Judge approves Newfoundland residential schools settlement

An emotional, decade-long battle ended quickly Wednesday for hundreds of former students of Newfoundland and Labrador residential schools.

After a two-day hearing, a provincial Supreme Court judge gave his expedited approval for a $50 million class-action settlement with the federal government.  “Everybody is thrilled,” said the plaintiffs’ lawyer, Steven Cooper.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/newfoundland-and-labrador-residential-schools-settlement-approved/article32102663/ 

Northern Ireland: ‘Ministers have let us down’ - child abuse victims tell Assembly

Victims of child abuse have told a Northern Ireland Assembly committee today that The Executive Office has failed to prepare for the establishment of a compensation scheme following the conclusion of the Historic Institutional Abuse Inquiry.
The representatives of a range of child abuse survivor groups told the Committee for The Executive Office that despite a November 2015 announcement by Sir Anthony Hart, chair of the Historic Institutional Abuse Inquiry, that he will recommend a financial compensation scheme for victims when he reports in January 2017, Ministers have made no preparations to set up such a scheme and some have repeatedly refused to meet with victims.

https://www.amnesty.org.uk/press-releases/northern-ireland-%E2%80%98ministers-have-let-us-down%E2%80%99-child-abuse-victims-tell-assembly 

New research on perpetrators of child sexual abuse released

A new research report conducted for the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse has examined available evidence regarding the characteristics, motivations and offending behaviour of child sexual abuse perpetrators in both institutional and non-institutional contexts.
Royal Commission acting CEO, Marianne Christmann, said the report, Evidence and frameworks for understanding perpetrators of institutional child sexual abuse, explores the principal themes found in the literature and examines research specific to perpetrators of child sexual abuse in institutional settings.

http://www.childabuseroyalcommission.gov.au/media-centre/media-releases/2016-09/new-research-on-perpetrators-of-child-sexual-abuse 

Former altar boy supervisor denies sexual abuse charges

A 79-year-old man who once supervised altar boys as a layman at a Roman Catholic church in Boston has pleaded not guilty to charges that he sexually abused a young boy decades ago.

Michael Walsh was arraigned Wednesday on two counts of child rape and three counts of indecent assault and battery on a child under age 14.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/wires/ap/article-3813699/Former-altar-boy-supervisor-denies-sexual-abuse-charges.html 

Child Sex Abuse In Non-Christian Religions: Why We Need To Know More

More research is needed into child sex abuse in other faiths besides Christianity, a new report says. Nearly all the academic research that has been done into child sex abuse in an institutional setting has been based on Catholic abusers, with some also done on Anglican abusers.
But there has been little research into abuse by ministers of others faiths, or in non-Christian or non-religious settings.

http://www.christiantoday.com/article/more.research.needed.into.child.sex.abuse.in.non.christian.religions/96690.htm 

Ousted priest O'Keefe should get no benefits:

Lohud and Facebook readers had a lot to say about a former Rockland priest who was permanently removed from ministry by the Archdiocese of New York following allegations that he sexually abused a minor.
Monsignor John O’Keefe, who once led Archbishop Stepinac High School in White Plains, had been suspended last year from St. Margaret of Antioch Parish in Pearl River based on alleged abuse that occurred more than three decades ago

http://www.lohud.com/story/opinion/2016/09/29/ousted-priest-okeefe-lohudreacts/91241388/ 

Day parole granted to former priest convicted of sexual abuse

A former Winnipeg priest convicted of sexual abuse has been granted day parole. Ronald Leger previously worked at Holy Family Parish on Archibald Street. He pleaded guilty to sexually abusing three boys between 1980 and 2004.
He was sentenced to two years in prison in February 2016.

http://winnipeg.ctvnews.ca/day-parole-granted-to-former-priest-convicted-of-sexual-abuse-1.3094673 

Lead counsel to child sexual abuse inquiry resigns after suspension

The prime minister has stepped in to shore up the struggling national inquiry into child abuse, saying it was a crucial investigation to stop more children becoming victims in the future.
Theresa May insisted on Thursday that the inquiry, which she set up while she was home secretary, would not be scaled back. She spoke following the suspension of the most senior counsel to the inquiry, Ben Emmerson QC, on Wednesday night over concerns about his leadership.

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2016/sep/29/child-abuse-inquiry-receives-fresh-blow-as-junior-counsel-quits 

Former Catholic priest charged over child sex abuse in New South Wales

A former Catholic priest has been charged over child sexual assaults between 1999 and 2006 which took place in Leichhardt and Kempsey, NSW. Police say the 69-year-old was arrested in Port Macquarie last Friday.
He faces multiple charges including sexual intercourse without consent, aggravated indecent assault, inciting an act of indecency with a victim under 16, committing an act of indecency and indecent assault.

http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/former-catholic-priest-charged-over-child-sex-abuse-in-new-south-wales-20160929-grrubx.html 

Ten-year statute of limitations on rape ends in California

Pamela Abeyta reacts during a news conference with three new alleged sexual assault victims of comedian Bill Cosby while attorney Gloria Allred comforts her in Los Angeles on September 30, 2015. A new California law ending the statue of limitations to prosecute rape allegations will not help the women in the Cosby case because it applies to rapes and sexual assaults committed after the legislation takes effect Jan. 1.

http://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2016/09/29/Ten-year-statute-of-limitations-on-rape-ends-in-California/8041475157675/ 

Priest convicted of sexually assaulting teen boys denied full parole

Catholic priest Ron Léger, who's serving time for sexually assaulting teen boys he met a drop-in centre, will not be granted full parole. A federal parole board determined he is an "undue risk."  Instead, the board voted to grant him day parole for six months.
The board determined Léger had a one-in-five chance of reoffending and he scored "just over the low threshold" as a moderate risk to reoffend sexually. They denied his application for full parole in a Sept. 15, 2016 decision

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/priest-convicted-sexually-assaulting-teen-boys-denied-full-parole-1.3781430 

Claretian religious order sued over sex abuse allegations

lawsuit filed by a man who claims he was sexually abused when he was seven years old by a teenager who later became a prominent Catholic priest lawsuit names the Claretians Missionaries, a 165-year-old order that has around 3,000 priests and brothers in about 60 countries, as the principal defendant.

A 51-year-old Colorado man who says he was sexually abused when he was 7 by a teenager who later became a prominent Roman Catholic priest - one known for his work with at-risk kids - on Monday sued the Chicago-based religious order to which the priest belongs, seeking the release of all records related to allegations of abuse by any of its priests.

https://cruxnow.com/church-in-the-usa/2016/09/27/claretian-religious-order-sued-sex-abuse-allegations/ 

12 years later, pastor charged with sexual abuse again

A Des Moines man is back behind bars after being sentenced Tuesday to 10 years in prison for third-degree sexual abuse and harboring a runaway. Police said Damion Rutues, 37, hid a 15-year-old runaway girl in a small sleeping area inside a church on Forest Avenue.
Court documents show the 15-year-old girl ran away from home with her girlfriend.  Rutues let them stay inside Learning of the Lord Revival Center because the girls said they were homeless and had nowhere else to go.

http://www.kcci.com/news/pastor-charged-for-sexual-abuse-harboring-a-runaway/41856692

Ex-altar boy supervisor in Dorchester faces abuse charges

A 79-year-old man who once supervised altar boys as a layman in a Dorchester parish was arraigned Wednesday on charges that he raped a boy that he met nearly 30 years ago through his local church and youth baseball.
Michael Walsh, who was ordained as a priest in Michigan in 2002 but quickly stripped of his ministerial duties because of a separate complaint, pleaded not guilty to two counts of child rape and three counts of indecent assault and battery on a child under age 14.

https://www.bostonglobe.com/2016/09/28/former-altar-boy-coordinator-dorchester-now-facing-sexual-abuse-charges/PnmDf0UDNixxOX15tKVoQJ/story.html 

Rozzi still pushing for overhaul of child sex abuse law

HARRISBURG - State House leaders plan to take steps next month to revive a proposal that would enable some people sexually abused as children to sue even if their window to do so has already closed.
House officials said Tuesday the plan is to add a retroactive provision back into a bill that would overhaul time limits for victims to take legal action. “That's where the members are and we'll see how it goes,” said Stephen A. Miskin, a spokesman for the House's Republican leadership.

http://www.readingeagle.com/news/article/rozzi-still-pushing-for-overhaul-of-child-sex-abuse-law 

Irish priest in New York to be defrocked over 30-year-old sex abuse allegations

The Archdiocese of New York has confirmed that priest who has been accused of the sexual abuse of a minor on two occasions in New York and Virginia, over three decades ago, will never function as a priest again.

Monsignor John O’Keefe (71), formerly of Pearl River, NY and once president of a Westchester County Catholic high school, has been permanently removed from his ministry according to the lawyer for this alleged victim, Mitchell Garabedian. On Sunday afternoon a joint press release was issued by New-Jersey-based nonprofit Road to Recovery Inc, which helps victims of sexual abuse, and Garabedian. The Boston lawyer said he had been informed of this decision in August.

http://www.irishcentral.com/news/irish-christian-brother-in-new-york-to-be-defrocked-over-30-year-old-sex-abuse-allegations 

Church minister jailed for raping daughter

A church minister has been jailed after assaulting his own daughter twice.  Woolwich Crown Court was told Mark Anderson, 54, abused his status as a minister to hide the abuse.
22-year-old Rebekah Anderson has waived her right to anonymity to try to encourage other survivors of sexual violence to come forward. Mr Anderson has been jailed for 19 years after being convicted of two charges of rape at Woolwich Crown Court.

http://www.premier.org.uk/News/UK/Church-minister-jailed-for-raping-daughter 

Victims of pedophile priest fight to keep him from being released

DETROIT - A Michigan prosecutor is teaming up with a group of men who were sexually abused as boys by their priest to try to keep the pedophile from being released on parole.
The incidents happened over 30 years ago, but they're coming forward now as the priest is up for parole in Oklahoma. Only new charges can keep the priest behind bars. Abused by the priest as children, the victims say its time to speak up so that it never happens again.

http://www.clickondetroit.com/news/defenders/victims-of-pedophile-priest-fight-to-keep-him-from-being-released 

Bishops Still Behaving Badly on Sex Abuse as Pope Francis Sets the Example

The clerical sex abuse scandal has revealed the core of corruption in the institutional Catholic Church. There have already been hundreds of thousands  of victims around the world.
Since the systemic sexual abuse of children made national headlines in 2002, survivors (young people who had experienced child sexual abuse had a suicide rate that was 10.7 to 13.0 times the national rates) and their advocates have demanded essential reforms necessary to protect children in the future.

https://opentabernacle.wordpress.com/2016/09/28/bishops-still-behaving-badly-on-sex-abuse-as-pope-francis-sets-the-example/ 

Counsel to child sexual abuse inquiry suspended amid 'leadership concerns'

The most senior lawyer on the public inquiry into institutional child abuse in England and Wales was suddenly suspended on Wednesday over what the inquiry said were concerns over aspects of his leadership.
Ben Emmerson QC had been expected to resign in the coming days, apparently over disagreements over the remit of the inquiry under its fourth chair, Alexis Jay. But in a move that surprised those close to the discussions, the inquiry announced late on Wednesday that Emmerson, a respected human rights lawyer, was to be suspended and put under investigation.

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2016/sep/28/ben-emmerson-counsel-child-sexual-abuse-inquiry-sacked-concerns-over-leadership 

Australia branded ‘child-stealing capital of the Western world’

Australian children are removed from their families more often than anywhere in the Western world, nearly twice as often as in the US and almost three times the rate in New Zealand, a parlia­mentary inquiry into child welfare has heard.

There is also “a culture of ­removal and a culture of victim blaming”.
Mary Moore, convener of the volunteer Alliance for Family Preservation and Restoration, told the NSW parliamentary committee yesterday that children were being taken into care based on the opinion of case workers where no harm had occurred “but because they have concerns the child might suffer harm in the future, and they’re then in care until age 18”.

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/australia-branded-childstealing-capital-of-the-western-world/news-story/646b43762af19dad04d7e23c8af6950e

Father Consedine's words

Jim Consedine was one of Christchurch's best-known Catholic priests, and even with the shame of sexual abuse claims, there are many who still stand by him.
`He plays peek-a-boo in the street with my toddler. He offers to mind the kids for me when I'm sick and he plays a cheeky chicken song on his guitar to make the children hoot with laughter," said a woman from Father Jim Consedine's former Lyttelton parish. 

http://www.peterellis.org.nz/church/2003/2003-1206_ThePress_FatherConsedines.htm 

Residential-school rulings raise concerns about denied compensation claims

Three recent court rulings have overturned adjudicators’ decisions to deny compensation to people who were abused at Indian residential schools, raising questions about how many other former students have been unfairly refused redress.

As the process created by the Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement to provide compensation for the abuse nears the end of its work, the court rulings – two in Ontario and one in Manitoba – suggest that problems with decisions made by adjudicators are not always caught in the reviews and re-reviews to which applicants are entitled.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/residential-school-rulings-raise-concerns-about-denied-compensation-claims/article32068882/?cmpid=rss1 

Cardinal Dolan ousted priest for sex abuse claim, but accuser's lawyer says children still at risk

Timothy Cardinal Dolan has removed a Rockland County priest accused of sexual abuse — but children may still be at risk, said a lawyer for the clergyman’s alleged victim.
Boston attorney Mitchell Garabedian said the Archdiocese of New York told him in August that Monsignor John J. O’Keefe — most recently the pastor of St. Margaret of Antioch in Pearl River — had been permanently removed from his duties following an investigation into allegations he had sexually abused his client in the 1980s.

http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/cardinal-dolan-ousted-priest-accused-sexual-abuse-article-1.2807497 

Mexican Church Claims Gay Marriage, Adoption Could Increase Child Abuse

Mexico’s Catholic Church has come out against gay marriage again, this time trying to explain its position with arguments related to children.  In its weekly newsletter, From the Faith, the church said it is against gay marriage as well as gay adoption.
Its central arguments pointed to an alleged increase in illnesses among children in such situations, emotional destabilization and low school performance

https://panampost.com/elena-toledo/2016/09/27/mexican-church-claims-gay-marriage-adoption-could-increase-child-abuse/ 

Catholic church reaches out to anyone with knowledge of clergy sex abuse

The island's Catholic church has issued a new statement, encouraging anyone who knows about sexual abuse by clergy or others in the Archdiocese of Agana “today or in the past” to contact the church’s sexual abuse response coordinator.
The call comes shortly after Gov. Eddie Calvo signed into law a bill that would allow victims of child sex abuse to sue their abusers and the institutions with which they are associated, at any time.

http://www.guampdn.com/story/news/2016/09/27/catholic-church-reaches-out-anyone-knowledge-clergy-sex-abuse/91154502/ 

Pa. House to take up sex-abuse law to expand victims' rights

HARRISBURG - With only days remaining in the legislative session, the Pennsylvania House intends to rewrite and send back to the Senate a contested child sex abuse bill that would give victims the right to sue for decades-old abuses, officials said Tuesday.

The plan by Republican House leaders repudiates the work of GOP Senate counterparts who had gutted a House bill with a retroactive lawsuit provision opposed by the Catholic Church and insurance lobbyists.

http://www.philly.com/philly/news/politics/20160928_Pa__House_to_take_up_sex-abuse_law_to_expand_victims__rights.html 

Lawmaker seeks stronger child sex abuse lawsuits bill

HARRISBURG, Pa. — A Pennsylvania lawmaker who has told of his victimization as a child by a Roman Catholic priest said Tuesday that he will keep fighting for legislation to allow onetime-child sexual abuse victims to sue for damages, despite the measure’s rejection in the Senate as the legislative session winds down.
Rep. Mark Rozzi, D-Berks, is backed by top House lawmakers, victim advocates and both major party candidates for state attorney general — Republican John Rafferty and Democrat Josh Shapiro — as part of wider legislation to respond to child sexual abuse cover-ups.

http://www.dailyjournal.net/2016/09/27/pa-xgr-sex-abuse-cases-time-limit/ 

Is the Rise of “Nones” Actually the Decline of Catholics?

The Public Religion Research Institute is out with another fascinating report on one of the most significant religious trends of our time: the dramatic rise in disaffiliation, or, as some call them, the “nones.”
PPRI found that a fully a quarter of all Americans, and a whopping 39% of young adults, now say they have no religious affiliation, making the unaffiliated the largest “religious” group in a country long known for its high levels of religiosity.

http://religiondispatches.org/is-the-rise-of-nones-actually-the-decline-of-catholics/ 

Korean American Pastors Glean Advice on Handling Abuse Situations in Ministry

About 50 Korean American pastors gathered at Cerritos Mission Church earlier this month for a 'Crisis Management Seminar' hosted by Dr. Benjamin Shin, the director of the Asian American Doctor of Ministry cohort at Biola University's Talbot School of Theology.
The seminar was split into two parts, the first which featured Dave Carder, a counselor who has dealt with hundreds of cases of extra-marital affairs, sexual abuse, and other related incidents. Shin spoke during the second portion, sharing updates on an incident that occurred in July in a mission team sent by the college ministry Korean American Campus Mission (KCM), an incident which Shin said triggered this seminar.

http://www.christianitydaily.com/articles/8510/20160926/korean-american-pastors-glean-advice-handling-abuse-situations-ministry.htm 

Texas firm makes inquiry over ex-priest and alleged rapist John Sutton

A Dallas, Texas-based law firm is reaching out to anyone who has information about a Catholic priest who worked on Guam from 1971 to 1974 and who last year was accused by a man of raping him repeatedly when he was a student in Texas.
Attorney Tahira Khan Merritt said the priest, John H. Sutton, worked on Guam in the early 1970s and moved to Texas in 1984 to work as a chaplain and teacher at Wichita Falls’ Notre Dame Middle-High School, a diocesan institution of the Fort Worth Diocese.

http://www.guampdn.com/story/news/2016/09/27/texas-firm-makes-inquiry-over-ex-priest-and-alleged-rapist-john-sutton/91104964/ 

Chicago-based religious order sued for docs on allegations

CHICAGO (AP) — A 51-year-old Colorado man who says he was sexually abused when he was around 7 years old by a teenager who later became a prominent Roman Catholic priest — one known for his work with at-risk kids — on Monday sued the Chicago-based religious order to which the priest belongs, seeking the release of all records related to allegations of abuse by any of its priests.
Eric Johnson's lawsuit names the Claretians Missionaries, a 165-year-old order that has around 3,000 priests and brothers in about 60 countries, as the defendant. The suit filed in Cook County Circuit Court says that Father Bruce Wellems was around 15 when the abuse occurred in the early 1970s. Johnson says the abuse occurred over about a year

http://bigstory.ap.org/article/6637ed5e5f59448b9bc88f41fdda7fe2/chicago-based-religious-order-sued-docs-allegations 

Dame Lowell Goddard slams British child abuse inquiry she headed, defends her own commitment to inquiry

Dame Lowell Goddard, a former New Zealand judge, has slammed the British child abuse inquiry she headed until last month, saying that it needs to be completely overhauled.
Dame Lowell, who controversially resigned on August 4, also defended her commitment to the inquiry following criticism of her long periods of leave and large pay packet.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/child-abuse/news/article.cfm?c_id=146&objectid=11705199 

Written evidence submitted by Hon Dame Lowell Goddard QC

Independent Inquiry into Institutional Child Sexual Abuse
I make this memorandum available to the House of Commons Home Affairs Select Committee in response to Mr Vaz's letter of 5 August and his and my subsequent exchange of letters of 31 August. I request that this memorandum be placed before the full Committee. In it I have set out for the Committee's consideration the responses Mr Vaz specifically sought and have also included a brief outline of what I see as various critical issues facing the Inquiry. This I do for the purpose of assisting the Inquiry in the future.

http://data.parliament.uk/writtenevidence/committeeevidence.svc/evidencedocument/home-affairs-committee/the-work-of-the-independent-inquiry-into-child-sexual-abuse/written/36954.html 

New Charges for Long Island Foster Father Accused of Abusing Boys

A longtime foster father, already accused of sexually abusing five of his adopted sons and endangering the welfare of two foster children, was charged on Thursday with abusing another boy in his home on Long Island.

The foster father, Cesar Gonzales-Mugaburu, 60, pleaded not guilty in Suffolk County court in Riverhead on Thursday. An indictment against him unsealed the same day includes five counts of sexual abuse involving two adopted sons he was previously accused of abusing and an additional child, described as an adopted son who was under the age of 13 at the time of the abuse.

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/09/23/nyregion/new-charges-for-long-island-foster-father-accused-of-abusing-boys.html?emc=edit_tnt_20160922&nlid=63876270&tntemail0=y&_r=1 

Former Pearl River priest removed from ministry

“This claim is another example of why the statute of limitations has to be amended so that victims of sexual abuse can try to heal,” said Mitchell Garabedian, lawyer for the accuser.
A former Pearl River priest and Westchester Catholic school leader accused of sexual abuse has been permanently removed from his ministry by the Archdiocese of New York, according to a lawyer for his alleged victim.

http://www.lohud.com/story/news/religion/2016/09/26/former-priest-okeefe-removed/91091894/ 

Mending Fences

Healing from abuse involves knowing when to open those fence gates and when to keep them shut—to defend your boundaries. Peter Pollard asserts both are good choices.

I’ve always been intrigued by the different choices people make, while working to restore good boundaries in their life after an experience of abuse. Whether it’s re-establishing the broken boundary with the abusive person, or finding a safe way to relate to others, the memory of betrayed trust can complicate decisions about how to maintain safety. 

https://goodmenproject.com/featured-content/mending-fences-wcz/ 

Catholic church needs better way to select bishops

By now it should be clear.  Pope Francis really believes there is a serious lack of quality among priests and bishops in the Catholic church. Otherwise, he would not talk so often about the negative traits of certain men in ordained ministry, as he's done again several times in recent days.

"The world is tired of lying charmers and -- allow me say -- of 'fashionable' priests or 'fashionable' bishops," the pope said on Sept. 16 to a group of 94 bishops consecrated in the last two years for dioceses in mission territories.

https://www.ncronline.org/blogs/roman-observer/catholic-church-needs-better-way-select-bishops 

Reminder to register for private sessions by 30 September

Survivors of institutional child sexual abuse are reminded that they must register with the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse by Friday 30 September 2016 if they wish to have a private session.
Private sessions give survivors of child sexual abuse in an institution the ability to share their story directly with a Commissioner in a private setting.

http://www.childabuseroyalcommission.gov.au/media-centre/media-releases/2016-09/reminder-to-register-for-private-sessions-by-30-se

Diocese cooperating in investigation into abuse, 'a grave sin and crime'

The Diocese of Allentown this week affirmed its commitment to helping bring to justice those within its ranks who abuse minors.
Bishop John O. Barres issued a statement Sunday saying the division of the Roman Catholic church is cooperating in a new Pennsylvania Attorney General's Office inquiry into handling of allegations of abuse.

http://www.lehighvalleylive.com/news/index.ssf/2016/09/diocese_cooperating_in_investi.html 

Mum accuses church charity 30 years after her baby was taken away from her

MIDWIFE Bernadette Wallman says she came under undue pressure to give up her two-week-old daughter by a charity linked to the Catholic Church.

A MUM has revealed her enduring heartache more than 30 years after her newborn baby was taken for adoption against her will.  Bernadette Wallman says she came under undue pressure to give up her two-week-old daughter by a charity linked to the Catholic Church.

http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/real-life/mum-accuses-church-charity-30-6389469#ICID=sharebar_facebook

How Father John Joseph Farrell's crimes (and the church's cover-up) were exposed in court

This Broken Rites article summarises the court proceedings against John Joseph Farrell (also known as "Father F"). The court process continued from 2012 until he was sentenced in 2016. Father Farrell targeted numerous children (mostly boys, plus some girls) in northern New South Wales in the 1980s (and later in western Sydney until 1992). On 2 May 2016 he was sentenced to a minimum of 18 years jail for 62 of his crimes, committed against 12 of his victims. A further 17 incidents were taken into account at sentencing, making a total of 79 incidents. These were not Farrell's only victims — Farrell is currently scheduled to appear in court again in 2017 regarding several more children from the 1980s. And other children from the 1980s have not yet spoken to the NSW Police detectives. This Broken Rites article includes some additional charges which were laid against Farrell in September 2016, to come up in court again in 2017.

http://www.brokenrites.org.au/drupal/node/393 

Background article: Father Farrell's crimes and the church's cover-up

This Broken Rites article is the most comprehensive account available about how Catholic Church leaders remained silent for 30 years about Father John Joseph Farrell's sex-crimes against children. In 1993, Broken Rites began researching the Farrell cover-up. In 2012, our research helped to make a "Four Corners" television program about the Farrell cover-up, thus bringing this cover-up to nationwide attention. And this has helped to encourage the Federal Government to establish its national child-abuse Royal Commission. Gradually, Broken Rites (but not the church officials) encouraged some of Farrell's victims to talk with child-protection police, resulting in the jailing of Farrell (now aged 63) in 2016. Broken Rites is proud to have exposed this cover-up.

http://www.brokenrites.org.au/drupal/node/210 

The rape of an altar boy

The ABC television "7.30" program (on Monday 19 September 2016) had a story about the child-abuse Royal Commission's public hearing re the Father John Farrell case (and the role of church official Father Brian Lucas). The Broken Rites team helped the ABC with research for this "7.30" item. A link to the ABC video is given at the end of this Broken Rites article.

The rape of an altar boy. In a public hearing on 13 September 2016, Australia's national child-abuse Royal Commission heard evidence from a former altar boy about how he was raped by Father John Joseph Farrell at the age of 12 in northern NSW in 1981. The former altar boy (code-named "CPA" at the Royal Commission) explained how his later life was damaged by Farrell's crimes and by the church's cover-up. John Joseph Farrell is currently serving a minimum 18-year jail term after being convicted in May 2016 for 79 child sex crimes, including the assault of the above-mentioned altar boy, "CPA". Additional charges (involving five more alleged victims) have recently been brought against Farrell, with court proceedings scheduled to begin in Sydney in April 2017.

http://www.brokenrites.org.au/drupal/node/365 

Should Pennsylvania sex abuse survivors accept half loaf of justice?

Is half a loaf better than none?  Not when it comes to this year's emotional and contentious effort to offer justice to many victims of child sex abuse in Pennsylvania by extending or eliminating statutes of limitations, according to the Legislature's most visible advocate for changing the law.
State Rep. Mark Rozzi, D-Berks, told me last week that he has consulted with survivors, advocacy groups and other House members over the question of whether the House should accept the watered down version of House Bill 1947 that passed the Senate in June.

http://www.mcall.com/opinion/white/mc-bw-pennsylvania-child-sex-abuse-20160924-story.html 

Former Richmond megachurch pastor, convicted felon ‘Pastor G’ asks for new trial

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — Convicted sex offender and former Richmond megachurch Pastor Geronimo Aguilar has officially filed his appeal in Texas. You’ll remember, last year the former “Roc Church” pastor was convicted on seven counts of sexual assault on a minor. It happened during the 1990’s while he was a youth pastor in Texas.
In the brief, Aguilar and his legal team are asking a Texas appeals court to reverse his conviction and grant him a new trial. One of the grounds for appeal argues the Texas trial court abused its discretion in admitting extensive evidence of Pastor Aguilar’s extramarital affairs here in Virginia.

http://wric.com/2016/09/23/former-richmond-megachurch-pastor-convicted-felon-pastor-g-asks-for-new-trial/ 

"Lucifer's Lodge,"

In preceding chapters) all point to a cabal of child molesting and sexually abusive Catholic priests, at least some of whom were involved with various forms of Satanism.
This cabal of Luciferian priests is a very real presence in the world, and considering the support these perverted curates received form the Church hierarchy, Malachi Martin's claim that they constitute an organized fraternity of Satanists, which he referred to as "Lucifer's Lodge," proves true. It functions with the secret support of the church hierarchy on all levels.

http://www.bibliotecapleyades.net/vatican/esp_vatican52.htm 

Pesch: What happens after child sex abuse bill becomes law

Like many others on Guam, I woke up Saturday morning wondering what the future holds for us as a community. With Gov. Eddie Calvo’s signature of approval to Bill 326, we are on an unchartered course of attempting to hold a religious institution accountable for alleged acts that, if true, are both morally and legally deplorable. This is going to take some time to sink in.

http://www.guampdn.com/story/opinion/columnists/2016/09/25/pesch-what-happens-after-child-sex-abuse-bill-becomes-law/91002078/ 

Opinion: It's time for Guam's second great awakening

The long and arduous "mumon linahyan" that has engulfed Guam’s community for a number of years is echoing schisms of another era in history – 1517 to be exact and seems to be resulting in the same kind of reformation that followed.
Pope Leo X’s corruption that exploited the faithful seem to have been reborn today in the person of one Archbishop Anthony Apuron. Unfortunately, the people of Guam have been suffering at the hands of this kind of colonial screw balling since Magellan “discovered” Guam in March 1521 and perhaps the passage of Bill 326 is the beginning of a new era.

http://www.guampdn.com/story/opinion/readers/2016/09/24/opinion-s-time-guams-second-great-awakening/90889128/ 

Victims of paedophile Bill Kenneally want Fianna Fail, the Catholic church and Gardai to be investigated over the abuse

They are now pushing for a Commission of Investigation into who knew and “turned a blind eye”

Victims of paedophile Bill Kenneally have described the outcome of the case taken against him as a form of “window dressing”.
Six have said they now believe senior gardai, members of Fianna Fail, the Catholic Church and staff at the South Eastern Health Board were told about the abuse but failed to act.

http://www.irishmirror.ie/news/irish-news/victims-paedophile-bill-kenneally-want-8909334 

IAN KIRKWOOD: the impact of paedophile priests on a faithful congregation

AS the Royal Commission hearings into events at the Maitland-Newcastle Diocese of the Catholic Church drew to a close, I found myself wondering about the sanctity of priests, and what a devout, doctrinal Catholic would think about the sins of their priests, from a theological point of view.
Despite the march of science, some practising Christians still adhere to a literalist reading of the Bible, meaning that they take both the Old and New Testaments as the literal word of the one God. They believe in Heaven and in Hell, and accept that God created the world in seven days, shortly before he put Adam in Eden and fashioned Eve from one of his ribs.

http://www.theherald.com.au/story/4184626/the-confessional-and-the-state-of-dis-grace/ 

Local survivor of church abuse scandal speaks out

(MyFoxBoston.com) -- It's been more than 50 years since Susan Renehan and her sister were abused by a priest their Irish Catholic family trusted and more than 50 years later, she's still in a lot of pain.
"I went to a Catholic school and he came to confession on first Fridays and he would pull me out of the classroom after these confessions and would sexually assault me in the hallway of the school," Renehan said. Renehan is no longer a practicing Catholic, but she has been watching the pope's visit from afar. She was upset Wednesday by the way the pope addressed the clergy sex abuse scandal when speaking to hundreds of bishops in DC.

http://www.fox25boston.com/news/local-survivor-of-church-abuse-scandal-speaks-out-1/9563326#.VgOHeRZeUKQ.facebook

Teacher's victim 'learning how to live again' after sexual exploitation

“Mr. Rancourt, you no longer own me.” That statement, from a woman in a case of sexual exploitation and sexual assault, was part of a powerful victim impact statement delivered Friday at the Brockville courthouse that left many in the courtroom in tears.
“I was outsmarted and manipulated by a person I trusted,” said the victim of years abuse at the hands of her high school teacher, adding she has been diagnosed with depression, anxiety and PTSD in the aftermath of the abuse.

http://www.ottawasun.com/2016/09/23/teachers-victim-learning-how-to-live-again-after-sexual-exploitation

Hunter Marist Brothers left trail of violence: Royal Commission

THE Royal Commission hearings in Newcastle earlier this month heard repeated evidence of the physical and sexual abuse that characterised life for many Marist Brothers pupils at Hamilton and Maitland.
Counsel assisting the commission, Stephen Free, said 32 people had made claims of sexual abuse against one or more Marist brother from schools in the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle, including nine people whose claims were against more than one individual.

http://www.theherald.com.au/story/4186149/violence-abuse-at-marist-schools/ 

Allegations of child sexual abuse at Lincoln school being investigated by police

Allegations of child sexual abuse at a Lincoln school are being investigated by Lincolnshire Police.
The force has confirmed that it is looking into claims surrounding the Cathedral School in Lincoln as part of an investigation called Operation Redstone.
The school, which educated the minster's choristers, was amalgamated with others in 1996 to become Lincoln Minster School.

http://www.lincolnshireecho.co.uk/police-probe-alleged-historic-sex-abuse-at-lincoln-cathedral-school/story-29745603-detail/story.html 

the impact of paedophile priests on a faithful congregation

AS the Royal Commission hearings into events at the Maitland-Newcastle Diocese of the Catholic Church drew to a close, I found myself wondering about the sanctity of priests, and what a devout, doctrinal Catholic would think about the sins of their priests, from a theological point of view.
Despite the march of science, some practising Christians still adhere to a literalist reading of the Bible, meaning that they take both the Old and New Testaments as the literal word of the one God. They believe in Heaven and in Hell, and accept that God created the world in seven days, shortly before he put Adam in Eden and fashioned Eve from one of his ribs.

http://www.theherald.com.au/story/4184626/the-confessional-and-the-state-of-dis-grace/ 

The girls, the paedophile and Cardinal Pell

Australia’s worst paedophile priest, Father Gerald Ridsdale, once lived with a young clergyman who is now Cardinal George Pell. As the Cardinal prepares to give evidence to the child abuse royal commission, two women break decades of silence to tell Debi Marshall about their ordeal in Ridsdale’s care – and their disappointment with Pell.

http://www.sbs.com.au/news/feature/girls-paedophile-and-cardinal-pell 

10 Dirty Secrets Of The Catholic Church

Throughout its long history, the Catholic Church has been rocked by scandals ranging from the dissolution of the Knights Templar to Galileo’s trial to Mother Theresa’s questionable donors. Over the course of the 20th century, many more scandals have come to light—no matter how much the Church would like to keep them secret.

http://listverse.com/2015/01/02/10-dirty-secrets-of-the-catholic-church/

New Zealand 25 Jul 2015 Catholic Church abuse complaints on the rise

New figures show an increasing number of sexual abuse complaints are being made to the Catholic Church in New Zealand.  In the four years to the end of last year, 58 complaints were laid, with 25 lodged in 2014 alone.
The church only began keeping a centralised record of complaints in 2010. Of those made since then, 26 have been proven and 24 are still under investigation. The man in charge of handling the complaints for the church, Bill Kilgallon, said the alleged perpetrators included 21 priests, monks, nuns or teachers.

http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/279679/catholic-church-abuse-complaints-on-the-rise 

Sex charge dropped after church decides to return Iowa priest to home country

A charge of soliciting prostitution has been dropped against a southwest Iowa priest after the Catholic church decided to return him to his home country of Ghana, according to a prosecutor and court documents.

Dominic Yamoah, now 41, was arrested in Fremont County on July 9; authorities accused him of offering to purchase the services of a confidential informant for a sex act.

http://www.omaha.com/news/crime/sex-charge-dropped-after-church-decides-to-return-iowa-priest/article_29c643cf-b1ae-5316-8328-af7e40bc0cc4.html 

Malka Leifer extradition: Accused principal must be brought back to Australia

There is a school in the inner Melbourne suburb of Elsternwick that exclusively serves a small and secretive Jewish sect, the ultra-Orthodox Adass Israel community, comprising about 200 families.
It has been the scene of shocking sexual abuse, and is at the centre of an ongoing scandal that allegedly involves community members helping to finance the life of the exiled perpetrator, the predatory former principal Malka Leifer, who was protected by school leaders after her crimes were discovered

http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/comment/malka-leifer-extradition-accused-principal-must-be-brought-back-to-australia-20160923-grmxhf.html 

Statement Regarding Rev. Joseph Forcelle

The Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis received an allegation of sexual abuse of a minor against Rev. Joseph Thomas Forcelle and immediately reported it to law enforcement.  The alleged sexual abuse is from the late 1970s and early 1980s when he was serving as a priest at Saint Mark Church in Saint Paul.
Yesterday, the Saint Paul Police Department advised that there would not be a criminal investigation and gave permission to the Archdiocese to take action, including making this disclosure.  My office notified the Diocese of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, where Father Forcelle has been serving since 1984.

http://www.archspm.org/archspm_news/statement-regarding-rev-joseph-forcelle/ 

Former Bloomington resident, church employee charged with criminal sexual conduct

They are getting so young now... child abuse... and rape is in all religions... they join up with them... knowing that the children... will be an easy catch... then have this power and control... over the children.. and valuable teens and adults...  Power over other people... turns into control... while people have this power... there will always be abuse... and rape... Ann

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A 23-year-old North Dakota man has been charged with one count of third-degree criminal sexual conduct, accused of having a sexual relationship with a minor he met through a church retreat.
Mitchell G. Bolkcom was living in Bloomington and working at St. Michael Catholic Church in Prior Lake when he met the victim, a 16-year-old Burnsville girl, in late 2015, according to a complaint filed in Hennepin County District Court.

http://current.mnsun.com/2016/09/22/former-church-employee-charged-with-criminal-sexual-conduct/ 

'Do the right thing' Deadline today for governor's action on child sex abuse bill

As the Friday deadline for the governor's action on Bill 326-33 draws close, proponents of the sex abuse legislation urged Gov. Eddie Calvo to sign the bill into law as a matter of moral necessity.
"Gov. Calvo, please sign Bill 326," said Roland Sondia in a press conference at the foot of the stairs leading up to the office of the governor in Adelup.

http://www.postguam.com/news/local/do-the-right-thing/article_34710988-809c-11e6-98a9-df3219bdc8a8.html 

Man sues convicted, defrocked Chicago priest, alleging past abuse

A former Chicago priest is facing new allegations from a man who says the convicted, defrocked priest abused him as a boy, according to court records.
The lawsuit, filed Friday in Cook County court, claims Norbert Maday sexually abused the Cook County man, identified only as John Doe, when he was a student at St. Bede the Venerable in Chicago, starting in 1979 when Doe was a 10-year-old altar boy.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/ct-man-sues-convicted-defrocked-priest-alleging-past-abuse-20150612-story.html 

Abuse alleged in lawsuit against Clearwater Central Catholic and its former wrestling coach

A Clearwater Central Catholic High alumnus is suing his alma mater and former wrestling coach, alleging he suffered two years of physical, emotional and sexual abuse at the school.A complaint in Pinellas County Circuit Court details how Scott E. Stern, the school's wrestling coach from 2003 to 2014, was also assigned to monitor at-risk students with known or perceived drug or addiction problems without proper training or experience.

http://web.tampabay.com/news/education/k12/abuse-alleged-in-lawsuit-against-clearwater-central-catholic-and-its/2294657 

PAEDO PRIEST Catholic Church acquits HIV-positive priest who ADMITTED raping 30 young Mexican girls… and cops are REFUSING to investigate

Pig of a man... the catholic church is aiding and coverup child rape... and worst still... helping this pig of a priest... to get away from killing these young girls...  Ann

 =================================

Only two of the victims have come forward to denounce the acquittal 'with others fearful of reprisals'. THE Catholic church has allegedly acquitted a priest infected with HIV who admitted raping around thirty young girls aged between five and ten.

José Garcia Ataulfo was absolved by the Archdioceses of Mexico according to shocking reports by local news site Urgente24.com. It says Ataulfo has admitted preying on young girls in the state of Oaxaca — but police have steered clear from investigating over fear of upsetting the Catholic establishment.

https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/1839134/catholic-church-acquits-hiv-positive-priest-who-admitted-raping-30-young-mexican-girls-and-cops-are-refusing-to-investigate/ 

Guam gov signs bill ending time limits in child sex cases

They have fought long and hard... and they stood together as one... that is what they had behind them... and they did not waver either way... they stood by the TRUTH... and it was that... that pulled them through... we all need to stand together as one nation... on child abuse... and child rape... only then will we be able to help the children... worldwide... Ann

====================================

AGATNA, Guam —  Gov. Eddie Calvo signed a bill Friday that allows victims of child sexual abuse to sue their abusers as well as anyone who helped them and the institutions with which they are affiliated.
The bill from Sen. Frank Blas Jr., a Democrat from Barrigada, was introduced after several former Agat altar boys accused Archbishop Anthony Apuron of molesting or raping them in the 1970s. It retroactively lifts the statute of limitations on civil suits, and at least one Apuron accuser has said he plans to sue.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2016/09/23/guam-governor-signs-bill-ending-time-limits-child-sex-cases/90892188/ 

Casa Grande man can sue Catholic church over alleged sex abuse in Guam

HAGATNA, Guam — Guam Gov. Eddie Calvo said Friday he signed a bill that would lift the statute of limitations on child sex abuse charges for civil cases after allegations were made earlier this year by a Casa Grande man and three others that they were abused as children by the local archbishop.
Catholic leaders say the move could bankrupt the church in the largely Catholic U.S. territory. The bill, which does not apply to criminal prosecutions, was approved by the Legislature after abuse allegations surfaced against Archbishop Anthony Apuron.

http://www.trivalleycentral.com/casa_grande_dispatch/area_news/casa-grande-man-can-sue-catholic-church-over-alleged-sex/article_bafbc624-81a4-11e6-8503-87e984a30b4c.html 

Expect worse cases of clergy abuse: Witnesses in state investigation into allegations in Harrisburg, Pittsburgh and Allentown

Several of the witnesses called to testify before a grand jury investigation by the state Attorney General’s office into allegations of clergy sex abuse across dioceses in the state are warning that they expect those findings to dwarf an earlier report this year out of the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown.
“After reading the Altoona-Johnstown report, I thought it couldn’t get much worse but from hearing stories from victims about their abuse in Allentown it’s going to make the Altoona-Johnstown report look mild,” said Rep. Mark Rozzi (D-Berks), who gave testimony to investigators a month ago in Pittsburgh

http://abolishsexabuse.org/2016/09/22/expect-worse-cases-of-clergy-abuse-witnesses-in-state-investigation-into-allegations-in-harrisburg-pittsburgh-and-allentown/ 

Farrell scandal puts Catholic church's attitude to Australian law under the microscope

The furrows deepened on the brow of Father Brian Lucas. His bouncy confidence evaporated in the witness box. He sweated under questioning. He confessed over and over again to be puzzled by his own actions. Puzzled by the actions of others. So puzzled. But he gave no ground.
On one reading of this tangled story, Lucas could face possible criminal charges for failing to alert the police 24 years ago to the apparently frank confessions of a paedophile priest. He doesn’t see it that way.

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2016/sep/24/farrell-scandal-puts-catholic-churchs-attitude-to-australian-law-under-the-microscope 

Boy Scouts settle with victims of former Foxboro scoutmaster

FOXBORO — A monetary settlement has been reached between The Boy Scouts of America and some of the victims alleged to have been sexually abused by former Foxboro scoutmaster William Sheehan.
Nine victims were involved in the settlement, reached in June after mediation with the Scouts, said lawyer Mitchell Garabedian, who represented the nine.  Terms of the settlement were not disclosed Wednesday.

http://www.thesunchronicle.com/news/local_news/boy-scouts-settle-with-victims-of-former-foxboro-scoutmaster/article_ba9a2326-806c-11e6-9972-af3b28a11fdf.html#.V-QptSFjid4.facebook 

Despicable priest faces judgement day

A former Geelong-based paedophile priest is due to be sentenced next week after confessing to having abused children for three decades. Robert Claffey has admitted to abusing boys and girls over thirty years in areas including Apollo Bay and Skenes Creek.

 

http://www.bay939.com.au/news/local-news/68714-despicable-priest-faces-judgement-day 

Archdiocese official speaks on sex abuse bill, Neocatechumenal Way

The Archdiocese of Agana held a press conference today to address its concerns related to the recent passage of Bill 326-33. At the press conference, Father Jeff San Nicolas, speaking as delegate of temporary Archbishop Savio Hon Tai Fai's, said if the bill becomes law, it will bankrupt Guam's Catholic church.
San Nicolas also spoke on the Neocatechumenal Way's influence over Guam's Catholic churches, stating Archbishop Anthony Apuron continued to arrogantly support the Neocatechumenal Way despite credible accusations of child sexual abuse against him. He said a majority of Guam's Catholics suffered while being kept in the dark about the leadership.

http://www.guampdn.com/story/news/2016/09/19/archdiocese-discuss-sex-abuse-bill-threat-operations/90715858/ 

Jim Wayne’s novel ‘The Unfinished Man’ focuses on faith, healing and the human condition

Culled from his work, his faith and his father’s life, state Rep. Jim Wayne’s first novel, “The Unfinished Man,” takes readers on a journey of personal introspection through the experience of a Catholic priest who learns of sexual abuse in his own diocese.

Wayne will have a book signing for “The Unfinished Man” 5-9 p.m. Friday at Poor Richard’s Bookstore, 233 W. Broadway, during the Art Walk.

http://www.state-journal.com/2016/09/21/legislator-rep-jim-waynes-novel-the-unfinished-man-focuses-on-faith-healing-and-the-human-condition/ 

AG Bruce Beemer contradicts opinion taken by Senate on constitutionality of statute of limitations

The Pennsylvania lawmaker who has spearheaded the movement to reform the state's child sex crimes law says he is emboldened by the fact that the state's newly appointed top law enforcement official is leaning on the side of reform.
"It's great day for victims knowing we have an attorney general who is not afraid to stand up and do what is right and fight for the victims of this commonwealth," said Rep. Mark Rozzi D-Berks.

http://www.pennlive.com/news/2016/09/bruce_beemer_mark_rozzi_statut.html 

He has his faith, but not his Church

David O’Regan will tell you he’s had a “beautiful, blessed life.” Six grown children. Forty-three years of marriage to a wife he adores. “The baby lady.” That’s what they call Jane O’Regan around the town near Boston where the O’Regans live in a rambling house with a great big yard. They are foster parents. Jane O’Regan always has a baby in tow. They’re caring now for the 69th and 70th child they’ve welcomed: one five months old, the other nine months.
David O’Regan, an imposing, 6-foot, 4-inch 65-year-old, will also tell you he is a prayerful man of faith raised on the Baltimore Catechism in the Catholic Church. “My mother wasn’t well. She was bipolar and treated herself with alcohol and so unfortunately, there was no peace at home.”

https://cruxnow.com/faith/2015/09/22/he-has-his-faith-but-not-his-church/ 

A STUDY IN DOUBLE TALK, AND MISLEADING PEOPLE.

While it is obvious to most people that have had the misfortune to meet our former vicar general, that he is not the brightest light on the tree; it is also obvious that what David lacks in smarts, he certainly makes up in deviousness. It is most likely one of several reasons for Pius to have selected him as the actual go-to man for the NCW while he assumes a lower profile.
One thing the Neocatechumenal Way does well is what is popularly known as double talk. We can see this in almost all their communication and publication. There is always, an hidden agenda, and a disguised Will to mislead. For more on that, please refer to the great exposes by La Paz our Spanish correspondant, and Chuck White our local Hercule Poirot on everything linked to the NCW.  Both of them have well documented these issues. Examples are numerous and worrisome.

http://www.junglewatch.info/2016/09/a-study-in-double-talk-and-misleading.html#more 

Catholic Priest Streamed Web Cam Video of Naked Boy: Prosecutor

New details emerged during a bond court hearing for a once prominent Chicago Catholic priest after a year-long investigation determined that his electronic devices possibly contained images of minors engaging in sex acts, prosecutors said Wednesday in court.
Octavio Munoz-Capetillo, 40, appeared before Cook County Judge Maria Kuriakos-Ciesel, on a felony charge of possession of child pornography. Munoz was suspended from the priesthood last year while the investigation was pending.

http://patch.com/illinois/chicago/catholic-priest-streamed-web-cam-video-naked-boy-prosecutor 

New research identifies need for a national study into prevalence of child maltreatment

Research conducted for the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse has considered the feasibility and need for a comprehensive study into the prevalence of child maltreatment in Australia.
Australia is one of the few developed countries that does not collect reliable, nationally representative prevalence data on child sexual abuse.

http://www.childabuseroyalcommission.gov.au/media-centre/media-releases/2016-09/new-research-identifies-need-for-a-national-study 

Blogger Tim Rohr pulls no punches when speaking about church schism

One of the most outspoken critics of Archbishop Anthony Apuron and the Neocatechumenal Way spoke before the Rotary Club. Tim Rohr laid out his view of the complex controversy now gripping the local church.
Rohr has chronicled the many twists-and-turns of the apparent civil war between the traditionalists and the so-called "NeoCats" on his blog, JungleWatch.  Central to the dispute is the now-replaced Archbishop Apuron, who Rohr blames for multiple transgressions: from handing over control of the Redemptoris Mater Seminary to the Way, to the removal of rival priests for an eventual Neo-friendly successor.

http://www.kuam.com/story/33154757/2016/09/Thursday/blogger-tim-rohr-pulls-no-punches-when-speaking-about-church-schism

Losing Faith: Abuse, Cover-Up and the Catholic Church with Fr. Thomas Doyle

A former Vatican insider shares details of the sex-abuse epidemic. Having reached extraordinary heights in the Catholic Church and served in the Vatican embassy with the sexual abuse epidemic, Fr. Thomas Doyle turned away from the religious order in response to the spiraling and far-reaching cover-up. Privy to some of the most sensitive dealings of the church, Fr. Thomas provides us with a very rare perspective on the abuse, response and cultural framework that allowed it to happen and continues to minimize the impact on the victims.
Fr. Thomas names names as to who he feels are directly responsible, and shares with us how the sordid affair has changed his own spiritual relationship to the church.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r7Th6xo9vxM 

Church silent on future of priests

A REPORT into the future of two Hunter Catholic priests will remain confidential until one of them has obtained legal advice, Maitland-Newcastle diocese said yesterday.
Bishop Bill Wright has received the report of a panel considering whether action should be taken against Monsignor Allan Hart and Father Bill Burston following an inquiry into church handling of child sexual abuse allegations against two other Hunter priests.

http://www.theherald.com.au/story/2791911/church-silent-on-future-of-priests/ 

Proponents of expanding statute of limitations for abuse victims update the battle in Pa.

Jeff Dion, director of the National Crime Victim Bar Association, advocates for statute of limitations reform Tuesday at press conference held in Philadelphia. Rep. Mark Rozzi, D-Berks, updated the fight for House Bill 1947, including his amendment that would allow victims from abuse decades ago to file civil actions against their abusers.
Surrounded by those integral to exposing the clergy sex abuse scandal in the Archdiocese of Boston, advocates of statute of limitation reform here in Pennsylvania pleaded their cause Tuesday during a press conference.

http://www.dailylocal.com/general-news/20160920/proponents-of-expanding-statute-of-limitations-for-abuse-victims-update-the-battle-in-pa 

The sexual abuse investigation: Some much-needed light

An expanding state grand jury investigation into sexual abuse by priests in dioceses throughout Pennsylvania is an encouraging step toward bringing closure to the horrific scandals that have rocked the Roman Catholic Church for years.

There's new hope in the cooperation by all involved: law enforcement, legislators and the church, which after decades of sheltering abusers now appears to be on board in the clarion call for justice. 

http://triblive.com/opinion/editorials/11168332-74/abuse-sexual-investigation 

Child sexual abuse royal commission: Father John Farrell had 'serious psychological problems'

It was the practice of some clergy not to ask questions when it came to the issue of child molestation, a senior Catholic official has told the royal commission into child sexual abuse.
The Sydney hearing is examining how the dioceses at Armidale in northern New South Wales and Parramatta in Sydney's west responded to allegations made against Father John Farrell.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-09-21/royal-commission-john-farrell-was-an-odd-bod-senior-priest-says/7864042 

Senior Catholic figure questioned by police over paedophile priest

A senior figure in the Catholic Church has been interviewed by police over whether he and others failed to report paedophile ex-priest John Farrell to authorities, the child sex abuse royal commission has heard.
Former vicar general of Sydney John Usher told the commission he gave a statement to officers from Strike Force Glenroe in May.

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2016/sep/21/paedophile-john-farrell-should-never-have-been-made-a-priest-clergyman-says 

Clergy abuse survivor says Vatican commission is making progress

ATICAN CITY (RNS) The only abuse survivor currently serving on a panel set up by Pope Francis to fight clerical sexual abuse says the Catholic Church is making good progress and welcomed changes initiated by the Vatican and the pontiff.

Marie Collins, who was raped at age 13 by a hospital chaplain in Ireland, is a member of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors.

http://religionnews.com/2016/09/21/clergy-abuse-survivor-says-vatican-commission-is-making-progress/ 

Lismore priest faces retrial over child sex charges

AFTER an emotionally-charged four-week trial which left a jury in deadlock, Catholic Priest Father John Casey will again face trial over the alleged sexual abuse of three boys nearly 30 years ago.

ON August 12, Lismore Diocese Catholic Priest, John Patrick Casey, was found not guilty of 16 charges, but the jury could not make a decision on the remaining 11 counts relating to child sex offences. 

http://www.northernstar.com.au/news/father-john-casey-faces-retrial-over-child-sex-abu/3092425/ 

Major Priest In The Catholic Church In Chicago Looks At Naked Children And Gets Sadistic Pleasure From It. Absolutely Evil People Have Taken Over The Vatican

A Chicago priest who was removed as pastor of a church in the Brighton Park neighborhood last year has been arrested on a child pornography charge.
Octavio Munoz, 40, was removed from ministry by the Chicago Archdiocese in August 2015, because of concerns about materials found on his computer. At the time, the Archdiocese would not specify what was found.

http://shoebat.com/2016/09/21/major-priest-in-the-catholic-church-in-chicago-looks-at-naked-children-and-gets-sadistic-pleasure-from-it-absolutely-evil-people-have-taken-over-the-vatican/ 

Another appointee to Vatican abuse commission leaves group, member reveals

Vatican City A member of Pope Francis' commission on clergy sexual abuse has revealed that one of her colleagues in the group has resigned his position. The resignation, previously not made public, means two of the pontiff's seventeen original appointees to the commission are no longer taking part in its work.
Marie Collins, an Irish laywoman and member of the Pontifical Council for the Protection of Minors, made the revelation in an NCR interview in response to a question about the status of fellow member Peter Saunders, who the commission put on a leave of absence from the group in February.

https://www.ncronline.org/news/accountability/another-appointee-vatican-abuse-commission-leaves-group-member-reveals 

Guam's Catholic Church accused of putting finances before abuse victims

Don't we know... the catholic church has always put money before the people... and before God... the MONEY IS THEIR GOD...  Ann

=================================

The Catholic Church in Guam is being accused of putting its assets ahead of abuse victims. The Church has launched a petition calling on Governor Eddie Calvo to veto a bill which would lift the statute of limitations on civil lawsuits in historical sex abuse cases.
It warned it would be left bankrupt and scrambling to fund schools and social services if it was forced to pay settlements to abuse claimants.

http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/313905/guam's-catholic-church-accused-of-putting-finances-before-abuse-victims

Colorado church didn’t report pastor’s child sex abuse because ‘biblical counseling’ would suffice

if the catholic church read her bible the right way... she would not had waited that long... to report the rape of her innocent children... boys and girls...

The Greatest in the Kingdom
5. And whoever welcomes a little child like this in My name welcomes Me...
6. But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.
7. Woe to the world for the causes of sin. These stumbling blocks must come, but woe to the man through whom they come!…

King James Bible
But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea...

Each Bible I looked at... has the same words... but some written in a different way... all meaning the same... WOW betide anyone who abuses one of my little ones... and causes them to stray... and by the rape and abuse by the nuns and priest... has caused the children of god... to stray from him... and this is what the catholic church... has to answer to... when they face their maker...  Ann

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church in Thornton, Colorado has come under fire after court documents revealed this week that it failed to report a pastor’s sexual abuse to police because it believed the problem could be solved with “biblical counseling.”

Local news station KDVR reports that Pastor Robert Wyatt repeatedly had sexual intercourse with a 12-year-old girl who was parishioner at the Agape Bible Church in Thornton. What’s even more disturbing about this case, however, is the fact that court documents show church officials knew about Wyatt’s sexual abuse and did nothing.

http://www.rawstory.com/2016/09/colorado-church-didnt-report-pastors-child-sex-abuse-because-biblical-counseling-would-suffice/#.V-MioL4_EzY.facebook 

Church leader: I raped my 3 daughters

Cape Town - A Cape Town church leader has pleaded guilty to raping three of his daughters.
The 40-year-old man, who cannot be identified to protect the identity of his victims, was sentenced to 18 years in jail after he entered into a plea agreement at the Wynberg Regional Court last week.

http://www.iol.co.za/news/crime-courts/church-leader-i-raped-my-3-daughters-2069761 

Abuse allegations too vague to report to police, Catholic Church official says

A senior Catholic official has told the royal commission into child sexual abuse the information he had about a former priest's "wicked and criminal" conduct was too vague to report to police.

The commission heard Father Brian Lucas, the National Director of Catholic Mission, was interviewed on the ABC radio current affairs program AM in July 2012, after an ABC Four Corners investigation into the church's handling of allegations against Father John Farrell.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-09-20/abuse-allegations-too-vague-to-report-to-police-priest-says/7862462 

Ex-priest said boys were 'out to get him'

Former NSW priest John Farrell claimed boys in his old parish of Moree were telling lies and were "out to get him" when he was confronted about child sex abuse allegations, a royal commission has heard.
Senior Catholic Church figure Brian Lucas said Father Farrell was defensive and evasive at a 1992 meeting with senior priests, who'd been tasked with persuading Fr Farrell to leave the church.

http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/2016/09/20/ex-priest-said-boys-were-out-get-him 

Sask. priest still in active ministry despite sexual assault charge

A Roman Catholic priest in northwestern Saskatchewan is carrying on with his work in three parishes despite being charged with sexual assault. Father Javier Cortazar is accused of assaulting another priest two years ago, but is still working as a priest in Pierceland, Goodsoil and Loon Lake. (Diocese of Prince Albert )
Father Javier de los Angeles Cortazar is accused of assaulting another priest two years ago, at a cabin near the village of Goodsoil. Cortazar's trial is set for April, 2017 at Court of Queen's Bench in Meadow Lake. A publication ban prevents the name of the victim from being published.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatoon/priest-saskatchewan-news-sexual-assault-1.3769035