ABUSE TRACKER

CALIFORNIA
Los Cerritos News

Published on September 19th, 2013

Update: Hews Media Group-Community Newspaper spoke to a female employee at Las Buenas Nuevas Church in Norwalk on Thursday afternoon who claimed that Jorge Juan Castro was “not an associate pastor at the church.” The employee did not want to be identified referred all questions about the case to members of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. The employee would not elaborate of Castro and his relationship with the small neighborhood church.

By Randy Economy

(Norwalk) A Norwalk associate pastor has been arrested by Los Angeles County Sheriff’s detectives for the alleged sexual abuse of numerous female parishioners.

Details of the arrest of suspect Jorge Juan Castro, who is also a resident of Norwalk emerged on Thursday in a press statement by law enforcement officials.

“Sheriff’s Special Victims Bureau detectives received information that from October 2004 through September 2012, adult women of the Las Buenas Nuevas Church in Norwalk were victims of sexual assaults committed by a suspect,” said Sergeant Al Garcia and Captain R. Esson from the Sheriff’s Special Victims Bureau.

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CALIFORNIA
Seattle PI

NORWALK, Calif. (AP) — A Southern California churchman who claimed to have “healing hands” has been charged with sexually assaulting women parishioners.

Fifty-four-year-old Jorge Juan Castro of Norwalk was arrested last week and charged with rape and other sex crimes. He remains jailed Thursday.

Castro was associate pastor of Las Buenas Nuevas in Norwalk but he’s been removed.

Authorities contend that since at least 2004 he assaulted parishioners at the church or their homes under the guise of performing faith healing.

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CALIFORNIA
Los Angeles Times

By Richard Winton
September 19, 2013

An associate pastor at a church in Norwalk arrested on suspicion of sexually assaulting 20 female parishioners may have many more victims who’ve yet to be identified, authorities said Thursday.

Jorge Juan Castro, 53, was arrested Friday on allegations that during his eight years as associate pastor at Las Buenas Nuevas Church in Norwalk he assaulted the parishioners.

Detectives said of the 20 alleged victims have provided investigators with detailed accounts of sex acts that the pastor told were neccesary for his “healing hands.”

LA County Sheriff officials said detectives, who began their investigation April 8, believe there may be additional victims from the Norwalk church and a second location where Castro was sent to preach.

“He has a large number of victims and we suspect there are more. We’d like many more of those victims to come forward to us. They have nothing to fear,” said Sheriff’s Capt Robert Esson, who oversees the sheriff’s Special Victims Unit.

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CALIFORNIA
Whittier Daily News

By Brian Day, San Gabriel Valley Tribune
POSTED: 09/19/13

Sheriff’s officials Thursday announced the arrest of a Norwalk associate pastor accused of molesting as many as 20 female church members over the past eight years.

Jorge Juan Castro, 54, of Norwalk is charged with six felony counts in connection with the alleged sexual assaults of four women between ages 18 and 39 while he worked as an associate pastor and counselor at Las Buenas Nuevas Church, 11910 Alondra Boulevard, Sgt. Al Garcia of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Special Victims Bureau said.

The alleged crimes took place between 2004 and 2012, sheriff’s officials said in a statement.

He was placed on leave in April, immediately after 20 women came forward to report to a church official that they had been sexually assaulted by Castro, Garcia said.

“Multiple victims reported the sexual abuse to a church official, who in turn, reported it to us,” the sergeant said.

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PENNSYLVANIA
BCTV

Rozzi to Host Press Conference on Lifting the Statute of Limitations in Cases of Child Sexual Abuse

State Rep. Mark Rozzi, D-Berks, along with state Sen. Rob Teplitz, D-Dauphin, are teaming up to garner support for legislation that would increase the statute of limitations for victims of child sexual abuse to take civil action against alleged abusers.

The legislators will hold a news conference at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 25 in the East Wing Rotunda of the state Capitol Building in Harrisburg.

Those expected to join Rozzi and Teplitz at the news conference include state Reps. Michael McGeehan and Louise Williams Bishop. Additional members of the General Assembly will be in attendance and speaking.

Teplitz will unveil S.B. 1103, companion legislation to H.B. 238, coauthored by McGeehan and Rozzi. Both measures would establish a two-year window during which the civil statute of limitations would be suspended to allow past victims of child sex abuse to access the justice system and expose guilty perpetrators.

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ST. LOUIS (MO)
KMOX

Kevin Killeen
September 19, 2013

ST. LOUIS–(KMOX)–Archbishop Robert Carlson testified under oath today, giving a deposition in a criminal case involving a subordinate priest accused of witness tampering and sexual misconduct with a minor girl.

The Lincoln County Prosecutor questioned Carlson behind closed doors at the Rigali Center in Shrewsbury, while protestors picketted on the sidewalk urging him to “tell the truth.”

“We’re told to speak the truth, and I think it’s a very sad day when I have to stand out here with a sign and beg my Archbishop to tell the truth,” said protestor Ellen Prendergast.

The criminal case centers around Father Joseph Jiang, a longtime Carlson associate, accused of four felony counts of sexual abuse against the girl, and accused of giving the victim’s family a check for $20,000.

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ST. LOUIS (MO)
St. Louis Post-Dispatch

By Tim Townsend ttownsend@post-dispatch.com 314-340-82210

Officials of the St. Louis Archdiocese said while they appreciate the interest in Archbishop Robert Carlson’s deposition in a lawsuit involving one of its priests, “this process is in the hands of the Missouri court system and it is important that we allow the process to unfold there where allegation and hypothetical can be sorted out as fact or fiction.”

Carlson was deposed Thursday as part of a lawsuit filed in July in Lincoln County against the Rev. Xiu Hui “Joseph” Jiang.

The suit, filed by the parents of a teenage girl, alleges that Carlson knew Jiang was a danger to children before the priest was charged last year with molesting the girl.

The archdiocese has called the allegations “false.”

In a statement last year, the archdiocese said Jiang, 30, was placed on administrative leave after officials learned about the allegations.

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CINCINNATI
Times Union

CINCINNATI (AP) — A jury has begun deliberations in the trial of an Ohio priest charged with taking a 10-year-old boy to West Virginia for sex more than two decades ago.

The federal jury began deliberating Thursday afternoon in the case of Robert Poandl (POHN’-duhl). The Roman Catholic priest is charged with transporting a minor in interstate commerce with the intent of engaging him in sex.

The prosecutor told jurors in closing arguments that Poandl raped the boy in West Virginia after taking him on a visit to a church there in 1991.

He says the Roman Catholic priest betrayed the boy’s trust and should be found guilty.

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ILLINOIS
KHQA

by Rajah Maples

SPRINGFIELD, ILL. — The Springfield Catholic Diocese is investigating clerical sexual misconduct that allegedly happened in Jacksonville more than 30 years ago.

According to a news release from the diocese, a priest has temporarily withdrawn from the ministry following a misconduct allegation with a minor said to have occurred more than 30 years ago.

Father Robert “Bud” DeGrand, pastor of parishes in Sigel, Neoga, Green Creek and Lillyville, is cooperating with the recommendation of the Diocesan Review Board that he temporarily withdraw from public ministry and from his ecclesiastical residence pending further investigation, according to the release.

Documents state that the alleged abuse was said to have happened in 1980 when Father DeGrand was assigned to Our Saviour Parish in Jacksonville, Illinois.

“The Springfield diocese takes such allegations very seriously,” Bishop Thomas John Paprocki said in the release. “We have a strict policy on sexual abuse of minors by church personnel that reflects our desire to safeguard the welfare of minors in our parishes, institutions and programs. It also reflects our determination to deal properly and decisively with any allegations of sexual abuse of minors.”

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ILLINOIS
Journal Gazette and Times-Courier

NEOGA (JG-TC) — A priest whose parishes include the one in Neoga withdrew from the ministry following an allegation of sexual misconduct with a minor that reportedly took place more than 30 years ago, the Catholic Diocese of Springfield announced Thursday.

Father Robert “Bud” DeGrand, pastor of parishes in Sigel, Green Creek and Lillyville as well as Neoga, is cooperating with the recommendation of the Diocesan Review Board that he temporarily withdraw from public ministry and from his ecclesiastical residence pending further investigation, according to a news release from the diocese.

The release said the alleged abuse was said to have occurred in 1980 when DeGrand was assigned to Our Saviour Parish in Jacksonville.

“The Springfield diocese takes such allegations very seriously,” Bishop Thomas John Paprocki said in the release. “We have a strict policy on sexual abuse of minors by church personnel that reflects our desire to safeguard the welfare of minors in our parishes, institutions and programs. It also reflects our determination to deal properly and decisively with any allegations of sexual abuse of minors.”

The allegation was received by the diocese’s victim assistance coordinator on Sept. 9, the news release said. On Sept. 13, the Diocesan Review Board found the allegation to have “a semblance of truth” and recommended that Paprocki begin a preliminary investigation, it said.

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UNITED STATES
Catholic League

Bill Donohue comments on remarks by Pope Francis that were made last month in a three-part meeting in Rome with Catholic journalists; they were published today by America magazine:

The New York Times issued a “Breaking News Alert,” followed by a story, “Pope Bluntly Faults Church’s Focus on Gays and Abortion.” Here is what the pope said: “We cannot insist only on issues related to abortion, gay marriage and the use of contraceptive methods. This is not possible.” He also said, “when we speak about these issues, we have to talk about them in a context.”

The pope is right that single-issue Catholics need to rise above their immediate concerns. He did not say we should not address abortion or homosexuality; he simply said we cannot be absorbed by these issues. Both the left and the right should heed his message.

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ILLINOIS
XFM

Written by Greg Sapp

Following an allegation of clerical sexual misconduct with a minor said to have occurred over 30 years ago, an area priest has temporarily withdrawn from ministry.

Father Robert “Bud” DeGrand, pastor of parishes in Sigel, Neoga, Green Creek and Lillyville, is cooperating with the recommendation of the Catholic Diocese of Springfield Review Board that he temporarily withdraw from public ministry and from his ecclesiastical residence pending further investigation.

The alleged abuse was said to have occurred in 1980 when Father DeGrand was assigned to Our Saviour Parish in Jacksonville.

The allegation was received by the diocese’s victim assistance coordinator on September 9. On September 13, the Diocesan Review Board found the allegation to have “a semblance of truth” and recommended that Bishop Paprocki begin a preliminary investigation.

As required by the diocesan policy, the diocese has notified the Morgan County State’s Attorney, where the alleged abuse is said to have occurred, and the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services.

The allegation was communicated to Father DeGrand on Sunday by Monsignor Carl Kemme, vicar general of the diocese, and Father David Hoefler, the local dean. On Wednesday, Bishop Paprocki, Monsignor Kemme and Father Hoefler met with parishioners of the four parishes in a meeting held at St. Michael the Archangel Parish in Sigel to inform them of the reason for Father DeGrand’s temporary withdrawal from ministry.

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NEW MEXICO
The Worthy Adversary

Posted by Joelle Casteix on September 17, 2013

**Update – Thursday, September 19** I just heard that Gallup Bishop James Wall and priest Fr. Alfred Tachias DID sit for depositions with victims’ attorneys yesterday. Hopefully, Wall broke with tradition and was open and forthright, turning over files, naming names and outing abusers. (A girl can dream, right?)

The “explosive news” potential for Fr. Alfred Tachias’ deposition is BIG. He worked closely with Fr. Clement Hageman (the Route 66 Priest), and may be sitting on mountains of evidence. Hageman’s abuse crosses state and diocesan borders, so anything we learn can have a huge ripple effect across the Southwest.

When and if the depositions are made public, I will be sure to post here.

Plans for a bankruptcy filing are still moving forward.

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SPRINGFIELD (IL)
Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests

For immediate release: Thursday, Sept. 19, 2013

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

A week after returning a troubled priest back on the job, Springfield’s Catholic bishop is letting another priest who’s accused of child sex crimes temporarily resign. But the bishop sat on the accusation for weeks, keeping it secret. And the bishop continues to use misleading language and doing the bare minimum.

[State Journal-Register]

Today, Bishop Thomas Paprocki temporarily let Fr. Robert “Bud” DeGrand from his posts at Catholic parishes in Sigel, Neoga, Green Creek and Lillyville.

First, Paprocki should suspend Fr. DeGrand. That’s what the US bishops pledged to do when credible child sex abuse reports surfaced. That’s what the US bishops’ official sex abuse policy mandates. There’s a difference between someone stepping aside and someone being TOLD to step aside. To let a credibly accused child molesting cleric decide whether to temporarily step down minimizes the horror he or she allegedly committed.

Second, Paprocki admits his hand-picked abuse panel quietly urged him to oust Fr. DeGrand almost a week ago. But he kept silent and delayed. Worse, Paprocki admits getting the allegation ten days ago. In that time, he again kept silent and delayed.

Why does that matter? Because every day a child sex abuse report is kept hidden, a child sex abuser is free to keep abusing. And every day of secrecy and delay gives those who commit and conceal child sex crimes more chances to destroy evidence, intimidate victims, threaten witnesses, discredit whistleblowers, fabricate alibis and even flee the country. Every day of secrecy and delay makes it harder for police and prosecutors to pursue child predators.

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UNITED STATES
Boston Globe

By Brigid Schulte | WASHINGTON POST SEPTEMBER 13, 2013

WASHINGTON — In the first major study of child abuse and neglect in 20 years, researchers with the National Academy of Sciences reported Thursday that the damaging consequences of abuse can not only reshape a child’s brain, but can last a lifetime.

Untreated, the effects of child abuse and neglect, the researchers found, can profoundly influence a child’s physical and mental health, their ability to control emotions and impulses, their achievement in school, and the relationships they form as children and as adults.

The researchers recommend an ‘‘immediate, coordinated’’ national strategy to better understand, treat, and prevent child abuse and neglect, noting that each year, abuse and neglect costs an estimated $80 billion in both the direct costs of hospitalization, law enforcement, and child welfare, and the indirect costs of special education, juvenile and adult criminal justice costs, adult homelessness, and lost work productivity.

‘‘Child abuse and neglect is a serious public health problem which requires immediate, urgent attention,’’ said Anne Petersen, a professor at the Center for Human Growth and Development at the University of Michigan who chaired the research committee for the Institute of Medicine and the National Research Council of the National Academies. ‘‘The consequences can last into adulthood with significant costs to the individual, to families, and to society.’’

The report, produced at the request of the US Department of Health and Human Services, found that while rates of physical and sexual child abuse have declined in the past 20 years, rates of emotional and psychological abuse, the kind that can produce the most serious long-lasting effects, have increased. Rates of neglect have held fairly steady. Researchers say they don’t know why.

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VATICAN CITY
France 24

AFP – Pope Francis on Thursday lashed out at what he called the scandal of “airport bishops”, urging his peers to remain rooted in their dioceses and spend less time seeking the spotlight.

The Argentine pontiff, who is very attached to his title as bishop of Rome, said residence in a diocese was “not only necessary for organisational purposes but had theological roots.”

“You are betrothed to your community, deeply bound to it. I am asking you, please, to remain among your people,” the pope said at an audience of new bishops from around the world.

“You must stay, stay! Avoid the scandal of airport bishops,” he said.

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ARGENTINA
Windsor Star

Associated Press

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina – Argentina’s Supreme Court has upheld the 15-year prison sentence of a priest convicted of sexually abusing a boy in his “Happy Children Foundation.”

Father Julio Cesar Grassi has maintained his innocence and he’s been able to live for a decade in a home across the street from the foundation despite allegations that he abused more than a dozen children there. All but one charge was dismissed for lack of evidence, but the courts still found him guilty of abusing one boy.

The victim’s attorney, Juan Pablo Gallego, called for Grassi to be put behind bars quickly now that his conviction is confirmed.

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GERMANY
National Catholic Reporter

Christa Pongratz-Lippitt | Sep. 19, 2013

A German bishop who was criticized by his priests and laity for an extravagant lifestyle and authoritarian leadership has apologized for “misjudgments” and agreed to an outside audit of his diocese’s financial records.

Bishop Franz-Peter Tebartz-van Elst of Limburg issued the apology at the end of a weeklong Vatican-ordered “brotherly visitation” by Cardinal Giovanni Lajolo, a veteran Vatican diplomat and the Holy See’s nuncio to Germany for eight years in 1990s.

On Sept. 16, Tebartz-van Elst released a declaration signed by himself, Lajolo and Fr. Günther Geis, the cathedral rector, that calls on the German bishops’ conference to appoint a commission to audit diocesan finances with special attention on the money spent redecorating the bishop’s palace in Limburg. “The final report of the commission, which will examine and include all costs, finances and procedures involved, will be disclosed publicly,” the declaration says.

It is highly unusual for a bishops’ conference to audit the finances of an individual bishop in this way. Canon law has no provisions for such oversight. The power of supervision over individual bishops is reserved for the pope.

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ILLINOIS
Journal-Courier

Following an allegation of clerical sexual misconduct with a minor said to have occurred more than 30 years ago, a priest of the Catholic Diocese of Springfield in Illinois has temporarily withdrawn from ministry.

Father Robert “Bud” DeGrand, pastor of parishes in Sigel, Neoga, Green Creek and Lillyville, is cooperating with the recommendation of the Diocesan Review Board that he temporarily withdraw from public ministry and from his ecclesiastical residence pending further investigation.

The alleged abuse was said to have occurred in 1980 when DeGrand was assigned to Our Saviour Parish in Jacksonville.

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UNITED STATES
Bilgrimage

William D. Linsey

Some updates on stories about which I’ve posted here in the not-too-distant past:

I told readers several weeks ago that the Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests (SNAP) had called on the Catholic bishop of my home city of Little Rock, Arkansas, Anthony Taylor, and on Mount St. Mary high school in Little Rock to publicize an impending court hearing. The court hearing had to do with a teacher at Mount St. Mary, Kelly Ann O’Rourke, who had been sentenced for having sexually molested a student at the school. They also had to do with Kathy Griffin, a counselor at Mount St. Mary and O’Rourke’s live-in partner, who learned of the abuse of the student but did not report it to authorities.

The update: the jury in this trial found Griffin guilty this past week. Max Brantley reports on the verdict for Arkansas Times. At the same trial, O’Rourke pled guilty to having repeatedly violated the terms of her probation by making numerous phone calls to the girl she had molested.

In a press release yesterday that I’m not yet seeing on the SNAP website, SNAP official Barbara Dorris notes that the jury’s decision makes things safer for minors in both Arkansas and Florida, where the predator has been living, but:

Unfortunately, the institutional wrongdoer here – the Little Rock Catholic diocese and Mt. St. Mary’s School – have, for now at least, escaped consequences for their reckless, callous and deceitful behavior in this case. Neither school nor church officials made any real effort to help police and prosecutors pursue these criminals. At best, the diocese and the school did the bare minimum. More accurately, they minimized the crimes by O’Rourke and Griffin and refused to lift a finger to help find more victims, witnesses or whistleblowers that could have been helped or helpful.

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SPRINGFIELD (IL)
WICS

A priest of the Catholic Diocese of Springfield has temporarily withdrawn from ministry following allegations of clerical sexual misconduct with a minor that occurred over 30 years ago. The alleged abuse was said to have occurred in 1980 when Father Robert “Bud” DeGrand was assigned to Our Saviour Parish in Jacksonville.

Father DeGrand, pastor of parishes in Sigel, Neoga, Green Creek and Lillyville, is cooperating with the recommendation of the Diocesan Review Board that he temporarily withdraw from public ministry and from his residence pending further investigation.

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KENYA
Standard

By HUDSON GUMBIHI

John, not his real, name was in an intimate relationship with one of the nuns who could even visit his home.

Only a few trusted people close to John knew what had been transpired – the rest were duped into believing that the two were a ‘brother and sister in Christ’.

Yet the man and the nun would frequently engage in sexual sessions whenever his lover sneaked from an abbey based in Nairobi.

This is one of the cases of sex scandals in the Catholic church, which has vehemently denies that the men and women in the Cassocks who vowed to avoid worldly pleasures, had loosened their zips and pants.

When The Nairobian reached John to seek his side of the story, the man denied any existence of an intimate relationship between him and the nun.

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RHODE ISLAND
National Catholic Reporter

Michael Sean Winters | Sep. 13, 2013 Distinctly Catholic

In July, during World Youth Day, my colleague John Allen asked Archbishop Charles Chaput about Catholics’ reactions to Pope Francis, and part of the archbishop’s reply was: “This is already true of the right wing of the church. They generally have not been really happy about his election, from what I’ve been able to read and to understand.”

Now we know who Chaput was talking to. In his diocesan paper, Providence, R.I., Bishop Thomas Tobin offered his reflections on Pope Francis’ first six months. In the course of that interview, he said:

The other thing I want to say though, is that I’m a little bit disappointed in Pope Francis that he hasn’t, at least that I’m aware of, said much about unborn children, about abortion, and many people have noticed that. I think it would be very helpful if Pope Francis would address more directly the evil of abortion and to encourage those who are involved in the pro-life movement. It’s one thing for him to reach out and embrace and kiss little children and infants as he has on many occasions. It strikes me that it would also be wonderful if in a spiritual way he would reach out and embrace and kiss unborn children.

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VATICAN CITY
KWQC

By NICOLE WINFIELD and RACHEL ZOLL
Associated Press

VATICAN CITY (AP) – Pope Francis has warned that the Catholic Church’s moral structure might “fall like a house of cards” if it doesn’t balance its divisive rules about abortion, gays and contraception with the greater need to make it a merciful, more welcoming place for all.

Six months into his papacy, Francis set out his vision for the church and his priorities as pope in a lengthy and remarkably blunt interview with La Civilta Cattolica, the Italian Jesuit magazine. It was published simultaneously Thursday in Jesuit journals in 16 countries, including America magazine in the U.S.

In the 12,000-word article, Francis expands on his ground-breaking comments over the summer about gays and acknowledges some of his own faults. He sheds light on his favorite composers, artists, authors and films (Mozart, Caravaggio, Dostoevsky and Fellini’s “La Strada”) and says he prays even while at the dentist’s office.

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SPRINGFIELD (IL)
Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 12, 2013
For more information:
Kathie Sass: (217) 698-8500

SPRINGFIELD -€” A Special Panel convened to advise Bishop Thomas John Paprocki concerning the matter of Father Thomas Donovan, former pastor of St. Aloysius Parish in Springfield, has concluded that his “gradual return to ministry is appropriate.”

As a result of the panel’s recommendation, Bishop Paprocki has announced that Father Donovan will be assigned as chaplain to the Sisters of St. Francis of the Martyr St. George, with residence at their provincial house in Alton, effective Sept. 15.

“The Sisters have agreed to this assignment in a spiritual environment and supportive atmosphere of prayer and compassion,” Bishop Paprocki said.

In a written recommendation to Bishop Paprocki, panel members said they reviewed relevant material concerning the incident that occurred at the rectory of St. Aloysius Parish on Nov. 28, 2012, including reports of mental health professionals summarizing treatment, diagnoses and recommendations for treatment for Father Donovan. Two members of the panel conducted a “lengthy and probing interview” of Father Donovan and the panel as a whole conducted a “full personal interview” with him.

In light of this review, the panel concluded that “Father Donovan was alone at the time of the incident;” that there is “no information to suggest that Father Donovan is a danger to himself or others;” and that “gradual reintroduction to priestly ministry is appropriate” if there are roles for priestly ministry for Father Donovan based on the ongoing reports of mental health professionals.

The panel also recommended that a “respect for the pastoral concerns of any community to which Father Donovan might be assigned is important for the welfare of both the community and Father Donovan” and that “Father Donovan’s ministerial and therapeutic progress should be regularly and carefully monitored for the foreseeable future.”

“I have accepted the conclusions and recommendations of the panel and am grateful to the members of the Special Panel for their time and expertise in addressing this matter,” Bishop Paprocki said. “I also commend Father Donovan for his complete cooperation with his spiritual directors, medical and therapeutic professionals, and members of the panel.”

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SPRINGFIELD (IL)
Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 19, 2013
For more information:
Kathie Sass: (217) 698-8500

SPRINGFIELD -€” Following an allegation of clerical sexual misconduct with a minor said to have occurred over 30 years ago, a priest of the Catholic Diocese of Springfield in Illinois has temporarily withdrawn from ministry.

Father Robert “Bud” DeGrand, pastor of parishes in Sigel, Neoga, Green Creek and Lillyville, is cooperating with the recommendation of the Diocesan Review Board that he temporarily withdraw from public ministry and from his ecclesiastical residence pending further investigation.

The alleged abuse was said to have occurred in 1980 when Father DeGrand was assigned to Our Saviour Parish in Jacksonville.

“The Springfield diocese takes such allegations very seriously,” said Bishop Thomas John Paprocki. “We have a strict Policy on Sexual Abuse of Minors by Church Personnel that reflects our desire to safeguard the welfare of minors in our parishes, institutions and programs. It also reflects our determination to deal properly and decisively with any allegations of sexual abuse of minors.”

The allegation was received by the diocese’s victim assistance coordinator on Sept. 9. On Sept. 13, the Diocesan Review Board found the allegation to have “a semblance of truth” and recommended that Bishop Paprocki begin a preliminary investigation.

As required by the diocesan policy, the diocese has notified the Morgan County States Attorney, where the alleged abuse is said to have occurred, and the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services.

The allegation was communicated to Father DeGrand Sept. 15 by Msgr. Carl Kemme, vicar general of the diocese, and Father David Hoefler, the local dean. On Sept. 18, Bishop Paprocki, Msgr. Kemme and Father Hoefler met with parishioners of the four parishes in a meeting held at St. Michael the Archangel Parish in Sigel to inform them of the reason for Father DeGrand’s temporary withdrawal from ministry.

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ILLINOIS
State Journal-Register

By Staff reports
The State Journal-Register
Posted Sep 19, 2013 @ 12:14 PM

A central Illinois priest is being investigated for an alleged incident of sexual misconduct while he was serving at a Jacksonville church in 1980.

The Rev. Robert “Bud” DeGrand has temporarily withdrawn from serving Catholic parishes in Sigel, Neoga, Green Creek and Lillyville, according to a statement from the Springfield Catholic Diocese.

The diocese statement says officials first learned of the allegation on Sept. 9 and began investigating. Bishop Thomas John Paprocki and two other Catholic officials met with parishioners Sept. 18 to discuss DeGrand’s absence.

The allegation allegedly occurred while DeGrand was serving Our Saviour Parish in Jacksonville in 1980, the same year he was ordained to the priesthood, according to the diocese statement.

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SPRINGFIELD (IL)
Effingham Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — Following an allegation of clerical sexual misconduct with a minor said to have occurred over 30 years ago, a priest of the Catholic Diocese of Springfield in Illinois has temporarily withdrawn from ministry.

Father Robert “Bud” DeGrand, pastor of parishes in Sigel, Neoga, Green Creek and Lillyville, is cooperating with the recommendation of the Diocesan Review Board that he temporarily withdraw from public ministry and from his ecclesiastical residence pending further investigation.

The alleged abuse was said to have occurred in 1980 when Father DeGrand was assigned to Our Saviour Parish in Jacksonville.

“The Springfield diocese takes such allegations very seriously,” said Bishop Thomas John Paprocki. “We have a strict Policy on Sexual Abuse of Minors by Church Personnel that reflects our desire to safeguard the welfare of minors in our parishes, institutions and programs. It also reflects our determination to deal properly and decisively with any allegations of sexual abuse of minors.”

– See more at: http://effinghamdailynews.com/local/x862162291/Local-pastor-resigns-following-sexual-misconduct-allegations#sthash.ejM26Eye.dpuf

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AUSTRALIA
lewisblayse.net

When a victim complained to police about Larkins, despite the case coming with a recommended follow-up time of 28 days, there were extensive delays. The victim was not interviewed for six months. It then took police three months to send the case file to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

After a further few months, the interviewing police officer was incorrectly advised, by another officer, that the DPP did not want to go ahead with a prosecution. Eventually, the victim declined to proceed with the case because of all of the delays and associated hassles.

The commission was told that an examination of the police logging system used for the investigation also revealed missing entries, entries not made for weeks after actions taken, and entirely incorrect information entered as fact.

The hearing was before all six commissioners, including Bob Atkinson, the former Police Commissioner for QueenslandState (see previous posting). Mr. Atkinson did not appear to ask questions of the police officers.

Sergeant Nigel Turney Evidence: Mr. Turney was the officer who heard allegations against Larkins from a victim and witness. He was quizzed on why police action was so poor in this case. Firstly, Sgt. Turney said that he had no training in interviewing victims of sex abuse. He also said he had been told by Senior Constable Pamela Amloh, a domestic violence officer, that the DPP did not want to proceed, even though it had done the exact opposite.

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MINNESOTA
Swift County Monitor-News

By Reed Anfinson
Publisher, Swift County Monitor-News

Two children who attended St. Francis Xavier Parochial School in Benson are among the at least 20 children that former priest Father David A. Roney is accused of sexually abusing during his career.

The incidents, one involving a boy and one a girl, are alleged to have occurred while he was in Benson between 1963 and 1967. Roney died Jan. 27, 2003.

Monday the law firm of Jeff Anderson and Associates PA conducted a press conference with two women who say Roney abused them while he was a priest in Willmar between 1967 and 1975.

The two, along with a third unidentified person who attended the Catholic school in Benson, are seeking an amount in excess of $50,000 each as well as costs, reasonable attorney’s fees, and other relief “as the court deems just and equitable” from the Diocese of New Ulm. The suit was filed last Friday in Brown County.

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PORTUGAL
Jornal de Noticias

NUNO MIGUEL MAIA E ÓSCAR QUEIRÓS

O pesadelo começou no Externato Nossa Senhora dos Remédios, em Tortosendo. “Paulo” (nome fictício) tinha 16 anos e, a partir de certa altura, em vez de se dedicar aos estudos – estava no 9.°ano – e brincadeiras com amigos, nas aulas estava “distraído” e fora delas vagueava sisudo e sozinho por corredores e recreio.

Andava angustiado porque em casa os pais viviam de costas voltadas, fazendo-o temer pela separação. “Sentia-me muito mal”, conta ao JN, emocionado, recordando esses dias. A amargura era tanta que decidiu desabafar com uma professora. Esta encaminhou-o para o colega de Religião e Moral, o padre Luís Mendes, “pessoa preparada para essas coisas” e que até tinha gabinete próprio para o efeito. Paulo aceitou a sugestão. Estávamos em 2008. Hoje, cinco anos volvidos, ainda se amaldiçoa por tê-lo feito. É vítima de coação sexual, no processo do padre Luís, cujo julgamento se inicia amanhã no Tribunal do Fundão.

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PORTUGAL
Publico

SANDRA RODRIGUES e MARIANA OLIVEIRA 19/09/2013

O ex-vice-reitor do seminário do Fundão, padre Luís Mendes, acusado pelo Ministério Público de 19 crimes de natureza sexual sobre menores, optou por não prestar declarações no arranque do julgamento, que começou na manhã desta quinta-feira no Fundão e decorre à porta fechada.

Segundo informação do oficial de justiça encarregue do processo, o padre Luís Mendes preferiu manter-se em silêncio, recusando esclarecer as dúvidas do colectivo de três juízes relativamente à acusação do Ministério Público, que lhe imputa 11 crimes de abuso sexual de crianças, sete de abuso sexual de menores dependentes e um crime de coacção sexual. Durante o inquérito o sacerdote optara por falar, tendo negado os crimes. Admitiu que se deitava com os jovens na cama, debaixo dos lençóis, mas insistiu que era apenas para confortar os alunos, que estavam afastados da família ou doentes.

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PORTUGAL
TVI 23

[com video]

O Tribunal do Fundão começou, esta quinta-feira, a julgar à porta fechada o padre de 37 anos, ex-vice reitor do Seminário do Fundão, que está acusado de 19 crimes de abuso sexual de menores.

A decisão de fechar o julgamento ao público, incluindo jornalistas, prende-se com o facto de o processo ter vítimas sexuais menores e já era esperada, pelo que no local havia poucas pessoas com intenção de assistir.

Com início previsto para as 09:00, a primeira sessão do julgamento começou já depois das 10:30, altura em que as testemunhas arroladas (50 pessoas) foram informadas de que já não seriam ouvidas durante a manhã desta quinta-feira.

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PORTUGAL
A Bola

O Tribunal do Fundão decidiu que o julgamento do padre, de 38 anos, iria decorrer à porta fechada. O ex-vice reitor do Seminário do Fundão está acusado de 19 crimes de abuso sexual de menores.

Esta decisão já era esperada já que em causa estão vários menores.

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PORTUGAL
A Bola

Inocente. É assim que se declara um padre do Fundão no que concerne às acusações de pedofilia que é alvo.

Arrancou esta quinta-feira no Tribunal do Fundão o julgamento do padre de 37 anos, que estava em prisão domiciliária numa casa sacerdotal após ter sido suspenso das funções.

O caso veio a público em dezembro último. O sacerdote é acusado de abusar sexualmente de seminaristas no Seminário Menor do Fundão. A Polícia Judiciária recebeu queixas por parte das famílias de pelo menos cinco dos jovens abusados.

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PORTUGAL
Renascenca

Depois do caso vir a público em Dezembro passado, o sacerdote foi imediatamente suspenso do seminário e tem estado em prisão domiciliária numa casa sacerdotal.

O sacerdote da Guarda acusado de vários casos de abusos sexuais de seminaristas que estavam a seu cargo no Seminário Menor do Fundão considera-se inocente.

O julgamento do padre Luís Mendes começou esta quinta-feira de manhã. O arguido optou por não falar nesta primeira sessão, onde as cerca de 50 testemunhas, na maioria jovens, acabaram por ser dispensadas. Cinco regressam, esta tarde, para serem ouvidos.

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VATICAN CITY
National Catholic Reporter

John L. Allen Jr. | Sep. 19, 2013 NCR Today

In a wide-ranging interview for 16 Jesuit publications around the world, including America magazine in the United States, Pope Francis once again has waded into hot-button questions such as homosexuality, abortion and the role of women, not breaking with traditional doctrine but trying to shift the church’s emphasis from condemnation to mercy.

“The church sometimes has locked itself up in small things, in small-minded rules,” Francis says. “Ministers of the church must be ministers of mercy above all.”

The pope also warns against a “restorationist” mentality in Catholicism and insists that “thinking with the church” cannot mean solely thinking with the hierarchy. Francis also pointedly says, “I have never been a right-winger.”

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ARGENTINA
El Liberal

[Summary: Plaintiff attorney Juan Pablo Gallego has filed a brief with the criminal court asking that priest Julio Cesar Grassi be arrested. One of the country’s high courts has upheld the priest’s 15-year sentence after he was convicted of child sexual abuse charges. Grassi has been free during his appeals.]

El abogado querellante Juan Pablo Gallego presentó un escrito ante el Tribunal Oral de Morón.

Tras el fallo de la Corte bonaerense piden la detencion del padre Grassi

Publicado el 19/09/2013 – Tras el fallo de la Suprema Corte de Justicia bonaerense, que ayer ratificó la condena contra el sacerdote Julio César Grassi, sentenciado a 15 años de prisión por los delitos de abuso sexual agravado y corrupción de menores, el abogado querellante Juan Pablo Gallego presentó un escrito ante el Tribunal Oral Criminal 1 de Morón para pedir su detención.

“El Tribunal Oral de Morón acaba de recibir nuestra presentación. Esperamos que la Justicia esté a la altura de la situación”, sostuvo Gallego en diálogo con TN, y señaló que Grassi “tiene privilegios insólitos”. El domicilio del condenado sigue siendo una quinta cercana a su fundación.
Posible fuga

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ARGENTINA
La Nacion

[Summary: Bishop Marcelo Cuenca defended Julio Cesar Grassi, who has been convicted of child sexual abuse charges, and said he believes the priest is totally innocent.]

Marcelo Cuenca, de la dióscesis Cuenca del Alto Valle, defendió al cura condenado por abuso sexual y afirmó que las pruebas “son una cosa armada por el poder económico”

“Yo creo que el padre [Julio César] Grassi es totalmente inocente”, aseguró esta mañana el obispo de la diócesis Cuenca del Alto Valle, Marcelo Cuenca, y afirmó además que la causa contra el cura condenado por abuso sexual agravado y corrupción de menores es “una cosa armada por el poder económico”.

En diálogo con la radio FM Versión, de General Roca, un día después de que un fallo de la Suprema Corte de Justicia bonaerense, ratificara la condena contra el sacerdote Julio César Grassi, el obispo de Río Negro dijo: “Honestamente, y sin erigirme en juez, creo que el padre Grassi es totalmente inocente y le han querido colgar, sumar, una acusación que responde a otros motivos y no a esta lamentable situación que reconozco pueden haber vivido algunos sacerdotes, de abuso de niños”.

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ARGENTINA
Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests

For immediate release: Thursday, Sept. 19

Statement by Barbara Dorris of St. Louis, Outreach Director of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests ( 314 862 7688 home, 314 503 0003 cell, SNAPdorris@gmail.com )

A high profile priest, suspected of molesting kids more than a decade ago, is now one step closer to being imprisoned. While we applaud this move, we’re appalled that this criminal has tied up the court system with a seven year trial and 200 hearings over 11 years while spending only one month behind bars despite sexually assaulting at least two boys.

[Buenos Aires Herald]

We applaud the victims of Fr. Grassi for their courage and determination. They should be extremely proud of themselves. And Buenos Aires Catholics should be grateful to them for exposing a dangerous pedophile.

Every day Fr. Grassi has walked free, kids have been at risk. Shame on Catholic officials in Argentina for doing virtually nothing to help law enforcement investigate and convict and jail him.”>Buenos Aires Herald]

We applaud the victims of Fr. Grassi for their courage and determination. They should be extremely proud of themselves. And Buenos Aires Catholics should be grateful to them for exposing a dangerous pedophile.

Every day Fr. Grassi has walked free, kids have been at risk. Shame on Catholic officials in Argentina for doing virtually nothing to help law enforcement investigate and convict and jail him.

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MINNESOTA
National Catholic Reporter

Joe Winter | Sep. 19, 2013

EDEN PRAIRIE, MINN. Church and school finances and a proposed $165 million capital campaign were on the agenda of a St. Paul-Minneapolis archdiocese meeting Monday that was held for priests only, and a group of Catholics who are calling for greater transparency from church leaders found themselves without a seat at the table.

Members of the Catholic Coalition for Church Reform sought to have the meeting open to its members as well as to any laity who wished to attend. Robert Beutel, a St. Paul attorney and co-chair of the board for the group, said administrators and financial officers of parishes and of the archdiocese who are not priests, as well as deacons, apparently were excluded from the event — titled Priest Finance Day — held at an Eden Prairie church.

In response to the reform group’s request, Archbishop John Nienstedt, who did attend, said in an Aug. 21 letter that the meeting is “intended to be a professional gathering for those who have been duly ordained to the Catholic priesthood.”

Up for discussion were the capital campaign to raise money for Catholic schools, charities, seminarian education and preservation of the St. Paul Cathedral and Basilica of St. Mary in Minneapolis; the annual Catholic Services Appeal; and lay and priest pension plans, said Beutel, who obtained the agenda from a member of his group.

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ST. LOUIS (MO)
KMOX

ST. LOUIS, Mo. (KMOX) — St. Louis Archbishop Robert Carlson is scheduled to testify today in a priest abuse case.

The case involves a longtime Carlson associate, Father Joseph Jiang. Jiang is accused of molesting an underage girl in Lincoln County in recent years and accused of attempted witness tampering in the form of a $20,000 check allegedly left on the car on the victim’s family.

Jiang was an Associate Pastor at the Cathedral Basilica and lived in Carlson’s private residence in St. Louis.

Carlson is accused in a separate civil suit of calling the victim’s mother and asking her to give him the check. The archdiocese has denied those allegations

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ARKANSAS
Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests

For immediate release: Wednesday, Sept. 18

Statement by Barbara Dorris of St. Louis, Outreach Director of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests ( 314 862 7688 home, 314 503 0003 cell, SNAPdorris@gmail.com )

Today, an ex-Catholic school teacher has been found guilty of failing to report suspected child sex crimes. Yesterday, another ex-Catholic school teacher pled guilty to violating her probation by repeatedly contacting the girl she molested.

As a result, kids in both Arkansas (where the crimes happened) and Florida (where the predator has been living) are both safer. And we hope that these actions, especially today’s verdict, will deter future cover ups of child sex crimes.

The enabler, Kathy Griffin, received a year’s probation and $2,500 fine, which we think is a light sentence. The predator, Kelly O’Rourke, is in jail now awaiting sentencing.

Unfortunately, the institutional wrongdoer here – the Little Rock Catholic diocese and Mt. St. Mary’s School – have, for now at least, escaped consequences for their reckless, callous and deceitful behavior in this case. Neither school nor church officials made any real effort to help police and prosecutors pursue these criminals. At best, the diocese and the school did the bare minimum. More accurately, they minimized the crimes by O’Rourke and Griffin and refused to lift a finger to help find more victims, witnesses or whistleblowers that could have been helped or helpful.

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ST. LOUIS (MO)
KTVI

ST. LOUIS, MO (KTVI) – For the first time ever, the head of the St. Louis Archdiocese is set to testify under oath.

St. Louis Archbishop Robert Carlson will answer questions in a deposition on Thursday. It’s related to a criminal case involving a priest.

Father Joseph Jiang is charged with four counts of sexual abuse against a girl in Lincoln County. He’s also charged with witness tampering.

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SHREWSBURY (MO)
Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests

Victims to hold vigil outside archbishop’s deposition today
Carlson faces rare questioning this morning in child sex case
He’s accused of evidence tampering with Fr. Jiang’s $20,000 check
SNAP urges him to hold public meeting about “troubling situation”

What:
Holding signs and childhood photos on a sidewalk, a clergy sex abuse victim and two supporters will hold a 30 minute vigil outside the deposition of two top local Catholic officials in an unusual criminal clergy sex abuse case.

They will also
–blast the archbishop’s silence about the serious allegations that he tried to tamper with evidence,
–prod the archbishop to hold an open public meeting about the case, and
–urge him to aggressively seek out others who may have seen, suspected or suffered child sex crimes or cover ups by clergy.

When:
TODAY, Thursday, Sep. 19 at 9:45 a.m.

Where:
Outside the St. Louis archdiocesan compound on Laclede Station Road (near corner of Elizabeth) in Shewsbury

Who:
Three members of a support group called SNAP (the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests), including a St. Louis man who is the group’s long time director

Why:
Today, two top archdiocesan officials – Archbishop Robert Carlson and Deacon Phil Hengen, will be deposed by Lincoln County prosecutors about their possible role in covering up child sex crimes by Fr. Joseph Jiang.

SNAP is urging the two to tell the truth, not invoke the Fifth Amendment, and discuss their involvement in the case later in a public meeting at which parishioners can question them.

A civil lawsuit has also been filed against Carlson regarding Jiang. In response to that suit, Carlson has an eight-page legal reply in which he calls “baseless” the charge that he tried to tamper with evidence. (On five other charges, however, Carlson basically argues that he can’t be held responsible even if the allegations in the case are true. Carlson’s lawyers want the entire case against him tossed out.)

The suit charges that Carlson “knew (Fr. Xiu Hui “Joseph” Jiang) was dangerous to children before (a girl) was abused,” last summer, asked the alleged victim’s parents for a $20,000 check the priest had given them, committing “the criminal offense of attempted tampering with evidence,” because he reportedly suggested that the girl’s parents “return to him the check.” (The parents, however, had given it to police.)

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AUSTRALIA
ABC News

By court reporter Jamelle Wells

A former caseworker has told the royal commission into child sexual abuse that a child welfare agency was poorly staffed and she was given little training.

Former Hunter Aboriginal Children’s Service (HACS) staff member Jacqualine Henderson today told the inquiry she had no prior experience as a caseworker with children when she went to work for the organisation in 1998.

Nevertheless she was put in charge of up to 12 children at a time.

Ms Henderson said she was not made aware of all the policies and procedures of HACS and sought advice from Department of Community Services (DOCS) staff on some matters.

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AUSTRALIA
Walcha News

By Paul Bibby Sept. 19, 2013

A case manager at the Aboriginal children’s service where paedophile Steven Larkins used his senior position to lure teenage boys into his home has told the royal commission on child sex abuse that he had used her “as a god damn puppet” and threatened her with defamation when she confronted him about his behaviour.

Jacqueline Henderson broke down on the witness stand when asked what she thought of Larkins, who was allowed to remain in the position of chief executive of the Hunter Aboriginal Children’s Services for eight years, despite numerous reports and rumours of inappropriate behaviour.

“I take personal offence to what Steve has done to me and my community,” Ms Henderson, who is also Larkin’s second cousin, said.

“He’s used me as a god damn puppet … because of his dominance, and I don’t want to see that happen to anyone else.”

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AUSTRALIA
ABC – The World Today

TIM PALMER: The Aboriginal children’s agency that employed the convicted child sex offender Stephen Larkins has come under intense scrutiny at the Royal Commission today. Former employees of the Hunter Aboriginal Children’s Service, or HACS have been giving evidence to the national inquiry.

Larkins is in jail on child sex offences and the Royal Commission is examining how various agencies responded to allegations about his conduct. During today’s hearings a former caseworker and chairperson of the service broke down and said she was angry about what Larkins had done to her and her community.

The World Today’s Emily Bourke has been monitoring today’s hearings and joins me now. Emily, what picture is the Royal Commission developing of the way in which Steven Larkins managed to stay in contact with children?

EMILY BOURKE: Basically, Tim, it went unchallenged. People took Larkins at his word and this seems to be the pattern

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AUSTRALIA
9 News

Steve Larkins had long been suspected of abuse but continued to work with vulnerable children until the discovery of child pornography sparked the investigation which finally brought him down.

The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse was told on Thursday that, although there had been rumours within the Aboriginal community dating back to when Larkins worked with the Scouts, he kept his senior position with Hunter Aboriginal Children Services (HACS) because he had forged a working with children check.

He was only exposed as a pedophile when a work colleague found indecent material on a flash drive belonging to him.

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ARGENTINA
Buenos Aires Herald

Priest convicted of sexually abusing teenagers will remain free pending appeal

The Buenos Aires province Supreme Court yesterday rejected the appeal by priest Julio César Grassi and confirmed his sentence to 15 years in prison, ratifying his conviction for aggravated sexual abuse and the corruption of minors.

The case has lasted eleven years, and is likely to drag on a little longer, as Grassi has the option to appeal.

Juan Pablo Gallego, the prosecution lawyer representing the adolescents who were abused by Grassi, defined the latter as a “dangerous pedophile.”

As the Herald went to press, an arrest warrant on the priest had not yet been issued, with judicial sources reporting that such an order was not the responsibility of the provincial Supreme Court, but rather of Morón Criminal Court No.1. However such an order could also be appealed, meaning that he is unlikely to face time in prison in the near future.

Grassi’s sentence was confirmed by the Court in a public document signed by Judges Luis Genoud, Héctor Negri, Juan Carlos Hitters and Daniel Fernando Soria.

The Morón Criminal Court sentenced Father Julio César Grassi to 15 years in prison in 2009 following a seven-year trial, and in April this year, the court determined he had violated his house arrest conditions while his appeal was processed.

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UNITED STATES
The Spectrum

By Samantha Wickramasinghe
Opinion Editor

A few years back when the world-renowned news organizations such as The New York Times, The Guardian and many others were reporting various incidents connected to underage sexual abuse and financial mismanagement of the Catholic Church, I contemplated how institutionalization of religion could break the liaison between the church and its people. The big and powerful Catholic Church with its magnificent and glorious past was no longer a spiritual or influential place. My conclusions were somewhat hasty, and it did not arrive with careful observations of how the Catholics operated worldwide. Nevertheless, I was plainly disappointed how leadership of the church failed to make the world a better place, which I believe what all religious leadership should do. Even though I was not a Catholic, nor a person who believed in any organized religion, I always respected the discipline that that a group of genuine believers created among the community they brought together. I felt that spirituality solely cannot function in this world without discipline, and discipline without spirituality was all meaningless practice.

In March 2013, when the white smoke poured out of the Sistine Chapel chimney, when the Catholic Church declared Pope Francis as the leader of 1.2 billion Catholics around the world, I was not disinterested—at least as much as I was interested—to know when the present pope’s predecessor was elected. “Another Pope, another old religious figurehead.” These were the words that came to my head. However, since Pope Francis’ inauguration, I have observed a continuous progress in the Catholic Church and its vision for the world.

I would like to describe a series of events that makes me think the leadership of the Catholic Church is improving. At first, Pope Francis was questioned when he washed and kissed the feet of two female prison inmates, mirroring Jesus Christ washing his disciples feet. Then he made some controversial comments in the eyes of conservative Catholics about gay people being able to practice their faith without any judgment. According to telegraph.co.uk, Pope Francis said, “If someone is gay and he searches for the Lord and has good will, who am I to judge?” Pope Francis’ visit to Brazil and his address to millions of young people in the Copacabana Beach was another progressive move that proved he recognizes the future lies in the hands of young people.

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CANADA
The Daily News

SEPTEMBER 18, 2013

BY SYLVIE PAILLARD
DAILY NEWS STAFF REPORTER

The destructive path created by Indian residential schools reaches through Kamloops and across Canada to this day.

Anyone with a shred of doubt need only spend one hour at a truth and reconciliation hearing to get a dose of reality.

Students and locals had a chance to do just that on Wednesday when Thompson Rivers University held its own truth and reconciliation gathering in honour of the federal commission’s hearing in Vancouver this week.

The event opened with a video of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s visit to Kamloops last May.

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CANADA
The Tyee

By Kevin James Ward

Many Canadians know that from the later part of the 19th century through much of the 20th, the federal government and various Christian denominations used residential schools as part of a broader effort to subjugate native peoples and colonize their lands. Less known, however, is the reason for choosing this particular institution as part of facilitating the colonial process.

Research shows that prior to their arrival in North America, comparable institutions had been used in Europe for quite some time. But a deeper look into their design and purpose reveals why they essentially became Canada’s prime colonial instrument of choice.

James G. Gibb, in The Archaeology of Institutional Life, writes, “Institutions permeate our lives, and their actions — and inaction — ramify for generations.” This compels us to understand the influence of institutions on our lives, as well as their historical impact. In so doing, we must understand first the conceptual origins of the institution in question. Understanding the Indian residential school means inquiring into its root.

In A National Crime: The Canadian Government and the Residential School System — 1879 to 1986, historian John S. Milloy says early proponents of Indian residential schools believed they would be the “most efficacious educational instrument” to assimilate Indians into civilization, as well as being a “valuable tool of social control.” However, he says it is “not clear exactly what had brought the idea” to the government’s attention, nor could he locate a “single root from which the Canadian residential school system can be seen to have grown.”

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AUSTRALIA
Perth Now

CANDACE SUTTON, OPINION
From: news.com.au
September 19, 2013

SOME child molesters jump out of bushes and molest your child on the way home from school.

But more likely, he is your friendly neighbour or attentive shopkeeper.

He could be a charming relative or the son of a friend who is all too willing to babysit your children.

The paedophile in your midst may be the schoolteacher, the bus driver, the youth worker or the lay preacher at your church.

The Australian Royal Commission into institutionalised child sex crimes, running since April, has entered a new round of hearings and a concurrent inquiry is continuing into child sex offences in the Catholic Church’s NSW Hunter Valley diocese.

But Australian parents should not comfort themselves with the notion child sex offences were more common decades ago, or they are confined to likely suspects such as Boy Scout leaders or Catholic priests.

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PENNSYLVANIA
WHTM

By Myles Snyder
HARRISBURG, Pa. (WHTM) –

Two Pennsylvania lawmakers plan to unveil legislation that would temporarily lift the statute of limitations in child sexual abuse cases.

Sen. Rob Teplitz (D-Dauphin) will introduce Senate Bill 1103 while Rep. Mark Rozzi (D-Berks) will introduce companion legislation, House Bill 238.

Both measures would establish a two-year window during which the civil statute of limitations would be suspended to allow past victims of child sex abuse to access the justice system and expose guilty perpetrators, according to Rozzi.

“It is not right that sexual predators are permitted to continue to walk the streets and essentially be protected by the law. It’s time the law is changed to expose these monsters and keep our children safe,” Rozzi said in a statement.

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ARGENTINA
Info News

Ante la inminencia de un fallo de la Suprema Corte bonaerense sobre la cuestión de fondo en el caso Grassi, la querella teme la existencia de un estratégico lobby de parte de la Iglesia –que llegaría al mismísimo Papa Francisco, el argentino Jorge Bergoglio– para favorecer al cura condenado a 15 años de prisión por pedofilia. Una serie de gestos eclesiásticos provocaron la desconfianza de los querellantes, que suponen que el máximo tribunal provincial podría verse empujado a dictaminar a favor del cura Julio César Grassi, quien viene sorteando las condenas de la justicia de Morón y el Tribunal de Casación. Hasta aquí, jueces y fiscales de todas las instancias lo hallaron culpable.

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ARGENTINA
Clarin

Un tribunal le dio el beneficio hasta que haya sentencia “firme”.

La Corte bonaerense fue contundente ayer al respaldar tanto la condena impuesta a Julio César Grassi por el Tribunal Oral en lo Criminal N° 1 de Morón –el 10 de junio de 2009– como la confirmación posterior que hizo de ella la Sala III de la Cámara de Casación provincial, el 14 de septiembre de 2010. Sin embargo, el cura no irá preso (al menos por ahora) como consecuencia directa de este fallo.

La respuesta a esta circunstancia hay que buscarla entre las decenas de idas y vueltas de un caso que nunca parece llegar a su fin y que en los últimos años se ramificó en dos grandes caminos judiciales paralelos.

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ARGENTINA
Pagina 12

La máxima instancia judicial de la provincia confirmó el fallo del tribunal oral. Pero el pedido de detención se tramita en la Cámara de Casación. Como aún no se expidió, el cura sigue beneficiado con la libertad restringida. La querella pide que lo metan preso ya.

Por Carlos Rodríguez

A trece años de la primera denuncia, a once de la difusión pública del caso y luego de la ratificación, ahora por tercera vez, de una condena a 15 años de prisión por los delitos de “abuso sexual y corrupción de menores agravados”, el cura Julio César Grassi seguirá sin ir a una cárcel, al menos por ahora. El tercer tribunal que encontró culpable a Grassi, sin atenuantes, fue la Suprema Corte de Justicia bonaerense en un fallo de 165 páginas al que tuvo acceso Página/12. La Corte provincial desestimó los recursos extraordinarios de inaplicabilidad de la ley interpuesto por la defensa del sacerdote. Los jueces rechazaron todos los planteos en orden a la supuesta violación de los principios de congruencia en la argumentación de la sentencia, garantía de la doble instancia, valoración de la prueba acusatoria y por último respecto de la presunta vulneración de la figura del in dubio pro reo, que establece que ante un nivel de duda razonable se debe beneficiar al imputado. Ahora, a la defensa del cura sólo le queda apelar ante la Corte Suprema nacional y se descuenta que lo hará para seguir extendiendo lo que parece una interminable partida de ajedrez.

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ARGENTINA
Pagina 12

La defensa de Julio César Grassi hizo mención pormenorizada de supuestas incongruencias de los dos casos de abuso dados por probados en perjuicio del joven conocido como “Gabriel”. Puso énfasis en las dudas sobre en qué día de la semana ocurrieron los hechos denunciados y en algunos detalles de las situaciones vividas. El eje central fue señalar que, ante la duda, se debía preservar “el principio de inocencia” del imputado y que los argumentos de Casación, el fallo revisado por la Suprema Corte, eran “el juego de las conjeturas” y no un cúmulo de pruebas indubitables.

Los jueces de la Corte, sobre la presunta “afectación del principio de congruencia”, respecto al día y la hora en que ocurrieron los abusos contra “Gabriel”, dijeron que la fiscalía “fue variando algunas circunstancias temporales referidas a los hechos”, pero “resulta evidente que no lo hizo según su mejor conveniencia sino para ofrecer mayores precisiones a la defensa”. Por esa razón “fue modificando (…) los términos de la imputación de acuerdo a lo que todos, defensa incluida” fueron escuchando “a lo largo de la dilatada audiencia”.

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ARGENTINA
Minuto Uno

El abogado en representación del Comité por los Derechos de la Niñez, Juan Pablo Gallego, celebró la condena a 15 años de prisión del sacerdote Julio César Grassi en la causa por delitos de abuso sexual de menores.

“Esperemos que en las próximas horas se materialice la condena pero estamos con la satisfacción de que se comprobó la verdad de los niños”, expresó en diálogo “Hola Chiche” por Radio 10.

Gallego sostuvo que “considerando las condiciones psiquiátricas (de Grassi), es probable que este sujeto intente apelar” aunque indicó que “la Corte ha sido muy clara de que la sentencia es definitiva y no tiene otro recurso para el imputado”.

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ARGENTINA
Urgente 24

CIUDAD DE BUENOS AIRES (Urgente24).-Este miércoles 18/09 la Suprema Corte de Justicia bonaerense ratificó la condena de 15 años de prisión contra el sacerdote Julio César Grassi por los delitos de abuso sexual agravado y corrupción de menores. Ocurre que, el tribunal rechazó los recursos extraordinarios presentados por la defensa del cura y confirmó la condena dispuesta por el Tribunal Oral Criminal 1 de Morón, que luego fue confirmada por la Sala II del Tribunal de Casación Penal.

El fallo de la Suprema Corte se expresa sobre los recursos presentados por la defensa y por la querella, rechazando todos ellos y ratificando la condena dictada por el TOC 1 de Morón.

Sin embargo, no le corresponde al máximo Tribunal determinar que Grassi sea detenido. Ahora será el Tribunal Oral de la primera instancia el que deberá decidir si el acusado tiene que cumplir la prisión efectiva.

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COSTA RICA
La Nacion

ALBERTO BARRANTES C. – Actualizado el 18 de septiembre de 2013

Las religiosas salesianas de la orden Hijas de María Auxiliadora blindan con silencio todo cuestionamiento con respecto al caso de la monja acusada por el Patronato Nacional de la Infancia (PANI), en Casa Maín, Heredia.

Pese a que se intentó conocer la reacción de la madre superiora de la casa provincial, sor Elia Flores, una de las religiosas de la orden indicó que sor Flores se encontraba en Nicaragua.

La casa provincial de las salesianas está ubicada en Curridabat, en San José. La monja que atendió las consultas de La Nación no quiso dar su nombre, ni explicar las funciones que cumple en el centro, ni la situación actual en que se encuentra la religiosa acusada e identificada como sor Adela.

“No, no, no, yo no le voy a dar ningún dato, tengo la orden de no darle ningún nombre; si quiere pídaselo al abogado”, advirtió.

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COSTA RICA
Panorama

La Iglesia Católica de Costa Rica separó a una monja de sus actividades religiosas por el supuesto abuso de dos niñas de tres y seis años en una casa hogar, caso que es investigado por la fiscalía, informó una fuente eclesiástica.

“Paralelo al proceso judicial, se hará un proceso canónico de investigación. Después se determinará si puede continuar como religiosa o si se le ayuda a regresar a la vida laica”, afirmó a la prensa local el encargado de prensa de la diócesis y párroco de San Joaquín de Flores, Sixto Varela

El sacerdote identificó a la sindicada como sor Adela, de origen nicaragüense, precisó el diario La Nación.

La monja fue denunciada el 30 de agosto por el Patronato Nacional de la Infancia (PANI) por presunto abuso sexual y violación de dos niñas de tres y seis años, hechos que se habían dado en el albergue privado Casa Maín en la provincia de Heredia, aledaño a la capital costarricense.

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COSTA RICA
GlobalPosti

The Costa Rican Catholic church has relieved a nun of her duties over the alleged sexual abuse of two young girls, a church official was quoted as saying Wednesday.

A church probe would be carried out in parallel to the legal process, Sixto Varela, pastor and press officer of the San Joaquin de Flores diocese, told local media.

On August 30, a children’s advocacy agency alleged the nun had sexually molested and raped two girls aged three and six at the home in the province of Heredia.

After the claim, the 13 girls in the home were moved to other facilities.

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WEST VIRGINIA
Daily Mail

by Cheryl Caswell
Daily Mail staff

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — A former church custodian was sentenced to 15 to 35 years in prison for the sexual abuse of a young family member.

Charles Brainard Hogan, 58, of Cross Lanes, gave a lengthy statement to Kanawha Circuit Judge Paul Zakaib, telling a courtroom full of people that they had all sinned.

“Romans 3:23 says ‘for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God,’ ” Hogan said. “So nobody in this court can say they have not committed any kind of sin, because if they do they are a liar.”

Hogan said he engaged in sexual acts with the 7-year-old girl in his care because his wife was not receptive to him. He told authorities the girl tempted him by “prancing around in short shorts.”

“I’m very ashamed of what I’ve done, I’m not proud of it,” he said. “I did this because my wife was not there for me. I had no relationship with her for three years and she was not in my bed for two years. She has completely forsaken me.”

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AUSTRALIA
Maitland Mercury

A DVD about the impact of child ­sexual abuse will be shown in Morpeth this weekend with additional screenings planned for the Coalfields region.

The DVD – Breaking the Silence: The Impact of Sexual Abuse by Church Personnel – presents the testimony of two Maitland residents Patricia Feenan and Bob O’Toole, in a confronting and unflinchingly honest account of their experiences.

The DVD was produced by Insights – an arm of Zimmerman Services in the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle that was established in 2009 to explore the ongoing consequences of historic child sexual abuse in the diocese.

Ms Feenan is the mother of Daniel Feenan, a victim of deceased priest James Fletcher, while Morpeth man Bob O’Toole was sexually abused by a Marist Brother while at school. They represent many more Hunter residents who are not yet able to tell their stories.

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UNITED KINGDOM
The Argus

By Anna Roberts, Crime reporter

A priest appeared in court charged over alleged historic sexual abuse at a children’s home.

Father Anthony McSweeney, 66, was in the dock at London’s Southwark Crown Court with a former manager at the home, John Stingemore, 71.

The men will appear next on December 19 for a plea and case management hearing.

No venue was set for the case which may move to Lewes Crown Court as Stingemore is in a wheelchair and lives in Stonehouse Drive, St Leonards..

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ARGENTINA
Pagina 12

La Suprema Corte de Justicia de la provincia de Buenos Aires rechazó los recursos extraordinarios presentados por la defensa del sacerdote y ratificó la pena de 15 años de prisión dispuesta por el Tribunal Oral Criminal 1 de Morón por los delitos de abuso sexual agravado y corrupción de menores. El abogado de las querellas reclamó la “detención inmediata” de Grassi.

El abogado Juan Pablo Gallego, quien representa a adolescentes que denunciaron los abusos, reclamó la “detención inmediata” de Grassi, a quien señaló como “un pedófilo peligroso” con condena confirmada. La decisión del arresto deberá ser tomada por el Tribunal Oral Criminal 1 de Morón, donde está radicada la causa principal.

La nueva sentencia contra Grassi se aprobó con los votos de los ministros Luis Genoud, Héctor Negri, Juan Carlos Hitters y Daniel Fernando Soria. El máximo tribunal bonaerense resolvió desestimar los recursos extraordinarios de inaplicabilidad de ley interpuestos por la defensa particular del cura y el presentado por derecho propio con patrocinio letrado.

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ARGENTINA
La Capital

La Suprema Corte de Justicia bonaerense confirmó la pena de 15 años de prisión contra el sacerdote Julio César Grassi por considerarlo autor responsable de los delitos de abuso sexual agravado y corrupción de menores.

En un fallo de 165 hojas, el máximo tribunal de la provincia de Buenos Aires rechazó los recursos extraordinarios presentados por la defensa del sacerdote.

El Tribunal resolvió “desestimar los recursos extraordinarios de inaplicabilidad de ley interpuestos por la defensa particular de Grassi y el presentado por derecho propio con patrocinio letrado”.

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ARGENTINA
Telam

La Suprema Corte de Justicia de la provincia de Buenos Aires ratificó la condena a 15 años de prisión del sacerdote Julio Grassi por abuso sexual y corrupción de un menor.

“La Suprema Corte rechazó todos los recursos extraordinarios presentados tanto por la defensa como de la querella pero no es su artribución resolver la prisión del sacerdote, eso lo debe efectuar el tribunal de ejecución de la sentencia”, detalló el vocero.

La defensa de Grassi posee la instancia ahora de presentar un recurso extraordinario ante la Corte Suprema de Justicia de la Nación aunque debe en primer lugar resolver si acepta o no el caso.

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ARGENTINA
Clarin

La Suprema Corte de Justicia bonaerense ratificó la condena de 15 años de prisión contra el sacerdote Julio César Grassi por los delitos de abuso sexual agravado y corrupción de menores.

El máximo tribunal rechazó los recursos extraordinarios presentados por la defensa del cura y confirmó la condena dispuesta por el Tribunal Oral Criminal 1 de Morón.

Los jueces Luis E. Genoud, Héctor Negri, Juan Carlos Hitters y Daniel Fernando Soria, arribaron a la sentencia luego del análisis de los fallos previos y el expediente. El Tribunal resolvió desestimar los recursos extraordinarios presentados por la defensa particular de Grassi, informó en un comunicado el Supremo Tribunal.

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ARGENTINA
La Nacion

La Suprema Corte de Justicia bonaerense ratificó la condena contra el sacerdote Julio César Grassi .

Grassi había sido sentenciado a 15 años de prisión por los delitos de abuso sexual agravado y corrupción de menores. El máximo tribunal de la provincia rechazó los recursos extraordinarios presentados por la defensa del cura y confirmó la condena dispuesta por el Tribunal Oral Criminal 1 de Morón.

La sentencia, informada por la Corte en un comunicado, fue resuelta con los votos de los ministros Luis Genoud, Héctor Negri, Juan Carlos Hitters y Daniel Fernando Soria.

¿IRÁ PRESO GRASSI?

El fallo de la Suprema Corte se expresa sobre los recursos presentados por la defensa y por la querella, rechazando todos ellos y ratificando la condena dictada por el TOC 1 de Morón.

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ARGENTINA
TN

[con video]

[Summary: Plaintiff attorney Juan Pablo Gallego said the court decision is definitive and final and there are no more legal barriers. It appears priest Julie Cesar Grassi will go to jail. The lawyer said the news was greeted with great satisifaction.]

Después de que la Suprema Corte de Justicia bonaerense ratificara la condena de 15 años de prisión contra el sacerdote Julio César Grassi por los delitos de abuso sexual agravado y corrupción de menores, el abogado querellante, Juan Pablo Gallego, calificó como “definitiva” la medida judicial.

De esta manera, no le quedan más barreras judiciales a las que acudir y deberá ir a prisión. El letrado adelantó que pedirán además un agravamiento de la pena: 37 años de prisión, en lugar de los 15 actuales.

“Es un fallo definitivo. No tiene más recursos para avanzar en sus pedidos. Los jueces han comprobado su culpabilidad”, aseguró el abogado, en diálogo con TN. “Recibimos la noticia con una enorme satisfacción”, agregó.

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ARGENTINA
TN

{Summary: It was the last resort. The Supreme Court has upheld the 15-year prison sentence imposed on priest Julio Cesar Grassi who was charged with aggravated sexual abuse and corruption of minors. There are no more legal barriers.]

Fue la última instancia. Ya no queda más. La Suprema Corte de Justicia bonaerense ratificó la condena de 15 años de prisión contra el sacerdote Julio César Grassi por los delitos de abuso sexual agravado y corrupción de menores. De esta manera, no le quedan más barreras judiciales a las que acudir y deberá ir a prisión.

El máximo tribunal rechazó los recursos extraordinarios presentados por la defensa del cura y confirmó la condena dispuesta por el Tribunal Oral Criminal 1 de Morón, que luego fue confirmada por la Sala II del Tribunal de Casación Penal.

Grassi quedó sospechado en 2002, luego de que el programa “Telenoche Investiga” difundiera un informe en el que salieron a la luz algunas denuncias que lo vinculaban con abusos sexuales a menores, a quienes se suponía que tenía bajo custodia. El sacerdote estuvo sólo un mes en prisión y luego esperó su juicio en libertad. En 2009, fue condenado por 2 de los 17 cargos en su contra.

Según el abogado de la querella, Juan Pablo Gallego, Grassi “debería ir preso inmediatamente”, ya que la condena “es firme e irreversible”. “No hay ninguna duda de que se cansó de burlarse de la Justicia. Nunca tuvo ningún tipo de restricción”, dijo Gallego, quien dijo que Grassi vivió en una quinta justo enfrente de su exfundación Felices los Niños.

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ARGENTINA
La Razon

[Summary: A court has ratified the 15-year prison sentence of Father Julio Cesar Grassi who was charged with aggravated sexual abuse and corruption of minors. The court rejected the challenge to the sentence made by defense lawyers.]

La Corte bonaerense rechazó los recursos extraordinarios presentados por la defensa del sacerdote y ratificó los 15 años de cárcel. Permanece en libertad porque el caso todavía no quedó firme, sin embargo, a partir de hoy, la Cámara Criminal deberá decidir si puede presentar una nueva apelación y llegar a la Corte Suprema; o bien, como se prevé, ordene su arresto.

Otro revés judicial para el padre Grassi: la Suprema Corte de Justicia bonaerense ratificó la condena de 15 años de prisión en su contra por los delitos de abuso sexual agravado y corrupción de menores.

El máximo tribunal rechazó los recursos extraordinarios presentados por la defensa del cura y confirmó la condena dispuesta por el Tribunal Oral Criminal 1 de Morón, luego ratificada por la Sala II del Tribunal de Casación Penal.

Los jueces Luis E. Genoud, Héctor Negri, Juan Carlos Hitters y Daniel Fernando Soria, resolvieron dicha sentencia luego del análisis de los fallos previos y del expediente. Según se informó en un comunicado, el Supremo Tribunal resolvió desestimar los recursos extraordinarios presentados por la defensa particular del sacerdote.

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ST. LOUIS (MO)
KSDK

Aja Williams

ST. LOUIS (KSDK) – The St. Louis Archbishop is scheduled to give a sworn deposition to prosecutors Thursday, which could be the first time ever for someone in this position.

Archbishop Robert Carlson will give a deposition in the case involving Father Joseph Jiang. Father Jiang has been charged with child endangerment for having a sexual relationship with a 16-year-old girl. He’s also charged with witness tampering in a separate case.

Father Jiang pleaded not guilty to the charges.

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ST. LOUIS (MO)
San Francisco Chronicle

ST. LOUIS (AP) — St. Louis Archbishop Robert Carlson is scheduled to testify under oath Thursday in a Lincoln County felony sexual misconduct case involving a Catholic priest and allegations of witness tampering.

The Rev. Joseph Jiang is accused of molesting a teenage girl and then leaving a $20,000 check atop a car belonging to the victim’s family. He faces one charge of endangering a child’s welfare and one tampering charge.

Jiang was an associate pastor at the Cathedral Basilica in St. Louis and lived in Carlson’s private residence.

KMOX-AM (cbsloc.al/19dbq67 ) reports that Carlson’s deposition is scheduled for Thursday at the Rigali Center in Shrewsbury.

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SAN DIEGO (CA)
Patch

Posted by Gina Tenorio (Editor) , September 18, 2013

The resignation of Bishop Robert Brom after 24 years as head of the Catholic Diocese of San Diego became official today, and he was succeeded by Bishop Cirilo Flores.

Catholic bishops are required to step down as of their 75th birthday, according to the diocese, which said the resignation, and promotion of Flores, was accepted by Pope Francis.

Brom said he was grateful to God for his blessings during both joyful and challenging times as the leader of the diocese, and thankful for the help of other church officials and followers.

“In retirement here, I hope that, without the demands of administration and insofar as health permits, there will be ministerial needs to which I will be able to respond,” Brom said. “In particular, I want to promote missionary discipleship as our common way to participate in the new evangelization, and to foster priestly vocations.”

The Catholic church was hit worldwide with numerous accusations and lawsuits over sex abuse by priests during Brom’s tenure as bishop. In 2007, he approved the second-highest settlement in the U.S. for priest sex abuse cases, $198.1 million for 144 victims.

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LITTLE ROCK (AR)
Arkansas Matters

Update (3:05 p.m.):
LITTLE ROCK, AR – A Pulaski County Circuit Court jury has convicted a former Mount St. Mary Academy counselor of failure to report a sexual relationship between a student and another teacher who was a partner of the counselor.

That’s according to our content partner the Arkansas Times, which also reports that after further deliberation, the jury handed down a sentence of one year probation and a $2,500 fine.

Original story (1:45 p.m.):
LITTLE ROCK, AR — The trial of a former counselor at Mount St. Mary’s Academy accused of failing to report sexual abuse of a student is approaching its closing arguments.

Kathy Griffin is charged with a misdemeanor count of failure to notify by mandated reporter after not calling the child abuse hotline or telling the school administrator that she’d found out about a sexual relationship between a student and teacher Kelly O’Rourke.

Griffin has pleaded innocent, saying she wasn’t aware of the sexual relationship between the teacher and student until after the girl had turned 18 and was no longer a student at the school, according to KARK content partners at ArkTimes.com.

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CINCINNATI (OH)
WCPO

[with video]

Greg Noble
gregory.noble@wcpo.com
Anna Langlinais, anna.langlinais@wcpo.com

NOTE: Graphic details were discussed during Wednesday’s testimony that may be difficult to read or considered inappropriate.

CINCINNATI – A man testified Wednesday that Rev. Robert Poandl sodomized him in a church rectory when he was 10 years old and he later plotted to kill the priest and commit suicide.

Testifying in federal court, the accuser, now 32, said he was haunted by nightmares, experimented with LSD and cocaine while in school and later became addicted to Oxycodone.

He said Poandl “screwed up my life by raping me.”

“I wanted to go and kill him, punish him for what he’s done,” the accuser said.

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AUSTRALIA
Courier Mail

Judge’s eyes open to pain – child sex abuse testimony gives commissioner Peter McClellan a sense of victims’ scars

ONE of the state’s most senior judges who has been chosen to preside over the child sexual abuse royal commission has never sat on a sexual assault trial or heard the evidence of a rape victim.

Royal commissioner Peter McClellan once banned a prosecutor from a gang rape trial because she showed empathy for the victim and had given a lecture about the case.

Justice McClellan, who this week said that he had not appreciated how devastating sexual assault was to a victim, had slammed senior crown prosecutor Margaret Cunneen’s public show of support for the 17-year-old who had been raped 25 times by 14 men in four locations over six hours.

As they walked from court after the guilty verdict, Ms Cunneen SC told the waiting media: “I commend the quality of the police investigation and the fortitude of the victim.”

In a joint judgment, Justice McClellan and his fellow judges on the Court of Criminal Appeal, Justice Virginia Bell and Justice Cliff Heoben, said a prosecutor had to be impartial.

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AUSTRALIA
Maitland Mercury

There was no legal impediment to a man subject to child abuse claims taking a 17-year-old boy into his personal care, a royal commission has been told.

Children’s Guardian Kerryn Boland said the Commission for Children and Young People had been concerned in 2010-11 over a potential conflict of interest stemming from principal officer of Hunter Aboriginal Children Services Steve Larkins’ care of the boy.

Arrested in 2011, Larkins is now in jail for child pornography and related offences.

“The principal officer would be the one who would have responsibility for dealing with complaints to HACS,” Ms Boland told the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse yesterday.

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AUSTRALIA
The Australian

DAN BOX
From: The Australian
September 19, 2013

HUNDREDS of Christian groups and organisations in NSW have not conducted background checks on church leaders working with children, despite legislation requiring them to do so being in place for 15 years.

Evidence tendered to the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse shows almost half the 700 religious organisations surveyed were found not to have registered for the Working With Children Checks, as required by laws introduced in 1998.

“Religious organisations came to attention following evidence that, in some cases, the WWCC obligations were not being met,” the July 2013 report from the NSW Children’s Guardian states.

Overwhelmingly, those found to be not complying with the scheme were from the Baptist, Catholic and other Christian churches, the report said.

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SCOTLAND
Herald Scotland

Wednesday 18 September 2013

MONSIGNOR Leo Cushley, the man appointed to succeed shamed Cardinal Keith O’Brien, is ‘looking forward’ to taking on arguably the most fraught position in the UK’s Christian churches.

Now just days away from what the Catholic church hopes will bring down the curtain on one of the most turbulent periods in its modern history in Scotland, Mgr Cushley will be ordained as Archbishop of St Andrews and Edinburh on at St Mary’s Cathedral in Edinburgh on Saturday.

Principal consecrators will be Cardinal James Michael Harvey of the Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls, UK Papal Nuncio Antonio Mennini and Archbishop Philip Tartaglia of Glasgow.

Mgr Cushley will next week begin individual conversations with the 100-plus priests in the Archdiocese. He is also expected to ask those priests who accused Cardinal O’Brien of sexual behaviour against them if they are maintaining celibacy.

With Cardinal O’Brien maintaining pockets of support across the Archdiocese and Mgr Cushley stating at the weekend that O’Brien should not return to Scotland, he will need to mend a church broken locally, as well as being at a low ebb nationally.

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CANADA
Sylvia’s Site

I will eventually write up my observations of what I saw and heard at the sentencing hearing of Father Daniel Miller in the Pembroke, Ontario courthouse yesterday (17 September 2013). For now I am posting media coverage. I have also posted a few pictures I took outside the courthouse, and am in the process of posting a few Victim Impact Statements. …

I will be posting two more Victim Impact Statements shortly. I had asked for copies of VIS from others who took the stand yesterday. Those whom I asked kindly agreed to allow them to be posted, we just have to make arrangements for me to get them, hopefully we will get that sorted out today.

I just feel so strongly that everyone should have the opportunity to hear first-hand what happens to a child – and, yes, a mother – when a priest sexually abuses a child. You can’t “hear” it on Sylvia’s Site, but when victims allow their VIS to be posted, you can read it [I am redacting anything in the VIS which might identify the victim or his family]. People need to understand the absolute devastation caused by clerical sexual abuse. I believe that this is one way which says what needs to be said far better than I could ever hope to say or recap.

To all who so readily agreed to let me post your words, thank you so much. I do believe your words will reach and touch the hearts. Thank you.

Once the next two statements are ready and posted I will make note. Keep an eye on NEW to the site, or check the Victims page, or, of course, go to the Father Daniel Miller page. The links will be posted at all three locations.

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CANADA
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Ottawa

In recent days, new reports have circulated with respect to a law suit against the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Ottawa with respect to allegations of sexual abuse committed by a former priest of the Archdiocese, the late Jean Gravel.

In the absence of Archbishop Terrence Prendergast who is currently on spiritual retreat with the English-language priests of the archdiocese, the Vicar General, Monsignor Kevin Beach, issued the following statement:

“John’s painful story is a reminder that most sexual abuse against a minor is committed by a family member, or a close family friend. By the facts known to us, it appears that the late Jean Gravel had access to John, not by virtue of his role as a priest or pastor, but by reason of his being a member of the Gravel family.

Jean Gravel’s story is tragic as it is scandalous. Ordained a priest in 1950, he exhibited behavioural problems which required diocesan authorities of the time to intervene, seeking his correction and rehabilitation. After criminal charges and a trial leading to Gravel’s conviction in the late 1960’s, the Archbishop of Ottawa of the time, the late Joseph-Aurèle Plourde, successfully petitioned the Vatican to have Gravel dismissed from the clerical state (“laicized”) in 1970.

In my conversations with John, I learned that Jean Gravel took his own life in 1980.

As John mentioned in his public statement, we listened to his painful story with a sympathetic ear. That is more than three years ago. Since that time, on the basis of pastoral care and not on the basis of legal liability, we have assisted John in his search for healing. In the resolution of any claim of abuse, we ask victims to seek independent legal advice. It appears that John, with the advice of his lawyer, has decided to sue the Archdiocese rather than settle the matter without litigation. We will engage in the process, seeking a just solution that addresses John’s circumstances.

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CANADA
Sylvia’s Site

[The following is the Victim Impact Statement which was prepared by a mother whose son was sexually abused by Father Dan Miller – the statement was read to the court on 17 September 2013 by the victim’s sister]

I sit here in this court room as a mother of a son who was your victim Dan Miller. I was a mother who trusted you with her son, to go with you to the movies and overnighters to your mother’s house. Now I know, years later that I had completely failed him as a mother. I trusted in you with my son as I waved goodbye to him as he headed away on an adventure as he would call it with you. I was a failure as a mother not to see beneath your smile and charismatic personality that you were truly evil. You-were and are a pedophile.

In our home you had been welcomed. You were invited in as a faithful leader of my family, with open arms and trust, a trust that I had allowed my children to have with you. A trust I never thought would be broken or shattered as it has now been.

I have spent this past year and a half sad beyond words. It has consumed me and my thoughts. The guilt, the anger, the sadness has taken control of my aging thoughts. This Mr. Miller is how I will spend my last days on earth. This is what your actions have done. The tears still fall but the love for my God has not faulted. He is with me always. I tell God that I forgive you each and every day of my life but I know that God knows differently, so far. It is because of your disgusting actions as a man, a man that I called Father & friend that I now live a life of sorrow. I have died inside knowing that I failed to protect my son from you. I did not know that a wolf in sheeps clothing existed in my family’s world but we do now, don’t we Mr. Miller.?

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CANADA
Catholic Register

Written by Deborah Gyapong, Canadian Catholic News
Wednesday, 18 September 2013

OTTAWA – A 62-year-old man has launched a lawsuit against the Ottawa archdiocese for the childhood sexual abuse of a priest who was also his uncle.

The lawsuit names the late Fr. Jean Gravel, who was defrocked in 1970 following his conviction on unspecified criminal charges in the late 1960s.

“Under the cover of mentoring and spiritual guidance, Fr. Gravel violated the innocence of ‘John’ and ravaged his body and his soul,” said a statement from Becket Personal Injury Lawyers.

According to court documents, the abuse began when John was eight years old and lasted for seven years. In addition to being the boy’s uncle and parish priest, Gravel was also John’s Godfather.

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STOCKTON (CA)
Catholic San Francisco

September 18th, 2013
By Carol Zimmermann

WASHINGTON – In his role with U.S. bishops’ committees over the years, Bishop Stephen E. Blaire of Stockton has frequently urged members of Congress not to cut programs that help the poor.

Now, the bishop, who has led the Diocese of Stockton since 1999, is speaking closer to home about how his diocese – while facing financial burdens – must continue its ministries and its outreach to the local poor.

Bishop Blaire, chairman of the U.S. bishops’ Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development, detailed the financial situation of the diocese in two recent letters to Catholics in the diocese that were read during weekend Masses at 35 parishes and 14 mission churches.

The most recent letter, read during the Sept. 7-8 weekend Masses, announced the diocese’s plans to consider filing for bankruptcy. The diocese has been paying for multiple clergy sexual abuse lawsuit payments and is running out of funds for future settlements.

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DEUTSCHLAND
kath.net

Präfekt der Glaubenskongregation: Die Kampagne gegen Bischof Tebartz-van Elst hat das Ziel, Bischöfe, die nicht ins eigene Kirchenbild passten, einzuschüchtern oder zu eliminieren

Würzburg (kath.net/KNA) Der Präfekt der Glaubenskongregation, Erzbischof Gerhard Ludwig Müller, hat dem in die Kritik geratenen Limburger Bischof Franz-Peter Tebartz-van Elst Rückhalt zugesichert. Die «Kampagne» gegen den Limburger Bischof sei «ein sich selbst tragendes Lügengebäude», sagte Müller in einem Interview mit der in Würzburg erscheinenden «Die Tagespost» (Donnerstag). Sie habe das Ziel, Bischöfe, die nicht ins eigene Kirchenbild passten, einzuschüchtern oder zu eliminieren. Da gegen von Tebartz-van Elsts Lehre und Leben nichts vorliege, vertraue Rom ihm «voll und ganz». Müller fügte hinzu: «Der Bischof von Limburg bleibt.»

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ST. LOUIS (MO)
Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests

For immediate release: Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2013

Statement by Barbara Dorris of St. Louis, Outreach Director of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests ( 314 862 7688 home, 314 503 0003 cell, SNAPdorris@gmail.com )

Tomorrow, for what we believe will be the first time ever, prosecutors will depose St. Louis’ highest ranking Catholic official (and one of his top aides) in a troubling, recent child sex abuse case.

[KMOX]

We believe it’s the first time any St. Louis archbishop has been deposed in any clergy sex case – criminal or civil. Nationally, it’s rare that members of the church hierarchy are deposed in these cases and even more rare when it’s a criminal case.

We hope Carlson doesn’t “plead the Fifth” or delay the deposition. We hope he tells the truth. And we hope prosecutors will ask him pointed questions about warning signs that Fr. Joseph Jiang was a predator and about the $20,000 check from Jiang to a victim’s parents that Carlson reportedly tried to get his hands on.

Fr. Jiang is accused of repeatedly molesting a girl as recently as last summer. He allegedly admitted the abuse to her parents and then left them a check for $20,000. That day, Carlson reportedly called the girl’s mom and asked if he could get the check. In a civil suit, Carlson is charged with “evidence tampering.” We wonder if he will or should face similar criminal charges.

And we’re curious about Deacon Phil Hengen’s role in all of this. He is also being deposed. He purports to “help victims.” But over the years, we’ve received many concerns and complaints by victims about him. If prosecutors want to question him, we can’t help but wonder if he too is playing a role in the cover up of Fr. Jiang’s crimes.

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SOUTH AFRICA
Mmegi

JOHANNESBURG: A German Catholic priest on trial for child abuse in South Africa could face extradition over 36 more counts of sexual offences against children in Germany.

The New Age reported that Georg Kerkhoff appeared in the Brits Magistrate’s Court on Monday in connection with the German offences, after Interpol arrested him at the same court last week.

Kerkoff’s lawyer Graham Kerr-Phillips said his client’s arrest on the German charges was “unnecessary and arbitrary”, according to the report.

A German newspaper reported earlier that Kerkhoff allegedly shared beds, saunas, and showers with young men and boys.

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SAN DIEGO (CA)
DFW Catholic

San Diego, Calif., Sep 18, 2013 / 10:11 am (CNA/EWTN News).- Bishop Cirilo B. Flores was appointed Bishop of San Diego today, Sept. 18, succeeding Bishop Robert H. Brom, whose resignation, having reached the age limit of 75, was accepted by Pope Francis.

Bishop Flores had served as coadjutor bishop of the Diocese of San Diego since Jan. 4, 2012.

He was born in 1948 in Corona, Calif., and after completing undergraduate studies at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, he received a law degree from Stanford. He practiced law in California for 10 years before entering St. John’s Seminary in Camarillo in 1986, studying for the Diocese of Orange in California.

Bishop Flores was ordained a priest in 1991, and served in several parishes. In 2009, he was consecrated a bishop, and appointed auxiliary bishop of the Orange diocese.

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SAN DIEGO (CA)
Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests

For immediate release: Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2013

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

The Vatican has announced that Bishop Cirilo Flores is the new head of the San Diego diocese. We’re disappointed and worried by this move.

[Vatican Information Service]

Flores spent years in the Diocese of Orange, a diocese with a very troubling track record in concealing crimes and endangering kids. For more than a decade, he was on a small panel there dealing with clergy sex crimes and cover ups. Flores did little or nothing that showed any real courage or compassion.

[BishopAccountability.org]

In fact, while he was in leadership posts, he helped keep secret the crimes, status and whereabouts of proven, admitted and credibly accused child molesting clerics.

Often Catholics feel hopeful when a new bishop is named. Many of them naively assume the new guy will do better at protecting kids than the old guy. But that’s rarely the case.

The newer breed of bishop is usually just more media savvy than the older breed. Prelates like Flores seem more warm and outgoing and open. But when it comes to dealing with clerics who commit or conceal child sex crimes, they almost always act in the same reckless, callous and deceitful ways as their predecessors.

So we urge San Diego Catholics and citizens to avoid the temptation to become complacent. Complacency protects no one. Only vigilance protects children.

And we urge San Diego Catholics and citizens to share anything they know or suspect about child sex crimes and cover ups with law enforcement, no matter how old, small or seemingly insignificant the information or suspicions may be. It’s our duty to contact police and prosecutors if we see, suspect or suffer crimes. It’s their duty to determine whether action can be taken.

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MISSOURI
Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests

For more information: David Clohessy (314) 566-9790 cell, SNAPclohessy@aol.com, Barbara Dorris (314) 862-7688, SNAPdorris@gmail.com

Files released on two predator priests
Each abused in CA but spent time in MO
They’re with a St. Louis-based religious order
But each worked in the Cape Girardeau diocese
Victims blast MO Catholic officials for “continued secrecy”
SNAP to prelates: “Reach out to others who may be in pain”

Almost 250 pages of records about two predator priests who worked in southern Missouri have just been released and a support group for clergy sex abuse victims is urging three bishops to “reach out” to others who may have been hurt by them.

One priest worked at a college and a parish in Cape Girardeau. The other worked primarily in eastern Missouri but also spent time in Cape Girardeau.

Both Fr. John Edward Ruhl and Fr. John V. “Jack” Farris belonged to the St. Louis-based western region of the Vincentians but spent much of their careers in California, where child sex abuse suits were filed against them.

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ST. LOUIS (MO)
Berger’s Beat

. .Reportedly, St. Louis Archbishop Robert Carlson will be deposed tomorrow by prosecutors in the criminal child sex case against a priest very close to him, Fr. Joseph Jiang. Why? Because Carlson is accused of trying to get hold of a $20k check Jiang reportedly gave to parents of a girl Jiang allegedly molested. The report doesn’t mention that another high-ranking church official, Deacon Phil Hengen, is also being questioned. It’s not clear what role Hengen may have played in the crucial days since. Jiang supposedly admitted abusing the girl. (But Hengen was involved in abuse cases against Fr. Robert Osborne, Fr. John Wieberg and other clerics.). .

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UNITED STATES
Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests

POSTED BY DAVID CLOHESSY ON SEPTEMBER 18, 2013

It feels like justice for child sex abuse comes in waves. There will be a string of stunningly negative court decisions over days and then there’s a sudden reversal, and a series of positive legal developments will happen.

In Canada, for instance, a judge recently ruled that two sisters from Ontario must pay their uncle $125,000 in libel damages for allegedly accusing him – falsely – of sexually assaulting them when they were children.

[CBC News]

And in Montana, a judge recently gave a child molesting teacher a depressingly light sentence, claiming that his 14-year-old victim is “older than her chronological age” and “as much control of the situation” as the teacher.

[The Kansas City Star]

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UNITED KINGDOM
London 24

A Roman Catholic priest appeared in court today charged over alleged historic sexual abuse at a children’s home in Hounslow.

Father Anthony McSweeney, 66, was in the dock at Southwark Crown Court with a former manager at the home, John Stingemore, 71.

McSweeney, who walks with a stick, faces three counts of indecent assault, three of making indecent images of a child, one of taking indecent images of a child and one of possessing indecent images of a child.

The charges came following an investigation into alleged abuse at Grafton Close Children’s Home in Hounslow, west London.

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AUSTRALIA
lewisblayse.net

Scouts Australia continues to be the focus of attention from the Royal Commission into child sexual abuse. While former Scouts leader Steven Larkins was a volunteer with the Scouts, he was employed at various times by the NSW government, the Lutheran Church and the Catholic Church’s St. John of God order.

Allan Currie Evidence: Yesterday, the commission quizzed Allan Currie, the Scouts official responsible for Larkins at the time. He claimed that, prior to February 1997, he had not heard of rumours about Larkins. In July of that year, following a series of anonymous telephone calls regarding Larkins, Currie requested a police check on Larkins.

When Currie received a call from police, who asked if Larkins had been suspended, Currie did not ask why police were interested in Larkins. There is a slight problem here in that Currie should have known it was partly in response to his own complaint about Larkins. Currie went on to say he did not remember being told by police there was a complaint about Larkins. Counsel Assisting, Gail “Snow White” Furness (see previous postings) did not pursue this matter further.

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CANADA
Daily Observer

By Sean Chase, Daily Observer
Wednesday, September 18, 2013

PEMBROKE – A Pembroke priest, who has pleaded guilty to fondling boys four decades ago, not only took away his victims’ innocence but their faith, a court heard Tuesday.

During impact statements delivered by the five men who were touched inappropriately by the priest, Father Daniel Miller was described as a revered member of the Catholic church and the community who, secretly, committed the worst possible perversion against them.

Many were exploited by the priest because they came from broken or impoverished homes, the court heard, with Miller offering his friendship and spiritual guidance. They were boys between the ages of nine and 13 when their trust in the priest was violated.

“For the last 43 years I have kept a dark secret which I couldn’t have told anyone,” said one of the victims, whose identity is protected by a publication ban.

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