Chilean cardinal says bishop should resign over abuse crisis

The head of Chile’s Catholic Church said on Thursday that a Chilean bishop accused of covering up sexual abuse should resign, little more than a week after Pope Frances said he had made mistakes in handling Chile’s sexual abuse crisis. Cardinal Ricardo Ezzati told reporters that Juan Barros, a Chilean bishop who allegedly concealed abuse of minors by his mentor Father Fernando Karadima, should resign “without a doubt,” while adding he would not judge “whether or not [Barros] had covered up” the incidents. Barros did not immediately reply to a request for comment.

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-chile-abuse/chilean-cardinal-says-bishop-should-resign-over-abuse-crisis-idUSKBN1HQ36Q 

Civil Lawsuit Filed Against Connecticut Priest Accused of Child Sex Abuse

A man who says he was sexually abused by a priest while growing up in Bristol is taking his case to court. A civil lawsuit filed in New Haven Superior Court names the priest, Reverend Gregory Altermatt, and the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Hartford. It claims sexual abuse dating back to the 1970s and 1980s when the plaintiff, now in his 40s, was 7 to 15 years old. Altermatt has not been charged with any crimes. The lawsuit states the church should have known that Altermatt posed a danger to minors with whom he had contact.

https://www.nbcconnecticut.com/news/local/Civil-Lawsuit-Filed-Against-Connecticut-Priest-Accused-of-Child-Sex-Abuse--480182553.html 

Child Victims Act left behind in state’s budget, kept alive by survivors

The state budget left out the Child Victims Act — a bill supported by the governor and the State Assembly — that would have extended the statute of limitations for child victims of sexual assault, but adult survivors are not giving up. The bill never made it to the State Senate floor, so the GOP majority leader is the focus of upcoming efforts. Meanwhile, a group called Lawyers Helping Survivors of Child Sex Abuse released a document entitled “Hidden Disgrace III” on March 29, listing all of the priests who have worked for the Albany Diocese and have been accused of sexual abuse, what they are alleged to have done, and all the places they have worked.

https://altamontenterprise.com/04192018/child-victims-act-left-behind-state’s-budget-kept-alive-survivors 

Sexual assault crosses denominational lines

Clergy sexual abuse isn’t just a Catholic problem — although the Oscar-nominated movie “Spotlight” revealed the story of the Boston Globe’s 2001 expose of pedophile priests and the cover up in the Catholic Church. The journalists investigated Father John Geoghan, who was accused of molesting more than 80 boys. According to an article on the website of the United Methodist Church, “Sexual misconduct within ministerial relationships is a betrayal of sacred trust. It is a continuum of sexual or gender-directed behaviors by either a lay or clergy person within a ministerial relationship (paid or unpaid). It can include child abuse, adult sexual abuse, harassment, rape or sexual assault, sexualized verbal comments or visuals, unwelcome touching and advances, use of sexualized materials including pornography, stalking, sexual abuse of youth or those without capacity to consent, or misuse of the pastoral or ministerial position using sexualized conduct to take advantage of the vulnerability of another…” www.umc.org/

https://www.newswatchman.com/jackson/comment/article_cbaa2e1e-f626-568b-a6ba-b5f5b2165fcd.html 

Re-train cops to deal with sexual offences: WCD Ministry

The Ministry of Women and Child Development has outlined necessary steps for dealing with sexual offences. In a letter to Chief Ministers of all States and Union Territories, Union Minister for Women and Child Development (WCD) Maneka Gandhi highlighted various steps to be taken to prevent and curb crimes against women and children. This comes at a time when the country is on the boil over Kathua and Unnao rape case.According to one of the steps, all police officers should be re-trained on various aspects of sexual offences particularly those related to collection and preservation of evidence.

 http://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ani/re-train-cops-to-deal-with-sexual-offences-wcd-ministry-118041900562_1.html

Law firm releases more details on priest abuse

Attorney Mike Reck returned to Buffalo on Tuesday to again demand the Catholic Diocese release a comprehensive list of clerics within its jurisdiction who have been credibly accused of sexual assaults against children or other abuses. It is the second call Reck and his firm, Jeff Anderson and Associates, P.A., have made in as many months. The first occurred in March, when Reck’s firm released a list of 13 priests accused of committing sexual crimes against minors while serving in Western New York.

http://www.lockportjournal.com/news/local_news/law-firm-releases-more-details-on-priest-abuse/article_fa48acf0-fa6b-557f-a6ea-831ed851c731.html 

Bishops say Pope may come to Canada, apologize for residential schools

Roman Catholic bishops are holding out the possibility that Pope Francis may eventually apologize for the role that the church played in the abuse of children at Indian residential schools. But, at a news conference on Wednesday that took place just before a motion calling on the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops to press for an apology was introduced in the House of Commons, two senior Catholic leaders reiterated the position that the church, as a whole, was not to blame for the tragedy.

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/politics/article-catholic-bishops-say-pope-may-come-to-canada-apologize-for/ 

Alleged clergy sex abuse victim: "I am angry with God"

ames Faluszczak says every time he learns something new about the sexual abuse scandal with the Catholic Diocese, he feels shocked and angry. In a candid conversation, Faluszczak tells News 4 how he's coping, and how these past few months have shaped his faith. "Think the catholic church is the biggest organized crime syndicate in the world," he said. It's been a month since James Faluszczak decided to tell go public and tell his story of abuse. For him, it's painful to to see how many people have since come out with a similar story, just like his. He said, "In many cases, these victims, their first experience of a sexual act was perpetrated by a man that they entrusted with their soul."

http://www.wivb.com/news/local-news/alleged-clergy-sex-abuse-victim-i-am-angry-with-god/1129042994 

Catholic Whistleblowers want 'substantial revisions' to church's sex abuse policies

One request is to extend zero tolerance coverage, including bishops. A Catholic watchdog group is challenging the U.S. bishops to make "substantial revisions" to their nearly two-decade-old policies regarding sexual abuse of minors, and to include abuse survivors and the laity in the process. Among seven reforms to the guiding documents — the 2002 Charter for the Protection of Young People, or the Dallas Charter, and the Essential Norms for Diocesan/Eparchial Policies Dealing with Allegations of Sexual Abuse of Minors by Priests or Deacons — proposed by the Catholic Whistleblowers are:

https://www.ncronline.org/news/accountability/catholic-whistleblowers-want-substantial-revisions-churchs-sex-abuse-policies 

An abuse of trust White hid behind his charm

Howard White is now seen by some as a wolf in sheep's clothing, the devil in a white robe. But between 1984 and 2006, many in Haywood County only saw the former Episcopal priest as the beloved rector of Waynesville's Grace Church in the Mountains. Since then, much has changed for White, 76, who has been convicted of child sexual abuse in New England, and now faces abuse charges in Haywood County dating back to 1985.White, who preferred the affectionate, disarming nickname "Howdy," has been indicted by a Haywood County Grand Jury on charges that he abused one boy and one girl during his time in Haywood.

https://www.themountaineer.com/news/an-abuse-of-trust/article_36fd9526-4185-11e8-8def-ef7715b0666a.html 

Victims of Legion of Christ founder seek compensation for abuse

ROME - Eight victims of the Catholic Church’s most notorious pedophile priest are pressing the Legion of Christ religious order to compensate them for the sexual abuse they suffered and the psychological harm they say resulted from the order’s prolonged campaign to discredit them. The men sent a letter to the Legion’s leadership seeking public recognition of their status as victims of Father Marcial Maciel and the Mexico-based order, which was once one of the fastest-growing congregations in the Church but suffered a credibility crisis over Maciel’s crimes and cover-up.

https://cruxnow.com/vatican/2018/04/12/victims-of-legion-of-christ-founder-seek-compensation-for-abuse/ 

Book claims Eunice Kennedy Shriver's rightful place in history

When people think of the Kennedy family, they’re most likely thinking of the famous Kennedy men. John F. Kennedy was the first Catholic president in the nation’s history; he was assassinated in his first term. His brother Bobby was attorney general and a senator until he was assassinated while running for president. Ted Kennedy was a Massachusett's senator for decades until his death in 2009. But in her new book “Eunice: The Kennedy Who Changed the World," Eileen McNamara argues the most influential sibling wasn’t J.F.K. or R.F.K; it was their sister: Eunice Kennedy Shriver.

http://interlochenpublicradio.org/post/book-claims-eunice-kennedy-shrivers-rightful-place-history 

Religious Studies Professor and Papacy Expert Opines on Pope Francis’ Apology for Abuse in Chile

In a letter on April 11 to the bishops of Chile, Pope Francis asked forgiveness for his “serious errors of assessment and perception.” His apologies were directed to the victims of Fr. Fernando Karadima, whose abuse of at least three men when they were children was witnessed and covered up by Chilean Bishop Juan Barros. Until recently, Pope Francis had maintained that Bishop Barros was actually the victim of “slander.” In 2011, the then 80-year-old Fr. Karadina was found guilty by a Vatican tribunal, and sentenced to a life of “prayer and penance.” In times past, a personal apology from the pope would have been close to unthinkable.

https://theconversation.com/pope-francis-apology-for-abuse-in-chile-would-once-have-been-unthinkable-94958 

Exclusive Excerpt from ‘The Dictator Pope: The Inside Story of the Francis Papacy’

The following is an excerpt from the book “The Dictator Pope: The Inside Story of the Francis Papacy.” What Happened to “Zero Tolerance” for Clerical Sexual Offenders? The phenomenon of widespread homosexuality among clergy and bishops had been public knowledge since at least 2001, when the Boston Globe began a series of exposés on the clergy sex abuse scandals. The John Jay Report, an investigation commissioned by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, published in 2004, found that more than 80 percent of the victims of clergy sexual abuse had been adolescent males. Reports from dioceses around the world—including national bishops’ conferences in Australia, Canada, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Mexico, the Philippines, India, and most of Europe—found similar results.

https://www.cnsnews.com/commentary/henry-sire/exclusive-excerpt-dictator-pope-inside-story-francis-papacy 

Gay Chilean sex abuse victim to meet with Pope Francis

Pope Francis has invited a gay man from Chile who was sexually abused by a priest to meet with him at the Vatican. Juan Carlos Cruz on Sunday told the Washington Blade during a telephone interview from Philadelphia that Francis invited him to be his “guest” at his official residence near St. Peter’s Basilica from April 26-May 1. Media reports indicate Francis will meet with Cruz on April 28-29. Cruz told the Blade that Francis wants “to spend as much time as possible with me.”

http://www.washingtonblade.com/2018/04/16/gay-chilean-sex-abuse-victim-meet-pope-francis/ 

Lawyers make final remarks in Australian cardinal's sex case

A lawyer for the most senior Vatican official to be charged in the Catholic Church sex abuse crisis told an Australian court on Tuesday that Cardinal George Pell could have been targeted with false accusations to punish him for the crimes of other clerics. Defense and prosecution lawyers were making their final submissions in the Melbourne Magistrates Court in a hearing to determine whether the case against Australia's highest-ranking Catholic was strong enough to warrant a trial by jury.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=12034322&ref=rss 

Churches push for inclusion in Royal Commission into abuse

The Anglican and Catholic churches are making their most concentrated push yet to get the Royal Commission into abuse expanded to fully include them, with both writing to the Prime Minister. Draft terms of the inquiry exclude scrutiny of institutions where abuse in churches or other groups had no state involvement. But a letter sent to the Prime Minister, chair of the commission and children's minister, which is signed by Catholic Bishop Patrick Dunn and Sister Katrina Fabish, supports the inquiry and wants the terms to include church institutions.

https://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/353367/churches-push-for-inclusion-in-royal-commission-into-abuse 

Vatican will be terrified of state inquiry, whistleblower says

An international Catholic whistleblower says the Vatican will be "quaking in fear" in case the New Zealand Catholic Church is included in an inquiry into abuse. The Government has repeatedly stated it wants to leave Churches and other non-state institutions out of the upcoming Royal Commission. Some survivors of clerical abuse are pushing for Commission chair Sir Anand Satyanand to reverse that during the current public consultation phase. "I do not know of an inquiry that has taken place that has limited itself in such a way," said Father Tom Doyle, of Virginia, who's been involved in a dozen-plus abuse inquiries around the world and across the US.

https://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/352103/vatican-will-be-terrified-of-state-inquiry-whistleblower-says 

Child sex survivor breaks silence to challenge Australian Catholic Church on 'unfinished busines

 WOMAN who forced the Catholic Church to remove a notorious Hunter paedophile priest from the Philippines in 1995 after he “retired” there to live near a school with 7500 children said the Australian church is yet to take responsibility for crimes against children in developing countries. Anthea Halpin, a victim of Father Denis McAlinden, was owed “a debt of gratitude for her courage” in standing up for Philippines children after the Australian church allowed the priest to live near the San Pablo schools complex for more than a year despite knowing of his decades of offending, said Philippines ambassador to New Zealand, Jesus ‘Gary’ Domingo.

https://www.theherald.com.au/story/5261267/we-owe-her-a-debt-of-gratitude-philippines-ambassador-to-hunter-woman/#slide=1 

Catholic Whistleblowers want 'substantial revisions' to church's sex abuse policies

A Catholic watchdog group is challenging the U.S. bishops to make "substantial revisions" to their nearly two-decade-old policies regarding sexual abuse of minors, and to include abuse survivors and the laity in the process. Explore Pope Francis' environmental encyclical: Get this free readers' guide when you sign up for the weekly Eco Catholic email. Among seven reforms to the guiding documents — the 2002 Charter for the Protection of Young People, or the Dallas Charter, and the Essential Norms for Diocesan/Eparchial Policies Dealing with Allegations of Sexual Abuse of Minors by Priests or Deacons — proposed by the Catholic Whistleblowers are: extending its zero tolerance policy regarding sexual abuse to any cleric, religious or church employee, including bishops complicit with abuse; posting to diocesan websites the names of any person affiliated with a diocese with substantial abuse allegations against them; and working with state legislators in every state to reform statutes of limitations laws.

https://www.ncronline.org/news/accountability/catholic-whistleblowers-want-substantial-revisions-churchs-sex-abuse-policies 

The New Zealand Royal Commission of Inquiry into Historical Abuse in State Care ONLY... UPDATED

I have done it... I could not put it into words so I phoned up... The New Zealand Royal Commission Inquiry Into Child Rape and Child Abuse today... the man I talked to was really nice and let me do the talking... I told him my views about Why: the churches should be in with the state inquiry... Tears flowed from my eyes which he could also hear from my shaky voice... I told him that my book should be in their office... which they have had since last year... so he is going to look into that for me... I also told him that I had not heard if they got it or not... so he will send me an email as soon as he gets it... as I spoke to him for over an hour... he will also write my complaint up and put my name forward to met up with The Commission Inquiry... So a very good day for me....

I feel that I have now done the beginning... to fix what was done to us men and women... in the catholic church New Zealand orphanages... which we are paying the nuns for abusing us... THIS MUST STOP AND THE NUNS SHOULD PAY BACK ALL THE MONEY WE HAVE GIVEN THEM... WITH INTEREST... AS THEY DID TO US... we should NOT be paying these nazareth house nuns... FOR ABUSING and RAPING US FOR YEARS both day and night... Ann  

Link to My EBook
They Promised Heaven But Led Me to Hell 
Years In Two Catholic Orphanages Left Their Hidden Scars... 

Answer to my phone call...

Dear Ann Thompson

Thank you for your phone call to the Royal Commission on the 10^th of April. I have looked for the book that you told me had been sent to the Royal Commission “They promised me heaven but lead me to Hell”. Unfortunately I have been unable to locate your book here in the office. I have asked other staff if they had seen it in the office but no one recalls seeing it at all.

I have noted that you wish the Terms of Reference for the Royal Commission to be expanded to cover children who were placed in the care of the Church. You have also indicated that you would like to meet with the Commission when it is established. I have bought your request to the attention of the Chair.

Sir Anand Satyanand will carefully consider all submissions made about the Terms of Reference and will report to the Minister on the results of the consultation process.

He will not be naming any individual submitters in his report to the Minister on the Terms of reference.  To protect the integrity of the process and your privacy, he intends to make orders to prohibit publication of submissions made by individuals and the identity of the submitters. This will not stop you from making your submission public if you wish. 

If you have any concerns about the extent of confidentiality, or if you do not want your submission to be treated as confidential, please let the Commission know. When contacting the Royal Commission please quote reference number RC 15

Thank you for being so open with me yesterday Ann. I do hope that you were not too distressed after sharing your story with me.

Yours sincerely

Royal Commission into Child Abuse in New Zealand  

By keeping my book away from the Royal Commission Inquiry... is another way to keep the catholic church orphanages away... and out of the Royal Commission Into Child abuse in New Zealand... please help us men and women who were abused... and raped by nuns... priest and their workers... to get a fair hearing in... The New Zealand Royal Commission Inquiry into Child Abuse... we need all the help we can get... Let NO week go by without your say... Thank you... Ann Free Spirit

I was raped by a nun from age 12 ... then she had my baby

London - A grandfather has revealed the horrific sexual abuse he suffered as a child at the hands of a Roman Catholic nun who went on to have his baby. Edward Hayes was just 12 and living at a children’s home when he was singled out and raped by Sister Mary Conleth, who was then in her 20s and has since died.Hayes said the abuse happened "almost daily" at the former John Reynolds Home in Lytham St Annes, Lancashire, until the nun became pregnant in 1956 and was sent back to Ireland and discharged from her role in the Church. Hayes, 76, who has waived his right to anonymity, claims the case could be "the tip of the iceberg" in abuse by nuns.

https://www.iol.co.za/news/world/i-was-raped-by-a-nun-from-age-12-then-she-had-my-baby-14233417 

Canon law expert: Apuron may have been convicted of solicitation

After former altar boys tearfully went public with allegations, a law was passed to open doors for lawsuits against the church, clergy and others. Wochit Former Archbishop Anthony S. Apuron may have been charged with solicitation in the confessional and child sexual assault as part of his secretive canonical trial, but his penalty seems to match that of being found guilty of solicitation, a canon law expert said. "For civil legal reasons, I guess they backed off of child sexual abuse and proceeded on solicitation because it gets the same final result but also does not trigger civil liability back in the hundreds of cases in Guam," said canon law expert Patrick Wall, a former Catholic priest and Benedictine monk who left the ministry in 1998.

https://www.guampdn.com/story/news/2018/04/04/canon-law-expert-apuron-may-have-been-convicted-solicitation/484015002/ 

Avoiding an apology

Pope Francis is famous for his compassion, so it is surprising that he has refused to apologize for the Roman Catholic Church’s role in Canada’s residential schools. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau asked the Pope to consider offering an apology, but last week, his hopes — and those of First Nations, Métis and Inuit people — were dashed. A letter from the president of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops said the Pope “felt that he could not personally respond” to the request for an apology.

http://www.timescolonist.com/opinion/editorials/editorial-avoiding-an-apology-1.23253145 

Hart to depart with Pope poised to pick Melbourne's next Archbishop

The Catholic Church in Australia faces a pivotal moment in its history, with an official search now underway to replace long-serving Melbourne Archbishop Denis Hart. Senior Catholic sources have told The Age that a highly secretive selection process is near completion, with Pope Francis to have the final say on Archbishop Hart’s successor.

https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/hart-to-depart-with-pope-poised-to-pick-melbourne-s-next-archbishop-20180404-p4z7oc.html 

OPINION: An unaccepted affront from Pope

‘As a Catholic, I call upon Pope Francis to accept his duty to promote healing’ BY BRIAN FRANCIS GUEST OPINION I write in relation to the recent refusal of Pope Francis to apologize for the role of the Catholic Church in the Indian residential schools. The tragedy of residential schools is now well known in this country and this region. What is equally well known is the role of the Catholic Church in not only the schools, but the abuses suffered by Indigenous children who were forced to attend the schools.

http://www.theguardian.pe.ca/opinion/opinion-an-unaccepted-affront-from-pope-199972/ 

Pat Howard: Erie bishop shines light into darkness

I never thought I’d witness a moment like Bishop Lawrence Persico releasing the names of 51 people connected to the Catholic Diocese of Erie who had been credibly accused of sexual misconduct with children. Persico on Friday identified 34 priests and former priests, 21 of whom are dead. He also called to account 17 laypeople, two of whom are dead. That number of priests, which even Persico said will likely grow, represents about 6 percent of the priests who served the diocese from the mid-1940s to the present.

http://www.goerie.com/opinion/20180408/pat-howard-erie-bishop-shines-light-into-darkness 

Veteran of Catholic Chapter 11s Represents Weinstein Victims

The catholic church nuns and priest... should pay dearly for their crimes... they committed upon innocent children boys and girls... for years and years... everyone knew what they were doing to the children... and they walked away... they did not want to upset the catholic church... but never did they think about the many boys and girls... who were RAPED AND ABUSED... BY NUNS AND PRIEST BOTH DAY AND NIGHT... they did NOTHING...

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

James Stang darted into a first-floor conference room at the DoubleTree Hotel in Wilmington, Del., late last month and with a wave and a nod called his team to the back corner of the room. He was preparing for his next assignment: representing alleged victims of Harvey Weinstein. For more than a decade, the 62-year-old lawyer has wrangled with the Catholic Church on behalf of sexual abuse victims as ballooning abuse-related liabilities have driven dioceses across the U.S. into bankruptcy.

https://www.wsj.com/articles/veteran-of-catholic-chapter-11s-represents-weinstein-victims-1523192403 

Vatican police arrest ex-diplomat over 'child pornography'

Police at the Vatican have arrested a priest who previously worked at the Holy See's US embassy on suspicion of possessing child pornography. Carlo Alberto Capella was taken into custody after an investigation. Monsignor Capella was recalled from the US in September 2017 after US authorities told the Vatican about a possible violation of child pornography laws by one of its diplomats.

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-43680234 

When ministers and the State bowed to the Church

Early governments acted as if Irish independence amounted to Rome Rule. It took the revelation of the clerical sex abuse scandal to end such deference, writes Ryle Dwyer The political influence demonstrated by the Catholic hierarchy a century ago during the Conscription Crisis of 1918 had reverberations for decades afterwards. Few Irish politicians dared to stand up to the bishops, even on political matters. Instead, politicians were careful to demonstrate a subservient devotion to the Catholic Church. For decades, the fears of Protestants were essentially ignored, especially Northern Protestants who were convinced they would be discriminated against in a united Ireland.

https://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/views/analysis/when-ministers-and-the-state-bowed-to-the-church-836331.html 

Adelaide archbishop wants case against him claiming abuse cover-up thrown out

The Catholic archbishop of Adelaide, Philip Wilson, wants the case against him involving claims he covered up child sex abuse by a priest thrown out of a New South Wales court. Defence barrister Stephen Odgers SC told Newcastle local court on Monday that a detailed “no case to answer” submission would be made at the end of the prosecution case against Wilson.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/apr/09/adelaide-archbishop-wants-case-against-him-claiming-abuse-cover-up-thrown-out

50 years later, man accuses prominent Niagara Falls priest of molesting him as a child

A 63-year-old Youngstown man alleges he was sexually abused 50 years ago by a Niagara Falls priest who received many awards and honors for his work with poor people, the homeless and disadvantaged teenagers. Niagara County resident Mark V. Lynch said he was 13 years old when he was molested in 1968 by the late Rev. Joseph A. Schuster in a Niagara Falls rectory. He said he reported the incident March 12 to the Catholic Diocese of Buffalo and was told Tuesday the complaint had been received and would be given to Bishop Richard J. Malone and attorneys for the diocese.

http://buffalonews.com/2018/04/04/50-years-later-man-accuses-prominent-niagara-falls-priest-of-molesting-him-as-a-child/ 

Former Youth Minister at Rockville Church Sentenced To 3 Years for Sexual Abuse of Teen

A former youth minister at St. Elizabeth’s Catholic Church in Rockville was sentenced Tuesday to three years in prison for the sexual abuse of a teen parishioner, according to Montgomery County prosecutors. Brian Patrick Werth, 34, had been arrested in 2016 in connection with the abuse of a then-16-year-old girl, to whom he had sent explicit text messages for two years and had sexual contact with her earlier that year. He was charged with a fourth-degree sex offense, sexual abuse of a minor and second-degree assault.

http://www.bethesdamagazine.com/Bethesda-Beat/2018/Former-Youth-Minister-at-Rockville-Church-Sentenced-To-3-Years-for-Sexual-Abuse-of-Teen/ 

Mexican diocese apologizes for failing to stop abusive priest

A Mexican diocese has apologized and asked for forgiveness for failing to stop a priest from sexually abusing Catholic school children. At the time, the priest had been banned from his priestly duties in a neighboring archdiocese. “As a church, we ask for forgiveness from the victims. … We manifest our commitment to always act truthfully and with justice and, as an institution, take preventive measures so that nothing similar ever happens again,” the Diocese of Irapuato, in the western state of Guanajuato, said April 3 in a short statement. “The Diocese of Irapuato expresses its solidarity with the victims and their families and deplores what happened. This atrocious behavior, in which persons are abused, is inadmissible and condemnable.”

https://cruxnow.com/global-church/2018/04/05/mexican-diocese-apologizes-for-failing-to-stop-abusive-priest/ 

French Cardinal to Stand Trial in Sex Abuse Cover-Up Case

A French court has set a date in early 2019 for the criminal trial of a French cardinal and a high-ranking Vatican prelate suspected of covering up a child sex abuse scandal in the eastern diocese of Lyon. Victims of a priest who has confessed to preying on them have summoned Cardinal Philippe Barbarin, archbishop of Lyon, Monsignor Luis Ladaria Ferrer, head of a powerful office in the Vatican, and five other Catholic Church officials to appear together in court for allegedly being informed of the priest's past abuses and not reporting them to authorities.

https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2018-04-04/french-cardinal-to-stand-trial-in-sex-abuse-cover-up-case 

Hart to depart with Pope poised to pick Melbourne's next Archbishop

The Catholic Church in Australia faces a pivotal moment in its history, with an official search now underway to replace long-serving Melbourne Archbishop Denis Hart. Senior Catholic sources have told The Age that a highly secretive selection process is near completion, with Pope Francis to have the final say on Archbishop Hart’s successor. The process is meant to be subject to “pontifical secret” – an order made by the Vatican under canon law which imposes silence – so is not meant to be discussed.

http://www.watoday.com.au/victoria/hart-to-depart-with-pope-poised-to-pick-melbourne-s-next-archbishop-20180403-p4z7oc 

New archbishop cracking-down on clergy sex abuse

He's the leader of Guam's faithful. Archbishop Michael Byrnes was appointed to the Archdiocese of Agana two years ago. At the time there were only a handful of clergy sexual abuse lawsuits. Though the count is now upwards of 160-lawsuits, he's worked tirelessly to prevent future cases. And his efforts haven't gone unnoticed. He's the recipient of this year's Visionary Voice Award. Earlier this week, Archbishop Byrnes accepted the award during a proclamation signing to commemorate Sexual Assault Awareness Month and Child Abuse Prevention Month.

http://www.kuam.com/story/37900937/2018/04/06/new-archbishop-cracking-down-on-clergy-sex-abuse 

Erie bishop: Disclosures part of ‘search for the truth’

Catholic Diocese of Erie says it hopes to help victims, community with its release 51 names of accused priests, laypeople Bishop Lawrence Persico likened the event to ending a kind of darkness. In a stunning break from years of Catholic Diocese of Erie policy, Persico on Friday released the names of priests and laypeople credibly accused of sexually abusing minors or engaging in improper behavior with minors since 1944. (scroll down for the list of names.)

http://www.goerie.com/news/20180406/erie-bishop-disclosures-part-of-search-for-truth 

Saginaw County Prosecutor Responds To Reported Verbal Attacks In Priest Sex Abuse Case

The Saginaw County Prosecutor’s Office is responding to what it calls verbal attacks against reported victims in the on-going investigation of alleged sexual assaults possibly involving priests from the Saginaw Catholic Diocese. County Prosecutor John McColgan calls those attacks unfounded. Defense Attorney Allan Crawford who represents Reverend Robert DeLand who’s now facing additional charges called the investigation a witch hunt.

http://www.wsgw.com/saginaw-county-prosecutor-respond-to-reported-verbal-attacks-in-priest-sex-abuse-case/ 

'You Don't Trust the Church; You Trust Jesus' says Nassar Victim

Harvard students gave former gymnast and sexual abuse survivor Rachael Denhollander a standing ovation Thursday night after she spoke about living with both justice and forgiveness. Denhollander was the first person to publicly accuse gymnast doctor Larry Nassar of sexual abuse. She stepped into the national spotlight in January when she was the last of more than 150 women and girls to confront Nassar in court during his sentencing hearing for criminal sexual conduct.

https://www1.cbn.com/cbnnews/us/2018/april/you-dont-trust-the-church-you-trust-jesus-says-nassar-victim 

Prosecutor jabs back after DeLand's attorney calls charges 'outright appalling'

DeLand, of Freeland, originally was charged in February with criminal sexual conduct for allegedly assaulting two males, ages 21 and 17. Det. Brian Berg with the Tittabawassee Township Police Department said three of the new charges involved the same victim from the original February charges. The fourth charge involved an additional 18-year-old victim who claims DeLand tried to sexually assault him inside St. Agnes Church in May 2017.

http://www.wnem.com/story/37892558/saginaw-area-priest-facing-additional-sexual-assault-charges 

Cardinal Dolan pushes Cuomo for changes in Child Victims Act

Cardinal Timothy Dolan emerged from a closed-door meeting Tuesday with Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo saying the proposed Child Victims Act to prosecute and compensate victims of child sexual abuse unfairly targets the Catholic Church and, if passed as is, would be “toxic.” The long-proposed Child Victims Act would extend the statute of limitations for criminal and civil cases of those accused of molestation and sexual abuse of children. The proposals include a “look-back” period of one year for victims to be heard in court. The issue is now part of negotiations in a 2018-19 state budget that is due by April 1.

https://www.newsday.com/long-island/politics/spin-cycle/child-victims-act-cuomo-dolan-catholic-1.17546277 

Priest who abruptly left St. Mary’s in Batavia named in sex abuse scandal as Diocese releases 42 names

Four days after The Buffalo News detailed sexual assault allegations against a priest who abruptly left a Batavia parish in 2002 and the priest’s denial, the Diocese of Buffalo has released his name, along with 41 other priests accused of sexually abusing children. Father Donald Becker’s name was on that list. Becker left St. Mary’s Church in Batavia in 2002, “because of a medical leave of absence,” the Diocese said at the time.

http://www.thedailynewsonline.com/bdn01/priest-who-abruptly-left-st-marys-in-batavia-named-in-sex-abuse-scandal-as-diocese-releases-42-names-20180320 

Guam archbishop guilty of sexual abuse, exiled from island, Vatican tribunal rules

VATICAN CITY — A Vatican tribunal found Guam Archbishop Anthony Apuron guilty of sexually abusing minors and decreed he should be removed him from his clerical office and exiled from the island. The Vatican said in a statement issued Friday that the tribunal had found Apuron "guilty of certain accusations." The tribunal dismissed some of the charges against him. Apuron is the highest ranking church figure to have been convicted of sexual misconduct. Other high-ranking church officials, such as Boston's Cardinal Bernard Law, were accused of covering up, not participating, in such misconduct.

http://www.khou.com/article/news/nation-now/guam-archbishop-guilty-of-sexual-abuse-exiled-from-island-vatican-tribunal-rules/465-ae804c30-7ab4-46c6-afc0-7723e09f2092 

Fr. James Martin Doubts Pope Francis on TV

DETROIT (ChurchMilitant.com) – In a recent interview with CNN about his so-called LGBT ministry, Jesuit priest Fr. James Martin expressed discontent with how the Holy Father has responded to sex abuse. In a televised interview on Tuesday, the pro-gay Jesuit celebrity priest spoke with CNN’s Christiane Amanpour. She asked Fr. Martin about the priest sex abuse scandal. She noted that traditionalists are discontent with the pope but so are liberals.

https://catholiccitizens.org/news/78096/fr-james-martin-doubts-pope-francis-tv/ 

Five years on, Pope Francis under fire over sex abuse scandals

As Pope Francis marks the fifth year of his papacy next week, the pontiff once hailed as a fearless reformer is under fire for his handling of the sex abuse scandals that have rocked the Roman Catholic Church. Since taking over in March 2013, the 81-year-old Argentinian has championed the cause of the marginalised, saying he wanted a "poor church for the poor" and shunning papal palaces and ostentatious displays of wealth.

https://www.thelocal.it/20180311/five-years-on-pope-francis-under-fire-over-sex-abuse-scandals 

Salem pastor resigns after church investigates claims of sexual misconduct by him, 3 others

Warning: Some of the testimonies found in this story contain graphic details that some may find triggering or disturbing. "Sexual immorality" was the reason cited when longtime Pastor Ken Engelking resigned in January from Morning Star Community Church in Salem. Four women had come forward the previous spring with allegations against Engelking, two other former church staff members and a member of an affiliated church.

https://www.statesmanjournal.com/story/news/2018/03/08/morning-star-community-church-sexual-assault/1032703001/ 

Age of confusion for Catholics under Pope Francis

If you think politics today in this country are a mess – it’s the same and probably worse for the Catholic Church. What started as a time of hope with the election of Pope Francis has turned into the greatest period of confusion and likely heresy since the Reformation. Confusion is the name of the game, but it isn’t a game. Pope Francis, who initially exuded a look of caring and friendliness, has turned into a pope who issues opinion that contradict established Catholic teaching, while at the same time denying he’s doing that. Well, sort of.

www.wnd.com/2018/03/age-of-confusion-for-catholics-under-pope-francis/ 

Victim to Bishop Malone: Release the names of abusive priests in Buffalo

“It’s been such a whirlwind that this has broken as big as it has.” Michael Whalen is talking about the sexual abuse he first revealed last week in the Catholic Church -- and what he calls the “tsunami” of victims who say they have also been abused by Catholic priests through the years in the Diocese of Buffalo. “ It’s been unbelievable the victims who have contacted me,” Whalen said in front of the diocesan headquarters Sunday morning. “I am proud of all of you.”

https://www.wkbw.com/news/i-team/victim-to-bishop-malone-release-the-names-of-abusive-priests-in-buffalo 

Abuse allegations at Wichita church come amid #ChurchToo movement

A lawsuit alleges that a youth pastor sexually abused a teenage girl for three years – and that the church and its senior minister tried to cover it up. The lawsuit is about Word of Life Ministries and Schools in Wichita. Yet it makes mention of the “sexual abuse scandals that emerged from the Catholic Church,” where people entrusted to care for children have used that role to take advantage of them.

http://www.kansas.com/news/local/article203482104.html 

Senior Catholic leader faces sex abuse accusers via video link

The most senior Catholic Church leader to be charged with sexual abuse came close to confronting his accusers on Monday in a video-linked Australian court hearing to test the strength of the prosecution's case. Cardinal George Pell's alleged victims began testifying in the Melbourne Magistrates Court against Pope Francis' former finance minister in testimony that cannot be made public.
The complainants, who cannot be identified, are avoiding the intense media scrutiny focused on the cramped courtroom and the company of their alleged abuser by giving their evidence via a video connection from an undisclosed location. The number of alleged victims has not been made public, and their testimony is scheduled to continue for up to two weeks.

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/cardinal-george-pell-catholic-church-sexual-abuse-australia-accusers-video-link/