ABUSE TRACKER

VATICAN CITY
Vatican Insider

The Vatican bank’s supervisory council has met and reported to the commission overseeing the bank’s activities, led by Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone

Vatican Insider staff
Rome

The first board meeting since the vote of no-confidence in the Vatican bank’s (IOR) former president Ettore Gotti Tedeschi on 24 May, took place today. Current members of the board include Vice-President, Ronaldo Hermann Schmitz who acts as interim president, Carl Anderson, Antonio Maria Marocco and Manuel Soto Serrano.

One of the themes of the meeting, a communiqué explains, is “the identification of internationally recognised criteria for professionalism and experience, ahead of the selection of the bank’s new president.”

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NEDERLAND
Ruard Ganzevoort blogt

De vereniging Martijn is omstreden, daarmee is niets te veel gezegd. De club is gericht op de acceptatie van (seksuele) relaties tussen ouderen en kinderen. Het CDA grijpt de veroordeling van de voorzitter wegens het bezit van kinderporno aan om op een verbod aan te dringen. Het is echter zeer de vraag of dat verstandig is. Voor de strijd tegen seksueel misbruik kon het wel eens averechts werken.

De discussie over pedoseksualiteit is in de loop van de jaren een paar keer totaal verschoven (zie mijn artikel ‘tussen trauma en tolerantie‘ voor die ontwikkeling binnen de kerken). In de jaren zeventig en tachtig werd vooral gestreefd naar tolerantie en begrip. Het taboe moest doorbroken worden. De voortrekkers van deze tolerantie meenden zelfs dat het grootste probleem de reactie van de maatschappij is en niet de seksuele contacten zelf. Twintig jaar later is van dat streven naar acceptatie weinig over. Bijna niemand durft het op te nemen voor pedoseksualiteit.

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ARLINGTON (VA)
Fox 8

June 27, 2012, by Joe Borlik

RICHMOND, Va. — A woman who claims a priest molested her during a more than two-year exorcism is suing the Catholic Diocese of Arlington.

The lawsuit in Arlington County Circuit Court also names Bishop Paul Loverde and Front Royal-based Human Life International Inc. as defendants. It seeks more than $5.3 million in damages.

The complaint said the woman went to the Rev. Thomas Euteneur in 2008 for spiritual help. Euteneur was president of HLI, an anti-abortion ministry, and also performed exorcisms.

The lawsuit claims Euteneur’s sessions with the woman frequently involved inappropriate touching and directing her to undress. The complaint said Euteneur explained passionate kisses as “blowing the Holy Spirit” into her

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NORTHERN IRELAND
Derry Journal

Published on Wednesday 27 June 2012

A priest cleared of indecently assaulting a teenage girl has said the allegation had “a devastating impact” on his life.

A jury at Derry Crown Court found Father Eugene Boland (66), of Parochial House, Killyclogher Road, Omagh not guilty by majority verdict on all five charges of indecent assault on the girl of around 14 years old in the parochial house of St Joseph’s Church, Galliagh between June 28, 1990 and June 30, 1992. There were cheers from Fr Boland’s supporters as the verdict was delivered following an eight day trial and several hours of deliberation by the jury of four men and eight women.

In a statement read on the cleric’s behalf by solicitor Kevin McGuigan outside Derry courthouse, Fr Boland said he now hopes to return to his ministry which was suspended by the Catholic Church when the allegations first arose two years ago.

“As a result of the allegation I have had to step back from my ministry as a priest. I have been a priest for 42 years and look forward to returning to my ministry as soon as possible with my reputation and good name restored.”

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NORTHERN IRELAND
BBC News

A Donegal-born priest has been cleared of indecently assaulting a 14-year-old girl in a parochial house in Galliagh, Londonderry, 20 years ago.

Fr Eugene Boland, of Killyclogher Road in Omagh, was acquitted of all five charges by a jury at Londonderry Crown Court after an eight-day trial.

Two women who clapped and cheered after the verdict were warned they could face contempt of court proceedings

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CALIFORNIA
Patch

By Sheila Sanchez

Two Santa Clara County sheriff’s deputies found a bloodied, bruised and lacerated priest when they arrived at the Los Gatos Sacred Heart Jesuit Center in May 2010 following a 911 call reporting an assault.

Deputies Rick Chaeff and Jonathan Seaton took the stand Tuesday afternoon during the trial of William Lynch, a San Francisco man accused of beating Rev. Jerold Lindner, who the defendant claims raped and sodomized him and his younger brother while on camping trips to the Santa Cruz Mountains in 1975.

Chaeff’s account came after prosecutor Vicki Gemetti showed him several photographs of Lindner depicting injuries to the right side of his face, back of his head, his left ear, and his thigh area.

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CALIFORNIA
Patch

By Sheila Sanchez

After Tuesday’s deliberations in the William Lynch Los Gatos priest-beating trial, defense attorneys Pat Harris and Paul Mones walked out of the San Jose Hall of Justice to challenge the testimony by a Santa Clara County sheriff’s deputy.

On the witness stand, Rick Chaeff testified that Father Jerold Lindner had suffered several bruises and one laceration above his left eye that bled heavily. However, Harris said he believed the injury to be minor and amounted to one cut.

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PHILADELPHIA (PA)
De Redactie (Belgie)

[Summary: Criminal neglect. Why a decision taken by a court in Philadelphia is important to victims of sexual abuse in Belgium]

“Monsignor William J. Lynn, de voormalige rechterhand van kardinaal Anthony J. Bevilacqua, werd vrijdag 22 juni 2012 in Philadelphia schuldig bevonden aan het in gevaar brengen van kinderen en wordt zo officieel de eerste vertegenwoordiger van de Katholieke kerk in de Verenigde Staten die veroordeeld werd wegens het verzwijgen van seksueel misbruik door priesters waarvoor hij verantwoordelijk was. Hij riskeert 3,5 tot 7 jaar cel.

Het verdict wordt door zowel het Openbaar Ministerie als door de slachtofferorganisaties in de VS als een keerpunt beschouwd in de benadering van schandalen rond seksueel misbruik die de Katholieke Kerk sinds jaren belasten. Belgische slachtoffers voelen het precies zo aan.

Dit alles kadert binnen een jarenlange strijd voor gerechtigheid met als doel de kerkelijke oversten verantwoordelijk te stellen voor het verstoppen en verzwijgen van bewijsmateriaal en het stiekem en schaamteloos verplaatsen van pedofiele priesters naar parochies of instellingen die het verleden van de daders niet kennen. Waar ze echter onbezwaard kunnen hervallen in hun oude gewoontes en opnieuw een gevaar vormen voor kinderen waarmee ze in contact komen.

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VENTNOR (NJ)
Philadelphia Inquirer

By Amy S. Rosenberg
Inquirer Staff Writer

VENTNOR, N.J. – The sight of elderly Catholic priests rocking in wicker chairs outside the grand oceanfront home on Princeton Avenue has been a familiar part of this seaside town for nearly a half-century.

But that era is about to come to an abrupt close after an order by Archbishop Charles J. Chaput to shut the Archdiocese of Philadelphia’s 19-room vacation home at the Shore by Saturday and put it up for sale.

“It’s not listed with a broker yet, but will be soon,” archdiocesan spokesman Kenneth Gavin said of the property at 114 S. Princeton, which stretches a full block along the Boardwalk and is assessed at $6.2 million.

The retired priests who had planned a stay at Villa St. Joseph by the Sea were recently told that their reservations would be canceled as of Saturday, the end of the archdiocese’s fiscal year. Facing a $17 million operating deficit and a price tag of at least $11.6 million for its response to the 2011 Philadelphia grand jury report on clergy sex abuse, the archdiocese has been engaged in massive restructuring, cost-cutting, and selling of assets.

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DEUTSCHLAND
SVZ

Keine besonderen Geschenke für den Lieblingsministranten, kein gemeinsames Duschen von Kindern und Betreuern im Zeltlager, keine “herausgehobenen, intensiven freundschaftlichen Beziehungen” zwischen Erziehern und Schutzbefohlenen. Nach dem Missbrauchsskandal, der seit 2010 die katholische Kirche bundesweit erschütterte, setzt das katholische Erzbistum Hamburg verstärkt auf Vorbeugung.

Erzbischof Werner Thissen, zu dessen Diözese auch die 40 000 Mecklenburger Katholiken zählen, hat eine “Präventionsordnung” erlassen, die künftig in allen 95 Pfarrgemeinden, den 315 Sozialeinrichtungen und 24 Schulen seines Bistums gelten soll. Gestern wurde sie in Hamburg der Öffentlichkeit vorgestellt. Für Vorpommern, das in der katholischen Kirche zum Erzbistum Berlin gehört, hatte Erzbischof Rainer Maria Kardinal Woelki bereits im April ein Dokument in Kraft gesetzt.

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DEUTSCHLAND
Welt

Eine Präventionsordnung des Hamburger Erzbistums soll Übergriffe auf Kinder und Jugendliche verhindern. Mehr als 6000 haupt- und ehrenamtliche Mitarbeiter müssen an zweitägigen Schulungen teilnehmen. Von Edgar S. Hasse

Tausende haupt- und ehrenamtliche Mitarbeiter des Erzbistums Hamburg werden in den nächsten Monaten zwei Tage lang geschult, um sexuellem Missbrauch in der katholischen Kirche vorzubeugen. Die Schulungen gehören zur Strategie einer jetzt von Erzbischof Werner Thissen in Kraft gesetzten kircheninternen Präventionsordnung. Damit zieht das Erzbistum Hamburg Konsequenzen aus den Missbrauchsfällen bei Kindern, Jugendlichen und erwachsenen Schutzbefohlenen.

Nach Angaben von Domkapitular und Personalchef Ansgar Thim wurde inzwischen ein Priester wegen Missbrauchsverdachts suspendiert. Zwei weitere Verfahren werden derzeit im Vatikan geprüft. Den Geistlichen droht möglicherweise die Rückversetzung in den Laienstand.

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DEUTSCHLAND
MissBiT

“Wir hören oft den Satz „Kinder sind unsere Zukunft“. Ich möchte den Satz etwas umformulieren: Kinder sind unsere Gegenwart.” (Zitat Generalvikar Holkenbrink”)

– ein gewagtes Zitat aus dem Bistum Trier, wenn man bedenkt, dass mehrere Priester, denen sexueller Missbrauch vorgeworfen wird, die sexualisierte Gewalt angewandt haben oder sich im Besitz kinderpornografischen Materials befanden, im Bistum Trier weiterhin Sakramente spenden, Messen zelebrieren, in Alten- und Pflegeheimen sowie in Krankenhäusern als “Seelsorger” arbeiten dürfen und tagtäglich Kontakt zu unseren Kindern und Jugendlichen haben…

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DEUTSCHLAND
Welt

Der Missbrauchsbeauftragte der Bundesregierung, Johannes-Wilhelm Rörig, hat den Bundestag zur schnellen Umsetzung des “Gesetzes zur Stärkung der Rechte von Opfern sexuellen Missbrauchs” (StORMG) aufgefordert. “Beim StORMG läuft uns die Zeit davon”, sagte er. Der Entwurf liege bereits seit Ende 2011 im Rechtsausschuss. Rörig sagte, die Verjährungsfristen von nur drei Jahren liefen für zivilrechtliche Schadenersatzansprüche weiter. “Ich befürchte, dass es in dieser Legislaturperiode eher nicht mehr klappt.” Rörig forderte ein breites gesellschaftliches Bündnis gegen sexuelle Gewalt. “Ich möchte, dass man mit dem Thema genauso ernsthaft umgeht wie mit den Gefahren für Kinder im Straßenverkehr”, sagte Rörig.

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SCHWEIZ
20 Minuten

Der ehemalige katholische Pfarrer von Aadorf TG wurde wegen sexueller Handlungen mit einem Kind verurteilt. Mehrere weitere Teilverfahren wurden eingestellt.

Die Thurgauer Staatsanwaltschaft hat gegen den ehemaligen katholischen Pfarrer von Aadorf einen Strafbefehl wegen sexueller Handlungen mit Kindern erlassen. Mehrere Teilverfahren wurden eingestellt. Der Schweizer sass 2010 einen Monat in Untersuchungshaft.

Die umfangreiche Untersuchung hätten bestätigt, dass es in der Zeit von 1999 bis 2010 zwischen dem Beschuldigten und mehreren Jugendlichen zu körperlichen Kontakten gekommen sei, heisst es in der Mitteilung der Thurgauer Staatsanwaltschaft vom Mittwoch.

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CALIFORNIA
KYPost

SANTA ANA, Calif. – The Roman Catholic Diocese of Orange settled a clergy abuse lawsuit for $2 million on the day of trial, an attorney for the plaintiff said.

The settlement was reached at 9:30 p.m. Monday after hours of negotiations, attorney Vince Finaldi said.

It resolves a civil lawsuit filed by a 41-year-old decorated Air Force combat pilot who alleged that former Monsignor Michael Harris molested him in 1986, when he was a student at Mater Dei Catholic High School and Harris was principal there.

Harris has never been charged criminally and denies the allegations. His attorney, James Ingram, did not return a call from The Associated Press seeking comment.

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ALASKA
Alaska Dispatch

Alex DeMarban | Jun 26, 2012

Heart-wrenching rates of Alaska Native children witness domestic or sexual violence, and many are victims themselves, troubling facts that mean the cycle of abuse is poised to continue, experts say.

That’s one of the takeaways from a newly published database called Healthy Native Families: Preventing Violence At All Ages. It’s a warehouse of information harvested from recent reports that drills down on the problem among Alaska Natives statewide.

Consider:
•Native mothers of 3-year-olds are eight times more likely than non-Natives to report that their child had witnessed violence or abuse, according to a 2009 state survey. …

Elsie Boudreau, a survivor of sexual abuse by a Catholic priest, works with abused Native children at Providence Hospital in Anchorage. A Yup’ik, she provides cultural education and support for child abuse victims and families as part of a response team that includes police, social workers and others.

She said Alaska Native children are disproportionately seen at the program, known as Alaska Child Abuse Response and Evaluation Services, or Alaska CARES. Of 900 children who received services last year, 40 percent were Alaska Natives.

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PHILADELPHIA (PA)
Philadelphia Inquirer

By Joseph A. Slobodzian
Inquirer Staff Writer

After five nights of solitary confinement at Philadelphia’s largest prison, Msgr. William J. Lynn has hope for a brief respite before he is sentenced to up to seven years for his role in the Catholic Church sex-abuse case.

Following an often-tense hour-long hearing, Common Pleas Court Judge M. Teresa Sarmina on Tuesday conditionally approved releasing the 61-year-old cleric to house arrest at the Northeast Philadelphia home of an in-law until he is sentenced on Aug. 13.

But Sarmina delayed Lynn’s release until a July 5 hearing while lawyers research her questions about options if he were to flee.

Lynn might have to remain at Curran-Fromhold Correctional Facility even after July 5, prosecutors said, because of an inmate waiting list for the electronic-monitoring ankle bracelets used to ensure that someone on house arrest stays put.

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ARLINGTON (VA)
WAVY

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) – A woman who claims a priest molested her during a more than two-year exorcism is suing the Catholic Diocese of Arlington.

The lawsuit in Arlington County Circuit Court also names Bishop Paul Loverde and Front Royal-based Human Life International Inc. as defendants. It seeks more than $5.3 million in damages.

The complaint says the woman went to the Rev. Thomas Euteneur (ET’-en-our) in 2008 for spiritual help. Euteneur was president of HLI, an anti-abortion ministry, and also performed exorcisms.

According to the lawsuit, Euteneur’s sessions with the woman frequently involved inappropriate touching and directing her to undress. The complaint says Euteneur explained passionate kisses as “blowing the Holy Spirit” into her.

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ITALY
Forbes

By Avi Jorisch

Italian prosecutors have now detained the former head of the Vatican’s bank after searching his home and former office for suspected criminal behavior. Catholics and followers of the Holy See will be disappointed to learn that the Vatican’s bank appears to be embroiled in yet another financial scandal. After a number of very embarrassing episodes in recent years, the Pope pledged to comply with international standards on illicit finance and clean up the bank’s image. The European Union has an important role to play in helping the Vatican mitigate risk and come into full compliance; the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), set up by the G-7 to combat money laundering and terrorist financing, has a responsibility as well.

The Institute for Works of Religion (IOR), commonly referred to as the Vatican Bank, is a privately held financial institution located inside Vatican City. Founded in 1942, the IOR’s role is to safeguard and administer property intended for works of religion or charity. The bank accepts deposits only from top Church officials and entities, according to Italian legal scholar Settimio Caridi. It is run by a president but overseen by five cardinals who report directly to the Vatican and the Vatican’s secretary of state. Because so little is known about the bank’s daily operations and transactions, it has often been called “the most secret bank in the world.”

The bank’s president, Ettore Gotti Tedeschi, a well-known and well-regarded figure throughout European banking and social circles, was effectively sacked when the board passed a unanimous “no-confidence” vote in late May. Hired in 2009 with the hope that he would clear the IOR’s reputation, he was fired, according to the Vatican announcement, because he failed to fulfill the “primary functions of his office.” Tedeschi echoed this when he told prosecutors that he came to the office only two days a week, spending the vast majority of his time as the head of Spain’s Banco Santander office in Milan.

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UNITED STATES
Ventura County Star

By Martin Schram

Posted June 26, 2012

Like planets and stars, two huge news masses with much in common hurtled for years through their independent orbits until — in a happening far more rare than a lunar eclipse — they unpredictably came into perfect alignment last Friday.

In the same news cycle on the same day in the same state, two juries announced two guilty verdicts in two totally unrelated court cases that were both rooted in the same shameful subject: the sexual abuse of children by trusted iconic figures of institutional authority.

One case was the focus of monumental news coverage, and it may be the only verdict you really know about: Jerry Sandusky, former Penn State University assistant football coach and founder of a celebrated program helping disadvantaged boys, was convicted of 45 counts of sexually abusing 10 boys.

But it was the other case that was of truly monumental significance, historically, legally, culturally and ecclesiastically. For the first time in the United States, a senior official of the Roman Catholic Church was convicted of covering up sexual abuses by priests he supervised.

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PHILADELPHIA (PA)
The Dallas Morning News

The conviction of Jerry Sandusky, the former defensive coordinator at Penn State, took place on the very same day last week that a jury in Philadelphia delivered a devastating verdict against the Catholic Church. Both cases involved sex abuse of minors by men whose horrific crimes, to a great degree, were facilitated by an institutional failure to protect vulnerable children.

Sandusky, for understandable reasons, received the national headlines. But the case in Philadelphia merits equal, if not greater, attention because it represents the first time that a senior official of the Catholic Church was held responsible for the abuse carried out by priests under his supervision.

The conviction of Monsignor William Lynn on a single charge of endangering a child was rightly hailed as a significant victory by victims of abuse by priests and their advocates, who for years have complained that the Catholic Church itself was often complicit in the crimes. As secretary for clergy at the Philadelphia archdiocese, historically one of the most important in the country, Lynn was like many church administrators in that he knew the histories of abusive priests and yet did nothing to prevent them from preying on children.

The significance of the verdict in Philadelphia, however, does not end with Lynn’s conviction. Evidence produced in the case offers indisputable proof that Cardinal Anthony Bevilacqua, an ecclesiastical prince of the Catholic Church and the head of the Philadelphia Archdiocese from 1988 to 2003, was equally guilty of endangering children.

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PHILADELPHIA (PA)
National Catholic Reporter

by Brian Roewe on Jun. 26, 2012 NCR Today

For the time being, Msgr. William Lynn will remain in jail.

According to the Philadelphia Inquirer, Common Pleas Court Judge M. Teresa Sarmina has given conditional approval to release the 61-year-old convicted priest to house arrest, but the final decision will wait until lawyers can research what would happen should Lynn attempt to flee.

That plan could keep Lynn jailed until at least July 5.

The former secretary of clergy for the Philadelphia archdiocese was convicted on one of three charges — one count of child endangerment — brought against him for his role in supervising priests accused of abuse, and was acquitted on charges of conspiracy and another count of child endangerment.

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PHILADELPHIA (PA)
My Fox Philly

By Kristen Byrne

PHILADELPHIA –
A decision has yet to be made on whether a Roman Catholic official convicted of child endangerment will be released on house arrest until his sentencing hearing.

Common Pleas Court Judge M. Teresa Sarmina indicated she might release Monsignor William Lynn on house arrest while he awaits sentencing if the Vatican agrees they will not harbor him in the event he flees the country.

Lynn’s defense insists he’s not a flight risk and want him on house arrest while he awaits his sentencing. His passport was surrendered to the court on Tuesday.

“Get the hell out of here, he’s not going to the Vatican,” defense attorney Tom Bergstrom said after the hearing. “That’s ridiculous.”

The prosecution argued for Lynn to stay in jail, citing an article that 35 priests have fled during criminal cases. However, most of these were before their criminal trial.

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PHILADELPHIA (PA)
Philadelphia Priest Abuse Trial Blog

Ralph Cipriano

Judge M. Teresa Sarmina wants Msgr. William J. Lynn to sign an extradition waiver before she’ll consider letting him out of jail on house arrest.

The judge told lawyers in the case that she’s worried about the monsignor fleeing the Commonwealth to hide out at the Vatican. If the monsignor wants to get out of jail, he’ll have to sign the extradition waiver first. Then if he subsequently becomes a fugitive and is captured on Vatican soil, he cannot legally fight extradition back to the U.S.

Sounds like a plot for a TV potboiler, right? But the judge was serious, and so Lynn agreed to the request. The judge was crabbier than usual as she repeatedly lit into defense lawyer Jeff Lindy for mistakenly telling her last week that the monsignor does not have a passport. He does, although on Tuesday, the monsignor handed his passport over to the judge before he went back to jail.

The judge got things started at the hearing over house arrest by telling lawyers on both sides of the case that she wanted them to be civil.

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CALIFORNIA
Mercury News

By Tracey Kaplan
tkaplan@mercurynews.com
mercurynews.com

Posted: 06/26/2012

A wireless communications expert this morning testified Will Lynch’s cell phone made a number of calls from near a Jesuit retirement center the day he allegedly beat a priest.

Jim Cook said Lynch’s cell phone made eight calls from the Los Gatos-Campbell area, in the area of the Sacred Heart center, on the same day when Rev. Jerold Lindner was attacked, May 10, 2010.

The calls were made between 2:36 p.m. and 3:04 p.m., Cook said. Earlier in the day, the phone was used to call the center from San Francisco, where Lynch lives.

On cross of the prosecution’s Modesto-based wireless expert, Lynch’s lead attorney Pat Harris went on the attack.

First, he asked how much Cook was being paid, a standard question typically lobbed by both sides.

Cook said $175 an hour, or a little over $6,000.

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CALIFORNIA
KGO

Amy Hollyfield

SAN JOSE, Calif. (KGO) — There was another legal setback Tuesday morning for the man charged with assaulting a priest he claims molested him and his brother as children. William Lynch’s attorneys had asked for a mistrial but the motion was denied.

Lynch’s parents apparently sighed as the judge announced the decision and they were scolded by the bailiff for reacting in court.

Lynch is on trial for felony assault. He is accused of beating Father Jerry Lindner, who he says repeatedly raped him as a child.

The district attorney’s office put Lindner on the stand last week, but not before telling jurors that he would likely lie and deny the molestation. The priest did just that. The defense then asked for a mistrial, calling it perjury. Monday, the prosecution argued it was only being honest and upfront with the court. The judge said that the defense can’t prove with 100 percent certainty that Lindner lied because he was never charged nor convicted of molestation.

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BERLIN (CT)
The Hartford Courant

By DAVID OWENS, dowens@courant.com
The Hartford Courant

5:00 p.m. EDT, June 26, 2012

BERLIN —
A priest already facing felony charges that he engaged in sexual talk with young boys is facing additional charges, including possession of child pornography and four more case of the priest having sexually charged conversations with young boys.

The new charges arose out of searches of the hard drives of the Rev. Michael Miller’s three computers, which were seized by police at the time of Miller’s initial arrest on July 12, 2011.

Police said a search by forensic examiners at the New Britain police department turned up evidence of chats via Facebook with two 16-year-old boys, a 17-year-old boy, three 15-year-old boys and a 13-year-old boy. Police focused their efforts on the Facebook chats with the boys younger than 16.

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NEW JERSEY
NJ.com

By Jamie Tripp Utitus/Parental Guidance

When Todd Kostrub, of Surf City, LBI, finally came to terms with the years of abuse that he suffered under the hands of a Franciscan Clergyman, he spoke to his family and brother-in-law who was a Seargent in the NJ State Police. He was 31. The police went to clergyman, Brother Munn of Holy Assumption Church in Roebling.

Surprisingly, when Brother Munn was detained, he confessed to everything, even particular instances of abuse that Todd had managed to block out after all these years.Todd was surprised by the confession, to say the least. But something even more surprising happened a few hours after Munn was detained. Munn was released.

According to a N.J. statute, a victim of abuse has to report the incident two years from the day they turn 18. In order to stop this predator, Kostrub would need to have reported the abuse 11 years earlier. That would mean about a day after the abuse stopped and Kostrub left for college, give or take a few hours,he would have needed to march down to the station and file a report.

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OHIO
ABC 6

Judah Christian Community Church sent a statement regarding the sexual abuse allegations that one teenager and his mother has revealed to ABC 6 / FOX 28.

Camp Impact Vision:
Impact Camp exists to provide a fun and safe environment where students can encounter God and build godly relationships with each other.

Statement:
As senior pastor of Judah Christian Community, I was heartbroken when I received word on Friday morning of this serious incident.

I am grateful for the student’s quick reporting of this incident, for the Impact Camp leadership contacting the authorities, and the fast actions taken by the Erie County Sheriff’s Department.

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ITALIA
QN

Rovigo, 22 giugno 2012 – Nuovo scandalo sessuale nella Chiesa. Il Vaticano, nell’organo del Pontificio Consiglio per i laici, ha rimosso dal suo incarico il 73enne padre Luigi Prandin, missionario e fondatore della comunita’ di Villaregia (Rovigo). Il religioso è accusato di ‘’gravi atti immorali nei confronti di alcune missionarie’’, avvenuti in passato. Il sospetto e’ che si tratti di abusi sessuali nei confronti di donne impegnate nelle missioni gestite dalla comunita’ polesana in Sud America.

Ma l’azione del Vaticano non si è conclusa con questo atto. Ad essere rimossa dal suo incarico è stata anche la co-fondatrice laica della comunita’, la 61enne Maria Luigia Corona. La donna lavora assieme a padre Luigi dal 1981. Secondo quanto trapela dal riserbo dei missionari, la donna sarebbe stata a conoscenza dei ‘’gravi atti immorali’’ imputati a Prandin, ma li avrebbe taciuti, per coprirlo.

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CIUDAD DEL VATICANO
Excelsior

CIUDAD DEL VATICANO, 26 de junio.- El Papa Benedicto XVI aceptó hoy la renuncia anticipada del obispo argentino Fernando Bargalló, tras la publicación en la prensa de unas comprometedoras fotografías suyas con una mujer en el balneario mexicano de Cancún.

En un comunicado la sala de prensa del Vaticano informó que la renuncia fue acogida según el apartado 402.2 del Código de Derecho Canónico, la ley fundamental de la Iglesia, que considera dimisiones anticipadas de prelados por enfermedad o “causas de fuerza mayor”.

El pontífice designó como administrador apostólico de la diócesis de Merlo-Moreno, hasta ahora pastoreada por Bargalló, a Alcides Jorge Pedro Casaretto, obispo emérito de la diócesis de San Isidro.

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ARGENTINA
El Pais (Espana)

El Papa Benedicto XVI aceptó ayer la renuncia del presidente de Cáritas Latinoamérica, Fernando Bargalló, a su cargo de obispo de la diócesis de Merlo-Moreno, dos municipios pobres de la periferia oeste de Buenos Aires. Después de que se difundieran la semana pasada unas fotos de Bargalló bañándose en la playa con una mujer, el obispo reconoció el romance y dimitió el viernes por tratarse de una “causa grave”, según el Código de Derecho Canónico.

El prelado, de 57 años, no era progresista ni ultraconservador. Era de una línea moderada, fiel a Roma, pero tolerante con curas tercermundistas, con un compromiso social que lo llevó a enfrentarse con políticos. El viaje con su amante a un hotel de lujo en México en 2011 ha puesto en tela de juicio su austeridad, pero también ha demostrado que alguien quería arruinarle la carrera y lo siguió en todo su periplo. ¿Quién fue y por qué guardó las fotos casi un año y medio? No se sabe. El obispo se defendió ante la Nunciatura Apostólica (embajada del Vaticano) acusando de difamación al alcalde de Merlo, Raúl Othacehé.

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ARGENTINA
El Dia

El Papa Benedicto XVI aceptó la dimisión del titular de la diócesis de Merlo-Moreno, monseñor Fernando María Bargalló, involucrado en un escándalo por la publicación de unas fotografías que lo vinculan sentimentalmente con una empresaria, de quien dijo ser “amigo de toda la vida”.

Además, el Santo Padre nombró Administrador Apostólico -ad nutum Sanctae Sedis- de esa diócesis a monseñor Alcides Jorge Casaretto, de 75 años, obispo emérito de San Isidro y ex presidente de la Comisión Episcopal de Pastoral Social.

Esto quiere decir que Casaretto permanecerá en el cargo de Administrador Apostólico hasta que la Santa Sede designe al nuevo obispo diocesano.

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‎ARGENTINA
Buenos Aires Herald

The Vatican said today it accepts the resignation tendered by Argentine bishop Fernando María Bargallo, who was caught living an alleged affaire with a woman in a Mexican beach resort, in the latest of a string of sex scandals that hit the Catholic church.

Monsignor Bargallo, bishop of Greater Buenos Aires districts of Merlo and Moreno since 1997, was forced to tender his resignation after photographs emerged this month showing him embracing a blonde a woman at a luxury resort in Mexico.

Bargallo, 57, has allegedly admitted to having “love ties” with the woman he was seen embracing in the waters of a hotel swimming pool, who’s been indicated as a single (divorced) owner of a restaurant in the exclusive City area of Las Cañitas.

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VATICAN CITY
Telegraph (United Kingdom)

The Vatican has accepted the resignation of an Argentine bishop who was caught cavorting with a blonde, bikini-clad woman on a Mexican beach.

Bishop Fernando Bargallo, 57, was forced to hand in his resignation after photographs emerged this month showing him frolicking and embracing the woman at a luxury resort in Mexico.

Bargallo, who led the Argentine diocese of Merlo-Moreno outside Buenos Aires since May 1997, has reportedly admitted to having “amorous ties” with the woman he is seen embracing in the water, thought to be a divorced restaurant owner.

He had initially claimed she was just a longtime friend.

The news broke as the Vatican ousted the founder of an Italian mission for “serious immoral behaviour,” after it emerged he had sex with female missionaries during a posting in South America.

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VATICAN CITY
Catholic News Agency

Vatican City, Jun 26, 2012 / 12:01 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- Pope Benedict XVI has accepted the resignation of an Argentinean bishop who admitted a romantic relationship with a woman photographed with him on a beach in Mexico.

The resignation of Bishop Fernando Maria Bargallo of Merlo-Moreno, the diocese west of Buenos Aires, was accepted June 26 under a provision of canon law allowing bishops to resign if they become unsuited for their office for a “grave reason.”

The Pope has appointed Bishop emeritus Alcides Jorge Pedro Casaretto of San Isidro as apostolic administrator of Merlo-Moreno.

Last week, photos were published showing the 57-year-old Bishop Bargallo and a woman on a beach in Mexico. He initially acknowledged that the photos were of him but said that the woman was only a “childhood friend.”

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VATICAN CITY
Vatican Information Service

Vatican City, 26 June 2012 (VIS) – The Holy Father:

– Accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the diocese of Merlo-Moreno, Argentina, presented by Bishop Fernando Maria Bargallo, in accordance with canon 401 para. 2 of the Code of Canon Law, appointing Bishop Alcides Jorge Pedro Casaretto, emeritus of the diocese of San Isidro, Argentina, as apostolic administrator “ad nutum Sanctae Sedis” of Merlo-Moreno.

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VATICAN CITY/ARGENTINA
Huffington Post

[with video]

By NICOLE WINFIELD 06/26/12

VATICAN CITY — The pope has accepted the resignation of an Argentine bishop photographed frolicking on a Mexican beach with a woman, one of several personnel changes announced Tuesday by the Vatican before the pontiff heads off for summer vacation.

Monsignor Fernando Maria Bargallo, bishop of Merlo-Moreno outside Buenos Aires, initially denied having had any improper relationship with the woman, whom he described as a childhood friend. But the 57-year-old Bargallo later decided to step down under the church rule that lets bishops retire before age 75 if they’re found to be unfit for office.

Photographs of the encounter were broadcast on television last week and have been circulating on the Internet.

The resignation was one of several personnel changes announced Tuesday by the Vatican before the pope leaves next week for Castel Gandolfo, the papal summer residence in the hills south of Rome. The Vatican frequently announces a rash of personnel moves before the pope leaves town and the Vatican slows down for the summer.

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UNITED STATES
Bilgrimage

William D. Lindsey

Breaking news, thanks to this press release by David Clohessy of SNAP: a woman who alleges sexual abuse by Father Thomas Euteneuer, formerly head of the pro-life organization Human Life International, has sued the Catholic diocese of Arlington, Virginia, its Bishop Paul Loverde, and Human Life International for, as she alleges, covering up sexual abuse she says she endured as Euteneuer performed exorcisms on her.

The suit claims that the defendants knew that the rite of exorcism should not be performed by a priest acting alone and with no observers–and that this did, indeed, happen in her case, as Euteneuer, who told her that her case was “severe,” took her to a bedroom where he lay with her all night, touching her, and “blowing the Holy Spirit” into her with passionate kisses. I’ll spare readers other details of subsequent exorcism sessions that are provided in the preceding article, and which the plaintiff alleges involved physical violation under the guise of exorcism that became more intense.

She is also alleging that because Euteneuer knew she had kept a journal chronicling her interaction with him, he asked to keep the journal in a safe place for her and then informed her he had burnt it, and searched her house for other journals she might have kept. She also maintains that Euteneuer remained in his position at Human Life International for two months after she described in detail his violation of her to a priest of the Arlington diocese.

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PHILADELPHIA (PA)
In-Forum

By MARYCLAIRE DALE, The Associated Press – PHILADELPHIA

A judge might release a convicted Roman Catholic priest to await sentencing if the Vatican will honor his waiver of extradition if he flees.

Monsignor William Lynn could be released on house arrest if the conditions are met. The judge also would double his bail to $100,000. The judge will reconsider Lynn’s request for release July 5.

Lynn is set for sentencing Aug. 13 after he was convicted of felony child endangerment.

He faces about 3-1/2 to seven years in prison. His lawyers say he is not a flight risk.

Prosecutors say at least 35 priests have fled during criminal cases, but most apparently fled before trial, often to their native country.

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PHILADELPHIA (PA)
dotCommonweal

June 26, 2012

Posted by Paul Moses

Having spent about eight years as a reporter covering various court beats, I was surprised when Monsignor William Lynn was jailed immediately after his conviction on a charge of child endangerment. The practice I’ve witnessed countless times, except for gangsters, drug dealers and other violent criminals, is for the defendant to be free on bail pending sentencing. And even then, the judges I covered – some very tough judges in the federal court – often allowed defendants to remain free pending appeal.

At a hearing in Philadelphia today, prosecutor Patrick Blessington came up with a surprise piece of information to support his call for Lynn to remain in jail pending his Aug. 13 sentencing: a Chicago Tribune article reporting that since 1985, some 32 priests who were charged or under investigation in child-abuse cases fled the country. Only five returned to face trial.

I hadn’t caught that troubling story when it ran in March and, as the Philadelphia Inquirer makes clear, neither had Judge M. Teresa Sarmina, who “appeared to be taken aback.”

Blessington warned her that the Vatican doesn’t have an extradition treaty with the U.S., implying that Lynn could find refuge there.

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PHILADELPHIA (PA)
Philadelphia Inquirer

By Joseph A. Slobodzian
Inquirer Staff Writer

Updated 12:35 p.m.:

Common Pleas Court Judge M. Teresa Sarmina has given conditional approval to the idea of house arrest for Msgr. William J. Lynn, who was convicted last week of child endangerment in a Catholic sex-abuse scandal. But Lynn will have to remain in jail until at least a scheduled July 5 hearing on several legal issues the judge asked the lawyers to research.

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PHILADELPHIA (PA)
Philadelphia Inquirer

By Joseph A. Slobodzian
INQUIRER STAFF WRITER

A Philadelphia judge has given conditional approval to a plan that would release Msgr. William J. Lynn on house arrest pending his sentencing for child endangerment in the Catholic church sex-abuse case.

But Common Pleas Court Judge M. Teresa Sarmina said Lynn, 61, must remain in prison at least until a July 5 hearing so lawyers can try to answer what would happen if Lynn were to flee.

Lynn, the first church officially criminally charged for his administrative duties in the landmark sex-abuse trial, was found guilty by a jury on Friday and Sarmina ordered him immediately taken into custody.

Lynn’s attorney asked for today’s hearing to proposed a monitored house arrest program to allow Lynn to remain out of prison pending his Aug. 13 sentencing.

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PHILADELPHIA (PA)
CNN

By Sarah Hoye, CNN

updated 3:46 PM EDT, Tue June 26, 2012

Philadelphia (CNN) — The highest-ranking Catholic church cleric charged and convicted in the landmark child sexual abuse trial will remain in jail for the time being, a Philadelphia judge ordered Tuesday.

Monsignor William Lynn was found guilty Friday of one count of child endangerment, the first time a U.S. church leader has been convicted of such a charge.

The trial marked the first time U.S. prosecutors have charged not just the priests who allegedly committed abuses but church leaders for failing to stop them. Lynn is the highest-ranking cleric accused of imperiling children by helping cover up sexual abuse.

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PHILADELPHIA (PA)
Newsworks

June 26, 2012
By Elizabeth Fiedler

The jurors have spoken in the landmark priest sexual abuse case in Philadelphia. Now what?

In addition to a spate of civil lawsuits, there are also the upcoming trials of the Reverend Charles Engelhardt and former schoolteacher Bernard Shero. The two are accused of molesting the same altar boy and will be tried in the fall.

The jury found Monsignor William Lynn, a former high ranking church official, guilty of one count of endangering the welfare of a child. Jurors found Lynn not guilty on two other charges.

“The civil lawsuits may well be stayed a little bit longer,” said Law professor Marci Hamilton is co-counsel in seven cases brought by plaintiffs who allege abuse and cover-up by Philadelphia church officials. “Because there’s a case against Engelhardt going forward in the fall and we wouldn’t be surprised at all if there were further grand jury charges arising out of some of what we learned during this criminal trial.”

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PHILADELPHIA (PA)
Newsworks

June 26, 2012
By NewsWorks Staff

Monsignor William Lynn in jail until July 5 at least.

After being convicted last week on one count of child endangerment in a landmark sex abuse trial for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, Lynn is hoping to be put on house arrest.

The judge is reviewing the house arrest conditions, including that Lynn double his cash bail to $10,000 on $100,000 bond. Lynn would also sign a waiver acknowledging that if he flees, he could be extradited from any country—including the Vatican, which does not have an extradition treaty with the US.

The judge has not made a decision, but put Lynn in line to receive an electronic bracelet for house arrest; a process that could take several weeks.

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NEW JERSEY
New Jersey 101.5

In New Jersey, as the law currently stands, if you’re a victim of sexual abuse, you have 2 years from the time you realize you’ve been sexually abused to file a lawsuit against the individual or institution that carried out the abuse.

A two year limit is way too little.

However according to a recent report: an Assembly panel has approved a bill abolishing 2-year time limit for sex abuse lawsuits… but would allow them to file suit no matter how much time has passed.

In one example in the report,

Todd Kostrub said his seventh birthday was “a big deal” because that was the day he became an altar boy at Holy Assumption Elementary School in Roebling.

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UNITED STATES
Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests

Posted by David Clohessy on June 26, 2012

Fr. Thomas Euteneuer is a manipulative, sick charlatan. He has sexually violated other devout, vulnerable Catholic women. Like Fr. Daniel McGuire and Fr. John Corapi, Fr. Euteneuer travels widely and trades on his charm and charisma to exploit unsuspecting parishioners who are often in awe of his high profile and impressive connections.

Catholic officials rarely supervise or monitor these kinds of predators, making them particularly dangerous.

We are grateful that more victims of Fr. Euteneur are stepping forward. When victims stay silent, nothing changes. But when victims find the courage to take action, there’s at least a chance for prevention, healing and justice.

If you were hurt by a priest, suffering in shame, isolation and self-blame won’t fix it. Only by stepping forward, speaking up and getting help can you both recover personally and help others. Now is the time to do it.

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OSTERREICH
Kreuz

Es genügt, daß ein Wiener Dechant nur äußerlich an der Einheit mit dem Bischof interessiert ist, um im Amt bleiben zu können.

(kreuz.net, Wien) Am 12. Juni trat Pfarrer Peter Meidinger von der altliberalen ‘Ungehorsam-Initiative’ auf Druck von Homoporn-Kardinal Christoph Schönborn von Wien als Dechant zurück.

Heute verschickte die Erzdiözese Wien dazu eine ausführliche Rechtfertigung.

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DEUTSCHLAND
News

Berlin – Die katholische Kirche in Berlin hat Konsequenzen aus den Missbrauchsvorwürfen gegen einen Pfarrer aus Reinickendorf gezogen. Der Mann, der in den 90er Jahren einen Jugendlichen missbraucht haben soll, verzichtet auf Wunsch der Kirchenführung künftig auf sein Amt.

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DEUTSCHLAND
Hamburger Abendblatt

Der Missbrauchsskandal in der katholischen Kirche ist auch an Hamburg nicht vorbeigegangen. Um sexuelle Gewalt in der Kirche künftig zu verhindern, hat das Erzbistum Hamburg – wie bereits andere Diözesen zuvor – Mitte Juni eine Präventionsordnung in Kraft gesetzt. Damit solle eine „Kultur des Hinhörens“ gefördert werden, betonte Domkapitular Ansgar Thim am Dienstag.

+++Neue Missbrauchsfälle – Vorermittlungsverfahren+++

Seit Bekanntwerden des Skandals in der katholischen Kirche haben sich beim Erzbistum Hamburg etwa 50 mögliche Opfer sexueller Gewalt gemeldet. 38 Anträge von Betroffenen seien an die Deutsche Bischofskonferenz in Bonn geleitet worden, sagte Thim. „Wir zahlen dann, wenn die Anträge positiv beschieden werden, 5000 Euro pro Antrag.“ Zusätzlich zu der Entschädigung könne es Therapieleistungen geben.

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DEUTSCHLAND
Unabhangige Beauftragte

Der Unabhängige Beauftragte für Fragen des sexuellen Kindesmissbrauchs, Johannes-Wilhelm Rörig, lädt in regelmäßigen Abständen Betroffenen-Initiativen zu einem Gesprächsaustausch nach Berlin ein, um mit ihnen Schwerpunktthemen zu identifizieren, die auch nach Ende des Runden Tisches „Sexueller Kindesmissbrauch“ aus Sicht der Betroffenen im Vordergrund der weiteren Arbeit stehen sollten.

Vier Vertreterinnen und Vertreter der teilnehmenden Betroffenen-Initiativen sind auch in den Fachbeirat beim Unabhängigen Beauftragten berufen worden. Der Fachbeirat begleitet die Arbeit des Unabhängigen Beauftragten und wird Schwerpunktthemen in Hearings vertiefen.

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DEUTSCHLAND
netzwerkB

Offener Brief  an:

Frau Ministerin Prof. Dr. Anette Schavan
Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung
Platz der Republik
1
11011 Berlin
Fax: 030 227 76794

Frau Ministerin Sabine Leutheusser-Schnarrenberger
Bundesministerium der Justiz
Platz der Republik 1
11011 Berlin
Fax 030 – 227 764 02

Frau Ministerin Dr. Kristina Schröder
Bundesministerium für Familie, Senioren, Frauen und Jugend
Platz der Republik 1
11011 Berlin
Fax: 030 18555 4400

Herr Johannes-Wilhelm Rörig
Unabhängiger Beauftragter für Fragen des sexuellen Kindesmissbrauchs
Glinkastraße 24
10117 Berlin
Fax: 030 20655-41551


Forderung Beteiligung am Runden Tisch

Sehr geehrte Frau Dr. Schavan,
sehr geehrte Frau Leutheusser-Schnarrenberger,
sehr geehrte Frau Dr. Schröder,
sehr geehrter Herr Rörig,

das Netzwerk Betroffener von sexualisierter Gewalt e.V., kurz netzwerkB, ist eine Vereinigung von und für Menschen, denen sexualisierte Gewalt, oftmals verbunden mit weiteren Formen von psychischer und physischer Gewalt, angetan wurde, einmalig, mehrmalig bis hin zu jahrelang systematisch, im Säuglings-, Kindes-, Jugendlichen- oder Erwachsenenalter. Sie wurde 2010 in Scharbeutz gegründet.

Die Vereinigung arbeitet bundesweit, sie besteht aus einem Bundesvorstand, Landesgruppen und der Mitgliederversammlung. Sie versteht sich als Interessenvertretung der Opfer und ihrer Angehörigen. Sie setzt sich für die Aufklärung und Prävention ein.

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OSTERREICH
News4Press.com

Hans Hermann Kardinal Groër OSB * 13. Oktober 1919 in Wien; † 24. März 2003 in St. Pölten war Erzbischof von Wien. Am 27. März 1995 erhob im Nachrichtenmagazin „profil“ Ausgabe 13 < / > 95 ein ehemaliger Schüler Groërs schwere Vorwürfe wegen seinerzeitigen sexuellen Missbrauchs von Jugendlichen gegen den Kardinal. Dieser hüllte sich darauf in Schweigen und trat am 6. April 1995 als Vorsitzender der Bischofskonferenz zurück. Der Vatikan reagierte „diplomatisch“: Groër wurde am 13. April 1995 Christoph Schönborn als Koadjutor-Erzbischof mit dem Recht auf Nachfolge beigestellt und mit Wirkung per 14. September 1995 sein schon am 13. Oktober 1994 – vor der „Affäre Groër“ – aus Altersgründen eingebrachtes Rücktrittsgesuch angenommen. Die Affäre Groër führte in Österreich im März 1995 zu einem Kirchenvolksbegehren. Die Initiative Wir sind Kirche sammelte mehr als 500.000 Unterschriften für eine „grundlegende Erneuerung der Kirche Jesu“. Reformen seien notwendig, um der katholischen Kirche „wieder zu mehr Ansehen und Akzeptanz zu verhelfen“.

Nach dem Rücktritt wegen der Vorwürfe des sexuellen Missbrauches zog sich Groër in das von ihm gegründete Zisterzienserinnenkloster Marienfeld zurück. Am 1. September 1996 übertrug man ihm wieder ein kirchliches Amt als Prior des Hauses St. Josef in Maria Roggendorf, einem Ableger des Stiftes Göttweig, das er allerdings nach anhaltenden Vorwürfen am 5. Januar 1998 ebenfalls aufgeben musste. Nachdem die Bischöfe Christoph Schönborn, Johann Weber, Georg Eder und Egon Kapellari in einer Stellungnahme erklärt hatten, dass sie zur „moralischen Gewissheit“ gelangt wären, dass die Vorwürfe gegen Groër „im Wesentlichen zutreffen“, und nach einer vom Vatikan verordneten Visitation im Stift Göttweig bat Groër 1998 in einer Erklärung, „Gott und die Menschen“ um Vergebung, „wenn ich Schuld auf mich geladen habe“. Kardinal Groër zog dann in ein Nonnenkloster der Nazarethschwestern in Goppeln in Deutschland, ab Oktober 1998 lebte er zurückgezogen in Marienfeld.

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OSTERREICH
Kleine Zeitung

LEOBEN. Es geht um sexuelle Übergriffe auf Ministranten. Mindestens ein Mädchen und fünf Buben aus Leoben soll der 24-jährige Pastoralpraktikant aus dem Bezirk Graz-Umgebung unsittlich berührt haben. Zu sexuellen Handlungen ist es nicht gekommen.

Chefinspektor Josef Klec vom Kriminalreferat des Polizeistadtkommandos Leoben bestätigt: “Es ist richtig, die Vorwürfe stehen im Raum. Wir ermitteln.” Kaplan Lukas Wojtyczka vom Pfarrverband Leoben-West, wo der Pastoralpraktikant bis vor wenigen Tagen beschäftigt war, hatte Anzeige erstattet. Es seien Vorwürfe laut geworden, man habe daraufhin sofort reagiert, sagt Georg Plank, Pressesprecher der Diözese.

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VATICAN CITY
National Catholic Reporter

Jun. 26, 2012
By John L Allen Jr

ANALYSIS

In the original “Star Trek,” Capt. James T. Kirk was both the brilliant tactician and the swashbuckling ladies’ man. When “Star Trek: The Next Generation” rolled around, Kirk’s character was split in half, with Capt. Jean-Luc Picard as the brains and First Officer Will Riker as the brawn.

In effect, the Vatican has now unveiled a “Next Generation” strategy to address its perceived PR woes.

During the John Paul years, the Vatican had its Kirk on the communications front, someone who combined both external visibility and insider clout. Spanish layman Joaquin Navarro-Valls was a power broker in his own right, with a place at the table when decisions were made and the public face of the institution, second only in terms of visibility to the pope himself.

Under Benedict XVI, the Vatican has limped by on half that formula. Jesuit Fr. Federico Lombardi, the current spokesperson, is endlessly accessible and visible, but he lacks the insider muscle wielded by Navarro-Valls.

The Vatican has finally moved to plug that hole.

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CHILE
La Tercera

Víctima de Karadima responde a Yrarrázabal y asegura que parroquia estaba “llena de heridas”

El actual párroco de El Bosque, Carlos Yrarrázaval, señaló que no ha ido a ver a Fernando Karadima debido al rol de los medios de comunicación en el caso y que al momento de recibir esta iglesia del sector oriente de Santiago, ésta estaba viva y llena. Sin embargo, estas palabras hicieron eco en Juan Carlos Cruz, una de las víctimas del ex párroco.

Cruz afirmó a La Tercera que cuando viene a Santiago -ya que vive en Estados Unidos- no ve a una parroquia El Bosque “llena”. “Si el párroco dice que recibió a una iglesia llena, será llena de heridas, porque las veces que he pasado por ahí no se ve llena para nada”.

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DEUTSCHLAND
taz

HAMBURG taz | Wenn es um sexuelle Übergriffe geht, tut sich die Kirche immer noch schwer, eine Sprache zu finden. Von „Anerkennung von Leid“ spricht der Hamburger Domkapitular Ansgar Thim, Beauftragter für Fragen der sexuellen Gewalt an Minderjährigen beim Erzbistum Hamburg. 50 Anträge auf „Anerkennungsleistungen“ seien bei ihm eingegangen, 38 habe er an die Deutsche Bischofskonferenz nach Bonn weitergeleitet, sagt Thim auf der Pressekonferenz am Montag. „Heißt das, Sie gehen davon aus, dass die Anschuldigungen in diesen Fällen der Wahrheit entsprechen?“ – „Ja.“

Thim ist ein gepflegter Herr mit randloser Brille, seine Aufgabe ist es, Gespräche mit den potenziellen Opfern zu führen. Und mit den Tätern. „Kein Fall ist wie der andere“, sagt er. Oft sei die Situation die, dass Vorwürfe erhoben würden, und die Beschuldigten sagten: „Das war nicht so.“ Die Staatsanwaltschaft sei in allen Fällen eingeschaltet worden, aber sie ermittle in keinem – die Vorgänge seien verjährt.

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CALIFORNIA
Contra Costa Times

By Tracey Kaplan tkaplan@mercurynews.comcontracostatimes.com
Posted: 06/26/2012

The judge in the priest beating trial this morning once again denied a renewed motion by defense attorneys for a mistrial, then made a ruling that dealt a blow to their case.

Although Judge David A. Cena ruled that three other alleged victims of Rev. Jerold Lindner will not be able to testify in the trial of Will Lynch, who is accused of beating Lindner at a Jesuit retirement center in Los Gatos two years ago.

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VATICAN CITY
Catholic Culture

Paolo Gabriele, the valet to Pope Benedict XVI who was arrested on May 23 in connection with the leaks of confidential papal documents, will remain in a secure room inside the Vatican.

Gabriele has been questioned extensively about his role in the “Vatileaks” affair in two sessions with magistrates. Father Federico Lombardi, the director of the Vatican press office, said that no further questioning is currently scheduled.

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PENNSYLVANIA
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

June 25, 2012

By Ruth Ann Dailey

Two adult men, Monsignor William Lynn and Jerry Sandusky, were convicted Friday of, simply put, hurting children.

One is a high-ranking priest, the other a respected football coach. Both harmed society’s most vulnerable members.

Both men are, or were, part of great institutions whose reputations — and whose other innocent members — have been damaged by their crimes.

But there the likeness ends, because Mr. Sandusky is a predator, and Monsignor Lynn is an enabler of predators.

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WEST VIRGINIA
The Intelligencer / Wheeling News-Register

June 25, 2012

No one will ever know how many children have suffered needlessly because adults decided it was less important to protect them than to avoid the taint of scandal at a school, church or other institution. But last week two juries in Pennsylvania issued reminders that the children always take priority.

By coincidence, separate trials in Philadelphia and Bellefonte ended Friday. In one, a jury in Philadelphia convicted a Roman Catholic church official of child endangerment for covering up situations in which priests had abused children. Monsignor William Lynn was the first U.S. church official convicted of a felony in such a coverup.

In Bellefonte, another jury convicted former Penn State University assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky of sexually abusing children during a period of about 15 years.

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KENTUCKY
The Courier-Journal

Editorial

Do not think that the guilty verdicts handed down in Pennsylvania last Friday have little or nothing to do with anyone here.

Just because they dealt with a Roman Catholic official in Philadelphia who was convicted of child endangerment for his role in moving around predatory priests without informing the public of the danger that awaited in their churches, and with a serial molester who used his Penn State coaching credentials and his community standing as a “saint” who worked with at-risk kids to shield his crimes, doesn’t mean those horrors are somehow removed from us.

It is true that Monsignor William Lynn, who could spend up to seven years in prison, and former football coach Jerry Sandusky, who faces more than 400 years behind bars, were convicted of crimes they committed in a different state, and held accountable by juries of their peers.

But both defendants and what landed them in court illustrate unthinkable horrors that are visited on children throughout the country, including those in our own communities.

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NEW YORK
Times Herald-Record

Similar verdicts in similar cases in two Pennsylvania courtrooms last week provided a small measure of justice to some of the most vulnerable victims imaginable, young men who trusted older figures of authority who then abused them.

In Bellefonte, Pa., a jury quickly decided that Jerry Sandusky, a legendary part of the legendary Penn State football program, had systematically lured and abused these victims over decades. In Philadelphia a jury took almost two weeks before deciding that Msgr. William J. Lynn was guilty of endangering children because of his role in covering up abuses by Roman Catholic priests.

While the Sandusky case had the bigger media impact, the decision concerning the church could have much longer-lasting and wide ranging effects. For the first time, prosecutors were able to convince a jury of something that most people have already concluded, that failing to do something about this abuse is almost as despicable as the abuse itself. And when the cover-up has been an integral part of the institutions, as the cases showed it has been in Penn State and the church, the message is as clear as those warnings we see in another context: If you see something, say something.

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PENNSYLVANIA
The Patriot-News

By Patriot-News Editorial Board

Pennsylvania lawmakers cannot continue to hide behind the “we’ll get to it” mantra when it comes to reforming the state’s child abuse laws.

We owe it to the victims of Jerry Sandusky who bravely came forward against community pressure and in the midst of a media circus.

We owe it to the victims of child molestation at the hands of certain Catholic clergy in Philadelphia. They, too, stood their ground, leading to a landmark guilty verdict in the case of Monsignor William Lynn.

And we owe it to all the victims who have only felt able to come forward recently or who are still living in confusion and shame.

Just last week The Patriot-News received a letter to the editor from a woman in Camp Hill alleging abuse from a neighbor when she was growing up.

Lawmakers know what they should do.

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MINNESOTA
CBS Minnesota

ST. PAUL, Minn. (WCCO) – A St. Paul priest has been dismissed from his parish after allegations that he engaged in misconduct involving a minor.

According to Jim Accurso, media and external relations manager for the St. Paul and Minneapolis Archdiocese, Reverend Curtis Wehmeyer was removed by Archbishop John Nienstedt after learning of allegations of misconduct. Wehmeyer was the pastor of Blessed Sacrament parish in east St. Paul.

The Archdiocese reported the allegations to police, and is fully cooperating in the investigation. Wehmeyer is barred from any involvement in ministry in the Archdiocese pending the outcome of the investigation. He is no longer in residence at Blessed Sacrament.

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ARLINGTON (VA)
Courthouse News Service

By JAMES BRIDGE

ARLINGTON, Va. (CN) – A Roman Catholic priest “kissed (a woman) on all parts of her body” during a so-called “exorcism” session, and “frequently explained full, passionate kisses as ‘blowing the Holy Spirit into’ her,” the woman claims in court.

Jane Doe sued the Catholic Diocese of Arlington, its Bishop Paul Loverde – who is not the priest accused of the abuse – and Human Life International and the HLI Endowment Inc., of Charlottesville, in Arlington County Court.

Doe claims she was sexually abused repeatedly by her “exorcist,” Thomas J. Euteneur, who was president of Human Life International and the HLI Endowment; Euteneur, however, is not named as an individual defendant.

Doe claims that Euteneur, a Roman Catholic priest, offers “‘spiritual deliverance’ and the performance of the rite of exorcism,” and did it “with the knowledge and consent of the Diocese and the Most Rev. Paul S. Loverde. … On at least one previous occasion, the Diocese and Bishop Loverde gave permission to Euteneur to conduct an exorcism within the Diocese.”

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VATICAN CITY
Vatican Insider

In an interview with Vatican Insider, Greg Burke, the Vatican’s new media adviser said his job would not just involve putting together responses but coming up with strategies

Andrés Beltramo Álvarez
Vatican City

Last 10 June, U.S. journalist Greg Burke decided he was going to turn his life around. He accepted the offer of a position as media adviser to the Vatican Secretary of State. This is a new role and was conceived in light of the Vatileak scandal, the crisis triggered by the leak of confidential documents belonging to Benedict XVI. Burke said this was a “high risk” job.

The 52 year old Opus Dei member will officially start his new role on Monday 2 July. Up until now he has been working as a correspondent for Fox News, following a stint at Time magazine. He has been living in Rome for over two decades and is well aware of the difficulties that exist within the Vatican. Burke is also aware of the fact that no one can snap their fingers and change the world of the Roman Curia just like that. No one. Not even the Pope.

But like any journalist, he is also well aware that the Holy See is going through a terrible moment in terms of its image. It is being tormented by news leaks, poison pen letter writers and by a series of obvious internal management errors which have received negative attention in the press. In an interview with Vatican Insider, Burke explained how he imagines his contribution, which he refers to as his “grain of sand”, to the vital change of course in apostolic communication.

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NORTHERN IRELAND
BBC News

The Public Prosecution Service (PPS) has decided that a senior priest in the Diocese of Down and Connor has no case to answer following abuse allegations.

Father John McManus from Portaferry has always denied any wrong-doing but stepped aside during the investigation.

The police conducted an inquiry after a complaint was made to the Down and Connor child safeguarding office more than a year and a half ago.

The PPS has now directed that no prosecution will be brought.

When contacted by the BBC, Fr McManus said he had “nothing to say”.

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CALIFORNIA
The Press Democrat

By PAUL PAYNE
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT

Published: Monday, June 25, 2012

Three men who said they were molested by a Humboldt County priest in the 1980s have settled their lawsuit against church officials for $550,000.

A fourth man has rewritten his lawsuit to avoid being timed out by the statute of limitations.

All claim they were victims of Father Patrick McCabe, a priest at St. Bernard Parish in Eureka from 1983 to 1985. McCabe was arrested in 2010 on unrelated child-sex charges and extradited to Ireland for prosecution.

In March, three men who sued the Santa Rosa Diocese and the Archdiocese of Dublin, alleging officials knowingly placed a pedophile in their midst, settled their case for $550,000, their lawyer, Joseph George Jr., said Monday.

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MINNESOTA
Minnesota Public Radio

by Jon Collins, Minnesota Public Radio
June 25, 2012

ST. PAUL, Minn. — A St. Paul priest has been removed from his post after allegations surfaced that he sexually abused a minor.

The priest was arrested on Friday, but has not yet been charged. MPR News typically does not name suspects before they are charged. The abuse allegedly occurred during a two-year period.

Police spokesperson Howie Padilla said the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis approached police with the allegation.

“We had information on Thursday that there was a possible allegation of sex abuse regarding an employee of the archdiocese and a juvenile male victim,” Padilla said. “The investigation is at this time ongoing.”

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MINNESOTA
Star Tribune

A St. Paul priest was removed from his job after allegations surfaced that he sexually abused a minor.

The Rev. Curtis Wehmeyer is no longer at the Blessed Sacrament parish in St. Paul, according to a statement from the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis.

The archdiocese learned of the allegations and reported them to police, according to the statement posted on its website Sunday.

St. Paul police filed a report Thursday that said a juvenile reported being sexually abused by Wehmeyer for two years, starting in 2010. Police arrested Wehmeyer on Friday. He has been released, and has not been charged.

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CONNECTICUT
New Britain Herald

Monday, June 25, 2012

By Lisa Backus
Staff Writer

Newly released arrest warrants allege that a popular priest was having sexually oriented conversations with at least nine teenage boys, most under the age of 16, while he was working at St. Paul’s Church in Berlin.

Michael Miller, 42, was arrested in July 2011 on charges he made inappropriate comments during conversations on Facebook with a 13-year-old boy. As part of the investigation, police seized several of Miller’s computers, according to three warrants issued for Miller’s June 14 arrest.

The warrants detail the results of the computer examination which revealed that Miller was having inappropriate conversations with several teenage boys, most of whom were parishioners who met him through the church, according to police.

In the talks on Facebook, which were retrieved by the Digital Forensics Unit at the New Britain Police Department, Miller described for one 15-year-old boy the pornographic movie he was watching and said he preferred boys “because they know how the parts work.”

Another 15-year-old confirmed that Miller, who used the screen name “Brendan Duvey,” would describe sex acts to him and how to perform certain maneuvers. Yet another 15-year-old told police he began talking to Miller about his parents’ divorce and his girl problems and ultimately the priest began discussing his bisexual relationships with the boy and which sex acts he preferred to perform, according to the warrant.

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PHILADELPHIA (PA)
Catholics4Change

June 26, 2012 by Susan Matthews

Many on this site, including myself, have commented that they no longer wish to contribute to the archdiocese. We’d like to offer a comprehensive a list of Catholic or victim organizations that could use those funds for their good works. Please submit you suggestions (with url and short description) in the comments and I will create a Charity Resource page. Thank you.

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MINNESOTA
My Fox Twin Cities

[with video]

by Leah Beno

St. Paul Police are investigating a local priest accused of abusing a boy for the past two years.

Last Tuesday, a spokesman for Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis says it was brought to their attention that Reverend Curtis Wehmeyer maybe abusing a boy within the church. The next day, the church spoke with the victim. By Thursday, St. Paul police were investigating.

“We have been in complete communication with the Archdiocese and they have cooperated to this point,” said Howie Padilla, St. Paul police spokesman.

According to the police report, the victim claims Wehmeyer has been sexually assaulting him for two years. To complicate things further, the boy’s mother also works for the church.

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CALIFORNIA
Contra Costa Times

By Tracey Kaplan
tkaplan@mercurynews.com

In another bizarre legal twist, the judge in the San Jose priest-beating case Monday threw out the testimony of the Jesuit after he invoked his right against self-incrimination and refused to answer more questions in the trial of a man charged with assaulting him.

Judge David A. Cena said he will instruct the Santa Clara County jury to ignore the Rev. Jerold Lindner’s 40-minute testimony last week, including his insistence that he did not sexually molest his suspected attacker, Will Lynch, 35 years ago when Lynch was 7 years old.

The ruling deprives the prosecution of its star witness, making the assault case against Lynch potentially more difficult to prove.

But it also could hurt Lynch, whose attorneys immediately called for a mistrial, saying it was unfair to proceed with the case because they will not have the opportunity to cross-examine Lindner. They said the jury heard half the story and could be left with a lingering impression of the May 10, 2010, attack at the Sacred Heart retirement center in Los Gatos, which the elderly priest described as “vicious” and painful.

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MINNESOTA
Legal Examiner

Posted by Mike Bryant
June 26, 2012

This week, St Paul priest, Rev. Curtis Wehmeyer, was removed as pastor of Blessed Sacrament parish in St. Paul , according to a statement from the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis..

The Minneapolis Tribune reported that :

St. Paul police filed a report Thursday that said a juvenile reported being sexually abused by Wehmeyer for two years, starting in 2010. Police arrested Wehmeyer on Friday. He has been released, and has not been charged.

Police spokesman Howie Padilla said the victim was a boy, but could not divulge more details because of the ongoing investigation.

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MINNESOTA
KSTP

The Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis has relieved a priest of his duties while police investigate allegations of abuse.

St. Paul police arrested 47-year-old Curtis Wehmeyer, of Oakdale, after a juvenile male told investigators he had been assaulted over a two-year period. Wehmeyer has not been charged with a crime. He served as pastor at the Parish of the Blessed Sacrament on St. Paul’s east side.

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DEUTSCHLAND
netzwerkB

Norbert Denef, Sprecher des Netzwerks Betroffener von sexualisierter Gewalt e.V. mit Sitz in Scharbeutz, befindet sich seit dem 8. Juni 2012 im unbefristeten Hungerstreik. Ihm schlossen sich eine Reihe von Unterstützern an, darunter Christiane Kieburg, Katharina M., Anette W., Alwin Michel, Wilfried Fesselmann und Brigitte Lunzer Rieder aus Österreich.

Das Netzwerk Betroffener von sexualisierter Gewalt e.V., kurz netzwerkB, ist eine Vereinigung von und für Menschen, denen sexualisierter Gewalt, oftmals verbunden mit Formen von psychischer und physischer Gewalt angetan wurde, einmalig, mehrmalig bis hin zu jahrelang systematisch, im Säuglings-, Kindes-, Jugendlichen oder Erwachsenenalter. Sie wurde 2010 in Scharbeutz gegründet.

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The pope’s new PR strategist not only hails from Fox News; he belongs to the secretive Opus Dei society and lives in an all-male house cleaned by women members.

June 25, 2012

By Adele M. Stan

Let’s say you’re at the top of a large, right-wing institution; one with such a patriarchal bent that only men are allowed into leadership. Imagine that, in recent times, your once-powerful worldwide conglomerate is losing oodles of clout, thanks in part to media coverage of the scandals that have beset you: the leaking of your CEO’s private correspondence to a reporter, that pesky decades-long epidemic of child sexual abuse by your branch managers, mutiny amid the ranks of the service wing of your organization, and the perception that you have played dirty with one of your competitors.

Where would you find a really savvy player in the media world with legendary message discipline on a range of issues that serve the interests of the moneyed, exclusionary, patriarchal elite? Who ya gonna call?

Why, Fox News, of course.

This weekend the Vatican announced its hire of Fox News correspondent Greg Burke for the newly created role of communications strategist. Since the beginning of Pope Benedict XVI’s reign over the Roman Catholic Church, the Holy See, as the Vatican is known, just can’t seem to catch a break in the media. Kicking off his papacy with hard-line rhetoric against Islam that resulted in rioting, Benedict now seems to have lost all control even of his own subordinates, as evidenced by the spilling over into the public sphere a round of internecine Vatican battles that resulted in the arrest of the pope’s butler for allegedly leaking Benedict’s private correspondence to a journalist.

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NORTHERN IRELAND
Derry Journal

Published on Tuesday 26 June 2012

The jury in the trial of a priest accused of indecently assaulting a teenage girl are expected to consider their verdict today.

Fr Eugene Boland, of Parochial House, Killyclogher Road, Omagh, denies five charges of indecently assaulting the 14-year-old girl between June 28, 1990 and June 30, 1992.

The allegations made by the complainant are that the now 66-year-old hugged her, kissed her on the lips and rubbed her back underneath her clothes.

During day six of the trial, the jury of eight women and four men heard from a number of defence witnesses giving evidence on behalf of Fr Boland and closing speeches by the prosecution and defence counsel.

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VATICAN CITY
The New York Times

By ANDREW ROSENTHAL

The Roman Catholic Church has been getting a lot of press lately, much of it negative: The priest sex abuse scandal won’t go away (on Friday, a former cardinal’s aide was convicted of covering up sexual abuse by priests under his supervision); the pope’s butler leaked private documents alleging corruption in Vatican finances (he was then arrested); and church leaders are cracking down on nuns for daring to buck doctrine.

So the Vatican has done what all powerful institutions do in this sort of a situation – it’s hired a new press consultant. Because none of these cases reflects an actual problem. (As the pope’s right-hand man, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, put it last week, the media are guilty of “pettiness and lies.”) It’s all just a matter of getting the message right and getting it out there more efficiently.

This job, which has to be the last prize in the 2012 public relations career lottery, is going to Greg Burke, a 52-year-old correspondent for Fox News who has covered the Vatican since 2001. Much is being made of the fact that Mr. Burke is the first person hired to work on the Vatican’s public relations who came from outside the Catholic news agencies, although he is a numerary of the Opus Dei movement, which means that he is celibate and gives the church most of his income.

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OHIO
ABC 6

[with video]

ERIE COUNTY, Ohio — A mother wants a local youth leader locked up amid allegations he sexually assaulted the her 16-year-old son.

ABC6/FOX28 spoke to the mother of the alleged victim, who did not want to be identified.

“I felt numb. I felt sick to my stomach,” the mother said. “I did what a normal mother would do. I started crying. It was devastating.”

According to investigators, the group from Judah Christian Community Church in Columbus arrived to Beulah Beach Christian camp in Vermillion Twp. last weekend.

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CANADA
The Globe and Mail

OLIVER MOORE and KIM MACKRAEL
The Globe and Mail

Published Monday, Jun. 25 2012

Scouts Canada has referred more than 100 allegations of historic sexual abuse to police after a forensic audit raised troubling questions about the organization’s handling of the cases over the past several decades.

A report from KPMG, released Monday, offers new detail on the organization’s reaction to sexual abuse allegations. It found no evidence of a systemic cover-up but showed that even after 1992, when internal rules changed to require that such allegations be reported to the authorities, the information was not always shared.

“We have decided to confront the good and the bad of our past,” Scouts Canada chief commissioner Steve Kent told a news conference in Ottawa.

Information on 65 cases, about one-fifth of which were reported after 1992, was not given to police when allegations surfaced. And for another 64 cases, roughly split between pre- and post-1992, there were not sufficient records to be sure the cases were reported, the audit found.

All 129 of these cases have now been handed over to police, Mr. Kent said. He would offer no details of the individual circumstances, citing the active investigations, but suggested the cases spanned the country.

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PHILADELPHIA (PA)
Philadelphia Inquirer

By Joseph A. Slobodzian
Inquirer Staff Writer

For the last four nights, William J. Lynn has been known as No. 1102886 – one of 2,883 men living at the Curran-Fromhold Correctional Facility, the largest of the city’s prisons, in Northeast Philadelphia.

On Tuesday, Lynn’s lawyers hope they can persuade a Philadelphia judge to grant Lynn bail, allowing him to resume his role as a monsignor of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia and, at least temporarily, live at a relative’s home instead of solitary confinement.

Lynn, 61, was found guilty Friday by a Common Pleas Court jury of a count of child endangerment, the first Catholic Church official criminally charged for his administrative duties as part of the ongoing sex-abuse scandal.

From 1992 to 2004, Lynn was archdiocesan secretary for clergy, responsible for investigating allegations of sexual abuse against priests.

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MASSACHUSETTS
Brockton Enterprise

By Erik Potter
Enterprise Staff Writer

Posted Jun 26, 2012

EASTON —

“I want people to know that they are safe from Paul Hawksley.”

The child that Hawksley repeatedly and forcibly raped eight years ago has been waiting years to be able to say that.

After coming forward in 2010 with his story of sexual abuse at the hands of an Easton church youth leader, the young man, whose name is not being published because he is the victim of a sex crime, has watched the criminal case against Hawksley wend slowly through the justice system.

When he heard the verdict on Monday – guilty on all counts – he cried.

“I was in tears. I was overjoyed,” he said in a phone interview with The Enterprise. “I’m working on putting back the pieces and getting my life back together. This gets me a lot closer. Closure is what I’m feeling now.”

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UNITED STATES
Patch

By Penelope Ettinger, Executive Director of PEI Kids

When are we going to create a safe community to protect our children from sexual abuse? Jerry Sandusky has been convicted of 45 out of 48 counts of child sexual abuse. Monsignor William Lynn of Philadelphia, in a landmark clergy-abuse trial, was convicted of child endangerment for covering up abuse claims. In the past year, coverage of child sexual abuse has increased with more than 1,800 stories in the news. Yet, in our communities we do little to create a safe environment for our children.

The alarming statistics of child sexual abuse are well substantiated – 1 in 4 girls and 1 in 6 boys will be sexually abused by their 18th birthday. Ninety percent of child sexual abuse is committed by someone the child (and the family) knows, trusts and in many cases loves. Thirty percent of these cases are committed by a family member. And most sexual abuse is never reported. The grim reality is child sexual abuse happens in every community. If the child doesn’t receive treatment, the adverse emotional and social impact on the child victim is life-long. The long-term economic costs to business and community are great.

Still, there is a solution. It is our primal moral responsibility to educate ourselves and our children about these potential dangers in our communities. Recently the Greater Mercer Coalition to Prevent Child Sexual Abuse was formed to do exactly this –educate every adult who lives and/or works in the greater Mercer area on how to keep children safe, how to recognize signs of abuse and how to respond with compassion to any child who tells of abuse. The Coalition, which is part of a statewide effort, comprises a growing group of community leaders from business, the faith-based community, health care, , the media, youth and social service organizations, government and education to address this issue within their own disciplines and to get the message out to constituents—and where appropriate—adopting appropriate child safety policies.

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PENNSYLVANIA
Sports Illustrated

John Wertheim

Last Friday, a 12-member Pennsylvania jury issued a groundbreaking decision that will change the way we prosecute and perceive sex crimes against children. The guilty verdict will have far-reaching consequences for how authority figures and institutions can be held criminally liable when committing and covering up sexual abuse.

Yet when Monsignor William J. Lynn, a former cardinal’s aide with the archdiocese of Philadelphia, was found guilty of endangering children — and now faces jail time for concealing evidence about predatory priests, transferring them to other parishes instead of confronting allegations about their abuse — a nation hardly stopped its business. Twitter wasn’t atwitter, networks didn’t break from regularly scheduled programming to announce the verdict, and reporters on the ground didn’t file reports over the whir of circling news helicopters.

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CALIFORNIA
NBC Bay Area

By Breena Kerr

Monday, Jun 25, 2012

Lindner testified last week in the trial, in which defendant William Lynch, 44, has been charged with felony assault and elder abuse for allegedly attacking Lindner at a Los Gatos retirement home in May 2010.

A Jesuit priest who was allegedly assaulted in 2010 by a man who claims the priest molested him several decades ago is refusing to testify further in his accused attacker’s San Jose trial.

The Rev. Jerold Lindner told Santa Clara County Superior Court Judge David Cena Monday morning that, under the advice of his attorney, he is invoking his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination and is declining to give additional testimony.

Cena is taking the matter under consideration and has recessed the case until 1:30 p.m. Monday.

Lindner testified last week in the trial, in which defendant William Lynch, 44, has been charged with felony assault and elder abuse for allegedly attacking Lindner at a Los Gatos retirement home in May 2010.

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IRELAND
The Irish Times

A FORMER priest has admitted the attempted rape of a young girl and the sexual assault of her brother in west Cork more than 30 years ago.

John Calnan (73), of the Presbytery, Paul Street, Cork, pleaded guilty to the attempted rape of the girl between January 1st, 1980, and April 30th, 1980, in west Cork. She was aged seven at the time.

Calnan also admitted three counts of sexually assaulting the girl between October 25th, 1976, and October 24th, 1979.

He further admitted one count of sexual assault on the girl’s brother between August 10th, 1975, and October 9th, 1979. The victim was aged between nine and 12 at the time.

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ROCHESTER (NY)
Democrat and Chronicle

Written by
SEAN DOBBIN
Staff writer

A momentous undertaking, the Diocese of Rochester’s three-day synod in October 1993 centered on the recommendations of more than 30,000 parishioners, who over several years had submitted countless suggestions regarding the future of the diocese and how it tied in to their faith, their values and their dreams.

But while the synod itself ranks highly among his favorite moments in Rochester, engaging with the parishioners beforehand and drawing on their strength, joy, and goodwill, is among Bishop Matthew H. Clark’s most cherished memories of his time here.

“The experience of doing it that way has had its good fruit for all the years since,” said Clark. “The realization that yes, what we do is extremely important, and the decisions we make are crucial, but no less important are the ways we come to it.”

In July, Clark will reach the age of 75, whereupon he will submit his resignation to the Vatican as is mandated by Canon Law. On Monday, he spoke to members of the media and reflected on his 33 years as bishop, saying that interacting with his parishioners was the best part of the position. …

But most painful of all was the national sex abuse scandal which saw thousands of priests nationwide removed from the priesthood; earlier this month, the Diocese of Rochester published the names of 23 such priests it had removed from the ministry over the past 10 years.

“It’s the worst thing that has ever happened in my lifetime to the church,” said Clark. “The core damage done to the young people victimized by priests, of whom had every right to expect the highest level of trust and care, that is a terrible black mark and stain on our recent history.”

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PHILADELPHIA (PA)
Philadelphia Priest Abuse Trial Blog

Ralph Cipriano

Lost in all the hoopla over the “historic” conviction of Msgr. William J. Lynn was the jury’s repudiation of the prosecution’s central allegation in the priest abuse case: that Lynn had somehow conspired with predator priests to keep them in ministry, so they could abuse new victims.

The prosecution’s conspiracy theory was that Lynn got up every day and said in effect, what can I do to keep pedophile priests in ministry, so they can continue to rape, molest and abuse more innocent children.

On Monday, the jury foreman in the case went on Fox 29 and said that not only did he and other jurors not believe the prosecutors’ theory, but also that they didn’t understand it. It would be comical, except that the Commonwealth just spent millions of dollars and eight weeks of trial trying to convince the jury that Bill Lynn the quintessential company man was the alleged mastermind of the conspiracy down at the archdiocese to endanger children.

The jury found Lynn not guilty of conspiring with Father Edward V. Avery, or anyone else, to endanger the welfare of children.

On Monday morning, jury foreman Isa Logan went on Fox 29’s Good Day and told anchors Mike Jerrick and Karen Hepp that he didn’t buy the prosecution’s conspiracy theory, and neither did anyone else on the jury.

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ST. PAUL (MN)
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis

Date:
Sunday, June 24, 2012

Source:
Jim Accurso

Archbishop John Nienstedt has removed the pastor of Blessed Sacrament parish in St. Paul, Reverend Curtis Wehmeyer, after learning of allegations that the priest had engaged in misconduct involving a minor. Following archdiocesan policy, the Archdiocese immediately reported the allegations to the police, and an investigation into the allegations was begun. The Archdiocese is cooperating fully with police in their investigation.

Pending the outcome of the investigation, Father Wehmeyer is prohibited from exercising any ministry in the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis. He is no longer in residence at Blessed Sacrament.

Another priest will be appointed to Blessed Sacrament to provide for parishioners’ sacramental and pastoral needs.

Anyone having knowledge of misconduct within a parish should call the proper authorities and is encouraged to notify the Archdiocese at 651.291.4497.

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ST. PAUL (MN)
Patch

By Hannah Gruber

A St. Paul priest was arrested in Oakdale Friday after he was accused of having sexual contact with a minor.

Curtis Carl Wehmeyer, 47, was arrested Friday and released from Ramsey County jail on Monday, according to the Pioneer Press. He has not been formally charged, but police are investigating the case as a sexual assault.

A juvenile male told police that the abuse occurred for two years, said Howie Padilla, a spokesman of the St. Paul Police Department.

Since the allegations emerged last week, the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis removed Wehmeyer from his position as the pastor at the Parish of the Blessed Sacrament at 1801 LaCrosse Avenue in St. Paul, according to the Pioneer Press.

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ST. PAUL (MN)
Pioneer Press

mgottfried@pioneerpress.com
twincities.com
Posted: 06/25/2012

Police arrested a St. Paul priest on suspicion of criminal sexual conduct, and the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis has removed him as a pastor.

The move came after the archdiocese learned “of allegations that the priest had engaged in misconduct involving a minor,” archdiocese spokesman Jim Accurso said in a Sunday, June 24, statement. “Following archdiocesan policy, the archdiocese immediately reported the allegations to the police, and an investigation into the allegations was begun.”

Police arrested Curtis Carl Wehmeyer, 47, in Oakdale on Friday. He was released from the Ramsey County jail Monday, pending further investigation. He has not been charged.

Police are investigating the case as a sex assault, said Howie Padilla, police spokesman. A juvenile male told police Thursday it happened over a two-year period, he said.

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MINNESOTA
Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests

Posted by David Clohessy on June 25, 2012

It’s disturbing that Minnesota Catholic officials stayed silent about these serious and credible allegations for days.

Days of delay enable criminals to destroy evidence, intimidate victims, threaten witnesses, discredit whistleblowers, fabricate alibis and even flee the country.

It’s irresponsible for Catholic officials to sit on crucial information that could protect kids while they selfishly wait for a more opportune time to release it.

Let’s hope that every person who saw, suspected or suffered Fr. Wehmeyer’s crimes (or misdeeds by any Catholic employee) will find the strength and courage to step forward, call police, protect kids, expose wrongdoing and start healing.

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NEDERLAND
Limburgs Dagblad

Binnen Huize Sint Joseph in Heel was in de periode dat tientallen jongens onder verdachte omstandigheden stierven, sprake van een verziekte cultuur.

Door onze verslaggevers
Heel

De leiding van het gesticht in Heel kampte begin jaren vijftig van de vorige eeuw met grote problemen. Binnen de muren van de instelling was sprake van seksueel misbruik van de kinderen, agressie en gedwongen nachtarbeid. Er was een machtsstrijd gaande tussen de verschillende broeders. Dat blijkt uit onderzoek van deze krant naar de omstandigheden waaronder tientallen jongens in Heel overleden.

De problemen escaleerden tussen 1950 en 1954. Dat is precies de periode dat tientallen jongens in Huize Sint Joseph stierven. Een groot deel van hen verbleef op de verpleegafdeling van broeder Andreas, die nu verantwoordelijk wordt gehouden voor de sterfgevallen. Deze ‘broeder des doods’ claimde in zijn later geschreven biografie dat hij als onervaren verpleger in Heel volledig aan zijn lot werd overgelaten. Justitie heeft nadrukkelijk naar de rol van de verantwoordelijken in die tijd bij Sint Joseph gekeken, bevestigen bronnen.

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PHILADELPHIA (PA)
WIBW

(CBS/AP) PHILADELPHIA – A Roman Catholic church official convicted of child endangerment will learn Tuesday if he’ll get out of jail to await sentencing.

Monsignor William Lynn was found guilty of child endangerment Friday, making him the first U.S. church official convicted for covering up abuse claims.

A judge revoked his bail, but his lawyers want the 61-year-old priest released on house arrest until his Aug. 13 sentencing. They filed a motion Monday asking to have him released from prison.

“You guys are going to have to look a long, long time to find a 61-year-old defendant convicted of a third-degree felony with no prior record, with community ties who was remanded,” defense lawyer Jeffrey Lindy told CBS Philadelphia station KYW-TV Friday.

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CALIFORNIA
Santa Cruz Sentinel

By Tracey Kaplan
tkaplan@mercurynews.com
mercurynews.com

Posted: 06/25/2012

A Santa Clara County judge has stricken the key testimony of a retired Catholic priest who is the victim in a beating case after he invoked his right against self-incrimination and refused to answer more questions.

Judge David A. Cena also indicated Rev. Jerold Lindner can legally invoke 5th Amendment rights and refuse to continue his testimony.

But Cena indicated he will move forward with the trial against Will Lynch, who is accused of assaulting Lindner at a Catholic retirement center in Los Gatos in 2010.

Lynch’s attorneys said it is unfair to proceed with the case because the jury has already heard 40 minutes of Lindner’s testimony and defense would have no opportunity to cross-examine him. They said the jury heard half the story.

The trial was adjourned in the mid-afternoon and will reconvene at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday, at which time the defense is expected to formally put their objections on the record.

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CALIFORNIA
Contra Costa Times

The Associated Press
Posted: 06/25/2012

SAN JOSE, Calif.—A judge has tossed out a priest’s testimony against a man charged with assaulting him after the reverend invoked his right to avoid self-incrimination as it became clear he may be accused of lying on the stand.

The man accused of attacking the priest in 2010 at a retirement home in San Jose, William Lynch, claims Father Jerold Lindner raped him and his brother decades ago. Lindner has denied the accusations.

The San Jose Mercury News reported (http://bit.ly/KIWRz9) on Monday that Santa Clara County Superior Court Judge David Cena allowed Lindner to invoke his Fifth Amendment right to avoid self-incrimination.

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.