Church Remains Silent on Child Sex Abuse Statute Bill as Dozens Show up to Hearing

When a similar measure was introduced in 2010, the Archdiocese of Agana heavily opposed the measure. Today, not a single member of the archdiocese submitted testimony on Bill 326.

Guam - Emotional testimony as dozens showed up to a public hearing on a bill that proposes to lift the statute of limitations on child sex abuse claims.

http://www.pacificnewscenter.com/local/9904 

'My perpetrator sighs with relief': child sex abuse victim on senate committee vote

Victims who were sexually abused as children decades ago have long looked to a change in the law for a shot at justice.
Those hopes were dashed on Tuesday with one swift vote from the Senate Judiciary Committee: By a 9-4 vote, the committee voted in favor of an amendment that eliminates from House Bill 1947 a measure that would have allowed victims of past sexual abuse to sue the perpetrators.

http://www.pennlive.com/news/2016/06/child_sex_abuse_clergy_abuse_s.html

Silent Struggles: Craig Gribbin

After years of suffering in silence, Craig Gribbin mustered the courage to ask for an apology.  It was early 2002. He was about 50 and finally ready to take the last step in confronting the sexual abuse he said he suffered as a teen at the hands of a priest and teacher at Roman Catholic High School in Philadelphia.
Through years of self-reflection, Gribbin had started to come to peace with what happened to him. He’d become a born-again Christian, was ordained as a nondenominational minister and began helping couples through marriage counseling.

http://www.readingeagle.com/news/article/silent-struggles-craig-gribbin

Silent Struggles: Thomas Humma

The day is seared into Thomas Humma’s memory. It was the moment, he said, that he finally broke free of the priest who snaked into a central role in his life only to sexually molest him.
Though Humma hasn’t told his story publicly until now, parts of it have been recounted in media reports, at press conferences, even during state legislative sessions.

http://www.readingeagle.com/news/article/silent-struggles-thomas-humma 

Silent Struggles: Mark Berkery

As state lawmakers debate a plan to make it easier for victims of childhood sexual abuse to seek justice, abuse survivors are coming forward to tell their stories.
When Mark Berkery was a boy, he was raped by a family friend, and afterward his parents knew he’d need good counseling to heal. So they introduced him to the man they trusted most to help, the Rev. Stanley Gana, a priest at Ascension of Our Lord Church in Kensington.

http://www.readingeagle.com/news/article/silent-struggles-mark-berkery 

Silent Struggles: Church wields heavier hand, but even tougher stances sought

The way Catholic leaders respond to allegations of sexual abuse of children by clergy or lay people has changed since the mid-2000s, local church leaders say.
And they said, the culture and process victims faced when confronting church leaders about the abuse in the past is not the same as today.  In the Philadelphia Archdiocese, which includes the Pottstown area, all reports of abuse are now immediately forwarded to law enforcement, spokesman Kenneth A. Gavin said.

http://www.readingeagle.com/news/article/church-wields-heavier-hand-but-even-tougher-stances-sought 

Silent Struggles: Decades later, sexual-assault victims tell their stories, pursue justice

The harrowing stories are each unique. They're set in different neighborhoods. They revolve around different characters. They outline different circumstances. But a common thread binds them together.
Each begins with a child whose youth and innocence, they say, was ripped away by a man they trusted above all others and who wielded incredible power over their lives. And each ends with an adult, who decades later, is still grappling with the pain.

http://www.readingeagle.com/news/article/decades-later-sexual-assault-victims-tell-their-stories-pursue-justice 

Most indigenous kids were healthy before they were sent to Canada’s residential schools: study

SASKATOON — A study suggests most indigenous children from Saskatchewan and Manitoba were healthy when they were sent to residential schools.
Paul Hackett, a researcher at the University of Saskatchewan, says he and two others analyzed the body mass index of more than 1,700 children entering the schools between 1919 and the 1950s. The researchers found 80 per cent of the children were at a healthy weight — better than the average Canadian child today.

http://news.nationalpost.com/news/canada/most-indigenous-kids-were-healthy-before-they-were-sent-to-canadas-residential-schools-study 

Diagnosis denied

Sexual abuse didn’t lead to permanent psychological disorders: witness. A clinical psychologist told a civil trial Tuesday that sexual abuse at Mount Cashel did not result in any permanent diagnosis of psychological disorders for the John Does in the case.
Peter Badgio of Philadelphia, Pa., also discounted a theory that severe beatings — including an infamous shower incident — of one of the John Does was sexual sadism.

http://www.thetelegram.com/News/Local/2016-06-28/article-4573470/Abuse-did-not-create-life-long-disturbance-for-man%3A-witness/1 

Emotional responses as Catholic Church representative faces community meeting over Royal Commission

There were emotional reactions last night as a Catholic Church representative met with members of the Bendigo community to answer questions about the church's history of child sexual abuse.

CEO of the Catholic Church's Truth, Justice and Healing Council, Francis Sullivan, was faced with a crowd of people with mixed emotions including pain and anger and said the depth of feeling was not over from one night's meeting.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-06-28/catholic-church-rep-meeting-bendigo/7550404 

Child Sex Abuse Victim Got Help

I got an email this morning from a San Diego man who wanted people in Pennsylvania to know how his state's statute of limitations reform bill helped him and that the tactics being used to fight a statute bill here are similar to those he has seen elsewhere.
California legislators in 2002 voted to open a one-year window for all child sex abuse victims to file suits, even if they were blocked by the statute of limitations. Paul Livingston and his brother -- abused as small children by the same Catholic school custodian -- were among the victims who filed suit, and the court settlement with the Los Angeles Archdiocese helped Paul finally get help with the aftermath of his abuse.

http://www.mcall.com/opinion/white/blog/mc-child-sex-abuse-victim-got-help-20160624-column.html 

I’m still on the Vatican commission, says abuse survivor Peter Saunders

Saunders says he hopes to lead a 'victims and survivors’ consultative panel' to assist the commission. British campaigner Peter Saunders has insisted he is still part of the Vatican’s commission on protecting children from abuse.

In a letter published in today’s Catholic Herald, Saunders says that, although he was encouraged to resign after his strong criticisms of the speed of Vatican reforms, he is only on a “leave of absence”.

http://www.catholicherald.co.uk/news/2016/06/24/im-still-on-the-vatican-commission-says-abuse-survivor-peter-saunders/ 

Psychiatrist insists abuse wasn’t sexual sadism

Philadelphia forensic psychiatrist Robert Toborowsky Friday refuted claims that some of a Christian Brother’s actions at Mount Cashel in the 1950s amounted to sexual sadism.
Psychiatrist Dr. Robert Toborowsky was back on the stand at the Mount Cashel civil trial Friday. “No? countered Will Hiscock, a lawyer for four John Does in the Mount Cashel civil trial. “What was it? Was he loving?”

http://www.thetelegram.com/News/Local/2016-06-24/article-4570371/Heated-cross-examination-at-Mount-Cashel-trial/1 

Archbishop Hon Appoints Point of Contact for Sex Abuse Victims

Archbishop Hon also created four new ad hoc committees in his continuing efforts of "promoting unity."

Guam - Archbishop Savio Hon Tai Fai is making some major changes within the archdiocese. This morning he issued a protocol for shuffling around of clergy and priests and he also appointed a new spokesperson and a new point of contact for sex abuse victims.

http://pacificnewscenter.com/local/9869 

Former camp counselor arrested for child molestation

A Hazle Township man who volunteered in greater Hazleton, admitted to molesting a minor at a church camp nearly six years ago, police say.
Zachary M. Lee, 24, was arrested Monday and charged with felonies for unlawful contact with a minor, corruption of minors, unlawful restraint and one misdemeanor count of indecent assault with a person less than 16 years old.

http://standardspeaker.com/news/former-camp-counselor-arrested-for-child-molestation-1.2059579 

Pa. Senate committee has chance to help sexual abuse victims

I am not Catholic.I am a survivor of child sexual abuse. From the ages of 10-12, I was repeatedly violated by a man my parents trusted. My abuse only ended when my abuser became engaged to be married. I remember feeling relief that my nightmare was over. I didn't understand at age 12 that it was not over, nor would it ever be over.
At the age of 17, I ran into him at a local town carnival. He was pushing his newborn daughter in a stroller. He creepily proceeded to tell me how much he enjoyed changing her diapers because he found it fascinating to look at her anatomy.

http://www.mcall.com/opinion/mc-sex-abuse-victim-legislation-pennsylvania-woolley-yv-0624-20160623-story.html 

Victorian government should change law to allow Catholic Church to be sued

An international spotlight is shining starkly on Australia this weekend as representatives from the United Nations, Germany, Switzerland, Poland, Chile, the UK, the US and Australia are gathering in Chicago for a three-day conference on sexual assault and the Catholic Church.
As the Australian speaker at this conference I am, inter alia, highlighting the fact that Australia continues to be the only country in the common law world in which there is no legal entity for the Catholic Church (and some other religious organisations) that can be sued by victims for the historical sex crimes of its clergy. This burdensome barrier to justice holds firm, despite the royal commission making a sound and easily implemented recommendation that, unless a proper defendant with sufficient assets to meet its liability is nominated by the church authority, then the property trust (the only legal entity that does exist) can be sued.

http://www.theage.com.au/comment/victorian-government-should-change-law-to-allow-catholic-church-to-be-sued-20160623-gpqaoo.html 

State politicians seek cover for gutting statute reform

I wanted to begin this column with a great rant about politicians from an old "Monty Python" episode.
It's presented in the guise of an apology for some previous content and scrolls down the screen as a very-proper narrator reads it and "Pomp and Circumstance" plays. I didn't have space for the whole thing — you can find it on YouTube — but here's an excerpt:

http://www.mcall.com/opinion/white/mc-bw-statute-reform-20160625-column.html 

Church child abuse discussions in Bendigo

THE Catholic Church will meet with members of the Bendigo community on Monday night to answer questions about the church’s history of child sexual abuse.
The chief executive officer of the church’s Truth Justice and Healing Council, Francis Sullivan, will hold a “Spirituality in the Pub” event at the Queens Arms Hotel in Quarry Hill.

http://www.bendigoadvertiser.com.au/story/3991708/church-child-abuse-discussions-in-bendigo/ 

State senator recuses himself from child sex-abuse bill, citing public perception

Under pressure for an apparent conflict of interest as he guided the fate of a controversial child sex-abuse bill, Sen. Stewart Greenleaf announced Saturday that he had decided to step away entirely from the measure that has pitted victims against the Catholic Church.

The surprise announcement drew praise from supporters who were afraid of reports that Greenleaf was planning to strip the bill of its most contentious provision: language that would let victims sue attackers and institutions for abuse that happened as far back as the 1970s.

http://www.philly.com/philly/news/20160626_Sen__Greenleaf_recuses_himself_from_child_sex-abuse_bill.html 

Why the best chance to end the abuse crisis rests with you

During my youth, I passed through the heavy doors of St. Theresa Parish hundreds of times after Mass. While most of those memories have vanished into an amalgam of childhood impressions, I do recall a specific encounter one Sunday with Fr. George Bredemann.
My mother chatted with him as we three children stood near. I recall him looking down at us and me feeling uncomfortable. Mostly, I remember his eyes.

http://www.ncronline.org/blogs/young-voices/why-best-chance-end-abuse-crisis-rests-you 

Indictment claims North Aurora pastor 'begged' for sex from teen girl

A three-count indictment issued against the pastor of a North Aurora church includes an allegation that the 39-year-old "begged" to have sex with the teen girl he has been accused of sexually assaulting.
Ralphael Robinson "grabbed (the girl) by the wrist ... and begged her to have sex with him," the indictment states in connection to the charge of attempted aggravated criminal sexual abuse, which was added to single counts of criminal sexual assault and sex abuse on which Robinson was arrested in April.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/aurora-beacon-news/news/ct-abn-north-aurora-pastor-sex-case-st-0624-20160623-story.html 

Montreal priests to be prohibited from being alone with children

The Catholic Church of Montreal plans to bar priests, volunteers and all those involved in faith education from being alone with children.
François Sarrazin, chancellor of the Montreal Archdiocese, said a pilot project — to begin in 10 churches later this year — is a preventative measure and that churches in other provinces including Ontario have already implemented similar policies.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/montreal-catholic-church-abuse-plan-1.3648750 

Archbishop facing abuse allegations says he’s a ‘victim’

After Monday's appointment by Pope Francis of an apostolic administrator pending an investigation, Archbishop Anthony Apuron addressed himself to his flock by video from Rome, insisting he remains their archbishop and is a "victim of these horrible calumnies."

VATICAN CITY - The Archbishop of Guam says he welcomes the appointment of a Vatican administrator to run the Catholic Church on the Pacific island, pending an investigation into allegations he sexually abused young boys decades ago.

https://cruxnow.com/ap/2016/06/07/archbishop-facing-abuse-allegations-says-hes-victim/ 

Catholic Church accused of 'mob boss approach' in lobby against sex abuse law change in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania lawmakers accuse the Catholic clergy in the state of employing mafia-like strategies as it lobbies against a retroactive sex abuse bill.
Catholic state representatives who voted for a state bill that allows sexual abuse victims an extended period of filing civil claims up to 50 years old find themselves the target of the Catholic Church in the state led by Archbishop Charles Caput.

http://www.christiantimes.com/article/catholic-church-accused-of-mob-boss-approach-in-lobby-against-pennsylvania-sex-abuse-law-change/57456.htm 

Catholics urge church to support New York legislation that allows child abuse victims to seek justice as adults

The Catholic Church’s powerbrokers should listen to their better angels!
That was the message from city parishioners in favor of changing a law that prevents many victims of child sex abuse from seeking justice. Current state law prohibits the victims from bringing criminal charges or civil claims against abusers after the victim’s 23rd birthday.

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/catholics-urge-church-support-n-y-child-abuse-law-article-1.2662349 

Catholic Church tries to kill child abuse bill

State Rep. Nick Miccarelli said he's developed a thick skin as a lawmaker. But the Delaware County Republican said that didn't prepare him for what he saw last week in the weekly bulletin of the church where he faithfully attends Mass and confesses his sins.
The blurb was amid routine notices: "State Representative Miccarelli voted in favor of House Bill 1947 which states that private institutions can be sued as far as 40 years ago for millions of dollars, while public institutions may not be sued for any crimes committed in the past."

http://www.readingeagle.com/news/article/catholic-church-tries-to-kill-child-abuse-bill 

The Soap Box: If the Catholic Church knows about abuse, they should be obliged by law to report it

Growing up in New Zealand in the 1950s and 60s, things were nothing like they are today.
There was no television or, for that matter, very much else to stimulate the senses. A new music sheet for the piano in our household was seen as something of a highlight. The other high point of the week was on Monday nights when Life with Dexter, a long running family serial was broadcast, which saw the family gathered around the valve radio.

http://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/opinion/the-soap-box-if-the-catholic-church-knows-about-abuse-they-should-be-obliged-by-law-to-report-it/ 

Pope Francis reveals new church law to deal with paedophile priests

Move to remove Catholic bishops from office if they fail to sack known child abusers is response to demand by victims. Catholic bishops who fail to sack paedophile priests can be removed from office under new church laws announced by Pope Francis.
The move, announced by the pope on Saturday, answers a long-running demand by victims of abuse to make bishops responsible if they fail to stop clergy sexually abusing parishioners.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jun/04/pope-francis-church-law-paedophile-priests-catholic-bishops 

Action Alert Prevent Catholic Church from thwarting child sex-abuse bill.

We need to prevent the Catholic Church from nixing a Pennsylvania bill that would strengthen the rights of child sex-abuse victims.

Under House Bill 1947, victims would have until they are 50 years old, rather than 30, to seek legal redress. Of 195 members of the Pennsylvania House, 180 recently voted in favor of this bill. Now the Church is trying to kill the bill, referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee.

http://ffrf.org/news/action/item/26847-prevent-catholic-church-from-thwarting-child-sex-abuse-bill 

John Does consistent in not lying: psychologist

None of the four John Does showed signs of lying or exaggerating during psychological testing, a New York forensic psychologist told the Mount Cashel civil trial Tuesday.  New York forensic psychologist Alan M. Goldstein continued his testimony at the Mount Cashel civil trial Tuesday.

“I’m amazed,” said Alan M. Goldstein, adding that the consistency is something he has never seen before. Goldstein evaluated the four former residents of Mount Cashel in 2009 and again this year, on behalf of their lawyers. The evaluations consisted of psychological testing and interviews with the men and others in their lives.

http://www.ganderbeacon.ca/News/Local/2016-06-21/article-4566589/John-Does-consistent-in-not-lying,-psychologist-tells-Mount-Cashel-trial/1 

Sisters’ Lawsuit Against Pennsylvania Diocese Claims Sex Abuse by Priest

Two sisters have sued a Catholic priest, his central Pennsylvania diocese and two ex-bishops who supervised him, saying the cleric molested them repeatedly as girls — including one at her first Communion party.
The younger sister, who is now 47, said she met the Rev. Charles Bodziak at St. Leo Church in Altoona, where he was the parish priest, when she was in second grade. At the party her parents threw after her first Communion, Bodziak groped her buttocks and gave her an open mouth kiss, according to the lawsuit.

http://www.insurancejournal.com/news/east/2016/06/23/418136.htm 

Fight over child abuse bill turns rancorous

Victims vow to hold lawmakers accountable, Catholic League calls legislation a ‘sham’

Child abuse victims and their advocates are going on the offensive after the Legislature failed yet again to pass the Child Victims Act (S.7296/A.9877) a bill that would make it easier for child abuse victims to seek justice.

http://legislativegazette.com/archives/3476 

Bully pulpit The Catholic Church is lobbying to prevent changes to statutes of limitations

ABOVE the announcement for confessions on Tuesday at 7pm, the weekly bulletin for St Rose of Lima’s church near Philadelphia had an unusual notice for parishioners with the heading, “JUST SO YOU ARE AWARE”.
It stated that Nick Miccarelli voted in favour of House Bill 1947. The legislation would abolish the criminal statute of limitations for future child sexual abuse cases, including rape, incest and statutory sexual assault. In addition to sitting in the statehouse, Mr Miccarelli is a member of the parish.

http://www.economist.com/news/united-states/21701173-catholic-church-lobbying-prevent-changes-statutes-limitations-bully-pulpit 

Jail for Vic ex-priest over rape in office

A predatory ex-Catholic priest has been jailed for drugging and raping a student after inviting the boy to play computer games in his office. 

Michael Scott Aulsebrook, 60, was the boarders' co-ordinator at Salesian College Rupertswood when he attacked the boy in the 1980s. He lured the boy to play on his computer after lights-out and gave his victim a soft drink spiked with a sedative.

 

http://www.4bu.com.au/news/national-news/77840-jail-for-vic-ex-priest-over-rape-in-office 

Catholic League head says abuse victim groups want to “rape” Catholic Church

 New York’s state legislatures ended their 2016 session at the weekend without acting on new legislation to help survivors of child sex abuse.

Responding to the news, Catholic League spokesperson Bill Donohue was jubilant, writing on his website: “The bill was sold as justice for the victims of sexual abuse, when, in fact, it was a sham: the proposed legislation that failed to make it to the floor of the New York State legislature in the wee hours of Saturday… was a vindictive bill pushed by lawyers and activists out to rape the Catholic Church.”

http://www.irishcentral.com/news/Catholic-League-head-says-abuse-victim-groups-want-to-rape-Catholic-Church.html 

Word of Life defendant Bruce Leonard enters guilty plea 24 hours ahead of trial.

Twenty-four hours before his trial on murder and other charges was set to begin, Word of Life defendant Bruce Leonard entered a guilty plea in Oneida County Court.  Before Leonard, the father of the two teen victims, could plead guilty to two charges of assault, he had to make a plea allocution, where he detailed his involvement in the beating death of Lucas, 19, and the assault of Christopher, 17. The process was clearly painful for Leonard, who faltered at the podium, having to sit down several times.
"How many times would you estimate you whipped Lucas?" asked Oneida County District Attorney Scott McNamara, the prosecutor.  "I'm going to say 20," replied Leonard. "It was forceful."

http://www.wktv.com/news/Word_of_Life_defendant_Bruce_Leonard_enters_guilty_plea_24_hours_ahead_of_trial.html 

Brazil extradites US sect leader accused of sex abuse

Brazil has extradited a US sect leader accused of 59 felony counts of criminal sexual assault against young girls, allegedly committed "in the name of Christ," prosecutors said Wednesday.

Victor Arden Barnard, 54, fled the United States in 2014 after he was charged with the assaults. He was arrested in February 2015 in the tourist beach town of Pipa in northeastern Brazil.

http://www.globalpost.com/article/6777998/2016/06/22/brazil-extradites-us-sect-leader-accused-sex-abuse 

Apostolic letter Motu proprio: Like a loving mother.

Vatican City, 4 June 2016 – Pope Francis today wrote an apostolic letter in the form of a Motu Proprio, in which he affirms that the Church, like a loving mother, loves all her children, but treats and protects with special affection the smallest and most helpless. This is a task that Christ Himself entrusts to all the Christian community as a whole.
Although this care and protection is the responsibility of all the Church, the Holy Father emphasises that it is to be carried out in particular through her pastors. Therefore, diocesan bishops, eparchs and those who are responsible for a particular Church must act with special diligence in the protection of the weakest among those entrusted to them.

https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/bollettino/pubblico/2016/06/04/160604a.html 

Safeguarding young people is at the core of the church's ministry.

A year ago this July, as Pope Francis apologized to a group of victims of sexual abuse by members of the clergy, he said the church must ask for “the grace to weep before the execrable acts of abuse which have left life-long scars.” He told them that his heart weeps in anguish when he recognizes that what was done to victims was “something more than despicable actions.
It is like a sacrilegious cult, because these boys and girls had been entrusted to the priestly charism in order to be brought to God.” He also pledged decisive action that would bring this sense of horror, utter violation and sacrilege to the structure of church leadership by issuing policies that would hold bishops and religious superiors accountable. This spring, Pope Francis did just that, with the publication of “Like a Loving Mother.”

http://americamagazine.org/issue/love-and-protect

238 suspects nabbed across Southern California in child predator sweep

A two-month sweep of suspected child predators wanted for everything from negotiating sex tourism on the internet to possessing and selling pornography netted 238 arrests across Southern California, including a Buddhist monk, authorities announced Monday.
The sweep was part of a national effort called Operation Broken Heart, launched by the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, a multi-agency effort. Operation Broken Heart was first conducted in 2014.

http://www.dailynews.com/general-news/20160620/238-suspects-nabbed-across-southern-california-in-child-predator-sweep 

Priest abuse victim speaks out

At just 12 years old, Tim Lennon says he was raped by Father Peter Murphy after the priest joined the Blessed Sacrament parish in 1960. "That sadness, or depression, anger, they don't leave," said Lennon.
Lennon, who's lived in California for years, was one of 12 in an Irish-Catholic family. His sister Cathy Frisch who lives in Dakota Dunes, says there was always something "different" about her brother compared to other kids.

http://siouxlandnews.com/news/local/priest-abuse-victim-speaks-out 

Orphanage Santa dies; was American serviceman stationed in NL

Several decades after a gesture of kindness to all Newfoundland orphans from an American serviceman, a former Mount Cashel orphanage resident’s eyes filled with tears Tuesday. “He was just fantastic,” said the grieving man — not being named here because there is a publication The man was talking about Earl Chilton, who has nothing to do with the trial, but brought a bright spot to a dark time in the Avalon Peninsula man’s life back in the 1950s while he was a boy at the now infamous Mount Cashel orphanage and Chilton was stationed at the nearby American base Fort Pepperrell in Pleasantville.ban on his identity due to the ongoing Mount Cashel civil trial.

http://www.thetelegram.com/News/Local/2016-06-21/article-4566963/Orphanage-Santa-dies-was-American-serviceman-stationed-in-NL/1 

Appeals court hears case of rabbi who videotaped nude women

WASHINGTON (AP) — A once-prominent Orthodox rabbi's argument that his sentence for secretly videotaping nude women at a Jewish ritual bath should have been limited to one year in jail seemed unlikely to sway a Washington appeals court at a hearing Tuesday.
Rabbi Bernard Freundel, a former Towson University professor, was arrested in 2014 after one of his recording devices was discovered at the National Capital Mikvah in Washington. Prosecutors found he filmed some 150 women using recording devices hidden in a clock radio, a fan and a tissue box holder, and he ultimately took a plea deal in the case and was sentenced to approximately 6 1/2 years.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/crime/bs-md-rabbi-arrested-20160621-story.html 

Swiss Catholic Church sex abuse victims may seek reparations

The commission is the result of almost six years’ negotiations and agreement between victims’ groups, parliamentarians and the Swiss Bishops Conference

Victims of sexual abuse by Catholic priests in Switzerland may now seek financial compensation and other forms of reparation in cases that have exceeded the statute of limitations. This follows the launch of an independent sexual abuse commission. However, payments are likely to remain symbolic.

http://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/accountability_swiss-catholic-church-sex-abuse-victims-may-seek-reparations/42244008

Edmonton Catholic school trustee wants reporting of sexual abuse added to Alberta curriculum

School children should learn in every grade how to prevent and report sexual abuse and assault, says the board chairwoman of Edmonton Catholic Schools.

The Catholic school board voted 6-1 Tuesday to push the Alberta government to include in its revamp of the K-12 curriculum annual lessons to empower children against sexual abuse.

http://edmontonjournal.com/news/local-news/edmonton-catholic-school-trustee-wants-reporting-of-sexual-abuse-added-to-alberta-curriculum 

David Lujan demanding information from archdiocese

The attorney representing all of Archbishop Anthony Apuron's accusers demands answers. In a letter addressed to Archbishop Savio Hon Tai Fai on Tuesday, Attorney David Lujan wants to know the status of the investigation into allegations made against Apuron. Archbishop Hon was appointed by the Vatican as an apostolic administrator while Apuron was placed on leave.
All of Apuron's alleged victims were altar boys at Mount Carmel Church in Agat where Apuron was a priest at the time.

http://www.kuam.com/story/32277999/2016/06/22/david-lujan-demanding-information-from-archdiocese 

Child abuse survivor succeeds in claim against Catholic Church

We are happy to report that one of our clients has recently succeeded in a compensation claim for injuries suffered at the hands of a Catholic priest for childhood sexual abuse.
Background – the abuse. Our client was sexually assaulted by his family priest Father Michael Smith from the approximate age of 15 to 17. This abuse took place at Corpus Christi Roman Catholic Church, Tonbridge, Kent where Smith was the parish priest.

http://www.lexology.com/library/detail.aspx?g=c3396323-d56d-408f-96ba-fe4110f71670 

Sources: Pa. senators plan to block lawsuits for decades-old sex abuse

HARRISBURG - A Senate committee is preparing to strip out the most contentious aspect of a bill that would expand the ability of child sex-abuse victims to sue for decades-old attacks, according to two legislative sources familiar with the move.

The Republicans who control the Judiciary Committee could as soon as this week remove the provision that would apply the law retroactively, said the sources, who said they were not authorized to publicly discuss the plan.

http://www.philly.com/philly/news/politics/20160623_Sources__Pa__Senators_plan_to_block_lawsuits_for_decades-old_sex_abuse.html 

My rapist confessed, but he can’t be charged (column)

The Catholic Church and others stand in the way of reforming Pa.’s child sex abuse statute of limitations.  I am not Catholic.
I am a survivor of child sexual abuse. From the ages 10-12, I was repeatedly violated by a man my parents trusted.  My abuse only ended when my abuser became engaged to be married. I remember feeling relief that my nightmare was over; now someone else would take care of my abuser’s sexual needs. I didn't understand at age 12 it was not over, nor would it ever be over. I did not understand that my abuse was something I would have to learn to carry.

http://www.ydr.com/story/opinion/columnists/2016/06/22/my-rapist-confessed-but-he-cant-charged-column/86230950/ 

Bail set at $1.5 million for sect leader charged with abuse

PINE CITY, Minn. –  A judge set bail at $1.5 million Monday for a religious sect leader who's charged with sexually abusing girls at a secluded compound in rural Minnesota.
Victor Barnard, 54, made his first state court appearance since his extradition from Brazil. U.S. marshals delivered him to the Pine County Jail on Saturday.

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2016/06/20/bail-set-at-15-million-for-sect-leader-charged-with-abuse.html#.V2hqyNfTRKE.email 

The 1 in 6 Statistic Yes, it's hard to believe. There's strong scientific evidence.

Researchers have found that 1 in 6 men have experienced abusive sexual experiences before age 18. And this is probably a low estimate, since it doesn’t include noncontact experiences, which can also have lasting negative effects.
If you’ve had such an experience, or think you might have, you are not alone. If you wonder whether such an experience may be connected to some difficulties or challenges in your life now, you are not alone.

https://1in6.org/the-1-in-6-statistic/ 

Hope Wins! An Ancient Lesson About Overcoming Fear

I was reminded recently of an important lesson about trauma recovery. The teacher was the son of a friend, a young man who spoke at his bar mitzvah about the competing motivations of fear and hope. The example he gave was based on a story from the Bible.
I’ve never been a reader of the Bible and my appreciation of the young man’s wisdom had nothing to do with the religious aspects of the story, which I’d never previously heard.  (My apologies in advance if I distort any details in the retelling)

http://goodmenproject.com/featured-content/hope-wins-ancient-lesson-overcoming-fear-wcz-2/ 

50 16 Investigation process for accused bishops ‘vague’

After a fourth person came forward Wednesday accusing Guam Archbishop Anthony Apuron of molesting him almost 40 years ago, apostolic administrator Archbishop Savio Hon Tai Fai said that necessary steps would be taken to present the matter to the Holy See.
But what those steps are have not been made public. A canon lawyer also said there’s little known about how bishops accused of abusing minors are investigated.

http://www.guampdn.com/story/news/2016/06/19/investigation-process-accused-bishops-vague/85970968/ 

Child rapist stays outside prison

Prison bosses have failed to secure their first public protection order against a violent convicted rapist, released from prison despite fears he will attack someone again.

Name suppression has lapsed for Clinton Jacob Wilson, who last year finished a 14-year jail sentence for raping a 13-year-old girl.

https://nz.news.yahoo.com/top-stories/a/31876593/child-rapist-stays-outside-prison/#page1 

Former Salesian priest Michael Aulsebrook jailed for rape, sex assaults

A Catholic priest who raped a student at a notorious boarding school and then told the boy he disgusted him has been jailed for 8½ years.
Michael Aulsebrook, 60, on Tuesday became the latest of a string of priests who taught at Salesian College Rupertswood in Sunbury to be jailed for sexually abusing children, after he was found guilty in April of raping the boy in 1988.

http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/former-salesian-priest-michael-aulsebrook-jailed-for-rape-sex-assaults-20160621-gpobkf.html 

Pa. legislators seems unconcerned about conflicts

State Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Stewart Greenleaf, R-Montgomery, has been under steady fire since last week's committee hearing on whether the statute of limitations reform bill for child sex abuse cases is constitutional.
Testimony focused on the part of House Bill 1947 that retroactively extends the statute for civil child sex abuse cases from 30 years old to 50. All but one of the five lawyers who testified at the hearing said that provision would be struck down by Pennsylvania courts because of the state constitution's "remedies clause" and more than a century of court decisions and that it should be removed from the bill.

http://www.mcall.com/opinion/white/mc-bw-pennsylvania-legislators-20160620-column.html 

Assignment Record– Rev. Freddie Byrd

Summary of Case: Freddie Byrd was ordained a priest of the Owensboro KY diocese in 1988. He worked in a number of parishes and, beginning in 1997, pastored several. He was a faculty member in the late 1980s at Owensboro Catholic High School, and at St. Meinrad Seminary in IN during the 1990s. In 2008 a 23-year-old man shot and killed himself outside of Blessed Mother parish, where Byrd was pastor.
The man left a suicide note in which he said he experienced "pain and torment" because of sexual abuse in the Catholic church. He mentioned Byrd, and said of him, "I forgive you." He did not name Byrd as an abuser. In June 2016 Byrd was suspended from ministry due to allegations that he had sexually abused a 17-year-old boy in 1983, prior to ordination.

http://www.bishopaccountability.org/assign/Byrd_Freddie.html

Suit filed against Archdiocese of St. Louis alleges sexual abuse by deceased priest

ST. LOUIS • A Kansas City man filed suit Tuesday against the Archdiocese of St. Louis claiming he was the victim of repeated sexual abuse by a priest who has since died.
In his suit, Tom Viviano alleges that Father Charles DeGuire forced him to perform oral sex on him "on numerous occasions" at St. Aloysius Gonzaga and on a boat that the suit said DeGuire either owned or used.

http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/suit-filed-against-archdiocese-of-st-louis-alleges-sexual-abuse/article_a49f4c64-b9cf-57a7-b4aa-715c279ef936.html 

Database of Publicly Accused Roman Catholic Priests, Nuns, Brothers, Deacons, and Seminarians in the United States

This database provides convenient access, for law enforcement and other interested persons, to the names of all U.S. Catholic clergy accused of sexually abusing children and/or possessing child abuse images, commonly referred to as child pornography. Links are provided to the publicly filed court documents and mainstream media articles that are the sources for this database, and a factual summary of the allegations is provided for each accused person.
This database continues and extends the work done by the Diocese of Tucson, which published the first diocesan list on June 21, 2002, and the approximately two dozen dioceses that have since published lists of their own. Their efforts were based on internal diocesan lists (see a sample from Boston) maintained during the 1990s. Our list also has other precursors, as described in our overview.

http://www.bishop-accountability.org/member/index.jsp

Georgetown’s priests sold her Catholic ancestors. Then she found out in an unexpected way.

Patricia Bayonne-Johnson’s family members never talked much about their history. Some were perhaps afraid of what they would find if they dug too deep. For decades, questions about who her ancestors were, where they came from, and details of their lives went unanswered.
That changed on a spring day in 2004. Bayonne-Johnson, who grew up in New Orleans but was then living in Berkeley, Calif., had asked a genealogist to find answers for an upcoming reunion. And the inquiry’s results, in an envelope, had arrived.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/inspired-life/wp/2016/06/17/georgetowns-priests-sold-her-ancestors-into-slavery-heres-how-she-cracked-the-mystery/ 

Sexual abuse to blame for men’s troubles: psychologist

Sexual abuse they suffered at Mount Cashel broke one man and created a house of cards for another, a forensic psychologist told the Mount Cashel civil trial Monday.

New York forensic psychologist Alan M. Goldstein awaits the start of court Monday at the Mount Cashel civil trial.  Alan M. Goldstein of New York is the second such expert called by lawyers on behalf of four John Does who are test cases in the lawsuit against the Roman Catholic Episcopal Corp. of St. John’s.

 

http://www.thetelegram.com/News/Local/2016-06-20/article-4565364/%26shy%3BAnother-forensic-psychologist-called-to-testify-in-Mount-Cashel-trial/1 

Big loss for the victim's lobby.

Bill Donohue comments on a New York abuse bill that failed:

The bill was sold as justice for the victims of sexual abuse, when, in fact, it was a sham: the proposed legislation that failed to make it to the floor of the New York State legislature in the wee hours of Saturday (the session that began on Friday ended at 5:00 a.m. the next day), was a vindictive bill pushed by lawyers and activists out to rape the Catholic Church.

http://www.catholicleague.org/big-loss-for-victims-lobby/ 

Editorial: New law for bishops raises many questions

In recent decades, the Vatican apparatus has found the means to reach deep into the ranks of the faithful to banish, condemn, excommunicate and otherwise impose disciplines on those who advanced a discordant idea or advocated for the wrong cause or dared to question the exclusion of women from any meaningful level of decision-making within the church.

http://ncronline.org/news/accountability/editorial-new-law-bishops-raises-many-questions 

Why did it take the archbishop's accusers so long to come forward?

Now four individuals have surfaced in recent weeks accusing Archbishop Anthony Apuron of rape or molestation. While decades have passed since the alleged incidents, many have questioned why the victims waited so long to come forward. Here's what medical professionals have to say.
Experts call the condition "delayed disclosure". Maresa Aguon explained, "We get people who come in decades after the abuse has occurred. Something prompts them to come forward. Something prompts them to tell somebody."

http://www.kuam.com/story/32258102/2016/06/20/why-did-it-take-the-archbishops-accusers-so-long-to-come-forward

Church went too far in its apologies, says Bishop Doran

A Catholic bishop has said the Church has probably gone too far in its apologies but is in a better place because of it.

Bishop of Elphin Kevin Doran (62) also says the Church is one of the safest places in society as a result of the abuse scandals.  And he says there are still some priests who avoid children altogether as a result.

http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/church-went-too-far-in-its-apologies-says-bishop-doran-34815455.html 

Priest jailed over abuse of fourth altar boy

A FORMER Anglican priest must serve three more months in jail after pleading guilty to molesting a fourth altar boy while acting for the church.
Barry John Greaves, 79, was jailed in 2009 for sexually abusing three altar boys when he was working as an Anglican rector for the Boonah and Harrisville districts in the early 1980s.

http://www.sunshinecoastdaily.com.au/news/priest-jailed-over-abuse-fourth-altar-boy/3048351/ 

Catholic bishop calls for resignation of bishops who failed to address child sexual abuse

An Australian bishop has called on Pope Francis to request the resignation of every bishop who has failed to properly address cases of child sexual abuse.

Roman Catholic Bishop Geoffrey Robinson said there needed to be "death and resurrection" in the church this Easter to restore trust and credibility.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-03-25/bishop-calls-for-resignation-of-bishops-responsible-for-abuse/7275822 

Church credibility ‘almost lost’

POPE Francis has been urged to ask for the resignation of all Catholic bishops who have failed to properly address child sexual abuse cases. Australian Roman Catholic
Bishop Geoffrey Robinson made the call yesterday in an effort to restore "trust and credibility" in the Church. Bishop Robinson told ABC Radio National every bishop who was responsible for the abuse of a child "because he did not do what he should have done" should be asked to resign.

http://www.sunshinecoastdaily.com.au/news/church-credibility-almost-lost/2976673/ 

Former priest raped girl while listening to Leonard Cohen

She went to him for help, counselling and support, but instead the chaplain at a Catholic girl's school raped the vulnerable young teenage girl.
He raped her with his "wretched Leonard Cohen" album playing in the background and his priestly robes hanging in the presbytery room. Ten years later he raped her in a Women's Refuge safe house as her children slept next to her.

http://www.sunshinecoastdaily.com.au/news/former-priest-raped-girl-while-listening-leonard-c/3013797/ 

A Church in Crisis

Announcements following Sunday Mass typically focus on matters important to a healthy, functioning community, but mundane to the outside world - reminders of an upcoming fundraiser, a change of schedule for the weekly men’s meeting, details of a rosary in honor of a parishioner’s mother.
But last Sunday night, as the 6 p.m. Mass wrapped up at Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Yigo, Rev. Patrick Garcia took the opportunity to lead the congregation in a drill. “Members of the media may come up to you and ask who the archbishop is,” he reportedly said. “Don’t embarrass yourself. Say Savio Tai Fai Hon, not Anthony Apuron.”

http://www.postguam.com/a-church-in-crisis/article_6452853c-3308-11e6-8c40-8fef67afa52c.html 

Apuron's 2014 accuser "feels at peace"

When Archbishop Anthony Apuron was publicly accused in 2014 of having allegedly molested a boy while Apuron was a parish priest almost 30 years ago, accuser John Toves’ calls for an investigation went unheard.
After days of failed efforts to seek an audience with Apuron, and after having exhausted media interviews and sending letters to officials of the Catholic church locally and to Pacific representatives of the Vatican, then 50-year-old Toves left Guam and returned to his life in California. The Archdiocese of Agana threatened Toves with a lawsuit if he didn’t stop accusing the archbishop.

http://www.guampdn.com/story/news/2016/06/18/apurons-2014-accuser-peace/85814526/ 

FNQ Catholic schools show support for abuse victims with loud fences

FENCES across the Far North are being adorned with brightly coloured ribbons as Catholic schoolchildren show their support for the victims and survivors of child sexual abuse.
Mount St Bernard College at Herberton and Cairns’ St Monica’s College and St Andrew’s Catholic College are among schools participating in the Loud Fence movement.

http://www.cairnspost.com.au/lifestyle/fnq-catholic-schools-show-support-for-abuse-victims-with-loud-fences/news-story/7af9012368a385f6a691cdbea72d3f47 

Accused of abuse, priest testifies

HIBBING — The former Hibbing priest accused of criminal sexual misconduct took the stand Friday afternoon in St. Louis County District Court in Hibbing.

Brian M. Lederer, 30, is facing four counts of criminal sexual conduct in the second degree and two counts of criminal sexual conduct in the fourth degree.

http://www.virginiamn.com/news/regional/accused-of-abuse-priest-testifies/article_fb5a0422-34f8-11e6-8edf-0b039c7f378f.html 

Keep speaking up, even to deaf ears: How sexual assault survivors should react to Albany's failure to fix the statute of limitations

Does a verdict without a sentence distort justice? Such a verdict was reached in Pennsylvania recently when the grand jury report on sexual abuse by clergy in the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown — where hundreds of boys were abused by dozens of priests over a 70-year span — found “the acts of the predator priests and their enabling bishops . . . to be criminal.”
“However,” the report continued, “they cannot be prosecuted at this time. The statute of limitations for many of the loathsome and criminal actions detailed in this report has expired. In some limited cases the unnamed victim or victims are too deeply traumatized to testify in a court of law.”

http://www.nydailynews.com/opinion/arthur-mccaffrey-speaking-deaf-ears-article-1.2678165 

Advocates fault new SBC president’s record on child sex abuse

Advocates for survivors of clergy sex abuse say they are disappointed the Southern Baptist Convention has elected a new president once accused of shielding a child molester.
“We’re disappointed that the Southern Baptist Convention just elected Bellevue Baptist pastor Steve Gaines as president,” said David Clohessy, director of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests. “He covered up abuse by minister Paul Williams for at least six months.”

https://baptistnews.com/article/advocates-fault-sbc-presidents-record-on-child-sex-abuse/ 

A stolen childhood: A story of abuse as a state ward New Zealand

A horrific tale of abuse of children in care half a century ago emerges in a new book, In the Hands of Strangers. Author Beverly Wardle- Jackson talks to Diana Dekker.
Beverly Wardle-Jackson tells the distressing story of living in the Wellington Salvation Army's Florence Booth Children's Home at the age of eight and being regularly thrashed for chewing her fingernails. She was on the way to becoming a state ward. The inspections happened after bath time and on one particularly terrible day she was so worried about the upcoming inspection that she peed in the bath.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/books/66781693/a-stolen-childhood-a-story-of-abuse-as-a-state-ward

Catholic Church must stop protecting child predators by preventing justice for their victims, and allow Child Victims Act to pass

In the closing days of the New York State legislative session, Senate majority leaders had an opportunity to act as true leaders: They could have protected the children of New York and allowed justice for those who were raped and molested as children.
The state also had an opportunity to become a leader in much-needed statute of limitations reform for victims of child sexual abuse, and to remove itself from the list of the worst states in the nation when it comes to protecting children from predators and allowing justice for victims.

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/church-stop-blocking-child-victims-act-passing-article-1.2678880 

N.Y. legislature fails to reach deal for Child Victims Act before legislative session ends

ALBANY - In a crushing blow to victims, the state Legislature ended the 2016 legislative session early Saturday without acting on legislation to help child sex abuse survivors.
An all-night session to wrap up up the legislative year did not lead to a last-minute miracle that advocates were hoping for.  “The survivors were thrown a tattered raft in this stormy session,” said Kathryn Robb, an advocate and sexual abuse survivor.

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/n-y-legislature-fails-reach-deal-child-victims-act-article-1.2678410 

Pesch: Child sexual abuse allegations prompt legal questions

We, as a community, are finally having a conversation that we should have had years, if not decades, ago. That conversation centers around child sexual abuse within a religious setting. Because of recent events, we are currently focused on the Catholic church and more specifically on the allegations pending against Guam’s top Catholic leader, Archbishop Anthony Apuron.
I am hopeful, as are others, that over the next few weeks and months this conversation will be broadened to include what legal action can be taken against any and all child sexual abusers who hold religious positions and those in leadership positions who did little or nothing to stop the abuse.

http://www.guampdn.com/story/opinion/columnists/2016/06/19/pesch-child-sexual-abuse-allegations-prompt-legal-questions/86073758/ 

R.I. abuse survivors demand bishop release names of 'predator priests'

PROVIDENCE — Members of the Chicago-based Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP) on Friday accused Roman Catholic Bishop of Providence Thomas J. Tobin of "keeping hidden" the names of "at least 95 accused predator priests in Rhode Island."
At a news conference outside the Cathedral of SS. Peter & Paul — one of a number of such conferences in recent years — they demanded that Bishop Tobin "publicly reveal the names of all accused abusive clerics, and post their names, photos, whereabouts and work histories on his diocesan website." They said that some 15 bishops have done this during the past three years.

http://www.providencejournal.com/news/20160610/ri-abuse-survivors-demand-bishop-release-names-of-predator-priests 

Brother allowed to keep teaching despite abuse allegations

A former Catholic brother has pleaded guilty to repeatedly molesting a child at a school in Wollongong, where he was allowed to teach despite two prior complaints of abuse, including one at St Edmund's College.
The first known complaint about John Vincent Roberts, now 73, was made in Christian Brothers schools in NSW at some point before 1978, when he moved to the order's ACT school, St Edmund's.

http://www.canberratimes.com.au/act-news/brother-allowed-to-keep-teaching-despite-abuse-allegations-20160616-gpkr8v.html 

Accusers' lawyer renews call for Church investigation details

For the second time in two weeks, the attorney for at least three of Archbishop Anthony Apuron’s accusers is pressing the Guam Catholic church for answers related to its ability to conduct an impartial investigation into multiple child molestation allegations against Apuron.
Attorney David J. Lujan informed the local Catholic Church’s sexual assault response coordinator Deacon Larry Claros that he now also represents Walter Denton and Doris Concepcion, mother of Joseph “Sonny” Quinata, in addition to Roy Quintanilla.

http://www.guampdn.com/story/news/2016/06/16/accusers-lawyer-presses-anew-answers-church-investigation/85970652/ 

Sen. Aguon advocates to protect sexual abuse victims

In the wake of a fourth person accusing Archbishop Anthony Apuron of child molestation, Sen. Frank Aguon Jr., D-Yona, on Thursday released a statement apologizing to all victims of sexual abuse for not coming to their aid sooner.
“After a great deal of prayer and consideration over the current state of affairs — which have been profoundly painful for everyone — I sincerely apologize for not immediately coming to the defense of the alleged victims of child sexual abuse,” he said.

http://www.guampdn.com/story/news/2016/06/16/sen-aguon-advocates-protect-sexual-abuse-victims/85970632/ 

Q&A on the ‘unplanned pregnancies’ of the Catholic Church

On Tuesday, the Vatican released its latest reflection on what German Cardinal Gerhard Müller amusingly has called the “unplanned pregnancies” of the Catholic Church, meaning its sprawling galaxy of new lay movements, most of which have been born in the last 100 years and have had their real growth since Vatican II.
One has to say “latest” because this is hardly the first time various departments and officials in the Vatican have issued documents, released interviews, given talks, organized meetings, etc., on the relationship between the hierarchy and what English-speakers often call the “new movements.”

https://cruxnow.com/analysis/2016/06/14/qa-movements-unplanned-pregnancies-church/ 

Some Baylor University Donors Don’t Get It About Sexual Assault

In case you missed it, two weeks ago Baylor University announced it was firing head football coach Art Briles in the wake of overwhelming evidence that his program had utterly mishandled allegations that players had raped and sexually assaulted women.
Well, a flurry of activity on Monday revealed just how far gone Baylor’s football culture had become. A small, misguided, and mind-blowingly stupid cabal of Baylor donors has been angling to bring Briles back as head coach.

http://www.liberalamerica.org/2016/06/13/baylor-university-dont-sexual-assault/ 

The Vatican's child abuse response

The UN has accused the Vatican of "systematically" adopting policies allowing priests to sexually abuse thousands of children.

Pope Francis has said that dealing with abuse is vital for the Church's credibility, and that "sanctions" must be imposed against perpetrators. But the Church has been accused of failing to address some allegations properly.

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-25757218?post_id=10204672433356106_10206917459520357#_=_

Tony McCorkell reveals secrets of the wealthy Christian sect Exclusive Brethren

Known for its obsession with privacy and its silencing tactics, the Exclusive Brethren has managed to avoid any scrutiny over alleged child sex abuse. Until now.
Members of a wealthy Christian sect are accused of child sexual abuse. Now the man who helped with the cover-up is speaking out. LATE ONE night, a frightened girl whispered a terrible secret into her mother's ear. It was about the man in whose house she was living – an elder of the Christian sect to which they all belonged.

http://www.smh.com.au/good-weekend/tony-mccorkell-reveals-secrets-of-the-wealthy-christian-sect-exclusive-brethren-20160429-goi6lc.html 

Pope calls bishops' negligence a crime: this is important

When it comes to holding bishops and religious superiors responsible for the cover up of clergy sex abuse, Pope Francis' June 4 apostolic letter on ecclesial accountability is not only a distinct improvement over the proposal made a year ago to establish a tribunal to hold bishops accountable, it is possibly the most positive and hopeful signal to come out of the Vatican to date.

http://www.ncronline.org/blogs/examining-crisis/pope-calls-bishops-negligence-crime-important 

Sex Crimes and the Catholic Church Royal Commission and justice? (presented by Judy Courtin)

Judy Courtin presents her paper, 'Sex crimes and the Catholic Church: Will a Parliamentary Inquiry and a Royal Commission deliver justice to victims, survivors and their families?'

Some label Markey as ‘anti-Catholic’

Assemblywoman Marge Markey (D-Maspeth) has been catching hell in recent days over her claim that Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio, head of the Diocese of Brooklyn, tried to bribe her in 2007 to end her support of legislation to extend the statute of limitations for lawsuits over child sex abuse allegations.
“She’s definitely anti-Catholic,” Tony Nunziato, Markey’s two-time Assembly race opponent, said at the Juniper Park Civic Association last Thursday. “Her attack against the bishop was horrendous.”

http://www.qchron.com/editions/central/some-label-markey-as-anti-catholic/article_fd5b22bd-9887-563e-a0a8-9a738aaa9fce.html 

Catholic extremists do ‘untold damage’ to church, says priest

Catholicism in Ireland is being abandoned to obsessive extremists and a religious media more anxious to protect its pockets than engage with realities of faith in the world, a leading priest has said.

“If bishops or priests or intelligent ‘lay’ Catholics are not prepared to reflectively engage in the public market-place then that space is left open to obsessive Catholic extremists who seek to psychologically bludgeon anyone who doesn’t agree with them – and do untold damage to the Catholic faith in Ireland – and to religious media who often seem more anxious to protect their pockets than to engage with the realities of faith in the world,” said Fr Brendan Hoban. 

http://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/religion-and-beliefs/catholic-extremists-do-untold-damage-to-church-says-priest-1.2687394 

Child sex abuse case heading back to court

MACOMB TOWNSHIP — The case of a former employee at a local catholic high school is returning to the Macomb County Circuit Court.
Joseph Sturza, a former director of admissions at Austin Catholic High School in Ray Township, and a former youth minister at St. Isidore Catholic Church in Macomb Township, is charged with four felony counts: child sexual abuse activity, accosting a child for immoral purposes, and two counts of using a computer to communicate with a minor in order to commit a crime.

http://www.candgnews.com/news/child-sex-abuse-case-heading-back-court-88677 

Catholic church accused of using 'mafia-like' tactics to fight sex abuse bill

Pennsylvania church accused of using ‘mob boss approach’ to pressure lawmakers who support bill giving victims of abuse more time to sue abusers.
The Catholic church in Pennsylvania has been accused of employing “mafia-like” tactics in a campaign to put pressure on individual Catholic lawmakers who support state legislation that would give victims of sexual abuse more time to sue their abusers.

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/jun/17/pennsylvania-catholic-church-sexual-abuse-bill-mafia-tactics?CMP=share_btn_fb#_=_ 

What Pope Benedict Knew About Abuse in the Catholic Church

The election of Pope Francis, in 2013, had the effect, among other things, of displacing the painful story of priestly sexual abuse that had dominated public awareness of the Church during much of the eight-year papacy of his predecessor.
The sense that the Church, both during the last years of Benedict and under Francis, had begun to deal more forcefully with the issue created a desire in many, inside and outside the Church, to move on. But recent events suggest that we take another careful look at this chapter of Church history before turning the page.

http://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/what-pope-benedict-knew-about-abuse-in-the-catholic-church 

Church expert backs up Christian Brothers’ autonomy

An expert on canon law testifying for the Roman Catholic Episcopal Corp. of St. John’s says historical Vatican documentation backs up the Christian Brothers’ autonomy.

Father Francis Morrissey, a canon law professor at St. Paul University in Ottawa, took the witness stand Monday in the Mount Cashel civil trial at Newfoundland Supreme Court. His testimony continues today.

http://www.thetelegram.com/News/Local/2016-06-13/article-4557762/Church-expert-backs-up-Christian-Brothers%26rsquo%3B-autonomy/1 

Lawmakers told it’s unconstitutional to lift limits for abuse lawsuits

Pennsylvania's Solicitor General told members of the State Senate on Monday that proposals to expand time limits for filing sexual abuse lawsuits would violate the "remedies clause" of the state's constitution, with some lawmakers saying they'll vote for it anyway and others expressing doubts.

HARRISBURG, Pa. - Pennsylvania’s top legal office told lawmakers Monday that it is unconstitutional to change state law to retroactively give victims of child sexual abuse more time to sue, although some lawmakers said they remain willing to support it.

https://cruxnow.com/ap/2016/06/14/lawmakers-told-unconstitutional-lift-limits-abuse-lawsuits/ 

Editorial: New law for bishops raises many questions

In recent decades, the Vatican apparatus has found the means to reach deep into the ranks of the faithful to banish, condemn, excommunicate and otherwise impose disciplines on those who advanced a discordant idea or advocated for the wrong cause or dared to question the exclusion of women from any meaningful level of decision-making within the church.
Yet, more than 30 years after the first national exposé of the sex abuse crisis ran in the pages of NCR, we are still waiting for a clear, transparent and workable system for getting rid of bishops who ignore, abet or cover up crimes against the community's children or fail to abide by rudimentary cautions and procedures for accountability.

http://ncronline.org/news/accountability/editorial-new-law-bishops-raises-many-questions 

Advocates fault new SBC president’s record on child sex abuse

Advocates for survivors of clergy sex abuse say they are disappointed the Southern Baptist Convention has elected a new president once accused of shielding a child molester.
“We’re disappointed that the Southern Baptist Convention just elected Bellevue Baptist pastor Steve Gaines as president,” said David Clohessy, director of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests. “He covered up abuse by minister Paul Williams for at least six months.”

https://baptistnews.com/article/advocates-fault-sbc-presidents-record-on-child-sex-abuse/ 

Victoria’s top cop Graham Ashton reveals detectives might go to Italy to interview Pell over child sex abuse allegations

VICTORIA’s top cop has revealed detectives might go to Italy to interview Cardinal George Pell about child sex abuse allegations.
Chief Commissioner Graham Ashton was this week reluctant to talk about the Cardinal Pell probe during a wideranging interview with the Herald Sun to mark his first year in the job. “We don’t give running commentary on ongoing investigations,” he said.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/law-order/victorias-top-cop-graham-ashton-reveals-detectives-might-go-to-italy-to-interview-pell-over-chil-sex-abuse-allegations/news-story/7072b69ca2777b5026ced452a6cef8d0 

Fact Vs. Fiction

I've been writing -- here and here -- about the way the Catholic Church is working hard to convince its faithful to exert pressure on state lawmakers over a bill that would extend statutes of limitations in cases of child sex abuse.
House Bill 1947, which easily passed the House in April, would eliminate the statute of limitations for criminal cases of child sexual abuse and extend the statute for civil cases until the victim reaches age 50, retroactively, from the present age 30.

http://www.mcall.com/opinion/white/blog/mc-fact-vs-fiction-20160615-column.html

How her son's abuse changed Catholic educator's mind about sex education

Angela Kennedy, chair of the Toronto Catholic School Board, got in touch with Out in the Open after listening to last week's episode on The Sex Talk, to explain why her thinking on the subject had changed after she learned that one of her adult sons, Brian, had been sexually abused at age 11.
As a trustee for the Catholic board last year, she was critical of Ontario's sex-education curriculum. She called for a delay on the implementation of the plan, and released a statement last year, reading in part, "Catholic schools shouldn't be forced to teach a program that doesn't ground the expression of sexuality in love and marriage."

http://www.cbc.ca/radio/outintheopen/out-in-the-open-on-june-18-2016-starting-over-1.3634843/how-her-son-s-abuse-changed-catholic-educator-s-mind-about-sex-education-1.3634894 

Alleged paedophile priest warned victim he'd 'go to hell'

An Italian priest, arrested on Tuesday on suspicion of sexually abusing a minor, allegedly told his victim that he would go to hell if he spoke out about the abuse.

The 55-year-old, from Corna di Darfo parish near the Lombardy city of Brescia, allegedly abused the boy, of foreign origin, from when he was aged 12 until he reached 14. The priest, who has been suspended from the parish, is alleged to have said to the child that if he told anyone about the abuse then he would go to hell.

http://www.thelocal.it/20160615/alleged-paedophile-italian-priest-told-victim-he-would-go-to-hell 

Former Wollongong Catholic Brother pleads guilty

A former Catholic Brother has pleaded guilty to sexually abusing a young male student at Edmund Rice College in the late 1980s.
John Vincent Roberts was a teacher at the single-sex school when he repeatedly molested and raped the 12-year-old boy while on school grounds.  Roberts, now aged 73 and living in Sydney, was arrested after voluntarily attending Redfern Police Station on December 14 at the request of investigating officers.

http://www.illawarramercury.com.au/story/3970972/former-wollongong-catholic-brother-pleads-guilty/?cs=4110 

Priest suspected of child abuse committed suicide, coroner rules

A PRIEST, who had been arrested on suspicion of historical child sexual abuse, committed suicide at his home near Oswestry, a coroner has ruled.
Father Ernest Sands, 67, was found dead inside a shed on April 11 near his home at Hirnant on the day he was due to answer bail set by Lancashire Police. Last year, Fr Sands was arrested on suspicion of sexually abusing five boys aged from 11 to 15 at a Catholic seminary in the late 1970s and 1980s.

http://www.bordercountiesadvertizer.co.uk/news/163160/priest-suspected-of-child-abuse-committed-suicide-coroner-rules.aspx

Senate hearing on proposed sex-abuse law called ‘biased’

The head of the state Senate Judiciary Committee was labeled “biased” and his oversight at a hearing on extending the statue of limitations for child sex abuse victims to file civil lawsuits called “legislative ethics at its worst” because of his law firm’s representation of Catholic interests contesting a similar statute in Delaware.

State Sen. Stewart J. Greenleaf, R-12, of Willow Grove, headed the Judiciary Committee hearing on HB 1947 Monday. He chairs that committee. The bill would extend the time child sex abuse victims can file civil lawsuits 20 years to when they are 50 years old.

http://www.timesherald.com/article/JR/20160614/NEWS/160619916 

Former social worker vouches credibility of claims against archbishop

Archbishop Anthony Apuron has denied the allegations of sex abuse and instead claims he is a victim of a malicious smear campaign to oust him. But retired social worker Zita Calvo believes the accusers are telling the truth. Calvo was a social worker for 20 years with Child Protective Services. 
A part of CPS's mission is to provide immediate intervention and help to children who are victims of abuse. Additionally, the organization conducts investigations into allegations of child abuse and neglect.

http://www.kuam.com/story/32224054/2016/06/15/former-social-worker-vouches-credibility-of-claims-against-archbishop

Fifth person steps forward, accusing archbishop of molestation

Roland Sondia was only 15 years old when he had an unforgettable encounter with then-Father Anthony Apuron. Like the other alleged victims, Sondia was an altar boy at Mount Carmel Church. That brings the count of Apuron's accusers up to five to date. A press conference was held earlier today at the steps of the Agana Cathedral Pastoral Center detailing the graphic events.
It's enough pain to bring a grown man to tears. Like the others, Sondia was an altar boy in Agat when he alleges he was molested by Apuron. That summer night in 1977, the boys were sleeping on the rectory living room floor. In the middle of the night, Apuron came to Sondia asking for help, as he recalled, "I didn't think anything of the situation because we were there to help the priest.

http://www.kuam.com/story/32223964/2016/06/15/fifth-person-steps-forward-accusing-archbishop-of-molestation 

Pastor Charged With Sex Abuse Of Six-Year-Old

A Brooklyn pastor is charged with repeatedly molesting a 6-year-old girl his wife was babysitting in an apartment at the Woodside Houses, Queens District Attorney Richard Brown said.
James Lowe, 45, pastor of New Mount Zion Baptist Church in Bushwick, molested the girl in the Woodside apartment on March 7, touching her genitals over her clothing, a criminal complaint alleges.

http://www.qgazette.com/news/2016-06-15/Front_Page/Pastor_Charged_With_Sex_Abuse_Of_SixYearOld.html 

Archbishop speaks to Mount Cashel victims from witness stand

Archbishop Martin Currie expressed regret on the witness stand in Newfoundland Supreme Court Tuesday for the abuse boys suffered at the hands of Christian Brothers at Mount Cashel several decades ago, but two John Does say he stopped short of an apology.
“You feel the hurt of these young men who were there in trust of the Brothers — men who were there to love and care for them — and they betrayed them,” Currie replied to church lawyer Mark Frederick when asked if he had anything to say to the men he heard give testimony about their experiences at Mount Cashel.

http://www.thetelegram.com/News/Local/2016-06-14/article-4559701/Archbishop-speaks-to-Mount-Cashel-victims-from-witness-stand/1 

Former 'singing' priest who claimed 'we are all victims' is convicted of abusing boy five times

Former “singing” priest Tony Walsh has been convicted of sexually abusing a young boy. Anthony Walsh (aged 62), currently serving a sentence for sexual offences against a number of other children, denied ever knowing the boy and said he had never assaulted him.
During cross examination by the prosecution in the current trial, Walsh had said: “I think we are all victims”, when he was asked who he thought the victim was in this case.

http://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/former-singing-priest-who-claimed-we-are-all-victims-is-convicted-of-abusing-boy-five-times-739935.html

A priest tried to molest me as a child: Bobby Brown

Bobby Brown was afraid to tell his mother a priest attempted to molest him as a child, because he was afraid of how she would react. 
The former "New Edition" star was temporarily placed in child services after his mother was arrested. The social service agency was run by a Catholic charity and one of the priests tried to molest him while he was at the facility.  However, he punched the clergyman and ran off.

http://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/a-priest-tried-to-molest-me-as-a-child-bobby-brown-116061400198_1.html