speaking and definitely stonewalling,” said Kyle White, who has alleged that in 2012 he and his then-fiance reported sexual abuse by her father to three SSPX priests and none took any action. In February, the father was sentenced to 10 years in prison after pleading guilty to two counts of aggravated indecent liberties with a child.

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Editorial: Emphasizing A Commitment

WHEELING (WV)
The Intelligencer/Wheeling News-Register

August 7, 2020

Announcement of a new system by which abuse and harassment linked to the Roman Catholic Church can be reported was one more step in the church’s effort to rebuild trust. But a reminder included with that news may have been even more important.

This week, the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston announced it is working with a third-party partner on a new reporting system. An Oregon firm, Navex Global, has a mechanism “intended to report suspected financial, professional and personal misconduct of a priest, deacon, religious or lay employee of the diocese, parish, or Catholic school in West Virginia.”

Already in place are two other reporting systems. One is the national Catholic Bishop Abuse Reporting Service. The other, here in the Mountain State, is the Diocesan Office of Safe Environment.

Adding the Oregon company’s program will provide “a safe, honest channel for reporting and expressing concerns,” the diocese noted in a press release this week.

But Bishop Mark Brennan added something else: “The Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston encourages reporting to civil authorities first and foremost if a crime has been committed.”

Precisely. For too long, too many in the church discouraged reporting abuse to the authorities. The church would handle it, they maintained.

But in many cases, predator priests were merely transferred out of parishes where they had been caught in abuse, and to new places where they could continue their wrongdoing.

Brennan’s emphasis on reporting first and foremost to law enforcement authorities is critically important. Above any other step being taken by church leaders, it is a signal to not just Roman Catholics, but to everyone, that this time, the church is serious about reform. Good for Bishop Brennan for continuing to emphasize that.

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Diocese Opens Another Avenue for Reporting Abuse

WHEELING (WV)
The Intelligencer/Wheeling News-Register

August 5, 2020

By Alan Olson

The Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston in West Virginia has partnered with another third-party reporting system to report abuse and harassment.

The diocese announced this week it is working with Oregon-based software and compliance management company Navex Global to introduce a new version of the EthicsPoint software, intended to report suspected financial, professional and personal misconduct of a priest, deacon, religious, or lay employee of the diocese, parish, or Catholic school.

This is in addition to the national reporting system, the Catholic Bishop Abuse Reporting Service, which is designed to receive reports of sexual abuse, as well as interference with investigations of abuse, and relay them to lay professionals within the diocese who are to assist the Archbishop with investigations.

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Using Child Victims Act, Abigail Barker Files Sex Abuse Suit Against Figures From Victorious Life

ALBANY (NY)
WAMC

August 6, 2020

By Dave Lucas

An Albany woman has filed a sexual abuse suit against a Troy church.

Governor Andrew Cuomo signed the Child Victims Act into law in 2019. It opened a one-year window for abuse victims to bring claims. That window for victims to file lawsuits was extended to August 2021 owing to the pandemic.

Cuomo’s Deputy Press Secretary Abigail Barker says she is one such victim. Barker says in 1998 she was sexually abused by a Sunday school teacher and deacon, Mark Rhodes of Wynantskill, at Victorious Life Christian Church in Troy.

“I was 5 years old. Mark would often babysit me and my younger brother, and it happened on those, occurred on one of those occasions. After I had been abused, he never babysat for us again.”

Barker’s lawsuit includes claims of negligence and cover-up against the church as well as its Pastor and Presiding Elder Dominick Brignola, who is also a local attorney.

“The trauma of the abuse and the scars that it leaves, you know, it goes throughout your entire life, and 22 years later I’m still dealing with the ramifications of that one time, 22 years ago. And it irrevocably changes your life in ways that you don’t expect.”

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Weedsport school district facing additional Child Victims Act lawsuits

AUBURN (NY)
The Citizen

August 6, 2020

By Jeremy Boyer

Two former Weedsport Central School District students have filed lawsuits in the past week claiming the district failed to protect them from sexual abuse on school grounds.

The complaints were filed in state Supreme Court in Cayuga County under the state’s Child Victims Act look-back provision for civil cases that would otherwise be barred under the statute of limitations. One of the new cases follows an earlier lawsuit filed against the school district that identified the same alleged abuser. The other new case is connected with a former teacher’s aide who was arrested and convicted of having sexual contact with students more than 16 years ago.

In a case filed July 29, a plaintiff identified as AB 509 Doe, said the school district was negligent in its handling of issues related to an aide named Mary Schoonmaker, who in 2003 pleaded guilty to rape and sodomy charges. She admitted in court that she had sexual relationships with two teenage boys, and a one-night sexual encounter with another teenager. The victims were 14 and 15, and she was in her mid-20s at the time. She was sentenced to probation with a period of homebound detention in 2003.

“Prior to the sexual abuse of the plaintiff, defendant Weedsport learned or should have learned that Schoonmaker was not fit to work with children,” the complain states, saying the abuse took place in 2002 and 2003.

In a separate case filed Monday by a plaintiff identified as AL 540 Doe, the district is accused of negligence with respect to a former Boy Scout leader who ran the school district’s audio-visual club in the late 1970s. The complaint said the alleged abuser, former village of Weedsport Mayor Victor Sine, abused the victim from 1975 to 1980.

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Dr. Archibald, Rockefeller University sued by dozens more in latest Child Victims Act case

NEW YORK (NY)
Daily News

August 5, 2020

By Larry McShane

Photo caption: A gathering of childhood sex abuse victims representing more than 200 including, Matthew Harris, far left, Vincent Guzzone, second from left, and Helene Hamilton, third from left, seated above photos of themselves at the age of their abuse, listen as their lawyer Paul Mones, fourth from left, speaks at June 2019 press conference.

Child abuse survivor Ron Samuel, one of 80 accusers of reputed serial sexual predator Dr. Reginald Archibald in the latest Child Victims Act lawsuit against Rockefeller University, wanted his name in the court papers.

“It’s important to come forward and discuss what happened, and protect other people,” he told the Daily News. “I have no problem exposing my name. I don’t want to be shut down in any manner. I wanted to come forward with the full story.”

The latest sordid tales of Archibald’s decades of sick sexual behavior with children were contained in a 336-page Manhattan Supreme Court filing that laid out in brutal detail the doctor’s mistreatment of his underage patients while working at the university from the 1940s into the 1980s.

Attorney Jennifer Freeman, of the Marsh Law Firm, noted most of the plaintiffs joined Samuel in going public with the lawsuit filed Wednesday.

“Our plaintiffs felt it was so important to bring this forward and to use their own names, to put the responsibility for these cases where it belonged with their names on it,” she said. “They were not afraid to speak up.”

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Girl Scouts sex-abuse claim included in NY civil case flurry

NEW YORK (NY)
Associated Press

August 5, 2020

By Tom Hayes

As a Girl Scout growing up in upstate New York, Alice Weiss-Russell says she lived with a dark secret: The husband of her troop leader was sexually abusing her in the bathroom of a church basement where scout meetings were held in the 1980s.

Weiss-Russell has detailed her alleged ordeal in a new lawsuit filed against Girl Scouts of the USA, part of a flurry of child sex-abuse cases in New York using a “look back window” for making civil claims against abusers.

“For me, it gives me a chance to be heard because I didn’t have that chance when I was young and hold the Girl Scouts accountable for what happened to me,” Weiss-Russell told The Associated Press in a phone interview on Tuesday. The AP does not typically identify people who say they are victims of sex crimes unless they grant permission.

Another lawsuit, also filed Wednesday, accuses a Manhattan research center of similarly looking the other way as a prominent physician abused dozens of children he was studying and treating for being small for their age.

The two lawsuits come after Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo signed a bill earlier this week granting a one-year extension to the state’s Child Victims Act. The law temporarily lifts the usual time limits on filing lawsuits for anyone suing over childhood sexual abuse.

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New Ulm bishop resigns, citing health reasons

MINNEAPOLIS (MN)
Star Tribune

August 6, 2020

By Jean Hopfensperger

The Rev. John LeVoir oversaw the diocese during sexual abuse lawsuits and bankruptcy.

Bishop John LeVoir announced Thursday that he is resigning as leader of the Diocese of New Ulm because of health problems.

LeVoir has been bishop of the Catholic diocese since 2008. Earlier this year, the diocese reached a $34 million settlement with victims of sexual abuse, ending more than five years of litigation.

“Although these last years have been very challenging for the diocese and the life of the church, it has been a privilege to have served the faithful of the Diocese of New Ulm,” LeVoir said in a statement.

Since early July, LeVoir has been undergoing physical and psychological assessments at Sacred Heart Mercy Health Care Center in Alma, Mich., operated by the Religious Sisters of Mercy, according to the diocese, which did not comment further on the particular medical condition.

The 74-year-old bishop will stay in Alma until September to participate in a therapy plan, the diocese said.

About 93 sex abuse claims were filed against the diocese after passage of the Minnesota Child Victims Act in 2013. The diocese filed for bankruptcy in 2017 in response to the claims, following the pattern of most of Minnesota’s dioceses.

LeVoir was not implicated in the claims, but he oversaw the 63-year-old diocese during its most challenging years.

“We must never forget these sins of the past,” LeVoir said when the final settlement was reached in bankruptcy court in March. “The Diocese of New Ulm and the Catholic Church must do everything possible to help protect the vulnerable so that this tragedy never happens again.”

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Bishop of Diocese of New Ulm retires early

MANKATO (MN)
Free Press

August 6, 2020

New Ulm – The bishop in the Diocese of New Ulm has stepped down, citing health reasons.

Pope Francis accepted Bishop John M. LeVoir’s resignation, which is effective as of today, according to a diocese news release.

LeVoir, 74, who was appointed bishop of New Ulm in July 2008, is now considered a retired bishop. Typical retirement age for a bishop is age 75, the release said.

Since early July, LeVoir has been undergoing a physical and psychological assessment at Sacred Heart Mercy Health Care Center in Alma, Michigan, a facility operated by the Religious Sisters of Mercy. He expects to remain there until early September to undertake a therapy plan.

“Although these last years have been very challenging for the diocese and the life of the Church, it has been a privilege to have served the faithful of the Diocese of New Ulm,” LeVoir said in a statement. “As bishop, it has not only been a great honor, but an enriching experience as I have come to know many people throughout this local Church … It would not have been possible to serve as their shepherd without their continued support, cooperation, and prayers.”

Levoir testified in March at a hearing in which a $34 million settlement with survivors of clerical sex abuse in the diocese was approved by a federal bankruptcy court judge. LeVoir issued an apology to the 93 abuse survivors, several of whom were in the courtroom.

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Pope appoints six women to top roles on Vatican council in progressive step

LONDON (ENGLAND)
Guardian

August 6, 2020

By Angela Giuffrida and Harriet Sherwood

Former Labour minister Ruth Kelly is among the women who will oversee Vatican finances and address its cashflow problems

Pope Francis has appointed six women to oversee the Vatican’s finances including Ruth Kelly, the former Labour minister, in the most senior roles ever given to women within the Catholic church’s leadership.

The appointments mark the most significant step by Francis to fulfil his promise of placing women in top positions. Until now, the 15-member Council for the Economy was all male. By statute, the council must include eight bishops – who are always men – and seven laypeople.

“That six are women is a pretty big quota,” said Joshua McElwee, the Vatican correspondent for the National Catholic Reporter. “But the important thing here is that these six women are part of a group that essentially oversees all of the financial activities of the Vatican, so obviously that’s a pretty top-level group.”

The female appointees are all European and have high-profile financial backgrounds. Leslie Ferrar, a former treasurer to Prince Charles, is the other British woman among the team. The other women are Charlotte Kreuter-Kirchhof and Marija Kolak, both from Germany, and Maria Concepción Osácar Garaicoechea and Eva Castillo Sanz, both from Spain. The only layman on the council is Alberto Minali, a former director general at Generali, the Italian insurance company.

The appointments come as the Vatican struggles with its finances, with problems worsened by the coronavirus pandemic and a sharp drop in the number of visitors to the Vatican Museums, a cash cow for the Holy See.

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Lay group urges Pittsburgh Diocese to do more to restore broken trust

KANSAS CITY (MO)
National Catholic Reporter

August 7, 2020

By Madeleine Davison

Members of Catholics for Change in Our Church take part in a small-group discussion during the January meeting of the group, which advocates for reform in the Pittsburgh Diocese. (Kevin Hayes)
The Pittsburgh Diocese is reeling from declining attendance and a massive restructuring program two years after a 2018 Pennsylvania grand jury report uncovered widespread clerical sexual abuse in six dioceses in the state. A lay advocacy group now says diocesan leadership has made few concrete steps to restore trust with parishioners.

“I don’t think they’ve made progress since the grand jury,” said Jan Hayes, a leader of the advocacy group known as Catholics for Change in Our Church.

Catholics for Change in Our Church arose out of a meeting of lay parishioners from across the diocese in September 2018, said Kevin Hayes, the group’s acting chair. Horrified by the scale of the crisis, members of the new organization wanted to address issues such as insufficient support for survivors, the diocese’s financial secrecy, and a lack of leadership roles for laypeople. The organization eventually coalesced into seven focus groups, representing about 1,000 total members, he said.

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Pope says fighting clerical abuse fosters deeper respect for life

DENVER (CO)
Crux

August 6, 2020

By Inés San Martín

Rosario, Argentina – Beyond the obvious reasons to fight clerical sexual abuse, above all the damage such abuse inflicts on victims, Pope Francis has added another argument: The effort to prevent abuse, he’s written, promotes a deeper acknowledgment that all life is sacred and deserves respect.

“Fighting abuse [means] fostering and empowering communities so that they are capable of keeping watch and announcing that all life deserves to be respected and valued, especially that of the most defenseless who do not have the resources to make their voice heard,” Francis wrote.

“We’ve been challenged to look squarely at this conflict, to take it up and suffer it together with the victims, their families and the whole community, to find ways that make us say: ‘Never again to the culture of abuse’,” he wrote. “This reality calls us to work in the awareness, prevention and promotion of a culture of care and protection in our communities and in society in general so that no person sees their integrity and dignity violated or mistreated.”

Pope Francis’s words came in a prologue for a new book edited by Father Daniel Portillo, a Mexican priest and founder of the Interdisciplinary Center of Investigation and Formation for the Protection of Minors from Mexico’s Catholic University (CEPROME).

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Vatican instructions give parishioners more hope in face of closings

KANSAS CITY (MO)
National Catholic Reporter

August 6, 2020

By Mark Nacinovich

Arthur McCaffrey fought for about a decade to keep his parish in suburban Boston open.

But in 2015, St. James the Great Parish in Wellesley was demolished. The site is now home to the Boston Sports Performance Center, a large recreational center complete with a hockey rink, swimming pool and indoor field.

St. James was one of nine Boston-area churches that kept a continuous vigil to prevent their parishes from being shuttered by the Boston Archdiocese in the wake of the sex abuse crisis that was brought to light in 2002 by The Boston Globe. Parishioners occupied the churches for years, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year.

St. Frances X. Cabrini in Scituate was the last of the vigil holdouts. It closed in 2016, after parishioners spent almost 12 years in vigil and exhausted their legal appeals to the Vatican and in civil courts. Their civil case reached the U.S. Supreme Court, which refused to hear the case, letting stand a lower-court ruling that stated that the archdiocese owned the church’s property and the parishioners who were keeping vigil were trespassing.

Now, four years later, the Vatican’s new document on pastoral care raises the question of whether parishioners have more legal recourse within the church to keep their parishes open. The answer appears to be yes.

The 22-page document from the Vatican’s Congregation for the Clergy, released July 20, is titled “The pastoral conversion of the parish community in the service of the evangelizing mission of the church.” It discusses the role and structure of parishes in today’s digital age, where the concept of a fixed parish that covers a certain area may be outdated. One topic the document addresses is the closing of parishes.

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August 6, 2020

Mapa chileno de los delitos de abuso sexual y de conciencia cometidos en entornos eclesiásticos.

(CHILE)
Red de Sobrevivientes Chile  [Santiago, Chile]

August 6, 2020

Read original article

Este mapa es realizado por quienes integran esta red.

Recibe actualizaciones periódicas. La última corresponde al 06/08/2020.

Contiene las denuncias públicas contra religiosos y laicos de delitos cometidos en entornos eclesiásticos. Se mencionan sacerdotes, diáconos, catequistas, laicos, monjas, hermanos y hermanas, consagrados y consagradas, obispos y cardenales. Se incluyen también los que han sido señalados como encubridores de dichos delitos.

Esta actualización contiene más de 360 entradas (49 nuevas respecto de enero de 2020) con similar número de delincuentes denunciados.

Estadísticas globales:

4 cardenales

27 obispos 48 autoridades: canciller, monseñor, director de colegio, director de hogar, director de seminario, vicarios, superiores, responsables, entre otros

3 capellanes

186 sacerdotes, párrocos, diocesanos

15 diáconos

68 hermanos, hermanas, consagrados y consagradas

20 laicos, profesores, catequistas, ministro extraordinario

Órdenes religiosas mencionadas (denuncias):

Asuncionistas (1)

Barnabita (7)

Capuchinos (3)

Carmelitas descalzos (1)

Claretianos (2)

Clérigos de San Viator (1)

Compañía de Jesús (24)

Congregación de San José – Josefinos de Murialdo (1)

Escolapios (1)

De la Preciosísima Sangre (3)

De los Misioneros de San Francisco de Sales (2)

Don Orione (1)

Franciscanos (11)

Hermanas Misioneras Dominicanas (1)

Hermanas de la Providencia (1)

Hermanos Maristas (29)

Legionarios de Cristo (3)

Redentoristas (1)

María Auxiliadora (2)

Marianistas (1)

Mercedarias Francesas (2)

Mercedarios (4)

Misionero en el Verbo Divino (1)

Para la Vida Consagrada (1)

Opus Dei (1)

Orden de la Madre de Dios (Leonardinos) (3)

Orden de la Merced (1)

Orden Cisterciense (1)

Sagrados Corazones (8)

Salesianos (31)

Schoenstatt (7)

Siervos de la Caridad – Fundación de la Obra don Guanella (5)

Sociedad Misionera de San Columbano (4)

Ursulinas (2)

De esta actualización, destacamos:

Tras la visita a Chile de los enviados del Vaticano Charles Scicluna y Jordi Bertomeu realizada en 2018, las personas que recurrieron a esa instancia de denuncia confiando en que se haría justicia, vieron pasar dos años y muchos nunca más fueron contactados o no se les quiere entregar información sobre sus casos. Es por ello que se acercan a la Red buscando asesoramiento para denunciar ante la justicia ordinaria y entregan sus denuncias para este mapa. Sabemos que no todos quienes colaboraron en dicha instancia canónica han entregado sus datos para este mapa o se han acercado a la justicia nacional para hacerlo, les recomendamos que lo hagan y ponemos a disposición el equipo legal de la Red para realizar dichas denuncias ante la justicia penal y civil.

Se mantiene la tónica de que pasan años e incluso décadas de impunidad entre la primer denuncia recibida por la Iglesia y alguna acción concreta de cuidado o protección.

También se suman denuncias que evidencian los traslados sin causa aparente dentro del país y fuera del mismo de los delincuentes tras las primeras denuncias.

Infinidad de casos se cruzan, no sólo dentro de una misma congregación sino también entre ellas y con los religiosos territoriales dependientes de obispados, parroquias, etc.

La mayoría de los laicos denunciados son ex religiosos, tuvieron formación de seminaristas o fueron postulantes.

Las posiciones de poder territorial o estructural son apreciadas por estos delincuentes.

Este mapa es la única fuente pública a la cual puede acceder la sociedad chilena y desde el extranjero si se desea consultar por un denunciado. La Fiscalía de Chile y la propia Iglesia dejaron de publicar cifras y bajaron de la internet los nombres de los denunciados e investigados, incluso de los condenados.

Desde que lanzamos el mapa a diario nos escriben personas consultando por un sacerdote o ex religioso que les genera sospechas ya sea por su traslado a una comunidad o su salida intempestiva.

Es por ello que junto a la publicación de esta actualización de julio de 2020 incorporamos un listado público de quienes son los mencionados en el mapa a fin de que opere como alerta para toda la sociedad.

Actualmente la Iglesia Católica ni siquiera entrega un listado con los condenados por la justicia canónica, con lo cual se dan casos donde un ex religioso trabaja de profesor, catequista o incluso director de un colegio sin que nadie alerte a esa comunidad de que se trata de un pedófilo confirmado por la misma institución a la cual pertenecía hasta hace algunos años.

Las fuentes de los datos son los propios testimonios de les sobrevivientes, las notas de prensa (linkeadas en cada entrada del mapa) con denuncias sobre este tipo de delitos perpetrados en territorio chileno, la información entregada por el Ministerio Público (último reporte), la Iglesia Católica y nuestros compañeros de BishopAccountability.

Este material está incompleto. El atroz secretismo que mantiene la Iglesia Católica en todo el mundo hace muy difícil reunir toda la información necesaria.

Al mirarlo te invitamos a recordar que sólo entre el 4 y 6 % de estos delitos se denuncia, que 4 de cada 12 víctimas logrará hablar con alguien de confianza, y que las otras 8 nunca le dirán a nadie, y arrastrarán de por vida las secuelas del ataque hasta morir en silencio.

Durante su presentación en abril de 2019 en el Museo de la Memoria leímos un mensaje a toda la sociedad.

Si quieres sumar o complementar información escríbenos aquí en la web o envíanos un email.

Comparte, difunde.

Estos son los mencionados en el mapa:

Abel Perez

Adolfo Fuentes Corral

Alberto Jara Franzoy

Alejandro Abarca

Alejandro Goic Karmelic

Alex Troncoso

Alfonso Gielis Nulens

Alfredo Soiza Piñeyro

Amador Soto Miranda

Ana Teresa Araya Maldonado

Andrés Arteaga

Ángel Vicente Cerró

Angelo Leita Torresani

Antonio Enrique Valdebenito Muñoz

Antonio Larraín Pérez-Cotapos

Antonio Vargas

Aquiles Altamirano Herrera

Armando Alegria

Armando Zamora

Audín Araya Alarcón

Augusto Rojas Valdivia

Barry Robinson

Belarmino Pérez

Belisario Baldevenito Erices

Bernardino Piñera

Bernardo Alvarez

Bernardo Bastres

Carlos Aedo Méndez

Carlos Antonio Larraín Pérez-Cotapos

Carlos Antonio Manríquez Rebolledo

Carlos Enrique Peralta Luna

Carlos Lira

Carlos Morales Grandon

Carlos Ordóñez

Carlos Oviedo Cavada

Carlos Pellegrín Barrera

Carlos Vilches Castillo

Carlos Waldo Ignes Olguín

Carmelo Francisco Márquez Julio

Casiano Rojas Viera

Cesar Fernando Guzmán Guerra

Clemente Cerezo

Cristián Caro

Cristian Contreras Molina

Cristián Precht Bañados

Cristián Roncagliolo

Cristián Sepúlveda Rodríguez

Cristóforo Colombo Serafín

Cristobal Lira Salinas

Damián Heredia Carrasco

Daniel Aurelio Pauvif Rojas

Daniel Dinamarca Chamorro

Daniel J. Mangen/Mangan

Daniel Lescot Jerez

Dario Fuentes Cifuentes

Darío Nicolás Serrano

David Agustín Mondaca Rivas

David Vera Andrade

Diego Aldo Muñoz Fuentes

Diego Muñoz Fuentes

Diego Ossa

Dionisio Muñoz Aro

Domingo Mileo Toledo

Eduardo Alfredo Cádiz Jara SJ

Eduardo Olivares Martínez

Eduardo Ponce

Eduardo Rojas

Eduardo Rojas González

Elena Ruiz

Eliecer Huenchumán

Enrique Moreno Laval

Ernesto Castro

Estanislao Olivares Jacinto

Eugenio Céspedes Alarcón

Eugenio Valenzuela SJ

Evelyn Oñate Caamaño

Feliciano Ortega

Felipe Bacareza

Felipe Denegri Morales

Felix Leorza

Fernando Karadima

Fernando Ramos

Fr. Pedro Cisternas Alcaino

Francisco Basáñez Méndez

Francisco Bellotti

Francisco Cartes Aburto

Francisco Javier Errázuriz

Francisco Jose Cox Hunneus

Francisco Nuñez Calisto

Francisco Pancho Valenzuela

Francisco Valenzuela Sanhueza

Franklin Venegas

Freddy Gutiérrez Méndez

Gerald Fitzpatrick

Gerardo Araujo Sarabia

Gerardo Joannon

Gerardo Strooman Alarcón

Germán Cáceres Fuentes

Germán Chavez

Giuseppe Carraro Bacchin

Giuseppe Pulcinelli

Gonzalo Duarte Garcia de Cortazar

Gregorio Pastor

Guillermo Alvial

Guillermo Arceu Jeff

H. Cornell Bradley, S.J

Héctor Bravo Merino

Héctor Valdés Valdés

Hernan Enríquez Rozas

Hernán Gonzalez Rojas

Hernán Henríquez

Horacio Valenzuela

Hugo Cuevas

Hugo Márquez

Hugo Montes Brunet

Humberto Alarcón

Humberto Enriquez

Humberto Henríquez López

Humberto Palma Orellana

Isabel Margarita Lagos Droguett

Jaime Astorga Paulsen

Jaime Da Fonseca Hidalgo

Jaime Guzmán Astaburuaga

Jaime Low Cabeza

Jaime Valenzuela Pozo

Javier Hoyos

Javier Prado Aránguiz

Jeremiah Healy Kerins

Jesus Bayo

Jesus Castañeda

Jesus Marcos

Jesus Pérez

Jesús Trigero Juanes

John O’reilly

Jordi Jorba Navarro

Jorge Arturo Agustín Medina Estévez

Jorge Baeza Ramírez

Jorge Calderón

Jorge Carrillo

Jorge Delpiano

Jorge Domínguez

Jorge Enrique Laplagne Aguirre

Jorge Galaz Espinoza

Jorge Horta Espinoza

Jorge Marín Pérez

Jorge Prieto

Jorge Reinaldo Marín Pérez

José Andrés «Fr. Tato» Aguirre Ovalle

José Andrés Aguirre Ovalle

José Ángel Arregui Eraña

José Antonio Olguín

José Carraro Bacchin

José Donoso Chellew

José Lara Burgos

José Luis Díaz Atillano

José Luis Rabanal

José Miguel Narvaez Valenzuela

José Monasterio

Jose Olguin

José Quinteros Martínez

José Román Zúñiga

José Tomás Gatica

José Ulloa

José Urrutia Tapia

Jose Vicente Bastias

Juan Aguirre Marín (padre Juan Alberto)

Juan Alberto Arroyo Sanhueza

Juan Andrés Peretiatkowicz Valdés

Juan Barros Madrid

Juan Carlos Delgado Castillo

Juan Carlos González

Juan Carlos Mercado

Juan Carlos Orellana Acuña

Juan Henríquez Zapata

Juan Manuel Espinoza

Juan Miguel Leturia SJ

Juan Pablo Cárcamo SJ

Julio César Barahona Rosales

Julio Dutilh Ros

Julio Raúl Inostroza Caro

Juvenal Castro Silva

Leonel Gatica Quiroz

Leonel Ibacache

Luciano Antonio de la Barrera Arancibia

Luciano Arriagada Vergara

Luis Alberto Rubio González

Luis Castillo Santander

Luis Cornejo

Luis Felipe Egaña Baraona

Luis Felipe Izquierdo

Luis Florencio Ruiz Fernández

Luis Francisco Núñez Núñez

Luis Fuentealba

Luis Fuica Soto

Luis Infanti della Mora

Luis Izquierdo

Luis Melchor Juragaro Manaideke

Luis Morel Gumucio

Luis Peragallo Cabezas

Luis Ricardo Montenegro Fuentes

Luis Rubio Contreras

Manuel Fajardo

Manuel Hervia

Manuel Saúl Zamorano

Marcelo González Cárcamo

Marcelo Méndez Gloor

Marcelo Morales Márquez

Marcial Parada

Marco Antonio Órdenes Fernández

Mardoqueo Valenzuela

Mariano Labarca

Mariano Varona

Mario Mancilla Vera

Mauricio Montoya Márquez

Mauro Ojeda Videla

Miguel Ángel Katalinic

Miguel Ángel Panes Villalobos

Miguel Ángel Soto

Miguel Caviedes

Miguel Ortega

Mordoqueo Valenzuela Morales

Nelson Jerez

Nelson Jopia

Nelson Manuel Álvarado Sánchez

Nestor Leopoldo (Polo) Romero González

Nibaldo Escalante Trigo

Orlando Rogel Pinuer

Óscar Muñoz Toledo

Osvaldo Salgado Coe

P. Luis Garcia

Pablo (Paul) Böcker-Schepers

Pablo Isler Venegas

Pablo Lizama

Pablo Walter Isler Venegas

Padre “Derry”

Padre H

Padre M

Patricio Astorquiza

Pedro Barrientos

Pedro Bernardo Cisternas Alcaino

Pedro José Armendariz Elortegui

Pedro Mariano Labarca Araya

Pedro Ossandón

Pedro Quiroz Fernández

Plácido Soto Quiroz

Porfirio Diaz Reyes

Rafael Providell Molina

Rafael Villena Roco

Ramón Iturra Muñoz

Raúl González SJ

Raul Soto Hernandez

Reinaldo Mendez

Reinaldo Méndez Sánchez

Renato Poblete Barth SJ

Renato Riveros Silva

Renato Toro Medina

René Aguilera Colinier

René Benavides Rives

René Fernando Peña Benítez

Rev. C. Jeffries Burton, S.J.

Ricardo Ezzati

Ricardo Muñoz Quinteros

Richard Joey Aguinaldo

Rimsky Rojas

Roberto Icarte Encina

Roberto Koll

Roberto Salazar Soto

Robinson Piña

Rodolfo Adolfo Álamos Vergara

Rodrigo Alonzo Bilbao Zepeda

Rodrigo Allendes Muñoz

Rodrigo Gajardo Figueroa

Rodrigo Romero

Rodrigo Polanco Fermandois

Rodrigo Taborga

Rolando Contreras

Santiago Rubilar

Santiago Silva

Saul Manuel Zamorano Moreno

Sebastián Arce

Sergio Body

Sergio Julian Ríos Cordero

Sergio Mario Francisco Uribe Gutiérrez

Sergio Uribe

Tito Rivera

Tomás Aguayo

Tomás González Morales

Tomislav Koljatic

Vicente Soccorso

Víctor Carrera Triviño

Víctor Guerrero Díaz

Víctor Hernán Troncoso Lara

Víctor López

Víctor Lopez Orrego

Víctor Troncoso Lara

Waldo Ignes Olguin

Wolfgang Statt SJ

Zaccharia Penati Brioschi

¿Te pareció útil este mapa? Ayúdanos a seguir esta labor. Haz tu aporte: DONAR.

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.

Judge denies motion to dismiss Hancock County lawsuit over priest abuse allegations

STEUBENVILLE (OH)
Herald-Star

August 6, 2020

By Joselyn King

New Cumberland – A request by the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston to dismiss a lawsuit alleging sexual assault by the Rev. Victor Frobas has been denied in Hancock County Circuit Court.

The order issued July 31 by Circuit Judge David Sims pertains to a complaint filed May 15 in Hancock County Circuit Court by Michael Pirraglia of Fairfax, Va. The complaint alleges Pirraglia was sexually assaulted over a three-year period by Frobas as a child while attending St. Paul Catholic Church in Weirton.

Frobas was assigned to the diocese from 1965 to 1983, according to court filings. The complaint seeks compensation from the diocese as the employer of Frobas, and alleges the diocese was aware of Frobas’ misconduct.

“The court finds that plaintiff has sufficiently set forth several causes of action against defendant in a manner that permits plaintiff to maintain his cause of action under West Virginia statutory and common law,” Sims states in his order. “There has been little formal discovery undertaken in this matter, and the claims raised by plaintiff and defenses raised by defendants may be more fully developed during discovery.”

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.

With Little Fanfare, Exton’s Dan Monahan Has Found a Measure of Closure for Survivors of Clergy Abuse

NEWTOWN SQUARE (PA)
Main Line Today

August 5, 2020

By J.F. Pirro

Monahan has represented dozens of clergy abuse victims while grappling with his own story.

He’s 67 now, but Dan Monahan was once an altar boy serving Roman Catholic masses in rural Connecticut. At his small church, Father Y (the only name he knew the priest by) was revered. “We were told that he was God on earth,” says Monahan, who’s now a personal injury lawyer in Exton. “And so we were indoctrinated.”

During one mass, delivered in Latin, Monahan wet his pants rather than abandon the altar. “Don’t worry,” the priest told him. “We’ll clean it up.”

Now, after more than a decade of disclosure after disclosure involving sexual abuse among the clergy, Monahan reflects on the cunning, programmatic behavior among those in purple garb. “It was like there was a playbook,” he says. “They picked on kids whose fathers were alcoholics, or whose mothers were overly devoted. They gave boys chores—ways we could help. It was like they were all given a manual on how to groom.”

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

Lawsuit alleges sexual abuse by former counselor at Bridge Bible Church

BAKERSFIELD (CA)
KGET

July 28, 2020

By Jason Kotowski

A lawsuit filed last week alleges sexual misconduct on the part of a former counselor at Bridge Bible Church against a church member.

The suit, filed July 22, says Eric Simpson manipulated a woman who had initially gone to him for marriage counseling sessions with her husband. Simpson later insisted on private sessions, the suit alleges, where he told her that her husband was a lucky man and repeated things to her that she told him in previous sessions she wished her husband would say to her.

“After months of manipulation, defendant Simpson had plaintiff where he wanted her,” the suit says. “Starting in July of 2019, defendant Simpson began sexually abusing plaintiff.”

It goes on to say church elders blamed her for the situation and shunned her and her husband.

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.

Sexual Abuse at Bellevue: No Consequences

NORMAN (OK)
Good Faith Media

August 6, 2020

By Christa Brown and David Clohessy

Does it get any sicker than this?

At a flagship megachurch of the Southern Baptist Convention, church staffer James A. Hook sexually abused a 15-year-old church girl.

Hook sent the girl sexually explicit photos of her own mother – photos he had taken when he had an affair with the mother seven years earlier.

That’s just one of the details set forth in the complaint of a recently filed civil lawsuit in Memphis, Tennessee.

In a separate criminal case, Hook pled guilty to sexual battery by an authority figure. Police had found Hook together with the girl in a car.

The girl’s mother, identified in the lawsuit as Jane Doe, had first begun attending the church after the affair with Hook ended and after Hook himself suggested that Doe and her husband get counseling from one of the church’s staff pastors, Eric Brand.

As alleged in the lawsuit, Pastor Brand shared sexually explicit photos of his own wife during the counseling sessions and he encouraged Jane Doe to do what his wife did so that Doe would keep her husband interested.

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.

With ouster of priest accused of pedophilia, Coptic Church mobilizes against sexual abuse

BAKERSFIELD (CA)
Bakersfield Californian from Los Angeles Times

August 6, 2020

By Nardine Saad

https://www.bakersfield.com/ap/national/with-ouster-of-priest-accused-of-pedophilia-coptic-church-mobilizes-against-sexual-abuse/article_a2f35dcd-1341-5baf-9252-6a62ad4265b4.html

Los Angeles – The Coptic Orthodox Church in the U.S., shaken by recent accusations of sexual abuse, has vowed to eradicate inappropriate behavior in its cloistered communities following the defrocking of a priest accused of pedophilia for decades.

The 2,000-year-old church, which was started in Egypt by the Apostle Mark and grew in the U.S. following a wave of immigration in the 1970s, is steeped in centuries-old traditions and rituals that define Christian Orthodoxy.

It is now contending with a new generation of activists among an estimated half-million Copts living in the U.S. in what is being described in the community as a “Coptic #MeToo” movement engrossing parishioners on social media.

The flashpoint started with Facebook and Instagram posts from Sally Zakhari, a 33-year-old Florida woman who said she was molested in Orlando, Florida, by Father Reweiss Aziz Khalil in the late 1990s. Zakhari wrote that she was molested at home after Khalil convinced her mother that she should start confession. She was 11 or 12.

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.

August 5, 2020

Iglesia Encubridora

AñATUYA (ARGENTINA)
Diario Femenino [Santa Rosa, Argentina]

August 5, 2020

By ADMIN

Read original article

Iglesia Encubridora

 Adolfo Uriona, ex obispo de Añatuya, a través de un decreto, admitió la culpabilidad del sacerdote Carlos Dorado en relación a los abusos sexuales contra dos adolescentes de Bandera. El actual obispo José Melitón Chávez reconoce los hechos y declara que está haciendo cumplir las “penas” correspondientes, que no son otras que un retiro espiritual y una adecuada terapia psicológica. El testimonio de las víctimas. El rol de la justicia. El silencio que esconde la impunidad.

Por: Marcela Arce

 “Spotlight”, se llamó el film ganador del premio Oscar en 2016. Traducida como “En primera plana”, la película cuenta la investigación que un equipo del diario The Boston Globe hizo sobre casos de curas abusadores en los Estados Unidos. Al final, aparece un largo listado de causas internacionales que denuncian las atrocidades cometidas por los sacerdotes. En la película aparecen siete causas de Argentina que involucran a Julio César Grassi,  Justo José Ilarraz, Rubén Pardo, Mario Napoleón Sasso, Héctor Pared, Alessandro De Rossi y Fernando Enrique Picciochi.

A través de las pantallas quedaba más que claro que la Iglesia, como institución, no sólo había protegido a los sacerdotes involucrados sino que también había ocultado la mayoría de los casos. Fue el comienzo de un inmenso debate sobre los curas pedófilos, pero la realidad va mucho más allá. Apunta a hechos concretos, verdaderos. De hombres que un día juraron honrar el nombre de Dios y terminaron cometiendo no sólo terribles pecados, sino los más aberrantes delitos, encubiertos por el poder que infunden sus investiduras.

Mientras las atrocidades cometidas en el Instituto Próvolo en Mendoza derivaron en las condenas a 42 y 45 años de los curas Nicola Corradi y Horacio Corbacho, por violar y corromper a niños sordos, resurge con más fuerza un extenso informe de las periodistas de Télam, Lucia Toninello y Mariana García,quienes publicaron, a principios de mayo de 2017, un listado de 59 sacerdotes y 3 monjas involucrados en casos de abuso sexual por parte de integrantes de la Iglesia.

El listado incluye no sólo a Monseñor Adolfo Uriona, quien fue denunciado por una joven, en 2006, acusándolo de haberla manoseado mientras viajaban juntos en un micro. En ese momento, era obispo de la Diócesis de Añatuya. Fue demorado por la policía, y finalmente sobreseído judicialmente. Desde 2014 es obispo de Río Cuarto, nombrado por el Papa Francisco.

Pero la inclusión de Uriona, en el puesto 54 de la lista, no es la única en la lista. En el escalón anterior, en el puesto 53, aparece el nombre de otro sacerdote local. “Carlos Alberto Dorado, Santiago del Estero. Acusado por abuso, no fue investigado”, dice textualmente el informe.

LA COLUMNA se hizo eco de estas investigaciones y realizó la suya propia. Así fue que en la edición del 18 de mayo de 2017, bajo el título “Pecados sexuales”, investigó quién era este sacerdote, y cuáles eran las investigaciones en su contra.

¿Quién es? ¿Qué hizo? ¿Cuándo? ¿De qué parroquia es sacerdote?, fueron los primeros cuestionamientos. En la Diócesis de Santiago del Estero, nadie sabía nada al respecto.  Varios sacerdotes consultados no lo conocían, no sabían de quién se trataba. En el listado completo de sacerdotes locales el nombre de Dorado no aparecía por ningún lado. Algunos hasta dudaron de su existencia. Sin embargo, a poco de trasladar el foco de atención hacia la otra diócesis existente en la provincia, su nombre saltó de inmediato.

Carlos Alberto Dorado es un añatuyense, ordenado sacerdotalmente el jueves 12 de marzo de 2009, en la Iglesia Catedral “Nuestra Señora del Valle”, epicentro de la Diócesis de Añatuya. La ordenación estuvo a cargo del obispo Uriona.

Pero, qué hizo para que su nombre estuviera en la lista de curas abusadores. Averiguar ese dato no fue fácil. Todos decían desconocer el tema. Sin embargo, LA COLUMNA decidió ir más a fondo y no paró hasta conocer todos los pormenores de un hecho que fue silenciado por la curia y ocultado, en detrimento de las víctimas que se atrevieron a contar el calvario que padecieron.

Hoy, ese silencio cómplice fue confirmado con pruebas contundentes, que afirman que el obispo Uriona no sólo conocía del caso de Dorado sino que él mismo lo había encontrado “culpable” de los abusos por los que fue acusado. No sólo eso, sino el testimonio de las víctimas y la imputación judicial por “abuso sexual agravado” vienen a confirmar que la Iglesia nunca denunció los abusos sexuales contra menores que habrían cometidos sus representantes, sino que prefirió esconder todo bajo siete llaves.

 ABUSOS Y SILENCIO

Carlos Dorado había forjado su vocación sacerdotal en la capilla Nuestro Señor de Mailín, su ciudad natal. Realizó sus estudios durante 8 años en el Seminario de San Rafael. Desde que fuera ordenado diácono, desarrolló su labor pastoral en la parroquia San Francisco Solano, de la localidad de Bandera.

Ya ordenado como sacerdote, Dorado habría comenzado a entablar relación de amistad con una adolescente, menor de edad, quien realizaba un arduo trabajo parroquial, que incluía distintas tareas pastorales, de catequesis y colaboración en distintos ámbitos. Al poco tiempo, habría intentado estrechar relaciones con ella, abusando de su poder, sobrepasando todos los límites del respeto. Ese abuso habría incluído tocamientos indecorosos, acercamientos inapropiados, y una constante violencia psicológica y verbal, pues la muchacha se habría negado a aceptar cualquier tipo de contacto con Dorado.

Tiempo después, sucedió exactamente lo mismo con otra jovencita, pero esta vez, los abusos habrían ido más allá. Fueron dos hechos similares, en distintos períodos de tiempo.

Ambas jovencitas denunciaron las situaciones vividas ante el obispo Adolfo Uriona –el mismo que había ordenado a Dorado en el sacramento sacerdotal-, buscando respuestas para los abusos sufridos. Esperaban que el máximo representante de la Iglesia en Añatuya  hiciera algo e incluso que las acompañara a realizar otro tipo de denuncias en el ámbito judicial. Pero ninguna de las dos recibió la contención y apoyo que precisaban. Quedaron solas, a la deriva. Como si nada de lo que hubiesen sufrido merecía el menor interés de nadie, menos de la Iglesia, como entidad madre en la que creían y respetaban.

La única respuesta fue un traslado del sacerdote hacia otra comunidad.

OCULTAMIENTO Y ENCUBRIMIENTO

Sin embargo, las jovencitas –cada una por su lado- tomaron conocimiento de la existencia de la Red de Sobrevivientes de Abusos Sexuales Eclesiásticos de la Argentina y se comunicaron con la entidad. La encargada de recepcionar sus denuncias fue una de las referentes de la entidad,  también víctima de abuso sexual, quien vive en la ciudad de La Plata. Ella se encargó de guiarlas, de brindarles el acompañamiento que precisaban. Los profesionales de la red las asesoraron desde el punto de vista legal. Ya no se estaban solas.

No obstante, en aquel momento, ninguna quiso hacer la correspondiente denuncia penal. “Las víctimas de abuso sexual tienen obstáculos que sortear, dado el trauma que han sufrido. Por lo tanto, es difícil que de inmediato recurran a los Tribunales”, explicó el Dr. Carlos Lombardi, entonces representante legal de la Red. “Por lo general, nos encontramos con la noticia que determinadas personas en su adultez o siendo mayores, denuncian hechos que han padecido en su niñez y adolescencia. Esto, precisamente, por estos obstáculos que tienen a nivel personal para enfrentar el problema”, añadió.

Es cierto, por aquellos días, ninguna de las jóvenes, hoy mayores de edad, realizó la denuncia penal, por lo que la justicia no tenía modo de enterarse de los hechos. Sin embargo, el obispo Uriona sabía de su existencia. El obispo Uriona sólo protegió a su sacerdote.

En ese sentido, el Dr. Lombardi explicó que la Iglesia Católica, en cualquier país del mundo,  aplica sus propios procedimientos y esa es una de las causas por las cuales se mantiene el silencio, no trasciende públicamente ni llega a los medios de comunicación. En esta línea de pensamiento, la Iglesia Católica continúa con su sistema de encubrimiento y ocultamiento de pederastas, sin perjuicio de que la propaganda que instala en los medios de comunicación es de tolerancia cero, de transparencia en los procedimientos de la investigación. Más allá de la propaganda, tendiente a lavar su cara, su imagen, los procedimientos internos que se aplican están regidos por el secreto pontificio. Es decir que todos los intervinientes en la causa, una vez que llega la denuncia a las autoridades eclesiásticas, están bajo el juramento del silencio”.

EN LA PASTORAL JUVENIL

En octubre de 2012, Monseñor Adolfo Uriona nombró al padre Carlos Dorado como asesor de la “Pastoral Juvenil”. Como tal, participó de la Asamblea Regional de la Pastoral Juvenil del Noroeste Argentino, junto a delegados de toda la zona.

También participó de la Jornada Mundial de la Juventud, en julio de 2013, realizada en Río de Janeiro, con la presencia del Papa Francisco, a la que viajó acompañando a más de un centenar de jóvenes añatuyense.

En la actualidad, Dorado se encuentra trabajando en la “Parroquia del Santo Cristo”, en la localidad de Santos Lugares, una pequeña localidad del departamento Alberdi en el cruce de las rutas provinciales 2 y 17, al este del río Salado.

El área de influencia de esta parroquia recae directamente sobre el Santuario de la Virgen de Huachana, y las pequeñas capillas de distintas localidades menores y parajes como: La Manga, Pozo Limpio, Tacañitas, Taco Pozo, Santa Cruz, Nueva Esperanza, Villa El Palmar, El Porvenir, Las Parvas, El Cadillal, Milagros, Toro Pozo, Chañarcito, Chañar Pozo, Jumial Grande, Manisnioj, Anco Overo y Maravillas. Precisamente, en todos estos lugares, el padre Dorado realiza, actualmente, sus tareas religiosas y de evangelización.

El 21 y 22 de septiembre del año pasado, participó del XVI Encuentro Eucarístico de Adoradores Misioneros, desarrollado en las instalaciones de la parroquia Santiago Apóstol, en La Banda. En esa oportunidad, Dorado, junto al actual obispo de la Diócesis Santiago del Estero, Mons. Vicente Bokalic y los sacerdotes José Guadalupe Prado Guevara y Horacio Martínez Franco (ambos párrocos de la Diócesis de San Juan de Los Lagos, México), impartieron sus enseñanzas a los jóvenes misioneros, según la información brindada por La Banda Diario, medio que la recepcionó a través de miembros de la parroquia.

Carlos Dorado continúa trabajando en la parroquia Santo Cristo. La pandemia y el aislamiento lo llevaron a compartir sus misas de modo virtual. Pero eso no es todo, continúa evangelizando y compartiendo sus días con niños, adolescentes y jóvenes de la comunidad,  quienes seguramente ignoran las acusaciones que pesan en su contra.

 CULPABLE

Las dos jóvenes, hoy de 27 años, denunciaron penalmente a Carlos Dorado, el cura que las abusó en reiteradas oportunidades cuando tenían 15 y 16 años, en Bandera, departamento Belgrano, al sur de la provincia. Las mujeres, quienes actualmente trabajan y estudian, cargaron con el dolor y los martirios por más de diez años, antes de acudir a la fiscal Andrea Darwich. La primera de ellas lo hizo en agosto de 2019. La otra hizo lo propio en enero de 2020. (Ver entrevista adjunta). Antes, habían realizado la denuncia canónica.

Con apenas 20 años, en 2013, se acercaron hasta el Obispado de Añatuya, la institución en la que depositaban su fe, y relataron los abusos y martirios que había sufrido por parte del cura Carlos Dorado a Monseñor Adolfo Uriona, entonces obispo de esa curia, quien las trató de “enfermas”, según ellas relataron a la Red de Sobrevivientes de Abusos Sexuales Eclesiásticos de la Argentina.

Recién en 2017 el Obispado de Añatuya les comunicó por escrito que habían encontrado al sacerdote “culpable”. Sin recurrir a la justicia, siendo de esta forma cómplices, les detallaron por escrito que Carlos Dorado había reconocido los abusos” y que era “culpable”, ya que había cometido el delito del sexto mandamiento del decálogo de un clérigo, que tipifica el abuso sexual hacia un menor de edad, en este caso, dos menores de edad.

Por tal motivo, le impusieron una “pena expiatoria”, que incluía:

-“Prohibición pública  de todo ejercicio del ministerio sacerdotal”, pero “viviendo ese tiempo en oración y penitencia”.

-“Prohibición del oficio de párroco por el término de 10 años”.

-Recomendación de “una adecuada terapia psicológica”.

-“Prohibición de confesar menores de edad y dirigirlos espiritualmente por el término de un año”. Transcurrido ese plazo, debía hacerlo “en el confesionario, la iglesia, ante la presencia de otras personas”.

-Prohibición de “acercarse de acercarse a la ciudad de Bandera de manera perpetua”.

Este documento está fechado el 31 de mayo de 2014, y fue firmado por el entonces obispo de la Diócesis de Añatuya, Adolfo Uriona,  y la vicecanciller Inmaculada Llorens Moles.

En diciembre de ese mismo año, Adolfo Uriona fue trasladado al Obispado de Río Cuarto, en Córdoba.

EN PRIMERA PERSONA

Las dos jóvenes, quienes son amigas, realizaron la denuncia ante la fiscal Andrea Darwich y, por el momento, optaron por no dar a conocer su identidad. Ambas forman parte de la Red de Sobrevivientes de Abuso Eclesiástico de Argentina, un espacio que contiene a jóvenes de todo el país que sufrieron hechos iguales o similares.

La primera de ellas contó que conoció a Carlos Dorado, que tenía 28 años, en el colegio: “Era nuestro profesor. Yo tenía 16 años”. Además recordó que “con el tiempo me invitó a formar parte del grupo misionero Santa Teresita del Niño Jesús, del cual participé porque pensé que era sano y aprendería a relacionarme un poco más con las personas, ya que era súper tímida y muy apegada a mis papás. De apoco Dorado se fue ganando mi confianza y la de mi familia. En unas vacaciones de verano organizamos un viaje a Cerro Colorado, Córdoba, en el cual me pasaron cosas raras, como cuando me tomó de la mano mientras me decía que yo era su mejor amiga. También recuerdo que, estando en un arroyo, tenía un short verde y se acercó y empezó a tocarme las piernas”. En el mismo viaje, Carlos Dorado “estaba sentado en un sillón, me agarró de la mano y violentamente me tiró encima suyo. Fue todo muy raro y en ese momento pensé que era una cosa mía y le resté importancia”.

De vuelta en la ciudad de Bandera, ciudad donde era oriunda la adolescente,  el sacerdote “nos propuso hacer dirección espiritual. Un día me llamó y me dijo que estaban los demás chicos en la casa parroquial así que fui. Pero cuando llegué éramos él y yo. En ese momento se acercó y se puso muy cerca de mi cara y me abrazó. Me decía que era su amiga y que jamás lo deje porque se iba a matar. De repente me pidió que lo acompañe a su habitación porque tenía cólicos. Fuimos, se acostó y me pidió que me acostara con él. Me decía ‘vení quedate al lado mío que tengo miedo’. Me senté en la cama, y él me tiró a su lado y empezó a besarme en la boca. Rápidamente me levanté y le dije que ‘era mi profesor y que estaba mal’, a lo que él me pidió perdón. Pero eso me lo hizo varias veces y cada vez peor. La última vez quiso sacarme el pantalón y yo comencé a llorar y él me decía que quería ser el primer hombre en mi vida. Luché con todas mis fuerzas y pude escapar”.

La joven agregó que, al querer alejarse, Dorado “se enojó mucho conmigo y empezó a hablar mal de mí en frente de los chicos del grupo misionero, diciéndoles que cualquier cosa que yo dijera sería mentira porque era una puta. Pasó el tiempo y dejé el grupo misionero. Sentía vergüenza y me sentía la peor persona del mundo por haberle fallado a Dios”.

Entre las secuelas y dolores que vivió en la última década, detalló que “me costó mucho tener algún tipo de acercamiento con los hombres, me producían asco; lo veía a él en ellos. Los olores, las canciones que ponía mientras me tocaba hoy me producen náuseas. Varias veces tuve ganas de morirme. Llegué a enfermarme y estar un mes en cama sin querer comer, con alergia y una gastritis producida por guardar ese secreto tanto tiempo”.

“CREÍA QUE ERA MI CULPA”

La segunda joven relató hechos, en lo que el accionar de Dorado habría sido idéntico. En el año 2008 y con 15 años, ella se había mudado a la ciudad de Bandera y era seminarista. Dorado “era nuestro profesor de Antropología en el colegio y ese año fundó el grupo juvenil Santa Teresita del niño Jesús del cual formé parte desde el inicio. Yo era muy introvertida y tímida, casi que no tenía amigos y me costaba mucho relacionarme con mis pares. Dorado me decía que tenía cualidades de una religiosa, y que los ojos de los sacerdotes eran como los ojos de Jesús, nunca se equivocaban”.

Por tal motivo, “me invitó a hacer dirección espiritual con él, ya que me orientaría en mi ‘futura vocación religiosa’”. Sin embargo, en cada una de las reuniones que tenía “Dorado me hablaba de sus propios problemas personales y familiares, me decía que era la única persona en quien confiaba, se ponía a llorar y luego me pedía que lo abrace. En una ocasión me pidió que ayude con algunas tareas de limpieza de la parroquia. Yo no sabía que la tarea era ordenar la biblioteca de su habitación, yo tenía 16 años. Ese día él se me abalanzó y comenzó manosearme y besarme. Cuando me puse a llorar me empezó a decir que a los sacerdotes ‘les permitían estar con personas de confianza’, y luego me pidió perdón”.

Dorado habría manipulado a la joven, ya que le decía que “era pecado no perdonar”, y la mandaba a“confesarse”.

“Por mucho tiempo creí y estuve convencida de que era mi culpa. Él mismo se encargaba de ir a mi casa y pedirle permiso a mi mamá para viajar a un ‘supuesto encuentro de coordinadores de grupos juveniles’, el cual era una mentira y el único fin era que me confiese en Añatuya, ciudad en la que ningún sacerdote me conocía. En eso momento mi culpa y profunda fe religiosa hacían borrón y cuenta nueva”. 

Los abusos fueron sistemáticos. Un día decidí no ir más a los grupos, porque la angustia era muy grande. Pero él, una vez más, se encargó de ir a mi casa hablar con mi familia para convencerme de que no debía abandonar porque los chicos me necesitaban. La manipulación fue tan grande que en ese entonces yo estaba en conflicto con mi familia porque se había encargado de separarme de ella, diciéndome que la obra de Dios era más grande que obedecer a la propia familia”.

“Durante muchos años guardé el secreto, hasta que me enteré que a otras chicas les había pasado lo mismo. A más de diez años de todo eso, he tenido dificultades para relacionarme con otros hombres, sentía asco y desconfianza. Por muchos tiempo tuve deseos de no existir más, pero gracias al apoyo de mi familia pude seguir adelante”, finalizó.

RED DE SOBREVIVIENTES DE ABUSO ECLESIÁSTICO 

Liliana Rodríguez, psicóloga de la Red de Sobrevivientes de Abuso Sexual Eclesiástico de Argentina – que posee una página de Facebook para contactarse en cualquier momento-, afirmó que “los relatos dan cuenta que todas las situaciones vividas por las chicas, que han dejados lógicamente sus secuelas, tienen que ver con el ejercicio absoluto del poder de un sacerdote sobre el cuerpo y la subjetividad de adolescentes. Además traicionó la confianza no solo de ellas, sino también de sus familias”.

Rodríguez resaltó “la valentía de estas jóvenes de poder compartir, a través de la voz de la Red, estas situaciones tan dolorosas y tremendas que vivieron”. En ese sentido agregó que “el único objetivo es la búsqueda de justicia para que no le vuelva a pasar a ningún niño ni niña más”. Además explicó que “estos relatos también sirven para convocar a que otras personas que hayan atravesado estas situaciones rompan el silencio y se acercan a la Red; los y las estamos esperando, sabemos que han atravesado lo mismo con este sacerdote aunque todavía no puedan ponerlo en palabras y sientan mucho temor y culpa”.

Respecto de los documentos firmados por los obispos y difundidos en esta noticia, la psicóloga fue tajante: “La Iglesia no castiga, sino que encubre y/o traslada para lograr la impunidad. Por eso es tan importante la voz de las y los sobrevinientes y la denuncia penal que realizan para lograr justicia”.

Para formar parte de la Red de Sobrevivientes de Abuso Sexual Eclesiástico de Argentina no hace falta haber radicado la denuncia formal en la justicia, ya que el objetivo es visibilizar los hechos, acompañar emocionalmente a las víctimas a través de sus pares, y asesorar legalmente cuando así los dispongan. Al día de hoy, más de 150 personas sobrevivientes de abuso sexual eclesiástico en el país participan y forman parte de la Red.

UNO Y OTRO

En 2014, la Red de Sobrevivientes del Abuso Eclesiástico, solicitó al obispo Uriona que les facilite un informe por escrito de la denuncia presentada por las jóvenes. Recién en 2017, y con el apoyo de la red, solicitaron nuevamente la información al reemplazante de Uriona, el obispo José Melitón Chávez, quien, a diferencia de su par, accedió  a facilitar lo pedido.

Así, el 17 de febrero de 2017 entregó a las víctimas el decreto firmado por Uriona (Ver documento adjunto), “luego de hacer las consultas pertinentes al Tribunal Eclesiástico Nacional”.

En cuanto al cumplimiento de las penas, el obispo Chávez  dijo: “Doy fe que se está aplicando de acuerdo a lo decretado” por Uriona.

Este documento fue actualizado por Chávez, un año después, el 3 de febrero de 2018.

De esta forma queda más que claro que la Diócesis de Añatuya tenía conocimiento pleno de la denuncia formulada por las jóvenes en contra de Carlos Dorado. Aunque el obispo Chávez entregó los documentos que lo confirman, no acudió a la justicia para pedir investigación alguna, ni tampoco alentó a las víctimas a que lo hicieron.

Sin embargo, la fiscal Andrea Darwich confirmó que desde el Obispado de Añatuya, le facilitaron toda la documentación que obraba en la curia en contra de Dorado.

RECEPCIÓN DE INFORMES

Llamativamente, quizá en consonancia con las investigaciones realizadas por LA COLUMNA estos últimos días, volcadas en este informe, el Obispado de Añatuya,

publicó el martes 21 de julio un documento sobre el “Sistema de recepción de informes sobre abusos sexuales cometidos por clérigos consagrados contra personas menores de edad o vulnerables”.

Junto al informe se aclara que “en nuestra Diócesis de Añatuya, como en todas las Diócesis de Argentina, se ha puesto en funcionamiento de un sistema de recepción de informes sobre eventuales abusos cometidos por clérigos o religiosos”.

Su implementación responde a lo dispuesto por el papa Francisco de establecer un sistema estable y de fácil acceso al público para proveer de un lugar de encuentro y escucha, y elaborar un informe a fin de remitirlo a la autoridad competente”, continúan.

A la vez, destaca que “de ningún modo sustituye al ámbito de competencia de la autoridad estatal,sino que tiene como finalidad adoptar las medidas administrativas y disciplinares dentro de la estructura eclesial. La Iglesia actúa dentro de su jurisdicción, en el marco que le reconoce la Constitución Nacional y provincial, el Acuerdo que rige entre la Santa Sede y el Estado argentino, y las demás leyes”.

Por lo demás, y como lo indican las disposiciones de la Santa Sede, la Iglesia, en cuanto a las posibles consecuencias jurídicas, se atiene y asume lo que decida la justicia de nuestro país, que es la única competente para ese fin y a la que se debe acudir”.

Por último, afirman que “la Iglesia confirma su compromiso de velar para que en su seno se respire un clima de acogida, respeto y cuidado de las personas, con especial atención a los niños y vulnerables; poder cultivar una cultura del cuidado y brindar espacios sanos y seguros. También ratifica su compromiso de cooperar con la justicia en lo que esté a su alcance, que sean respetados los derechos de todos y promover toda forma de prevención”.

Los escándalos de abusos sexuales cometidos en el seno de la Iglesia Católica no son nuevos. Sin embargo, la mayoría de ellos fueron escondidos bajo siete llaves. La mayoría prefiere el silencio, el ocultamiento, antes que las denuncias judiciales. El caso del sacerdote Carlos Alberto Dorado está en plena etapa de investigación. Por lo pronto, ya se encuentra imputado por “abuso sexual agravado”, en perjuicio de una de las denunciantes. En el siguiente caso, faltan informes y pruebas, pero avanza en el mismo sentido, de acuerdo a lo expresado desde el Ministerio Público Fiscal de la Circunscripción Añatuya.

El obispo Adolfo Urion, según sus propio decreto no sólo tenía conocimiento de los hechos denunciados, sino que encontró culpable a Dorado. Además, éste habría reconocido su culpabilidad ante el entonces obispo de Añatuya.

Una vez más, el encubrimiento salpica a la Iglesia.-

EXCLUSIVO

Dra. Andrea Darwich, fiscal

“Dorado está formalmente imputado por abuso sexual agravado”

La representante de la Circuscripción Añatuya del Ministerio Público Fiscal, Dra. Andrea Darwich, en diálogo exclusivo con LA COLUMNA, explicó el estado en el que se encuentra la causa contra el sacerdote Carlos Dorado, haciendo hincapié en que se trata de dos investigaciones paralelas en su contra, en una de las cuales ya fue imputado.

-¿Existe alguna denuncia por abuso sexual contra el sacerdote Carlos Dorado?

-Las denuncias son dos, una de agosto 2019 y la otra de enero de 2020.

-¿En qué circunstancias lo denuncian?

-Lo hacen dos jóvenes. Ellas ahora son mayores de edad y hacen referencia que los hechos sucedieron cuando aún estaban en la secundaria, siendo menores.

-Cómo avanza la investigación en este caso?

-Está en período de investigación. Son dos investigaciones paralelas que están acumuladas porque son dos denuncias contra la misma persona. En una de ellas se encuentra formalmente imputado. El señor Dorado fue asistido por sus abogadores defensores. En su momento, se abstuvo de prestar declaración, tomando conocimiento de todas las pruebas que hay en el legajo. Aún resta recepcionar la declaración en el otro legajo, ya que faltan los informes psicológicos de la chica que hizo la denuncia en enero de este año. Por esta cuestión de la pandemia no se pudieron culminar con sus entrevistas psicológicas.

-¿Con qué elementos de prueba cuentan en este momento?

-Nosotros tenemos los informes psicológicos de las víctimas, testimonios, informes socioambientales, realizados en el lugar donde habrían sucedido los hechos, estamos hablando de la localidad de Bandera. Cuando las denunciantes eran menores de edad acudían a un grupo juvenil perteneciente al colegio en el que acudían al secundario. En esas circunstancias suceden estos hechos. Eso está acreditado no sólo con los testimonios y los informes socioambiantales sino también con el informe que brinda el Obispado de la ciudad de Añatuya, en el cual acredita que el señor Dorado estaba a cargo de este grupo juvenil y que realizaba actividades en la ciudad de Bandera, donde sucedieron los hechos.

-¿El decreto del obispo Uriona, que declaraba que Dorado es culpable de delitos contra el derecho canónico, específicamente contra menores de edad, serviría como prueba?

-Sí. Existe la información, la documentación brindada desde el Obispado de la ciudad de Añatuya, en la cual se hace constar  que el señor Dorado fue sometido a todo el procedimiento canónico que prevé la regulación específica de ellos. Esta fue una cuestión, tipo administrativa, que se tramita ante el obispado, en forma paralela al judicial.

-¿Esto ocurrió antes de la denuncia?

Sí, fue totalmente anterior. Es independiente de la causa penal, pero  está agregado como evidencia.

-Los hechos de abuso sexual son, lamentablemente comunes, en Santiago del Estero. Desde su experiencia personal, ¿se topó alguna vez con abusos cometidos por hombres de la Iglesia?

-En esta Unidad Fiscal de Añatuya es el primer caso que tenemos. En realidad, son dos denuncias que tenemos en contra de un sacerdote.

-¿Lo toman de una manera especial o tiene el mismo tratamiento que cualquier otra causa?

-Está sometido a proceso como cualquier otro ciudadano. La imputación que obra en su contra está agravada, justamente, por ser miembro de un culto religioso. Es un delito que está tipificado en el Código Penal, precisamente por esta cuestión religiosa.

-¿Cuál es la carátula de la causa?

-Abuso sexual agravado.

-¿Cuáles son los pasos  a seguir en la investigación?

-Están aún pendientes de celebrarse varias diligencias. Falta el informe psicológico de una de las víctimas, como ya lo dije. Faltan otros testimonios, hay personas que tenían conocimiento de estos hechos y, hasta el momento, no han declarado en esta Fiscalía. La investigación sigue su curso, estamos dentro de la primera etapa, que es la investigación penal preparatoria.

-¿Es común que pasen muchos años hasta que las víctimas se atrevan a denunciar?

-Sí. Hay toda una cuestión que tiene que nacer de parte de las víctimas, hasta que puedan contar todo lo que les pasó. Esto está comprendido en toda la cuestión psicológica, en todo el juicio emocional que atravesaron, y todas suss consecuencias. Ayer hicieron contacto con nosotros la red de Sobreviients, donde la licenciada Rodriguez nos comentó que las víctimas, antes de hacer la denuncia, se pusieron en contacto con ellos y desde la red les brindaron contención.

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Slew of new lawsuits name 21 previously unidentified alleged abusers in Rochester diocese

ROCHESTER (NY)
Democrat and Chronicle

August 3, 2020

By Sean Lahman

More than 70 survivors filed civil suits last week accusing former priests, nuns and lay teachers who served within the Roman Catholic Diocese of Rochester of sexually abusing them as children.

Among the new cases are 21 alleged abusers who had not previously been accused publicly.

A deadline to lodge the claims by Aug. 13 — a date that could yet be extended if legislation is signed, has accelerated the pace of filings.

At least 230 complaints have been brought against the diocese and its member parishes since last August under the state’s Child Victims Act. Adopted in early 2019, the CVA carved out a one-year window during which suits can be brought by people who allege they were sexually abused when they were young.

One of the new lawsuits alleges abuse that occurred in 1939, but most of the new cases describe incidents of sexual misconduct from the 1970s and 1980s. Roughly half of the new lawsuits involve victims who were 10 years old or younger when their abuse allegedly started.

To date, roughly 80% of the 260 CVA cases filled in Monroe County name the diocese and its parishes as defendants.

“We are honored to stand with these survivors in their pursuit of truth and accountability,” said attorney Jeff Anderson, whose firm filed 58 of the suits last week. “The number of complaints being filed demonstrates the magnitude of peril that has existed in the diocese for decades and that will no longer continue due to these courageous survivors.”

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Why year-long extension of Child Victims Act won’t apply to Diocese of Rochester

ROCHESTER (NY)
WHAM 13

August 3, 2020

By Jane Flasch

Governor Andrew Cuomo signed a bill into law Monday, extending the deadline for people to file claims against alleged abusers under the Child Victims Act until August 14, 2021.

The deadline was previously set to expire on August 13, 2020.

Attorneys say the extension will not apply to anyone suing the Rochester Catholic Diocese.

“The bankruptcy judge ruled just last week the deadline remains August 13 of this summer,” said Attorney Steve Boyd, who represents clients suing the diocese.

The Rochester Diocese is an exception, in part, because it filed for bankruptcy last year. CVA lawsuits are handled by a federal bankruptcy judge – along with all other creditors making claims. A ruling by the judge last weeks makes the diocese here the one exception to the extension.

The Child Victims Act provides a one-year window for survivors of abuse to file claims, regardless of when the statute of limitations may have expired. On the first day – nearly one year ago – 38 lawsuits were filed in Monroe County. Attorneys say, to date, there are at least 225 naming the Rochester Catholic Diocese.

Those victims are grouped together, their cases moved to federal court when the diocese filed for bankruptcy. That makes them different than other cases which are being handled in state courts.

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Erie Catholic Diocese to Resume Program Assisting Sexual Abuse Survivors

ERIE (PA)
WICU/WSEE

August 4, 2020

The program was suspended in mid-March at the onset of the coronavirus pandemic.

The Diocese of Erie announced Tuesday it will resume its work with the Independent Survivors’ Reparation Program (ISRP), a program established to assist survivors of sexual abuse.

The program was suspended in mid-March at the onset of the coronavirus pandemic.

The suspension affected approximately 40 remaining claimants. Claimants will be notified that the fund will begin processing claims effective August 6.

According to the Diocese of Erie, the ISRP was established to address the emotional, psychological and pastoral needs of survivors of sexual abuse within the Catholic Church in the Diocese of Erie.

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Five priests from Rochester Diocese alleged to have abused 105 victims

ROCHESTER (NY)
WHAM 13

August 4, 2020

By Jane Flasch

Serial predators inside the Catholic Church: At least 245 lawsuits filed under the Crime Victims Act name the Rochester Catholic Diocese. Taken together, they allege a stunning abuse of power – some of it involving only a handful of priests.

Five of them have been accused by a combined 105 victims.

“These people hurt you. You don’t forget that,” said a man who asked to be identified only by his initials: J.O.

For him, the abuse began in 1973 when he was living in what as then an orphanage run by the Rochester Diocese.

After filing a CVA lawsuit, he met dozens of others with similar claims.

“It’s almost like a fraternity. We really care about what happened – not only to us but to the other kids,” J.O. said.

Four victims say that while attending St. Bridget/Immaculate Conception as children, they were sexually abused by Rev. Francis Vogt. Over 45 years, Vogt also served in parishes in Elmira, Palmyra and Irondeqouit.

The four CVA suits are new – filed in the last three days. They bring the total number of victims alleging abuse at the hands of Vogt to 46. The youngest was just six years old at the time.

Next up is Rev. Robert O’Neill. News accounts reported by 13 WHAM decades ago reveal two bishops were aware of “credible abuse complaints” against him – yet he was allowed to serve the church until his retirement.

He is facing 24 lawsuits – by 24 different victims.

In 1996, Rev. Eugene Emo was arrested for abusing a mentally-challenged adult male. He served six months in prison. The diocese acknowledged that before his arrest, he took a leave of absence for almost a year for “a personal problem.”

At least 12 CVA suits name him.

Rev. Joseph Larrabee and Rev. Paul Cloonan round out the top five.

Because the Rochester Diocese filed for bankruptcy the CVA cases will be settled by a bankruptcy judge. He has set next Thursday as the deadline for any new filings naming the Rochester Diocese.

The window for other CVA lawsuits has been extended another year to August 13, 2021.

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Two more Catholic priests accused of child sexual abuse in southern New Mexico

LAS CRUCES (NM)
Sun-News

August 4, 2020

By Leah Romero and Damien Willis

Two Catholic priests were accused Tuesday of child sexual abuse in southern New Mexico.

Civil complaints were filed against the two priests, as well as the Las Cruces and El Paso dioceses and the parishes where the alleged sexual abuse occurred.

Fr. Roderick Nichols and Fr. Damian Gamboa were named in the alleged abuse of John Doe and Jane Doe.

According to court documents, John Doe alleges Nichols abused him in the early 1990s when the alleged victim was about 13 years old. At the time, Nichols was the pastor and administrator of St. Vincent De Paul Parish in Silver City. He was formerly listed as a chaplain for jail and prison ministry, but according to the diocese directory for 2020, Nichols is a retired diocesan priest.

Jane Doe alleges Gamboa abused her in the early 1980s, according to court documents. The alleged victim was about 13 or 14 years old. At the time, Gamboa was serving as the pastor and administrator of St. Francis de Paula Church Inc. in Tularosa. The church was formerly under the El Paso Diocese, but has since been reassigned to the Las Cruces Diocese.

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Diocese of Covington Releases Names of Priests Accused of Sexual Abuse of Minors Since the 1950s

CINCINNATI (OH)
CityBeat

August 4, 2020

By Maija Zummo

The list of 90 religious and lay people includes 59 priests who have substantiated accusations against them, including four still living in the Greater Cincinnati area

The Diocese of Covington has published a list with the names of the priests, brothers, sisters and lay employees/deacons who have had the accusations made against them of the sexual abuse of minors substantiated.

The list does not say what each individual allegedly did or what accusations have been substantiated.

According to the diocese, the list is a result of a “comprehensive and independent review of thousands of diocesan records dating back to 1950” from two former FBI agents, who were allowed to review all Chancery files, archival files, priest personnel files and Safe Environment files.

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Dunkirk church named in new Child Victims Act suit

DUNKIRK (NY)
Observer

August 4, 2020

By Eric Tichy

The former pastor of a Dunkirk church is being accused of sexually abusing a child in the 1960s in a new Child Victims Act lawsuit filed Monday.

The complaint, filed in New York State Supreme Court in Chautauqua County, names the former St. Mary’s Church as a defendant. The victim claims to have been abused by the Rev. Maurus Schenck between 1962 and 1968 when the victim was about 12 to 17 years old.

“Plaintiff was a parishioner and participated in youth activities and/or church activities at St. Mary,” the suit claims. “Plaintiff, therefore, developed great admiration, trust, reverence, and respect for the Roman Catholic Church, including Defendants and their agents, including Fr. Schenck.”

The victim is being represented by the New York City-based Jeff Anderson & Associates and attorney Steve Boyd of Williamsville.

Schenck was one of dozens of priests tied to misconduct complaints and identified in leaked Diocese documents. According to multiple media reports, the former pastor was also accused of abusing a then-13-year-old at St. Mary’s around 1965.

Elsewhere, two Child Victims Act lawsuits were filed late last week for abuse said to have taken place at a Jamestown church in the early 1960s and mid-’70s. Both complaints name Ss. Peter and Paul Church and Holy Apostles as defendants.

One victim, only identified as “AB 279 DOE,” claims they were sexually abused by the Rev. John D. Lewandowski from about 1962 to 1963. The victim was about 13 to 14 years old when the alleged abuse took place.

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New York’s Child Victims Act ‘look back’ window extended for full year

NEW YORK (NY)
Daily News

August 3 2020

By Denis Slattery

Albany – Survivors of childhood sexual assault will have another 12 months to file civil suits against their alleged abuser — no matter how long ago the incident occurred.

Gov. Cuomo on Monday signed an extension of part of the Child Victims Act providing a “look back” window for victims to file lawsuits beyond statue of limitations restrictions.

The measure, passed by the Legislature back in May, comes after the coronavirus pandemic led to a reduction in court services and limited the ability of survivors to file suits.

“The Child Victims Act has allowed more than 3,000 brave survivors to come forward to seek justice,” said sponsor Sen. Brad Hoylman (D-Manhattan). “Yet it’s clear many New Yorkers who survived child sexual abuse haven’t come forward — especially during the COVID-19 crisis which has upended our courts and economy.”

The Child Victims Act went into effect last August after being stalled in Albany for more than a decade. The legislation upended the legal landscape by allowing victims of abuse to seek criminal prosecution against an abuser until the age of 28, an increase from the prior age limit of 23. In civil cases, victims can seek prosecution until they turn 55.

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Gov. Cuomo signs legislation extending Child Victims Act

NEW YORK (NY)
New York Post

August 3, 2020

By Bernadette Hogan

Victims of child sex abuse now have an extra year to file lawsuits against their abusers, as Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed legislation Monday extending the current deadline slated for mid-August.

The New York Child Victims Act passed in early 2019 gave individuals a one-year lookback window to bring claims against perpetrators in cases that had already exceeded the statute of limitations.

The original filing deadline would have expired within the next few weeks — Aug. 14 of this year — but the new law expands the date one full year to Aug. 14, 2021.

The move came after advocates and sex abuse survivors begged lawmakers to introduce a measure granting additional time, especially after so many cases were filed after the courts stopped taking new cases in March.

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Cuomo signs new extension of Child Victims Act lawsuit window

ALBANY (NY)
Times Union

August 3, 2020

By Cayla Harris and Chris Bragg

Deadline, originally set to expire this month, pushed to August 2021

In a long-fought victory for sex abuse survivors and victims advocates, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo on Monday signed a bill granting a one-year extension to the Child Victims Act’s “look-back window” allowing survivors of all ages to file previously time-barred claims against their alleged abusers.

The window, which opened last August, was set by statute to expire this month. But as the coronavirus pandemic shut down courts and introduced economic hardship early this year, Cuomo earlier this year signed an executive order initially extending the window through mid-January 2021. More than 3,100 cases have been filed under the act so far, including more than 200 in Albany County, according to data compiled by the state court system.

The newest extension grants survivors until Aug. 14, 2021, to file claims.

“We cannot let this pandemic rob survivors of their day in court,” the governor said Monday in a Tweet. ” … This extension will help ensure that abusers are held accountable.”

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August 4, 2020

Cuomo signs law to extend CVA deadline a full year, doesn’t apply to Dioceses in bankruptcy

UTICA (NY)
Times-Telegram from Rochester Democrat and Chronicle

August 3, 2020

By Sean Lahman

Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed a bill Monday that will extend the deadline for lawsuits filed under New York’s Child Victims Act.

That legislation, adopted in early 2019, carved out a one-year window during which suits can be brought by people who allege they were sexually abused when they were young. The window of opportunity was set to close on August 13, 2020.

In May, both chambers of the state Legislature passed a bill to extend the deadline by a full year, to August 2021, saying they would do so because other states had given victims more than a year to bring suit. The state court system had also been closed by the pandemic, meaning that for several months, new CVA cases couldn’t be filed.

The legislation signed today extends the special filing period by a full year and claims can now be filed under the statute until August 14, 2021.

“The Child Victims Act brought a long-needed pathway to justice for people who were abused, and helps right wrongs that went unacknowledged and unpunished for far too long and we cannot let this pandemic limit the ability for survivors to have their day in court,” Cuomo said in a statement Monday. “As New York continues to reopen and recover from a public health crisis, extending the lookback window is the right thing to do and will help ensure that abusers and those who enabled them are held accountable.”

Cuomo had signed an executive order to extend the deadline, but critics expressed doubts that such a move would survive legal scrutiny and there was widespread concern that as a result, survivors who wait may not get their day in court.

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Archbishop slams Catholic leaders for allowing ‘heresy, sodomy and corruption’ to run rampant

WASHINGTON (DC)
Christian Post

July 28, 2020

By Ryan Foley

Roman Catholic Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano, a prominent critic of Pope Francis, has accused a group of Church leaders of subverting the Church from within by allowing “heresy, sodomy and corruption” to run rampant.

In a recent interview with Vatican expert Marco Tosatti, the 79-year-old Vigano elaborated further on what he sees as the “deep church.”

Vigano, who previously served as the Vatican’s ambassador to the United States in one of the top diplomatic positions, first coined the phrase “deep church” in a June letter to President Donald Trump in which he described it as “mercenary infidels who seek to scatter the flock and hand the sheep over to be devoured by ravenous wolves.”

According to Vigano, there’s an effort by the leadership of the Catholic Church, including the pope, to downplay the role of sodomy and homosexual behaviors in the sexual abuse of minors.

Throughout the interview, Vigano referred to Pope Francis by his given name of Jorge Mario Bergoglio.

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Judge freezes late paedophile priest’s £5million estate donation to charity – in case victims come forward to claim damages over his historic sex attacks

LONDON (ENGLAND)
Daily Mail

July 31, 2020

By Darren Boyle

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8581307/Judge-freezes-late-paedophile-priests-5million-estate.html

A paedophile priest’s almost £5 million estate – most of which he left to a charity he set up to support families of clergy of the Church of England – cannot be spent while potential victims are found, the High Court has ruled.

A judge has also ordered the executors of Michael Studdert’s estate to set up a website to try and find those who may have been abused by the former Anglican minister in England and Wales, Poland, Denmark and Italy.

Studdert, who died aged 78 in August 2017, was convicted on three occasions of various charges relating to the possession, importing, making or distribution of indecent images of children between 1988 and 2006.

He was jailed alongside Paedophile Information Exchange founder Thomas O’Carroll in December 2006 after more than 100,000 indecent images were found at his home in Surrey.

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Citing major decline in revenue, Camden Diocese suspends survivor payments

WASHINGTON (DC)
Catholic News Service/USCCB via Catholic San Francisco

August 3 2020

Citing major decline in revenue, Camden Diocese suspends survivor payments

Camden, NJ – Citing “a precipitous decline” in revenue due to COVID-19, the Diocese of Camden announced July 31 it is putting a moratorium on any future decisions or payments to abuse survivors through its Independent Victim Compensation Program.

“Awards already made by the IVCP administrators will be paid,” the diocese said in a statement.

The diocese “is fast approaching a point where it will not be able to continue to borrow the funds necessary to pay the amounts awarded by the program” because of the economic toll the pandemic is taking.

The moratorium on future payouts to survivors “necessary in order to maintain the critical programs that the Diocese of Camden continues to provide for the communities it serves which, now more than ever, are so essential,” the diocese said.

In November 2018, the Camden Diocese along with the Trenton, Paterson and Metuchen dioceses and the Newark Archdiocese approved an independent compensation program to pay eligible victims who were sexually abused by clergy while they were minors in their localities.

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.

Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston rolls out third-party system for reporting of alleged abuse, harassment

CHARLESTON (WV)
MetroNews

August 3, 2020

The Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston (DWC) announced two third-party reporting systems for people to use about concerns and allegations of abuse and harassment in the diocese.

DWC officials announced on Monday the partnership with Navex Global to roll out a new version of its EthicsPoint platform, intended to report suspected financial, professional, and personal misconduct of a priest, deacon, religious, or lay employee of the diocese, parish, or Catholic school in West Virginia.

This comes more than a year after the Catholic Church investigation concluded disgraced former Bishop Michael Bransfield sexually harassed younger priests and misused millions of dollars in church money.

The diocese said in a release that on a national scale, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has its own third-party reporting system called the Catholic Bishop Abuse Reporting Service. This reporting system is established to receive reports of sexual abuse and interference with sexual abuse investigations on the part of bishops in the United States.

These reports will be relayed to a lay person in each diocese with experience in such matters, who will assist the Metropolitan Archbishop in the investigation, according to DWC. Where a report indicates a crime, such as the sexual abuse of a minor, it will also be reported to civil authorities by the website’s third-party vendor. The website to make such reports is reportbishopabuse.org.

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Father Mark White appeals to Washington’s Archbishop. Next stop: Rome

MARTINSVILLE (VA)
Martinsville Bulletin

August 3, 2020

By Bill Wyatt

https://martinsvillebulletin.com/news/local/watch-now-father-mark-white-appeals-to-washingtons-archbishop-next-stop-rome/article_0867c757-7993-533c-acbc-b4839bd8cd56.html

[Includes a substantial video of Fr. Mark White being interviewed and speaking to the demonstrators, and scenes from the demonstration in front of the Vatican embassy.]

After being shunned at the doorsteps of a Richmond bishop and now also at the Apostolic Nuncio to the United States in Washington, D.C., Father Mark White of Martinsville and his supporters intend to take their demands for justice to the Vatican in Rome.

*
On Friday, White and his supporters took their appeal for justice to Apostolic Nuncio Christopher Pierre in Washington, D.C. Pierre serves as the pope’s ambassador to the United States.

White’s group had sent Pierre a letter two weeks before the trip asking for a meeting at 3:30 p.m. on Friday to discuss Knestout’s actions against White including the sex-abuse scandal and the rights of Catholics to speak their minds about the problems they see in the church.

“We came to try to talk to the pope’s representative here in the United States,” White said. “We had two topics that we wanted to discuss: The first one is – does it help our church to cover up the crimes of bishops and priests – does it help us or does it hurt us? Can we live in the truth? Can we help people to heal and find God again by living in the truth? That’s the first topic that we had hoped to discuss with him.

“Question number two: Are we allowed to have free speech in the church? Are we allowed to speak our minds about these things? Are we allowed to get things out in the open? Because that seems to be the way to make some headway here, to make some progress or do we have to suffer reprisals and persecution when we try to have this discussion?

“We’re here hoping someone will welcome us to have these discussions … but at least we can say at the end of the day today ‘we tried.’”

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Metairie deacon V.M. Wheeler removed from ministry after abuse allegations

NEW ORLEANS (LA)
Times-Picayune and New Orleans Advocate

August 3, 2020

By Matt Sledge

The Archdiocese of New Orleans has removed a recently ordained deacon from ministry at a Metairie church after receiving an allegation that he abused a child 20 years ago, church officials announced Monday.

Archbishop Gregory Aymond removed Deacon V.M. Wheeler from his post at St. Francis Xavier Parish in Old Metairie.

In addition to serving as a deacon since his 2018 ordination, Wheeler, 63, is a partner at the well-known Chaffe McCall law firm. Archdiocese officials said they didn’t receive a “formal” report of abuse until last week.

Wheeler was listed as one of the parish’s three deacons as recently as Sunday’s parish bulletin.

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Who is V.M. Wheeler? St. Francis Xavier deacon removed from ministry is well known in New Orleans

NEW ORLEANS (LA)
Times-Picayune and New Orleans Advocate

August 3, 2020

By Kyle Whitfield

V.M. Wheeler, a deacon who has been removed from ministry by the Archdiocese of New Orleans, is an attorney who worked with various community organizations in metro New Orleans.

The church said Monday it recently received information about alleged abuse by Wheeler 20 years ago. The 63-year-old has been serving at St. Francis Xavier Parish in Old Metairie.

Here are a few notable positions Wheeler has held or currently holds:

— Partner at Chaffe McCall law firm;

— Member of the state bar since 1984, when he graduated from Tulane Law School;

— Adjunct associate professor at the Tulane Law School, according to the school’s website …

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2 New Sex Abuse Suits Filed Against Missouri Diocese

SAN DIEGO (CA)
Insurance Journal

August 3, 2020

Two new lawsuits allege that the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph in Missouri covered up abuse by two priests who were known to be sexual predators.

The lawsuits, one filed on July 28 and the other on July 20, were announced by the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests.

One of the priests died while the diocese was in the process of removing him from the priesthood and the other is no longer allowed to present himself as a priest, the diocese said.

The lawsuit filed July 20 alleges the Rev. Darvin Salazar sexually assaulted the victim in the rectory at Holy Cross Catholic Church and then prevented the plaintiff from leaving in July 2018, The Kansas City Star reported.

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Abuse reporting system now practiced by Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston

WHEELING (WV)
WTRF

August 3, 2020

By Alexa Trischler

The Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston has unveiled a new third-party abuse reporting system. There is a national system to report sexual abuse and interference on a case but what we are talking about today is a second way people can report abuse, now on a local level adapted to West Virginia by the Diocese here.

Abuse can range from sexual to financial malfeasance, harassment, any form of abuse from the clergy, lay or religious employee. It is completely confidential and totally anonymous. A case number is assigned and that’s how a person is referred to, no names. Once a complaint is made, a thorough investigation will be conducted by a qualified lay employee.

Bishop Brennan told 7News “I think we’re in a different age where people want to know what’s really going on, the Lord Jesus said something about things that are whispered in darkness will be proclaimed in light I think we have to bring things up into the light if it’s bad name it and do something about it if it’s good we should praise it and encourage it so it’s really for that purpose.”

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August 3, 2020

Two weeks remain for civil lawsuits against Diocese of Rochester

ROCHESTER (NY)
WHAM 13 ABC

July 31, 2020

All legal claims against the Diocese of Rochester must be filed within the next two weeks, according to a federal bankruptcy judge.

U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Paul Warren issued the ruling Wednesday, stating August 13, 2020 will be the deadline for filing claims in the Diocese’s Chapter 11 case.

An official committee representing plaintiffs in abuse cases and other unsecured creditors had filed a motion to extend the deadline, but were denied.

Leander James, an attorney who has filed many lawsuits under the Child Victims Act on behalf of clients, said earlier this year that setting a deadline such as this one is not an unusual move for a bankruptcy case.

Back in May, the deadline for filing lawsuits in the Child Victims Act was extended to January 14, 2021 by Governor Andrew Cuomo, citing the coronavirus pandemic. Approximately three weeks later, the New York State Legislature passed legislation for a one-year extension of the same law, which would extend the deadline to August 13, 2021. Cuomo has yet to sign that into law.

The bankruptcy court ruling supercedes the extension of the Child Victims Act deadline, meaning anyone who wants to file a lawsuit under the Child Victims Act can do so – but not against the Diocese after August 13.

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Abuse victims say Archdiocese of New Orleans must reveal ‘secret’

NEW ORLEANS (LA)
WDSU

July 31, 2020

Local victims of Catholic clergy abuse want to see investigation records the Archdiocese of New Orleans has shared with the Vatican.

Members of the Survivors Network of those Abuse by Priests (SNAP) held a news conference Friday at Notre Dame Seminary, where area Catholic priests are trained. They called upon Archbishop Gregory Aymond to share all documents related to abuse probes.

The victims cite the December 2019 decision of Pope Francis to abolish what’s called the pontifical secret. It removed the veil of confidentiality covering church investigations into abuse.

“The pope requires all the bishops across the world to send their investigations up,” said Kevin Bourgeois with the SNAP New Orleans chapter. “This gives us the opportunity, outside of the court of law, to actually make sure our bishop followed canon law.”

In response, the Archdiocese of New Orleans provided background on the abolition of the Pontifical Secret, saying that it applies to matters other than clergy sexual abuse. It gave the example of diplomatic communications among the Vatican’s nunciatures, or embassies, around the world.

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Clergy abuse survivors call for more transparency

NEW ORLEANS (LA)
WVUE

July 31, 2020

By Rob Masson

SNAP Calls for Church Archives

Victims of clergy sex abuse are calling for a new level of transparency when it comes to abusive priests. They say under new church doctrine victims are entitled to see the files on abusive priests.

They gathered in front of Notre Dame seminary, to call for a new level of transparency when it comes to information on sexually abusive clergy

“Child rape is bad but the cover-up is so disheartening,” said Tommy Crane, a supporter of the ‘Survivors Network of Those Abused By Priests’, or ‘SNAP’.

Alleged victims say in December of last year Pope Francis abolished what is known as the ‘pontifical secret’ which they say should clear the way for survivors to view files on their abusers.

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Former pope Benedict XVI ‘extremely frail’: Report

BERLIN (GERMANY)
Agence France Presse via WION

August 3, 2020

Former Pope Benedict XVI became seriously ill himself after visiting his sick brother in Germany in June and is “extremely frail”, according to a report in the Monday edition of the German Passauer Neue Presse newspaper.

Benedict, 93, is suffering from erysipelas of the face, a virus that causes a facial rash and episodes of severe pain, the newspaper reported, citing the former pope’s biographer Peter Seewald.

“According to Seewald, the Pope emeritus is now extremely frail,” the report says. “His thinking and his memory are quick, but his voice is hardly audible at the moment.”

Seewald reportedly visited Benedict in Rome on Saturday to present him with his biography.

“At the meeting the emeritus Pope, despite his illness, was optimistic and declared that if his strength increased again he would possibly take up his pen again,” the paper said.

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Latin Americans press fight against clerical sexual abuse

DENVER (CO)
Crux

August 3, 2020

By Inés San Martín

Rosario, Argentina – Public Mass might have stopped across much of the world during the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic, but several aspects of the life of the Church have continued, including efforts to prevent clerical sexual abuse in Latin America.

Evidence came in a Zoom conversation on Friday, with some 2,000 people joining through two parallel screens, plus many more joining through Facebook. It was organized by the Center for Child Protection of Mexico’s Catholic University (CEPROME) and the Vatican Safeguarding Taskforce, launched earlier this year. The event had the support of the Catholic bishops of Latin America.

To be sure, this was no ecclesiastical feel-good session. The talk was blunt and, at times, searing.

“Nowhere have I encountered the level of destruction I found within the Church,” said Chilean laywoman Maria Josefina Martinez Bernal, a member of the National Council on Abuse Prevention and Victims Accompaniment of the Chilean bishops conference since 2011, and a member of the Fundacion para la Confianza, an NGO founded by three survivors of former Chilean priest Fernando Karadima.

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Lawsuit alleges that Hyde Park church knew ex-pastor was abusing teenage girl

YONKERS (NY)
News 12

August 2, 2020

Hyde Park Baptist Church is being sued over claims of sexual abuse allegedly at the hands of a former pastor.

A lawsuit filed under the state’s Child Victims Act alleges that the church knew Senior Pastor Jonathan Weaver was abusing the victim.

It alleges the abuse began when the victim was just 15 years old inside an office at the church. It also alleges that the abuse lasted for years with Weaver visiting and raping the girl while at college in South Carolina in 2005.

Shortly after, Weaver resigned after news of a pregnancy from the alleged rape began to circulate around the church.

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Papal envoy to meet women who ‘applied’ to be priests, bishops

DENVER (CO)
Crux

August 3, 2020

By Elise Ann Allen

Rome – After seven women in France last month “applied” for ecclesial jobs traditionally open only to men, including the priesthood, the Vatican’s ambassador to the country has made a personal phone call to several of them offering a sit-down meeting.

The calls apparently are unrelated to death threats one of the women “applicants” says she received.

On May 25, a woman named Anne Soupa sent the Vatican embassy in Paris her application to be the next Archbishop of Lyon, a post which has been vacant since the resignation of Cardinal Philippe Barbarain in March amid an ongoing legal battle to clear himself of allegations that he covered up sexual abuse.

After Soupa sent in her request, several other women joined her cause, forming a coalition called, Toutes Apôtres!, meaning, “All Apostles,” which is dedicated to promoting equality in the Church for all baptized regardless of their gender, marital status, profession or sexual orientation.

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The late Jesuit Fr. Ray Schroth saw journalism as a noble calling

KANSAS CITY (MO)
National Catholic Reporter

August 1, 2020

By Thomas C. Fox

[See Schroth’s Humility and responsibility: Bishops can’t exempt themselves from tough line applied to priests, Boston Globe, June 23, 2002; and A New Future for the Church, Speech to Rockville Centre VOTF, November 14, 2002.]

Jesuit Fr. Ray Schroth was well-known in the Catholic press as a writer for America magazine and as the associate editor and book editor for Commonweal in the 1970s before we first met in Kansas City, Missouri, in June 1980.

What followed from our first encounter was a near four-decade journalism collaboration.

Schroth died July 1 at Murray-Weigel Hall, a Jesuit nursing facility next to Fordham University’s Rose Hill campus. He was 86.

He left behind countless admirers and readers. Feeling his loss are countless more former students — now well-established professionals — who carry on gratefully, holding close the knowledge, wisdom and friendships they built and shared.

Schroth was an intellectual. He devoured books and explored their ideas. He was a teacher. He counseled and encouraged students. He was a journalist. He believed storytelling could provide solace and build a better world. He was an advocate. He pursued justice endlessly.

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Statement on Abuse File Review

COVINGTON (KY)
Diocese of Covington

July 31, 2020

The Diocese of Covington today is releasing the names of priests, religious, deacons and lay employees who have served in our Diocese against whom one or more allegations of sexual abuse of a minor have been substantiated.

The list is the product of a comprehensive and independent review of thousands of diocesan records dating back to 1950. Two former FBI agents were given free rein to review all diocesan records, including Chancery files, archival files, priest personnel files, and Safe Environment files. The former FBI agents have a combined 50 years of investigative experience.

In October, 2019, Bishop Roger Foys and the Diocesan Review Board initiated the review as a way to continue to assure the people of the Diocese of Covington, as well as our priests and other Diocesan personnel, that the Diocese has, as far as is humanly possible, addressed the scourge of sexual abuse of minors by its priests, religious and lay employees.

Inclusion on this list does not necessarily indicate that an accused priest, religious, deacon or lay employee has been found guilty of a crime or liable for any civil claim. The definition of “substantiated allegation” that guided the file review is as follows:

An allegation of sexual abuse of a minor is deemed substantiated when there is probable cause for believing the claim is true. The following may be considered as evidence of probable cause:

1) admission of guilt by the accused;
2) guilty finding rendered by a court;
3) finding rendered by an investigative process shows cause for believing the allegation is true on an objective basis;
4) the accused, when presented with the allegation and afforded a reasonable opportunity to respond, declined to address the allegation; or
5) the Special Masters appointed by the Court in the class action litigation against the Diocese made a monetary award from the class settlement fund based on a sworn claim form alleging one or more incidents of sexual abuse of a minor by the accused, and any other evidence that was submitted on behalf of the claimant.

The review process that has culminated in this list is part of the Diocese’s ongoing commitment to create a Safe Environment and to ensure that all allegations of child sexual abuse by priests, religious and lay employees over the last 70 years have been properly identified and reported. The review process is the natural outgrowth of two significant developments that have transpired during the last eighteen (18) years: significant reforms in the U.S. Catholic Church beginning in 2002 and the Diocese’s involvement in class action litigation from 2003-2009.

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August 2, 2020

Catholic order’s list of accused shows past of mishandling abuse allegations

DAYTON (OH)
Dayton Daily News

July 31, 2020

By Josh Sweigart

https://www.daytondailynews.com/news/catholic-orders-list-of-accused-shows-past-of-mishandling-abuse-allegations/MUUYNGBVOJDLLGTDKOLV44MHFA/

A Dayton Daily News investigation into the Society of Mary’s handling of alleged abuse of children by its members found the religious order concealed allegations against some from parents, students and school officials.

The order released a list this summer of 46 priests and brothers its leaders say sexually abused children since 1950, but critics say the disclosure falls short.

The Catholic order today is based in St. Louis and runs dozens of schools in the U.S. and around the world. Because of the group’s ties to Dayton, many of the men named in the list worked or studied in Dayton at some time, a Dayton Daily News investigation found.

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SC to hear Franco Mulakkal’s plea seeking discharge on Aug 5

NEW DELHI (INDIA)
Hindustan Times

August 2, 2020

Mulakkal had filed the plea in the top court where he claimed to be innocent and said he was implicated after he questioned the financial dealings of the victim nun. He approached the top court after the Kerala high court rejected his plea for discharge from the case.

The Supreme Court will hear the plea of former Bishop Franco Mulakkal, seeking direction to discharge him from the nun rape case, on August 5.

A bench headed by Justice AS Bopanna will hear Mulakkal’s plea for dropping of rape charges against him.

Mulakkal had filed the plea in the top court where he claimed to be innocent and said he was implicated after he questioned the financial dealings of the victim nun. He approached the top court after the Kerala high court rejected his plea for discharge from the case.

The prosecution in the high court had contended that there was strong evidence against him and he was moving pleas frequently to delay the trial.

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En el nombre del Padre: Apelarán el fallo que desestimó la denuncia contra el sistema de reportes de abuso de la Iglesia

[In the name of the Father: They will appeal the ruling that dismissed the complaint against the Church’s abuse reporting system]

ROSARIO (ARGENTINA)
El Ciudadano

July 30, 2020

By Arlen Buchara

Apelarán el fallo que desestimó la denuncia contra el sistema de reportes de abuso de la Iglesia

El abogado Carlos Ensinck consideró que los argumentos de la fiscal Juliana González están sostenidos en jurisprudencia de la propia Iglesia y no en leyes argentinas y tratados internaciones de protección de víctimas de abuso sexual

[GOOGLE TRANSLATION: The lawyer Carlos Ensinck considered that the arguments of the prosecutor Juliana González are sustained in the jurisprudence of the Church itself and not in Argentine laws and international treaties for the protection of victims of sexual abuse.]

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French Sex Assault Trial Ordered For Pope’s Ex-Envoy

FRANCE
Agence France Presse via Barron’s

July 23, 2020

Pope Francis’s former ambassador to France, Luigi Ventura, will stand trial for sex assault in Paris in November following complaints by four men, one of whom accused the cleric of inappropriate touching, lawyers said Thursday.

Ventura, an Italian-born archbishop, was stripped of his diplomatic immunity by the Vatican last July after he was questioned by French police, and resigned in December when he reached the 75-year age limit for his post.

His trial will open on November 10, the Paris prosecutor’s office said Thursday.

“He will be present,” Ventura’s lawyer Bertrand Ollivier told AFP. “He will attend the hearing to defend his honour and innocence.”

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Napa Institute’s Online Conference Will Focus on ‘Finding Hope in the New America’

UNITED STATES
National Catholic Register

August 1, 2020

By Jim Graves

Church leaders offer an inspiring lineup at the virtual event planned for mid-August.

For the first time since it was established a decade ago, the Napa Institute Summer Conference will be held online Friday and Saturday, Aug. 14-15. The original event had been planned as an in-person event in July in Napa, California, per usual, but it will be online this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

***

Featured speakers include Cardinal George Pell, who will discuss suffering and persecution, particularly in light of his 13 months in prison as a result of what Australia’s highest court declared was an unjust conviction for child sexual abuse. (Busch noted that he had been friends with Cardinal Pell for a decade and that, in Cardinal Pell’s recent case, “grace prevailed.”) Arthur Brooks will discuss reconciliation and love in America, including the need for a return to civil discourse. Princeton professor Robert George will ask: “Where do we go from here?” Author George Weigel will present lessons from Pope St. John Paul II and what Vatican II was all about. Trent Horn of Catholic Answers and Catherine Pakaluk of the Busch School of Business at The Catholic University of America will discuss socialism, and evangelical pastor Rick Warren will speak about hope.

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Pewaukee priest once accused of sexual assault of a minor free to return to church

WISCONSIN
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

August 1, 2020

By Elliot Hughes

https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/2020/08/01/pewaukee-priest-accused-sexual-assault-can-return-work-work/5564267002/

A Pewaukee priest whose sexual assault of a minor case ended with a mistrial and then dropped charges is being allowed to return to work at his church, the Archdiocese of Milwaukee announced Saturday.

The announcement comes after the archdiocese says it completed its own investigation into the allegations against the Rev. Charles Hanel, 63, and determined they were unsubstantiated and false. He will be restored to the ministry effective Monday and will be allowed to resume his role of pastor at Queen of Apostles Church in Pewaukee.

Hanel was charged with second-degree sexual assault of a then-13-year-old girl in a church confessional in December 2017. In March 2020, Waukesha County Circuit Judge Michael Maxwell declared a mistrial after it became public that the girl’s mother is an undocumented immigrant trying to gain legal status to stay in the U.S.

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Is child abuse now just more hidden from view?

MICHIGAN
The Herald-Palladium

August 1, 2020

By Julie Swidha

Child abuse reporting is down, but authorities are worried

Authorities have seen a dramatic decrease in the number of child abuse cases being reported, but they aren’t viewing it as good news.

Berrien County Prosecutor Michael Sepic and Jamie Rossow, executive director of the Children’s Advocacy Center of Southwest Michigan, say they suspect that child abuse is actually up and is just not being reported. They said this is occurring not just locally but all across the country.

Sepic and Rossow said in a joint news release Friday that they suspect stress and isolation from the COVID-19 pandemic has likely increased instances of child abuse and, for some children, has created a dangerous environment. Many reports of suspected abuse come from school officials, and schools have not been in session since March.

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Camden’s Roman Catholic diocese suspends payments to clergy abuse victims, citing COVID-19 financial stress

CAMDEN (NJ)
Philadelphia Inquirer

July 31, 2020

By Jeremy Roebuck

https://www.inquirer.com/news/camden-diocese-victim-compensation-fund-clergy-sex-abuse-catholic-feinberg-biros-20200731.html

Citing financial losses resulting from the coronavirus pandemic, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Camden said Friday that it would halt payments from a clergy sex-abuse victim fund that has paid out nearly $7.6 million.

In a statement, the diocese said it had suffered a “precipitous decline in revenue” and was rapidly approaching a point where it would not be able to continue to borrow money to pay authorized awards.

“These steps are necessary in order to maintain the critical programs the Diocese of Camden continues to provide for the communities it serves, which, now more than ever, are so essential,” it read.

A diocesan spokesperson said he did not know how many victim claims would go unresolved. Victims and their lawyers on Friday decried the decision, noting that many had been asked to relive traumatizing experiences and fill out exhaustive paperwork while applying through a process that is being abandoned.

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Diocese of Covington releases report on clergy sexual abuse

COVINGTON (KY)
Associated Press

August 1, 2020

The Diocese of Covington has released a report on sexual abuse that found 59 Catholic priests and 31 others associated with the church have sexually abused children since the 1950s.

The report was released Friday on the diocese website along with a list naming the accused, The Kentucky Enquirer reported.

“There are no words to adequately express the sorrow and shame I feel,” Foys wrote in an apology released with the report. “I can never apologize enough to those who have been harmed by any representative of the church. I beg your forgiveness in the name of the church.”

In 2006, the Diocese of Covington paid more than $81 million to sexual abuse victims in a court settlement.

The diocese said the report was compiled by two former FBI agents who reviewed thousands of records dating back to 1950.

Of the accused priests, all but 14 are deceased.

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Diocese of Covington names 90 with substantiated allegations of sexual abuse of a minor 59 priests, 6 religious brothers, 5 nuns, 20 lay people

COVINGTON (KY)
WCPO-TV

July 31, 2020

By Craig Cheatham and WCPO staff

[Includes video]

https://www.wcpo.com/news/local-news/i-team/diocese-of-covington-names-90-with-substantiated-allegations-of-sexual-abuse-of-a-minor

Dean McCoy said he had been waiting for this day for more than three decades.

On Friday, the Diocese of Covington named 90 religious and lay employees with substantiated allegations of sexual abuse of a minor while working at the diocese.

McCoy said he was one of the victims.

McCoy told the WCPO 9 I-Team that the Rev. Herman Kamlage sexually abused him more than 30 years ago. Kamlage is one of the priests on the Covington list.

“My reaction to the list being released is: it’s a long time past due,” McCoy said. “It should have been released a long time ago and given people an opportunity to address the situation at that time.”

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[OPINION] Right-wing Catholic archbishop laughably accuses Pope of heresy for allegedly promoting homosexuality

WASHINGTON D.C.
MetroWeekly

August 1, 2020

By John Riley

Conspiracy-minded archbishop accuses Pope of trying to “legitimize” homosexuality, even though church teaching would say otherwise

A right-wing Catholic archbishop who once served as the Vatican’s ambassador to the United States has accused Pope Francis of heresy for promoting the “legitimization of homosexuality.”

Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò, who is known for his anti-gay views and has previously called on the pope to resign, made the charge in a recent interview with Italian journalist and Vatican expert Marco Tosatti. In that interview, Viganò, who refers to the pope by his given name and refuses to use his official title, claims that Pope Francis, a.k.a. “Jorge Bergoglio,” is involved in a ploy to “corrupt” the church by promoting homosexuality, according to Newsweek.

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Warrant issued for California priest who failed to show

OAKLAND (CA)
Associated Press

July 20, 2020

A San Francisco Bay Area priest accused of sexual battery failed to appear in court Monday and a judge issued a warrant for his arrest.

Varghese Alengadan, 67, known as “Father George,” was charged last week with one count of misdemeanor sexual battery for allegedly inappropriately touching a woman in July 2019.

He was scheduled to appear in Alameda County Superior Court Monday for his arraignment but never showed up, the district attorney’s office told the Mercury News of San Jose.

Alameda County Judge Colin Bowen issued an arrest warrant with bail set at just one cent due to the coronavirus pandemic. Jail population reductions mean that only inmates accused of serious and violent felonies are being held.

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August 1, 2020

Case against diocese draws attention

ALTOONA (PA)
Altoona Mirror

August 1, 2020

Briefs challenge, support landmark decision allowing lawsuit against priest

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court in the past week has received several friend-of-the-court briefs both supporting and challenging a landmark decision made by the court last year in which it allowed an Altoona woman to proceed with a sexual abuse case against a priest, even though the alleged offenses occurred in the mid-1970s.

Pennsylvania’s highest court agreed in March to review the Superior Court decision, which has drawn interest from church organizations as well victims’ rights groups nationwide.

According to attorney Richard M. Serbin, who has a law office in Altoona and who represents the alleged victim of the sexual abuse, Renee A. Rice, no date has been set for argument on the appeal.

Serbin said that in the past week, amicus briefs have been filed by supporters of his client, CHILD USA, The Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests (SNAP), the National Crime Victims Association and the Pennsylvania Association of Justice.

Other briefs have been filed on behalf of the defendants by the The Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights, The Altoona-Johnstown Roman Catholic Diocese, other dioceses in Pennsylvania and The Catholic League.

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Virginia Catholic priest, suspended for speaking out on clergy abuse, takes his fight to DC

WASHINGTON D.C.
WFXR-TV

July 31, 2020

By Santiago Melli-Huber

Father Mark White was in Washington, DC today, protesting outside the Catholic Church’s embassy, and he was not alone. Dozens of his congregants drove up from Rocky Mount and Martinsville with him.

“It’s sad to have to be here,” said White, “but I’m very much heartened and encouraged by all the people that are here with me and the solidarity with the victims of sexual abuse that everyone here is trying to express.”

White is the Catholic priest in Rocky Mount and Martinsville who was removed from his post and reassigned as a prison chaplain, because he refused to take down his blog. In that blog, he was frequently critical of the Catholic Church’s cover up of sexual abuse.

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Decades-old claims of sex abuse fuel new lawsuits against Boy Scouts

NEW YORK (NY)
New York Daily News

July 31, 2020

By Molly Crane-Newman

A slew of lawsuits filed Friday accuse the Boy Scouts of America with tolerating sexual abuse for decades — and say the systemic mistreatment of boys went on since the organization’s founding in 1910.

The 21 new lawsuits in Manhattan Supreme Court charge 14 adult scout leaders with sexually abusing children in numerous instances dating to 1954.

The abuse has gone on through the entire 110 year history of U.S. scouting, the lawsuits say.

”Throughout that time, many of these children have been subjected to horrific acts of sexual abuse by adults who gained access to them through scouting organizations,” says one of the lawsuits. “This widespread abuse of children in scouting programs has been a systemic crisis that goes back since these organizations first existed.”

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