Did you heard about child molestation by
priest all over the world? You see, this scandalous things happened to the
priests of Catholic Church has been rampant. That is why their dignity has been
talked in the media. The priests said that they are the face of Jesus Christ,
but are they? They have everything, of being priest you must not be an
intelligent man but you must be rich also. They study for almost 10 to 12 years.
ABUSE TRACKER
A digest of links to media coverage of clergy abuse.
A digest of links to media coverage of clergy abuse.
VATICAN CITY
Miami Herald
Miami Herald
The Associated Press
VATICAN CITY -- Pope Francis has
appointed a Spaniard as secretary for the Vatican's office for religious
orders.
The appointment of the Rev. Jose
Rodriguez Carballo , announced Saturday, is Francis' first appointment to the
curia, or Vatican administration.
The 60-year-old Carballo, who was
also elevated to archbishop, replaces U.S. Archibishop Joseph Tobin, who was
transferred from the high-ranking Vatican post to the Indianapolis archdiocese
of fewer than 230,000 parishioners following his efforts to resolve tensions
between the Vatican and U.S. nuns. Some theological conservatives had complained
that the nuns had become too secular and political.
Posted by Kathy Shaw at
10:30 AM
VATICAN CITY
Vatican Insider
Vatican Insider
Pope Francis has begun his
appointments to the Roman Curia with a surprise: Franciscan leader Fr Jose
Rodriguez Carballo is the new Secretary of the Congregation for institutes of
consecrated life
Gerard O’Connell
Rome
Rome
In his first significant appointment
to the Roman Curia, Pope Francis has taken the highly unusual step of naming
the actual head of a religious order, Father Jose Rodriguez Carballo, as
Secretary of the Vatican’s Congregation for the Institutes of Consecrated life
and the Societies of Apostolic Life (formerly known as ‘The Congregation for
Religious’).
When the Pope chose him, the 59-year
old Spanish priest was Minister General or head of the largest group of the
Franciscan family – the Order of Friars Minor (OFM), which has some 15,000
friars in 113 countries. He was first elected to that post in 2003, and
re-elected for another six-year term in 2009 as head of an order that is
contracting in Western Europe and North America, holding steady in Latin
America, and gaining vocations in Asia, Africa and Eastern Europe.
The Vatican broke the news of Father
Carballo’s appointment on April 6, and said Pope Francis has raised him to the
rank of archbishop.
Born in Lodoselo, Spain in 1953,
Carballo did his early studies in schools run by the Franciscans in that
country and, in 1973, was sent to do biblical studies in Jerusalem. After being
ordained priest in Jerusalem in 1977, he gained degrees in Biblical Theology in
the Holy City and a further degree in Sacred Scripture from Rome’s Biblical
Institute. In the following years he held increasingly high posts of
responsibility in the Franciscan order in Spain and, in 2003, was elected
Master General of the worldwide order.
Posted by Kathy Shaw at
10:27 AM
ARGENTINA
National Catholic Reporter
National Catholic Reporter
by John L. Allen Jr. | Apr. 6, 2013
Buenos Aires, Argentina – When the
Vatican released a statement yesterday indicating that Pope Francis wants to
move aggressively on the child sexual abuse scandals in the church, it was met
by skepticism from victims groups insisting that “actions speak louder than
words.”
Over the years, perhaps the most persistent such demand for action has been that bishops who mishandle abuse cases should be held accountable. Yesterday, a senior aide and confidante to then-Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio predicted that Francis will plug this hole as pope.
“Without a doubt,” said Fr. Jorge Oesterheld, who served as the spokesperson for the bishops’ conference in Argentina for the six years Bergoglio was its president from 2005 to 2011.
In an interview with NCR, Oesterheld said Francis will be committed to a “zero tolerance” policy with regard to sexual abuse.
Oesterheld also addressed the failure of the bishop’s conference to meet a Vatican-imposed deadline of May 2012 for submitting anti-sex abuse guidelines, roughly six months after Bergoglio stepped down as president. He said that under Bergoglio’s leadership, the conference was “very respectful” of each bishop's direct relationship with the Vatican, and the desire not to “supplant” that relationship may be part of the reason it took more time to hammer out common policies.
Over the years, perhaps the most persistent such demand for action has been that bishops who mishandle abuse cases should be held accountable. Yesterday, a senior aide and confidante to then-Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio predicted that Francis will plug this hole as pope.
“Without a doubt,” said Fr. Jorge Oesterheld, who served as the spokesperson for the bishops’ conference in Argentina for the six years Bergoglio was its president from 2005 to 2011.
In an interview with NCR, Oesterheld said Francis will be committed to a “zero tolerance” policy with regard to sexual abuse.
Oesterheld also addressed the failure of the bishop’s conference to meet a Vatican-imposed deadline of May 2012 for submitting anti-sex abuse guidelines, roughly six months after Bergoglio stepped down as president. He said that under Bergoglio’s leadership, the conference was “very respectful” of each bishop's direct relationship with the Vatican, and the desire not to “supplant” that relationship may be part of the reason it took more time to hammer out common policies.
Posted by Kathy Shaw at
9:07 AM
OMAHA (NE)
1011
1011
The Vatican says the Archdiocese of
Omaha will handle the investigation of a local priest accused of sexual abuse
in the 1970s.
Archbishop George Lucas, along with
two attorneys from outside the archdiocese, will decide what happens to Rev.
Franklin Dvorak. Deacon Timothy McNeil, chancellor of the archdiocese, says
Lucas could render a decision by this summer.
Dvorak was accused last year of
sexually abusing a female student from 1970 to 1972 when he was stationed at
Sacred Heart Parish. It is now called Norfolk Catholic. He is on administrative
leave as pastor of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish in Omaha.
Posted by Kathy Shaw at
8:44 AM
VATICAN CITY
John Thavis
John Thavis
There was Big News and little news
out of the Vatican today.
The Big News grabbed the headlines: Pope Francis told the head of the Vatican’s doctrinal congregation that he should “act decisively” with regard to cases of sexual abuse by priests, “continuing along the lines set by Benedict XVI.”
This should be done “first of all by promoting measures for the protection of minors, as well as in offering assistance to those who have suffered abuse, carrying out due proceedings against the guilty, and in the commitment of bishops' conferences to formulate and implement the necessary directives in this area that is so important for the Church's witness and credibility.”
“The Holy Father assured that victims of abuse are present in a particular way in his prayers for those who are suffering.”
I’m not even sure what all this means. The first thing to note is that the information came in a statement by the doctrinal congregation after the papal audience. The second thing is its defense of the retired Pope Benedict and his handling of abuse cases.
The Big News grabbed the headlines: Pope Francis told the head of the Vatican’s doctrinal congregation that he should “act decisively” with regard to cases of sexual abuse by priests, “continuing along the lines set by Benedict XVI.”
This should be done “first of all by promoting measures for the protection of minors, as well as in offering assistance to those who have suffered abuse, carrying out due proceedings against the guilty, and in the commitment of bishops' conferences to formulate and implement the necessary directives in this area that is so important for the Church's witness and credibility.”
“The Holy Father assured that victims of abuse are present in a particular way in his prayers for those who are suffering.”
I’m not even sure what all this means. The first thing to note is that the information came in a statement by the doctrinal congregation after the papal audience. The second thing is its defense of the retired Pope Benedict and his handling of abuse cases.
Posted by Kathy Shaw at
7:58 AM
VATICAN CITY
Vatican Insider
Vatican Insider
The Pope received the Prefect for
the Doctrine of the Faith, Müller, in an audience today: “Continue to act
decisively with regard to cases of sexual abuse, along the lines set by
Benedict XVI”
ANDREA TORNIELLI
Vatican City
Vatican City
The line taken by the Church with
regards to sex abuse has not changed. Those who thought Benedict XVI’s
resignation and Mgr. Charles Scicluna’s transferral to Malta before this, was a
sign the Holy See intended to close a chapter of its recent history, will be
disappointed. Yesterday Pope Francis received the Prefect of the Congregation
for the Doctrine of the Faith, Archbishop Gerhard Ludwig Müller, in an
audience, to discuss the various issues on the dicastery’s agenda.
The statement published in the late
morning reads: “In particular, the Holy Father recommended that the
Congregation, continuing along the lines set by Benedict XVI, act decisively
with regard to cases of sexual abuse, first of all by promoting measures for
the protection of minors, as well as in offering assistance to those who have
suffered abuse, carrying out due proceedings against the guilty, and in the
commitment of bishops' conferences to formulate and implement the necessary
directives in this area that is so important for the Church's witness and
credibility.”
The Church will not be taking any
steps back or loosening up on this issue.Quite the opposite. Pope Francis
wanted to emphasise that he intends to continue the work of his predecessor.
Readers will recall that when Ratzinger was still a cardinal he played a key
role when the breakthrough move was made in 2002 under John Paul II. That is,
when the former Holy Office decided to deal with the abuse cases itself, taking
the task out of the hands of the dioceses. He continued his protagonist role
when he became Pope in 2005, introducing tighter rules and expressing his
closeness to the victims. This line of action will not change under Pope
Francis.
Posted by Kathy Shaw at
7:41 AM
CALIFORNIA
Record Searchlight
Record Searchlight
By Record Searchlight staff
Posted April 5, 2013
SACRAMENTO — A new trial date was
set today in Sacramento County Superior Court for a suspended Redding priest
charged with seven felony counts of child molestation, a spokeswoman for the
Sacramento County district attorney's office said.
The Rev. Uriel Ojeda, 33, who had
been scheduled to begin standing trial next week, is now set to have his trial
begin on June 25, the spokeswoman said.
The spokeswoman did not know the
reason for the trial postponement. It's at least the second time Ojeda's trial
date has been postponed.
Ojeda, who was arrested Nov. 30,
2011, is accused of seven counts of lewd and lascivious acts with a teenage
girl over a two-year span — starting when she was 14 — in Sacramento and Shasta
counties, according to the criminal complaint.
Posted by Kathy Shaw at
7:38 AM
ILLINOIS
Chicago Tribune
Chicago Tribune
By Stacy St. Clair, David Heinzmann
and Christy Gutowski, Chicago Tribune reporters
April 7, 2013
April 7, 2013
When Will County sheriff's deputies
found the Rev. William Virtue sneaking into a private quarry in 1986, police
records state that the Roman Catholic priest had blankets, two six packs of
beer and a 10-year-old boy with him. He fled on foot when officers arrived,
leaving the child behind.
Authorities took Virtue into custody
after he returned to his car but later released him without charges because the
boy's mother said she had given her son permission to go swimming with the
priest. Still, a deputy forwarded the report to Joliet Diocese officials who
put it into Virtue's personnel file — which already contained several
accusations involving inappropriate behavior with underage boys.
The arrest report would remain tucked
away for 20 years as Virtue continued to have contact with youths, and even
after a seemingly repentant Joliet Diocese pledged in 2002 to improve its
handling of sex abuse cases and held up guidelines approved by American bishops
as proof of its commitment to transparency and victims' needs.
Virtue's personnel file, which
contains 500 pages of letters, memos and reports, reflects the struggles the
church faced since its public vow to better protect children after a bruising,
national sex abuse scandal. Records obtained by the Tribune reveal several
instances in which the diocese's handling of abuse allegations contradicted
those promises, adding to concerns about the overall efficacy of the Charter
for the Protection of Children and Young People that U.S. bishops signed amid
fanfare.
Posted by Kathy Shaw at
7:36 AM
OMAHA (NE)
World-Herald
World-Herald
By Michael O'Connor
WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER
WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER
A sexual abuse allegation against a
local Catholic priest will be resolved through an administrative disciplinary
process, the Omaha Archdiocese said Friday.
The case involves the Rev. Franklin
A. Dvorak of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church. Dvorak denies the allegation, said
Deacon Timothy McNeil, the archdiocese's chancellor.
The disciplinary process involves
two canon lawyers from outside the archdiocese assisting Archbishop George
Lucas in determining Dvorak's innocence or guilt, McNeil said. Dvorak, 69, is
accused of sexually abusing a teenage girl in the 1970s.
Dvorak could not be reached for
comment.
Posted by Kathy Shaw at
7:30 AM
April 5, 2013
FLORIDA
Palm Beach Post
Palm Beach Post
By Alexandra Seltzer
Palm Beach Post Staff Writer
Palm Beach Post Staff Writer
The state Department of Children and
Families confirmed Friday that they have previously investigated a case
involving the Palm Beach County teacher accused of giving out candy for sexual
acts to former students.
DCF does not comment on past investigations.
Stephen Budd, 51, the man accused of
sexual battery during the 2006-07 school year when he was a teacher at Rosarian
Academy in West Palm Beach, has no criminal history in neither Florida, nor the
Pennsylvania county he grew up in.
A DCF spokeswoman could only say
that the previously investigated case involving Budd “was not recent.”
A Palm Beach County Sheriff’s
spokeswoman did say that deputies investigated a complaint made my Budd in
October 2006 when he accused his ex-wife of child abuse. Budd reported to
deputies that she choked their youngest daughter, who was 16 at the time. No
arrests were made in that case.
Posted by Kathy Shaw at
9:20 PM
FLORIDA
Roman Catholic Diocese of Palm Beach
Roman Catholic Diocese of Palm Beach
Date:April 5, 2013
In response to the reported
allegations of sexual abuse made by two students against a former teacher, the
Diocese of Palm Beach is issuing the following statement:
“The Diocese of Palm Beach is greatly concerned and takes very seriously the recently reported allegations of sexual abuse made by two students against Stephen Budd.
Stephen Budd was a volunteer at St. Luke Catholic Church in Palm Springs in the late 1990s and was employed from 1996 to 2002 as a teacher at the diocese’s school, St. Francis of Assisi in Riviera Beach. That school closed in 2005. Mr. Budd left St. Francis when he gained employment at Rosarian Academy in West Palm Beach in 2002. Rosarian Academy is a private school that is not sponsored by the Diocese of Palm Beach or under the jurisdiction of its Office of Catholic Schools.
At the request of Rosarian Academy, the diocese has sent a Crisis Management Response Team consisting of counselors and psychologists to provide any needed assistance to the students, parents, and staff at Rosarian Academy.
The Diocese of Palm Beach will fully cooperate with legal authorities in their investigation of this matter and will notify the parish communities of St. Luke and St. Francis of Assisi of these reported allegations.
The diocese encourages any victims of abuse to contact the local police department. In addition, the diocese offers counseling to victims of abuse at any diocesan school or parish and asks any victims to contact the following telephone number 561-801-0999.
Our prayers are with the students and the families involved.”
“The Diocese of Palm Beach is greatly concerned and takes very seriously the recently reported allegations of sexual abuse made by two students against Stephen Budd.
Stephen Budd was a volunteer at St. Luke Catholic Church in Palm Springs in the late 1990s and was employed from 1996 to 2002 as a teacher at the diocese’s school, St. Francis of Assisi in Riviera Beach. That school closed in 2005. Mr. Budd left St. Francis when he gained employment at Rosarian Academy in West Palm Beach in 2002. Rosarian Academy is a private school that is not sponsored by the Diocese of Palm Beach or under the jurisdiction of its Office of Catholic Schools.
At the request of Rosarian Academy, the diocese has sent a Crisis Management Response Team consisting of counselors and psychologists to provide any needed assistance to the students, parents, and staff at Rosarian Academy.
The Diocese of Palm Beach will fully cooperate with legal authorities in their investigation of this matter and will notify the parish communities of St. Luke and St. Francis of Assisi of these reported allegations.
The diocese encourages any victims of abuse to contact the local police department. In addition, the diocese offers counseling to victims of abuse at any diocesan school or parish and asks any victims to contact the following telephone number 561-801-0999.
Our prayers are with the students and the families involved.”
Posted by Kathy Shaw at
9:18 PM
FLORIDA
WBZT
WBZT
It's unthinkable, but authorities
say it's exactly what happened. 51 year old Stephen Budd, currently an ESE
specialist at South Tech Academy in Boynton Beach was arrested this week,
charged with having sexual contact with little girls.
So far, two girls have come forward with allegations that their teacher at the Rosarian Academy several years ago offered them what he called "Budd Bucks", which was basically candy, in exchange for performing sex acts.
The two alleged victims are now 14 and 15 years old and the crimes Budd's accused of happened in 2006 and 2007. The man left the West Palm Beach catholic school in 2007 and went to work for the South Tech Academy, a charter school, which has placed him on administrative leave pending the outcome of this case.
One of the girls says she went to police after Budd tried to contact her via social media.
Cops are convinced that there are more victims, and want girls to feel comfortable coming forward.
Meanwhile, the Rosarian Academy is working with police.
So far, two girls have come forward with allegations that their teacher at the Rosarian Academy several years ago offered them what he called "Budd Bucks", which was basically candy, in exchange for performing sex acts.
The two alleged victims are now 14 and 15 years old and the crimes Budd's accused of happened in 2006 and 2007. The man left the West Palm Beach catholic school in 2007 and went to work for the South Tech Academy, a charter school, which has placed him on administrative leave pending the outcome of this case.
One of the girls says she went to police after Budd tried to contact her via social media.
Cops are convinced that there are more victims, and want girls to feel comfortable coming forward.
Meanwhile, the Rosarian Academy is working with police.
Posted by Kathy Shaw at
9:16 PM
FLORIDA
Daily News
Daily News
By Aleese Kopf
Daily News Staff Writer
Daily News Staff Writer
Parents of Rosarian Academy students
expressed shock and disbelief Friday over allegations that a former
fourth-grade teacher had sexually abused two girls.
The teacher, Stephen J. Budd, 51, of
West Palm Beach, remains in the Palm Beach County Jail. He was arrested after
the girls told West Palm Beach police that during the 2006-07 school year,
starting when they were 9 years old, that Budd had rewarded them in exchange
for sex acts.
“I’m shocked because that’s not the
person that I knew,” said Steve Suglia, parent of a former Rosarian student.
“It makes me sick to my stomach. My daughter came home from school and was
almost in tears because it was all over social media.”
Suglia said his daughter attended
Rosarian from kindergarten through fifth grade, and was in Budd’s homeroom
class. He said he knew Budd to be an “excellent” teacher who helped his
daughter improve her grades in English.
Posted by Kathy Shaw at
9:09 PM
FLORIDA
WPTV
WPTV
By: BRIAN ENTIN, News Channel 5
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - The public relations firm representing Rosarian Academy said Friday that counselors were on the campus and that the principal was meeting with parents.
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - The public relations firm representing Rosarian Academy said Friday that counselors were on the campus and that the principal was meeting with parents.
Those events were taking place after
former teacher Stephen Budd was arrested Thursday. Police say he sexually
assaulted two of his former students. Budd was a fourth grade teacher. Police
say the incidents happened during the 2006-2007 school year.
The Florida Department of Children
and Families is also investigating.
"Our main concern is the
children involved and providing them the services they need," DCF's
Southeast Regional Managing Director Dennis Miles said.
According to police reports, the
girls were nine-years-old at the time of the abuse.
Posted by Kathy Shaw at
9:07 PM
FLORIDA
WPBF
WPBF
Police: More victims of teacher
accused of sex acts could be out there
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. —Police are
urging potential additional victims to come forward and a local school has
released a statement after one of its former teachers, Stephen Budd, was
accused of giving young girls candy in exchange for sex.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation
needs your help in identifying these six men who are wanted for crimes ranging
from sexually abusing children to distributing child pornography on the
Internet.
More
Budd, 51, was arrested Wednesday after detectives set up a sting in which they recorded phone calls, Facebook messages and text messages between Budd and two girls he's accused of having sex with during the 2006-2007 school year when they were 9 years old.
The alleged sex acts happened while Budd was a teacher at Rosarian Academy, which released the following statement Friday:
"Rosarian Academy's leadership was shocked and distressed to learn Wednesday of disturbing allegations against a former teacher at the school by two of our alums. We are cooperating fully with local law enforcement in the investigation so that the facts associated with this alleged incident dating back to the 2006-2007 school year are brought to light as quickly and comprehensively as possible.
"Nothing is more important to us at Rosarian Academy than the safety and well-being of our students. Nurturing their healthy growth and intellectual and spiritual development has been at the core of the school’s mission since 1925. We have in place procedures and protocols for interviewing prospective faculty and checking their background and references. As more information comes to light, we will continue to keep the Rosarian family and our community fully informed about this serious matter. Our prayers are with the families involved."
More
Budd, 51, was arrested Wednesday after detectives set up a sting in which they recorded phone calls, Facebook messages and text messages between Budd and two girls he's accused of having sex with during the 2006-2007 school year when they were 9 years old.
The alleged sex acts happened while Budd was a teacher at Rosarian Academy, which released the following statement Friday:
"Rosarian Academy's leadership was shocked and distressed to learn Wednesday of disturbing allegations against a former teacher at the school by two of our alums. We are cooperating fully with local law enforcement in the investigation so that the facts associated with this alleged incident dating back to the 2006-2007 school year are brought to light as quickly and comprehensively as possible.
"Nothing is more important to us at Rosarian Academy than the safety and well-being of our students. Nurturing their healthy growth and intellectual and spiritual development has been at the core of the school’s mission since 1925. We have in place procedures and protocols for interviewing prospective faculty and checking their background and references. As more information comes to light, we will continue to keep the Rosarian family and our community fully informed about this serious matter. Our prayers are with the families involved."
Posted by Kathy Shaw at
9:05 PM
UNITED STATES
National Catholic Reporter
National Catholic Reporter
by Joshua J. McElwee | Apr. 5, 2013
A U.S. group that advocates for
survivors of clergy sex abuse has sharply criticized reports that Pope Francis
told the Vatican's chief doctrinal enforcer to act "decisively" on
the matter.
The pope, the National Survivors Advocates Coalition said in a release Friday afternoon, "doesn’t need to call for action in the Roman Catholic Church regarding the sexual abuse crisis. He can take action."
"We hope today's news regarding his meeting with the head of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith is a first foray into this issue and not an exit and closed book strategy," the group continued.
"If this is all Pope Francis is planning on doing, it is crushingly disappointing."
The pope, the National Survivors Advocates Coalition said in a release Friday afternoon, "doesn’t need to call for action in the Roman Catholic Church regarding the sexual abuse crisis. He can take action."
"We hope today's news regarding his meeting with the head of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith is a first foray into this issue and not an exit and closed book strategy," the group continued.
"If this is all Pope Francis is planning on doing, it is crushingly disappointing."
Posted by Kathy Shaw at
9:02 PM
OMAHA (NE)
Star-Herald
Star-Herald
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The Vatican says
the Archdiocese of Omaha will handle the investigation of a local priest
accused of sexual abuse in the 1970s.
Archbishop George Lucas, along with
two attorneys from outside the archdiocese, will decide what happens to Rev.
Franklin Dvorak. Deacon Timothy McNeil, chancellor of the archdiocese, says
Lucas could render a decision by this summer.
Dvorak was accused last year of
sexually abusing a female student from 1970 to 1972 when he was stationed at
Sacred Heart Parish. It is now called Norfolk Catholic. He is on administrative
leave as pastor of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish in Omaha.
Posted by Kathy Shaw at
8:13 PM
VATICAN CITY
Washington Post
Washington Post
By Alessandro Speciale And David
Gibson| Religion News Service,
Updated: Friday, April 5
VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis has won
widespread acclaim thus far in his nascent papacy with popular gestures like
washing the feet of juveniles during Holy Week and refusing many papal perks.
But now comes the hard part of his new job: reforming the Vatican.
The Roman Curia, as the central
administration of the Catholic Church is known, has been riven by scandals and
allegations of infighting and careerism, which helped undermine Pope Emeritus
Benedict XVI’s reign and reportedly pushed him to resign..
The dysfunction was so bad that
reforming the Curia became a rallying cry for many cardinals at the conclave
that elected Francis. But will he deliver on the promise of reform?
Much will depend on who Francis will
choose as his top aides, starting from the appointments of the new heads of key
Vatican offices. So far, he has reconfirmed the Curia leadership, but he has made
it clear that this is just a provisional measure while he makes up his mind
about his next steps.
Posted by Kathy Shaw at
5:44 PM
UNITED KINGDOM
Worthing Herald
Worthing Herald
TWO Sussex men have been convicted
today (Friday, April 5) of sexual offences against boys between 23 and 26 years
ago.
Keith Wilkie Denford, 78, a priest,
of Broad Reach Mews, Shoreham, West Sussex, and Michael Mytton, 69, of South
Road, East Chiltington, East Sussex, known locally as Mark, were convicted at
Hove Crown Court after a three-week trial.
The case was adjourned for
sentencing on Thursday, May 2, and the defendants remain on bail meanwhile.
Denford was convicted of two
indecent assaults on a boy then under 16, in or near Shoreham, and one indecent
assault on another boy, also aged under 16 and also in or near Shoreham, on
dates between June, 1987, and January, 1990.
He was found not guilty of a third
charge of indecent assault against the first boy.
Posted by Kathy Shaw at
5:29 PM
AUSTRALIA
Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse
Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse
A transcript of the first sitting is
available below.
Where appropriate, hearing transcripts
will be available to the public throughout the hearings process.
•3 April 2013 - Hearing transcript
[DOC 507KB]
•3 April 2013 - Hearing transcript [PDF 345KB]
•3 April 2013 - Hearing transcript [PDF 345KB]
Posted by Kathy Shaw at
5:29 PM
ST. LOUIS (MO)
Berger's Beat
Berger's Beat
. .Pressure from abuse victims and a
federal judge is prompting Milwaukee Catholic officials to release a deposition
of Cardinal Timothy Dolan this summer. Dolan, a St. Louis native, was
questioned for three hours about how he dealt with clergy sex abuse and cover
up cases in Milwaukee before being promoted to head the NYC archdiocese.
Posted by Kathy Shaw at
4:53 PM
CALIFORNIA
Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests
Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests
Posted by Barbara Dorris on April
05, 2013
We hope that this trial gets under
way soon. Those victimized by Fr. Uriel Ojeda deserve to have a chance at
justice.
We are concerned, however, that Fr.
Ojeda remains free on bail as his case gets dangerously close to proceeding. At
least three Sacramento predator priests - Fr. Gerardo Beltran, Fr. Jose Luis
Urbina and Fr. Francisco Javier Garcia - are believed to have fled California
after sexually assaulting kids. Given his youth, we fear that Fr. Ojeda also
represents a flight risk.
We hope that the judge will begin
this trial immediately and that steps are taken to ensure Fr. Ojeda does not
flee like other Sacramento predators.
Posted by Kathy Shaw at
4:50 PM
NEW YORK/MASSACHUSETTS
Patch
Patch
By Michael Woyton
A former Westchester County
priest—already charged with five counts of child rape—was arrested on a second
charge of child rape in Massaschusetts.
Rev. Richard McCormick, 72, formerly
of New Rochelle, was arraigned Friday in Salem (MA) Superior Court on an
additional count of rape of a child based on the allegations of a second victim,
according to spokeswoman Carrie Kimball Monahan of the Essex District
Attorney's Office.
McCormick was indicted March 7 after
the second victim came forward in late 2012. The new indictment alleges he
raped a 7- to 9-year-old child between the years 1981 to 1983 at the former
Retreat Center of the Salesian Brothers in Ipswich, MA.
McCormick was arrested in New
Rochelle in August 2012 and charged with five counts of raping a child in the
1980s.
He was released on the conditions
that he reside at the Vianney Renewal Center in Missouri, report to the
Superior Court Probation by telephone once a week and in person with every
court appearance, attend all court appearances and not hace any unsupervised
contact with minors. McCormick was also issued a bail warning, which means he
can be held without bail or up to 60 days if he violates any of the conditions.
Posted by Kathy Shaw at
3:40 PM
VATICAN CITY
New York Daily News
New York Daily News
By Corky Siemaszko / NEW YORK DAILY
NEWS
Friday, April 5, 2013
Pope Francis gave the Roman Catholic
Church some marching orders Friday — "act decisively" to root out and
punish pedophile priests.
Doing so is necessary "for the church and its credibility," Francis said, according to the Vatican.
It was the first time Francis publically addressed the festering sex abuse issue since he was elected last month — and he did so in a meeting with Archbishop Gerhard Müller, who heads the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, which investigates perv priests.
The department should also promote "measures to protect minors, help for those who have suffered such violence in the past," the pope's statement said.
But advocates for victims of sexual abuse by priests were not impressed.
"Once again, as have happened hundreds of times already, a top Catholic official says he's asking another top Catholic official to take action about pedophile priests and complicit bishops," said Barbara Dorris of Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP), a U.S.-based organization. "Big deal. Actions speak louder than words."
Doing so is necessary "for the church and its credibility," Francis said, according to the Vatican.
It was the first time Francis publically addressed the festering sex abuse issue since he was elected last month — and he did so in a meeting with Archbishop Gerhard Müller, who heads the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, which investigates perv priests.
The department should also promote "measures to protect minors, help for those who have suffered such violence in the past," the pope's statement said.
But advocates for victims of sexual abuse by priests were not impressed.
"Once again, as have happened hundreds of times already, a top Catholic official says he's asking another top Catholic official to take action about pedophile priests and complicit bishops," said Barbara Dorris of Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP), a U.S.-based organization. "Big deal. Actions speak louder than words."
Posted by Kathy Shaw at
3:34 PM
UNITED KINGDOM
Darlington & Stockton Times
Darlington & Stockton Times
By Joe Willis, Regional Chief
Reporter
SUSPENDED priest Father Michael
Higginbottom may never return to his parish - despite not being charged with
any crime, an expert on Catholic Church sexual abuse allegations claimed last
night.
Parishioners from St Augustine’s Church, in Darlington, where Fr Higginbottom was priest from 1998 until his suspension in 2004, are also not hopeful of his swift return.
A Northern Echo investigation has revealed that Fr Higginbottom, who has been suspended for nine years, was questioned - but not charged - by police after being accused of molesting a 12-year-old boy.
Parishioners from St Augustine’s Church, in Darlington, where Fr Higginbottom was priest from 1998 until his suspension in 2004, are also not hopeful of his swift return.
A Northern Echo investigation has revealed that Fr Higginbottom, who has been suspended for nine years, was questioned - but not charged - by police after being accused of molesting a 12-year-old boy.
The former pupil who was taught by
the priest at St Joseph’s College, near Wigan, received a £35,000 pay-off from
the Catholic Church – which did not accept liability - before the case could go
to court.
Posted by Kathy Shaw at
3:31 PM
UNITED KINGDOM
Daily Mail
Daily Mail
Former Church of England priest and
retired organist face jail for sexually abusing boys as young as 10
By Olivia Williams
A former Church of England priest and a retired organist were found guilty today of a string of child sex abuse offences.
Father Keith Wilkie Denford, 78, and Michael Mytton, 69, abused their access to young boys while they worked together at St John the Evangelist Church in Burgess Hill, West Sussex.
Hove Crown Court heard how on one occasion Denham had given one of the boys alcohol and then got into a bath with him while aroused. Denham had invited the boy to stay over after he acted as a waiter for a dinner party at his house.
A former Church of England priest and a retired organist were found guilty today of a string of child sex abuse offences.
Father Keith Wilkie Denford, 78, and Michael Mytton, 69, abused their access to young boys while they worked together at St John the Evangelist Church in Burgess Hill, West Sussex.
Hove Crown Court heard how on one occasion Denham had given one of the boys alcohol and then got into a bath with him while aroused. Denham had invited the boy to stay over after he acted as a waiter for a dinner party at his house.
On the same evening he pressed
himself up against the other boy intimately in bed while saying: 'How nice it
is to have a cuddle.'
Prosecutors said Denford from Shoreham-by-Sea groomed two 13-year-old boys over 18 months between 1987 and 1990.
Prosecutors said Denford from Shoreham-by-Sea groomed two 13-year-old boys over 18 months between 1987 and 1990.
Posted by Kathy Shaw at
3:28 PM
VATICAN CITY
YouTube - Rome Reports
YouTube - Rome Reports
Published on Apr 5, 2013
http://en.romereports.com On Friday,
Pope Francis met with the prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the
Faith, Gerhard Ludwig Muller. Soon after the Vatican issued a press release
explaining that the Pope had asked the Congregation to continue the work that
started under Benedict XVI in the fight against sexual abuse.
Posted by Kathy Shaw at
3:26 PM
VATICAN CITY
U.S. Catholic
U.S. Catholic
By Carol Glatz
Catholic News Service
Catholic News Service
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Francis
reaffirmed the importance of responding decisively to the problem of the sexual
abuse of minors by members of the clergy and called on the Vatican office
dealing with suspected cases to continue carrying out its mandate.
During an April 5 meeting with Archbishop Gerhard L. Muller, prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, the pope discussed the office's various responsibilities.
However, he made a particular point of highlighting its work to counter clerical sexual abuse, telling Archbishop Muller he wanted the congregation "to act decisively concerning cases of sexual abuse," the Vatican said in a written statement released after the meeting.
The pope, the statement said, asked the congregation to continue: "promoting measures that protect minors, above all; help for those who have suffered such violence in the past; necessary procedures against those found guilty; (and) the commitment of bishops' conferences in formulating and implementing the necessary directives in this is area that is so important for the church's witness and credibility."
During an April 5 meeting with Archbishop Gerhard L. Muller, prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, the pope discussed the office's various responsibilities.
However, he made a particular point of highlighting its work to counter clerical sexual abuse, telling Archbishop Muller he wanted the congregation "to act decisively concerning cases of sexual abuse," the Vatican said in a written statement released after the meeting.
The pope, the statement said, asked the congregation to continue: "promoting measures that protect minors, above all; help for those who have suffered such violence in the past; necessary procedures against those found guilty; (and) the commitment of bishops' conferences in formulating and implementing the necessary directives in this is area that is so important for the church's witness and credibility."
Posted by Kathy Shaw at
3:24 PM
VATICAN CITY
Reuters
Reuters
By Philip Pullella
VATICAN CITY | Fri Apr 5, 2013
(Reuters) - Pope Francis wants the Catholic Church to "act decisively" to root out sexual abuse of children by priests and ensure the perpetrators are punished, the Vatican said on Friday.
Francis, in a meeting with the Holy See's doctrinal chief, Archbishop Gerhard Mueller, had declared that combating sexual abuse was important "for the Church and its credibility", a statement said.
(Reuters) - Pope Francis wants the Catholic Church to "act decisively" to root out sexual abuse of children by priests and ensure the perpetrators are punished, the Vatican said on Friday.
Francis, in a meeting with the Holy See's doctrinal chief, Archbishop Gerhard Mueller, had declared that combating sexual abuse was important "for the Church and its credibility", a statement said.
Francis inherited a Church mired in
problems and a major scandal over priestly abuse of children. It was believed
to be the first time he had taken up the issue of sex abuse with a senior
member of his staff since his election on March 13. ...
A victims' group, the Survivors
Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP) said the statement did not go far
enough and criticized it for saying that the Church's stance against sexual
abuse was "a continuation" of the line wanted by Francis'
predecessor, Pope Benedict.
"Action, not discussion, is
needed," SNAP said in a statement.
"We can't confuse words with
actions. When we do, we hurt kids. We must insist on new tangible action that
helps vulnerable children protect their bodies, not old vague pledges that help
a widely-discredited institution protect its reputation," it said.
SNAP and other victims groups say
there is much still to be discovered about how the Church behaved in the past
and want more bishops who were aware of abuse to be held responsible.
Posted by Kathy Shaw at
3:17 PM
VATICAN CITY
NPR
NPR
by Eyder Peralta
April 05, 2013
Pope Francis told his staff to take
"decisive action" when it comes to cases of clerical sex abuse of
minors.
In a statement, the Vatican said the
pontiff ordered the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith to "act decisively
as far as cases of sexual abuse are concerned, promoting, above all, measures
to protect minors, help for those who have suffered such violence in the past
(and) the necessary procedures against those who are guilty."
The BBC reports this was the new
pope's first public statement on the issue, which has plagued the church for
years.
The BBC reports:
"When first elected, Benedict XVI promised to rid his Church of the 'filth' of clerical sex abuse, but critics accused him of covering up abuse in the past and failing to protect children from paedophile priests.
"When first elected, Benedict XVI promised to rid his Church of the 'filth' of clerical sex abuse, but critics accused him of covering up abuse in the past and failing to protect children from paedophile priests.
Posted by Kathy Shaw at
3:11 PM
VATICAN CITY
RTE News
RTE News
Pope Francis wants the Catholic
Church to "act decisively" to root out sexual abuse of children by
priests and ensure the perpetrators are punished.
The Pope, in a meeting with the Holy See's doctrinal chief, Archbishop Gerhard Muller, declared that combating sexual abuse was important "for the Church and its credibility".
Pope Francis has inherited a Church mired in problems and a major scandal over the clerical abuse of children.
It was believed to be the first time he had taken up the issue of sex abuse with a senior member of his staff since his election on 13 March.
The Pope, in a meeting with the Holy See's doctrinal chief, Archbishop Gerhard Muller, declared that combating sexual abuse was important "for the Church and its credibility".
Pope Francis has inherited a Church mired in problems and a major scandal over the clerical abuse of children.
It was believed to be the first time he had taken up the issue of sex abuse with a senior member of his staff since his election on 13 March.
Archbishop Muller is head of the
Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.
Posted by Kathy Shaw at
3:11 PM
VATICAN CITY
Christian Science Monitor
Christian Science Monitor
By Nick Squires, Correspondent /
April 5, 2013
Rome
Pope Francis called on the Catholic
Church to take decisive action against sexually abusive priests, to bring
offenders to justice, and to protect children, in his first remarks on an issue
that dominated the papacy of his predecessor and is likely to loom large in his
own reign.
But groups representing victims of clerical sex abuse dismissed his remarks as empty rhetoric and called into question whether he was really determined to tackle the scandals head on.
But groups representing victims of clerical sex abuse dismissed his remarks as empty rhetoric and called into question whether he was really determined to tackle the scandals head on.
Pope Francis, who was elected just
three weeks ago, discussed the sex abuse scandals – which have severely harmed
the image of the Roman Catholic Church since the first revelations emerged in
Boston in 2002 – during a meeting with Archbishop Gerhard Muller, the head of
the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, a Vatican department which
investigates cases of sexual abuse and decides if priests should be defrocked.
"The Holy Father in particular
asked that the Congregation, continuing the line adopted by Benedict XVI, act
decisively in cases of sexual abuse, promoting above all measures to protect
minors, help for those who in the past suffered such violence and the necessary
procedures against those who are guilty,” the Vatican said in a statement.
It was vital to combat the scourge
of sexually abusive priests in order to restore the “credibility” of the
church, the pope said.
Posted by Kathy Shaw at
2:57 PM
VATICAN CITY
Boston Globe
Boston Globe
By Frances D’Emilio
Associated Press
April 05, 2013
Associated Press
April 05, 2013
VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Francis
directed the Vatican on Friday to act decisively on clergy sex abuse cases and
take measures against pedophile priests, saying the Catholic Church’s
‘‘credibility’’ was on the line. The announcement was quickly dismissed by
victims’ advocates as just more talk.
Clergy abuse victims have called for swift and bold action from Francis as soon as he was elected pope last month. Yet in his homeland, Roman Catholic activists had characterized him as being slow to act against such abuse in his years heading the Argentine church.
Friday’s development left victims’ advocates unimpressed.
‘‘Once again, has have happened hundreds of times already, a top Catholic official says he’s asking another top Catholic official to take action about pedophile priests and complicit bishops,’’ said Barbara Dorris, an official of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, a U.S.-based organization.
‘‘Big deal. Actions speak louder than words. And one of the first actions Pope Francis took was to visit perhaps the most high-profile corrupt prelate on the planet, Cardinal Bernard Law, who remains a powerful church official despite having been drummed out of Boston for hiding and enabling crimes by hundreds of child molesting clerics,’’ Dorris said in a statement.
Clergy abuse victims have called for swift and bold action from Francis as soon as he was elected pope last month. Yet in his homeland, Roman Catholic activists had characterized him as being slow to act against such abuse in his years heading the Argentine church.
Friday’s development left victims’ advocates unimpressed.
‘‘Once again, has have happened hundreds of times already, a top Catholic official says he’s asking another top Catholic official to take action about pedophile priests and complicit bishops,’’ said Barbara Dorris, an official of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, a U.S.-based organization.
‘‘Big deal. Actions speak louder than words. And one of the first actions Pope Francis took was to visit perhaps the most high-profile corrupt prelate on the planet, Cardinal Bernard Law, who remains a powerful church official despite having been drummed out of Boston for hiding and enabling crimes by hundreds of child molesting clerics,’’ Dorris said in a statement.
Posted by Kathy Shaw at
2:54 PM
PENNSYLVANIA
York Dispatch
York Dispatch
By CHRISTINA KAUFFMAN 505-5436 /
@ydyorkcountyyorkdispatch.com
Updated: 04/05/2013
Updated: 04/05/2013
She looks pretty tough now, sporting
big hoop earrings and a spiked, two-toned faux hawk.
But 20 years ago, Stephanie Fessler
was a vulnerable 4-year-old girl told she was to blame for being sexually
assaulted by a male congregation member at Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses.
She was 14 the second time it
happened. This time, it came at the hands of a 50-year-old woman from the
church. Fessler said she was given the same punishment as her abuser.
"I was publicly reproved
(disgraced) at a church meeting," Fessler said Thursday after speaking
about the abuse in public for the first time. "Because she was a woman, I
should've known better. It was against the church ..."
The 24-year-old West York woman was
one of a few sexual assault survivors to share their stories Thursday for the
kickoff ceremony for Sexual Assault Awareness Month.
Posted by Kathy Shaw at
2:51 PM
UNITED KINGDOM
ITV
ITV
A retired West Sussex Church of
England priest and a former organist and choirmaster have been found guilty of
a string of child sex abuse offences dating back more than 25 years.
A judge said that Father Keith Wilkie Denford and Michael Mytton had committed "a grave and gross breach of trust". Prosecutors said Denford, 78, used the respectability of the cassock to groom and abuse two boys over an 18-month period from when they were aged around 13.
Following Denford and Mytton's convictions, the Bishop of Chichester Dr Warner said: "I note the verdict reached by the court today and we will now move swiftly to implement our own disciplinary procedures following this verdict in the case of Mr Denford.
A judge said that Father Keith Wilkie Denford and Michael Mytton had committed "a grave and gross breach of trust". Prosecutors said Denford, 78, used the respectability of the cassock to groom and abuse two boys over an 18-month period from when they were aged around 13.
Following Denford and Mytton's convictions, the Bishop of Chichester Dr Warner said: "I note the verdict reached by the court today and we will now move swiftly to implement our own disciplinary procedures following this verdict in the case of Mr Denford.
Posted by Kathy Shaw at
2:50 PM
CALIFORNIA
Record Searchlight
Record Searchlight
A suspended Redding priest charged
with seven felony counts of child molestation will be in Sacramento County
Superior Court today for a trial readiness conference.
The Rev. Uriel Ojeda, 33, is
scheduled to begin standing trial Tuesday.
Arrested Nov. 30, 2011, Ojeda is
accused of seven counts of lewd and lascivious acts with a teenage girl over a
two-year span — starting when she was 14 — in Sacramento and Shasta counties,
according to the criminal complaint. The allegations came to light when the
diocese received a complaint from a parishioner's family.
Posted by Kathy Shaw at
12:20 PM
ARGENTINA
National Catholic Reporter
National Catholic Reporter
by John L. Allen Jr. | Apr. 5, 2013
Buenos Aires, Argentina --
I spent this week in Argentina in search of insight into Pope Francis from the people who know him best as Jorge Mario Bergoglio, the man who was their archbishop for fifteen years.
For sure, the first impression here is deep national pride. Locals say there’s probably never been a better-attended Holy Week in the history of Argentinian Catholicism than after Francis’ election.
A Via Crucis procession in Rosario, the country’s second city, usually draws 200,000 people, but this time it attracted 350,000; attendance at the cathedral in Buenos Aires was estimated to be two to three times greater than 2012. All across the country, church-goers reported standing-room-only crowds and long lines for confession.
The election of an Argentine pope seems to have had a soothing effect on the culture generally.
A talented young Argentinian journalist named Ines San Martin, my aide and translator this week, tells the following story.
She was on a bus in Buenos Aires when the driver and a passenger got into a shouting match, with the passenger demanding the driver’s license number and threatening to call the police. Just as things seemed on the brink of falling apart, an elderly woman stood up and said: “What are you fighting about? We’ve got an Argentinian pope!”
I spent this week in Argentina in search of insight into Pope Francis from the people who know him best as Jorge Mario Bergoglio, the man who was their archbishop for fifteen years.
For sure, the first impression here is deep national pride. Locals say there’s probably never been a better-attended Holy Week in the history of Argentinian Catholicism than after Francis’ election.
A Via Crucis procession in Rosario, the country’s second city, usually draws 200,000 people, but this time it attracted 350,000; attendance at the cathedral in Buenos Aires was estimated to be two to three times greater than 2012. All across the country, church-goers reported standing-room-only crowds and long lines for confession.
The election of an Argentine pope seems to have had a soothing effect on the culture generally.
A talented young Argentinian journalist named Ines San Martin, my aide and translator this week, tells the following story.
She was on a bus in Buenos Aires when the driver and a passenger got into a shouting match, with the passenger demanding the driver’s license number and threatening to call the police. Just as things seemed on the brink of falling apart, an elderly woman stood up and said: “What are you fighting about? We’ve got an Argentinian pope!”
Posted by Kathy Shaw at
12:17 PM
UNITED KINGDOM
BBC News
BBC News
A retired Church of England priest
and a church organist have been found guilty of abusing teenage boys.
Father Keith Wilkie Denford, 78,
from Shoreham-by-Sea, was found guilty at Hove Crown Court on three charges of
indecently assaulting two boys.
Michael Mytton, 68, from East
Chiltington, East Sussex, was found guilty on three charges. Both denied
abusing the boys between 1987 and 1990.
The judge said the pair had
committed "a grave breach of trust".
Posted by Kathy Shaw at
12:14 PM
FLORIDA
Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests
Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests
Posted by Barbara Dorris on April
05, 2013
A school teacher in Palm Beach has
been arrested for abusing children as young as nine.
We are grateful to Palm Beach police
for not only arresting Stephen Budd, but also for reaching out to families to
find more victims. School officials at Rosarian Academy should follow this
example and use all of their resources to find other victims and help them come
forward.
We agree with the police that there are likely more victims, especially given that Budd worked around special education students. In the past, Budd has also worked at another catholic school (St. Francis of Assisi) where he also prepared students to receive sacraments. It is highly likely that Budd victimized children in those roles as well, and we urge church and school officials there to aggressively reach out to parents of both current and former students.
We agree with the police that there are likely more victims, especially given that Budd worked around special education students. In the past, Budd has also worked at another catholic school (St. Francis of Assisi) where he also prepared students to receive sacraments. It is highly likely that Budd victimized children in those roles as well, and we urge church and school officials there to aggressively reach out to parents of both current and former students.
Posted by Kathy Shaw at
12:11 PM
VATICAN CITY
Telegraph (UK)
Telegraph (UK)
Pope Francis said the Catholic
Church must "act decisively" against the scourge of paedophile
priests, in his first public remarks on the scandal since being elected last
month.
By Nick Squires, Rome
3:01PM BST 05 Apr 2013
3:01PM BST 05 Apr 2013
Tackling the sexual abuse of
children by clergymen was vital for restoring the "credibility" of
the Church worldwide, Francis said.
He issued the declaration after
holding a meeting with Archbishop Gerhard Muller, the head of the Congregation
for the Doctrine of the Faith, the Vatican department which investigates cases
of sexual abuse and decides if priests should be defrocked.
"The Holy Father in particular
asked that the Congregation, continuing the line adopted by Benedict XVI, act
decisively in cases of sexual abuse, promoting above all measures to protect
minors, help for those who in the past suffered such violence and the necessary
procedures against those who are guilty," the Vatican said in a statement.
Posted by Kathy Shaw at
10:12 AM
FLORIDA
Daily News
Daily News
By ALEESE KOPF and DAVID
ROGERS
Daily News Staff Writers
Daily News Staff Writers
A former Rosarian Academy teacher
was arrested Thursday on numerous charges, including sexual battery on a child,
West Palm Beach police officials said Thursday.
Stephen J. Budd, a fourth-grade
teacher at Rosarian at the time of the alleged crimes, was charged with three
counts of sexual battery on a child, two counts of sexual performance by a
child, two counts of lewd or lascivious exhibition, and two counts of battery
of a child.
Budd, 51, of West Palm Beach, was
arrested and booked into the Palm Beach County Jail early Thursday morning. He
is being held without bail.
“We fear there may be additional
victims so the purpose of this today is to announce his arrest with the hopes
that if there are additional victims, they will come forward,” said West Palm
Beach Police Chief Vincent Demasi at a Thursday news conference.
Posted by Kathy Shaw at
10:07 AM
UNITED STATES
Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests
Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests
Posted by Barbara Dorris on April
05, 2013
Once again, as has happened hundreds
of times already, a top Catholic official says he’s asking another top Catholic
official to take action about pedophile priests and complicit bishops.
Big deal.
Actions speak louder than words. And
one of the first actions Pope Francis took was to visit perhaps the most high
profile corrupt prelate on the planet – Cardinal Bernard Law – who remains a
powerful church official despite having been drummed out of Boston for hiding
and enabling crimes by hundreds of child molesting clerics.
It's tragic that Pope Francis is
asking a top aide to stay on the irresponsible path charted by Pope Benedict.
It's tragic that a pope who's shown a willingness to send signals that hint at
change in several ways is not signaling that he wants no change in how the
church deals with child sex crimes and cover ups.
Kids won’t be helped by a
“continuation” of the tiny symbolic gestures taken by Pope Benedict. Kids will
be helped by decisive changes. Thus far, Pope Francis hasn’t even discussed,
much less adopted, even a single reform. In fact, by visiting Law, the pope has
continued to ignore – and thus encourage – heinous wrongdoing.
Some will say "At least the new
pope is discussing abuse within his first month as head of the church. Isn't
that progress?" It's not. Catholic officials have long discussed abuse -
privately for centuries and publicly for decades. Action, not discussion, is
needed.
Posted by Kathy Shaw at
10:00 AM
UNITED STATES
National Survivor Advocates Coalition
National Survivor Advocates Coalition
Editorial
Australia
Down under, the hunt for truth is on.
The National Survivor Advocates Coalition (NSAC) salutes the courage of the survivors in Australia who would not rest until a vehicle was created for the truth.
That vehicle, the Australian parliament’s inquiry, backed by Prime Minister Julie Gillard and known as Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, has begun its work. More than 5,000 victims are expected to testify and the commission says the number could go higher.
5,000 – that’s a number that should be left to sink in upon the Church, the religious communities and the state institutions in which victims became victims.
Free basic legal advice will be available to victims, the commission has announced.
Down under, the hunt for truth is on.
The National Survivor Advocates Coalition (NSAC) salutes the courage of the survivors in Australia who would not rest until a vehicle was created for the truth.
That vehicle, the Australian parliament’s inquiry, backed by Prime Minister Julie Gillard and known as Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, has begun its work. More than 5,000 victims are expected to testify and the commission says the number could go higher.
5,000 – that’s a number that should be left to sink in upon the Church, the religious communities and the state institutions in which victims became victims.
Free basic legal advice will be available to victims, the commission has announced.
Posted by Kathy Shaw at
9:59 AM
VATICAN CITY
Bloomberg Businessweek
Bloomberg Businessweek
By Lorenzo Totaro and Chiara Vasarri
on April 05, 2013
Pope Francis stressed the need for
the Catholic Church to act in line with his predecessor Benedict XVI in
fighting sexual abuses, according to a statement by the Congregation of the
Doctrine of the Faith.
The statement was issued after a
meeting between the pontiff and Archbishop Gerhard Ludwig Mueller, prefect of the
congregation ruling on the Catholic doctrine.
“The Holy Father recommended in
particular that the Congregation continue the line desired by Benedict XVI of
decisive action regarding cases of sexual abuse primarily by promoting measures
for child protection,” the statement said. The Pope also highlighted the need
to help those who in the past have suffered such violence and that the
perpetrators undergo “due process,” according to the statement.
Posted by Kathy Shaw at
9:57 AM
VATICAN CITY
NEWS.com.au
NEWS.com.au
POPE Francis is urging Vatican
disciplinarians to act "with determination" against sexual abuse
committed by members of the Catholic clergy, in his first public pronouncement
on the issue.
"The Holy Father in particular
asked that the congregation ... act with determination in cases of sexual
abuse," the Vatican said in a statement, referring to the Congregation for
the Doctrine of the Faith, which handles such cases, after the Pope met with
its director.
The statement noted that the policy followed "the line established" by Francis's predecessor, Benedict XVI.
The Argentine Pope, elected last month, asked for "stepped-up measures to protect minors and help those who were subjected to such violence in the past".
The statement noted that the policy followed "the line established" by Francis's predecessor, Benedict XVI.
The Argentine Pope, elected last month, asked for "stepped-up measures to protect minors and help those who were subjected to such violence in the past".
Posted by Kathy Shaw at
9:53 AM
VATICAN CITY
CNN
CNN
By Livia Borghese and Laura
Smith-Spark, CNN
updated 9:29 AM EDT, Fri April 5, 2013
updated 9:29 AM EDT, Fri April 5, 2013
Rome (CNN) -- Pope Francis has told
the Vatican to "act decisively" against sexual abuse and carry out
"due proceedings against the guilty," the Vatican announced Friday.
Francis last month took the helm of a Roman Catholic Church that has been rocked in recent years by allegations of priests sexually abusing minors.
Francis recommended that the Church's Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith "act decisively with regard to cases of sexual abuse, first of all by promoting measures for the protection of minors, as well as in offering assistance to those who have suffered abuse, carrying out due proceedings against the guilty," the Vatican said.
Francis last month took the helm of a Roman Catholic Church that has been rocked in recent years by allegations of priests sexually abusing minors.
Francis recommended that the Church's Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith "act decisively with regard to cases of sexual abuse, first of all by promoting measures for the protection of minors, as well as in offering assistance to those who have suffered abuse, carrying out due proceedings against the guilty," the Vatican said.
The statement does not specify who
"the guilty" are.
Posted by Kathy Shaw at
9:51 AM
ILLINOIS
Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests
Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests
Posted by David Clohessy on April
04, 2013
A hospital now says that a
controversial Catholic priest who had been a chaplain there is being removed.
In an email yesterday, an official with Central DuPage Hospital in Winfield
disclosed that Fr. Thomas Corbino has been ousted.
Corbino has been accused of
inappropriate behavior with youngsters.
On Tuesday, holding signs and
childhood photos at a sidewalk news conference, leaders of SNAP, the Survivors
Network of those Abused by Priests, urged hospital officials to fire Corbino.
They also urged
--Joliet Catholic officials to
aggressively seek out others who may have experienced inappropriate contact
with the cleric, and
--urge anyone who may have seen,
suspected, or suffered clergy sex crimes – by Corbino or any other current of
former Joliet church official- report to the police immediately.
SNAP recently obtained documents
that show concern about Corbino’s behavior while he was worked at St. Pius X
church in Lombard, IL. (He left there last year.) The records include an email
from a former altar boy addressed to Corbino that alleges sexual abuse, and a statement
from an investigator relating to a Will County State’s Attorney Investigative
Report into sex abuse allegations against Corbino.
Posted by Kathy Shaw at
9:49 AM
VATICAN CITY
USA Today
USA Today
Cathy Lynn Grossman, USA TODAY
9:43a.m. EDT April 5, 2013
9:43a.m. EDT April 5, 2013
Pope Francis, in one of his first
substantive actions since his election three weeks ago, signals that local
bishops' conferences should step up to discipline priests, serve victims
Pope Francis has called for strong,
specific worldwide measures for the Catholic Church to act "with
determination" against clergy sex abuse -- the scandal that has rocked the
church for more than a decade.
It is one of the first actions on a
major issue in Francis' weeks-old papacy, one marked chiefly by attention to
his humble, cut-the-pageantry style.
After he met Friday with the head of
the Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith, Bishop Gerhard Ludwig Mueller, the
Vatican said in a statement: "The Holy Father recommended that the
congregation continue the line sought by Benedict XVI, to act with
determination in regard to cases of sexual abuse."
Posted by Kathy Shaw at
9:47 AM
VATICAN CITY
BBC News
BBC News
Pope Francis has called for
"decisive action" in the fight against sex abuse of minors by
priests.
He told Bishop Gerhard Mueller, head
of the Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith - the doctrinal watchdog that
deals with sex abuse cases - to ensure perpetrators were punished.
It was the Argentine Pope's first
public statement on clerical sex abuse.
He was elected last month, replacing
Pope Emeritus Benedict, who became the first pope in 600 years to resign.
When first elected, Benedict XVI
promised to rid his Church of the "filth" of clerical sex abuse, but
critics accused him of covering up abuse in the past and failing to protect
children from paedophile priests.
Posted by Kathy Shaw at
9:45 AM
FLORIDA
WPTV
WPTV
[with video]
Stephen Budd, former Rosarian
Academy teacher arrested; accused of sexual activity with young girls
By: Tania Rogers
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - A former Rosarian Academy teacher is behind bars, accused of sexual activity with two young girls. The alleged incidents happened in the 2006 school year.
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - A former Rosarian Academy teacher is behind bars, accused of sexual activity with two young girls. The alleged incidents happened in the 2006 school year.
Investigators say Stephen Budd was
arrested Wednesday night, accused of sexual activity with two young girls who
are former students.
51 year old Stephen Budd appeared in
court Thursday morning, accused of sexual assault. According to the West Palm
Beach Police Chief, back in 2006, Budd allegedly had sexual encounters with two
4th graders. Budd reportedly would use "Budd Bucks" to reward the
girls, as candy, in return for sexual acts.
One victim told police Budd recently
tried to get in touch with her through Facebook. That's when she told her
parents, who contacted police.
Posted by Kathy Shaw at
8:51 AM
FLORIDA
WPTV
WPTV
[with video]
By: Dan Corcoran
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - The alleged crimes occurred inside Rosarian Academy, West Palm Beach police say, at the hands of 51-year old Stephen Budd. Parents who were close with Budd years ago are shocked.
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - The alleged crimes occurred inside Rosarian Academy, West Palm Beach police say, at the hands of 51-year old Stephen Budd. Parents who were close with Budd years ago are shocked.
"Yes, my daughter was in his
class," said 'Steven', who did not want to publicize his last name, in
fear of identifying his daughter. "I got sick to my stomach because you
never know now." 'Steven' said his daughter was a fourth grade student of
Stephen Budd at Rosarian Academy in 2006 and 2007.
West Palm Beach police say that is
when the suspect would use what he called "Budd Bucks", offering
rewards of candy to at least two female students in exchange for sexual acts.
'Steven' says neither he nor his
daughter knew anything about any alleged abuse. "She was shocked," he
said. "She was almost in tears because that's not the teacher that she
had."
Posted by Kathy Shaw at
8:49 AM
FLORIDA
Palm Beach Post
Palm Beach Post
By Alexandra Seltzer
Palm Beach Post Staff Writer
Palm Beach Post Staff Writer
Just hours after a county judge
denied bail for a Palm Beach County school teacher accused of sexually
assaulting a former student, West Palm Beach’s police chief called on parents
to come forward if their children claim they also were assaulted by the
51-year-old man.
Stephen Budd was arrested late
Wednesday at his West Palm Beach apartment, not long after a former student of
his at Rosarian Academy School, a private Catholic school in West Palm Beach,
told police that during the 2006-07 school year, Budd would give them “Budd
bucks,” which she explained was candy in return for sexual acts.
The girls were 9 years old at the
time of alleged abuse. The former students shared an oath and didn’t want
anyone to know about what happened, a city police spokesman said.
“We, based on our investigation,
feel that he is a serial offender,” West Palm Beach Police Chief Vincent Demasi
said Thursday at police headquarters. “We’re very confident that there are
additional victims out there.”
Posted by Kathy Shaw at
8:47 AM
VATICAN CITY
Washington Post
Washington Post
Pope Francis says he will act “with
determination” against sex abuse cases in church
By Associated Press
Updated: Friday, April 5
VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis has
indicated that he will act against sex abuse cases in the Roman Catholic
Church.
The Vatican said in a statement
Friday that the pope has urged the Congregation of the Doctrine of Faith to
“act with determination with regard to cases of sexual abuse.” The statement
cited measures promoted by Benedict XVI to protect minors, helping victims of
sexual violence and taking necessary action against perpetrators..
U.S. victims of clergy abuse have
demanded swift and bold actions from the new Jesuit pontiff.
Posted by Kathy Shaw at
8:43 AM
VATICAN CITY
Reuters
Reuters
VATICAN CITY | Fri Apr 5, 2013
(Reuters) - Pope Francis wants the Catholic Church to "act decisively" to root out sexual abuse of children by priests and ensure that the perpetrators undergo due process, the Vatican said on Friday.
Officials said that Francis, in a meeting with Holy See doctrinal chief Archbishop Gerhard Muller, had declared that combating sexual abuse was important "for the Church and its credibility".
(Reuters) - Pope Francis wants the Catholic Church to "act decisively" to root out sexual abuse of children by priests and ensure that the perpetrators undergo due process, the Vatican said on Friday.
Officials said that Francis, in a meeting with Holy See doctrinal chief Archbishop Gerhard Muller, had declared that combating sexual abuse was important "for the Church and its credibility".
Francis inherited a Church mired in
problems and a major scandal over priestly abuse of children.
Posted by Kathy Shaw at
8:41 AM
VATICAN CITY
Vatican Information Service
Vatican Information Service
Vatican City, 5 April 2013 (VIS) –
This morning the Holy Father received in audience Archbishop Gerhard Ludwig
Muller, prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. A communique
released by that dicastery reads that, during the course of the audience,
various issues pertaining to the Congregation were discussed. In particular,
the Holy Father recommended that the Congregation, continuing along the lines
set by Benedict XVI, act decisively with regard to cases of sexual abuse, first
of all by promoting measures for the protection of minors, as well as in
offering assistance to those who have suffered abuse, carrying out due
proceedings against the guilty, and in the commitment of bishops' conferences
to formulate and implement the necessary directives in this area that is so
important for the Church's witness and credibility. The Holy Father assured
that victims of abuse are present in a particular way in his prayers for those
who are suffering.
Posted by Kathy Shaw at
8:36 AM
MASSACHUSETTS
Berkshire Eagle
Berkshire Eagle
By Andrew Amelinckx, Berkshire Eagle
Staff
berkshireeagle.com
Posted: 04/05/2013
berkshireeagle.com
Posted: 04/05/2013
BOSTON -- A former Roman Catholic
priest who was convicted of raping two altar boys in Berkshire County in the
1980s was denied a new trial by a Massachusetts Appeals Court this week.
Gary Mercure, 65, the former pastor
at Our Lady of The Annunciation Parish in Queensbury, N.Y., was convicted in
February 2011 in Berkshire Superior Court of three counts of rape of a child by
force and one count of indecent assault and battery on a child under age 14. He
is serving a 20- to 25-year prison sentence.
In the appeal, Mercure's lawyer
argued that the jury had been unduly prejudiced after being allowed to hear
testimony concerning uncharged sex crimes involving the two victims and six others
that allegedly occurred when they were altar boys in his parish in New York.
The statute of limitations prevented
criminal charges being brought in that state.
Posted by Kathy Shaw at
7:58 AM
ILLINOIS
SaukValley.com
SaukValley.com
BY DAVID GIULIANI
dgiuliani@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 525
Created: Friday, April 5, 2013
DIXON – Local law enforcement authorities still won’t say whether they are investigating a former Dixon priest who was removed from his parish.
Created: Friday, April 5, 2013
DIXON – Local law enforcement authorities still won’t say whether they are investigating a former Dixon priest who was removed from his parish.
Last month, church leaders removed
the Rev. John Gow from St. Patrick Parish as the result of a law enforcement
investigation into his computer use, according to a statement from Monsignor
Eric Barr, vicar of the diocese of Rockford....
Posted by Kathy Shaw at
7:53 AM
UNITED STATES
Sound Cloud
Sound Cloud
[audio]
Judy Jones, SNAP Midwest Associate
Director, radio interview on FOX News 1460 AM/101 FM, Salinas, California
regarding new pope, Pope Francis I. March 14, 2013.
( SNAP, The Survivors Network of
those Abused by Priests, is the world's oldest and largest support group for
clergy abuse victims. SNAP was founded in 1988 and has more than 12,000
members. Despite the word priest in our title, we have members who were molested
by religious figures of all denominations, including nuns, rabbis, bishops,
teachers, Protestant ministers and preachers, and, increasingly, victims who
were assaulted in a wide range of institutional settings like orphanages,
summer camps, athletic programs, Boy Scouts, etc. The SNAP web address is:
www.snapnetwork.org )
Posted by Kathy Shaw at
7:53 AM
MILWAUKEE (WI)
WTMJ
WTMJ
By Jay Sorgi
CREATED Apr. 4, 2013
MILWAUKEE - A spokesman for the
Milwaukee Archdiocese told Newsradio 620 WTMJ's Gene Mueller the reasons why it
released thousands of pages of records about sex abuse cases involving members
of the clergy.
"This, the Archbishop thought, is a way to say 'Let's give the complete picture. Let's open up these files and documents and let people judge for themselves," said Milwaukee Archdiocese Chief of Staff Jerry Topczewski on Newsradio 620 WTMJ's "Wisconsin's Morning News."
"People are wondering, 'What else don't we know?' I think this will give people the assurance that this is it. These are the stories."
He told Gene that the stories are upsetting, but that the church worked proactively to help heal victims.
"Who wouldn't be upset when you learn of some innocent child being harmed by someone who should have had the trust of the child, the family, the parishioners in the pew?" said Topczewski.
"This, the Archbishop thought, is a way to say 'Let's give the complete picture. Let's open up these files and documents and let people judge for themselves," said Milwaukee Archdiocese Chief of Staff Jerry Topczewski on Newsradio 620 WTMJ's "Wisconsin's Morning News."
"People are wondering, 'What else don't we know?' I think this will give people the assurance that this is it. These are the stories."
He told Gene that the stories are upsetting, but that the church worked proactively to help heal victims.
"Who wouldn't be upset when you learn of some innocent child being harmed by someone who should have had the trust of the child, the family, the parishioners in the pew?" said Topczewski.
Posted by Kathy Shaw at
7:50 AM
MILWAUKEE (WI)
Wiscosin Public Radio
Wiscosin Public Radio
By Chuck Quirmbach
Clergy abuse victims in Milwaukee
say they want more documents from the Catholic Church than the church is
promising to release.
The St. Stanislaus Catholic Church
in downtown Milwaukee. The Milwaukee archdiocese plans to publicly release
thousands of documents regarding child molestation this summer.
As part of the Catholic Church’s
two-year-old bankruptcy case in Milwaukee, Archbishop Jerome Listecki says that
on July 1, he will release thousands of pages of documents regarding clergy sex
abuse
But the Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests (SNAP) says it also wants information about abuse committed by religious order clerics, deacons and Catholic school employees. SNAP Midwest Director Peter Isely says those other cases may represent at least half of all church-related molestations.
But the Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests (SNAP) says it also wants information about abuse committed by religious order clerics, deacons and Catholic school employees. SNAP Midwest Director Peter Isely says those other cases may represent at least half of all church-related molestations.
“And so when you talk about half a
glass, that may be okay with some things, but it's not acceptable when it comes
to child molesters. The archbishop knows right now that there are 10 child
molesters in this neighborhood. Why would he only tell you about five of them?”
Posted by Kathy Shaw at
7:48 AM
MILWAUKEE (WI)
58 News
58 News
by Matt Doyle
Milwaukee---"This is a historic
day for child sexual abuse victims," SNAP Midwest Director Peter Isely
said.
The Milwaukee Archdiocese's decision to release thousands of documents about sex abuse spells temporary relief for some.
"We are halfway to the goal," Isely said.
It comes as the Archdiocese bankruptcy case continues. A spokesman said this will help move the bankruptcy case forward as well as help victims.
The Milwaukee Archdiocese's decision to release thousands of documents about sex abuse spells temporary relief for some.
"We are halfway to the goal," Isely said.
It comes as the Archdiocese bankruptcy case continues. A spokesman said this will help move the bankruptcy case forward as well as help victims.
Posted by Kathy Shaw at
7:45 AM
OSTERREICH
ORF
ORF
Der Fall eines ehemaligen Paters des
oberösterreichischen Stiftes Kremsmünster, der Zöglinge missbraucht haben soll,
könnte nun - gut drei Jahre nach Bekanntwerden - bald vor Gericht landen.
Der Akt über die Missbrauchsvorwürfe
gegen den ehemaligen Pater ist nach der Prüfung durch das Ministerium auf dem
Weg zurück zur Staatsanwaltschaft Steyr. Opfer üben jedoch immer wieder Kritik
an der Justiz, weil das Verfahren so lange dauert.
Posted by Kathy Shaw at
7:42 AM
MILWAUKEE (WI)
Neue Zurcher Zeitung
Neue Zurcher Zeitung
(ap) Das Erzbistum Milwaukee in den
USA will nun doch die umfassenden Akten zu den Fällen von sexuellem Missbrauch
durch Geistliche veröffentlichen. Bisher hatte sich das Bistum dagegen
gesträubt. Die Ankündigung erfolgte am Mittwoch - einen Tag vor einer Anhörung
vor einem Insolvenzgericht. Anfang Januar 2011 hatte die Erzdiözese bekanntgegeben,
wegen Entschädigungszahlungen an Missbrauchsopfer zahlungsunfähig zu sein.
Posted by Kathy Shaw at
7:41 AM
UNITED KINGDOM
Lancashire Evening Post
Lancashire Evening Post
Canon Stephen Shield, 53, who was
dean at the Roman Catholic cathedral in St Peter’s Road, Lancaster, was
arrested by police on March 23.
He was later charged with three
sexual offences relating to one male and bailed to appear before Preston
magistrates on Wednesday, April 17.
The offences are alleged to have
been committed more than two decades ago when the alleged victim was aged
between 17 and 24.
A Lancaster diocese spokesman this
week confirmed that Canon Shield had withdrawn from the ministry pending the
outcome of the court proceedings.
Posted by Kathy Shaw at
7:34 AM
AUSTRALIA
Western Advocate
Western Advocate
THE Australian public should prepare
to be shocked, disgusted and saddened by the revelations of a Royal Commission
into the institutional sexual abuse of minors.
The commission got under way in
Melbourne this week, but already dozens of victims have told their haunting
tales of abuse during public hearings in regional Victoria.
In many cases this abuse took place
decades ago but, as the sight of grown men and women breaking down while giving
evidence shows, their pain is still very real.
We have already heard from victims
who say the appalling sexual abuse inflicted on them as children changed their
lives forever.
Many have grown into adults leading
dysfunctional lives, suspicious of others and unable to love.
Posted by Kathy Shaw at
7:33 AM
AUSTRALIA
Western Advocate
Western Advocate
VICTIMS of sexual abuse will have to
wait for some time yet to learn if they will be able to give evidence in
Bathurst as part of the new royal commission which started this week.
The Royal Commission into
Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse began hearings in Melbourne on
Wednesday.
It will examine all institutions in
a far-ranging inquiry that will last at least three years.
A spokesman for the Royal Commission
said yesterday dates and venues for hearings had yet to be determined.
“Following its opening yesterday,
the Royal Commission has now gone into a series of private sessions, which will
help determine where and when hearings will be held,” he said.
Posted by Kathy Shaw at
7:28 AM
PENNSYLVANIA
PhillyBurbs
PhillyBurbs
Posted: Friday, April 5, 2013
By Danielle Camilli Staff writer
MOUNT HOLLY — A Pemberton Township
deacon pleaded not guilty to charges that he molested two girls at Calvary
Baptist Church during separate alleged incidents over the last three years.
Joseph V. Pullen Jr., 59, of
Whispering Pines Boulevard in Pemberton Township, entered the plea at his
arraignment in Burlington County Superior Court on Monday. Earlier this year, a
Burlington County grand jury indicted him on three counts of first-degree
aggravated sexual assault and other related charges, said county First
Assistant Prosecutor Raymond Milavsky.
Pullen was arrested last July after
a girl and her family reported she had been sexually assaulted during a service
at the Scrapetown Church where he served as a deacon, authorities said.
A second victim told police she was
molested at Calvary Baptist back in 2010, according to court documents.
Authorities also allege he sexually abused the same child in 2009 and 2011.
Posted by Kathy Shaw at
7:25 AM
MILWAUKEE (WI)
WISC
WISC
MILWAUKEE —Victims of sexual abuse
by Catholic priests are praising the church's decision to release thousands of
pages of previously sealed documents, but they said it's not enough.
Archbishop Jerome Listecki is trying
to prepare people for what they may see in the records detailing cases of child
sexual abuse.
The records also include sworn depositions by former Milwaukee Archbishop Rembert Weakland and New York Cardinal Timothy Dolan.
The promised release of documents marks a turning point in the long legal battle between abuse survivors and the Catholic Church.
"Let's shed the light where it needs to be shed and let people understand what happened," Milwaukee Archdiocese spokesman Jerry Topczewski said.
The records also include sworn depositions by former Milwaukee Archbishop Rembert Weakland and New York Cardinal Timothy Dolan.
The promised release of documents marks a turning point in the long legal battle between abuse survivors and the Catholic Church.
"Let's shed the light where it needs to be shed and let people understand what happened," Milwaukee Archdiocese spokesman Jerry Topczewski said.
Posted by Kathy Shaw at
7:22 AM
UNITED STATES
The Indypendent
The Indypendent
By
Nicholas Powers.
Nicholas Powers.
April 4, 2013
Issue #
185
Issue #
185
It comes out of the dark. Memories
like steam leave the person confused, ashamed and scared. Survivors of
childhood sexual abuse won’t know for years what happened to their bodies. The
hot hands of the pedophile are folded into the depths of forgetting until some
jarring moment, some odd connection opens a passageway to daylight. When the
pedophile’s face becomes visible in the mind, the next shock is that it’s
someone they know.
And what if that face is supposed to be the face of God? It is a learned fear and respect for figures of authority that creates silent victims of abuse. Their mute suffering deepens to the degree that the sexual predator has social status, which is why for decades, pedophile priests were invisible: above them was the blinding light of God. It has only been in the past two decades that the mystique of the Catholic Church has been eroded enough for everyone to see the shifty shuffling of pedophiles from one parish to another by church leaders in Rome, including former Pope Benedict Ratzinger.
The Catholic Church, with its 1.2 billion followers, is the largest Christian denomination in the world. It’s a top-down hierarchy: standing at the summit is the Pope, an elderly man who is God’s representative on earth; next are the dioceses, which are led by a bishop; below them are the parishes, which are overseen by priests, deacons or lay ministers. Ornate Catholic churches can be seen in every country, sometimes nestled between tall modern skyscrapers, sometimes in the tangled foliage of the country. For hundreds of years, millions of people have gone through those doors in search of salvation and now we learn, many have emerged scarred with guilt and shame.
And what if that face is supposed to be the face of God? It is a learned fear and respect for figures of authority that creates silent victims of abuse. Their mute suffering deepens to the degree that the sexual predator has social status, which is why for decades, pedophile priests were invisible: above them was the blinding light of God. It has only been in the past two decades that the mystique of the Catholic Church has been eroded enough for everyone to see the shifty shuffling of pedophiles from one parish to another by church leaders in Rome, including former Pope Benedict Ratzinger.
The Catholic Church, with its 1.2 billion followers, is the largest Christian denomination in the world. It’s a top-down hierarchy: standing at the summit is the Pope, an elderly man who is God’s representative on earth; next are the dioceses, which are led by a bishop; below them are the parishes, which are overseen by priests, deacons or lay ministers. Ornate Catholic churches can be seen in every country, sometimes nestled between tall modern skyscrapers, sometimes in the tangled foliage of the country. For hundreds of years, millions of people have gone through those doors in search of salvation and now we learn, many have emerged scarred with guilt and shame.
Posted by Kathy Shaw at
7:19 AM
ILLINOIS
Chicago Tribune
Chicago Tribune
By Stacy St. Clair and Christy
Gutowski, Chicago Tribune reporters
10:01 p.m. CDT, April 4, 2013
10:01 p.m. CDT, April 4, 2013
The Joliet Diocese acknowledges
church officials allowed a Roman Catholic priest to serve as a hospital
chaplain even though the bishop declared him unfit for parish ministry because
of "inappropriate behavior" with a boy years earlier.
The Rev. Thomas Corbino was not charged with a crime, but Bishop R. Daniel Conlon placed him on "restricted ministry" in 2012 and barred him from having unsupervised interactions with children before he became a part-time volunteer chaplain at Central DuPage Hospital in Winfield, a diocese spokesman said.
The hospital fired Corbino on Tuesday after learning about the misconduct allegation against him, Central DuPage spokesman Christopher King said. The diocese had not mentioned the allegation when it recommended him for the volunteer post, King said.
The Rev. Thomas Corbino was not charged with a crime, but Bishop R. Daniel Conlon placed him on "restricted ministry" in 2012 and barred him from having unsupervised interactions with children before he became a part-time volunteer chaplain at Central DuPage Hospital in Winfield, a diocese spokesman said.
The hospital fired Corbino on Tuesday after learning about the misconduct allegation against him, Central DuPage spokesman Christopher King said. The diocese had not mentioned the allegation when it recommended him for the volunteer post, King said.
"The information that we
received on Tuesday was very concerning," King said. "It was new to
us, and we dismissed him that afternoon."
Corbino could not be reached for comment.
Corbino could not be reached for comment.
Posted by Kathy Shaw at
7:16 AM
UNITED KINGDOM
Darlington & Stockton Times
Darlington & Stockton Times
Exclusive By Joe Willis, Regional
Chief Reporter
THE Catholic Church has been
criticised for failing to reinstate a popular parish priest who The Northern
Echo can reveal was accused – but never charged – of child sexual abuse.
Parishioners continue to stand by Father Michael Higginbottom after he was suspended from St Augustine's Roman Catholic Church, in Darlington, in December 2004.
An Echo investigation today reveals that the Catholic Church paid out £35,000 to a man who claimed he was sexually assaulted by Fr Higginbottom while the priest was teaching at St Joseph's College, in Upholland, near Wigan, in the late 1970s.
Parishioners continue to stand by Father Michael Higginbottom after he was suspended from St Augustine's Roman Catholic Church, in Darlington, in December 2004.
An Echo investigation today reveals that the Catholic Church paid out £35,000 to a man who claimed he was sexually assaulted by Fr Higginbottom while the priest was teaching at St Joseph's College, in Upholland, near Wigan, in the late 1970s.
The Northern Echo put the
allegations to Fr Higginbottom, he denied knowing the nature of the claims and
said he could not discuss the reasons for his suspension for “legal reasons”.
Posted by Kathy Shaw at
7:11 AM
UNITED KINGDOM
Littlehampton Gazette
Littlehampton Gazette
A jury trying a retired Church of
England priest from West Sussex and his former organist and choirmaster over
alleged historic child sex abuse has retired to consider its verdicts for a
second day.
Father Keith Wilkie Denford, 78, is
accused of using the respectability of his cassock to molest two boys over an
18-month period from when they were aged around 13.
Hove Crown Court heard that one time
Denford, who was the vicar at St John the Evangelist Church in Burgess Hill,
West Sussex, abused one of the boys aided by organist and choirmaster Michael
Mytton, 68.
Following a meal at a restaurant in
Cuckfield, Denford asked Mytton to pull his Jaguar over into a layby where he
went on to molest the "inconsolable" boy on the back seat, jurors
heard.
Posted by Kathy Shaw at
7:07 AM
April 4, 2013
ILLINOIS
Daily Herald
Daily Herald
David Sharos For The Sun April 4,
2013
Central DuPage Hospital has removed
the Rev. Thomas Corbino, a Catholic priest who was a chaplain at the facility,
due to allegations he had inappropriate contact with young people in the past.
Corbino had been serving as a chaplain at the hospital in Winfield for the past year after being reassigned from St. Pius X Church in Lombard.
Corbino had been serving as a chaplain at the hospital in Winfield for the past year after being reassigned from St. Pius X Church in Lombard.
In an email, the hospital announced
it would no longer use the services offered by Corbino, who served as a
volunteer chaplain. The hospital has been receiving pressure from the Survivors
Network of those Abused by Priests group to get rid of Corbino.
SNAP President Barbara Blaine said there have been concerns raised about Corbino within the group during the past few weeks and that an article she read a few months ago about the Joliet Diocese’s practice of reassigning priests that have been charged with inappropriate conduct “proved to be the trigger.”
“The Diocese’s decision to put a priest in another position after he has been accused of inappropriate conduct was of interest to me since that’s what my home parish — the Diocese of Toledo — did with one perpetrator,” Blaine said. “They told me then that the priest would be monitored and that this was safe for kids, and yet things got worse. I was concerned when I learned Corbino had been moved to this position after he resigned on April 11 of 2012 from St. Pius.”
SNAP President Barbara Blaine said there have been concerns raised about Corbino within the group during the past few weeks and that an article she read a few months ago about the Joliet Diocese’s practice of reassigning priests that have been charged with inappropriate conduct “proved to be the trigger.”
“The Diocese’s decision to put a priest in another position after he has been accused of inappropriate conduct was of interest to me since that’s what my home parish — the Diocese of Toledo — did with one perpetrator,” Blaine said. “They told me then that the priest would be monitored and that this was safe for kids, and yet things got worse. I was concerned when I learned Corbino had been moved to this position after he resigned on April 11 of 2012 from St. Pius.”
Posted by Kathy Shaw at
8:57 PM
DEUTSCHLAND
Volkskrant
Volkskrant
De Rooms-Katholieke Kerk moet alle
klachten en schadeclaims over seksueel misbruik zo veel mogelijk voor het einde
van dit jaar afhandelen. En dat moet met 'warmte en ruimhartigheid', vindt een
overgrote meerderheid in de Tweede Kamer van in elk geval VVD, PvdA, PVV, SP,
CDA en D66.
De Rooms-Katholieke Kerk zegt doordrongen te zijn van het 'belang om het leed te erkennen van slachtoffers van seksueel misbruik en hen ruimhartig tegemoet te komen'. Volgens een woordvoerster van de Rooms-Katholieke Kerk hebben bisschoppen en hogere oversten bijvoorbeeld nu al persoonlijke ontmoetingen met slachtoffers en worden klachten voortvarend afgehandeld. Ze zegt dat er vertrouwen is dat alle klachten voor het einde van dit jaar zijn afgehandeld.
De Rooms-Katholieke Kerk zegt doordrongen te zijn van het 'belang om het leed te erkennen van slachtoffers van seksueel misbruik en hen ruimhartig tegemoet te komen'. Volgens een woordvoerster van de Rooms-Katholieke Kerk hebben bisschoppen en hogere oversten bijvoorbeeld nu al persoonlijke ontmoetingen met slachtoffers en worden klachten voortvarend afgehandeld. Ze zegt dat er vertrouwen is dat alle klachten voor het einde van dit jaar zijn afgehandeld.
Posted by Kathy Shaw at
4:21 PM
DEUTSCHLAND
Die Welt
Die Welt
Im Prozess gegen einen ehemaligen
Kirchenmusiker hat die Mutter eines Opfers ausgesagt. Der Mann soll drei Kinder
sexuell missbraucht haben. Angeblich hatte die Frau keine Hinweise auf die
Taten.
Die Mütter von drei sexuell missbrauchten Kinder haben nach eigenen Aussagen nichts von den Taten bemerkt. Die Staatsanwaltschaft wirft einem Kirchenmusiker aus Nordenham (Landkreis Wesermarsch) vor, die Kinder von Anfang 2011 bis März 2012 sexuell missbraucht zu haben.
Die Mütter von drei sexuell missbrauchten Kinder haben nach eigenen Aussagen nichts von den Taten bemerkt. Die Staatsanwaltschaft wirft einem Kirchenmusiker aus Nordenham (Landkreis Wesermarsch) vor, die Kinder von Anfang 2011 bis März 2012 sexuell missbraucht zu haben.
In dem Prozess gegen den Mann vor
dem Landgericht Oldenburg sagte eine 44 Jahre alte Frau jetzt als Zeugin aus.
Die Mutter sagte, es habe keine Hinweise auf sexuellen Missbrauch ihres Sohnes
gegeben.
Posted by Kathy Shaw at
4:19 PM
ILLINOIS
Chicago Sun-Times
Chicago Sun-Times
By David Sharos For The Sun April 4,
2013
Central DuPage Hospital has removed
the Rev. Thomas Corbino, a Catholic priest who was a chaplain at the facility,
due to allegations he had inappropriate contact with young people in the past.
Corbino had been serving as a chaplain at the hospital in Winfield for the past year after being reassigned from St. Pius X Church in Lombard.
Corbino had been serving as a chaplain at the hospital in Winfield for the past year after being reassigned from St. Pius X Church in Lombard.
Posted by Kathy Shaw at
4:04 PM
IRELAND
National Catholic Reporter
National Catholic Reporter
by Paige Brettingen,Shweta Saraswat
| Apr. 4, 2013
Dublin --
Reform-minded Irish Catholics say Pope Francis is unlikely to improve the reputation of the Roman Catholic church as inflexible and out of touch, especially among the young.
Reform-minded Irish Catholics say Pope Francis is unlikely to improve the reputation of the Roman Catholic church as inflexible and out of touch, especially among the young.
“The majority of young people would
say they don’t hate the church,” said Dublin Archbishop Diarmuid Martin. “It’s
just that the church is irrelevant to them.”
Shortly after Francis’ election last
month, Martin spoke with U.S. student journalists in Ireland on a reporting
trip.
Though still a bastion of European
Catholicism, Ireland has seen a significant decrease in the percentage of
residents who identify as Catholic. In 1920, nearly 93 percent of the Irish
population described themselves as Catholic, according to census data. By 2011,
that number had dropped to 84 percent.
Posted by Kathy Shaw at
4:02 PM
UNITED STATES
Herman Law
Herman Law
The silence about childhood sexual
abuse is finally breaking.
In a Baptist Church, the Pastor and
Church leaders are often revered by members of the congregation, especially the
young children. It is this enormous power combined with the influence that the
Church has over the lives of its members that creates such a dangerous
atmosphere for childhood sexual abuse in the Baptist faith.
Studies reveal that childhood sexual abuse is as prevalent in the Baptist Church as it is in the Roman Catholic Church. Yet this denomination often has no procedures for tracking abusive clergy who are transferred out of state, for removing accused abusers from ministry, or for informing congregants that their officials have been accused of violating children. Numerous Baptist clergy have been arrested and convicted for criminal sexual misconduct. The absence of a central agency for Baptist Churches to report known or suspected child molesters has resulted in preachers moving from one church to another without their new congregation ever learning about the history of sexual abuse.
For decades, victims of childhood sexual abuse in Baptist Churches have been silenced by shame, false instruction, and the bully tactics of the Church’s leaders. Most egregiously, abuse survivors have been taught that scripture requires them to forgive their perpetrator and not to make reports to law enforcement. These tactics serve to foster an environment of abuse and allows perpetrators to go unpunished. In a Baptist congregation, the Pastor and church leaders have enormous power and influence over the lives of the Church’s members, which can create a dangerous environment for children. In most Baptist churches, there is a deacon board or committee of church elders who decide whether to hire or retain the Pastor and Church staff. These deacons and elders are responsible for doing background checks and implementing appropriate protocols to protect children. When the Church deacons and elders are negligent in their duties and children are harmed, the Church can be liable.
Studies reveal that childhood sexual abuse is as prevalent in the Baptist Church as it is in the Roman Catholic Church. Yet this denomination often has no procedures for tracking abusive clergy who are transferred out of state, for removing accused abusers from ministry, or for informing congregants that their officials have been accused of violating children. Numerous Baptist clergy have been arrested and convicted for criminal sexual misconduct. The absence of a central agency for Baptist Churches to report known or suspected child molesters has resulted in preachers moving from one church to another without their new congregation ever learning about the history of sexual abuse.
For decades, victims of childhood sexual abuse in Baptist Churches have been silenced by shame, false instruction, and the bully tactics of the Church’s leaders. Most egregiously, abuse survivors have been taught that scripture requires them to forgive their perpetrator and not to make reports to law enforcement. These tactics serve to foster an environment of abuse and allows perpetrators to go unpunished. In a Baptist congregation, the Pastor and church leaders have enormous power and influence over the lives of the Church’s members, which can create a dangerous environment for children. In most Baptist churches, there is a deacon board or committee of church elders who decide whether to hire or retain the Pastor and Church staff. These deacons and elders are responsible for doing background checks and implementing appropriate protocols to protect children. When the Church deacons and elders are negligent in their duties and children are harmed, the Church can be liable.
Posted by Kathy Shaw at
3:09 PM
MILWAUKEE (WI)
National Catholic Reporter
National Catholic Reporter
by Brian Roewe | Apr. 4, 2013
Thousands of documents related to
clergy abuse cases in Milwaukee will be released by summer.
Archbishop Jerome Listeki made the announcement Wednesday in an email to Milwaukee Catholics, which was later posted on the archdiocesan website. In the message, he begs forgiveness from the victims, and “for myself and in the name of the Church I give those abuse survivors and their families my sincere apology.”
“My hope is by making these documents public, we will shed much-needed light on how the archdiocese responded to abuse survivors over the past 40-plus years when confronting this issue and that they will aid abuse survivors and others in resolution and healing,” Listeki said.
The documents will go public on the archdiocesan website by July 1. The archbishop’s chief of staff Jerry Topczewski told the Associated Press that time is needed to redact victims’ identities
Archbishop Jerome Listeki made the announcement Wednesday in an email to Milwaukee Catholics, which was later posted on the archdiocesan website. In the message, he begs forgiveness from the victims, and “for myself and in the name of the Church I give those abuse survivors and their families my sincere apology.”
“My hope is by making these documents public, we will shed much-needed light on how the archdiocese responded to abuse survivors over the past 40-plus years when confronting this issue and that they will aid abuse survivors and others in resolution and healing,” Listeki said.
The documents will go public on the archdiocesan website by July 1. The archbishop’s chief of staff Jerry Topczewski told the Associated Press that time is needed to redact victims’ identities
Posted by Kathy Shaw at
12:19 PM
ROME
WHEC
WHEC
(AP) ROME - Italian police have
arrested a Catholic priest accused of pocketing 4 million euros ($5.1 million)
from the coffers of a Catholic hospital he ran and helping run up 600 million
euros in debts that forced the clinic into bankruptcy and prompted the Vatican
to intervene.
Italy’s financial police placed the
Rev. Franco Decaminada, until 2011 the CEO of the IDI dermatological hospital
in Rome, under house arrest Thursday and detained two other people while
seizing a Tuscan farmhouse police say he purchased with stolen money.
The plight of IDI workers, who
haven’t received paychecks for months, prompted Benedict XVI in one of his last
acts as pope to name a delegate to take over the religious order that owns the
hospital, though he ruled out providing financial assistance.
Posted by Kathy Shaw at
12:17 PM
UNITED KINGDOM
BBC News
BBC News
The jury in the trial of a Church of
England priest and a church organist accused of historical child sex abuse has
retired to consider its verdict.
Father Wilkie Denford, 78, from
Shoreham-by-Sea, has pleaded not guilty to four charges of indecently
assaulting two boys.
Michael Mytton, 68, from East
Chiltington, East Sussex, has denied aiding and abetting indecent assault.
The pair are accused of abusing the
boys between 1987 and 1990.
Posted by Kathy Shaw at
10:56 AM
ARGENTINA
National Catholic Reporter
National Catholic Reporter
by John L. Allen Jr. | Apr. 4, 2013
Buenos Aires, Argentina – A former
top aide to Pope Francis said yesterday that a little-known aspect of his
record as the archbishop of Buenos Aires lends credence to speculation that
sooner or later, he may shut down the Vatican Bank.
On Tuesday, the Reuters news agency quoted two Vatican officials anonymously who said that closing the bank, formally known as the “Institute for the Works of Religion,” is an option Francis might consider.
Yesterday Federico Wals, a layman who served as the future pope’s spokesperson in Buenos Aires since 2007, told NCR he believes that may well be the case.
“I think he’ll move everything to the Bank of Italy, or something like that,” Wals told NCR, citing as a precedent a key decision made by then-Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio when he arrived in Buenos Aires in the late 1990s.
On Tuesday, the Reuters news agency quoted two Vatican officials anonymously who said that closing the bank, formally known as the “Institute for the Works of Religion,” is an option Francis might consider.
Yesterday Federico Wals, a layman who served as the future pope’s spokesperson in Buenos Aires since 2007, told NCR he believes that may well be the case.
“I think he’ll move everything to the Bank of Italy, or something like that,” Wals told NCR, citing as a precedent a key decision made by then-Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio when he arrived in Buenos Aires in the late 1990s.
Posted by Kathy Shaw at
10:32 AM
MILWAUKEE (WI)
New York Daily News
New York Daily News
Cardinal Timothy Dolan's deposition
to be released among files on alleged sexual abuse by priests, the Archdiocese
of Milwaukee says
By Daniel Beekman / NEW YORK DAILY
NEWS
Thursday, April 4, 2013
Timothy Cardinal Dolan's lawyer said
he answered questions in February about his decision to publicize the names of
priests who were accused of molestation. Lawyers for those who filed lawsuits
believe the disclosure will expose abuse and coverups.
The Archdiocese of Milwaukee will
release thousands of documents related to priest sexual abuse lawsuits,
including a deposition from its former head, Timothy Cardinal Dolan.
Lawyers for the men and women who filed the suit believe the documents will help expose alleged abuse and coverups.
Dolan, who served as Archbishop in Milwaukee from 2002 to 2009, said Wednesday he welcomes the July 1 disclosure. His lawyer said Dolan answered questions in February about his decision to publicize the names of priests who were accused of molestation.
Lawyers for the men and women who filed the suit believe the documents will help expose alleged abuse and coverups.
Dolan, who served as Archbishop in Milwaukee from 2002 to 2009, said Wednesday he welcomes the July 1 disclosure. His lawyer said Dolan answered questions in February about his decision to publicize the names of priests who were accused of molestation.
Posted by Kathy Shaw at
10:32 AM
AUSTRALIA
The Australian
The Australian
Catholic Church 'lacking leadership'
to deal with child sex abuse, professor says
PIA AKERMAN
From:The Australian
April 04, 20131
From:The Australian
April 04, 20131
A LACK of decisive leadership within
the Catholic church has thwarted a cultural shift which would better address
problems of child sexual abuse, a parliamentary inquiry has been told.
Professor Caroline Taylor, social
justice foundation chair at Edith Cowan University, today told the Victorian
child abuse inquiry that there had not been significant change within the
church hierarchy despite the raft of allegations revealed over the past five
years.
"Unfortunately I don't see
anything that would have me jumping for joy," said Professor Taylor who
has specialised in research relating to sexual offences.
"I think that there has been no leadership to take this forward, that is what's missing.
"There hasn't been that leadership that can grab the community, take the community forward with them and say that we need to have an open discussion, we need to have an exchange of views and opinions."
"I think that there has been no leadership to take this forward, that is what's missing.
"There hasn't been that leadership that can grab the community, take the community forward with them and say that we need to have an open discussion, we need to have an exchange of views and opinions."
Posted by Kathy Shaw at
10:29 AM
AUSTRALIA
ABC News
ABC News
By state political reporter Peta
Carlyon
Victoria's parliamentary inquiry
into child abuse has heard confronting evidence about child sex offenders.
Emeritus Professor Freda Briggs from
the University of South Australia said she had come across sex offenders aged
as young as four.
She told the hearing that schools
are failing to deal with the issue....
Professor Briggs also criticised the
Catholic Church's ongoing handling of offenders within its ranks.
"They still regard child sexual
abuse akin to a traffic offence," Professor Briggs said.
Earlier, an expert on child abuse
victims says ongoing public ignorance is allowing offenders within the Catholic
clergy to continue grooming children.
Posted by Kathy Shaw at
10:23 AM
AUSTRALIA
Brisbane Times
Brisbane Times
April 5, 2013
Barney Zwartz
Religion editor, The Age.
Religion editor, The Age.
Catholic Church leaders in Australia
were contributing to the ostracism and scapegoating of child sex abuse victims,
showing little leadership and little ''will to know'', the inquiry into how
churches handled sex abuse has heard.
Edith Cowan University social justice professor Caroline Taylor said church leaders, as well as judges and lawyers, too readily followed misleading stereotypes that minimised child abuse.
''The greatest insurance policy offenders have is the ignorance of the community,'' Professor Taylor said on Thursday. ''I don't believe the Catholic hierarchy has changed its attitude … I haven't seen that probity and will to know, which means setting aside preconceived ideas and being open to learn. It takes courage.''
When she had suggested ways to help educate the community, she had been ''severely rebuffed''.
Edith Cowan University social justice professor Caroline Taylor said church leaders, as well as judges and lawyers, too readily followed misleading stereotypes that minimised child abuse.
''The greatest insurance policy offenders have is the ignorance of the community,'' Professor Taylor said on Thursday. ''I don't believe the Catholic hierarchy has changed its attitude … I haven't seen that probity and will to know, which means setting aside preconceived ideas and being open to learn. It takes courage.''
When she had suggested ways to help educate the community, she had been ''severely rebuffed''.
Posted by Kathy Shaw at
10:15 AM
AUSTRALIA
The Australian
The Australian
Janet Fife-Yeomans
From:The Daily Telegraph
April 05, 2013
From:The Daily Telegraph
April 05, 2013
THE child sex abuse royal commission
is being urged to look at religious protections that have insulated the
Catholic Church from ever being found liable in a court for abuse by its
priests or at its schools.
The church has become notorious for
hiding behind what has become known as the "Ellis defence", a NSW
Court of Appeal ruling that means the church does not exist as a legal entity
that is capable of being sued.
The Australian Lawyers Alliance and other lawyers contacted yesterday by The Daily Telegraph said they were not aware of a single court judgment against the Catholic Church, although numerous cases had been settled.
Former altar boy John Ellis, a solicitor who lost his case to sue Cardinal Pell and the Archdiocese of Sydney in the landmark case, described the defence yesterday as a loaded gun.
The Australian Lawyers Alliance and other lawyers contacted yesterday by The Daily Telegraph said they were not aware of a single court judgment against the Catholic Church, although numerous cases had been settled.
Former altar boy John Ellis, a solicitor who lost his case to sue Cardinal Pell and the Archdiocese of Sydney in the landmark case, described the defence yesterday as a loaded gun.
Posted by Kathy Shaw at
10:11 AM
PHILADELPHIA (PA)
Big Trial
Big Trial
By Ralph Cipriano
for Bigtrial.net
for Bigtrial.net
At 8:11 p.m. on June 9, 2010, the
district attorney's star witness in the case against the Archdiocese of
Philadelphia, a man subsequently identified in a 2011 grand jury report as
"Billy Doe," was walking on the 200 block of Allegheny Avenue when he
caught the eye of Police Officer Cesar Torres.
At the time, Torres was on patrol in
a marked police car, the officer subsequently testified.
Assistant District Attorney Katie
Brown asked the officer what caught his eye about Billy Doe:
Q. What was the defendant wearing
when you saw him?
A. I believe he had [on] sweatpants
with a hoodie that had a jacket over it ...
Q. Did something draw your attention
to the defendant that brings you here today?
A. Yes, ma'am. I was traveling
eastbound and I observed a large bulge coming out of the right side of the
defendant's waist area.
Q. What happened after that?
A. At that time, myself and the
defendant made eye contact and he looked very surprised ... um, just like, you
know a look of shock. His eyes opened wide.
That large bulge turned out to be 56
bags of heroin. This is the story of how a smart criminal lawyer made that
heroin disappear.
Posted by Kathy Shaw at
10:08 AM
MILWAUKEE (WI)
WUWM
WUWM
WUWM NEWS | Apr 4, 2013
A years long attempt to access
church documents related to the sex abuse scandal by victims and others will
end this summer. The Milwaukee Archdiocese says it will release 3,000 pages of
material on its website July 1.
Archdiocese spokesperson Jerry Topczewski says officials hope the release of the material will help victims of sexual abuse heal. He says the documents are not being released immediately because the church wants to ensure victims names are not included.
Documents will include depositions from top church officials,including sworn statements made by New York Cardinal, former Milwaukee Archbishop Tim Dolan. Dolan gave a deposition in February as part of a Chapter 11 bankruptcy case against the archdiocese. The Milwaukee archdiocese faced a hearing today in U.S. bankruptcy court in Milwaukee.
Archdiocese spokesperson Jerry Topczewski says officials hope the release of the material will help victims of sexual abuse heal. He says the documents are not being released immediately because the church wants to ensure victims names are not included.
Documents will include depositions from top church officials,including sworn statements made by New York Cardinal, former Milwaukee Archbishop Tim Dolan. Dolan gave a deposition in February as part of a Chapter 11 bankruptcy case against the archdiocese. The Milwaukee archdiocese faced a hearing today in U.S. bankruptcy court in Milwaukee.
Posted by Kathy Shaw at
10:04 AM
AUSTRALIA
ABC News
ABC News
By Kerrin Thomas
A former priest from Armidale has
had his bail continued during a brief appearance at Armidale Local Court on
Wednesday.
The 59-year-old man, who cannot be
named to protect the identity of his victims, is charged with 25 historic child
sex offences against three girls in the 1970's and 80's.
Posted by Kathy Shaw at
8:19 AM
MILWAUKEE (WI)
SNAP Wisconsin
SNAP Wisconsin
Major court victory for
victim/survivors: Milwaukee Archdiocese will release half its priest offender
files July 1st
WHAT
Victim/survivors of childhood sexual assault by clergy, employees and volunteers of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, including the long time Milwaukee based Midwest Director of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAPwisconsin.com/SNAPnetwork.org) will be joined by Fr. James Connell, pastor and former Vice-Chancellor of the Milwaukee Archdiocese, to:
–discuss the announcement by victims’ and church lawyers that the Archdiocese will release approximately half the priest offender files from the Archdiocese of Milwaukee on July 1st and its importance for public safety,
–discuss the possible importance of the depositions also to be released of former Milwaukee Archbishop Rembert Weakland, Bishop Richard Sklba, and current New York Cardinal Timothy Dolan,
–urge the release of all church child sex abuser files including documents and files related to religious order clerics, employees, permanent deacons,
–insist that the archdiocese disclose all legal costs related to preventing abuse document release.
WHEN
THURSDAY, April 4, 1:00 p.m.
WHERE
Front steps of the Milwaukee Federal Courthouse, 517 E Wisconsin Ave
WHY
After two years of legal battles to prevent any public release of documents and key depositions related to the sexual abuse of children by clergy of the Milwaukee Archdiocese, it has been filed late Wednesday in the Milwaukee Federal Bankruptcy Court a public notification that the church lawyers will cease their legal efforts to keep secret internal church documents pertaining to 45 Milwaukee clergy known to have assaulted children.
Victim/survivors of childhood sexual assault by clergy, employees and volunteers of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, including the long time Milwaukee based Midwest Director of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAPwisconsin.com/SNAPnetwork.org) will be joined by Fr. James Connell, pastor and former Vice-Chancellor of the Milwaukee Archdiocese, to:
–discuss the announcement by victims’ and church lawyers that the Archdiocese will release approximately half the priest offender files from the Archdiocese of Milwaukee on July 1st and its importance for public safety,
–discuss the possible importance of the depositions also to be released of former Milwaukee Archbishop Rembert Weakland, Bishop Richard Sklba, and current New York Cardinal Timothy Dolan,
–urge the release of all church child sex abuser files including documents and files related to religious order clerics, employees, permanent deacons,
–insist that the archdiocese disclose all legal costs related to preventing abuse document release.
WHEN
THURSDAY, April 4, 1:00 p.m.
WHERE
Front steps of the Milwaukee Federal Courthouse, 517 E Wisconsin Ave
WHY
After two years of legal battles to prevent any public release of documents and key depositions related to the sexual abuse of children by clergy of the Milwaukee Archdiocese, it has been filed late Wednesday in the Milwaukee Federal Bankruptcy Court a public notification that the church lawyers will cease their legal efforts to keep secret internal church documents pertaining to 45 Milwaukee clergy known to have assaulted children.
Posted by Kathy Shaw at
7:28 AM
IRELAND
Limerick Post
Limerick Post
by Kathryn Hayes
Thursday, 04 April 2013
A LIMERICK priest has stepped aside
from his ministry and duties pending the outcome of an investigation into
allegations of child abuse.
The issues alleged against the
priest who is currently attached to a parish in county Limerick relate to the
mid nineties when he was located in a different part of the diocese.
Gardai say they are aware of the
matter but they have not yet received a complaint to instigate an
investigation.
However, the church, who were made
aware of the allegations via a third-party, is to proceed with its own inquiry
into the alleged abuse.
Posted by Kathy Shaw at
7:20 AM
AUSTRALIA
The West Australian
The West Australian
By Genevieve Gannon, AAP
Updated April 4, 2013
Updated April 4, 2013
Children of devout religious
families are an attractive target for pedophile priests because they are less
likely to report abuse, a parliamentary inquiry has heard.
Exposing an abusive religious leader
puts such a child at risk of isolation from their community, their peers and
their family, experts said.
Even if children do muster the
courage to tell their mother or father that a priest has abused them, there is
a chance they won't be believed.
This hsd happened in the past,
Professor Caroline Taylor told the Victorian inquiry into the handling of child
abuse by religious and other organisations.
Pedophile priests know this and they
exploit their position of power in the community to get away with their crimes,
she said.
Posted by Kathy Shaw at
7:18 AM
IRELAND
Irish Independent
Irish Independent
A PRIEST has stepped aside from his
ministry pending the outcome of a church inquiry into an allegation of child
abuse dating back to the mid-1990s.
The priest is currently serving in a
rural part of Co Limerick but the issues relate to an allegation when he was
based elsewhere. It's understood that while gardai are aware of the issue they
have not yet received a complaint. The church has proceeded with its own
inquiry nonetheless.
Posted by Kathy Shaw at
7:17 AM
MILWAUKEE (WI)
NY1
NY1
[with video]
By: Mahsa Saeidi
The Archdiocese of Milwaukee will
soon release thousands of pages of documents on the child sex abuse scandal
that rocked the Catholic Church, including the deposition given by Cardinal
Timothy Dolan in February. NY1's Mahsa Saeidi filed the following report.
Cardinal Timothy Dolan's handling of
the child sex abuse scandal that rocked the Catholic Church will soon be
public.
The cardinal's deposition is among
3,000 documents being released on July 1.
All of the documents relate to the
alleged sexual abuse of children by clergy in Milwaukee.
"I think the Catholic Church
has learned a very painful lesson on what not to do in terms of dealing with
sexual abuse," said Joseph Zwilling, spokesperson for the Archdiocese of
New York.
Prior to coming to the city, Dolan
was Archbishop in Milwaukee from 2002 to 2009.
Posted by Kathy Shaw at
7:13 AM
ISRAEL
Failed Messiah
Failed Messiah
Shmarya Rosenberg •
FailedMessiah.com
Breslov leader Rabbi Eliezer
Berland, the head of Yeshiva Shuvu Banim in Jerusalem’s Old City, has gone
underground and disappeared, the haredi news website Behadrei Haredim reports.
Berland allegedly sexually abused
many young Breslov women, some married, some not, some of age and some
apparently minors. He fled Israel for Miami weeks ago after it became clear
that he and what are often described as his henchmen and thugs could no longer
contain the scandal within the Shuva Banim community after violence related to
the alleged coverup became a police matter.
Police opened an investigation into
Berland’s alleged sexual abuse, but Berland had already fled to Miami.
When Berland realized that he was
wanted for questioning in Israel and could possibly be extradited, he left
Miami and went to Switzerland, where he met with his Israel attorney, Dr. Jacob
Weinroth.
Posted by Kathy Shaw at
7:09 AM
MILWAUKEE (WI)
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
By Annysa Johnson of the Journal
Sentinel
In a major development in its
bankruptcy, the Archdiocese of Milwaukee announced Wednesday that it will make
public thousands of pages of documents detailing its handling of clergy sex
abuse cases dating back decades.
The decision - a reversal for the
archdiocese - came on the eve of a scheduled hearing at which U.S. Bankruptcy
Judge Susan V. Kelley was expected to order the release of at least some of
those records, which are under seal.
The release of documents has been a
primary objective of victims in the hundreds of clergy sex abuse cases around
the country, including the Milwaukee bankruptcy. Both the archdiocese and
attorneys for victims heralded the decision as a significant step toward
transparency and healing for abuse survivors.
"My hope is by making these
documents public we will shed much-needed light on how the archdiocese
responded to abuse survivors over the past 40-plus years, and that they will
aid abuse survivors and others in resolution and healing," Archbishop
Jerome Listecki said in a letter to parishes, schools and church leaders on
Wednesday.
Attorney Jeffrey Anderson, who
represents most of the 570-plus men and women with sex abuse claims in the
bankruptcy, called it "a great day for survivors and a giant step for
child protection."
Posted by Kathy Shaw at
7:06 AM
MILWAUKEE (WI)
Houston Chronicle
Houston Chronicle
MILWAUKEE (AP) — A lawyer
representing people who say they were sexually abused by priests in the
Milwaukee Archdiocese says he's glad the archdiocese has agreed to release
thousands of sealed documents.
Attorney Jeff Anderson said
Wednesday he's grateful to the hundreds of abuse survivors who stayed strong in
their fight to have the documents released.
The archdiocese says it'll post
about 3,000 pages of documents online by July 1.
Anderson says the victims have been
seeking disclosure, exposure and closure. He says Wednesday's announcement
fulfills the first two, and the focus will soon shift toward the third.
Posted by Kathy Shaw at
7:04 AM
MILWAUKEE (WI)
Seattle PI
Seattle PI
MILWAUKEE (AP) — One of the
plaintiffs suing the Milwaukee archdiocese says he has mixed feelings after
learning the archdiocese will release thousands of documents related to
sex-abuse allegations.
Billy Kirchen of Milwaukee says he's glad people on the outside will get a chance to see what happened behind the scenes. But the 46-year-old says the documents won't reveal anything he didn't already know about how church officials mishandled abuse claims.
The Associated Press generally doesn't identify people who say they were victims of sexual abuse, but Kirchen granted permission to use his name.
Billy Kirchen of Milwaukee says he's glad people on the outside will get a chance to see what happened behind the scenes. But the 46-year-old says the documents won't reveal anything he didn't already know about how church officials mishandled abuse claims.
The Associated Press generally doesn't identify people who say they were victims of sexual abuse, but Kirchen granted permission to use his name.
Posted by Kathy Shaw at
7:02 AM
AUSTRALIA
Christian Science Monitor
Christian Science Monitor
By the Monitor's Editorial Board /
April 3, 2013
On Wednesday, Australia set an
example for the world by opening an official inquiry that will allow people who
were sexually abused as children in institutions to finally tell their stories.
At least 5,000 Australians are expected to be heard by the commission, many of them able to recount their experiences in private before the six-member panel. They will shed light on a half century of abuse in orphanages, churches, schools, detention centers, and child-care centers, and groups such as the military, Scouts, and organized sports.
At least 5,000 Australians are expected to be heard by the commission, many of them able to recount their experiences in private before the six-member panel. They will shed light on a half century of abuse in orphanages, churches, schools, detention centers, and child-care centers, and groups such as the military, Scouts, and organized sports.
Up until now, many were too ashamed
to speak out. Or their stories were neglected by authorities. As children, they
suffered for years in silence.
It is noteworthy that a woman prime
minister, Julia Gillard, set up this panel.
Posted by Kathy Shaw at
6:59 AM
AUSTRALIA
NEWS.com.au
NEWS.com.au
Patrick Caruana
AAP
April 04, 2013
AAP
April 04, 2013
THE royal commission into
institutional child abuse should be given the time and money it needs to do its
job, Opposition Leader Tony Abbott says.
At the commission's first hearing,
chairman Justice Peter McClellan said the inquiry would be unlikely to meet its
deadlines because of the volume of evidence and the scope of the terms of
reference.
The commission was due to provide an interim report by the middle of next year and complete its work before the end of 2015, Justice McClellan said on Wednesday.
Justice McClellan said the commission, which has so far cost $22 million, would continue to require "very significant sums of public money".
The commission was due to provide an interim report by the middle of next year and complete its work before the end of 2015, Justice McClellan said on Wednesday.
Justice McClellan said the commission, which has so far cost $22 million, would continue to require "very significant sums of public money".
Posted by Kathy Shaw at
6:57 AM
AUSTRALIA
NEWS.com.au
NEWS.com.au
FOR years they waited.
They waited to be heard, they waited
to be believed, they waited for compensation and they waited for justice.
For many victims of institutional child sex abuse, the wait was too long, and they died in anonymous silence - a lot of them by their own hand.
But for their families, and for the survivors, the opening of a royal commission was a landmark.
The outpouring of emotion immediately after the brief hearing was testament to the fact that so many victims never thought the day would come.
For many victims of institutional child sex abuse, the wait was too long, and they died in anonymous silence - a lot of them by their own hand.
But for their families, and for the survivors, the opening of a royal commission was a landmark.
The outpouring of emotion immediately after the brief hearing was testament to the fact that so many victims never thought the day would come.
Posted by Kathy Shaw at
6:55 AM
UNITED KINGDOM
Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
Scandal-hit Chetham’s school has
been given a month to clean up its act after two damning inspection reports.
Government education chiefs have
given the £31,000-a-year institution until May 10 to come up with a plan of action
before ministers decide whether to take further action.
The move comes after the school was
hit by allegations of abuse stretching back decades – and the jailing of former
choir master Michael Brewer.
Posted by Kathy Shaw at
6:53 AM
ALABAMA
AL.com
AL.com
By Jon Reed | jreed@al.com
on April 03, 2013
on April 03, 2013
MONTGOMERY, Alabama -- A former
youth pastor in Wetumpka was sentenced to 10 years in prison in the sexual
abuse of a child.
John A. Astorga, 38, of Titus, was
convicted in Cullman County Circuit Court in December 2012 on one count of
first-degree sexual abuse of a child who was less than 12 years old. Astorga
received the maximum sentence, according to a news release from Alabama
Attorney General Luther Strange.
Astorga, a former youth minister at
the Bethel Assembly of God in Wetumpka, was convicted in April 2012 on two
counts of first-degree sexual abuse in Elmore County. He was sentenced to 36
months on those charges. He has appealed that conviction.
Astorga will serve the sentences
consecutively.
Posted by Kathy Shaw at
6:49 AM
MILWAUKEE (WI)
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Milwaukee
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Milwaukee
Most Reverend Jerome E. Listecki
Archbishop of Milwaukee
Archbishop of Milwaukee
It has been more than 10 years since
2002, when the news about clergy sexual abuse of minors dominated news
headlines across the country and changed forever the way the Catholic Church
would be viewed because of this issue. I’m sorry this Love One Another is a
little longer than usual, but there is so much ground to cover with this topic
that I ask your patience. And, although you usually receive my email on
Tuesdays, I send this today because I wanted you to hear this news directly
from me.
This has been an especially poignant topic in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee as hundreds of courageous abuse survivors have come forward to tell their story. I beg the forgiveness of those who have been harmed. For myself and in the name of the Church I give those abuse survivors and their families my sincere apology.
The challenges facing the archdiocese are many. First, acknowledging the scandalous and embarrassing facts about how men, who were trusted priests, shattered that trust through their sinful and criminal behavior. Second, learning how some in advisory and leadership roles made ill-advised decisions, even if that only became clear in hindsight. Then there have been financial challenges – settling lawsuits, failed mediation attempts and, ultimately, my decision to file for Chapter 11 financial protection in 2011.
However, there are things the archdiocese can be proud of. In the 1990s, the archdiocese was one of the first in the country to implement a formal response to abuse survivors, to hire staff to support their needs, and to publish a Code of Ethical Standards for church employees. The archdiocese has supported legislation to include clergy as mandatory reporters of abuse from the time a bill was first introduced in the mid-1990’s until it was eventually signed into law. Even before this legislation was passed, the archdiocese had its own policy requiring employees, including clergy, to report suspected child abuse to the proper civil authorities. Our policies and protocols ensure that all abuse allegations involving someone who is still alive are immediately reported to civil authorities. Safe environment education programs were developed and are now mandatory for children and youth in every parish and school. Criminal background checks and sexual abuse awareness training are required for every bishop, priest, deacon, staff member and volunteer who works with minors. Most importantly, no priest with a substantiated allegation of sexual abuse of a minor can in any way exercise public ministry in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee.
This has been an especially poignant topic in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee as hundreds of courageous abuse survivors have come forward to tell their story. I beg the forgiveness of those who have been harmed. For myself and in the name of the Church I give those abuse survivors and their families my sincere apology.
The challenges facing the archdiocese are many. First, acknowledging the scandalous and embarrassing facts about how men, who were trusted priests, shattered that trust through their sinful and criminal behavior. Second, learning how some in advisory and leadership roles made ill-advised decisions, even if that only became clear in hindsight. Then there have been financial challenges – settling lawsuits, failed mediation attempts and, ultimately, my decision to file for Chapter 11 financial protection in 2011.
However, there are things the archdiocese can be proud of. In the 1990s, the archdiocese was one of the first in the country to implement a formal response to abuse survivors, to hire staff to support their needs, and to publish a Code of Ethical Standards for church employees. The archdiocese has supported legislation to include clergy as mandatory reporters of abuse from the time a bill was first introduced in the mid-1990’s until it was eventually signed into law. Even before this legislation was passed, the archdiocese had its own policy requiring employees, including clergy, to report suspected child abuse to the proper civil authorities. Our policies and protocols ensure that all abuse allegations involving someone who is still alive are immediately reported to civil authorities. Safe environment education programs were developed and are now mandatory for children and youth in every parish and school. Criminal background checks and sexual abuse awareness training are required for every bishop, priest, deacon, staff member and volunteer who works with minors. Most importantly, no priest with a substantiated allegation of sexual abuse of a minor can in any way exercise public ministry in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee.
Posted by Kathy Shaw at
6:45 AM
MILWAUKEE (WI)
Fox 6
Fox 6
April 3, 2013, by Katie DeLong and
Henry Rosoff
MILWAUKEE (WITI) — The Archdiocese
of Milwaukee announced on Wednesday, April 3rd on its website and via
Archbishop Jerome Listecki’s blog — it WILL release thousands of pages of documents
detailing clergy sexual abuse in the Milwaukee Archdiocese as part of its
Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings. SNAP, the Survivors Network for Those Abused
by Priests has asked that these documents be unsealed and released to the
public.
The Archdiocese made its announcement the day before the matter was to be decided in bankruptcy court. The Archdiocese filed for bankruptcy in 2011 to deal with sex abuse claims. Lawyers representing the men and women who filed the claims had been seeking the documents’ release.
The documents that will be released include depositions of Cardinal Timothy Dolan, Archbishop Weakland and Bishop Sklba.
SNAP has urged the Attorney General’s Office to step in and force the Milwaukee Archdiocese to turn over hundreds of pages of documents detailing child sex abuse claims as the Archdiocese goes through bankruptcy proceedings.
The Archdiocese made its announcement the day before the matter was to be decided in bankruptcy court. The Archdiocese filed for bankruptcy in 2011 to deal with sex abuse claims. Lawyers representing the men and women who filed the claims had been seeking the documents’ release.
The documents that will be released include depositions of Cardinal Timothy Dolan, Archbishop Weakland and Bishop Sklba.
SNAP has urged the Attorney General’s Office to step in and force the Milwaukee Archdiocese to turn over hundreds of pages of documents detailing child sex abuse claims as the Archdiocese goes through bankruptcy proceedings.
Posted by Kathy Shaw at
6:43 AM
UNITED KINGDOM
Lancaster Guardian
Lancaster Guardian
Published on 04/04/2013
A Priest based at Lancaster
Cathedral was this week charged with three counts of indecent assault.
Canon Stephen Shield, 53, who was
dean at the Roman Catholic cathedral in St Peter’s Road, Lancaster, was
arrested by police on March 23.
On Tuesday he was charged with three
sexual offences relating to one male and bailed to appear before Preston
magistrates on Wednesday, April 17.
The offences are alleged to have
been committed more than two decades ago when the alleged victim was aged
between 17 and 24.
Posted by Kathy Shaw at
6:40 AM
April 3, 2013
MICHIGAN
The Oakland Press
The Oakland Press
By CAROL HOPKINS
carol.hopkins@oakpress.com Twitter: @opcarolhopkins
carol.hopkins@oakpress.com Twitter: @opcarolhopkins
An investigation into whether a
priest mishandled more than $400,000 at Troy’s St. Thomas More Catholic Church
is now being conducted by the FBI, according to Troy Police.
Rev. Edward Belczak was asked to
temporarily step aside from his duties at the church on North Adams Road in
Troy in January during the probes that he mishandled at least $429,000 in
church money. The 67-year-old remains a priest but left parish housing.
Sgt. Andy Breidenich said the FBI
came to the Troy Police Department about two weeks ago and took over the case.
Troy police are continuing to investigate whether healthcare fraud occurred.
FBI Detroit spokesman Simon Shaykhet
declined to comment on the case, and the Detroit-based U.S. Attorney’s Office
would not confirm or deny they were involved with the case.
Posted by Kathy Shaw at
7:50 PM
CALIFORNIA
BishopAccountability.org
BishopAccountability.org
Summary of Case: A priest of the
Oakland diocese, Tollner has been accused of sexually abusing at least six
children. In 1982 his sister-in-law reported that he had sexually abused her
mentally retarded young adult son who had the mind of a twelve year-old. Bishop
Cummins was informed of this, and of the fact that parishioners were
complaining that Tollner was engaged in "suspicious behavior" with
young boys involving alcohol and drugs and a hot tub Tollner had installed on
the rectory roof. Tollner was kept in ministry. He was sent to St. Luke's
Institute in Maryland for treatment in 1985, but refused to stay. In 1987 a man
reported that Tollner began to sexually abuse him in 1966 when the man was 11
years old, and that the abuse continued into adulthood. From 1985 to 1995
Tollner was allowed to reside at a parish, which had a school, and to hold
several Chancery positions. He died in 1999.
Ordained: 1961
Died: Feb. 17, 1999
Died: Feb. 17, 1999
Posted by Kathy Shaw at
6:54 PM
MILWAUKEE (WI)
CBS New York
CBS New York
MILWAUKEE (CBSNewYork/AP) — Timothy
Cardinal Dolan said Wednesday that he welcomes the upcoming release of
documents related to sexual abuse lawsuits filed against the Archdiocese of
Milwaukee, where he previously served.
Dolan gave a deposition in February in the Chapter 11 bankruptcy case involving the Milwaukee Archdiocese. The deposition is among some 3,000 pages of documents that the archdiocese announced on Wednesday that it would post by July 1.
The Archdiocese in Wisconsin’s largest city had been fighting release of the documents, and faced a hearing Thursday in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Milwaukee. It declared bankruptcy two years ago as it dealt with about 500 sex abuse claims.
Dolan gave a deposition in February in the Chapter 11 bankruptcy case involving the Milwaukee Archdiocese. The deposition is among some 3,000 pages of documents that the archdiocese announced on Wednesday that it would post by July 1.
The Archdiocese in Wisconsin’s largest city had been fighting release of the documents, and faced a hearing Thursday in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Milwaukee. It declared bankruptcy two years ago as it dealt with about 500 sex abuse claims.
Posted by Kathy Shaw at
6:53 PM
MILWAUKEE (WI)
San Francisco Chronicle
San Francisco Chronicle
MILWAUKEE (AP) — Retired Bishop
Richard Sklba (SKIL'-buh) says he agreed to have the Archdiocese of Milwaukee
release a deposition he gave in sexual abuse cases as a way of getting out the
truth.
The archdiocese announced Wednesday that it would release about 3,000 pages of documents by July 1, including depositions given by Sklba, New York Cardinal Timothy Dolan — who previously led the Milwaukee archdiocese — and former Milwaukee Archbishop Rembert Weakland.
The documents had been sought by attorneys representing about 500 people who say they were sexually abused by priests. Their advocates have accused church leaders of moving the priests around and covering up their crimes.
The archdiocese announced Wednesday that it would release about 3,000 pages of documents by July 1, including depositions given by Sklba, New York Cardinal Timothy Dolan — who previously led the Milwaukee archdiocese — and former Milwaukee Archbishop Rembert Weakland.
The documents had been sought by attorneys representing about 500 people who say they were sexually abused by priests. Their advocates have accused church leaders of moving the priests around and covering up their crimes.
Posted by Kathy Shaw at
6:50 PM
IRELAND
National Secular Society (UK)
National Secular Society (UK)
Catholic Church to lose control of
some schools in Ireland – could this be the start of a seismic shift?
Posted: Wed, 03 Apr 2013
Following a survey of parents by the
Irish Department of Education, 23 primary schools across the country will be
divested of their Catholic Church patronage. The move is part of the drive to
encourage more choice and diversity in the types of primary schools inIreland.
At present 96% of primary schools are under the patronage of religious
denominations – 90% of which are Catholic.
In 2011 the Minister for Education
established an expert group to consult with people and to make recommendations
on how primary schools can become more inclusive of different traditions,
religions and beliefs.
In April 2012 the Minister Ruairí
Quinn accepted and published the Report of the Advisory Group to the Forum on
Patronage and Pluralism in the Primary Sector.
In June last year he started the
process to look at the possible transfer of some schools run by the Catholic
Church to other school patron bodies in 44 areas around the country.
Posted by Kathy Shaw at
6:47 PM
MILWAUKEE (WI)
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
By Annysa Johnson of the Journal
Sentinel
April 3, 2013
Milwaukee Archbishop Jerome Listecki
has authorized the release of a cache of documents related to its handling of
sex abuse cases as part of its bankruptcy.
The decision is the result of negotiations between attorneys for victims and the archdiocese. It comes a day before what was expected to be a contentious hearing in U.S. Bankruptcy Court over the release of the documents.
The decision is the result of negotiations between attorneys for victims and the archdiocese. It comes a day before what was expected to be a contentious hearing in U.S. Bankruptcy Court over the release of the documents.
Posted by Kathy Shaw at
6:45 PM
MILWAUKEE (WI)
WISC
WISC
The Milwaukee Archdiocese says
documents related to ongoing sexual abuse lawsuits will be released by July 1.
The archdiocese said Wednesday it
will post about 3,000 pages of documents on its website. It says it's not
posting them immediately because it wants to ensure victims' names are not
included.
Archdiocese spokesman Jerry
Topczewski (top-CHES'-kee) says one goal in releasing the documents is to help
the hundreds of sexual abuse survivors heal.
The documents contain depositions
from top archdiocese officials and content from priest personnel files.
Victims' advocates have been seeking the documents' release for several years.
Posted by Kathy Shaw at
6:44 PM
MILWAUKEE (WI)
Newsday
Newsday
Published: April 3, 2013 6:04 PM
By The Associated Press
By The Associated Press
MILWAUKEE - (AP) -- New York
Cardinal Timothy Dolan says he welcomes the upcoming release of documents
related to sexual abuse lawsuits filed against the Archdiocese of Milwaukee.
Dolan gave a deposition in February
in the Chapter 11 bankruptcy case involving the archdiocese that he once
served. That deposition is among some 3,000 pages of documents that the
archdiocese announced on Wednesday that it would post by July 1.
The archdiocese had been fighting release
of the documents, and faced a hearing Thursday in U.S. bankruptcy court in
Milwaukee. It declared bankruptcy two years ago as it dealt with about 500 sex
abuse claims.
In a statement Thursday, Dolan says
he was glad to give his deposition and hopes the release of the documents will
help in the healing of abuse survivors.
Posted by Kathy Shaw at
6:42 PM
MILWAUKEE (WI)
KTAR
KTAR
MILWAUKEE (AP) - The Archdiocese of
Milwaukee said Wednesday it will publicly release thousands of pages of
documents tied to sexual abuse lawsuits, including depositions with some of its
former top officials.
The archdiocese had been fighting the release of the documents, and it made its announcement the day before a hearing on the matter was to be held in U.S. bankruptcy court in Milwaukee. The archdiocese filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in January 2011 to deal with about 500 sex abuse claims filed by men and women. Lawyers representing those people had been seeking the documents' release.
The documents to be released include depositions given by New York Cardinal Timothy Dolan, who previously led the Milwaukee archdiocese, former Milwaukee Archbishop Rembert Weakland and retired Bishop Richard Sklba. Victims' advocates have accused archdiocese leaders of transferring abusive priests to other parishes and concealing their crimes for decades.
Jerry Topczewski, chief of staff for Archbishop Jerome Listecki, said the archdiocese plans to post the documents on its website by July 1. Along with the depositions, the cache will include documents from priests' personnel files and the files of bishops and other church leaders.
The archdiocese had been fighting the release of the documents, and it made its announcement the day before a hearing on the matter was to be held in U.S. bankruptcy court in Milwaukee. The archdiocese filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in January 2011 to deal with about 500 sex abuse claims filed by men and women. Lawyers representing those people had been seeking the documents' release.
The documents to be released include depositions given by New York Cardinal Timothy Dolan, who previously led the Milwaukee archdiocese, former Milwaukee Archbishop Rembert Weakland and retired Bishop Richard Sklba. Victims' advocates have accused archdiocese leaders of transferring abusive priests to other parishes and concealing their crimes for decades.
Jerry Topczewski, chief of staff for Archbishop Jerome Listecki, said the archdiocese plans to post the documents on its website by July 1. Along with the depositions, the cache will include documents from priests' personnel files and the files of bishops and other church leaders.
Posted by Kathy Shaw at
6:39 PM
AUSTRALIA
Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles Times
By Emily Alpert
April 3, 2013
April 3, 2013
Australia launched a sweeping
national inquiry Wednesday into the sexual abuse of children, holding its first
public hearing in a Melbourne court to start what a government statement called
“a healing process for survivors and their families.”
Prime Minister Julia Gillard said
the newly opened Royal Commission into the Sexual Abuse of Children will hear
the stories of abuse victims and make recommendations about stopping such
crimes, and can refer suspected abusers to the police for possible prosecution.
It will cover a vast array of institutions including schools, churches,
child-care centers, recreational groups and detention centers.
“We've let children down in the past as a country,” Gillard said in an interview with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. “We need to learn what we can do as a nation to better protect our children in the future.”
“We've let children down in the past as a country,” Gillard said in an interview with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. “We need to learn what we can do as a nation to better protect our children in the future.”
The inquiry follows the revelation
last year that hundreds of children had been abused by Roman Catholic clergy in
Victoria state since the 1930s. The government was also galvanized by an open
letter from a New South Wales police detective who accused the church of
concealing abuse.
Posted by Kathy Shaw at
5:06 PM
AUSTRALIA
Sunraysia Daily
Sunraysia Daily
By Graeme O’Neill
April 4, 2013
April 4, 2013
ONE of the first known victims of a
notorious Mildura paedophile priest has warned that the Royal Commission into
the sexual abuse of children, which opened yesterday, would confront Mildura
with uncomfortable questions about the role of some of its citizens and
institutions in covering up the priest’s abuse of children over 15 years.
As a 16-year-old schoolgirl in 1971,
“Nancy”, who now lives under an assumed name in South Australia, believes she
was the first person in Victoria to make a formal complaint of sexual abuse
against a Catholic priest.
Interviewed by former Mildura
detective Denis Ryan, she described how the then-head of Mildura’s Sacred Heart
Catholic parish, Monsignor John Day, had molested her when she was a 12-year-old
boarding-school student at Mildura’s Convent of Mercy in 1967.
Day, who died in 1978, had an ally
and protector in the person of Senior Detective J. P. Barritt, head of the
local office of the Criminal Investigation Branch in Mildura during Day’s term
in the parish.
Posted by Kathy Shaw at
5:01 PM
PENNSYLVANIA
The Palladium-Times
The Palladium-Times
Posted: Wednesday, April 3, 2013
2:54 pm | Updated: 4:01 pm, Wed Apr 3, 2013.
Associated Press
The Associated Press has withdrawn
its story about a priest-abuse lawsuit accusing church and local authorities of
letting a Philadelphia-area priest flee to Poland during a stalled
investigation. The lawsuit has not been filed. A substitute story will not be
published.
Posted by Kathy Shaw at
4:56 PM
MASSACHUSETTS/NEW YORK
Post-Star
Post-Star
DON LEHMAN -- dlehman@poststar.com
A Massachusetts state appeals court
has rejected the appeal of former local priest Gary Mercure, who was convicted
for molesting two young male parishioners.
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Appeals Court found that Mercure was not entitled to a new trial, rejecting
arguments that the trial judge erroneously allowed evidence of “uncharged sex
crimes” and improper testimony and other technical errors during Mercure’s 2011
trial
The former Queensbury resident, who
served as a priest at Our Lady of Annunciation Church in Queensbury and St.
Mary’s in Glens Falls, was found guilty of child rape and indecent assault for
sexually assaulting teens he met through the local parishes when he took them
to western Massachusetts for outdoors outings.
“There is no basis for the
defendant’s claim that the cumulative errors at trial require a new trial,” the
court opined in a decision released Tuesday.
Posted by Kathy Shaw at
4:54 PM
MASSACHUSETTS/NEW YORK
YNN
YNN
PITTSFIELD, Mass. -- An appeal for a
new trial in the case of an Albany priest convicted of four counts of rape has
been denied by a Massachusetts appellate court.
Gary Mercure was found guilty in
2011 of raping two altar boys in Berkshire County in the 1980s. Mercure was a
priest with the Albany Roman Catholic Diocese in Queensbury at the time of the
incident.
The two boys said he raped them
while on a trip to the Berkshires.
In his appeal, Mercure's lawyer says
the trial judge should not have allowed the jury to hear testimony about
uncharged sex crimes from the two victims who were raped or from four other
alleged victims who testified about incidents of sexual abuse by Mercure.
Posted by Kathy Shaw at
1:47 PM
MASSACHUSETTS/NEW YORK
Post-Star
Post-Star
A Massachusetts state appeals court
has rejected the appeal of former local priest Gary Mercure, who was convicted
for molesting two young male parishioners.
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Appeals Court found that Mercure was not entitled to a new trial, rejecting
arguments that the trial judge erroneously allowed evidence of "uncharged
sex crimes" and improper testimony and other technical errors during
Mercure's 2011 trial
The former Queensbury resident, who
served as a priest at Our Lady of Annunciation Church in Queensbury and St.
Mary's in Glens Falls, was found guilty of child rape and indecent assault for
sexually assaulting teens he met through the local parishes when he took them
to western Massachusetts for outdoors outings.
"There is no basis for the
defendant's claim that the cumulative errors at trial require a new
trial," the court opined in a decision released Tuesday.
Posted by Kathy Shaw at
1:43 PM
PENNSYLVANIA
Sharon Herald
Sharon Herald
By Melissa Klaric Herald Staff
Writer
MERCER COUNTY — Sexual abuse by
teachers and coaches was brought to the forefront in Pennsylvania as a result
of the high profile cases of Brother Stephen Baker and Penn State assistant
football coach Jerry Sandusky.
Baker, a Franciscan friar, killed
himself in January after being accused of sexually abusing students at John F.
Kennedy High School, Warren, Ohio, in the late ’80s and early ’90s and at
Bishop McCort High School in Johnstown, Pa.
Sandusky, a retired coach, was sent
to prison last year for 30 to 60 years for sexually assaulting 10 boys.
Locally, Jamestown High School
teacher Kevin A. DeFrancesco was sentenced in November to three nine-month
sentences, to be served consecutively, for sexual abuse of children, unlawful
contact with a minor, and attempt to commit sexual abuse with children after he
sent inappropriate text messages to two female students, ages 13 and 14.
Posted by Kathy Shaw at
1:39 PM
CONNECTICUT
Roman Catholic Diocese of Bridgeport
Roman Catholic Diocese of Bridgeport
When a priest falls, it wounds the
entire Church. As a family of faith, we are sorry for those who have been hurt
by Msgr. Wallin's actions, and we also remember that that he did much good work
in his ministry.
Msgr. Wallin's guilty plea
represents an important step in his coming to terms with his own actions and
their impact on others. It is a difficult moment for all of us but we hope it
is also the first step in rebuilding his life. We pray that he moves toward
healing and wholeness.
Posted by Kathy Shaw at
11:12 AM
CONNECTICUT
The Daily Voice
The Daily Voice
FAIRFIELD COUNTY, Conn. -- A Roman
Catholic priest from Fairfield County who reportedly made more than $300,000 by
selling methamphetamines pleaded guilty Tuesday to a federal drug charge,
according to a report in Newsday.
Kevin Wallin, 61, admitted to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and was scheduled to be sentenced June 25. The prosecution and defense agreed on a sentence of 11 to 14 years in prison.
He had previously served as pastor of St. Augustine Parish in Bridgeport for nine years until he resigned in June 2011, citing health and personal reasons. He also served six years as pastor of St. Peter's Church in Danbury until 2002.
"Msgr. Wallin's guilty plea represents an important step in his coming to terms with his own actions and their impact on others," the Diocese of Bridgeport said in a statement on its website. "It is a difficult moment for all of us, but we hope it is also the first step in rebuilding his life. We pray that he moves toward healing and wholeness."
Kevin Wallin, 61, admitted to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and was scheduled to be sentenced June 25. The prosecution and defense agreed on a sentence of 11 to 14 years in prison.
He had previously served as pastor of St. Augustine Parish in Bridgeport for nine years until he resigned in June 2011, citing health and personal reasons. He also served six years as pastor of St. Peter's Church in Danbury until 2002.
"Msgr. Wallin's guilty plea represents an important step in his coming to terms with his own actions and their impact on others," the Diocese of Bridgeport said in a statement on its website. "It is a difficult moment for all of us, but we hope it is also the first step in rebuilding his life. We pray that he moves toward healing and wholeness."
Posted by Kathy Shaw at
11:10 AM
NEW MEXICO
KOAT
KOAT
[with video]
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. —A New Mexico
Catholic priest is accused of molesting a young boy in the late 1980s.
The civil suit, filed Tuesday, accuses the church of negligence in training, or checking the background of Father Michael O'Brien, who served at St. Anthony's Parish in Questa.
According to the suit, O'Brien "groomed" the altar boy by giving him massages.
Soon after, the priest is accused of sexually assaulting the boy for more than a year.
That alleged victim is now 37, and didn't come forward about the abuse until last year, but his attorney said there could be more victims out there.
The civil suit, filed Tuesday, accuses the church of negligence in training, or checking the background of Father Michael O'Brien, who served at St. Anthony's Parish in Questa.
According to the suit, O'Brien "groomed" the altar boy by giving him massages.
Soon after, the priest is accused of sexually assaulting the boy for more than a year.
That alleged victim is now 37, and didn't come forward about the abuse until last year, but his attorney said there could be more victims out there.
Posted by Kathy Shaw at
11:08 AM
As according to Miss Kathy Shaw,
from BishopAccountability.org
