ABUSE TRACKER

UNITED STATES
National Catholic Reporter

Thomas Reese | Apr. 4, 2014 Faith and Justice

The sexual abuse crisis was the worst crisis to have hit the U.S. Catholic church in the 20th century. It destroyed the lives of thousands of children, cost the church billions of dollars, and undermined the authority of bishops in the church. While many would like to move on from the crisis, others fear that if we are not vigilant, more abuse will happen.

One way of knowing the current state of the abuse crisis is through the annual report done for the U.S. bishops’ conference on the implementation of the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People, colloquially known as the Dallas charter.

This year’s report, the 11th so far, is divided into two parts: the finding of a three-year audit done by StoneBridge Business Partners and a statistical report on new allegations of abuse in 2013 conducted by CARA, the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate.

The latest audit shows continued improvement but still indicates that some areas need improvement, as explained by Joshua J. McElwee’s excellent article.

One diocese (Lincoln, Neb.) and three eparchies refused to participate. The National Review Board also urged more bishops to allow parish audits and not just on-site audits of dioceses. In 2013, StoneBridge visited 91 parishes and schools in 26 dioceses, a 44 percent increase over the year before.

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.

SCOTLAND
Catholic Herald

By MARK GREAVES on Friday, 4 April 2014

The Vatican has appointed its former chief prosecutor on clerical sex abuse to investigate allegations against Cardinal Keith O’Brien.

Auxiliary Bishop Charles Scicluna of Malta will visit the Archdiocese of St Andrews and Edinburgh next week (April 8-10) and has asked those who would like to speak to him to “prepare their narratives in writing”, according to the National Catholic Reporter.

The bishop was appointed by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith following a request by Pope Francis.

The news was presented in a letter to priests and religious by Archbishop Leo Cushley of St Andrews and Edinburgh, Cardinal O’Brien’s successor. It is understood the letter invites anyone with concerns to speak to Bishop Scicluna next week and does not refer specifically to Cardinal O’Brien.

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.

SCOTLAND
Scottish Catholic Observer

Archbishop Leo Cushley informs priests, hopes for ‘eventual reconciliation’ and welcomes Maltese Auxiliary Bishop Charles Scicluna, who visits to look into allegations of misconduct and abuse

The Vatican is sending an expert to look into the issue of misconduct in the St Andrews and Edinburgh Archdiocese.

An ad clerum letter from Archbishop Leo Cushley of St Andrews and Edinburgh to the priests of his archdiocese reveals that Pope Francis asked the Vatican’s Congregation for Bishops to send Maltese Auxiliary Bishop Charles Scicluna (above) to ‘listen to and report the testimony offered by past and present members of the clergy concerning any incidents of sexual misconduct committed against them by other members of the clergy whomsoever.’

The Maltese bishop, who will visit the archdiocese next week, ‘will be available to listen’ to those who make an appointment. Bishop Scicluna, has also asked those who wish to speak with him to ‘prepare their narrative in writing.’

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.

SCOTLAND
Scotsman

A BISHOP from Malta has been enlisted by the Vatican to investigate claims of sexual misconduct against Cardinal Keith O’Brien.

Auxiliary bishop Charles Scicluna, who has been probing clerical abuse for the last ten years, will travel to Scotland next week to hear from those with information about sexual misconduct surrounding the former Archbishop of St Andrews and Edinburgh.

Wider allegations will also be looked into.

Cardinal O’Brien’s successor, Archbishop Leo CUshley, said in a letter to the archdiocese clergy that Bishop Scicluna would ‘listen to and report the testimony offered by past and present members of the clergy’, adding the investigation would look at any incidents of sexual misconduct committed against them by any other members of the clergy ‘whomsoever’.

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.

MARYLAND
WBAL

WBAL Radio has learned of an allegation involving a female Archbishop Curley High School teacher involved in a sexual relationship with a current student at the school.

An email to parents from the Archdiocese of Baltimore states 33-year-old science teacher Lynette Trotta has been arrested by Baltimore Police.

Lynette Trotta has been a teacher at Curley since 2007.

Trotta has been suspended from her position at the school.

According to the archdiocese statement obtained by WBAL Radio, Annette Goodman the school’s librarian informed the school administration of the information on April 1st.

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.

ITALY
National Catholic Reporter

Carol Glatz Catholic News Service | Apr. 4, 2014

ROME The Italian bishops’ conference encouraged its members to cooperate with civil authorities in cases of clerical sexual abuse, but said the bishops have no legal obligation to report abuse allegations to the police or other civil authorities.

In addition, the new Italian church norms say the bishops “are exonerated” from releasing to the state documents in their possession or information connected with abuse cases.

Because a bishop is not a public official and is not charged with duties of “public service, he does not have the juridical obligation — save for a moral duty to contribute to the common good — to report to civil judicial authorities news he has received concerning illicit matters” of sex abuse, the guidelines said.

The guidelines are the first national norms published by the Italian bishops’ conference for dealing with the sexual abuse of minors by priests. The guidelines were published on the conference website March 28 after being approved by the bishops 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.

UNITED KINGDOM
The Tablet

04 April 2014 by James Macintyre

Campaigners against sexual abuse have expressed grave concerns after a leading figure in Catholic education was given a suspended sentence after pleading guilty to downloading more than 5,000 indecent images of children.

Fr Tim Gardner, 42, avoided prison as he received an eight-month sentence, suspended for two years, at Southwark Crown Court on Monday. The Dominican friar, who is a former adviser to the Catholic Education Service (CES), will be put on the sex offender register for 10 years. He also received a five-year sexual offences prevention order which will allow police to inspect any computers and storage devices in the priest’s possession.

Police found 5,005 indecent images on his home computer last August, downloaded from the internet, including six images graded at level five – the highest – with one depicting bestiality.

Fr Gardner was also found to have taken part in at least 150 internet discussions with others who shared an interest in the material. He claimed to have been drunk when engaging in the conversations on the online communication tools Skype and Yahoo chat.

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.

SCOTLAND
The Extra

The Vatican is to investigate allegations of sexual misconduct which led to the resignation of Cardinal Keith O’Brien.

Bishop Charles Scicluna has been appointed by the Congregation for Bishops as its special envoy to listen and report on allegations against the former Archbishop of St Andrews and Edinburgh following a request from Pope Francis.

Cardinal O’Brien stepped down in February last year after three priests and a former priest made allegations of inappropriate behaviour against him.

His successor Archbishop Leo Cushley said the appointment is “indicative of the seriousness with which this matter is being taken”.

Bishop Scicluna has been credited with reforming the Vatican’s attitude to sexual abuse over the past decade, even by victims, overhauling its internal norms to make it easier to defrock abusers.

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

UNITED STATES
National Survivor Advocates Coalition

EDITORIAL

Kristine Ward

We hope with all our hearts that the aggravation and outrage that Catholics have poured into emails, letters and any other avenues of speaking up and out they used in Atlanta are the beginning and not the end of their involvement in what ails the Roman Catholic Church.

In a statement describing his ineptness, Atlanta’s Archbishop Wilton D. Gregory, caught in his plush plans for a $2.2 million residence, backed down saying:

“While my advisers and I were able to justify this project fiscally, logistically and practically, I personally failed to project the cost in terms of my own integrity and pastoral credibility with the people of God of north and central Georgia,” he wrote. “I failed to consider the impact on the families throughout the archdiocese who, though struggling to pay their mortgages, utilities, tuition and other bills, faithfully respond year after year to my pleas to assist with funding our ministries and services.

First off, if these “advisers” really did provide these kinds of justifications they should be fired.

Secondly, Archbishop Gregory’s apology should not be limited to the Catholics of central and north Georgia. All Catholics are hurt by his actions. Just as they are by the actions of the bishop of bling in Germany, the Archbishop of Newark John J. Myers’ weekend and planned retirement $800,000 home, as well as the Camden’s Bishop Dennis Sullivan’s $500,000 home and Archbishop of Cincinnati Dennis Schnurr’s half million home – and the list, of course, doesn’t stop there.

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.

MALTA/SCOTLAND
Malta Independent

The Vatican has appointed Bishop Charles Scicluna to take testimony of clergy alleging sexual misconduct in Scotland’s archdiocese of St. Andrews and Edinburgh, where Cardinal Keith O’Brien was archbishop until resigning under disgrace in February 2013, The National Catholic Reporter reports.

The archdiocese’s current leader, Archbishop Leo Cushley, announced the investigation in two letters sent to his clergy Tuesday.

The letters, which were obtained by NCR Thursday from a priest of the archdiocese, announce what may be the first instance of an investigation by the Vatican of sexual misconduct by one of the church’s cardinals, who are normally considered nearly above reproach in the Vatican’s hierarchical structure.

O’Brien, who had served as the archbishop of Edinburgh since 1985, resigned abruptly just days before Pope Benedict XVI abdicated in February 2013, following allegations by three priests and one former priest of the Scottish archdiocese that the cardinal had inappropriate sexual relations with them dating back some 30 years.

Mgr Scicluna, Cushley states, will visit the archdiocese April 8-10 and “will be available to listen” on those days. The Maltese bishop, Cushley writes, has also asked those who wish to speak with him to “prepare their narrative in writing.”

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.

SCOTLAND
Glasgow Evening Times

Maltese Auxiliary Bishop Charles Scicluna, who has being investigating clerical abuse for a decade, will visit Scotland next week to take testimonies from those with information about sexual misconduct surrounding the Cardinal.

Wider allegations will also be investigated.

In a letter to clergy in the Archdiocese of St Andrews and Edinburgh, Cardinal O’Brien’s successor Archbishop Leo Cushley said Bishop Scicluna would “listen to and report the testimony offered by past and present members of the clergy … concerning any incidents of sexual misconduct committed against them by other members of the clergy whomsoever”.

Cardinal O’Brien stepped down as Archbishop of St Andrews and Edinburgh in February 2013 after he acknowledged sexual behaviour spanning his time as a priest, bishop and cardinal.

The move is a clear indication Pope Francis has not allowed the matter to drift.

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.

MINNESOTA
Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests

for immediate release: Friday, April 4, 2014

Statement by David Clohessy of St. Louis, Director of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests ( 314 566 9790, SNAPclohessy@aol.com )

Again, Archbishop John Nienstedt’s been caught being deceptive, claiming to have “offered” information about predator priests to the police while not having done so.

[Minnesota Public Radio]

Twin Cities Catholics and citizens deserve straight answers but we doubt they’ll get them. Nienstedt should obviously publicly rebuke and sack any and all of his staff who are responsible for this deceit.

“Beginning, last week. . .we offered the police the opportunity to review those (predators’) files,” Nienstedt’s staff claimed. But they refused to provide a list of the 50 police agencies they said they’d contacted. And 11 out of 12 agencies called by MPR News said they had no record of any contacts with the archdiocese in the past two weeks.

New Prague Police Chief Mark Vosejpka did talk to one of Nienstedt’s lawyers. He asked to have the information sent to him, but Nienstedt’s lawyer told Vosejpka to call him back later.

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.

GEORGIA
Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests

For immediate release: Friday, April 4, 2014

Statement by Barbara Dorris of St. Louis, Outreach Director of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests ( 314 503 0003, SNAPdorris@gmail.com )

Bishop Wilton Gregory’s meeting on Saturday with his clergy about his expensive home is just silly.

[Atlanta Journal-Constitution]

These clergy have all sworn an oath to respect and obey Gregory. So this is like a king “consulting” with his subjects.

Gregory should stop making excuses and start living humbly.

And keep in mind Gregory’s extravagance – and similar extravagance by his colleagues in Camden and Newark and elsewhere – the next time you hear Catholic officials whine that they lack sufficient funds to adequately compensate suffering victims of pedophile priests.

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.

PENNSYLVANIA
Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests

for immediate release: Friday, April 4, 2014

Statement by David Clohessy of St. Louis, Director of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (314 566 9790, SNAPclohessy@aol.com )

A Scranton priest, Fr. Philip Altavilla, has been arrested for giving alcohol to a minor and assaulting her. We are grateful for this brave victim for having the courage to report to police. More children will be safe because of her bravery.

[Times-Tribune]

We hope, although it is unlikely, that this was an isolated incidence. Predators rarely attack only once. It’s not enough for Bishop Joseph Bambera to simply suspend this priest and express anger. What children and victims need now is action.

Bambera should aggressively seek out any other people who may have been hurt, using his bully pulpit and parish bulletins. He should personally go to each parish where Fr. Altavilla worked and beg victims, witnesses and whistleblowers to speak up and call 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.

MAINE
Bangor Daily News

April 4, 2014

By Erin Rhoda

The pastor would later tell Linda he set eyes on her the first day he met her — on his first day assigned to a church in the Bangor area. She was actively involved at the church and married, with children. Once, after conducting a church event, the pastor remarked to her, “I fell in love with your hands.”

But it wasn’t love. He relied on his position of power to gain her trust and draw her into his life over a period of three and a half years, Linda said. Then he took advantage of their relationship sexually.

Clergy sexual abuse of children has rightfully drawn much public attention in recent years, as more and more priests have been found guilty of sexual assault or sued for covering it up. But clergy sexual misconduct also extends to adults. It is not a crime under Maine law for a pastor to have sex with a member of his or her congregation, but it violates professional boundaries and is an abuse of power. And it can certainly feel like a crime to the victims, who find their vulnerabilities exploited.

Indeed, 13 other states have made clergy sexual relations with congregants illegal. Some include language specifying that the misconduct happen within the counseling relationship. While it is illegal in Maine for psychiatrists, psychologists or licensed social workers to have sex with their patients, the statute does not refer to clergy.

“The manipulation of false authority, manipulating you through the sacred texts, that’s where the grooming happens. That’s where the damage is,” said Linda, which is not her real name. She wanted to talk about her experience to prevent future abuses and remind people it’s OK to question automatic authority. Just as most people are not perpetrators, most clergy aren’t either. But the few who are can exact lasting damage on their victims and communities.

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.

AUSTRALIA
ABC News

By Hamish Fitzsimmons

The Catholic Church says it will revisit compensation arrangements under the Melbourne Response with a view to either increasing or removing the current cap of $75,000.

The move comes after Cardinal George Pell last week told the parents of two victims of a paedophile priest that he would make moves to remove the cap and revisit 300 existing claims against the church.

Anthony and Chrissie Foster have spent the last 18 years campaigning for justice for the two eldest daughters, who were abused by paedophile father Kevin O’Donnell.

Anthony Foster said the Catholic Archbishop of Melbourne Denis Hart told the ABC’s Lateline program he has agreed to some of their demands.

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.

MALTA/SCOTLAND
Times of Malta

Vatican appoints Bishop Scicluna to take testimony of Scottish clergy alleging sexual misconduct

Auxiliary bishop Charles Scicluna has been appointed by the Vatican to take testimony of clergy alleging sexual misconduct in Scotland’s archdiocese of St Andrews and Edinburgh, according to the National Catholic Reporter.

Archbishop Leo Cushley, announced the investigation in two letters sent to his clergy on Tuesday.
Archbishop Cushley took over the archdiocese from Cardinal Keith O’Brien who resigned under disgrace in February last year.

He resigned days before Pope Benedict XVI following allegations by three priests and one former priest that he had inappropriate sexual relations with them some 30 years before.

Archbishop Cushley’s letters state that Pope Francis asked the Vatican’s Congregation for Bishops to send Maltese Auxiliary Bishop Charles Scicluna to “listen to and report the testimony offered by past and present members of the clergy … concerning any incidents of sexual misconduct committed against them by other members of the clergy whomsoever.”

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.

SCOTLAND
BBC News

The Vatican is to investigate claims of sexual misconduct which surrounded the resignation of Cardinal Keith O’Brien, it has emerged.

He resigned as Archbishop of St Andrews and Edinburgh in February 2013 following allegations of improper conduct in the 1980s.

Cardinal O’Brien admitted that his sexual conduct had “fallen beneath the standards” expected of him as a bishop.

The inquiry will be carried out by Maltese bishop Charles Scicluna.

He will take testimony from clergy in the archdiocese in an attempt to discover what evidence there is against the cardinal or any other clergy.

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.

MINNESOTA
Minnesota Public Radio

Madeleine Baran St. Paul, Minn. Apr 4, 2014

The Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis said Thursday that it has contacted nearly 50 law enforcement agencies in the past two weeks to provide files on priests accused of child sexual abuse. However, none of 12 metro law enforcement agencies contacted by MPR News confirmed that the archdiocese had offered files to review.

The archdiocese made the claim in a statement emailed to MPR News on Thursday morning. It said, “Beginning, last week, the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis informed nearly 50 law enforcement agencies that we were going to provide several priest files to Jeff Anderson and we offered the police the opportunity to review those files.”

The archdiocese wouldn’t provide a list of the 50 agencies. MPR News contacted 18 law enforcement agencies in the Twin Cities metro area and 12 responded. Eleven officials said they had no record of any contacts with the archdiocese in the past two weeks.

New Prague Police Chief Mark Vosejpka was the only official who said he received a call. He said an attorney from a private firm called him on behalf of the archdiocese on Monday. The attorney said the archdiocese planned to release information to the public within the next month about priests it believes have been credibly accused of child sexual abuse, Vosejpka 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.

UNITED KINGDOM
Jehovah’s Witness Report

Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP) and the Ipswich Star have reported another Jehovah’s Witness pedophile has been dealt with and that in this case – given a UK sex offender’s prevention order.

After serving seven years in prison for child abuse while he was an elder, William Rogers was released in October 2000 and was required to report under the (UK) Sexual Offences Prevention Act. In 2006, after failing to report, it was discovered that he was in the Dominican Republic and was declared “wanted” by authorities.

In January 2014, Rogers returned to the UK and was arrested. He admitted that he had continued to abuse children as a Jehovah’s Witness and teacher throughout the eight years he was living in the Caribbean. The prevention order limits Rogers’ contact with children.

But what about the survivors of the abuse?

SNAP is asking:

“Will his Jehovah’s Witness colleagues and supervisors, both in the UK and Dominican Republic, do the right thing and aggressively seek out others who he hurt?”

And expresses their hope that:

“. . . every single Jehovah’s Witness who saw, suspected or suffered Rogers’ crimes will find the strength to contact their local authorities, not the local elders.”

Could this have been prevented? After all, this is not the first time that the Watchtower Society has been asked to account for their actions. Watchtower critic Barbara Anderson notes (referring to other similar cases) in Secrets of Pedophilia in an American Religion:

It is the Governing Body of Jehovah’s Witnesses who establish the policies and who dictate practices for Jehovah’s Witnesses. That Body operates through various corporate entities, primarily Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York, Inc., and Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania, Inc. The Plaintiffs charged in their lawsuits that the Jehovah’s Witnesses assumed a duty to protect children in their organization but they failed to exercise reasonable care and common sense policies in fulfilling that duty. For example, they failed to enact a policy forbidding unsupervised one-on-one contact between elders or ministerial servants and children. They permitted children to go out in door-to-door ministry alone with male members and encouraged parents in the congregations to allow their children to attend un-chaperoned Bible study with adult males (elders/ms) and allowed these men to “counsel” children without any supervision.

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.

SCOTLAND
National Catholic Reporter

Joshua J. McElwee | Apr. 4, 2014

The Vatican has appointed a bishop known for aggressively investigating cases of sexual abuse to take testimony of clergy alleging sexual misconduct in Scotland’s archdiocese of St. Andrews and Edinburgh, where Cardinal Keith O’Brien was archbishop until resigning under disgrace in February 2013.

The archdiocese’s current leader, Archbishop Leo Cushley, announced the investigation in two letters sent to his clergy Tuesday.

The letters, which were obtained by NCR Thursday from a priest of the archdiocese, announce what may be the first instance of an investigation by the Vatican of sexual misconduct by one of the church’s cardinals, who are normally considered nearly above reproach in the Vatican’s hierarchical structure.

O’Brien, who had served as the archbishop of Edinburgh since 1985, resigned abruptly just days before Pope Benedict XVI abdicated in February 2013, following allegations by three priests and one former priest of the Scottish archdiocese that the cardinal had inappropriate sexual relations with them dating back some 30 years.

Tuesday’s letters from Cushley state that Pope Francis has asked the Vatican’s Congregation for Bishops to send Maltese Auxiliary Bishop Charles Scicluna to “listen to and report the testimony offered by past and present members of the clergy … concerning any incidents of sexual misconduct committed against them by other members of the clergy whomsoever.”

Scicluna, Cushley states, will visit the archdiocese April 8-10 and “will be available to listen” on those days. The Maltese bishop, Cushley writes, has also asked those who wish to speak with him to “prepare their narrative in writing.”

Dominican Fr. Thomas Doyle, a noted canon and civil lawyer widely known for his advocacy and work on behalf of survivors of sexual abuse by clergy, said in a brief interview Thursday he had “never heard” of such an investigation before.

“That’s very unusual indeed,” said Doyle. “I’ve never heard of a cardinal being investigated like this by the Holy See.”

Jesuit Fr. John O’Malley, a noted church historian who has written books on the Second Vatican and Trent Councils and a history of the popes, likewise said he “could not recall” a similar instance of an archdiocese or cardinal being investigated.

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.

AUSTRALIA
Illawarra Mercury

A man who spent 10 years in a Salvation Army-run boys home wanted the army to pay him $1 million for every year he suffered abuse.

Ralph Doughty, who was in the Gill Memorial Home for Boys in Goulburn, NSW, from 1940, when he was seven, to 1950, said he calculated the amount based on cases overseas.

“I will guarantee that not one judge … would be prepared to accept a million dollars a year to [be sexually abused],” said Mr Doughty, now in his 80s.

Decades of unspeakable acts exposed

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.

AUSTRALIA
The Australian

BY ANNETTE BLACKWELL AAP APRIL 04, 2014

ONE of the Salvation Army’s top leaders in Australia waited nine months before telling authorities about a known sex abuser, who was also his friend, an inquiry has been told.

Commissioner James Condon delayed reporting Colin Haggar, who was running an army crisis shelter for women and children in 2013, a witness told a royal commission hearing in Sydney.

The commission heard last week that Mr Haggar confessed in 1989 to the mother of an eight-year-old girl that he had sexually assaulted her.

He was dismissed by the army, but re-admitted in 1993 and promoted.

On Friday, the hearing was told that other army officers were concerned about Mr Haggar’s continued contact with children and in early 2013 raised the matter with Mr Condon, commander of the army’s eastern territory of NSW, Queensland and the ACT.

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.

CANADA
CTV

The Canadian Press
Published Thursday, April 3, 2014

WINNIPEG — The Royal Winnipeg Ballet will present a new work this season inspired by the stories heard by Canada’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

Artistic director Andre Lewis and executive director Jeff Herd announced the lineup for the company’s 75th anniversary season Thursday.

It will open Oct. 1 with “A Story of Truth and Reconciliation,” created by choreographer Mark Godden, novelist Joseph Boyden, multimedia artist K.C. Adams, costume designer Paul Daigle and Juno Award-winning composer Christos Hatzis.

The dancers will be accompanied by Inuk throat singer Tanya Tagaq and the Northern Cree Singers while actress and politician Tina Keeper and her sister, Joy Keeper, will act as consultants for the production.

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.

PENNSYLVANIA
Roman Catholic Diocese of Scranton

On April 3, 2014, the Diocese of Scranton was notified of the arrest of the Reverend Philip Altavilla, a priest of the Diocese of Scranton and pastor of the Cathedral Church of Saint Peter, who was charged with corruption of a minor and indecent assault. Upon being notified of these charges, the cleric was removed from his assignment and his faculties to exercise priestly ministry were suspended. The Diocese immediately began its cooperation with law enforcement and asks that anyone who may have information about or may have been abused by this cleric contact the Scranton Police Department Detective Bureau at (570) 348-4139.

In response to this crime, the Most Reverend Joseph C. Bambera, D.D., J.C.L. Bishop of Scranton, expressed his remorse and personal sorrow for the victim and all affected by the situation. In acknowledging his concern for the Cathedral community as well as the faithful and clergy of the Diocese of Scranton, the Bishop said, “I am both angry and demoralized to think that, yet again, a priest has been involved in such inappropriate, immoral and illegal behavior. It is particularly distressing that the pastor of our Cathedral Parish, who is known to countless numbers of the faithful and has served in so many positions of trust and responsibility in the Diocese of Scranton has betrayed that trust in such a manner.” The Bishop requests that the faithful of the Diocese join him in praying for this victim and all who are impacted by sexual abuse.

Teresa Osborne
Chancellor

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.

PENNSYLVANIA
Times-Tribune

BY PETER CAMERON (STAFF WRITER)
Published: April 4, 2014

Scranton police arrested a priest Thursday for plying a 13-year-old girl with alcohol and touching her inappropriately after a midnight Christmas Mass in 1998.

Officers charged the Rev. Philip Altavilla, 48, a pastor at St. Patrick’s Parish in Scranton at the time of the alleged crime, with indecent assault, criminal attempt to indecent assault and corruption of minors.

The reverend was suspended Thursday from his position as pastor of the Cathedral Church of St. Peter in Scranton, the bishop’s seat, the Diocese of Scranton officials said in a statement.

“I am both angry and demoralized to think that, yet again, a priest has been involved in such inappropriate, immoral and illegal behavior,” the Most Rev. Joseph C. Bambera, bishop of the Diocese of Scranton, said in the statement. “It is particularly distressing that the pastor of our Cathedral Parish, who is known to countless numbers of the faithful and has served in so many positions of trust and responsibility in the Diocese of Scranton, has betrayed that trust in such a manner.”

The victim, who was a member of the St. Patrick’s Parish, told police that the Rev. Altavilla gave her alcohol in the rectory after the midnight service, then offered to drive her home at about 3 a.m. Once in the car, he pulled her legs on his lap and began touching her feet and moving his hands up her legs until the victim attempted to escape, according to the criminal complaint. The priest then apologized and drove the girl home.

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.

AUSTRALIA
9 News

One of the Salvation Army’s top leaders in Australia waited nine months before telling authorities about a known sex abuser, who was also his friend, an inquiry has been told.

Commissioner James Condon delayed reporting Colin Haggar, who was running an army crisis shelter for women and children in 2013, a witness told a royal commission hearing in Sydney.

The commission heard last week that Mr Haggar confessed in 1989 to the mother of an eight-year-old girl that he had sexually assaulted her.

He was dismissed by the army, but re-admitted in 1993 and promoted.

On Friday, the hearing was told that other army officers were concerned about Mr Haggar’s continued contact with children and in early 2013 raised the matter with Mr Condon, commander of the army’s eastern territory of NSW, Queensland and the ACT.

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.

CANADA
Winnipeg Sun

The final decision has yet to be made in the defrocking of Archbishop Seraphim Storheim, says the Orthodox church.

According to a statement from the Orthodox Church of America, the convicted sex offender’s fate will be decided after the final report from the Synodal Commission, at which time a spiritual court will be convened.

The decision to retire Storheim does not rule out eventually defrocking him.

“The Statement in no way indicates or implies that the Holy Synod refuses to depose Archbishop Seraphim. To the contrary, as noted above, it clearly states that a Spiritual Court will indeed be convened, as required by canon law as well as the Statute of the Orthodox Church in America,” it reads.

The decision to retire the archbishop was announced publicly by the OCA at its spring session in order to make way for a new ruling bishop, a position left vacant after Storheim was suspended in 2010 when the allegations of sexual abuse first surfaced.

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.

PENNSYLVANIA
Observer-Reporter

PITTSBURGH (AP) – A clergyman awaiting trial on charges he molested four students some 30 years ago at a school in Australia is the subject of a credible allegation of abuse from when he taught at Pittsburgh’s North Catholic High School, according to a spokesman for the city’s Roman Catholic diocese.

That complaint against Marianist Brother Bernard Hartman, 74, was turned over to authorities, according to the Rev. Ronald Lengwin.

A former student at the school, since renamed Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic High School, came forward as the diocese was preparing a letter sent to North Catholic alumni last month about the Australian charges.

Hartman is accused of molesting two boys and two girls at St. Paul’s College in Melbourne, in the 1970s and early 1980s. One of Hartman’s Australian accusers went public three years ago and authorities there charged him last year.

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.

FLORIDA
CBS Miami

Joan Murray

FT LAUDERDALE (CBSMiami) – Prosecution wrapped up testimony Thursday evening in the trial of a former youth pastor accused of sexually assaulting young children.

Jeffrey London, 50, is accused of molesting four boys who are now grown men. He is charged with 27 counts of child abuse.

Prosecutors chose cellular forensics expert Konstantinos Dimitrelos as their final witness. He was hired to analyze London’s phone records.

Prosecutors are trying to show that London sent provocative text messages to the alleged victims.
Dimitrelos showed the jury text messages he said came from inside London’s home. One of the alleged victims asks in a text message,”Can I play call of duty later?” London replies in a text message “Of course u can. Can I (expletive) while u play?”

In another set of messages to one of the alleged victims London allegedly wrote,”You need to get a bath, get naked and text me when I can come make you feel good! “

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.

VIRGINIA
Richmond Times-Dispatch

Louis Llovio Richmond Times-Dispatch

Former ROC pastor Geronimo Aguilar said Thursday that he “decided it is best for all involved” for him to back out of the service.

A decision by Geronimo Aguilar, a former pastor charged in Texas with sexual abuse of two young girls, to remove himself from a Good Friday program at a local church later this month has not satisfied critics of the church that invited him to speak.

Cedar Street Baptist Church of God invited Aguilar, who could face up to life in prison if convicted, to speak at a Good Friday program called Rush Hour to Calvary.

Critics are still incensed and chiding Cedar Street and its pastor, the Rev. Anthony M. Chandler, for inviting Aguilar to be on the bill in the first place.

“The invitation of Geronimo Aguilar is simply disgusting and nothing but a selfish and self-serving ploy by the church to draw attention to itself and its Good Friday service,” said Hector Trevino, a local reverend and director of Canticle of Christ Ministry Pastoral Care at Sitter & Barfoot Veterans Care Center.

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.

PENNSLVANIA
CBS Pittsburgh

Lynne Hayes-Freeland

PITTSBURGH (KDKA/AP) – The Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh says a clergyman awaiting trial on charges he molested four students 30 years ago at a school in Australia is the subject of a “credible” allegation of abuse from when he taught at the city’s North Catholic High School.

Fr. Ronald Lengwin, spokesman for the diocese, tells the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review that the complaint against Marianist Brother Bernard Hartman has been turned over to authorities.

Fr. Lengwin says a former student at the school, since renamed Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic High School, came forward as the diocese was preparing a letter to North Catholic alumni about the Australian charges.

“’You should also, in terms of how you can handle this, because I was sexually abused by him.’ We have staff that met, believe the allegation to be credible,” said Fr. Lengwin.

The diocese then sent a letter stating its policy to more than 4,000 graduates of North Catholic, alerting them to the allegation.

The letter states: “Only on March 20, 2014, after a newspaper reporter contacted the Diocese about the court case in Australia, did the Diocese and Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic High School learn of the serious charges against Brother Hartman.”

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

UNITED STATES
Catholic News Agency

By Adelaide Mena

Washington D.C., Apr 4, 2014 / 02:02 am (CNA/EWTN News).- An audit of the dioceses across the United States shows an increase of more than $15 million spent on child protection efforts, and a decrease in the number of reported cases of sexual abuse.

“Much work has been done to keep children in the care of the Church safe, but we must not think the work is finished,” said Archbishop Joseph Kurtz of Louisville, in a March 1 statement on the report.

“Though our promise to protect and heal made in 2002 remains strong, we must not become complacent with what has been accomplished. It is my hope and prayer that as we continue to fulfill our promise, the Church will help to model ways of addressing and bringing to light the darkness and evil of abuse wherever it exists.”

The report, “2013 Survey of Allegations and Costs: A Summary Report for the Secretariat of Child and Youth Protection, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops,” was released by the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate, a research organization based out of Georgetown University, with results compiled from an audit performed by StoneBridge Business Partners.

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

UNITED STATES
National Catholic Register

by JUDY ROBERTS 04/03/2014

ST. PAUL, Minn. — A decision last month not to charge Archbishop John Nienstedt in connection with an allegation that he inappropriately touched a boy during a group photo was good news for a Church battered by scandal in recent years.

The determination by the Ramsey County Attorney’s Office in Minnesota that there was insufficient evidence to support a charge against the archbishop of St. Paul and Minneapolis was announced March 11, days before another priest, Father Eugene Boland of Northern Ireland, returned to ministry after his acquittal on sexual-assault charges involving a teenage girl.

Both cases raise questions about the nature of such charges and how the process for resolving them affects those who are accused, particularly when they are found to be innocent or when the allegations lack sound evidence.

Even before Archbishop Nienstedt was cleared, the Catholic League’s president, Bill Donohue, called the allegation involving an unidentified male into question, saying the archbishop had been “the subject of a nonstop crusade orchestrated by ex-Catholics, and Catholics in rebellion against the Church, simply because he stands for everything they are not: He is a loyal son of the Catholic Church.”

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

PENNSYLVANIA
WNEP

[with video]

April 3, 2014, by Shauna McNally and Julie Melf

SCRANTON — A priest of the Diocese of Scranton was arrested for allegedly having sexual contact with a teenager.

Rev. Philip Altavilla, 48, was arraigned on Thursday.

Authorities said Altavilla had sexual contact with a 13-year-old girl back in 1998. He is facing corruption of minors and indecent assault charges.

Altavilla currently serves at St. Peter’s Cathedral in Scranton, which is the bishop’s seat, or the flagship church of the Diocese of Scranton.

Rev. Altavilla is out on bail.

Officials from the Diocese of Scranton said Rev. Altavilla was removed from his assignment and was suspended from his priestly duties.

In a statement released from the Diocese of Scranton, Bishop Bambera said, “I am both angry and demoralized to think that, yet again, a priest has been involved in such inappropriate, immoral and illegal behavior. It is particularly distressing that the pastor of our Cathedral Parish, who is known to countless numbers of the faithful and has served in so many positions of trust and responsibility in the Diocese of Scranton has betrayed that trust in such a manner.”

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.

PENNSYLVANIA
PA Homepage

Scranton, Lackawanna County – A well-known priest at Saint Peter’s Cathedral in Scranton is facing child sex charges in connection with an incident from 1998. Father Philip Altavilla is the well-known cathedral pastor at Saint Peter’s Cathedral, the flagship church in the Diocese of Scranton.

He was arraigned Thursday night on charges of corruption of minors, indecent assault and attempted indecent assault. Scranton police say the investigation began Wednesday.

A woman told detectives she was sexually assaulted by Father Altavilla when she was 13, back in 1998. At that point, Altavilla was pastor of Saint Patrick’s Parish. The victim says the inappropriate contact happened after she served as an alter girl at midnight mass. She claims Father Altavilla gave her alcohol in the rectory, and then gave her a ride home. According to court papers, the girl says Father Altavilla pulled over in a church parking lot, began touching the girl’s feet, and then ran his hands up her leg.

Today, police had the woman call Altavilla, and according to court documents, he allegedly admitted to providing alcohol to her and knowing she was only 13 at the time. According to the paperwork, Father Altavilla admitted to placing his hand up her leg, calling it “inappropriate.”

The Diocese of Scranton released a statement to Eyewitness News, which reads, in part:

“In response to this crime, the Most Reverend Joseph C. Bambera, D.D., J.C.L. Bishop of Scranton, expressed his remorse and personal sorrow for the victim and all affected by the situation. In acknowledging his concern for the Cathedral community as well as the faithful and clergy of the Diocese of Scranton, the Bishop said, “I am both angry and demoralized to think that, yet again, a priest has been involved in such inappropriate, immoral and illegal behavior. It is particularly distressing that the pastor of our Cathedral Parish, who is known to countless numbers of the faithful and has served in so many positions of trust and responsibility in the Diocese of Scranton has betrayed that trust in such a manner.” The Bishop requests that the faithful of the Diocese join him in praying for this victim and all who are impacted by sexual abuse.”

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.

IRELAND
Irish Examiner

By Caroline O’Doherty

A victim of serial paedophile Michael Ferry has said he may go to the European Court of Human Rights to get answers as to why the convicted sex offender was able to continue working at a school, where he abused more children.

The Child and Family Agency yesterday acknowledged serious failings in the handling of the Donegal school caretaker following his 2002 conviction for sex attacks on a young boy.

However, the agency said there were insufficient records from that time to explain why crucial meetings between gardaí and local HSE staff did not take place and no joint approach was taken to monitoring Ferry, even though he was on the sex offenders’ register.

John Smith, the agency’s director in the west, said: “Our response was not as robust as it should have been. In 2002, what should have occurred in line with Children First [guidelines for child protection] was there should have been a joint strategy meeting between the HSE and an Garda Síochána. Unfortunately, that did not occur.”

Ferry, 58, a former student priest, worked as a caretaker at Ardscoil Mhuire in Gweedore, which later became a centre for Irish language courses.

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.

GEORGIA
Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Fulfilling a pledge he made to parishioners earlier this week, Archbishop Wilton Gregory has called for a special meeting of the Catholic clergy to discuss the future of his new home, a $2.2 million mansion in Buckhead built with money from a parishioner’s will.

The meeting is scheduled for Saturday at 10 a.m. at the Archdiocese of Atlanta’s business office in Smyrna.

In scheduling the meeting, Gregory is keeping a vow he made Monday in the Georgia Bulletin, an archdiocesan newspaper. In a column to parishioners, Gregory apologized for building the 6,196-square-foot house, located on Habersham Road, and said he would heed the advice of three clerical councils about what to do with it.

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

UNITED STATES
National Catholic Reporter

Nicole Sotelo | Apr. 3, 2014 Young Voices

When young Isidore’s parents died in the late sixth century, his brother took over parental responsibilities. It is written that his brother’s discipline became so severe that Isidore ran away from home, fleeing what some now believe to have been physically abusive behavior. Isidore’s story bears repeating in our church today not only because his brother, Leander, was supposed to be his caregiver, but because his brother was also the archbishop of Seville, Spain.

Years later, Leander was canonized a saint along with Isidore, whose feast is commemorated April 4.

Pope Benedict XVI proclaimed during a public audience a few years ago that young Isidore “owed much to Leander, an exacting, studious and austere person who created around his younger brother a family context marked by the ascetic requirements proper to a monk.”

While corporal punishment by Leander may have been more acceptable 1,400 years ago, it certainly isn’t “proper” today. Unfortunately, the Vatican sometimes still makes saints, officially or unofficially, out of those responsible for crimes.

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.

AUSTRALIA
The Australian

BY JOEL CRESSWELL AAP APRIL 03, 2014

THE “human wreckage” left behind by a pedophile priest took little comfort in his apology.

As Frank Gerard Klep stood to face the men he abused as schoolboys more than 30 years ago, several could not stomach his pre-prepared confession.

They walked out of the Victorian courtroom, exercising a power they never had when Klep was their principal and teacher.

“I abused your trust and betrayed you in the most appalling circumstances, for that I am truly sorry,” Klep said.

“Everything you have tried to achieve in life has been poisoned by my actions.

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.

FIJI
FBC

A priest who faces four counts of rape and two counts of indecent assault has appeared in the Lautoka High Court.

Nemani Ravouvou’s bail has been extended and his case has been called for mention on June 9th when a date for trial will be fixed.

Ravouvou’s lawyer Wasu Pillay and state lawyers finalised agreed facts in court today.

The 50-year-old also known as Father Nemesio Kolikoli was charged last year for the sexual assault cases that allegedly took place between 2009 and 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.

UNITED KINGDOM
Ipswich Star

Colin Adwent
Thursday, April 3, 2014

A 79-year-old paedophile missionary has been given a sexual offences prevention order after being jailed.

William Rogers was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment at Ipswich Crown Court last month following his return to the UK after abusing children in the Domincan Republic.

The Jehovah’s Witness illegally fled the UK eight years ago while he was supposed to be living in Norwich Road, Ipswich.

He had previously admitted failing to comply with the notification requirements within the terms of the Sexual Offences Act 2003.

Rogers told officers he had been living in the Dominican Republic since 2006 working as a Jehovah’s Witness.

He confessed that while in the Caribbean he had been teaching and molesting children.

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

UNITED KINGDOM
Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests

Statement by David Clohessy of St. Louis, Director of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests ( 314 566 9790, SNAPclohessy@aol.com )

We are glad that a Jehovah’s Witness pedophile is behind bars and subject to a prevention order limiting contact with children in his future release.

[Ipswich Star]

William Rogers is in the hands of the law. That’s the best way to protect kids. Now, the question is “Will his Jehovah’s Witness colleagues and supervisors, both in the UK and Dominican Republic, do the right thing and aggressively seek out others who he hurt?”

If history is any guide, they won’t. Far too many officials in religious organizations passively sit back and do nothing in child molestation cases rather than using their resources to find and aid other victims.

We hope every single Jehovah’s Witness who saw, suspected or suffered Rogers’ crimes will find the strength to contact their local authorities, not the local elders.

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.

AUSTRALIA
The Dallas Morning News

By Reese Dunklin
rdunklin@dallasnews.com
3:41 pm on April 3, 2014

I found Frank Klep giving candy to Samoan children in 2004, far from the criminal charges against him in Australia. Now he awaits sentencing on even more charges. (File)

Perhaps the most notorious priest from our 2004-2005 investigation into the global transfers of sexually abusive clergy apologized to his victims today in court.

But Frank Klep’s words were of little comfort, according to The Age newspaper in Australia.

Some victims — former students of his at an all-boys Catholic boarding school — walked out as he started reading a prepared statement.

“I abused your trust and betrayed you in the most appalling circumstances, for that I am truly sorry,” Klep said during a Melbourne hearing in advance of sentencing later this month.

This is Klep’s third pass through the justice system. He agreed last December to plead guilty to 12 charges, down from the 34 originally filed. That prosecution grew out of a 2012 government child-abuse inquiry and involves 14 now-grown victims.

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.

MINNESOTA
St. Cloud Times

A four-hour deposition of Archbishop John Nienstedt as part of a priest abuse lawsuit ended “abruptly” and “heatedly” Wednesday after lawyers representing an alleged victim urged the Roman Catholic archdiocese to turn over files of accused priests to law enforcement, the plaintiff’s lawyer said.

Jeff Anderson, lawyer for a plaintiff identified as Doe 1, also said the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis has not turned over all information it was required to disclose in the case. But Anderson said he would be turning over the information he has gathered and information from Nienstedt’s deposition Wednesday to law enforcement.

Anderson also urged St. Paul police to execute search warrants to seize files on credibly accused priests that he said is being hidden or destroyed by the archdiocese.

“Seize them. Seize those files. Why haven’t they, begs the question. And why won’t they, begs the more serious question,” Anderson said. “Why are they being treated so gingerly? Why are they being treated so differently?

“Get those files before evidence is destroyed,” he 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.

NEW YORK
The Jewish Daily Forward

By Paul Berger
Published April 03, 2014.

A federal judge was “spectacularly wrong” to toss out a $680 million lawsuit brought by former students who say they were abused decades ago at Yeshiva University’s Manhattan high school for boys, a lawyer for the students said.

“It would shock me to not prevail on appeal,” an attorney for the former students, Kevin Mulhearn, told the Forward on April 3.

The lawsuit, brought by 34 former students, was dismissed in January by a federal judge in Manhattan, John Koeltl.

Koeltl cited New York State’s statute of limitations, which gives victims three years to file a civil claim, as the reason for his decision.

But Mulhearn argues that the statute of limitations did not begin to run when the abuse occurred in the 1970s and 1980s.

In court papers filed with the Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit on April 1, Mulhearn argues that the clock began to run in December 2012, when the victims found out they had been deceived by Y.U.
That was the month when the Forward published an article which showed that Y.U. was aware for decades that two of its employees, rabbi George Finkelstein and rabbi Macy Gordon, were abusing students.

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.

MINNESOTA
KAAL

ST. PAUL, MN (AP) – The Catholic Archdiocese of St. Paul-Minneapolis is disputing the suggestion that Archbishop John Nienstedt didn’t cooperate fully with a court-ordered deposition.

Nienstedt was deposed Wednesday over his handling of clergy sexual abuse allegations. Attorneys who are suing the church said Nienstedt ended the deposition abruptly when he was pressed to turn over more files of credibly accused priests to police.

Archdiocese spokesman Jim Accurso says Nienstedt fulfilled the four-hour deposition ordered by a judge. And Accurso says the archdiocese is making every effort to meet the court’s schedule for turning over documents.

Mike Finnegan, one of the attorneys for a man suing the archdiocese, said attorneys prevented Nienstedt from answering some questions. He said attorneys will ask the judge for more time for the deposition.

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.

CHILE
Radio Vatikan

[Summary: Father John O’Reilly of the Legion of Christ has been sent to prison for 20 years for alleged abuse of two children.]

Ein Priester muss in Chile wegen Kindesmissbrauchs möglicherweise 20 Jahre ins Gefängnis. Lokalen Medienberichten zufolge reichte die Staatsanwaltschaft nach Abschluss der Ermittlungen am Mittwoch die Anklageschrift ein. Dem irischen Geistlichen der „Legionäre Christi“ John O’Reilly wird vorgeworfen, als Seelsorger in einer Schule zwei Schwestern im Alter von sieben und elf Jahren sexuell missbraucht zu haben. O’Reilly bestreitet die Vorwürfe. Der Priseter zählt wegen seiner Kontakte zu wohlhabenden Familien und seiner Vergangenheit als TV-Pfarrer zu den prominentesten Geistlichen des Landes. In den vergangenen Jahren eröffnete er zahlreiche Schulen in Chile. 2008 verlieh ihm das Parlament wegen seines Einsatzes für die Bildung die chilenische Staatsbürgerschaft.

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.

DEUTSCHLAND
kath.net

Viele Ehrungen, schlechte Noten – «Die Zeit»: Kaspar habe Gelder aus einem kirchlichen Fonds für Kunstkäufe genutzt und manche dieser Objekte in seiner Privatwohnung aufgestellt. Von Peter de Groot (KNA)

Rüdesheim/Limburg (kath.net/KNA) Franz Kaspar: Einst viel gelobt und mit Ehrungen überhäuft, stand der vormalige Generalvikar des Bistums Limburg doch stets auch im Ruf eines schwer durchschaubaren Strippenziehers. So wunderte es nicht, dass der kirchliche Prüfbericht zur millionenschweren Limburger Bischofsresidenz auch Kaspar kein gutes Zeugnis ausstellte.

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.

DEUTSCHLAND
Vincenzstift

– Sieben Meldungen über körperliche, sexualisierte und psychische Gewalt nach 1970 in Sankt Vincenzstift und Jugendhilfe Marienhausen – Ergebnisse der Hotline vorgestellt

Rüdesheim, den 3. April 2014.- Sieben Anruferinnen und Anrufer haben im Rahmen einer Telefonhotline über unterschiedliche Dimensionen von körperlicher, sexualisierter und psychischer Gewalt berichtet, die sie nach 1970 im Sankt Vincenzstift und in der Jugendhilfe Marienhausen erfahren und/oder beobachtet haben. Über Vorkommnisse in der Jugendhilfe berichtete ein Anrufer, von den sechs Anrufen, die sich auf das Sankt Vincenzstift bezogen, waren vier ehemalige Bewohner, ein Angehöriger und eine ehemalige Mitarbeiterin. Dies ist das Ergebnis einer Erhebung, die im Zeitraum 28. Oktober 2013 bis 28. Januar 2014 von Professorin Dr. Annerose Siebert von der Hochschule Ravensburg-Weingarten geleitet wurde. „Insgesamt lässt sich auf ein höheres Gewaltvorkommen zu Beginn der 1970er Jahre schließen, wobei bis Ende der 1970er/Anfang der 1980er Jahre gravierende Vorkommnisse genannt wurden.

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.

VIRGINIA
Richmond Times-Dispatch

Louis Llovio Richmond Times-Dispatch

RICHMOND — A former city pastor facing child sexual assault charges in Texas said today he will not speak at a Good Friday program in Richmond after the appearance was denounced by Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests.

Geronimo Aguilar said in an email that he will not participate in the event at Cedar Street Baptist Church of God.

“Due to all the controversy over me preaching at Cedar Street’s Good Friday service, I have decided it is best for all involved that I step down from participating in the event,” Aguilar said. “I have spoken with Dr. Chandler, pastor of Cedar Street, and we both believe this is the best thing for all those concerned.”

Aguilar was arrested in May on charges that he abused an 11-year-old and her 13-year-old sister in the 1990s. He resigned in June from the Richmond Outreach Center, the Richmond megachurch he founded and of which he was senior pastor.

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.

VIRGINIA
WRIC

By WRIC Newsroom – email

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) – Former Richmond Outreach Center Pastor Geronimo “Pastor G” Aguilar, who was indicted on child sex charges in Texas, says he will no longer participate in a Good Friday speaking engagement in Richmond.

Aguilar was one of seven religious leaders scheduled to preach at “Rush Hour to Calvary” at Cedar Street Baptist Church of God on April 18. But given the fact that Aguilar has been indicted on multiple charges of child sex abuse, Aguilar’s inclusion in the panel didn’t sit well with many members of the Richmond community.

On Wednesday, Pastor Dr. Roscoe Cooper III of Rising Mount Zion Baptist Church and Pastor Tyrone Nelson of Sixth Mount Zion Baptist Church, who were both scheduled to speak at the Good Friday Event, announced they had decided not to participate.

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

UNITED STATES
Broadway World

In an effort to provide awareness and understanding of the effects of sexual abuse on children and to encourage preventative and protective actions, distinguished American poet Norbert Krapf today revealed in his 26th book published today that he was sexually abused as a child by a priest in his hometown of Jasper, IN during the 1950’s. The book is titled Catholic Boy Blues: A Poet’s Journal of Healing.

Krapf, 70, who resides in Indianapolis, IN, is a former Pulitzer Prize nominee for poetry (2002), Indiana Poet Laureate (2008-2010) and was a Professor of English at the C.W. Post Campus of Long Island University (1970-2004) where he was its Poet Laureate (2003-2007). Among his many awards, he was honored with the Lucille Medwick Memorial Award from the Poetry Society of America and was twice a Fulbright Professor of American Poetry.

Written in verse, Catholic Boy Blues is being released on April 3 to coincide with the dual April observances of National Child Abuse Prevention Month and the National Poetry Month. The book chronicles his abuse by a priest in his hometown and the lifelong effects it had on him, his family and loved ones. Krapf wrote the book in four voices: the boy he was, the man he became, the priest, and Mr. Blues, a mythic and choric counselor and mentor.

Commenting on his motivation for writing the book, Krapf remarked: “In a sense, I wrote the poems to heal myself, and by publishing them to also seek to help heal others. As a poet, I had an obligation to do that, help others heal, show others it could be done, even though it might not be easy. Just as individuals need to heal, so do communities. That includes the community where I was raised, the Community of Saints, the Catholic Church – and the community of all human beings.”

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.

MALTA
Malta Independent

Minister Helena Dalli today said that the two priests mentioned by the Curia were “taken to court and subsequently jailed” because the victims reported the crime to the police.

The minister was reacting to a Curia statement which was issued in reaction to the minister’s own comments in Parliament on Wednesday.

The Curia said that the minister had said that paedophile priests should be made to answer for their actions before the Civil Courts like all other men.

The Curia said this was already being done and the media had given great publicity to the recent case where two priests were taken to court and subsequently jailed.

The fact was that a priest was judged by the Church Tribunal, which could strip him of the priesthood, and the Courts, the Curia 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.

NEW YORK
JTA

(JTA) — A Yeshiva University rabbinical student who pleaded guilty to child exploitation and possession of child pornography was sentenced to 13 years in federal prison.

Evan Zauder, 28, was sentenced on Tuesday by Judge Lewis A. Kaplan of the United States District Court in New York, the Y.U. student newspaper The Commentator reported Thursday.

Rabbis and a professor from Yeshiva University had written letters to the judge requesting leniency in his sentencing.

Zauder pleaded guilty on January 3, 2013 to one count of enticement of a minor to engage in illegal sexual activity, one count of transportation, receipt, and distribution of child pornography, and one count of possession of child pornography.

Zauder also worked as a sixth-grade teacher at the Modern Orthodox school Yeshivat Noam in Paramus, N.J. He was arrested in May 2012 after the FBI raided his Manhattan apartment and discovered on his computer hundreds of images and videos of boys engaged in sex acts.

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.

MICHIGAN
Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests

Victims ask Michigan archbishop for help
Registered sex offender is made a minor cleric
Group wants assurance he is no longer in a position of authority
Also, it wants hierarch to help ‘get the word out’ about this criminal
SNAP says “Kids may be at risk and adults may be suffering in other communities”

A support group for clergy sex abuse victims has written to a Michigan archbishop asking him whether a registered sex offender is serving as one of his subdeacons. Also, they want him to help them make sure the community knows about the man’s record and the possible danger that he poses.

Members of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, sent a letter earlier today to Archbishop Nathaniel Popp (517-522-4800), the leader of the Romanian Episcopate of the Orthodox Church in America (OCA). They asked him whether or not Robert A. Mitchell is still serving as a subdeacon. The group also asked the archbishop to help them make sure that the public is made aware that this outwardly pious man is a dangerous predator.

(The complete text of the letter, sent by FAX and email, is pasted below.)

Mitchell was convicted of child abduction in 1998 in Illinois. He is registered in Michigan as a tier 3 sex offender and is under a lifetime requirement to register. Tier 3 sex offenses are considered by the state to be the most serious of all sex crime convictions in Michigan.

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.

VIRGINIA
Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests

For immediate release: Thursday, April 3

Statement by Becky Ianni of Virginia, SNAP Leader, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests ( 703-801-6044, SNAPVirginia@cox.net )

We are grateful that Pastor G will not speak at the Good Friday Cedar Street Church service. Rev. Chandler, however, still owes child sex abuse victims, especially those hurt by Pastor G, a public apology. Inviting an indicted serial child molester to have a place of honor in a church is at best insensitive and at worst intimidating.

We are especially grateful to Roscoe Cooper III of Rising Mount Zion Baptist Church and Tyrone Nelson of Sixth Mount Zion Baptist Church, who announced their withdrawal from the event.

Pasgtor G should never had been invited. This thankfully short-l,ived honor makes it harder for victims to come forward. When charged child molesters are publicly supported and honored victims are intimated into silence. When victims stay silent children aren’t safe.

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

UNITED STATES
The Worthy Adversary

Posted by Joelle Casteix on April 3, 2014

Diocesan bankruptcy is back in the news—this time, it’s the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis.

According to victims’ attorneys, yesterday’s four-hour deposition of St. Paul Archbishop John Nienstedt ended “abruptly and heatedly,” and Nienstedt refused to turn over some court-ordered documents and answer many questions about the cover-up of sex abuse in the Archdiocese.

Now, it looks like the Archdiocese is going to use bankruptcy to stop the whole process.

It’s the same in Stockton, Helena, Milwaukee, and Gallup, NM. Bankruptcy puts the breaks on truth. Depositions stop and haggling begins.

Why be deposed about covering up sex abuse when you can cry poor and claim those “greedy victims” are grabbing soup bowls out of the hands of poor starving children? Why sit and be exposed in a civil trial when you can keep quiet and hoard your cash (and the truth)?

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.

MICHIGAN
Nonprofit Quarterly

WRITTEN BY RUTH MCCAMBRIDGE CREATED ON THURSDAY, 03 APRIL 2014

Since 2005, an anonymous donor has given $17 million through the Archdiocese of Detroit to the “Angel Fund,” which helps low-income people cover basic and emergency needs—rent, back bills, or bus fare to attend a family member’s funeral, as examples. But as of April 30, the fund will cease to operate, and this is only two months after the existence of the fund was revealed to the world as a result of a fraud investigation.

Although Msgr. Michael Bugarin said that the ending of the fund has nothing to do with the alleged fraud, a Detroit priest and a woman were arraigned in February for allegedly conspiring to submit phony applications. Bugarin said that the donor’s philanthropic priorities had changed, and he had been clear all along that the fund was not permanent.

One of the more notable characteristics of the fund had been that it was largely devoid of bureaucracy. Parish pastors were required to satisfy themselves that the money was needed and would be put to good use and they had to record the names of the recipients and the amount they had been given, but not what the money was for. Those pastors were notified in a recent letter that any allotments they’d received out of the fund needed to be spent by April 30 or returned to the archdiocese.

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.

MALTA
Times of Malta

Civil Liberties Minister Helena Dalli yesterday questioned why it should be acceptable for a priest who abused children to be treated differently from another person.

“Why should a priest be simply defrocked while another person is imprisoned?” she asked in Parliament.

She was speaking during the third reading of a Bill to amend the Marriage Act, which will remove the supremacy of the Ecclesiastical Tribunal over the law courts in annulment proceedings and bring about a clearer separation of Church and State.

But one had to ensure the supremacy of the Maltese courts with respect to criminal offences committed by members of the clergy as well, she said.

The fact that criminal proceedings could not be instituted against priests was another anomaly that gave rise to discrimination.

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.

MICHIGAN
The Detroit News

A local Catholic priest accused of stealing charitable funds was arraigned Thursday.

Father Timothy Kane and his co-defendant, Dorecca Brewer, appeared Thursday morning before Judge Margie Braxton. Kane and Brewer are charged in connection with an alleged fraudulent scheme to steal money from an Archdiocese of Detroit charitable fund.

The pair asked for a jury courtroom and will be before Judge Bruce Morrow for a calendar conference scheduled for April 11, according to the Wayne county Prosecutor’s Office.

Kane, 57, who had been serving at St. Moses the Black Parish in Detroit, was formally charged Feb. 12, along with Brewer, 34, of Jackson, with six felony counts in connection with missing money from the Angel Fund, which provides aid to the needy in Detroit, Highland Park and Hamtramck.

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

UNITED STATES
Reuters

New Book by Distinguished American Poet Norbert Krapf Reveals He Was Sexually Abused as a Child; Calls for Understanding and Action

In an effort to provide awareness and understanding of the effects of sexual abuse on children and to encourage preventative and protective actions, distinguished American poet Norbert Krapf today revealed in his 26th book published today that he was sexually abused as a child by a priest in his hometown of Jasper, IN during the 1950’s. The book is titled Catholic Boy Blues: A Poet’s Journal of Healing.

Krapf, 70, who resides in Indianapolis, IN, is a former Pulitzer Prize nominee for poetry (2002), Indiana Poet Laureate (2008-2010) and was a Professor of English at the C.W. Post Campus of Long Island University (1970-2004) where he was its Poet Laureate (2003-2007). Among his many awards, he was honored with the Lucille Medwick Memorial Award from the Poetry Society of America and was twice a Fulbright Professor of American Poetry.

Written in verse, Catholic Boy Blues is being released on April 3 to coincide with the dual April observances of National Child Abuse Prevention Month and the National Poetry Month. The book chronicles his abuse by a priest in his hometown and the lifelong effects it had on him, his family and loved ones. Krapf wrote the book in four voices: the boy he was, the man he became, the priest, and Mr. Blues, a mythic and choric counselor and mentor.

Commenting on his motivation for writing the book, Krapf remarked: “In a sense, I wrote the poems to heal myself, and by publishing them to also seek to help heal others. As a poet, I had an obligation to do that, help others heal, show others it could be done, even though it might not be easy. Just as individuals need to heal, so do communities. That includes the community where I was raised, the Community of Saints, the Catholic Church – and the community of all human beings.”

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.

COLORADO
Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests

For immediate release: Thursday, April 3, 2014

Statement by Jeb Barrett, Colorado SNAP Director, SNAPDenver@comcast.net, 720-891-0540

Three more victims of a Westminster pastor, who has already been charged with sexual assault on a child, came forward to authorities.

[TheDenverChannel]

We are thankful that these three brave women have found the courage to come forward. It is immoral and many times illegal when a pastor who is a position of power uses his position to harm the innocent and vulnerable.

We hope every single person who saw, suspected or suffered clergy sex crimes – by Clark or others, as adults or as children – will speak up. Keeping quiet only helps predators and endangers others. When victims and witnesses speak out children are safer.

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.

LOUISIANA
Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests

For immediate release: Thursday, April 3

Statement by Barbara Dorris of St. Louis, Outreach Director of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests ( 314 503 0003, SNAPdorris@gmail.com )

We urge Louisiana law enforcement officials to move very quickly to investigate and charge Mack Ford for the horrific crimes reported by Jennifer Halter and others at the New Bethany Home for Girls in Arcadia. We are deeply moved by the suffering and the courage of these brave women. Their concern for others and their own deep pain should prompt speedy and thorough action by police and prosecutors.

[The Times-Picayune]

Quick movement by authorities would likely encourage other sex crime victims to step forward. That, in turn, would almost certainly prevent more sex crimes.

In recent years, police and prosecutors have become more aggressive, creative and successful at pursuing even very old crimes. We beg state authorities to use whatever resources are needed to make justice happen here.

But too often, police and prosecutors let elderly child molesters off easy. We hope that doesn’t happen here. We believe it’s very likely that Ford is still molesting kids. Age often doesn’t slow a child predator. If anything, it makes them more dangerous, for at least two reasons. First, because they become more shrewd at picking victims who can’t or won’t tell or be believed and who come from families that are less apt or willing to report to police. And second, because they also seem more trustworthy as they age, with stooped shoulders, slow gaits, thick glasses and thinning hair.

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.

PENNSYLVANIA
The Raw Story

By David Edwards
Thursday, April 3, 2014

Police in Pennsylvania say a church worker who was arrested on Wednesday for raping a woman in the church “for hours” had also been sought for sexually assaulting a young girl over a period of about three years.

According to Upper Darby Police, 48-year-old Troy Posey had invited a 19-year-old girl into Bethel Community Baptist Church after she missed the last train or bus home.

“Turns out it was hell. It wasn’t a safe haven. It was hell,” Upper Darby Superintendent Michael Chitwood told WTXF. “She says she falls asleep on the couch, a short [time later] she feels her pants being tugged, and the next thing you know the guy’s on top of her.”

After the woman reported that she was raped last week, police determined that the suspect was Posey, and that he had also been wanted for sexually assaulting an 8-year-old girl until she was 12 years old. She was the daughter of Posey’s girlfriend at the time.

He had been sought since 2012 in that case, but had managed to evade capture.

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.

MALTA
Times of Malta

The Curia has clarified comments reportedly made by Minister Helena Dalli when speaking in Parliament yesterday.

In a statement, the Curia observed that the minister was quoted as saying that paedophile priests should be made to answer for their actions before the Civil Courts like all other men who committed such crimes.

The Curia said this was already being done and the media had given great publicity to the recent case where two priests were taken to court and subsequently jailed.

Furthermore, it was not correct, the Curia said, that “there was an anomaly in that if a priest and a man abused of children, the former was removed from the priesthood or sent to another diocese, while the other man was taken to court and sent to prison if convicted.”

The fact was that a priest was judged by the Church Tribunal which could strip him of the priesthood but he could still be taken before the civil courts. Thus, a priest was judged twice, before the Tribunal and the Courts, the Curia 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.

AUSTRALIA
The Australian Jewish News

THE CEO of Jewish child sexual abuse victim advocacy group Tzedek Manny Waks (pictured) has been forced to issue an apology to Rabbi Avrohom Glick as part of a defamation settlement.

Earlier this year Rabbi Glick was accused of child sexual abuse, but an investigation by police concluded he had no case to answer.

In the apology posted on his Facebook page and on the Tzedek website Waks wrote: “During December 2013, I posted certain statements on Tzedek’s website and on my personal Facebook page and permitted a third party to post a statement on Tzedek’s website, which referred to allegations made against Rabbi Abraham Glick.

“In particular, I posted certain statements that suggested to some that Rabbi Glick was guilty and permitted a third party to post a statement stating that Rabbi Glick had admitted to the allegations made. I accept that those statements about Rabbi Glick were false and inaccurate, and accept and believe that Rabbi Glick was at all times completely innocent of the allegations made. I unreservedly apologise to Rabbi Glick and his family and retract those statements.”

But within hours of the apology being issued, a statement from Glick’s accuser, which Waks helped draft, was sent to The AJN accompanying a letter from police explaining the reason the investigation into Glick was abandoned.

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.

MINNESOTA
The New Civil Rights Movement

Judge Forces Archdiocese to Release Material Pertaining to Nienstedt’s Role in Abuse Scandal

by CASEY MICHEL on APRIL 2, 2014

Over the last half-dozen years, Archbishop John Nienstedt has been one of the most outspoken opponents of granting any LGBT rights, either in his home state of Minnesota or across the nation. He has found a series of supporters, but he’s also managed to turn himself into one of the most reviled characters both the Catholic Church and the anti-gay marriage movement has managed to produce.

Fortunately, Nienstedt’s rancid views seem to finally be catching up with him.

In the midst of an ongoing investigation into decades of sex abuse cover-ups within the Minneapolis archdiocese, a judge ruled last week against the archdiocese’s request to delay the release of abuse documentation. While the church will not be releasing the entirety of its documentation next week, Ramsey County District Judge John Van de North ruled that the archdiocese must release those documents most relevant to Nienstedt, who was deposed today.

As the judge noted, it was important to keep the archdiocese’s “feet to the fire.” Moreover, if the church does not release all relevant documentation by Wednesday, the possibility remains for a follow-up deposition for the embattled archbishop.

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.

VATICAN CITY
The Week

Just over a year into his reign as the Vicar of Christ, Pope Francis has gained a reputation as a generous soul. But Vatican officials increasingly fear the budget cuts and austerity measures he is imposing on day-to-day operations. Last month, the Vatican’s Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin informed all department heads of an immediate freeze on new hires, wage increases, and overtime. Expensive management consultants have been hired to advise the restructuring.

Not all the officials are happy with the austerity measures. From the U.K.’s Catholic Herald:

But many can see how the situation could be handled better. “Everything is cuts, cuts, cuts,” said one official. “Not once have they talked about how we could raise revenue.” A senior official in the secretary of state told me they’re so understaffed and overworked that “the work simply never gets done.” “The problem is they’re so socialistic here,” the first official said. “You say the word revenue and they respond with: ‘Oh filthy lucre!’ They’re all secretly jealous [of enterprising initiatives].” Some have proposed a fundraising office for the Holy See, but it’s apparently ruled out because it would appear crass. [Catholic Herald]

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.

VATICAN CITY
Vatican Insider

“Vatican Insider” interviews Italian historian Andrea Riccardi: “The famous honeymoon period has not ended, a sign that the relationship between Francis and faithful is more than just a passing attraction. But there is defiance from bishops and the clergy”

ANDREA TORNIELLI
VATICAN CITY

“Never before in the 20th century has a Pope faced so much resistance as Francis has” and “the fact that there is so much resistance shows that the Pope really is changing the Church.” These strong and in some ways surprising words came from Professor of Church history, Andrea Riccardi, in his latest commentary published in Italian weekly magazine Famiglia Cristiana. Vatican Insider asked him some questions about his above remarks.

You wrote that no Pope in the last century has faced so much resistance as Francis. Don’t you think that’s a bit of an exaggeration?

“I made these observations as a historian. Francis is facing internal opposition from within ecclesiastical bodies, the episcopates and the clergy. But his alliance with the people is clearly strong.”

What about the opposition to Paul VI and the recent and famous opposition faced by Benedict XVI?

“The only Pope who faced strong opposition was Paul VI, that’s true. But the Church and also society at the time were going through a period of general protest. In the case of Benedict XVI, which you rightly mentioned, the opposition came form the outside, from the international public, than it did from the inside. As I said, the resistance Francis is facing is stronger and it’s coming from within the Church.”

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

UNITED STATES
National Catholic Reporter

Pat Perriello | Apr. 3, 2014 NCR Today

If you have not yet seen the interview with Italian historian Andrea Riccardi, it is definitely worth a look.
The indication is that there is and probably will continue to be a growing tug-of-war between the faithful and parts of the hierarchy when it comes to the papacy of Francis. There appears to be enduring strength in the favorable relationship that exists between Pope Francis and the people. At the same time, there is evidence of both a public and silent rift with members of the hierarchy who do not want to be challenged in the way they conduct their business.

There is a second article of interest that highlights concerns about the austerity Francis is bringing to the Vatican. He has implemented a freeze on new hires, wage increases, and overtime. There is no effort to seek increased revenues. Many, even some who support this pope, feel the situation could have been handled better.

Pope Francis has undoubtedly made mistakes, and he will continue to make mistakes. After all, he is only infallible when he speaks ex cathedra. His strengths lie in his commitment to collegiality and his connection to the faithful. Also, his emphasis on the poor prevents him from being seen as just some liberal pope. It is difficult to disagree with his focus on those in great need and the compassion he expects from all of us. In his interview, Riccardi says that when Francis’ message gets through, “there is a really positive reaction and people’s faith is revived.” His message clearly resonates at the core of the universal message of Christianity.

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

UNITED STATES
Christian Post

BY LEONARDO BLAIR , CP REPORTER

April 3, 2014Sexual abuse scandals have cost the U.S. Catholic Church nearly $3 billion dollars over an eight year period; and according to a report released by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops last month, the scourge has not gone away.

The report, titled ‘Report on the Implementation of the Charter for Protection of Children and Young People,’ said in 2013 alone sexual misconduct by clergy cost the American dioceses $108,954,109. Of that amount, just over $61 million went toward settlements while another $6.1 million went toward therapy for abuse victims. Some $28.9 million went toward attorneys’ fees, while $10.4 million went toward the support of the errant priests.

The report pegged the full cost of the sexual abuse scandals on American dioceses and religious institutes between 2004 and 2012 at $2,744,881,843: $2,351,903,157 for dioceses and eparchies. Scandals cost religious institutes $392,978,686.

Dioceses, eparchies and religious orders also spent an additional $41,721,675 on child protection initiatives in 2013, according to a review by Catholic Online.

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.

DEUTSCHLAND
Die Tagespost

Die Annahme, dass die katholische Kirche bei deutschen Journalisten besonders schlecht wegkommt und vielfach unfair behandelt wird, trifft zu – Schuld daran sind nicht immer nur die Medien. Von Klaus Kelle

Warum wird eigentlich über die katholische Kirche meistens negativ berichtet, während die Frohe Botschaft Jesu keinen Raum findet? Die Frage ist so simpel wie auch die Antwort: Weil das Mediengeschäft nun einmal so läuft. Medien sind kommerzielle Unternehmen, sie haben keinen Bildungs- und schon gar keinen Missionsauftrag. Jede Zeitung braucht Käufer und jeder Sender – auch der öffentlich-rechtliche Staatsfunk – schielt auf gute Quoten. Das ist die Ausgangslage, oder salopp gesagt: sie geben ihren Kunden, was sie wollen, und verdienen damit Geld. Jeder Redaktionsvolontär lernt bereits in der ersten Ausbildungswoche den Grundsatz „Bad News are good News“. Übersetzt bedeutet das: Schlechte Nachrichten bringen Aufmerksamkeit, sie bringen ein Prickeln in das Leben der Medien-Konsumenten, und sie sind Erfolgsgaranten.

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.

DEUTSCHLAND
Frankfurter Neue Presse

[Summary: The number of Catholic priests has declined dramatically. Sascha Jung, a pastor, discussed issues about lack of priests, celibacy and the church’s future.]

Von Elisabeth Hofmann-Mathes

Die Zahl der katholischen Priester ist dramatisch zurückgegangen – Auch Gemeindereferenten fehlen
Wie können Menschen für pastorale Berufe begeistert werden? In einer Diskussionsrunde stellte sich der Flörsheimer Pfarrer Sascha Jung den Fragen rund um Priestermangel, Zölibat und die Zukunft der Kirche.

Liederbach.
Dass nicht nur die Zahl der Gläubigen, sondern auch die Anzahl der Priester seit vielen Jahren kontinuierlich abnimmt, ist lange bekannt. Der Flörsheimer Pfarrer Sascha Jung kann dies mit Zahlen untermauern. Drei Jahre hatte der ehemalige Domkaplan das Limburger Referat „Berufe der Kirche“ geleitet und selbst hautnah die Schwierigkeiten erlebt, Menschen für pastorale Berufe gewinnen zu können. Zu harte Zulassungsbedingungen, geburtenschwache Jahrgänge, Skandale und ein allgemein rückläufiger Bezug der Gesellschaft zu Kirche und Religion macht Jung für den Abwärtstrend verantwortlich. Aber wie kann die Kirche diesen Abwärtstrend stoppen? In einer kleinen Diskussionsrunde im Pfarrsaal der Gemeinde Sankt Marien hatte sich der Pfarrer kritisch mit der aktuellen Situation auseinander gesetzt und erfahren: „Der Mangel macht sich bei uns deutlich bemerkbar“, stellten Zuhörer heraus.

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.

ITALIA
Rete L’Abuso

Prete abusa di un minore per tre anni: la qualità rivestita dall’imputato ha facilitato la commissione del reato e, pertanto, la pena va commisurata alla gravità.
la qualità rivestita dall’imputato ha facilitato la commissione del reato.

Corte di Cassazione, sez. IV Penale, sentenza 6 – 27 marzo 2014, n. 14545
Presidente Brusco – Relatore Iannello

Ritenuto in fatto

Con sentenza del 27/01/2012 la Corte d’Appello di Milano confermava la decisione in data 21/12/2010, emessa dal G.U.P. del Tribunale di Milano a seguito di giudizio abbreviato, con la quale P.D. era stato riconosciuto colpevole del reato di cui agli artt. 81 cpv., 609-bis, comma 2 n. 1, 609-ter n. 1, 61 nn. 5, 9 e 11 cod. pen., per aver indotto in più occasioni, nel periodo compreso tra il 2/9/2006 e l’ottobre 2009, un minore (nato nel 1992) a subire e praticare rapporti sessuali, abusando delle condizioni di inferiorità fisica e psichica derivanti dalla differenza di età (quarantacinque anni) e dal divario culturale, economico e sociale nonché della fragilità personologica della persona offesa, commettendo i fatti anche quando il minore non aveva ancora compiuto i quattordici anni, con le ulteriori aggravanti della minorata difesa, della violazione dei doveri inerenti alla sua qualità di ministro del culto cattolico e dell’abuso di ospitalità.

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.

ITALIA
Rete L’Abuso

«Fui molestato in seminario lascio parrocchia e sacerdozio» L’annuncio di don Alessandro Raccagni al termine della messa. Un caso seguito dalla Rete L’ABUSO

[Summary: Father Alessandro Raccagni completed his Mass and then told parishioners of something that had weighed on his heart for 30 years. He said that he had been sexually harassed in the seminary and he was at last breaking his silence.]
di Fabio Paravisi Donatella Tiraboschi

La Messa sembrava finita, invece no. Mancava ancora un ultimo gesto, poche parole da leggere su un foglio. Un macigno che pesava sul cuore del sacerdote da 30 anni. Don Alessandro Raccagni ha allontanato i chierichetti e poi ha letto quel foglio, e ogni parola era come una fucilata al cuore di chi stava ascoltando. Parole che parlavano di molestie subite in seminario, di una ferita che sanguina da una vita e, ancora, di un silenzio che doveva essere spezzato. Don Alessandro ha lasciato la sua parrocchia di Endenna e anche il sacerdozio, lasciando dietro di sé molti dispiaceri, tanti dubbi e una comunità «orfana» che chiede verità. Don Alessandro, 44 anni, parroco di Endenna dal 4 ottobre 2011, aveva finora tenuto dentro di sé il dramma e l’angoscia. Lo straziante ricordo delle molestie che dice di avere subito nel Seminario di Città Alta a metà degli anni Ottanta, un periodo in cui il giovane Alessandro era ancora minorenne (a quell’epoca il rettore del seminario era monsignor Roberto Amadei). Da allora ha trovato il coraggio di raccontarlo a uno psicologo che lo segue da otto anni e al padre Guido, che gli è stato vicino negli ultimi difficili mesi. Il prete indicato come responsabile degli abusi si sarebbe ritirato in pensione in un quartiere alla periferia di Bergamo, senza che nessuno gli abbia mai chiesto conto di ciò che avrebbe fatto.

È stato lo stesso don Alessandro, nei mesi scorsi, a decidere di scendere a Bergamo più volte e a parlare del problema con i vertici della Curia, manifestando anche la sua intenzione di lasciare l’abito sacerdotale se non avesse avuto le risposte che voleva. Risposte che evidentemente non sono arrivate, visto che alle 18 di sabato 15 marzo don Alessandro è salito all’altare per celebrare la Messa con quel foglietto in tasca. In uno dei banchi sedeva il padre, venuto da Cividino per dargli sostegno nel momento più difficile della sua vita. La grande chiesa parrocchiale dedicata a Santa Maria Assunta, che ospita anche una teca con il cranio di San Barnaba, era piena. Al termine della funzione il parroco ha chiesto ai chierichetti di andare in sacrestia a cambiarsi, poi ha estratto il foglio e ha cominciato a leggere.

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.

DEUTSCHLAND
Zeit

[Summary: As vicar general and confidant of Bishop Franz-Peter Tebartz van Elst, Franz Kasper, as leader at a nursing home, prevented disclosure of an abuse case.]

VON CHRISTIANE FLORIN UND CHRISTIANE GREFE

Als Alexander Markus Homes sieben Jahre alt ist, bescheinigen ihm Experten “Schwachsinn leichten Grades”. Fünf Jahre hat der Junge da schon in Kinderheimen verbracht. Nach der Diagnose kommt er im April 1966 in das katholische Pflege- und Bildungsheim St. Vincenzstift in Aulhausen am Rhein.

Fast zehn Jahre lang durchleidet er mit anderen als geistig behindert eingestuften Kindern und Erwachsenen das Regime der Dernbacher Schwestern. Ein Orden als schlagende Verbindung: Homes wird geprügelt und erniedrigt, der Heimarzt missbraucht ihn sexuell. Andere Behinderte werden in dieser Zeit vom damaligen Direktor des Heimes, Rudolf Müller, sexuell missbraucht. “Es waren Gottes Worte, Gottes aggressive Blicke, Gottes Hände, die uns beschimpften, demütigten, bestraften, prügelten”, schrieb Alexander Markus Homes vor mehr als dreißig Jahren. Sein Buch Prügel vom lieben Gott erschien 1981.

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.

AUSTRALIA
Australian Teacher Magazine

MELBOURNE, April 3 – Victims of a pedophile priest have walked out of a Melbourne court as he stood to deliver an apology.

Frank Gerard Klep, 70, has pleaded guilty to sexually abusing 15 boys while a teacher and principal at Salesian College Rupertswood from 1973 to 1984.

As Klep stood to read a prepared apology, many of his victims left the courtroom.

“I abused your trust and betrayed you in the most appalling circumstances, for that I am truly sorry,” Klep said.

It is the third time Klep has either pleaded guilty to or been convicted of abusing schoolboys.

Many of the boys were sexually assaulted or raped while in beds at the school’s sick bay, which was operated by Klep.

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.

MASSACHUSETTS
The Salem News

BY JULIE MANGANIS
STAFF WRITER

IPSWICH — As his trial on child molestation charges nears, the former head of a religious order in Ipswich yesterday made another attempt to have the case against him dismissed.

The Rev. Richard McCormick, 73, who once ran the Salesian Brothers of Don Bosco retreat in Ipswich, is accused of raping two boys attending summer camp there back in the 1980s.

McCormick has already lost earlier bids to have the charges dismissed.

Last year, he and attorney Stephen Neyman argued that under the First Amendment’s right to freedom of religion, a law that allows the calculation of time for the statute of limitations to stop during periods when McCormick was out of state is unconstitutional. McCormick, as a member of a religious order, has no say when he is ordered to move to another state, they argued.

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.

MINNESOTA
KDUZ

The Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis is defending the statements made by Archbishop John Nienstedt during a four-hour deposition on Wednesday.

MNN reports the four hour session ended abruptly according to the attorney of one of the men suing the Catholic Church for alleged sexual abuse by priests. Attorney Jeff Anderson said the archbishop walked out after being pressed to turn over more files related to accusations against priests to police.

The Archdiocese says Nienstedt accepted responsibility for mistakes made since he became archbishop in 2008 and expressed regret for how the sexual abuse allegations were handled in the past.

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.

CANADA
Winnipeg Sun

BY KRISTIN ANNABLE, WINNIPEG SUN
FIRST POSTED: WEDNESDAY, APRIL 02, 2014

A disgraced archbishop recently found guilty of sexually assaulting a Winnipeg boy in the 1980s will not be defrocked by the Archdiocese of Canada.

Instead, Archbishop Seraphim Storheim was retired quietly by the church.

The decision has outraged critics who say the decision to spare Storheim of the defrocking goes directly against the church’s sexual misconduct policy.

“I think they are being very cautious, there is a lot of sentiment of support for him in Canada,” said Melanie Sakoda, the Orthodox director of SNAP, also known as the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests.

“The thing that bothered me is their policy seems to be very clear: If he is found to have abused a child, he is to be defrocked.”

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

NEW YORK
New York Daily News

BY DANIEL BEEKMAN
NEW YORK DAILY NEWS Thursday, April 3, 2014

The judge who tossed a $680 million sexual-abuse suit brought by former students against Yeshiva University erred by acting like a lawyer for the school, the plaintiffs claim.

Manhattan Federal Judge John Koeltl showed bias when he “assumed the role” of defense attorney by “concocting” an argument Yeshiva never made, the plaintiffs say in an appeals brief.

Koeltl dismissed the case as time-barred, saying plaintiffs would’ve known to sue decades ago if they’d sought legal advice after the alleged abuse.

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.

AUSTRALIA
The Guardian (UK)

Australian Associated Press
theguardian.com, Thursday 3 April 2014

A man brutalised in a boys’ home says he was told by the global head of the Salvation Army that abuse only happened in Australia.

Jim Luthy, president of Care Leavers Australia Network (CLAN), told a royal commission hearing he wrote in 2010 to Shaw Clifton, then general of the army based in London, suggesting he issue a worldwide apology to abuse victims.

Luthy did so because the pope was apologising for abuse by Catholic clergy at the time and he thought the Salvationists should as well.

“I think it was pretty crook when you have got to ask for your own apology,” said Luthy.

He said Clifton responded with “abuse only happened in Australia, nowhere else”.

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.

MINNESOTA
MinnPost

By Brian Lambert

Well, that went well… Chao Xiong of the Strib writes, “Wednesday’s four-hour deposition of Archbishop John Nienstedt ended ‘abruptly’ and ‘heatedly’ when the church was pressed to turn over more of its files of credibly accused priests to police, said an attorney representing a man suing the church for sex abuse. Nienstedt and church attorneys failed to deliver all the files that a judge ordered them to produce for a suit in Ramsey County District Court, and then ended the deposition when they were pressured to turn over documents 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.

UNITED STATES
The New York Times

By THE EDITORIAL BOARD
APRIL 3, 2014

Any Roman Catholic prelate who missed the message from Pope Francis that he wanted “a church which is poor and for the poor” certainly had to pay attention last month when the Vatican forced the resignation of the bishop of Limburg, Germany, because of his taste for opulent housing worthy of the Holy Roman Empire.

Scandal arose when Bishop Franz-Peter Tebartz-van Elst was discovered spending at least 31 million euros, or nearly $43 million, to renovate his princely home, right down to a new €15,000 bathtub. The Vatican found that the bishop had tried to hide the true costs from his flock, and he was unceremoniously forced to resign for some humbler station.

Though the verdict is still out on Francis’ impact on the hidebound Vatican bureaucracy, which he hopes to reform, he is obviously galvanizing the church laity to complain about the double standards and hypocrisy in the lush lifestyles of their shepherds. In the United States, Wilton Gregory, the archbishop of Atlanta, apologetically announced this week that he would not be moving in to a new $2.2 million, 6,000-square-foot mansion he had custom built. Archbishop Gregory conceded that he had second thoughts after being rebuked by lay Catholics “struggling to pay their mortgages” even as they faithfully heeded his pleas for church donations.

Leaders of a half-dozen other American dioceses have moved to plainer surroundings as Francis keeps up the pressure, urging simple runabouts, not limousines, as preferable transportation for priests and nuns.

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.

FLORIDA
Sun Sentinel

[with video]

By Rafael Olmeda, Sun Sentinel
7:14 p.m. EDT, April 2, 2014

The former wife of a youth mentor accused of repeatedly molesting teenage boys in his care took the stand on Wednesday, telling a Broward jury that she once walked in on her husband and one of his accusers.

Aretha Wimberly, a Fort Lauderdale code enforcement officer, was married to Jeffery London from 2000 until 2003, but she testified that she was always uncomfortable with the fact that her husband kept taking charge of teenage boys who lived with them for months at a time.

Wimberly said she married London in 2000 and moved into his home in Coral Springs, not knowing at the time that the home was purchased by another person who intended for London to use it to house teenage boys with no place else to go. The boys testified that they looked to London as a father figure.

London, who later moved to Lauderdale Lakes, is charged with sexual battery and molestation of four victims. Three others testified he did the same thing to them, but they are not included in the formal charges. London, 50, faces life in prison if convicted.

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

UNITED KINGDOM
Ham & High

Paul Wright
Thursday, April 3, 2014

A senior figure in Catholic education who was found in possession of more than 5,000 images of child abuse has been spared prison and could even return to working in the church.

The judge described Friar Timothy Gardner’s actions as “depraved” but suspended his eight-month sentence for two years.

Gardner, 42, who was based at St Dominic’s Priory, Southampton Road, Gospel Oak, appeared at Southwark Crown Court on Monday.

The court heard that he taught religious education (RE) at Maria Fidelis Catholic School, Phoenix Road, Somers Town, for six years from 2006 to 2012, and even lobbied the government as adviser to the Catholic Education Service.

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

CHICAGO (IL)
Daily Herald

By Daily Herald report

A former West Chicago youth ministry leader has been charged with sexually abusing two underage girls, county officials said.

Osman Bahadarakhann, 23, of the 1200 block of Kings Circle, West Chicago, was charged with three counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse relating to the attacks that occurred in the fall of 2013 while he was a youth ministry leader at the Community Fellowship Church in West Chicago, the DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin’s office said in a statement.

Bahadarakhann invited the girls back to his apartment in separate incidents, and officials said they learned about it when the girls’ parents contacted the DuPage County Sheriff’s Office.

“As a youth ministry leader, Mr. Bahadarakhann held a position of trust and authority over these two young girls,” Berlin said in a statement. “If these allegations are proven true, Mr. Bahadarakhann violated the trust placed in him by his two victims as well as the Community Fellowship Church just to satisfy his own despicable desires. I would like to thank officials at Community Fellowship Church for their complete cooperation throughout this investigation and the DuPage County Sheriff’s Office for their outstanding work on this case.”

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.

COLORADO
TheDenverChannel

3 additional young women come forward as possible victims of pastor charged with child sex assault

Phil Tenser
1:06 PM, Apr 2, 2014

WESTMINSTER, Colo. – Following the arrest of a Westminster pastor on allegations he sexually assaulted a teenager, three other possible victims have come forward.

Gerald Leroy Clark, 51, is now charged with two counts of sexual assault on a child by one in a position of trust and involving a pattern of abuse. The arrest affidavit reveals that the victim was an aspiring member of the church’s ministry team who was helping out the pastor and his wife at their home.

“In one of the charges he’s alleged to have committed this offense against a child who was under 15 and the second offense covers the time when the teenager was older than 15 but under 18,” explained Pam Russell, spokeswoman for the District Attorney’s Office.

Clark is pastor of Jericho Ministries International, which initially met at the West View Recreation Center in Westminster, but now holds services at the Greenway Club House in Broomfield, court records state.

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.

COLORADO
The Denver Post

WESTMINSTER — Following the arrest of a Westminster pastor on allegations he sexually assaulted a teenager, three other possible victims have come forward.

Gerald Leroy Clark, 51, is now charged with two counts of sexual assault on a child by one in a position of trust and involving a pattern of abuse. The arrest affidavit reveals that the victim was an aspiring member of the church’s ministry team who was helping out the pastor and his wife at their home.

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.

LOUISIANA
The Times-Picayune

By Rebecca Catalanello, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune
on April 02, 2014

The story of Jennifer Halter’s journey to file a police report alleging child sexual abuse is derived from a combination of firsthand observations, interviews, court documents, and archived news reports.

Reporter Rebecca Catalanello and photojournalist Kathleen Flynn, both of NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune, spent Dec. 4 to 7, 2013, in Shreveport with Halter and several other women as they set out for the Bienville Parish Sheriff’s Office and New Bethany Home for Girls.

The opening scene in which Halter boards the plane is based on interviews with Halter and her travel companion, Jeneen Miller of Las Vegas. The details about Halter’s arrival at New Bethany as a 14-year-old girl are based on interviews with Halter. Halter’s mother did not respond to requests to be interviewed about her memory of the event.

Descriptions of the shared memories of New Bethany were based on extensive interviews with — and observations of conversations among — Halter, Joanna Wright, Tara Cummings, Teresa Frye and Simone Jones. Many of these details are also described in court documents, past news accounts, and written accounts by former New Bethany residents.

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.

LOUISIANA
The Times-Picayune

By Rebecca Catalanello, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune
on April 02, 2014

She hobbled down the jetway carrying a suitcase, a pillow, a teddy bear for good luck.

At the plane’s entrance she stopped, paralyzed by dread and memories: blood, Pine Sol, broken glass, shame, God – and those barbed wire fences. God, those fences. She hugged the stuffed animal.

What if they say it was my fault? Will they call me a whore? What if I die?

Someone in the line behind her asked, “Is she OK?”

For 25 years, Jennifer Halter, 39, had been living with memories of what happened to her at a religious girls’ home in Arcadia, La. In her mind, the fences towered 15 feet high and stretched for miles, every chain link pinning her in with the man she says sexually abused her, destroyed her faith and led her to try to kill herself.

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.

COLORADO
CBS Denver

[with video]

GOLDEN, Colo. (CBS4)- Investigators believe there could be more victims in the sexual assault case against a church pastor.

Gerald Clark has been accused of sexually assaulting a teenager over several years.

“The sexual contact was ongoing. She did approach him and ask him to stop and apparently at that time the behavior did stop but his behavior with her also changed,” said Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office spokeswoman Pam Russell.

Clark met the alleged victim and her family at Victory Church. They then followed Clark to Jericho Ministries International which Clark runs out of his Westminster home.

When the alleged victim’s family moved out of state the Clarks allowed the teen to live with them over the summers and around Christmas.

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.

FLORIDA
NBC Miami

[with video]

By Ari Odzer | Wednesday, Apr 2, 2014

After hearing powerful testimony from Jeffery London’s alleged victims on Tuesday, the jury received another glimpse into his life Wednesday afternoon, this time from the perspective of his ex-wife.

“Essentially, the only rule of the house was, don’t piss Jeff off,” Aretha Wimberly said on the witness stand.

Wimberly was married to London for just three years, but it was long enough to paint a creepy picture of the man accused of sexually abusing teenage boys who were living in his house.

“I can’t say I ever saw him touch anyone sexually,” Wimberly admitted.

But she told a chilling story of once coming home when her husband expected her to be out, and finding their bedroom door locked.

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.

VIRGINIA
Richmond Times-Dispatch

BY LOUIS LLOVIO Richmond Times-Dispatch

A national organization for victims of childhood sexual abuse blasted a Richmond church Wednesday for allowing Geronimo Aguilar, charged in Texas with sexually assaulting two young girls, to speak at a Good Friday service later this month.

“Fundamentally it comes down to this: We as adults can make it easier or harder to catch child molesters. These folks are making it harder,” said David Clohessy, executive director of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests.

Clohessy was speaking about the decision by Cedar Street Baptist Church of God to allow Aguilar, who could face up to life in prison if convicted, to speak at a Good Friday program called Rush Hour to Calvary.

The event features seven local pastors who will speak for seven minutes each.

Clohessy said the main problem with giving Aguilar a platform to speak, even if he has not been tried yet, is that it makes it more difficult for victims of sexual abuse, who are already terrified, to come forward.

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.

AUSTRALIA
J-Wire

April 3, 2014 by J-Wire Staff

Ezzy Kestecher, scheduled to appear in court in June on sexual abuse charges, was found deceased in his Melboure apartment last week. Rabbi Meir Kluwgant attended the funeral…

From Rabbi Meir Kluwgant:

This past Sunday I attended the funeral of Aaron “Ezzy” Kestecher Z”L, a young man of 28 years who was found deceased in his apartment.

His coffin (in Hebrew Aron) was situated at the front of a room that was filled to capacity with men and woman of all ages who had come to pay their last respects.

There was an eery silence, almost white noise, as the background to the cries and sobs from both sides of the mechitza (partition separating the men from the women).

The prayers were short, the eulogy direct but eloquently delivered, and as I looked around the room I noticed a hotchpotch of faces and expressions. Present were those who kept their doors and homes open to Ezzy throughout his short but tumultuous life; along side them and dispersed throughout the room were those who had rejected him outright, and locked him out from the community and its facilities; and there was a large contingency of his friends, his contemporaries, people he mingled and hanged with, friends who had been with him almost to the very bitter end.

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.

PITTSBURGH (PA)
Tribune-Review

By Michael Hasch

Published: Wednesday, April 2, 2014

A member of a Catholic religious order who is awaiting trial on charges of sexually abusing two boys and two girls about 30 years ago in Australia now faces an allegation of abuse from his days at the former North Catholic High School, a spokesman for the Diocese of Pittsburgh said on Wednesday.

Marianist (Society of Mary) Brother Bernard Joseph Hartman is accused of sexually assaulting them while at St. Paul’s College in Melbourne, according to a report by the Australian Broadcasting Corp.

Hartman is a former biology teacher at North Catholic in Troy Hill, now known as Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic High School.

As a result of media coverage of the Australian case, one person has contacted local church officials, the Rev. Ronald Lengwin said.

“We believe (the allegation) is credible and we have turned it over to the appropriate legal authorities,” said Lengwin, declining to say anything more specific about the complaint.

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.

AUSTRALIA
The Conversation

Vivien Holmes
Senior Lecturer at Australian National University

When counsel assisting the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sex Abuse put it to Cardinal George Pell last week that his lawyers weren’t his moral advisors, she was implying that he shouldn’t blame his lawyers for his pursuit of a morally bankrupt legal strategy. Pell was the client. He gave the instructions.

But lawyers can and should play an important role in helping a client step back and reflect. Lawyers owe clients a duty to act in the client’s best interests. This may necessarily involve helping the client ascertain what their best interests are.

It is the lawyer’s role (especially in litigation, where costs – psychological, financial and, in this case, “spiritual”, can be so high) to put options to the client and ask whether a “no holds barred” approach is in fact in the client’s best interests.

The Ellis case

John Ellis was a victim of sexual abuse by a Catholic priest. Michael Eccleston, the church’s investigator, thoroughly examined Ellis’ allegations of abuse. Eccleston accepted, and reported to the church, that serious abuse had occurred.

Despite this, in defending the claim Ellis made against the church, Pell adopted an “attack dog” strategy against Ellis. It appears from evidence given to the Royal Commission that Pell’s lawyers, Corrs Chambers Westgarth, advised this strategy and then prosecuted it with gusto.

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.

AUSTRALIA
The Courier

By FIONA HENDERSON April 3, 2014

AFTER Professor Caroline Taylor spoke at a sexual abuse forum in Ballarat on Wednesday, a woman from the 75-strong audience approached her.

“Every parish and every priest in Australia should hear this,” the woman said.

Another attendee – the mother of two clergy sexual abuse victims – also said she left the forum “feeling so much better”.

“I can’t thank you enough. I just wish my two sons were here too,” the woman said.

Professor Taylor, a world renowned sexual abuse expert, said it was this emotion she hoped would propel Ballarat to support victims and their families into the future.

“You could feel a sense of energy in the room,” she 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.

MINNESOTA
Minnesota Public Radio

Sasha Aslanian St. Paul, Minn. Apr 2, 2014

Archbishop John Nienstedt today abruptly ended a session in which he testified under oath about his handling of clergy sexual abuse allegations in St. Paul and Minneapolis, an attorney suing the church said.

The four-hour deposition of Nienstedt ended heatedly after attorney Jeff Anderson, who represents a man who says he was sexually abused by the Rev. Thomas Adamson in the 1970s, asked the archbishop to turn over files of offending priests to law enforcement.

“The archbishop balked, and refused and as we urged him to consider doing that because it’s the only safe thing for the community to do, to turn it over to police, the deposition was terminated by the other side and they walked out,” Anderson said.

It was the first time Nienstedt has had to answer questions under oath regarding the sexual abuse of children by priests in the archdiocese since he became archbishop six years ago. Church lawyers tried for months to block the deposition on the grounds it is not relevant to the case. But Ramsey County Judge John Van de North and the Minnesota Court of Appeals disagreed.

Van de North also ordered the archdiocese to turn over thousands of documents about accused priests to lawyers representing the man who filed suit against the church.

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