A digest of links to media coverage of clergy abuse. For recent coverage listed in this blog, read the full article in the newspaper or other media source by clicking “Read original article.” For earlier coverage, click the title to read the original article.
DEUTSCHLAND
Das Erste
[Video]
MoMa-Reporter: Die Kirche und ihre Missbrauchsopfer
Donnerstag, 01.03.201205:30 Uhr im Ersten.
Wie geht die katholische Kirche mit Missbrauchsopfern von Priestern und Ordensleuten um? Die MoMa-Reporter fragen im Bistum Regensburg nach.
Note: This is an Abuse Tracker excerpt. Click the title to view the full text of the original article. If the original article is no longer available, see our News Archive.
VATICAN CITY
Vatican Insider
The Pope stands up for the Secretary of State. He has foibles but he’s staying
Andrea Tornielli
Vatican City
“These are the documents to view and to show the world, whose historical truth strikes me”. This is how Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone replied to journalists’ questioning him about the poisonous climate caused by the “vatileaks”, as soon as he had arrived to the «Lux in Arcana», an exhibition of the documents kept in the Vatican Secret Archives. He feigned calm, surrounded by Vatican gendarmes who escort him everywhere. But if from the outside, during the recent interview with TG1 news and in many public engagements, the Vatican “prime minister” has appeared serene, from the inside the atmosphere in the Vatican has been very different as the search for the “mole” who has leaked confidential documents to the media continues.
These documents included the letters reporting corruption in the management of contract work that were written by the former Secretary General of the Governatorate, Carlo Maria Viganò, confidential documents on the IOR and the internal debate on the regulation against money laundering, an anonymous note reporting a presumed assassination attempt on the pope and a letter by the Secretary of State urging cardinal Dionigi Tettamanzi to leave his office as president of the Toniolo Institute – the Catholic University’s “safe”- in favour of Giovanni Maria Flick who is supported by Bertone.
Note: This is an Abuse Tracker excerpt. Click the title to view the full text of the original article. If the original article is no longer available, see our News Archive.
VATICAN CITY
Vatican Insider
“Papal Presidentialism” and an expanded conclave Galli Della Loggia’s proposal: all bishops should be Papal electors. Melloni’s reply: “This would distort his position as Bishop of Rome”
Andrea Tornielli
Rome
“The papacy is weak,” and it must be strengthened, in a presidentalist sense, broadening the electoral base of the conclave to include bishops and superiors of religious orders. This is the proposal of political scientist Ernesto Galli Della Loggia, in an article published in the latest issue of “La Lettura,” the cultural insert of the Corriere della Sera.
Galli Della Loggia starts by analyzing the “malicious rumors,” the “more or less controlled leaks,” and the unedifying “behind the scenes” drama that have recently characterized the Roman curia: elements that reveal “a fierce battle over the direction of the ecclesiastical institution” – a “clash of power” that ends up discrediting the Church. According to the political scientist, the Pope’s power only appears to be absolute, as in reality he must- even in nominations- consider “factions” and the “inevitable dominance of alliances and cliques over the careers of senior clergymen” as well as “exaggerated personal ambitions.”
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.
OREGON
Leagle
JOHN DOE 150, etc., Plaintiff-Appellant,
v.
THE ARCHDIOCESE OF PORTLAND IN OREGON, et al., Defendants-Appellees.
No. 10-36126.
United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit.
Argued and Submitted February 7, 2012, Seattle, Washington.
Filed March 1, 2012.
Before: GOULD, SCHROEDER, Circuit Judges, and BEISTLINE,** Chief District Judge.
MEMORANDUM*
The undisputed facts of this case and the procedural history are known to the parties. Appellant, John Doe 150, appeals the United States District Court for the District of Oregon’s decision that, as a matter of law, delayed discovery of the causal connection between Doe’s known sexual abuse at the hands of a priest and the consequent harm to Doe was unreasonable. Doe claims that the district court committed two errors when it granted summary judgment in favor of Appellee, the Archdiocese of Portland in Oregon. Doe argues that the district court: (1) usurped the role of the jury in determining the reasonableness of Doe’s delayed discovery as a question of law; and (2) ignored the compelling testimony of Doe’s expert concerning whether the nature of Doe’s harm might reasonably have masked the causal connection between his childhood abuse and the consequent harm. The district court found that no trier of fact could conclude that it was reasonable for Doe to fail to discover the causal connection between the abuse he suffered and his consequent harm prior to the bankruptcy court’s claims bar date of April 29, 2005, or prior to the applicable Oregon statute of limitations deadline of June 6, 2003. We affirm the lower court’s decision.
Standard of Review
We review de novo a district court’s grant of summary judgment. Davis v. Las Vegas, 478 F.3d 1048, 1053 (9th Cir. 2007). The parties argue that we should use a clear error standard of review. The clear error standard applies to the mixed question of law and fact of whether a person should have discovered the existence and cause of their injuries. Colleen v. United States, 843 F.2d 329, 331 (9th Cir. 1987). That case was an appeal from the district court’s ruling on the merits, not an appeal from the grant of summary judgment. We decline to depart from our well-established precedent that we review a district court’s grant of summary judgment de novo. Under the de novo standard, a reviewing “`court should make an independent determination of the issues’ and should `not . . . give any special weight to the [prior] determination of'” a lower court. United States v. Raddatz, 447 U.S. 667, 690 (1980) (quoting United States v. First City Nat’l Bank of Houston, 386 U.S. 361, 368 (1967)).
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.
NEDERLAND
SGP
Rapport-Deetman
De commissie-Deetman heeft een gedegen en onafhankelijk onderzoek gedaan naar de afschuwelijke gevallen van kindermisbruik die onder meer in internaten hebben plaatsgevonden. Het rapport biedt goede handvatten voor preventie in de toekomst. Er zijn waardevolle aanbevelingen gedaan voor het hulp bieden en recht doen aan slachtoffers.
Het is heel belangrijk dat erkenning wordt geboden aan mensen die soms jarenlang hebben gezwegen – of er het zwijgen toe deden toen zij merkten dat hun pijnlijke boodschap niet serieus werd genomen. Velen van hen voelen nog dagelijks pijnlijk de littekens. Uit alle verhalen blijkt telkens weer: seksueel misbruik richt een onvoorstelbare, en vaak ook onherstelbare ravage aan in de levens van mensen.
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.
NEDERLAND
L1
Ook een groep meerderjarige slachtoffers van misbruik in de rooms-katholieke kerk kan een beroep doen op de compensatieregeling voor minderjarigen.
Het gaat dan bijvoorbeeld om verstandelijk gehandicapten die net als kinderen als weerloze slachtoffers moeten worden beschouwd. Dat heeft het Meldpunt Seksueel Misbruik in de rooms-katholieke kerk bekendgemaakt.
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.
NEDERLAND
RKnieuws
UTRECHT (RKnieuws.net) – Vandaag wordt een compensatieregeling van kracht voor slachtoffers van seksueel misbruik gepleegd tijdens hun meerderjarigheid. Meerderjarigen die ten tijde van het seksueel misbruik golden als zwakzinnig of daaraan gelijk zijn te stellen en meerderjarigen die ten tijde van het seksueel misbruik in een weerloze toestand verkeerden kunnen een beroep doen op de Compensatieregeling voor minderjarigen. Die regeling kent hogere compensatie mogelijkheden.
Er zijn 3 categorieën:
1.In geval van seksueel getinte handelingen of uitlatingen waardoor de lichamelijke of geestelijke integriteit werd geschonden, incidentele betasting van intieme delen daaronderbegrepen, afhankelijk van zwaarte en bijkomende omstandigheden: compensatie tot € 5.000,-.
2.In geval van frequente betasting van intieme delen gedurende een langere periode of anderszins aanhoudende ongewenste seksuele intimiteiten: compensatie tot € 10.000,-.
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.
NEDERLAND
AD
Slachtoffers die als volwassene zijn misbruikt door een kerkelijk medewerker krijgen ook compensatie van de Rooms-Katholieke Kerk (RKK). Dat heeft het Meldpunt Seksueel Misbruik RKK laten weten.
Het gaat om zwakzinnige volwassenen. Daarnaast kunnen mensen die in een weerloze toestand waren ten tijde van het misbruik zich eveneens aanmelden voor de regeling. ‘Het gaat niet om veel slachtoffers, maar ook deze mensen moet recht worden gedaan’, aldus een woordvoerder van het meldpunt.
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.
TEXAS
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
SAN ANGELO — The West Texas judge who has presided over the investigation and trials of a polygamist sect has been replaced for this month’s bigamy trial of a former lieutenant to sect leader Warren Jeffs.
In a terse court order, the presiding judge of the 7th Administrative Judicial Region ordered senior Judge Robert Moore of Big Spring to replace state District Judge Barbara Walther for the trial of Wendell Loy Nielsen, the San Angelo Standard-Times reported.
The order gave no reason for the change, and Walther declined to comment, the newspaper reported.
Note: This is an Abuse Tracker excerpt. Click the title to view the full text of the original article. If the original article is no longer available, see our News Archive.
PENNSYLVANIA
Erie Times-News
SMETHPORT — A Catholic Diocese of Erie priest has been sentenced to two years of probation for having an inappropriate relationship with a 15-year-old boy in McKean County.
The Rev. Samuel Slocum, 60, was sentenced Monday in McKean County Court, where he was convicted in January of concealment of the whereabouts of a child, the Bradford Era reported Tuesday.
Prosecutors accused Slocum of allowing the boy to visit his residence after the boy’s mother had forbidden it, and of lying to the mother when she asked if her son had gone to his residence.
Slocum was not accused of having sexual contact with the boy.
Testimony in earlier proceeding indicated Slocum had given the teen two iPhones, an iPod and an Apple laptop computer on which they secretly communicated using the parish Wi-Fi connection.
Note: This is an Abuse Tracker excerpt. Click the title to view the full text of the original article. If the original article is no longer available, see our News Archive.
AUSTRALIA
Newcastle Herald
SAM RIGNEY
02 Mar, 2012
Serial paedophile James Michael Brown was sentenced to six years behind bars in East Maitland District Court today.
Brown, 61, sexually abused 20 victims while he was a volunteer with the Anglican Church at Kurri Kurri between 1974 and 1995.
He pleaded guilty to a string of indecent and sexual assault charges in April last year.
He first went into custody in November last year after pleading guilty to further offences.
Note: This is an Abuse Tracker excerpt. Click the title to view the full text of the original article. If the original article is no longer available, see our News Archive.
UNITED STATES
The Media Report
Dave Pierre
*EXCLUSIVE* Deposition of SNAP’s Clohessy Revealed! Clohessy Evades Questions and Subverts Court Order While Lawyers Shred Clohessy’s Defense That SNAP is a ‘Rape Crisis Center’
Late today (3/1/12), TheMediaReport.com obtained a copy of the high-profile but carefully guarded deposition given by David Clohessy, the national director of SNAP (Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests), on January 2, 2012. The deposition was conducted in Clayton, Missouri, as part of an effort to determine the violation of a court-imposed gag order in the case of an accused Catholic priest.
[Click here to read the complete deposition]
The deposition exposes Clohessy as steadfastly refusing to answer many of the questions asked of him and declining to hand over important documents ordered by a judge. Clohessy did this despite losing a number of appeals before being forced to be deposed.
Note: This is an Abuse Tracker excerpt. Click the title to view the full text of the original article. If the original article is no longer available, see our News Archive.
CANADA
CTV
[with video]
CAMPBELL RIVER – The Federal Government’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission has made it’s way farther down Vancouver Island, today reaching Campbell River. The commission is crossing the country to hear stories from survivors of Canada’s Indian Residential School System.
More than 150,000 First Nations children are believed to have gone through the system, which removed young children out of the public school system and forced them into native-only facilities across the country.
The commission is hearing from thousands of presenters who are sharing their stories which often include accounts of emotional, physical and sexual abuse.
Note: This is an Abuse Tracker excerpt. Click the title to view the full text of the original article. If the original article is no longer available, see our News Archive.
MICHIGAN
Detroit Free Press
By Niraj Warikoo
Detroit Free Press Staff Writer
A new court filing says Saginaw Bishop Joseph Cistone witnessed the shredding of a document in Philadelphia that listed 35 Catholic priests suspected of sexually abusing children. The revelation prompted a victims advocacy group this week to call for Cistone to be investigated. He is not charged.
The allegations came out in a criminal case involving a possible cover-up of child abuse by Msgr. William Lynn of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, where Cistone once worked. The court filing indicates that Cardinal Anthony Bevilacqua, who died last month, had ordered his aides to destroy the list.
The list came to light last week after defense attorneys filed a 1994 handwritten memo from the late Msgr. James Molloy, an assistant to Bevilacqua, in which he informed the cardinal that the list was destroyed.
“On 3-22-94 at 10:45 AM I shredded, in the presence of Reverend Joseph R. Cistone, four copies of these lists from the secret archives,” Molloy wrote in the memo, according to a copy cited by CNN. “The action was taken on the basis of a directive I received from Cardinal Bevilacqua.” The memo was recently found in a locked safe in an archdiocesan office.
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.
TENNESSEE
Times News
By Kacie Breeding
Published March 1st, 2012
An Abingdon minister has been arrested for sex offenses allegedly committed against a juvenile female.
A Washington County, Virginia, Sheriff’s Office news release states John Wesley Price, 63, 206 Baugh Lane, Abingdon, Va., was arrested at noon Thursday on four counts of “animate object sexual penetration.”
Sheriff Fred Newman confirmed Price is the minister of Temple Baptist Church, 15157 Inspiration Dr.. He said the offenses allege Price sexually penetrated a former 17-year-old student of Temple Christian School.
Note: This is an Abuse Tracker excerpt. Click the title to view the full text of the original article. If the original article is no longer available, see our News Archive.
AUSTRALIA
ABC Newcastle
Updated March 02, 2012
Anglican Church officials in the New South Wales Hunter Valley have been accused of ignoring sexual abuse allegations against a former youth worker, who has been jailed today.
Sixty-two-year-old James Michael Brown, known as Brother Jim, has been sentenced to 10 years in jail for sexually abusing 20 boys.
Brown showed no emotion as the sentence was handed down.
He pleaded guilty to 27 offences, including indecent and sexual assault and buggery.
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.
WEST VIRGINIA
The Journal
March 2, 2012
By Matt Armstrong, Journal Staff Writer, journal-news.net
CHARLES TOWN – A Harpers Ferry man was arrested earlier this week and arraigned on several felony sexual abuse charges in Jefferson County Magistrate Court, according to court records.
Brian Scott Whitehair, 47, was arrested following an investigation by the West Virginia State Police Charles Town Detachment and the Harpers Ferry Police Department. He was charged with six felony counts of first degree sexual abuse and one misdemeanor count of third degree sexual abuse of juveniles, records show.
Whitehair confessed to sexually abusing three victims officers previously had interviewed, in addition to two other victims.
Patrolman M.T. Schul, with the HFPD, was notified on Sunday of a sexual abuse complaint filed by the mother of a victim. The complaint alleged that, earlier in the day, at a Harpers Ferry church, Whitehair sexually abused the victim in a vacant room, records show.
Note: This is an Abuse Tracker excerpt. Click the title to view the full text of the original article. If the original article is no longer available, see our News Archive.
AUSTRALIA
The Maitland Mercury
02 Mar, 2012
A volunteer parish youth worker has been sentenced to 10 years jail with a non-paraole period of six years after being charged with a range of sexual offences in the Hunter during the 1970s and 80s.
James Michael Brown was sentenced at East Maitland District Court today.
He was found guilty of offences including homosexual intercourse with a male between 10 years and 18 years, indecent assault on a male, act of indecency, sexual assault, sexual intercourse without consent and buggery.
The Anglican Bishop of Newcastle, the Right Reverend Dr Brian Farran has expressed deep regret for the abuse perpetrated by Brown during his time as a parish youth worker.
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.
CALIFORNIA
Lodi News-Sentinel
Friday, March 2, 2012
By Ross Farrow/News-Sentinel Staff Writer
A Tracy man who was 13 years old at the time said he punched Father Michael Kelly in the face and apparently broke his jaw after Kelly allegedly tickled him too hard, according to testimony Thursday in San Joaquin County Superior Court.
Joe Bacchetti, 45, testified during Kelly’s civil trial that Kelly tickled him so hard during the 1979 incident that it began to hurt him.
Kelly didn’t stop tickling him even though Bacchetti said he asked him to stop, until Bacchetti finally punched the priest in the face.
Although Kelly continually tickled Bacchetti, the Tracy resident said he was never abused sexually, nor did he observe Kelly sexually abuse anyone else.
Note: This is an Abuse Tracker excerpt. Click the title to view the full text of the original article. If the original article is no longer available, see our News Archive.
IRELAND/UNITED STATES
CBS – 60 Minutes
(CBS News) The child sex abuse crisis and cover-up in the Catholic Church of Ireland has taken a devastating toll on one of the most Catholic countries in the world. Some parishes that once saw 90 percent Sunday Mass attendance are down to 2 percent. A country that once produced so many priests that they were considered an important export now doesn’t have enough for its own churches. And, despite the publication of the Murphy Commission’s report, a scathing analysis of the abuse and cover-up, the scandal is not over, says Dublin Archbishop Diarmuid Martin, one of the highest ranking church officials to openly criticize the Catholic Church. The archbishop speaks to Bob Simon for a “60 Minutes” report about the effects of the scandal on Ireland to be broadcast Sunday, March 4 at 7:00 p.m. ET/PT.
When Martin became archbishop, he provided the Murphy Commission with 65,000 files his predecessor had refused to turn over. In his sermons, he confronted the Church head-on for the behavior that caused the scandal. Now the church is at a breaking point; now is not the time to forget he says. “There’s a real danger today of people saying, ‘The child abuse scandal is over. Let’s bury it. Let’s move on,'” he tells Simon. “It isn’t over. Child protection and the protection of children is something that will go on…for the rest of our lives and into the future. Because the problems are there,” says the archbishop.
Note: This is an Abuse Tracker excerpt. Click the title to view the full text of the original article. If the original article is no longer available, see our News Archive.
Bertone has come under attack because of financial questions and the discontent aroused among diplomats. Among the names of potential substitutes for the post of Secretary of State, is Cardinal Leonardo Sandri
Marco Tosatti
Vatican City
Behind the Vatican Walls is a cunning old fox, which is very close to the upper echelons of the Vatican and told me what is going on in the world’s smallest state. It struck me as a plausible story so I will tell it to you now; bear in mind, however, that all that I was told may not be one hundred per cent true.
The objective of this series of revelations, pseudo-revelations, leaked news (which is mostly dated) and resentments, is to get rid of the Vatican Secretary of State, Tarcisio Bertone, who will turn 78 next December, and to substitute him with someone else. But with whom? Well, a candidate may have already been picked out; two in fact; but this I will go into at another moment. There are a number of different forces and sentiments that seem to be converging on this operation. Looking at the list of the figures that were described to me as the main characters of this anti-Bertonian environment, they could be defined as “diplomats of the Kabbalah”; obviously not all of the Pope’s diplomats. But some of them, either actively or passively.
The first person to become implicated was Carlo Maria Viganò. This occurred when the famous television programme case broke out following the letter he had addressed to the Pope (which was copied to Bertone). His cool feelings towards the current Secretary of State are due to a number of factors. Rumour has it that Bertone had dangled before him the prospect of a position in the Curia, a promise which he was then unable or unwilling to keep. Rightly or wrongly, Viganò holds him responsible for what he sees as an exile. Viganò had been head of staff in the Secretariat of State for ten years. In short, he knows everything about everyone. His enemies speak of a chest of letters that was supposedly sent to America, which is allegedly being guarded jealously. This could all be fantasy, but it still gives an idea of the climate in recent days. It must not be forgotten that one of his predecessors as Secretary of the Governorate has gone to Spoleto and the other to Loreto, two cities in Italy; or the fact that he could become Nuncio to Washington, the Pope’s most important embassy in the world. But word has it that Viganò wants to return to Rome and this is the reason why he has not given up his Vatican apartment.
Note: This is an Abuse Tracker excerpt. Click the title to view the full text of the original article. If the original article is no longer available, see our News Archive.
MINNESOTA
The Catholic Spirit
March 1, 2012
The following comments elaborate on the condensed financial statements of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2011
By John F. Bierbaum
At June 30, 2011, the financial condition of the archdiocese is improved, and the financial result of activities in the fiscal year then ended resulted in a surplus of $3.4 million. The bulk of the surplus can be attributed to the insurance program ($1.1 million) and appreciation of investments ($1.9 million).
Revenues and gains
Total revenue for 2011 reached $39,951,000 as compared to $40,446,000 in 2010.
After significant increases in 2010, the primary sources of revenue, parish assessments and the Catholic Services Appeal (CSA) were down 6 percent and 7 percent respectively in 2011. The slight decrease in assessments is reflective of decreased contributions at parishes during the economic downturn in 2009 (base year for assessments).
CSA receipts, as reported, are after deductions for rebates to parishes and allowances. On a pre-deduction basis, the CSA generated $9.5 million, greater than goal and prior year by $200,000. Both speak to the generosity of the Catholic community despite the severe economic conditions and slow recovery.
Note: This is an Abuse Tracker excerpt. Click the title to view the full text of the original article. If the original article is no longer available, see our News Archive.
UNITED STATES
The Media Report
Dave Pierre
According to Al Jazeera opinion writer Rose Aguilar, United States Catholic bishops have been “given a pass on pedophilia” and “widespread child abuse scandals continue to this day.”
What has prompted Aguilar to unleash her venom against the Church? Does it really have anything to do with the awful abuse of children? Not really.
Aguilar does not like the fact that Catholic bishops have forcefully spoken out against the government’s recent attack on religious freedom that attempts to force them to provide contraceptives in health insurance. (Her article is entitled, “The birth control bishops,” if you can stomach it.)
Aguilar realized, however, that she could not attack the Church on her own. So she did what most slippery journalists do when an attack on the Church is in order, and facts and honesty are not all that important.
She went to the angry folks at SNAP (Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests) and BishopAccountability.org for support.
First up for Aguilar was SNAP “Outreach Director” Barbara Dorris, who, according to Aguilar, “says the [Church abuse] cover-ups are still happening across the country, yet we rarely hear about them in the national dialogue … ‘Bishops have gotten away with moving these predators from place to place, allowing them to start fresh. They are far more dangerous than the predators,’ [said Dorris].” Uh-huh.
(By the way, the article relays an oft-told story by Dorris of her walking in on a priest in 1991 at her parish abusing a young girl. Dorris has claimed that she called the police and social services, yet the man remains in ministry to this day. Yet, most notably, she refuses to divulge the name of this allegedly abusive priest. Why? Who is “covering up” now?)
Then there was the crabby Terence McKiernan from BishopAccountability.org, who, without a shred of supporting documentation, actually claimed, “Over the course of our conversation, a priest is abusing a child.”
Really? …
The bottom line: Al Jazeera, SNAP, and BishopAccountability.org reveal – again – that honesty and truth are not important when attacking the Catholic Church.
(Thank you for the story tip, Matt!)
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.
CHARLOTTE (NC)
WCNC
by Dave Wagner / NewsChannel 36
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — He is a Charlotte pastor who calls himself an “apostle” and is described by some as “charming” and “charismatic.” But former church members tell the I-Team, there is a darker side to this self-proclaimed disciple.
Pastor Clavon Leonard started the Church of Philadelphia in Charlotte’s Hidden Valley neighborhood. “We live by the word. People do by the word. It’s a church of love,” said Leonard.
But six former church leaders have come forward with accusations of spiritual, physical and sexual abuse. “I would describe him as barbaric,” said former minister of music Talitha Williams. Former church member Ayanna Armstrong described Leonard as a cult leader. “His whole being, that’s all he is, is mind control,” said Armstrong.
Note: This is an Abuse Tracker excerpt. Click the title to view the full text of the original article. If the original article is no longer available, see our News Archive.
UNITED KINGDOM
Yorkshire Post
Published on Thursday 1 March 2012
*The Church of England has offered an “unreserved apology” for historic cases of child abuse by some members of its clergy.
Officials said it was a matter of “great sorrow and deep regret” and they recognised the harm caused to the victims.
The apology coincided with the publication of another critical report detailing how convicted paedophile Roy Cotton went on to be ordained as a priest.
Cotton was convicted of indecent behaviour with a child in 1954 aged 25 while in training for the priesthood and further damaging allegations were made against him years later.
Note: This is an Abuse Tracker excerpt. Click the title to view the full text of the original article. If the original article is no longer available, see our News Archive.
AUSTIN (TX)
RushPR
Austin, TX (RPRN) 03/01/12 — New lawsuit filed against Roman Catholic Diocese of Austin – Diocese yet to answer
Houston personal injury law firm Sutliff & Stout, PLLC filed a lawsuit in Travis County District Court this week on behalf of a man who was sexually abused by a Catholic Priest at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in San Saba, Texas. The Roman Catholic Diocese of Austin is in charge of St. Mary’s Catholic Church. The abuse occurred when the man was 11 years old and happened on many occasions until the man moved away from San Saba, Texas.
The lawsuit alleges, among other things, negligence on behalf of the Catholic Diocese in
addition to sexual assault charges against the priest in question.
When asked to comment on this lawsuit, Graham Sutliff was quoted as aying, “Unfortunately, our client’s lawsuit cannot undo the abuse that he suffered. But it can give our client, as well as other victims of sexual abuse, a voice. As a society, we have an obligation to bring these actions to light and hold the parties involved accountable for the abuse that occurred.”
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.
ISRAEL
YNet News
The Kfar Saba Magistrate’s Court extended by six additional days the remand of Rabbi Yigal Krispel, a former principal of a haredi school for girls in Netanya who is suspected of sexually assaulting his students.
The court ruled there are evidence linking Krispel to many offences and said he is a danger to society. It is also feared the suspect will cause obstruction of justice. (Raanan Ben-Zur)
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.
ISRAEL
Press TV (Iran)
An Israeli rabbi has been charged with repeated sexual assault on students in a girls’ school in a city north of Tel Aviv where he used to work as principal.
Rabbi Yigal Krispel, 47, was arrested last week after two former students at a school for Haredi (Orthodox Jewish) girls filed complaints against him saying he had sexually assaulted them.
The Kfar Saba Magistrate’s Court has extended the remand of the Netanya rabbi, who has also been accused of raping a young teacher.
The family of the 20-year-old teacher complained that Krispel had abused his power to have sexual relations with her.
Note: This is an Abuse Tracker excerpt. Click the title to view the full text of the original article. If the original article is no longer available, see our News Archive.
ITALIA
IVG
Savona. La richiesta di archiviazione per l’ex Vescovo di Savona, Monsignor Dante Lafranconi, indagato per violenza sessuale perché non avrebbe impedito ad alcuni sacerdoti della sua Diocesi di compiere atti di pedofilia, è arrivata sul tavolo del giudice per le indagini preliminari Fiorenza Giorgi. Già da qualche settimana era noto che il pubblico ministero Giovanni Battista Ferro avesse chiesto l’archiviazione dell’inchiesta in questione per prescrizione del reato.
Se non ci fosse stata un’opposizione all’archiviazione, presentata dall’associazione della Rete L’abuso, che tutela le vittime di preti pedofili ed è rappresentata da Francesco Zanardi, il gip avrebbe potuto decidere immediatamente se archiviare o meno. Davanti all’opposizione della Rete L’Abuso il giudice ha invece fissato un’udienza, prevista per i primi giorni di maggio (forse il 2), durante la quale verrà deciso se accogliere la richiesta del pm o meno.
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.
WHEELING (WV)
The Intelligencer
March 1, 2012
WHEELING – Wheeling Jesuit University spokeswoman Michelle Rejonis on Wednesday said the university is cooperating with federal investigators who seized records from the offices of J. Davitt McAteer, the school’s vice president for federally sponsored research programs.
The records were removed Feb. 15, but Rejonis said she didn’t know which federal agency was involved.
McAteer, a former head of the federal Mine Safety and Health Administration, did not return calls seeking comment. University President Richard Beyer’s office referred all questions on the matter to Rejonis.
Note: This is an Abuse Tracker excerpt. Click the title to view the full text of the original article. If the original article is no longer available, see our News Archive.
ITALIA
Savona News
“Ci riteniamo soddisfatti di questo risultato in precedenza annunciato dai nostri legali, riteniamo anche che l’opposizione presentata insieme ad una nuova querela per violenza sessuale prolungata dal 1997 al 2003 cambi notevolmente le cose.
La richiesta di archiviazione era motivata nei confronti di diverse vittime tra le quali Francesco Zanardi per prescrizione.
Note: This is an Abuse Tracker excerpt. Click the title to view the full text of the original article. If the original article is no longer available, see our News Archive.
AUSTRALIA
ABC News
[with video]
Updated March 01, 2012
Transcript
TONY JONES, PRESENTER: Victims of sex abuse by Catholic clergy in Victoria are calling for a Royal Commission into the church.
Victims’ support groups say they’ve traced dozens of suicides among people molested by Catholic clergymen in the Ballarat area.
And in the wake of an inquiry into child protection, the Victorian Government is scrambling for the right response.
Hamish Fitzsimmons reports
HAMISH FITZSIMMONS, REPORTER: Victoria’s Community Services Minister is under pressure over comments comparing the rights of paedophiles to the rights of victims.
MARY WOOLDRIDGE, VICTORIAN MINISTER FOR COMMUNITY SERVICES (Fairfax Radio): We have to balance the rights of children and families…
NEIL MITCHELL, RADIO HOST: Against the rights of paedophiles.
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.
NORTHERN IRELAND
Irish Central
By
KERRY O’SHEA,
IrishCentral Staff Writer
Published Thursday, March 1, 2012, 8:03 AM
A priest from Co. Down has been convicted for the fourth time of sexually abusing young boys. He has since been sentenced to four years in prison for his crimes.
BBC News reports that one of the victims of Fr. Daniel Curran’s abuse, a man who wishes to remain unidentified, has grappled with the trauma of the incidents that occurred between 1989 and 1994.
“It’s been very traumatic, because you would spend your life in doubt, you would spend your life in fear, you spend your whole life questioning yourself, doubting your ability, you feel dirty,” said the man, who also added that he’s had nightmares most of his life about Curran.
The victim admits that coming forth about his abuse was no easy feat.
“Back then, being a Catholic and having a strong religious background you would never be able to go and tell anyone because you knew that it was wrong,” he said.
Note: This is an Abuse Tracker excerpt. Click the title to view the full text of the original article. If the original article is no longer available, see our News Archive.
UNITED KINGDOM
Huffington Post
The Church of England has offered an “unreserved apology” for historic cases of child abuse by some members of its clergy, including one priest who was allowed to be a Scout leader.
Officials said it was a matter of “great sorrow and deep regret” and they recognised the harm caused to the victims.
The apology, released on Thursday, coincides with the publication of a report detailing how convicted paedophile Roy Cotton went on to be ordained as a priest.
Cotton was convicted of indecent behaviour with a child in 1954 aged 25 while in training for the priesthood and further damaging allegations were made against him years later.
Note: This is an Abuse Tracker excerpt. Click the title to view the full text of the original article. If the original article is no longer available, see our News Archive.
INDIA
DNA
The Karnataka State Commission for Protection of Child Rights along with some NGOs and police rescued 42 children who had allegedly been abused at a children’s home in Challaghatta village near Marathahalli.
The home is run by an organisation called the Church of Christ.
The priest of the church, John Charles (42), is being interrogated. The police said that he admitted to having beaten some children for not doing their homework. Some girls have alleged that he also used to misbehave with them. Till the time of going to press, the police were interrogating Charles. A police officer said the children have been spoken to and, in some cases, bruise marks are fairly visible.
The police said that some girls told the rescue team that Charles used to misbehave with them in the kitchen.
They said that at times Charles used to spend the night at the premises. He lives in Cox Town with his family.
Note: This is an Abuse Tracker excerpt. Click the title to view the full text of the original article. If the original article is no longer available, see our News Archive.
CANADA
Ottawa Citizen
By Chloé Fedio, Ottawa Citizen March 1, 2012
An Ottawa Valley priest faces several sexual assaults charges against pre-teenage boys and one man that date back to 1970, Ontario Provincial Police said Wednesday.
Daniel Miller, 67, was charged with three counts each of gross indecency and indecent assault for offences that occurred between 1970 and 1980.
Miller was ordained priest in the Pembroke diocese in May 1969. He served the Roman Catholic church in Eganville, Arnprior, Deep River and Petawawa prior to 1999, said Bruce Pappin, spokesman for the Pembroke diocese.
Miller currently lives in a residence at Our Lady of Lourdes church in Pembroke but does not serve as a priest for that congregation, Pap-pin said. “He has not been in active pastoral duty for over a decade. He’s living in the rectory at Lourdes church,” Pap-pin said.
Note: This is an Abuse Tracker excerpt. Click the title to view the full text of the original article. If the original article is no longer available, see our News Archive.
UNITED KINGDOM
Irish Examiner
Thursday, March 01, 2012 –
The Church of England has offered an “unreserved apology” for historic cases of child abuse by some members of its clergy.
Officials said it was a matter of “great sorrow and deep regret” and they recognised the harm caused to the victims.
The apology coincided with the publication of another critical report detailing how convicted paedophile Roy Cotton went on to be ordained as a priest.
Cotton was convicted of indecent behaviour with a child in 1954 aged 25 while in training for the priesthood and further damaging allegations were made against him years later.
Note: This is an Abuse Tracker excerpt. Click the title to view the full text of the original article. If the original article is no longer available, see our News Archive.
CANADA
CFRA
Kristi Soble with Lauren Davis
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
A Pembroke priest faces charges in relation to a historical sexual assault.
OPP say the man is accused of assaulting preteen boys and an adult man between 1970 and 1980.
Sixty-seven-year-old Daniel M. Miller has been charged with three counts of gross indecency and three counts of indecent assault.
Note: This is an Abuse Tracker excerpt. Click the title to view the full text of the original article. If the original article is no longer available, see our News Archive.
AUSTRALIA
The Age
Paul McDonald
March 1, 2012
Opinion
Improvements to child protection will not come cheaply but must be made.
THE figures are staggering: over the past 10 years, reports of child abuse and neglect in Victoria have risen by 45 per cent. Families under-capable and over-stressed, children traumatised by family violence, addictions creating chaotic routines for babies and erratic relationships have resulted in a stretched and struggling system.
There has been no shortage of reviews in this policy area: one every three years on average over the past three decades.
Note: This is an Abuse Tracker excerpt. Click the title to view the full text of the original article. If the original article is no longer available, see our News Archive.
AUSTRALIA
The Age
March 1, 2012
Opinion
Will Spring Street finally take action to properly protect those at risk?
The Baillieu government should at the very least be congratulated for commissioning and promptly releasing the Cummins report on child protection. By any measure it is a landmark study, laying bare an issue that the previous Labor government shamefully squibbed.
Depending on how this government ultimately responds, the report will be held up as a glowing achievement of the Coalition’s first term or an emblem of yet more political inaction.
Note: This is an Abuse Tracker excerpt. Click the title to view the full text of the original article. If the original article is no longer available, see our News Archive.
AUSTRALIA
The Australian
John Ferguson, Victorian political editor
From:The Australian
February 29, 2012
A LOST generation of vulnerable Victorian children has been failed by governments and the legal system, but those responsible for overseeing the systemic departmental chaos will not be pursued by the Baillieu government.
The Cummins inquiry into child protection yesterday backed a ground-up overhaul of child services in Victoria as well as broad changes to the way the Children’s Court operates.
It found the growth in suspected child abuse and neglect was so great that almost one in every four children born last year would be the subject of at least one welfare protection report by their 18th birthday.
The inquiry has recommended greater reporting demands on the clergy, with exemptions for the rite of confession, and a whole-of-government response to the child welfare crisis. It has backed a new Commission for Children and Young People and accused Victorian governments over many years of having failed on crucial early-intervention procedures.
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.
CALIFORNIA
The Record
By Jennie Rodriguez-Moore
Record Staff Writer
March 01, 2012
STOCKTON – Witness testimony in a civil lawsuit alleging Lockeford’s the Rev. Michael Kelly sexually molested an altar boy began Wednesday in a courtroom full of the priest’s supporters.
Now a 37-year-old man, the plaintiff is seeking damages from Kelly and the Diocese of Stockton, saying he recovered repressed memories of him being molested by the priest.
The plaintiff was a student at Annunciation School during the mid-1980s and an altar boy at Cathedral of the Annunciation, where Kelly has served.
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.
PHILADELPHIA (PA)
Philadelphia Inquirer
Lawyers on Wednesday added two more people to the jury for the conspiracy and child sex-abuse trial of three current or former Archdiocese of Philadelphia priests.
After an eighth day of screening, prosecutors and defense attorneys had chosen six men and six women for the panel.
Lawyers for both sides still need to pick 10 alternate jurors, who could be tapped if any of the original 12 were disqualified or forced to leave the case. That process could extend into next week.
The trial is projected to last between three and four months.
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.
NEDERLAND
VVD
De gehele Kamer steunt de VVD in het uitspreken van afschuw over wat de slachtoffers van het misbruik in de katholieke kerk is aangedaan.
Ard van der Steur: “Ik heb mijn collega’s bij motie gevraagd hun afschuw uit te spreken, evenals hun medeleven met de slachtoffers en hun familie die dit leed zonder erkenning jaren hebben moeten dragen. Vanaf 1945 heeft zeer ernstig seksueel misbruik van minderjarigen plaatsgevonden. Door de zwijgcultuur binnen de rooms-katholieke kerk is dat misbruik nooit openbaar gemaakt, en zijn dus ook geen stappen gezet om het te beëindigen. Het feit dat slachtoffers daarmee stelselmatig leed is toegebracht en dat zij vervolgens gewoonweg in de steek zijn gelaten, is voor mij onacceptabel. Gelukkig hebben al mijn collega’s zich bij dit gevoelen aangesloten.”
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.
SOUTH CAROLINA
Patch
By Andrew Moore
A 58-year-old Taylors man was arrested Wednesday for allegedly initiating inappropriate sexual conduct 26 years ago with a teenage boy at a Hampton Park Baptist Church youth function.
According to the Greenville County Sheriff’s Office, a sex crimes investigation was conducted after the department’s Crimes Against Children Unit received a report earlier this year alleging that Kenneth Johnson had engaged in sexual behavior with a child at an Amy Street address in Taylors from June to August of 1985. Warrants indicate Johnson allegedly touched a 14-year-old boy’s genitals on multiple occassions. During the time of the alleged abuse, the victim was a juvenile and an active participant in the youth group at the church, where Johnson was a volunteer assistant.
The victim has not indicated that there were any such incidences on church property.
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.
INDIA
Times of India
BANGALORE: Two officials of a non-governmental organisation were detained by police for allegedly sexually harassing and brutally assaulting children at its shelter. Devanahalli Airport police station officers confirmed that John Charles, general manager, Church of Christ, an NGO located on Bellary Road in Chellaghatta, and board member, John Williams, were picked up for questioning.
They said a case with multiple charges, including sexual abuse and assault, will be booked against the duo after interrogation. On Wednesday evening, Child Welfare Committee (CWC) members raided the home following a complaint lodged with them through Childline, a children’s helpline, on Tuesday night by anonymous persons and rescued 42 children – 19 girls and 23 boys all between the age of 8 and 18.
Nina Nayak, chairperson, Karnataka State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (KSCPCR), said girls in the home told counsellors they had been sexually abused. After the complaint from Childline, CWC first visited the home and realized the matter was grave before conducting the raid.
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.
INDIA
Deccan Herald
Bangalore, Feb 29, 2012:
As many as 42 children were rescued from an orphanage late Wednesday night, following complaints of severe physical and sexual abuse.
Twenty-three girls and 19 boys were rescued from Church of Christ Home located in Challaghatta by teams from Child Rights Commission, Child Welfare Committee, Childline Bangalore and HAL Airport police. The manager of the orphanage Charles and another person John Williams have been arrested by the Airport police.
According to one of the members involved in the rescue operation, the children were found to bear marks of brutality and in a severely traumatic condition.
The home was registered as a society and not registered either with the Child Welfare Committee or the Department of Women and Child Development as an orphanage.
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.
CALIFORNIA
Lodi News-Sentinel
By Ross Farrow/News-Sentinel Staff Writer
Two parishioners at a Stockton Catholic church testified Wednesday about Father Michael Kelly touching children in 1984. However, both of them said they didn’t consider the acts to be sexual misconduct.
The testimony came from the first two witnesses in the civil trial in San Joaquin County Superior Court. The plaintiff, a man in his late 30s, has sued Kelly and the Stockton Diocese, accusing Kelly of sexually abusing him when the plaintiff was an altar boy at Cathedral of the Annunciation in Stockton in the 1980s.
Kelly hasn’t been arrested or charged with criminal sexual misconduct. The case is being tried before a civil jury.
Kelly has been pastor of St. Joachim’s Catholic Church in Lockeford since 2004 and previously served in Stockton, Sonora, San Andreas and Ceres before being assigned to St. Joachim’s.
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.
TEXAS
Reporter News
By Brian Bethel
Posted February 29, 2012
Bishop Michael Pfeifer, head of the Roman Catholic Diocese of San Angelo, will travel in mid-March to visit Pope Benedict XVI.
Pfeifer, along with other bishops who make up the Vatican’s Region X of the United States, will visit Benedict March 13—21, a diocese statement said. …
“Definitely we will talk about the sexual abuse situation that really came to the forefront 10 years ago,” he said. “The pope has been very, very concerned what the American bishops are doing about that, and in our reports to Rome, that’s one of the major points.”
The San Angelo Diocese has a yearly audit, a regularly-revised policy book, orientation classes and other items in place to both educate those within it and prevent abuse, Pfeifer said.
Note: This is an Abuse Tracker excerpt. Click the title to view the full text of the original article. If the original article is no longer available, see our News Archive.
PHILADELPHIA (PA)
Philadelphia Inquirer
With the deeply troubling disclosure that Cardinal Anthony J. Bevilacqua ordered aides to shred a memo identifying 35 suspected predator priests, there’s no longer any question that Pennsylvania should give victims of long-ago abuse an avenue to have their day in court.
The revelations about Bevilacqua present a textbook illustration of what’s at stake in victims’ efforts to uncover the truth about the apparent cover-up of alleged abuse by clergy spanning decades. The cardinal died Jan. 31, on the eve of the sex-abuse trial of a former church administrator and two former parish priests.
Just as two Philadelphia grand juries concluded, Bevilacqua’s reported 1994 shredding directive, brought to light only last week, appears to confirm that there was a carefully orchestrated effort by Archdiocese of Philadelphia officials to shield predators.
Similarly, it has been revealed that Bevilacqua joined with other Pennsylvania bishops “to examine how the dioceses . . . can better protect their secret archives from civil-law discovery,” according to court records.
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.
PHILADELPHIA (PA)
Philadelphia Daily News
THE FINAL juror was selected yesterday to hear the child-sexual-abuse trial of two current Philadelphia Catholic priests and one former priest.
Common Pleas Judge M. Teresa Sarmina and the trial’s attorneys must now select 10 alternate jurors. The trial is expected to last 12 to 16 weeks. Opening arguments are slated for March 26.
Monsignor William Lynn, 61, is charged with child endangerment and conspiracy for allegedly enabling the crimes of predator priests.
Note: This is an Abuse Tracker excerpt. Click the title to view the full text of the original article. If the original article is no longer available, see our News Archive.
NORTHERN IRELAND
The Irish Times
A former priest has been jailed for four years at Downpatrick Crown Court yesterday following his fourth conviction for child sex abuse.
Daniel Curran (61), Bryansford Avenue, Newcastle, Co Down, pleaded guilty to five charges of indecently assaulting two boys between 1989 and 1994.
The court heard how the one-time parish priest of St Paul’s in west Belfast said he could not remember how many young boys he had preyed upon because he had a drink problem at the time.
However, Judge David Smyth QC revealed he had abused “at least 13 victims” over nearly 17 years. He also noted how records from when Curran was sent to England by the Catholic Church for treatment had been asked for but had not been received.
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.
WISCONSIN
SNAPwisconsin.com
Victims agree with Judge Kelley’s ruling: bankruptcy court no place for sex crimes investigation
Some of Kelley’s comments, however, demonstrate exactly why the Attorney General—not the archdiocese–must conduct full investigation
Court does not dispute figures that at least 8,000 criminal acts are alleged in filings, with at least 100 unidentified offenders
Statement by John Pilmaier, SNAP Wisconsin Director
CONTACT: 414.336.8575
Judge Susan V. Kelley denied a motion today in Federal Bankruptcy Court filed on behalf of archbishop Jerome Listecki, which would have allowed the archdiocese to submit to the Attorney General of Wisconsin a “statistical analysis” of the thousands of child sex crimes found within claims submitted to the court by victims of child rape and sexual assault. Judge Kelley emphasized that the Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceeding is intended to provide the debtor, the archdiocese of Milwaukee, the opportunity to file a plan of reorganization, not a venue for the investigation of criminal child sex crimes.
In courtroom comments, however, Judge Kelley remarked several times that based upon the claims she has reviewed there was not, in her opinion as a bankruptcy judge, a current “public safety crisis”.
Kelley did not dispute that the claims include at least 8,000 acts of alleged criminal sexual acts against children and, even more significantly, that there are at least 100 alleged offenders who are not named on the archdiocese “official” list of 43 abusive priests. Even Listecki, in his blog this week, concedes that “some new names of diocesan priests did surface in the claims process”.
Note: This is an Abuse Tracker excerpt. Click the title to view the full text of the original article. If the original article is no longer available, see our News Archive.
IRELAND
Newstalk
A survey of Catholic Priests has found 2/3 felt the criticism by Taoiseach Enda Kenny of the Vatican in the wake of the Murphy Report was undeserved.
The poll was carried out by the Moncrieff Show on Newstalk.
It was submitted to 320 priests nationwide with 114 responding.
63% believed the Vatican had handled clerical sex abuse cases poorly.
While 65% said the abuse scandals has damaged the reputation of all priests.
And 79% of them said their confidence in RTÉ had been damaged by the Fr. Kevin Reynolds libel case.
Note: This is an Abuse Tracker excerpt. Click the title to view the full text of the original article. If the original article is no longer available, see our News Archive.
IRELAND
Irish Examiner
By Evelyn Ring
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Eight out of 10 priests believe they should be allowed to marry.
And six out of 10 who took part in a national radio survey believe women should be ordained priests.
Newstalk invited 320 priests to participate in the survey and 114 responded. Most (96%) had been serving members for 10 years or more. Many (65%) felt their reputations have been damaged by abuse scandals in the Church.
Meanwhile, 75% of priests feel Enda Kenny’s criticisms of the Vatican were undeserved.
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.
MILWAUKEE (WI)
WTMJ
MILWAUKEE- A bankruptcy judge refused to unseal church documents related to the Milwaukee Archdiocese sex abuse scandal.
Not only did federal judge Susan Kelley disagree, she called Wednesday’s hearing a distraction, by people with an agenda.
At a court hearing earlier this month, Peter Isely, a spokesman for the Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests (SNAP) argued documents in the archdiocese bankruptcy hearing listed at least 100 never before named sex offenders. He claimed those names are a public safety and child safety concern.
Judge Kelley reviewed every single name listed in the claims spanning more than 50 years — and could find no public safety concern.
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.
PHILADELPHIA (PA)
Philadelphia Inquirer
By John P. Martin
INQUIRER STAFF WRITER
Lawyers on Wednesday added two more people to the jury for the pending conspiracy and child sex-abuse trial of three Archdiocese of Philadelphia priests.
After an eighth day of screening, prosecutors and defense attorneys had chosen six men and six women for the panel.
Lawyers for both sides still need to pick 10 alternate jurors, people who could be tapped if any of the original 12 are disqualified or forced to leave the case. That process could extend into next week.
The trial is projected to last between three and four months.
Note: This is an Abuse Tracker excerpt. Click the title to view the full text of the original article. If the original article is no longer available, see our News Archive.
CANADA
Ottawa Citizen
By Meghan Hurley
February 29, 2012
OTTAWA — A Pembroke priest faces charges in sexual assaults dating back to 1970, police said Wednesday.
The sexual assaults against teenage boys and one man occurred between 1970 and 1980, Ontario Provincial Police said.
Daniel Miller, 67, has been charged with three counts each of gross indecency and indecent assault.
Miller was released from custody on a promise to appear in a Renfrew court March 28.
Note: This is an Abuse Tracker excerpt. Click the title to view the full text of the original article. If the original article is no longer available, see our News Archive.
UNITED STATES
Salon
By Gene Lyons
For the record, the priest who married my wife and me in 1967 advised us that we could in good faith practice birth control. He reasoned that as Pope Paul VI was then preparing an encyclical regarding faith and sexuality, young Catholics could reasonably assume that church dogma regarding contraception would soon change to reflect contemporary realities: specifically that a couple intending to bring children into their marriage might legitimately seek to do so in their own time.
A university chaplain, he no doubt understood how the combination of Rome’s authoritarianism and theological nit-picking tended to drive educated young people from the church. Anyway, everybody knows how that worked out. Next came Humanae Vitae, Pope Paul VI’s 1968 doubling down on the church’s blanket condemnation of artificial means of birth control — a blast from the medieval past as most American Catholics now see it.
“Vatican Roulette,” we called it, and like the vast majority, declined to play. Surveys have shown that approximately 13 percent of the faithful agree with the Roman Catholic Church’s categorical ban on birth control; a mere 2 percent actually practice what the bishops preach. For most, it isn’t a serious personal issue. Sure, Your Grace, whatever. …
Coarse jokes about priests, altar boys and contraception virtually wrote themselves. I’ll spare you. But while we’re at it, let’s light a candle for Sinead O’Connor, an eccentric woman in combat boots with a shaven head, who tore up the pope’s photo on “Saturday Night Live” in 1992 to protest clerical sexual abuse of children in her native Ireland: wrecking her U.S. career to make a point entirely lost upon most viewers at the time.
In a bankruptcy proceeding last week, the diocese of Milwaukee listed 8,000 claims of sexual abuse among its liabilities. I’m with Esquire’s Charles P. Pierce, who writes that the great contraceptive kerfuffle with the Obama administration represents a fairly obvious power play by “the institutional American church to regain the power and influence in the secular government that it lost when it was exposed to be a multigenerational conspiracy to obstruct justice.”
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.
MILWAUKEE (WI)
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Milwaukee
Most Reverend Jerome E. Listecki
Archbishop Of Milwaukee
Since my return from Rome last week, I have been catching up on all the things that happened while I was away for the ad limina trip and the consistory where my friend and predecessor Timothy M. Dolan was elevated to the office of Cardinal.
The first thing that confronted me was the media coverage of the archdiocese’s Chapter 11 proceeding and statements made about the number of abuse claims filed and the safety of children in the Church today.
Any instance of sexual abuse of a minor is a disgusting sin and a horrible crime. My heartfelt apology goes out to anyone who has been harmed. When Pope Benedict visited the United States in April 2008, he rightly referred to the sexual abuse of children by priests as “evil” and a “sin,” acknowledging that the crisis was “sometimes very badly handled by Church leaders.”
However, statements reported as facts in the media, go beyond the adversarial rhetoric we have come to expect in this proceeding. On top of that, several state legislators, without having access to factual information regarding any of the claims, compounded the issue by calling for the state attorney general to investigate, unaware that both old and new claims have been turned over to and been reviewed by district attorneys for more than a decade.
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.
WISCONSIN
Mal Contends…
Annysa Johnson in the MJS notes this morning that, “Milwaukee Archbishop Jerome Listecki, who just returned from a papal meeting in Rome, issued a letter to local Catholics on Tuesday excoriating the media, lawmakers and plaintiffs’ attorneys in the bankruptcy.”
I could not think of a less credible character than the pederast-protecting, Scott Walker-defending Listecki to excoriate anybody.
Listecki’s letter is an outrage in itself referring to the legion of sexual attacks against minors by stating child rape has: “sometimes [been] very badly handled by Church leaders.”
Note: This is an Abuse Tracker excerpt. Click the title to view the full text of the original article. If the original article is no longer available, see our News Archive.
NEW YORK
Berger’s Beat
February 28, 2012 10:39 pm | Author: Jerry Berger
From “no brainer” to “no-starter.” That’s how the New York Daily News describes an now-abandoned plan by the state American-Irish Legislators Society to honor Cardinal Tim Dolan. Initially, some of the group’s leaders were enthusiastic about feting Dolan, “But some Assembly Democratic members are said to have balked because of the church’s vehement opposition both to same-sex marriage and a bill to extend the statute of limitations past victims of sex abuse by priests.”
Note: This is an Abuse Tracker excerpt. Click the title to view the full text of the original article. If the original article is no longer available, see our News Archive.
MILWAUKEE (WI)
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
By Annysa Johnson of the Journal Sentinel
Feb. 29, 2012
The judge in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee bankruptcy said Wednesday that a review of sex abuse allegations in the case reveals no current child safety crisis and that suggestions otherwise – by lawmakers and victim advocates – are a distortion of the facts.
“We cannot control what is said by others on the courthouse steps,” U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Susan V. Kelley said.
At a hearing where she rejected a request by the archdiocese to release limited statistical information about the abuse claims, Kelley admonished lawyers on both sides to, as she said, return to the business of bankruptcy, which is “primarily financial.”
Kelley said the vast majority of the offenses alleged in the claims are older.
“The purpose of bankruptcy is for a debtor file a plan, to pay the valid claims. We’re not here to embarrass or humiliate people or to bring up matters from the 1950s,” she said.
Note: This is an Abuse Tracker excerpt. Click the title to view the full text of the original article. If the original article is no longer available, see our News Archive.
MILWAUKEE (WI)
Fox 6
February 29, 2012, by Cary Docter
MILWAUKEE — A federal judge denied on Wednesday a motion by the Milwaukee Archdiocese to submit a statistical review of priest abuse cases.
The judge said according to her independent review, there is no current public safety concern within the archdiocese (churches and schools). She indicated the priest abuse cases provided to the court from the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP) are “very old.”
What happened in court Wednesday was a result of comments from the court in early February. At the time, lawyers for victims of sexual abuse said there were 100 new sex offenders identified in more than 8,000 accounts of sexual abuse (in their claims). This number was well publicized.
Members of SNAP called those numbers a “personal safety crisis.” The group wanted an investigation into who these people were in case there were CURRENT members of the archdiocese identified in court documents.
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.
PHILADELPHIA (PA)
My Fox Philly
PHILADELPHIA – An assistant restaurant manager has become the 12th juror seated in the landmark case about how the Archdiocese of Philadelphia dealt with priests accused of molesting children.
Testimony is set to start March 26.
The 12th juror was chosen Wednesday. The six men and six women are expected to hear evidence for about four months. Ten alternates will also sit through the trial.
Monsignor William Lynn is accused of endangering children by transferring two accused priests to new parishes. The 61-year-old Lynn has pleaded not guilty and blames the late Cardinal Anthony Bevilacqua (beh-vih-LAH’-kwah) for hiding the problem.
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.
WEST VIRGINIA
Sheboygan Press
By Vicki Smith, Associated Press
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (WTW) — Wheeling Jesuit University acknowledged Wednesday it’s cooperating with federal investigators who seized records from the offices of J. Davitt McAteer, the school’s vice president for federally sponsored research programs and a prominent critic of the coal mining industry.
The files were removed Feb. 15, but spokeswoman Michelle Rejonis said she didn’t know which federal agency was involved.
Wheeling Jesuit has many federally sponsored programs, including collaborations with NASA and a center that helps commercialize new technologies, Rejonis said, so it works with several agencies. Many of those agencies have an Office of Inspector General, an entity that investigates fraud, waste and abuse.
Note: This is an Abuse Tracker excerpt. Click the title to view the full text of the original article. If the original article is no longer available, see our News Archive.
WHEELING (WV)
WTOV
By The Associated Press
WHEELING, W.Va. —
Wheeling Jesuit University officials said they’re cooperating with federal investigators who seized records from the offices of the vice president for federally sponsored programs.
Spokeswoman Michele Rejonis said files were seized on Feb. 15 from J. Davitt McAteer’s offices, and she’s not sure which federal agency was involved.
Wheeling Jesuit has many federally sponsored programs, including collaborations with NASA and a center that helps commercialize new technologies.
McAteer is also director of its National Technology Transfer Center and the Erma Ora Byrd Center for Education Technologies.
Note: This is an Abuse Tracker excerpt. Click the title to view the full text of the original article. If the original article is no longer available, see our News Archive.
NEW YORK
The Jewish Week
Alleged victim claims Brooklyn DA didn’t aggressively pursue case; implications for FOIL.
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Hella Winston
Special To The Jewish Week
A 25-year-old man who is alleging that the Brooklyn District Attorney did not seriously pursue his sexual abuse case — and who is now too old to pursue legal remedies — will be speaking in Albany Wednesday in support of the Child Victim’s Act (CVA). The CVA is a bill that proposes extending the current statute of limitations on certain sex crimes against children to age 28. It also creates a one-year window during which victims of child sexual abuse can file civil suits regardless of when the alleged abuse occurred.
According to an internal memo obtained through a Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) request from Brooklyn DA Charles Hynes’ office by the alleged victim, Schneur Borenstein, Borenstein’s first disclosure of his abuse to anyone connected with the DA’s office was made to Henna White. He does not remember precisely when he first approached White, although said it was shortly before he turned 22.
White is the office’s liaison to the Jewish community and also plays a key role in Kol Tzedek, a confidential hotline established by the DA to encourage members of the Brooklyn Orthodox community to report sex crimes against children to the secular authorities.
Note: This is an Abuse Tracker excerpt. Click the title to view the full text of the original article. If the original article is no longer available, see our News Archive.
DEUTSCHLAND
Regensburg-Digital
Fünf Tage war ein Fernsehteam der ARD in Regensburg unterwegs. Gut ein Jahr, nachdem die katholische Kirche angekündigt hat, Konsequenzen aus den Missbrauchssfällen zu ziehen, wollte man konkret erfahren, wie Opfern geholfen wurde. Das Ergebnis der Recherchen ist kommenden Donnerstag im ARD-Morgenmagazin zu sehen.
„Beim Versuch, eine Stellungnahme der Kirche zu bekommen, sind wir gescheitert“, sagt der Fernsehautor Wolfgang Bausch. Fünf Tage waren er und ein Team des WDR in Regensburg unterwegs. Anlässlich der hier tagenden Deutschen Bischofskonferenz wollten sie herausfinden, wie die katholische Kirche ein gutes Jahr nach dem öffentlichen Bekanntwerden des Missbrauchsskandals heute mit dem Thema umgeht. Und von der Mauer des Schweigens im Bistum Regensburg zeigte Bausch sich durchaus beeindruckt.
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.
NORTHERN IRELAND
BBC News
The Bishop of Down and Connor has apologised to the victims of a paedophile priest who has been jailed for four years for sexually abusing two young boys.
Bishop Noel Treanor said that he regretted “the pain and distress” caused by Daniel Curran, 61, of Bryansford Road, Newcastle.
Downpatrick Crown Court heard the offences took place between 1989 and 1994 at Curran’s family holiday home near Tyrella, County Down.
It was the fourth time he had been charged with child abuse.
Note: This is an Abuse Tracker excerpt. Click the title to view the full text of the original article. If the original article is no longer available, see our News Archive.
NORTHERN IRELAND
BBC News
A victim of paedophile priest Daniel Curran has said he has had nightmares about him since his childhood abuse.
On Wednesday, Curran was sentenced to four years in prison for indecently assaulting two young boys.
It is the fourth time he has been sentenced for sex offences against boys.
One of the victims in the latest case – who did not want to be identified – told the BBC of the impact of the abuse.
Note: This is an Abuse Tracker excerpt. Click the title to view the full text of the original article. If the original article is no longer available, see our News Archive.
PHILADELPHIA (PA)
CBS Philly
By Tony Hanson
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) –
Twelve jurors have now been selected to hear an historic case, allegations of child abuse by priests and a cover-up by a church official, Monsignor William Lynn.
Although 12 jurors have been selected, the attorneys must still pick 10 alternates because of the expected length of the trial, about three to four months. And opening statements are not scheduled to begin until late March. The court left a large window between jury selection and the taking of evidence in this high-profile, highly charged case.
In this case, two priests are charged with rape, and Monsignor William Lynn is charged with endangering children by allowing these and other alleged predator priests to remain in ministry with access to additional victims. The defendants have pleaded NOT guilty.
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.
PHILADELPHIA (PA)
Catholics4Change
By Kathy Kane
So where to begin. A year ago at this time, I sat in my house furious and betrayed. I had so many emotions but no where to channel the anger. Where would my voice be heard? Shortly after the Grand Jury report, an apology was issued in the Catholic Standard and Times. It was my tipping point. It was an apology with a “But” – the worst kind of apology. More children had been harmed by priests left in ministry. Children had been put at risk. Please no more apologies. No more “praying for the evil that has occurred.” No more empty words. That might placate some people – not me. I had read the “apology” a few days before and for some reason googled it to read one more time. But this time the first thing that popped up on the search was catholics4change. Susan had included the “apology” in her links in her post titled, “Don’t Apologize for Me.” I read her few posts that were on the site at that time including, “My Lost Saints” and knew I had found my home.
“People find each other. They just do.” These words were spoken to me by a pediatrician when my children were young and just starting school. I had the typical worries all Moms have about their children making friends and finding a comfortable group to fit in. “People find each other.” So true about my experiences over the past year. I found Susan and then over the course of a few weeks found so many more local people sharing the same outrage. Then as the site grew, found so many more people from all over the US and other countries sharing the same anger, betrayal and profound sadness about what had happened to children.
We have had so many experiences over the past year. So much of our involvement taking place off site. Attending meetings, vigils, communicating with people in private emails. So many people – so much pain.
Note: This is an Abuse Tracker excerpt. Click the title to view the full text of the original article. If the original article is no longer available, see our News Archive.
AUSTRALIA
Herald Sun
Editorial
From:Herald Sun
March 01, 2012
THE Victorian Government is protecting the most vulnerable people in the community by changing laws allowing convicted sex offenders to work with children.
The Government is responding to a determined Herald Sun campaign by acknowledging that decisions taken by the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal are not always in the interests of children and their parents.
The proposed changes are to prevent rulings in favour of applicants who have failed Working With Children checks, but then appealed against a decision by the Department of Justice not to grant them a permit.
Note: This is an Abuse Tracker excerpt. Click the title to view the full text of the original article. If the original article is no longer available, see our News Archive.
AUSTRALIA
Herald Sun
Michael Holcroft
From:Herald Sun
March 01, 2012
THE Law Institute of Victoria strongly opposes the “name and shame” push with respect to serious sex offenders.
The LIV is concerned that our children and communities are protected from serious sexual predators, but “name and shame” is not the way to achieve this.
Being identified as a sexual predator removes an offender’s motivation to rehabilitate.
Being publicly linked to a crime that is so stigmatised makes it difficult for an offender to obtain employment or accommodation.
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.
MILWAUKEE (WI)
WTMJ
MILWAUKEE – People allegedly abused by priests and others involved in the Catholic Church have asked for a state investigation into claims filed as part of a bankruptcy case involving the Milwaukee Archdiocese.
On the same day, a federal judge was to hear arguments Wednesday afternoon from lawyers on behalf of some of those victims.
Those victims want documents unsealed because, they say, it would reveal more about the breadth and scope of sex abuse in the Catholic Church.
Note: This is an Abuse Tracker excerpt. Click the title to view the full text of the original article. If the original article is no longer available, see our News Archive.
NEW YORK
Catholic League
[On Wednesday, February 29, Bill Donohue will appear on Fox Business Network’s “Lou Dobbs Tonight” to discuss the latest on the HHS mandate and several other topics. Donohue is scheduled to appear at 7:30 p.m. ET.]
Catholic League president Bill Donohue comments as follows:
For the past several years, New York State Assemblywoman Margaret Markey has sought legislation targeting the sexual abuse of minors. Yet never once has she introduced a bill that would apply to public institutions—just private ones. Now she is back again asking her colleagues to pass a bill that would suspend the civil statute of limitations for a one-year period; it would allow alleged victims who claim they were molested in a private institution to sue, regardless of when it supposedly happened.
But what if a kid was sodomized by a public school teacher in Albany just before Thanksgiving? New York State law says it is already too late for him to sue. Markey agrees with this condition—the kid is out of luck. She could have attempted to correct this situation, but she has chosen not to. In other words, child rape in public schools is not something she will ever confront. However, if a student was allegedly groped by a Catholic teacher in the 1950s, Markey wants it to be legal to sue the teacher, the school, and the diocese in which it is located.
In the month of February alone, six public school employees have been arrested for sexually abusing a minor. And this is just in New York City! Common decency, as well as common sense, dictates that new laws designed to curb this problem should begin by targeting the public schools. Instead, Markey wants to give them a pass.
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.
NORTHERN IRELAND
UTV
Published Wednesday, 29 February 2012
A victim of Co Down convicted paedophile and former priest, Daniel Curran – who was jailed on Wednesday for four years – has told UTV he was “scared to live and afraid to die”, as a result of the abuse he suffered.
The 61-year-old former priest, from Bryansford Avenue in Newcastle, was told by Judge David Smyth QC that a jury trial could have seen him sentenced to 18 years behind bars.
As it was, Curran had pleaded guilty at Downpatrick Crown Court to five charges of indecently assaulting two boys while he was a parish priest in west Belfast between 1989 and 1994 and was handed the four-year term.
Standing emotionless in the dock, Curran was told by Judge Smyth that he had abused the trust his position as a priest afforded him and that the acts of abuse were not isolated incidents.
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.
NORTHERN IRELAND
BBC News
A former priest and convicted paedophile has been jailed for four years for sexually abusing two young boys.
The offences took place over a period of five years between 1989 and 1994. The boys were aged nine and 10.
It is the fourth time Daniel Curran, 61, of Bryansford Road, Newcastle, has been charged with child abuse.
Downpatrick Crown Court heard the offences took place at Curran’s family holiday home near Tyrella, County Down.
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.
NORTHERN IRELAND
RTE News
A former Catholic priest has been sentenced to four years in prison for abusing young boys in Northern Ireland in the 1980s.
Dan Curran was parish priest in Belfast in the late 1980s
A former Catholic priest has been sentenced to four years in prison for what a judge described as a ”systematic campaign” of sexual abuse against young boys.
Dan Curran, 61, from Newcastle, Co Down, admitted sexually assaulting two altar boys when he was a parish priest in Belfast in the late 1980s.
The abuse took place at an isolated cottage where Curran took his victims at weekends.
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.
PHILADELPHIA (PA)
WPXI
The Associated Press
PHILADELPHIA —
An assistant restaurant manager has become the 12th juror seated in the landmark case about how the Archdiocese of Philadelphia dealt with priests accused of molesting children.
The jury of six men and six women are expected to hear evidence for about four months.
Ten alternates will also sit through the trial.
Monsignor William Lynn is accused of endangering children by transferring two accused priests to new parishes during the 1990s. The 61-year-old Lynn has pleaded not guilty and blames the late Cardinal Anthony Bevilacqua (beh-vih-LAH’-kwah) for hiding the problem.
Note: This is an Abuse Tracker excerpt. Click the title to view the full text of the original article. If the original article is no longer available, see our News Archive.
UNITED STATES
Catholics4Change
February 29, 2012 by Susan Matthews
Created for the Foundation to Abolish Child Sex Abuse, this production featured interviews with adult survivors of child sexual abuse. Six individuals, sitting alone in a room, spoke frankly and emotionally to our interviewer, telling their stories in graphic detail. These memories, some from as many as sixty years before, but still fresh in the survivors’ minds, were the only narrative.
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.
SAGINAW (MI)
MLive
Published: Wednesday, February 29, 2012
By Brad Devereaux | bdeverea@mlive.com
A judge said the discovery that Cardinal Anthony J. Bevilacqua ordered the destruction of documents that contained the names of priests suspected of child molestation is not a reason to dismiss charges that a church official participated in a cover-up.
Lawyers of one accused priest said Rev. Joseph Cistone of the Catholic Diocese of Saginaw witnessed the shredding of the documents in 1994 when he was a church official in the Philadelphia area.
Cistone is not being charged, but was mentioned in the court filing. …
Lynn’s lawyers said Rev. Cistone witnessed the shredding of the documents and misled a grand jury when he did not acknowledge the documents or their destruction during a previous testimony.
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.
NORTHERN IRELAND
UTV
A former priest has been sentenced to four years in jail for the indecent assault of two boys.
Daniel Curran, who has three previous convictions for similar offences, abused the youngsters between 1986 and 1992 while he was a parish priest in west Belfast.
The boys were aged between 9 and 10 and were connected to the church.
Curran had pleaded guilty to five charges of indecent assault.
At Downpatrick Crown Court on Wednesday, Judge David Smyth QC said the offences occurred against a background of trust placed in the priest.
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.
MILWAUKEE (WI)
WISN
[with video]
MILWAUKEE — The bankruptcy case of the Milwaukee Archdiocese heads back to a federal courtroom Wednesday as an advocacy group has asked the state’s attorney general to review abuse claims.
A group of abuse survivors is asking for J.B. Van Hollen to conduct his own investigation into the claims of abuse filed in the bankruptcy proceedings.
Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests, or SNAP, went to the attorney general’s office Tuesday and asked Van Hollen to have his office review the thousands of pages of claims.
The Archdiocese filed for bankruptcy protection in January 2011 after it felt its legal feeds could exceed its assets.
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.
PHILADELPHIA (PA)
Philadelphia Inquirer
By Jeremy Roebuck
Inquirer Staff Writer
More time is needed to determine what killed Cardinal Anthony J. Bevilacqua last month, the Montgomery County Coroner’s Office said Tuesday.
Toxicology test results expected this week are meant to determine if Bevilacqua had high or unexplained amounts of prescription medication or other chemicals in his blood when he died Jan. 31.
But definitive results have been delayed by complications from his embalming, Coroner Walter I. Hofman said.
Hofman said Tuesday he expected to know more in two to three weeks.
Note: This is an Abuse Tracker excerpt. Click the title to view the full text of the original article. If the original article is no longer available, see our News Archive.
PENNSYLVANIA
WFMZ
MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Pa. –
The Montgomery County Coroner says prescription drugs were found in the system of the late Cardinal Anthony Bevilacqua.
The coroner said Tuesday it will take several weeks to determine whether the amount of drugs in Bevilacqua’s system matches the prescribed dosage.
District Attorney Risa Ferman ordered the review of the cardinal’s death because it happened just one day after he was ruled competent to testify in the upcoming sex abuse case against two priests and a monsignor.
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.
ROME/UNITED STATES
Vatican Insider
The Archbishop of New York, Timothy Dolan, was the real “revelation” at the last consistory
Andrea Tornielli
Rome
After his arrival in the Big Apple and his surprising election as President of the U.S. bishops, newspapers and TV have begun to call him “the American Pope”. Now that the Cardinals have heard him talk of evangelization during the summit that preceded the consistory, Timothy Michael Dolan would have a good chance of becoming the next Pope, if only he had not been born in the U.S.: Americans, they say, cannot be candidates because their country is already a superpower in the world, although certain past geopolitical analyses are no longer that obvious.
A native of St. Louis, Missouri and 62 years old, he has lived in Rome for seven years, directing the North American College. Archbishop of Milwaukee from 2002 to 2009, he was transferred to New York three years ago, where as soon as he arrived he said, “My primary goal is one, namely to meet people and people”. With his entry into the most important U.S. Episcopal seat, there are those who believed it was the end of an era in which the Church was adamant about defending principles: Dolan is not intransigent and his positions are not entirely comparable to the more conservative members of the American episcopate.
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.
SAGINAW (MI)/PHILADELPHIA (PA)
Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests
Posted by Barbara Dorris on February 27, 2012
A new long-secret Catholic church document has surfaced that says Saginaw Bishop Joseph Cistone witnessed the destruction of a list of 35 clerics who were accused of molesting children.
The document suggests that the late-Cardinal Anthony Bevilacqua ordered a cleric to destroy memos which detailed the alleged crimes of sexually abusive priests. To any reasonable observer, if true, this makes Cistone complicit in the Philadelphia cover-up as well. We are disturbed that he is in a position of power now where he could easily use the tactics he learned from his old boss in order cover up current or recent abuse in the Diocese of Saginaw.
We hope that anyone with knowledge of abuse in this diocese will come forward to police and not church officials. It is clear that the church would rather shred evidence than deal with it, and Cistone cannot be trusted to not make the same egregiously reckless decision again.
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.
PHILADELPHIA (PA)
Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests
Posted by Barbara Dorris on February 27, 2012
If a man ignores and conceals crimes, enabling child molesters to hurt more kids, what his underlings, peers or supervisors do is irrelevant. He should be criminally prosecuted.
We’re grateful that Msgr. Lynn’s trial is proceeding. We hope it will uncover even more deeply-hidden secrets about the complicity of current and former Catholic officials. We also hope it will deter even more recklessness and deceit in the future.
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.
TENNESSEE
Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests
Posted by Barbara Dorris on February 27, 2012
For too long, corrupt Catholic officials have successfully exploited legal technicalities and deadlines to escape consequences for ignoring and concealing child sex crimes. Ever so gradually, those awful days are ending, as judges more and more often are letting juries hear cases involving pedophile priests.
We are grateful to Norman Redwing for his bravery and to Tennessee’s Supreme Court for its wisdom in allowing Mr. Redwing his day in court. Victims of clergy abuse rarely get the chance to face seek justice in court, and we are glad that Mr. Redwing will have the chance to do so.
Memphis’ Catholic bishop should be ashamed for trying to dodge responsibility for the alleged crimes of Fr. Milton Guthrie. We look forward to the facts coming to light through trial, and are hopeful that this decision will spur other victims, of Fr. Guthrie or any other predator, to come forward, end their suffering and report the abuse they saw, suspected, or suffered.
Note: This is an Abuse Tracker excerpt. Click the title to view the full text of the original article. If the original article is no longer available, see our News Archive.
PENNSYLVANIA
Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests
Posted by David Clohessy on February 28, 2012
We are saddened that Rev. Slocum was able to escape with only probation. Children are safer when predators are behind bars, and for a felony conviction involving the abuse and concealment of a child we believe that this sentence is little more than a slap on the wrist. This sentence effectively allows Fr. Slocum to use his demonstrated cunning and deceptive ways to meet, groom, and abuse another child.
The apology given by Fr. Slocum yesterday matters little compared to the lasting effects of childhood sexual abuse. We urge Bishop Trautman of the Diocese of Erie to personally visit each parish where this predator worked and beg others who may have seen or suspected his crimes to come forward and make a report to police.
Note: This is an Abuse Tracker excerpt. Click the title to view the full text of the original article. If the original article is no longer available, see our News Archive.
ALBANY (NY)
The Daily Orange
By David Propper
Staff Writer
Albany — Two of Bernie Fine’s accusers came to Albany on Tuesday to show their support for a bill that would extend the statute of limitations concerning child sexual abuse.
Bobby Davis, 40, and Mike Lang, 45, along with their attorney, Gloria Allred, appeared at a press conference in the Legislative Office Building for the Child Victims Act that would change both the civil and criminal constraints faced by accusers. The bill, sponsored by Assemblywoman Margaret Markey, would extend the statute of limitations for child molestation.
Under the current New York state law, the statute for prosecuting a child sexual offender runs out after 10 years. The new law Markey is sponsoring would allow the statute of limitations to continue until the victim is 28 years old. Additionally, the law would give victims a one-year period to sue their abuser no matter how old the victim is.
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.
MILWAUKEE (WI)
CBS 58
[with video]
by Laura Rodriguez
MILWAUKEE — Members of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP) gathered at the state office building to submit a letter to Wisconsin Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen.
In the letter, the group requested a meeting to urge him to conduct a full and independent investigation of the victim reports.
“If the archdiocese is admitting to, and that’s why they’re in bankruptcy court, that they committed or likely committed civil fraud, then criminal fraud cannot be far behind,” said Peter Isely, Midwest Director of SNAP.
A SNAP press release states that “a church motion in bankruptcy court will ask Judge Kelley if Archdiocese can conduct abuse inquiry “for” the Attorney General.”
Note: This is an Abuse Tracker excerpt. Click the title to view the full text of the original article. If the original article is no longer available, see our News Archive.
AUSTRALIA
Herald Sun
Ashley Gardiner
From:Herald Sun
March 01, 2012
THE Baillieu Government will tighten laws that have allowed convicted sex offenders and other criminals to get working-with-children permits.
New laws will be designed to tip the balance back in favour of children and families at the expense of those seeking the permits. It follows a string of decisions by the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal to overturn permit refusals.
Attorney-General Robert Clark said the permit system should look after the interests of children and their families.
“The tests that apply under the current law are too focused on the interests of the individuals who apply for checks,” Mr Clark said.
Note: This is an Abuse Tracker excerpt. Click the title to view the full text of the original article. If the original article is no longer available, see our News Archive.
AUSTRALIA
The Age
Reid Sexton
March 1, 2012
A PUBLIC investigation into how religious organisations in Victoria such as the Catholic Church have handled child abuse allegations is a step closer after a groundbreaking report found it should proceed.
The Protecting Victoria’s Vulnerable Children Inquiry said a Baillieu government-backed investigation should proceed, with private investigations stretching back decades potentially denying victims justice.
”A private system of investigation and compensation, no matter how faithfully conducted … cannot fulfil the responsibility of the state to investigate and prosecute crime,” it said.
Note: This is an Abuse Tracker excerpt. Click the title to view the full text of the original article. If the original article is no longer available, see our News Archive.
AUSTRALIA
The Age
Michelle Griffin
March 1, 2012
There has been a steady increase in abuse notifications, from 12,000 in 1990 to 55,000 today. Photo: Justin McManus
In 1990, there were 12,000 notifications of suspected child abuse in Victoria. Today, there are 55,000. What’s going on and how can it be fixed?
SPRAWLING as a Russian novel and just as grim, the Cummins report into child welfare in Victoria caps more than 20 years of investigations of our society’s thorniest problem: how to protect and care for our most vulnerable children.
There are no personal stories in the 900 densely typed pages of findings, data tables and recommendations. However, you can see the shadows thrown by the children whose unhappy lives inform the steady incline of the graphs charting abuse notifications, protection orders and, in the careful wording of bad news, adverse outcomes.
Note: This is an Abuse Tracker excerpt. Click the title to view the full text of the original article. If the original article is no longer available, see our News Archive.
AUSTRALIA
The Australia
[Cummins Inquiry report]
John Ferguson and Sophie Gosper
From:The Australian
March 01, 201212:00AM
A MINISTERIAL gaffe where the rights of pedophiles were compared with those of victims yesterday triggered the intervention of Victorian Premier Ted Baillieu a day after a report found that a quarter of children could be suspected of having been abused.
Community Services Minister Mary Wooldridge yesterday compared sex offenders’ rights with those of their victims.
“One of the things that is a real issue here is that we have to balance the rights of children and families and also with the rights of pedophiles,” she told 3AW.
Ms Wooldridge was criticised by welfare workers and attacked in parliament over the comment.
Note: This is an Abuse Tracker excerpt. Click the title to view the full text of the original article. If the original article is no longer available, see our News Archive.
NEW YORK
New York Daily News
By Michael O’keefe / NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
ALBANY — New York lawmakers will give sexual predators another one-year pass to abuse children if they fail to approve a bill that would extend the state’s statute of limitations in molestation cases, a Brooklyn abuse survivor said.
Bay Ridge filmmaker Chris Gavagan, who is working on a documentary about sexual abuse in sports and the abuse he suffered at the hands of his roller hockey coach, said on Tuesday that legislators’ failure to pass the Child Victims Act is like signing a “pardon for 1,000 child rapists.”
“I was here last year, and the fact that we are here again is a sign of catastrophic failure,” Gavagan said.
“Lawmakers, shame on you,” he added.
Gavagan and other sexual abuse victims spoke at a news conference organized by Assemblywoman Margaret Markey, the first of three events to promote her Child Victims Act, which has passed the Assembly four times but has yet to clear the State Senate.
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.
PHILADELPHIA (PA)
Philadelphia Daily News
Yant Kinney, Inquirer Columnist
Two months ago, Archbishop Charles Chaput and a blue-ribbon commission delivered a death sentence to 49 Catholic schools, 20,000 students, and 1,700 teachers. Two weeks ago, the diagnosis for nearly half the afflicted was dramatically upgraded, from terminal to alive and kicking.
Should relieved families credit a modern miracle? Or is the rightsizing of religious education being handled as clumsily as the clergy sex scandal was cynically?
Put another way, did archdiocesan leaders know the threat of widespread school closures would generate millions in emotional donations at a time when the church – presumed to be sitting on a fortune – is actually hard up for cash?
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.