Diocese still closing ranks on child sexual abuse

Victims advocate Robert Hoatson said he sees a “dome” of secrecy over the region of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Altoona-Johns-town – a phenomenon that allowed priests to sexually abuse children for decades without fear of legal retribution.
The diocese’s ongoing actions show that it remains intent on controlling the message surrounding the mistreatment of children – despite a March 1 report from the state attorney general’s office that accused 50 priests and other clergy members of abusing children in their care, protected by bishops who moved the offenders from parish to parish rather than exposing them to criminal charges.

http://www.tribdem.com/news/editorials/diocese-still-closing-ranks-on-child-sexual-abuse/article_88e806c9-e072-5238-8e84-6b8f470fd32f.html 

I was fooled by priest on sex abuse: Herft

The Anglican Church has revealed “continuing distress and sadness” in its Perth diocese as Archbishop Roger Herft yesterday admitted to being told on three occasions that a senior priest had abused children but had raised the allegations only with the clergyman involved.

Appearing before the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, Archbishop Herft faced a second day of questioning in Newcastle about his knowledge of child sex offences in the NSW Hunter region in the 1990s and early 2000s.

https://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/wa/a/32476877/i-was-fooled-by-priest-on-sex-abuse-herft/#page1 

Catholic priest allegedly rapes minor in Abuja

A Gudu Upper Area Court, Abuja, on Monday remanded Rev. Fr. Anthony Ochigbo, Parish priest of Church of Assumption, Asokoro, in police custody for alleged rape of a 10-year-old girl.
Ochigbo was arraigned on a one-count charge of rape.
The Upper Area court judge, Alhaji Umar Kagarko, adjourned the case till Aug. 30 for ruling. His counsel Godwin Chukwukere had applied for his bail pursuant to sections 158, 162, 163 and 164 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA).

http://dailypost.ng/2016/08/29/catholic-priest-allegedly-rapes-minor-abuja/ 

Criminal justice research reports released

The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse has released two research reports it commissioned on criminal justice issues that make significant findings about how child sexual abuse cases are handled in the criminal justice system.
  An evaluation of how evidence is elicited from complainants of child sexual abuse conducted 17 studies using information from various sources to examine the use and effectiveness of alternative measures for eliciting evidence from child sexual abuse complainants.

http://www.childabuseroyalcommission.gov.au/media-centre/media-releases/2016-08/criminal-justice-research-reports-released 

Newcastle Anglican lawyer accused of leading "coordinated opposition" to Bishop Greg Thompson

ROYAL commission chair Justice Peter McClellan accused solicitor Robert Caddies of leading “coordinated opposition” to Newcastle Anglican Bishop Greg Thompson during an explosive few minutes of evidence after a group of senior Newcastle Anglicans complained to the royal commission about the bishop in April.
In extraordinary letters sent to Sydney Archbishop Glenn Davies and the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, the group that included Mr Caddies and former Newcastle Lord Mayor John McNaughton, questioned Bishop Thompson’s “unsubstantiated” claim he was groomed and sexually abused by two senior clerics, including the late Bishop Ian Shevill.

http://www.theherald.com.au/story/4131770/royal-commission-asked-to-investigate-bishop/ 

Reward offered for capture of fugitive polygamist from Utah

Aerial view of an unfinished amphitheater at the Yearning for Zion ranch in Eldorado, Texas on Wednesday, Nov. 28, 2012. The Texas attorney general's office filed documents to seize the ranch on Wednesday. The property belonged to Warren Jeffs who served as the spiritual leader and prophet of the Fundamentalist Church of Latter Day Saints. Jeffs was convicted on two child sex charges and sentenced to life plus 20 years in prison.

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Federal authorities hope a $50,000 reward announced Monday, coupled with a falling out between polygamist fugitive Lyle Jeffs and his brother — imprisoned sect leader Warren Jeffs — will lead someone to reveal his whereabouts

http://www.thehour.com/news/crime/article/50K-reward-for-capture-of-fugitive-polygamist-9190628.php#photo-3809179 

Royal commission to explore child abuse 'epicentre' in Newcastle

A royal commission has begun a public investigation into allegations of child abuse by the Catholic diocese of Maitland-Newcastle.

The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse has turned its focus to the Catholic diocese in the Hunter after spending recent days investigating cases of abuse in the region's Anglican diocese.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-08-31/royal-commission-to-explore-child-abuse-'epicentre'-in-newcastle/7799774 

Royal Commission hears evidence of shocking child sexual abuse in the Hunter region

THE Catholic Church has paid more than $25 million to Hunter region child sexual abuse survivors, the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse has been told on the first day of a public hearing into Maitland-Newcastle diocese.
The diocese has substantiated claims or complaints from 158 people relating to 31 different perpetrators, counsel assisting the royal commission, Mr Stephen Free, said in an opening address highlighting decades of abuse in the region.

http://www.theherald.com.au/story/4132842/catholic-church-pays-257-million-in-newcastle-claims/ 

Royal commission hears of 'long suffering' of Catholic children in NSW Hunter region

A royal commission has heard more than 150 complaints of child sexual abuse have been substantiated in the Maitland-Newcastle Catholic diocese to date.

The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse shifted its focus to the Hunter region's Catholic church, after spending weeks probing Newcastle's Anglican diocese.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-08-31/royal-commission-catholic-hearing-begins/7800966 

Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse in the Maitland-Newcastle Catholic diocese | live blog Joanne McCarthy

12.41pm Sister Margaret-Anne Geatches, former principal of St Joseph’s School, Merewether. She is archivist at the Sisters of St Joseph’s at Lochinvar and was principal at the primary school from 1973. Geatches is giving evidence about a “commotion” on the sports field in December 1975, involving children.
A mother told her that Father Ryan had been “touching some boys down at the park and that this had occurred at the sacristy as well”. Geatches said she spoke to a group of boys that included Gerard McDonald and Scott Hallett. They said they had been touched by Father Ryan, and indicated their crotch area.

http://www.theherald.com.au/story/4132198/child-sexual-abuse-royal-commission-live-blog/ 

Purifying language vital to renewing 'polluted' churches

The crimes of child sexual abuse in the Catholic Church, and in other institutions, have generated a wide literature. It encompasses the experience of victims, the institutional causes of clerical abuse and the steps needed to do justice to its victims and to ensure it does not happen again.
Other writing offers help to victims to deal with their experience. An impressive example of this last category points to a wider challenge to our society. Jane Dowling's Child Arise! The Courage to Stand. A spiritual handbook for survivors of sexual abuse — which last month was named the Australian Christian Book of the Year — is addressed to Christians who have suffered abuse within the Church and whose faith is still central to them. Many, of course, have understandably abandoned it.

http://www.eurekastreet.com.au/article.aspx?aeid=49813#.V8ZV0DU1eUk 

Ex-priest Robert Claffey is facing additional charges

A former Catholic priest, Robert Claffey, 72, is currently awaiting trial for allegedly assaulting nine children (eight boys and a girl) while he was a priest in western Victoria. The charges include 15 counts of indecent assault and one count of buggery. The Victorian County Court has been told that the number of charges could be increased because more alleged victims have contacted the Victoria Police.
Later in 2016 the County Court will arrange a date for the next step in the judicial process.
From 1970 to 1992,  Father Robert Claffey worked in the Ballarat Diocese (which covers all of western Victoria) under the supervision of Bishop Ronald Mulkearns. Bishop Mulkearns (born in 1930) was the bishop of Ballarat from 1971 to 1997. Ballarat is the town where western Victoria's bishop is located.

http://www.brokenrites.org.au/drupal/node/344

Bungled inquiry into 'covered-up sex abuse at Britain's leading Catholic school Ampleforth College denies justice for ex-teacher's child victims'

A bungled inquiry into alleged sex abuse at Britain's leading Catholic School denied justice for potential victims, former pupils claim.

An investigation and subsequent trial into allegations that Dr Paul Sheppard, 53, sexually abused a ten-year-old boy Ampleforth College in North Yorkshire, was said to be marred with problems.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3757849/Bungled-inquiry-covered-sex-abuse-Britain-s-leading-Catholic-school-Ampleforth-College-denies-justice-ex-teacher-s-child-victims.html 

Sophia Bollag Sex offenders would have to disclose email addresses and usernames under bill sent to governor

Sex offenders would be required to report their email addresses, usernames and other Internet identifiers to law enforcement under a bill California state senators sent to the governor Wednesday.
The bill, SB 448, would amend parts of California law enacted when voters passed anti sex-trafficking law Proposition 35 that have since been challenged in court. The bill now goes to the governor.

http://www.latimes.com/politics/essential/la-pol-sac-essential-politics-updates-sex-offenders-would-have-to-disclose-1472084234-htmlstory.html 

John Swinney to meet with historic child abuse survivors

Survivors of historical child abuse have said a meeting with John Swinney will have a “major impact” on whether they continue to engage with Scotland’s crisis-hit national inquiry.
Campaigners will meet the education secretary today to make a series of demands about the remit of the inquiry and the financial redress on offer.

http://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/john-swinney-to-meet-with-historic-child-abuse-survivors-1-4216033 

Kerala: Bishop, three priests held for hiding info on woman’s death

Bishop Acquinas and the priests — Kulantha Raj, Madalai Muthu and Lawrance Melcure — were held under IPC Sections 201 (destroying evidence or giving false information) and 202 (intentionally omitting information).

Three years after a woman from Coimbatore was found dead at the parsonage of the Catholic Church in Chandrapuram, in Kerala’s Palakkad district, Palakkad police Friday arrested Coimbatore diocese Bishop Thomas Aquinas and three other priests of the same diocese for allegedly withholding information on the death.

http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/kerala-bishop-three-priests-held-for-hiding-info-on-womans-death-2974222/ 

Boca Raton police to review how 2014 fondling case at St. Andrew's School was investigated

Boca Raton police are taking a fresh look at a 2014 student-fondling case in which St. Andrew's School officials allegedly knew of a sex crime on campus and failed to report it, an agency spokeswoman said Wednesday.
Police plan to look into why the department didn't fully explore the school's lack of reporting two years ago. "We're going to look into it further to find out why it wasn't addressed at that time," Boca police spokeswoman Officer Sandra Boonenberg said.

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/local/palm-beach/boca-raton/fl-st-andrews-wednesday-20160824-story.html 

'Like a spider that keeps building its web': family of sexual abuse survivor speaks out

I pushed my little girls away from me when they became teenagers... I hated doing this but could not for the life of me know why... until years later... I hope that one day they will forgive me... all I saw as my daughters were growing up... into beautiful young ladies... was the rape of me as a teenager by the priest... and the three lady workers... it was so hard to watch them... as they bought their boys home... I use to think that they were far too young... to have one... I tried to accept them... but I could not... all that I told them was to always wear jeans... and put a safety pin across the zip... inside the  jeans... I could not bear anything happening to them as it did to me... Ann

 ===============================

Little attention has been paid to the impact of sexual abuse on those close to the primary victim. One family has decided it’s time to break the silence.
When Meg was 12, her mother, Annie, found herself unable to look at her. Seeing her daughter made Annie feel unsettled, at times almost angry. At first, she couldn’t figure out why. “And then, Meg turned 13 and suddenly, everything slid into place for me,” Annie says.

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2016/aug/29/family-of-child-sexual-abuse-survivor-speaks-out-secondary-victims 

Church can't be trusted to run Catholic schools: Catholic principal

A Catholic principal has blasted the Catholic Church, saying school leaders are being pressured into "inappropriate" situations and silenced.
Paul Tobias, the outspoken principal of St Joseph's College Geelong, has called for an urgent review of the governance of Catholic primary and secondary schools.

http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/church-cant-be-trusted-to-run-catholic-schools-catholic-principal-20160829-gr3qh5.html 

John Swinney to meet with historic child abuse survivors

Survivors of historical child abuse have said a meeting with John Swinney will have a “major impact” on whether they continue to engage with Scotland’s crisis-hit national inquiry.
Campaigners will meet the education secretary today to make a series of demands about the remit of the inquiry and the financial redress on offer.

http://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/john-swinney-to-meet-with-historic-child-abuse-survivors-1-4216033 

An Apology? Surely NZ needs a Royal Commission of Inquiry

Labour’s Justice spokesperson, Jacinda Ardern, recently called on the NZ Government to issue an apology for historic abuse in state institutions. Previously Social Development Minister, Anne Tolley had said that she would apologise to any child who was abused in state care.
Ms Ardern spoke last week after the launch of Elizabeth Stanley’s new book “The Road to Hell; State Violence against Children in Post-War New Zealand”. The book is a moving account of the experiences of those placed into state care from the 1950s to the 1980s and the harrowing tales it contains are indeed a persuasive argument for redress and change.

http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1608/S00338/an-apology-surely-nz-needs-a-royal-commission-of-inquiry.htm

On Disciplining Abusers And Protecting The Sheep

The church is to care for orphans and widows (James 1:27). An abuser has essentially orphaned his children and abandoned his wife. He has turned his vocation as a caregiver and protector on its head and corrupted it. Where the husband is meant to be a source of strength and safety, he has become weak and a source of fear and violence. 

If so, the church must step up and step in. Wives and children of abusers must be able to see in the church a refuge, a place of safety and help. Abused church members are the most vulnerable of all of Christ’s lambs and to them we owe a duty of special care and protection.

http://theaquilareport.com/on-disciplining-abusers-and-protecting-the-sheep/ 

Napa County now home for John Nienstedt, Twin Cities archbishop who resigned under legal cloud

Minnesota and then Michigan evidently grew too hot for John Nienstedt, a former Catholic archbishop who was accused of protecting predatory priests and who now cools his heels in Wine Country.

Nienstedt came far west after departing Minnesota under duress and stopping briefly in Michigan. A newspaper report out of Battle Creek earlier this year revealed that only two weeks after Nienstedt arrived and took a temporary church post there he “left amid a swirl of criticism.” Residents opposed to his assignment hounded the diocese and the media, and pulled tuition support for a school associated with the church, according to another news report. 

http://www.pressdemocrat.com/news/6019758-181/napa-county-now-home-for 

Does It Really Matter?

Communion in the hand is a bigger deal than you might think. Human beings are strange creatures. I don't mean we are the only creatures with both an immortal soul and a body (although, of course, we are). But we ascribe the greatest importance to things that are, when considered objectively, trivial at best. What dress the inhabitants of the exotic land of Kardashia are wearing while standing on a red carpet is, frankly, not that important.
Whether your team has sported harder than the other team, thus allowing it the privilege of sporting against another hard-sporting team, is irrelevant. Even things of supreme importance to our day-to-day life, such as health, food, shelter, even life itself. are distractions when compared to the singular important thing in the world.

http://www.churchmilitant.com/news/article/does-it-really-matter

Editorial: The horror of St. George's

There were cries of relief this month after St. George’s School, in Middletown, agreed to a settlement with as many as 30 alumni who claimed they had been sexually abused. Finally, after decades, the victims’ claims had been acknowledged, and validated.
But even if the settlement, which was not made public, eases some of the pain felt by the victims, the story of abuse at this elite Episcopal prep school and the decades-long trail that followed one of the alleged perpetrators presents a clear warning.

http://www.providencejournal.com/opinion/20160828/editorial-horror-of-st-georges 

Protests continue strong in light of Apuron statement

The past two weeks have seen a number of developments in the ongoing dispute between Archbishop Anthony Apuron and concerned Catholic laity over the Redemptoris Mater Seminary (RMS) property in Yona.
The most recent development is a statement released by Apuron on Thursday, Aug. 25. Jacqueline Terlaje, legal representative of Apuron, issued a statement with the first words from Apuron since his disappearance from public view in June.

http://www.postguam.com/news/local/protests-continue-strong-in-light-of-apuron-statement/article_4aed1096-6cf9-11e6-8eb5-6f64c56acd88.html 

Case Study 42, August 2016, Newcastle - Live hearing

The Royal Commission will continue its public hearing in Newcastle from Monday 29 August 2016 commencing at 10:00am AEST.
  The public hearing will inquire into the experiences of survivors of child sexual abuse perpetrated by clergy and lay people involved in or associated with the Anglican Diocese of Newcastle. Location The hearing will be held at Newcastle Courthouse, 343 Hunter Street, Newcastle.

http://childabuseroyalcommission.gov.au/case-study/2e6839f5-220a-4e3d-b92c-461bbe74ad34/case-study-42,-august-2016,-newcastle

Christian Brother acquitted, not cleared

A Sydney judge has found a Christian Brother not guilty of a string of child sex offences but says he believes the man did abuse a teenager three decades ago and that the Catholic Church’s handling of historical allegations failed the victim.

On Thursday morning, as he prepared to acquit Christopher Rafferty and send him from the dock a free man, Judge David Frearson said he believed the 65-year-old was a sexual predator whose abuse drove a former pupil to thoughts of suicide.

http://www.news.com.au/national/breaking-news/christian-brother-acquitted-not-cleared/news-story/30cd641b7eab4b3c07d28cbfde37a4ab 

Church leaders admit 'unhealthy atmosphere' at college amid gay dating app Grindr row

The Catholic Church hierarchy has admitted concerns about an "unhealthy atmosphere" at the country's main seminary amid claims trainee priests there are using the gay dating app Grindr.
Church leaders have ordered a review on the "appropriate use of the internet and social media" at the centuries-old St Patrick's College in Maynooth, Co Kildare, as well as an overhaul of its approach to whistleblowers.

http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/church-leaders-admit-unhealthy-atmosphere-at-college-amid-gay-dating-app-grindr-row-34993984.html 

Ex-teacher faces Newcastle court on child sex charges

A former Catholic school teacher and army sergeant has appeared in Newcastle court, after being charged with more than a dozen child sex offences.

Last month former St Pius maths teacher Edward (Ted) Hall was charged with 13 child sex offences, dating back to the 1980s.  Charge sheets tendered in Newcastle Local Court allege the abuse relates to four boys, all under 16.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-08-25/ex-teacher-fronts-newcastle-court-on-child-sex-charges/7785102 

Clerical sex abuse scandal has led to few convictions

Questions raised as victims feel justice is being denied. ne of the more remarkable features of the clerical child sexual abuse scandal has been the low conviction level of alleged perpetrators in the courts.

Last September the National Board for Safeguarding Children, the Catholic Church watchdog in Ireland, published a report looking at 325 allegations made against 141 members of six religious congregations.  Of those, the report found, only eight led to convictions.

http://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/religion-and-beliefs/clerical-sex-abuse-scandal-has-led-to-few-convictions-1.2768746 

LIGHT YEARS FROM 1984: WHERE ARE WE GOING FROM HERE?

The present era of awareness of sexual violation by Catholic clerics began in 1983 in two Catholic dioceses: the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis and the Diocese of Lafayette in Louisiana. This was not the start date of the problem of sexual violation but the beginning of widespread public awareness.
The reality of sexually dysfunctional clerics preying on minors and adults goes back through the centuries. In our lifetime it had been covered with a thick blanket of secrecy. It was unknown to the vast majority of lay persons and clerics as well. Many bishops knew about it but when they had to confront real cases they did so in secret with only a very small number of their closest advisors, all clerics, involved. Although they knew about sexual violation of minors in general, they were incapable of comprehending both its deeply pathological nature and its disastrous effects on victims.

http://www.bishop-accountability.org/news5/2016_06_24_to_26_Doyle_Light_Years.htm 

Catholic Church could limit trainee priests' access to the internet and encourage them to mix more with women after claims over use of gay dating app Grindr

The Catholic Church in Ireland is considering restricting trainee priests' access to the internet amid claims that young seminarians have been meeting up using the gay dating app Grindr. 

The Church is also looking at ways of encouraging young priests to mix more with women, families and lay people.  Earlier this month the Archbishop of Dublin Dr Diarmuid Martin said he was 'somewhat unhappy' about rumours that students at St Patrick's College in Maynooth were using the app, which he claimed 'fostered promiscuous sexuality'.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3757180/Catholic-Church-limit-trainee-priests-access-internet-encourage-mix-women-claims-use-gay-dating-app-Grindr.html 

Longtime priest, St. Albert chaplain suspended following arrest

A retired western Iowa priest who serves as a chaplain at St. Albert has been suspended following his arrest on invasion of privacy charges Thursday.
The Rev. Paul Monahan, 83, has been charged with five counts of invasion of privacy, a serious misdemeanor, according to online court records.

http://www.nonpareilonline.com/news/local/longtime-priest-st-albert-chaplain-suspended-following-arrest/article_a4dcf8f6-ddbd-541e-bf48-e8acad6f505f.html 

Sex abuse lawsuit against priest and Peoria diocese revived on appeal

PEORIA — An appellate court panel this week found a Peoria County judge erred when she threw out a lawsuit by a man claiming he was sexually abused by a priest.
The panel of 3rd District Appellate Court judges held the man's lawsuit, which was filed in 2012, wasn't time-barred by state law even though the abuse happened in the early 1990s. Rather, Judge Mary K. O'Brien wrote, with Judges Robert Carter and Vicki Wright concurring, the lawsuit should be allowed to proceed as the man claimed in his suit that he blocked the abuse out of his memory until 2011. As such, the statute of limitations hadn't tolled.

http://www.pjstar.com/news/20160825/sex-abuse-lawsuit-against-priest-and-peoria-diocese-revived-on-appeal 

Shifting winds in Maynooth - but Church must embrace change or lose its flock

Another day, another flavourless statement from Maynooth. It is remarkable how an institution as vibrant and effective as the Catholic Church during its 2,000-year history should become now so lost within a gilded labyrinth.
There is a way out of this maze of its own construction, as leaders from Pope Francis to Archbishop Diarmuid Martin realise. But their dilemma is how to secure buy-in for essential reforms from the Church's management class.

http://www.independent.ie/opinion/columnists/martina-devlin/shifting-winds-in-maynooth-but-church-must-embrace-change-or-lose-its-flock-34999553.html 

New Study Explores Why Religious ‘Nones’ Departed from Their Childhood Religion

Adults identifying themselves as "religious nones" have increased over the last few decades, and a recent Pew survey explored why they chose to move away from religion.
About 78 percent of the respondents of the survey said that they grew up in religious environment, but departed from the religion.

http://www.christianitydaily.com/articles/8428/20160826/new-study-explores-why-religious-nones-departed-childhood-religion.htm 

Top 5 reasons why U.S. churches went to court in 2015

Sexual abuse of minors is the No. 1 reason why religious organisations in the United States went to court in 2015, according to a lawyer.  Richard Hammar, a lawyer who specialises in legal issues related to churches and clergy, recently published his report on the Church Law and Tax website.
He categorised state appellate court and federal court rulings, which totalled 12,000 decisions, to identify the cases that most threaten religious organisations. Hammar said sexual abuse of minors was the leading cause, accounting for 11.7 percent of the cases.

http://www.christiantoday.com/article/top.5.reasons.why.u.s.religious.organisations.went.to.court.in.2015/94025.htm 

Man relives horror of life in Irish Protestant children's home

all children no matter what religion... orphanages... state homes... family homes... should be followed through... where every there has been a report of child abuse... and child rape... stolen babies... all men and women who have being abuse as children... need to be heard and believed... abuse stays with you for the rest of our lives... you never forget it... and finding our families birth families... is the foremost on our minds every day... we need to find our roots... know who we are...  Ann

Who Am I?
I have asked myself this
and still do not know.
I am like the slaves,
looking for my roots.
I am like the Lepers
who were said to be unclean.
I am a lost Soul wandering this Earth
asking myself how could this happen
to an innocent child of God
why were God's servants so cruel and so hard?
never a smile or a hand to hold
never a thank you from their lips to behold
A baby taken from the arms of her mother
to be a slave to them
another soul gained by the devil
because they told her
that she was the devil's daughter
I am like the lost generations
who were unwanted.
I am a child of this world looking for love
I am a mother, a grandmother
and a great grandmother
Still I say! Who am I?
copyrights@ annthompson   Ann

 =================================

A man who hopes his case will be heard at the European Court of Human Rights has spoken of the horrors he says he endured at a children's home in Ireland.
Derek Leinster, 75, was born at Dublin's Bethany Home in 1941. He wants a public apology and financial compensation. The grandfather, who now lives in Rugby, says its only right that survivors of Protestant children's homes receive the same recognition as those from Catholic homes.

Lawsuit revived in case of alleged sexual abuse by Lincoln priest

LINCOLN, Ill. -- A man who says he was sexually abused by a Lincoln priest has cleared a legal hurdle. The alleged victim claims he was abused by Rev. Norman Goodman of the Holy Family Catholic Church between 1991 and 1994.
The lawsuit had been barred because the statute of limitations ran out. That was overturned Friday by an appellate court panel because the man says he repressed memories of the abuse until 2011.

http://www.cinewsnow.com/news/local/Lawsuit-revived-in-case-of-alleged-sexual-abuse-by-Lincoln-priest-391460961.html

Court: St. Louis Priest Defamed by Anti-Sex Abuse Group

ST. LOUIS (ChurchMilitant.com) - A federal judge is ruling a St. Louis priest was the victim of defamation by an anti-sex abuse advocacy group that conspired against him.
On August 22, US. District Judge Carol E. Jackson wrote in a court order that the Survivors' Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP) made public accusations that "were false and that they did not conduct any inquiry into the truth or falsity of these public statements, but instead made these statements negligently and with reckless disregard for the truth."

http://www.churchmilitant.com/news/article/st.-louis-priest-defamed-by-anti-sex-abuse-group-rules-judge 

Whistleblower Hoatson: Local child abuse 'secret' protected by culture, 'dome' of faith

The Catholic Church is deeply ingrained in the Johnstown region's identity.
Worshipers have celebrated and mourned together, lived lives of virtue, served their communities, and raised their children in the faith – all within the framework of the institution. But, that same structure allowed countless acts of alleged child sexual abuse to take place – and be covered up – in the opinion of Robert Hoatson, founder of Road to Recovery, a New Jersey-based advocacy group.

http://www.tribdem.com/news/local_news/whistleblower-hoatson-local-child-abuse-secret-protected-by-culture-dome/article_c88a5eb0-dd0c-56a3-97d2-6126b2de4c01.html 

Catholic Church Groups Fight Bills To Revive Old Sex Abuse Cases

It's important to say right upfront that this isn't a story about pedophile priests. Bridie Farrell is Roman Catholic, but she says it was an adult mentor for her sports team, not a priest, who sexually assaulted her when she was a teenager.
"It happened at his house, in his car, in his hotel room," Farrell says. Farrell did what a lot of kids do when they're molested: She kept silent. But 18 years later, when she was 31 years old, she went public with her story.

http://news.wabe.org/post/catholic-church-groups-fight-bills-revive-old-sex-abuse-cases 

Brave Catholic priest sex abuse survivor won't be silenced

ALMOST 50 years ago, a tall, fun loving and incredibly charismatic Catholic priest strolled into a Brisbane schoolroom where he began systematically destroying the heart, body and soul of a 14-year-old girl.
That girl was Joan Isaacs and, despite 49 years having passed, the memory of the day she met the man who would sexually assault her over and over again is crystal clear. "He came into our class to give religious instruction," Ms Isaacs says of Francis Edward Derriman.

http://www.chinchillanews.com.au/news/brave-catholic-priest-sex-abuse-survivor-wont-be-s/3080819/

Key church lawyer alleges cover-up

The law professor who reviewed the Catholic Church's Towards Healing protocol says he can point to alleged contemporary cover-ups by the church and has withdrawn his support for the protocol.TONY JONES, PRESENTER: The senior lawyer who reviewed the Catholic Church's Towards Healing protocol says he can point to alleged contemporary cover-ups in the Catholic Church.
Professor Patrick Parkinson was cited by Cardinal Pell yesterday as the man who had reviewed the Church's protocols on two occasions and had given them his tick of approval.

http://www.abc.net.au/lateline/content/2012/s3633089.htm

Why America’s ‘nones’ left religion behind

Perhaps the most striking trend in American religion in recent years has been the growing percentage of adults who do not identify with a religious group. And the vast majority of these religious “nones” (78%) say they were raised as a member of a particular religion before shedding their religious identity in adulthood.

http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2016/08/24/why-americas-nones-left-religion-behind/ 

Lawsuit revived in case of alleged sexual abuse by Lincoln priest

LINCOLN, Ill. -- A man who says he was sexually abused by a Lincoln priest has cleared a legal hurdle. The alleged victim claims he was abused by Rev. Norman Goodman of the Holy Family Catholic Church between 1991 and 1994.
The lawsuit had been barred because the statute of limitations ran out. That was overturned Friday by an appellate court panel because the man says he repressed memories of the abuse until 2011.

http://www.cinewsnow.com/news/local/Lawsuit-revived-in-case-of-alleged-sexual-abuse-by-Lincoln-priest-391460961.html

Who Are The Abusers?

Most people who sexually abuse children look and appear to act just like everyone else. It’s hard to face the fact that someone we know – and even like or love – might sexually abuse a child. But the truth is that in 90% of cases, the child knows and trusts the person who commits the abuse.

This means that most abusers are either immediate family members (i.e. parents and siblings) or other close relatives (e.g. uncles, aunts, grandparents, cousins). Others in the child’s circle of trust may also be abusers. These include those with easy access to children because of their work in schools, child care centers, youth groups, sports teams, religious organizations and in other settings where children live and play. 

http://www.enoughabuse.org/gtf/who-are-the-abusers

Kiwi expat calling for Royal Commission inquiry into child sex abuse

Grant West knows first hand the destruction that results from being a victim of sexual abuse. The New Zealand born man is travelling through the country to gather signatures for a petition, calling for a Royal Commission into institutional responses to child abuse.
He grew up in Wellington, was sexually abused by a family member and spent time in and out of institutions, mental homes and then prison.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/nelson-mail/news/83075972/Kiwi-expat-calling-for-Royal-Commission-inquiry-into-child-sex-abuse 

Meet the Slum Priests of Argentina, Picking Up Where Pope Francis Left Off

A cool air fills the bare, white-walled church as hundreds of people clad in T-shirts, jeans, and backward hats cram into the makeshift pews. The congregation watches on as a girl, no more than 5 or 6 years old, is lifted and dipped into a baptismal font.
Her pink Croc draws closer to the ceiling, as a blessing is incanted. It quickly comes back down, and smiles break out across the room. Padre Pepe Di Paola (known as Padre Pepe), 54, has just completed one of five baptisms in Villa Carcova, one of the poorest neighborhoods on the northern outskirts of Buenos Aires.

https://sojo.net/articles/meet-slum-priests-argentina-picking-where-pope-francis-left 

Sex abuse lawsuit against priest and Peoria diocese revived on appeal

PEORIA — An appellate court panel this week found a Peoria County judge erred when she threw out a lawsuit by a man claiming he was sexually abused by a priest.
The panel of 3rd District Appellate Court judges held the man's lawsuit, which was filed in 2012, wasn't time-barred by state law even though the abuse happened in the early 1990s. Rather, Judge Mary K. O'Brien wrote, with Judges Robert Carter and Vicki Wright concurring, the lawsuit should be allowed to proceed as the man claimed in his suit that he blocked the abuse out of his memory until 2011. As such, the statute of limitations hadn't tolled.

http://www.pjstar.com/news/20160825/sex-abuse-lawsuit-against-priest-and-peoria-diocese-revived-on-appeal 

Newcastle’s ring of evil: abuse in Catholic, Anglican churches

It started with a grown man weeping in the witness box. =On the first day of its public hearings in Newcastle, NSW, earlier this month, Paul Gray broke down while describing to the child abuse royal commission his suffering at the hands of his godfather, Anglican priest Peter Rushton.

Asked if he wanted to stop giving evidence, Gray replied: “No, I need to read it. It’s important to me.” What followed was a very public reckoning for a region that arguably had suffered more than any other from child abuse committed by priests.

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/inquirer/newcastles-ring-of-evil-abuse-in-catholic-anglican-churches/news-story/ce3c902837fe6f4775454b16ea144c39 

Attorney General ties Jerry Sandusky cover-up prosecution to Catholic church sex-abuse case

State prosecutors are asking a trial judge to proceed with child endangerment charges against three former Penn State administrators charged as a result of the Jerry Sandusky child sex abuse scandal.
The state's response, filed last Tuesday under seal, was made public Wednesday by Dauphin County court officials.

http://www.pennlive.com/news/2016/08/attorney_generals_office_hinge.html 

Exclusive: St. Andrew’s kept quiet over student’s molestation report

BOCA RATON — In May 2014, a 15-year-old freshman at St. Andrew’s School went to administrators with an upsetting accusation: A senior boarding student had barged into the girls’ campus dormitory with his friends and, in the middle of a card game, fondled her repeatedly in front of several students.

The school interviewed the student but never notified police or child-welfare investigators, despite a state law that calls for schools to report suspicions of sexual abuse against minors, police records obtained by The Palm Beach Post show.

http://www.mypalmbeachpost.com/news/news/local-education/st-andrews-school-kept-quiet-when-a-student-said-s/nsK89/ 

Perth Archbishop “can’t recall” alert on child abuse

Perth’s Anglican Archbishop Roger Herft has said he cannot recall being told a senior Church figure in NSW was abusing children, even though documents suggest he raised concerns with the priest at the time.

The royal commission into child sexual abuse has published new statements from Archbishop Herft ahead of hearings next week when he will face more questioning over his response to historic claims of child sexual abuse in Newcastle.

https://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/wa/a/32434348/archbishop-can-t-recall-cleric-alert/#page1 

Trainee Catholic priests could face social media penance over Grindr ‘goings on’

Trainee Roman Catholic priests in Ireland could face curbs on their internet access and are to be encouraged to mix more with women after claims over the use of the gay dating app Grindr at the country’s main seminary.
Ireland’s Catholic hierarchy voiced concerns about what it called an “unhealthy atmosphere” at St Patrick’s College in Maynooth, Co Kildare, and ordered a review of the “appropriate use of the internet and social media”.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/08/24/trainee-catholic-priests-could-face-social-media-penance-over-gr/ 

Audio stories give a voice to survivor stories

The Royal Commission has published nine audio stories based on survivors’ experiences as revealed in private sessions.
These stories are accurate summaries of what was said in the private session, and use real quotes taken from the session. However, names have been changed and the stories have been narrated by actors to protect the identity of the survivors.

http://www.childabuseroyalcommission.gov.au/media-centre/media-releases/2016-08/audio-stories-give-a-voice-to-survivor-stories 

Judge gives Islamic leader deadline to accept plea deal in sex abuse case

The founder of a suburban Islamic school who is accused of sexually abusing a former student and a former employee has been given until Sept. 2 to decide if he will accept a plea deal.
Cook County Associate Judge James Karahalios issued the deadline Tuesday after the imam, Mohammed Abdullah Saleem, declined to accept the terms of a plea deal offered by prosecutors. Karahalios said he intends to take Saleem to trial on Sept. 12 if the imam does not agree to the plea arrangement by the Sept. 2 deadline.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/elgin-courier-news/ct-elgin-imam-sex-abuse-hearing-met-20160823-story.html

SNAP Ordered to Pay Legal Fees for Catholic Priest in Sexual Abuse Case

ST. LOUIS (KMOX) – The Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP) is ordered to help pay the legal fees of a Catholic priest who accuses SNAP of conspiring to ruin his reputation.
SNAP refused to turn over some documents in the civil suit filed by Father Joseph Jiang – who was once charged criminally with sexual misconduct involving a child, but the charges were dropped. They say it would compromise the privacy of alleged victims.

http://stlouis.cbslocal.com/2016/08/23/snap-ordered-to-pay-legal-fees-for-catholic-priest-in-sexual-abuse-case/ 

Nine Survivors Of Child Sex Abuse Tell Their Horrifying But Important Stories

(Warning: some of this material is confronting and disturbing. If the stories cause you sadness or distress and you need help, you can access support services here.)
The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual abuse has for the first time published nine audio accounts of survivors' experiences, in a move it hopes will bolster community understanding of abuse.
The nine private session stories tell of abuse that occurred in schools, children's homes, state-run institutions and Aboriginal missions from the 1950's to the 2000's.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com.au/2016/08/23/nine-survivors-of-child-sex-abuse-committed-by-trusted-carers-gi/ 

Royal Commission into Child Sexual Abuse releases nine unheard stories

WARNING: Disturbing content; NATALIE wanted desperately to become a model. So, when a Catholic priest set up a studio in his office, she jumped at the opportunity to be photographed.

Soon, she realised there was a problem. Father Collier, who assisted at the primary school attended by the 11-year-old in 1985, asked her to change out of her uniform and into something more flattering.

http://www.news.com.au/national/courts-law/royal-commission-into-child-sexual-abuse-releases-nine-unheard-stories/news-story/ce31e35a6672f8896f99be8c48823bc6 

Catholic Church Groups Fight Bills To Revive Old Sex Abuse Cases

It's important to say right upfront that this isn't a story about pedophile priests. Bridie Farrell is Roman Catholic, but she says it was her speedskating coach who sexually assaulted her when she was a teenager.
"It happened at his house, in his car, in his hotel room," Farrell says. Farrell did what a lot of kids do when they're molested: She kept silent. But 18 years later, when she was 31 years old, she went public with her story.

http://wvpe.org/post/catholic-church-groups-fight-bills-revive-old-sex-abuse-cases 

St. Margaret Mary parents sue Louisville archdiocese over ex-priest

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) – The parents of a boy who attended St. Margaret Mary School have sued the Archdiocese of Louisville, alleging the church should have known that a former parish priest who took inappropriate photographs of students was “dangerously unsuitable” for his job.
The lawsuit, filed Friday in Jefferson Circuit Court, is at least the second such action related to ex-pastor Stephen Pohl, who pleaded guilty in January to possessing child pornography and was sentenced in March to 33 months in federal prison.

http://www.wdrb.com/story/32816363/st-margaret-mary-parents-sue-louisville-archdiocese-over-ex-priest 

Man tells of shocking abuse at the hands of perverted priests at boys' home

A TAMWORTH man has spoken out about his nine years of hell at the hands of pervert priests and masters at a boys' home.
Derek Finnegan (57), who formerly lived in Erdington, was beaten and sexually abused on an almost daily basis, experiences which he says have ruined his life.  Although those who targeted him are now dead, Derek is desperate to track down other boys from the home who were also abused by those in charge.

http://www.tamworthherald.co.uk/abuse-in-boys-homes-left-dad-with-a-legacy-of-aggression-and-anger/story-29629455-detail/story.html 

Jury finds former St John ambulance officer guilty on all eight sex charges

Also found to have breached the trust paramedics around NZ have rightfully earned. Hidden beneath the "protective cloak" of a St John uniform was Christopher Roger King, a sexual predator who arrogantly selected, gassed and traumatised his patients.
King, 48, was not who he tried to portray throughout the trial. The "unluckiest" ambulance officer in the country.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/hawkes-bay-today/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503462&objectid=11358427 

Advocates for alleged child sex abuse victims announce settlement with Bergen Catholic H.S.

One of the Christian Brothers at Bergen Catholic High School was known to ask students to pull down their pants and underwear so he could discipline them with a leather strap or leer at their naked backsides. Another was feared for his habit of pinning students in their desks as he reached his hand down the back of their pants.

“These are Christ’s representatives on earth,” a former student, Peter Alrutz, said he was told when he attended the school in the early 1960s. “You’re taught to do whatever they tell you. And then all of a sudden the people who are supposed to be protecting you are abusing you.”

http://www.northjersey.com/news/advocates-for-alleged-child-sex-abuse-victims-announce-settlement-with-bergen-catholic-h-s-1.1648751 

Judicial College of Victoria

The Royal Commission is confronted by multiple and complex tasks. We are required to investigate the conduct of institutions when responding to the sexual abuse of children. We must make recommendation to ensure, as far as possible, children are not sexually abused in an institutional context in the future. Amongst many other issues we must identify what makes an institution child safe. We are also required to look at the response of both the civil and criminal justice systems. The first step in our work has been to talk to survivors of abuse.

http://childabuseroyalcommission.gov.au/media-centre/speeches/judicial-college-of-victoria

Watch abuse survivor chain himself to a cross outside cathedral in Glasgow to demand more support for victims

DAVE Sharp was raped and sexually assaulted by a Christian brother - he wants to see compensation and more support for the victims. AN ABUSE survivor is protesting outside one of Scotland’s largest cathedrals chained to a cross.
Dave Sharp was raped and sexually assaulted by a Christian brother at St Ninian’s residential school, in Fife.  A former headteacher and ex-teacher from the school were convicted at Glasgow's High Court last month of abusing and sexually assaulting six boys there in the 1970s and 1980s.

http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/watch-abuse-survivor-chain-himself-8682677 

21 settle sex abuse suit with Christian Bros., Bergen school

ORADELL, New Jersey — A Boston lawyer for seven alleged child sexual abuse victims at Bergen Catholic High School said 21 victims settled with the parochial school in November for $1.9 million. Two advocates — neither of whom were abused at the Oradell high school — hosted a news conference Monday in front of the school to announce the settlement.
Attorney Mitchell Garabedian said nothing has changed legally since November but “victims want to come forward now.”

http://www.lohud.com/story/news/religion/2016/08/22/sex-abuse-suit-christian-brothers/89110906/ 

Church in India prepares policy to address clergy abuse

Two top bodies of the Catholic church in India are now busy finalizing a policy to address sex abuse and other forms of abuse by clergy. "A draft policy is in the final stage now. It has been circulated among all bishops and major superiors in India," says Bishop Theodore Mascarenhas, secretary general of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of India.
Mascarenhas, who in July also became spokesperson for the church in India, says the standing committee, the executive body of the bishops conference, will finalize the draft at its biannual meeting Sept. 21-23 in Bangalore, southern India.

http://globalsistersreport.org/news/trends/church-india-prepares-policy-address-clergy-abuse-41841# 

Church denies abandoning abuse victims

A man who is demonstrating chained to a cross outside Glasgow's St Andrews Cathedral is receiving regular offers of help from the Archdiocese of Glasgow over his history of childhood abuse, a spokesman for the Catholic Church has claimed.
Dave Sharp began his protest yesterday, saying the church had failed victims of abuse and had not apologised after the recent conviction of two former schoolteachers for abuse carried out at St Ninian's School in Fife, which was run by the Christian Brothers.

http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/14698209.Church_denies_abandoning_abuse_victims/ 

'You took my childhood,' sex-abuse survivor tells Brett Mittelsteadt in court

Brett Mittelsteadt was a family man, trusted teacher, coach and active member of the Catholic church when he started sending sexual text messages to a girl less than half his age — who was also one of his students.
The details are outlined in the agreed statement of facts, a list of details agreed on by the court when Mittelsteadt pleaded guilty on Monday morning to luring and touching a minor for a sexual purpose.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/you-took-my-childhood-sex-abuse-survivor-tells-brett-mittelsteadt-in-court-1.3731093 

Vatican Reeling As Pope Francis Admits There Is An Army Of Over 8,000 Pedophile Priests

POPE FRANCIS WAS QUOTED AS SAYING THERE ARE AROUND 8,000 PEDOPHILE PRIESTS STATIONED AROUND THE GLOBE

(Now the End Begins) In a BBC interview that the Vatican is struggling to spin, Pope Francis took the highly unusual step of actually admitting that there are thousands and thousands of pedophile priests in the Catholic Church worldwide. By their estimates about 8,000. This mind-numbing admission has sent shock-waves through the highest levels of the Vatican system.

http://www.theeventchronicle.com/news/europe/vatican-reeling-pope-francis-admits-army-8000-pedophile-priests/# 

Papal Advisor Under Fire for Negligence on Sexual Abuse

Since 16 August 2016, many reports have been published in Germany indicating that Cardinal Reinhard Marx — Archbishop of Munich, head of the German Bishops’ Conference, and one of the close collaborators of Pope Francis — may be guilty of negligent conduct concerning a sexual abuse case in the Diocese of Trier (of which he was then-bishop) ten years ago. The reports have been so numerous that Katholisch.de, the official website of the German Bishops, had to publish an article on the matter to clarify known details.
As the German magazine FOCUS reports on 16 August, Cardinal Marx had knowledge of the abuse case of one of his priests in Trier, but did not take further steps to remove him from his office.

http://www.onepeterfive.com/papal-advisor-under-fire-for-negligence-on-sexual-abuse/ 

Cardinal George Pell visited Ballarat before abuse commission hearings

Victims’ advocates have questioned why Cardinal George Pell could make it back to Ballarat recently but not front up for the child abuse royal commission.

Cardinal Pell returned to his home town and visited his former school St Patrick’s College on March 27.  Truth Justice and Healing Council chief executive Francis Sullivan says he did not know Cardinal Pell was in Ballarat recently and it was obviously a private visit.

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/in-depth/royal-commission/cardinal-george-pell-visited-ballarat-before-abuse-commission-hearings/news-story/72c1e51511f76c3cd46bb674b11f0f1c 

Accused sex offender named Neville Pell denies he is related to Cardinal George Pell after first saying they are family.

An alleged child sex offender named Neville George Pell has denied he is related to Cardinal George Pell after a Melbourne court heard he told investigating police they were linked.
In a sworn statement tendered to Melbourne Magistrates Court, a detective said when a colleague asked Mr Pell in February last year if he was related to "George Pell" he replied: "Yes, f---ing hypocrite."

http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/accused-sex-offender-named-neville-pell-denies-he-is-related-to-cardinal-george-pell-after-first-saying-they-are-family-20150603-ghfssj.html 

Inquiry into policies and practises of Adoption Act 1955

The New Zealand Adoption Act 1955 is an outdated piece of legislation that no longer reflects the needs of children requiring care outside their family. To date the New Zealand government through its Minister for Justice has consistently ignored requests and cries for it to reform this archaic legislation. There have been various parties lobbying for change, dating back to 1979; and in recent times, the request for an Inquiry to look into the way this legislation has impacted the families of those it was directed at, and how it still impacts the lives of those involved.
We, the undersigned, call upon the government of New Zealand to immediately call an Inquiry similar to that which was enacted in Australia and use this Inquiry to overhaul and reform this outdated law.

https://www.change.org/p/new-zealand-government-inquiry-into-policies-and-practises-of-adoption-act-1955?fb_ref=Default&share_id=pBtwwwpfOE&utm_campaign=autopublish&utm_medium=facebook&utm_source=share_petition 

Three years after her daughter’s death at Kerala priest’s residence, mother takes on Catholic church

Three years later, Roselin’s fight against the powerful Catholic Church for allegedly colluding to cover up the “murder” of her 17-year-old daughter has reached a key turning point. 

A 17-year-old from Tamil Nadu is found dead at the residence of a priest in Kerala. Is it a suicide? Or murder? Arun Janardhanan tells the story of the girl’s mother taking on the Catholic church, leading to the arrest a week ago of five senior priests, including a Bishop

http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/kerala-priest-arrest-fathima-sophia-father-arockiaraj-tamil-nadu-catholic-church-he-was-god-2987910/ 

Fathima murder case: Court orders arrest of 4 priests

Coimbatore: The Palakkad court has ordered the Kerala police to arrest four priests from Coimbatore in connection with the murder of Fathima Sofiya of Kottaimedu. Shanthi Roselin, Fathima's mother, said they were informed that the court directed the police to register cases under Section 201 and Section 202 of the IPC.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/coimbatore/Fathima-murder-case-Court-orders-arrest-of-4-priests/articleshow/52486499.cms 

Father David O'Hearn is in jail but officially he is STILL a priest

Catholic priest David Anthony O’Hearn, 55, has been in jail in New South Wales for the past four years, and now he is about to learn how many more years he must remain behind bars. In jury trials during the past four years, he has been found guilty of 44 child-sex offences against six victims.
For legal reasons, those trials could not be reported in the media until the final jury completed its work in May 2016. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Monday 22 August 2016 at 10.30am by Judge Richard Cogswell in Sydney's Downing Centre District Court (the court list still refers to David O'Hearn by his initials, "DO"). This article includes some Broken Rites research about O'Hearn.

http://www.brokenrites.org.au/drupal/node/119 

Priests say Vatican's representative in Ireland is "out of sync" with the realities of life

A GROUP OF Catholic priests has criticised the Vatican’s diplomatic representative in Ireland, at a time they describe as the Catholic Church’s “most critical juncture” The Association of Catholic Priests (ACP) raised concerns over the appointment of bishops in Ireland.
The priests were critical of the candidates chosen by the Nuncio, Archbishop Charles Browne, who they describe as being “out of sync” with the realities of life in Ireland today and uncomfortable with the openness of Pope Francis to change and reform the Church.

http://www.thejournal.ie/vatican-rep-ireland-out-of-sync-2938756-Aug2016/ 

Name clergy accused of sexual abuse, therapists say

Fifteen priests accused of sexually abusing children were identified recently by a York Daily Record investigation. Susan Blum of New Freedom, talks about discovering her abuser on a list of other priests who molested children. Jason Plotkin, 

The Diocese of Harrisburg has been reluctant to publicly name all clergy accused of sexually abusing children, but therapists who work with trauma survivors say the Catholic Church should be completely transparent.

http://www.ydr.com/story/news/2016/08/21/name-clergy-accused-sexual-abuse-therapists-say/88943816/ 

Ben Bradlee recounts historic Spotlight team investigation

Emerson Hall was standing room only Tuesday, August 16, as residents of Castine and the surrounding area listened to former Boston Globe editor Ben Bradlee Jr. recount his experience as part of the “Spotlight” team that brought the sexual misconduct cases of the Catholic Church to the forefront of the Boston community.

Bradlee led the team in its investigation into several priests in the community, uncovering solid evidence that these cases of sexual misconduct had occurred and were covered up by the diocese.

http://castinepatriot.com/news/2016/aug/18/ben-bradlee-recounts-historic-spotlight-team-inves/#.V7kEcjU1eUn 

Popular Chicago-Area Priest Removed For 'Inappropriate Relationship' Joins Ministry in Texas

The Rev. Marco Mercado was removed last October by the Chicago Archdiocese, saying he was involved in “an inappropriate relationship with an adult man” has moved to Texas and begun working in hospital ministry. Mercado tells the Telemundo affiliate in San Antonio that “I’ve been able to refocus in my vocation, in my ministry, my priesthood. That’s why I’m extremely grateful for all the people who’ve supported me, all the people who’ve prayed for me.”

http://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/Popular--390635601.html 

TX--Archbishop lets suspended priest work again

Last year, Fr. Marco Mercado was stopped from working in the Chicago archdiocese because of "an inappropriate adult relationship." These are the words used by Chicago Archbishop Blase Cupich. Note he didn't say "ALLEGED relationship." Nor did he say "one time incident." http://www.archchicago.org/
This was, we strongly suspect, a repeated series of selfish, hurtful violations of a vulnerable young person, one who was likely taught since birth to revere and trust priests. And every sexual contact between a Catholic cleric and a Catholic parishioner is, by definition, improper and unhealthy, in part because of the huge power differential between the two.

http://www.snapnetwork.org/tx_archbishop_lets_suspended_priest_work_again

Limerick diocese investigating 'complaint' against priest

A PRIEST based in west Limerick has been suspended from duty as a result of what is understood to be an allegation of sexual impropriety.
A letter was read out to mass-goers in the parish last weekend explaining that the long-serving priest would step down from his duties pending an investigation into the allegation. It is understood that the allegation relates to an isolated “historic” event. However the nature of the complaint has not been made public by the diocese of Limerick.

http://www.limerickleader.ie/news/home/213772/limerick-diocese-investigating-complaint-against-priest.html 

Aiding Crime

Why don’t people report abuse?’ is one of the most common questions asked. “If they were really abused wouldn’t they want to tell someone?’ Well yes and no. We know that most people, perhaps the overwhelming majority of those abused do not report what happened to them for three basic reasons. They are afraid to say anything because their abuser has threatened them or their families as part of the grooming they were subjected to.
Often, people do not report abuse because they are sure that they will not be believed. And, individuals who have been abused see that when members of their own community have reported abuse they were shunned by the community, even sent packing, having to move away from a beloved home. Overriding all of this is the tendency among many to blame the victims of abuse despite the fact that they were forcibly coerced or were very young or were in some other way unable to protect themselves.

http://blogs.timesofisrael.com/aiding-crime/ 

Former priest up on new charges

Served time before for possessing, distributing child porn.  A former Anglican priest convicted in 2010 was back in provincial court in St. John’s Thursday on new charges.
Robin Barrett, 57, was sent to jail in September 2010 to serve 2 1/2 years after he  pleaded guilty to possessing and unlawfully distributing child pornography.

http://www.thetelegram.com/News/Local/2016-08-18/article-4618986/Former-priest-up-on-new-charges/1 

Braid: A legislature Speaker's haunting story of sexual assault

There’s really no easy way to begin this strange and powerful story, but here it comes, with a caution to those of delicate feelings.
One day in 2012, David Carter, a man of the church, a former Speaker of the Alberta legislature, walked into a cemetery in Saskatchewan’s Qu’Appelle Valley. He poured lemon juice on the grave of a former archbishop of the Anglican Church.

http://calgaryherald.com/news/politics/braid-a-legislature-speakers-haunting-story-of-sexual-assault 

Pushing gender ideology on kids is child abuse: pediatricians group

“Facts – not ideology – determine reality,” the American College of Pediatricians (ACP) said in a warning to legislators and educators about the dangers of surgical and medical sex change operations to children.
“Conditioning children into believing that a lifetime of chemical and surgical impersonation of the opposite sex is normal and healthful is child abuse,” the physicians said, “Rates of suicide are twenty times greater among adults who use cross-sex hormones and undergo sex reassignment surgery, even in Sweden which is among the most LGBTQ – affirming countries.”

https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/gender-ideology-leads-to-child-abuse-pediatricians 

Fresh crisis for German Catholic Church as ordinations sink to new low

An unprecedentedly low number of Catholic priests in Germany are being ordained, new figures show, as a crisis appears to be engulfing the Church in that country.  Only 58 men joined the clergy in 2015, according to the figures released by the German Episcopal Conference this week.
The number of ordinations has dropped by half in the past decade: In 2005, a total of 122 diocesan priests were ordained, and five decades ago, in 1965, the number was 500.

http://www.christiantoday.com/article/fresh.crisis.for.german.catholic.church.as.ordinations.sink.to.new.low/93476.htm?email=1 

Why We Name Names

“It is very tempting to take the side of the perpetrator.  All the perpetrator asks is that the bystander do nothing.  [The perpetrator] appeals to the universal desire to see, hear and speak no evil.  The victim, on the contrary, asks the bystander to share the burden of pain.  The victim demands action, engagement and remembering.”
Sometime in the early 90’s, associate editor of the Mennonite Brethren Herald, James Coggins, was commissioned by a consortium of Mennonite and Brethren in Christ editors to write an article entitled “Should we report scandal in the Mennonite press?” It was printed in the April 1991 issue of MBH. Coggins answers the question with a resounding yes. His reasons for reporting scandal and naming names include these positive outcomes:

http://www.ourstoriesuntold.com/why-we-name-names/ 

Cardinal Marx faces accusations over handling of alleged abuse case

Trier, Germany, Aug 19, 2016 / 12:34 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- Accusations have been raised in a number of German media that Cardinal Reinhard Marx of Munich and Freising failed to remove from office a priest accused in 2006 of sexually abusing a minor.
The alleged abuser, it appears, was allowed to stay on as parish priest for a number of years, even going on overnight excursions with youth.

http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/cardinal-marx-faces-accusations-over-handling-of-alleged-abuse-case-82691/ 

Father David O'Hearn will be sentenced on Monday for more than 40 child sex crimes

THE Hunter Catholic priest who was once punched by a teacher, and who fought child sex allegations in court for eight years, will be sentenced on Monday.
Father David O’Hearn has spent most of the past four years in jail, but will learn on Monday how many years he will remain in custody after he was found guilty of more than 40 child sex offences involving six victims.

http://www.maitlandmercury.com.au/story/4107520/catholic-priest-to-learn-sentence/ 

Catholic church lawyer details cover-up claims on sex abuse

Jennifer Haselberger, the highest-level official from a US diocese to make claims of a cover-up, is a canon law expert educated at the Catholic University of Leuven, Belgium. She alleges a cover-up is happening right now in Minnesota.

[snip] ” . . .  Haselberger said that when she started examining records in 2008 of clergy under restrictions over sex misconduct with adults and children she found “nearly 20” of the 48 men still in ministry. She said she repeatedly warned Nienstedt and his aides about the risk of these placements, but they took action only in one case. As a result of raising alarms, she said she was eventually shut out of meetings about priest misconduct. She resigned last year.   . . . “

https://dublinsmickdotcom.wordpress.com/2016/08/18/catholic-church-lawyer-details-cover-up-claims-on-sex-abuse/ 

Fox Used Payouts to Silence Sex Abuse Victims

Fox News has used huge payments to silence employees who claim they've been victims of sexual harassment in the workplace — a practice that shields the network's top brass from scrutiny, The New York Times reports.
It's one explanation for why recently-fired Fox News chief executive Roger Ailes may have been able to conduct "what appears to have been a decades-long campaign of sexual abuse and harassment of subordinates," according to James B. Stewart, the author and Pulitzer-prize winning business columnist.

http://www.newsmax.com/Newsfront/fox-news-sex-abuse-victims-payouts/2016/08/19/id/744337/ 

Appellate court rules woman can testify what she said in confession in alleged abuse case

BATON ROUGE – A Louisiana appellate court on Aug. 1 ruled that a young woman who claims she was sexually abused as a minor by an adult member of the congregation of Our Lady of Assumption Roman Catholic church in Clinton can tell a jury what she claims to have told a priest during confession.

In a 2-1 decision, three 1st Circuit Court of Appeals judges handed a victory to Rebecca Mayeux and her legal team, who are seeking damages for alleged sexual abuse by an adult parishioner Mayeux claims to have suffered from the age of 12. At the same time, they affirmed the privileged, protected status implicitly or explicitly granted to religious organizations in the U.S. Constitution.

http://louisianarecord.com/stories/510996527-appellate-court-rules-woman-can-testify-what-she-said-in-confession-in-alleged-abuse-case 

The Church and Islam: The Next Cover-up Scandal

William Kilpatrick is a prolific Catholic author who has specialized in a number of current issues, one of which is the relationship between Islam and modern Christian-based society. His article, on the Crisis Magazine website, The Church and Islam: The Next Cover-up Scandal, initiated especially by what many consider to have been strange remarks by Pope Francis in response to a question about the beheading of a French priest, is a must read.
Kilpatrick raises the question, "Is the Pope doing more harm than good by continuing to deny—in the face of a mountain of evidence—that Islam has anything to do with violence?"

https://www.lifesitenews.com/pulse/the-church-and-islam-the-next-cover-up-scandal 

Man to stage 'crucifixion' to highlight abuse

A man who says he was abused for years in the care of the Catholic church is to chain himself to a cross in Glasgow in protest.
Dave Sharp, who grew up in Catholic orphanages, and attended St Ninian's school, run by the Christian Brotherhood, is calling for the church to do more to help victims of abuse such as himself. He is also demanding an apology for the treatment children received at St Ninian's.

http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/homenews/14694628.Man_to_stage___39_crucifixion__39__to_highlight_abuse/?ref=rss 

Dame Lowell Goddard confused by UK laws

The New Zealand judge heading the UK's historical child abuse inquiry has shocked barristers by admitting that she is confused by English law. Dame Justice Goddard is set to earn around £5million (NZ$9.17m) as chairwoman of the inquiry after being appointed by Theresa May.
The case could run for a decade - and cost taxpayers hundreds of millions of pounds, it emerged earlier this week.  The probe is receiving up to 100 fresh allegations every week - a quarter of them referred to the police.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/assault-and-homicide/news/article.cfm?c_id=124&objectid=11684655 

Audrie & Daisy exposes what really happened to the teens

Two girls living on opposite sides of the United States were raped the same year. Both were blamed, both suffered from relentless abuse when they were the victims. Both attempted suicide. One failed, the other didn't.
A new documentary, Audrie & Daisy, exposes the trauma young teens go through and how social media and bullying can kill. It was about 5am. Daisy Coleman wasn't wearing a jumper, not even shoes or socks. It was 2012 and winter in Maryville, Missouri, and Daisy woke up on her front lawn.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/assault-and-homicide/news/article.cfm?c_id=124&objectid=11684674 

Does it matter whether Archbishop John Nienstedt is gay?

When allegations of a sex-abuse coverup began to leak out of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis a couple years ago, they were always accompanied by another, seemingly unrelated set of accusations: the bumbling attempts of Archbishop John Nienstedt, then the leader of the archdiocese, to have sex with men.
“The archbishop has been known to go ‘cruising’ (and I am not referring to the type of cruising one does on a ship in the Caribbean) and, on one occasion, purchased ‘poppers’ (and not the exploding candy preferred by elementary school students) and followed another gentleman to his car for, well, the type of activity that men purchase ‘poppers’ for…,” wrote Jennifer Haselberger, the whistleblower whose allegations prompted Nienstedt’s resignation last summer. On her website, Haselberger helpfully links to Wikipedia’s entry on poppers: basically disco-era sex drugs.

https://www.minnpost.com/politics-policy/2016/08/does-it-matter-whether-archbishop-john-nienstedt-gay 

Tamworth man tells of shocking abuse at the hands of perverted priests at boys' home

A TAMWORTH man has spoken out about his nine years of hell at the hands of pervert priests and masters at a boys' home.
Derek Finnegan (57) was beaten and sexually abused on an almost daily basis, experiences which he says have ruined his life.
Although those who targeted him are now dead, Derek is desperate to track down other boys from the home who were also abused by those in charge.
"I WOULD hear the key turn in the lock. I would face the wall and hold on to the pillow, I could smell the whisky on his breath. Even now it kills me to think about it."

http://www.tamworthherald.co.uk/abuse-in-boys-homes-left-dad-with-a-legacy-of-aggression-and-anger/story-29629455-detail/story.html#xi5rTfyCxXVsPYha.01 

Alleged Abuse Victim Protests, Two More Contact Lawyer

This story is breaking and will be updated. Two more individuals have made allegations about former Fordham Prep teacher Fernand Beck and have contacted Mitchell Garabedian, a lawyer specializing in sexual assault cases made against the Catholic Church. Their claims are currently being investigated, according to the lawyer.
Beck was accused of rape by former student Michael Meenan. Fordham Prep launched an investigation, found the claims to be credible, alerted the Fordham Prep community and announced that Beck would not be returning to the school in early August. More information can be found here.

https://fordhamram.com/2016/08/18/alleged-abuse-victim-protests-two-more-contact-lawyer/

The Trout by Peter Cunningham: fishing for truth of clerical abuse

I decided to tell the story of a monstrous crime that takes place, almost casually, at a time of suppressed consciousness in Ireland’  Two issues lie at the heart of The Trout. The first is elusive childhood memory; the second is the ability of whole societies to deny the evidence of their eyes.

As adults, we all know the moments when we suddenly smell something, or taste something, or see or hear something, and for the tiniest second a memory floats up from our deep unconscious. It’s like a spark from a deep, deep cave. But we can’t grasp it, can’t keep it – and then it’s gone, just as our dreams defy our attempts to hold on to them. We are left with a feeling that we have just encountered something which we know intimately – that is part of us – and yet we don’t know what it is. We know it, yet we don’t know it. We may, also for a nano-second, think, I’ll ask my mother – but my mother has not been there for years. We are left in this tantalising state of being on the brink of something that we know is very important for us, and yet is utterly unobtainable.

http://www.irishtimes.com/culture/books/the-trout-by-peter-cunningham-fishing-for-truth-of-clerical-abuse-1.2760679