Man vows to proceed with California clergy abuse lawsuit

A man who says he was molested by his parish priest decades ago vows to proceed with a lawsuit targeting all Catholic bishops in California after a judge dismissed part of the suit. The so-called "nuisance" lawsuit filed in October by Thomas Emens claims a civil conspiracy among church officials to cover up clergy assault and move offending priests to other parishes.

https://www.sfgate.com/news/crime/article/Man-vows-to-proceed-with-California-clergy-abuse-13804916.php 

Identities revealed of over 40 Sacramento-area priests accused of sexual abuse

More than 40 priests serving the Catholic Diocese of Sacramento were credibly accused of sexually abusing roughly 130 victims in the past 70 years, according to records kept by the church and obtained by The Sacramento Bee. The release of records once closely guarded by church officials was overseen and ordered by Bishop Jaime Soto, who called the details within church abuse records “gut wrenching,” “sobering” and “repulsive.

https://www.sacbee.com/news/local/article229815334.html 

Disgraced priest faces new abuse accusations; Hanna Boys Center responds

Current Hanna Boys Center CEO Brian Farragher has addressed but not disputed the charges of molestation made against the facility’s former executive director, details of which were dramatically revealed in an outdoor press conference Wednesday at Sonoma’s St. Francis Solano Catholic Church.

http://sonomasun.com/2019/04/21/disgraced-priest-faces-new-abuse-accusations-hanna-boys-center-responds/ 

A.K. KUYKENDALL RELEASES A TIMELY “BASED ON TRUE EVENTS” SHORT STORY, ‘THE CONFESSIONAL,’ AND IT HAS ALL CATHOLICS TALKING.

WHO DO YOU PREY TO? It sounds like an odd question, but in reality, that question is loaded. It addresses, bluntly and directly, what the Catholic Church has been doing to our children for decades, and their ongoing cover-up of these most heinous acts. With The Confessional, Kuykendall bravely adds his voice to this debate, with neither fear nor favor.

http://www.digitaljournal.com/pr/4266823

A life hiding as the first priest charged in the Catholic Church's sex abuse scandal

A small walking path, impossible to travel without bending plants and palm fronds, leads from the roadway to the small, cramped apartment. Behind all the foliage at the end of the path in a courtyard, unseen from the road, is a large chicken coop with a dozen hens nestled together. They roll their heads around to eye the passersby.

https://www.theadvertiser.com/story/news/2019/04/22/gilbert-gauthe-lafayette-catholic-priest-charged-sexual-abuse-first-u-s/3496039002/ 

Two Popes battle it out over how to deal with the abuse scandal – and both are still losing

For late Easter reading I recommend Pope emeritus Benedict’s essay on the Church and the Scandal of Sex Abuse, recently published by a small Catholic magazine in Germany. No seriously, it’s great stuff. In very clear language the former 91 year old Cardinal Josef Ratzinger who was – and apparently still is – the greatest authority on Church doctrine during the reigns of four popes, has given his verdict on the great clerical sex abuse scandal that has so damaged the Roman Catholic Church.

https://sluggerotoole.com/2019/04/22/two-popes-battle-it-out-over-how-to-deal-with-the-abuse-scandal-and-both-are-still-losing/

Church leaders must stop blaming others for its woes

It is hard to fathom that at this late stage of the catastrophic damage done to the Catholic Church by pedophile parading as priests, the church hierarchy decides to play the blame game. Recently, Bishop Richard Malone, when exposed for hiding the names of at least 27 more pedophiles, responded by blame the media. Apparently, he felt that only one complaint against a pedophile priest was not sufficient evidence to add that priest to the list already published.

https://buffalonews.com/2019/04/22/letter-church-leaders-must-stop-blaming-others-for-its-woes/ 

Lawsuit accuses late Santa Fe mayor of child sex abuse

A lawsuit filed Monday alleges that the late Louis Montaño sexually abused a 12-year-old boy while serving as director of the Boys Club of Santa Fe in the early 1970s, roughly a decade before Montaño was elected as Santa Fe’s mayor. Brad Hall, the Albuquerque attorney who filed the lawsuit in state district court on behalf of an unnamed client, said the plaintiff came forward recently following psychological treatment during which memories surfaced decades after the alleged abuse took place.

https://www.santafenewmexican.com/news/local_news/lawsuit-accuses-late-santa-fe-mayor-of-child-sex-abuse/article_46c0eb74-5231-538a-9ccb-c23b53e73355.html 

St. Louis County judge denies lower bond for ex-priest accused of abuse

A St. Louis County judge on Monday refused to lower bail for a former Catholic priest who was previously imprisoned and labeled sexually violent. Fred Lenczycki, 74, of suburban Chicago, was charged in February with two counts of sodomy for allegedly abusing two boys in the early 1990s at a north St. Louis County parish. He is jailed on $500,000 cash-only bond but was seeking an unspecified reduction.

https://www.kmov.com/news/st-louis-county-judge-denies-lower-bond-for-ex-priest/article_631c5e92-6549-11e9-a3d3-6301a6f00eae.html 

From victim to vigilante: Clergy sex abuse survivor finds accused Philly priest online, working for charter school system in Arizona.

When Arizona charter-school operator Rose Management Group offered John F. Meyers a contract position this year, the company either failed to discover or disregarded one important aspect about his past: His prior job — a 35-year stint as a Roman Catholic priest in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia — ended abruptly after he was accused of sexually abusing a minor.

https://www.philly.com/news/john-meyers-carolyn-fortney-clergy-sex-abuse-philadelphia-rose-management-tucson-catholics4change-20190423.html 

WATCH: Shattered Faith: Clergy Sex Abuse Scandal's Impact on Victims, the Church

In part one of his special report, "Shattered Faith," he takes an in-depth look at the scandal that has attracted global attention. Erie News Now has been following the clergy sex abuse scandal in Pennsylvania for about a year now. Our coverage was just not the high-profile grand jury investigation of Erie and other catholic dioceses but also the impact on victims and the church.

https://www.erienewsnow.com/story/40353440/watch-shattered-faith-clergy-sex-abuse-scandals-impact-on-victims-the-church 

Thousands of Boy Scout leaders accused of sexually abusing minors, details emerge from 'Perversion Files'

Thousands of Boy Scout leaders are facing new allegations of sexual abuse. A law firm retained by some of the alleged victims held a news conference in New York and New Jersey Tuesday. "When we got this information, we had to sound the alarm," said attorney Jeff Anderson. Anderson called it a system of denial and cover-ups and claimed the Boy Scouts have so called "perversion files" on child abusers within their ranks dating back to the 1940s.

https://6abc.com/thousands-of-boy-scout-leaders-accused-of-sexually-abusing-minors/5266376/ 

''Brutalised inside and then I had to live with that shame'

This story discusses graphic details of a violent nature. Two sexual abuse survivors from Burnham Military Camp near Christchurch have spoken publicly about the horrors they endured. Ken Clearwater and Terry King have been part of a CTV series called Challenge the Silence. Mr King was sexually assaulted in the showers by a group of men at the camp in 1975. No caption Terry King in 1980 while he was serving with the NZ Defence Force in Singapore. He was left physically and emotionally shaken, however, he said nothing because he knew homosexual activity was illegal and he would likely be arrested. "I'm just standing in the shadows naked - blood pouring down my legs - and I knew straight away what the hell had happened. "I was so brutalised inside and then I had to live with that shame."

 https://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/387425/brutalised-inside-and-then-i-had-to-live-with-that-shame

NZ’s male sexual trauma stories: ‘We have failed to protect our children’

NZ’s male sexual trauma stories: ‘We have failed to protect our children’ Each Story in this link is about the rape of little boys... teens and young men... have a video were the man will tell you in their own words of pain and torment... about the beginning of their nightmares... you will share there pain as though they are standing right in-front of you... they are very brave men... New Zealand Men who were Abuse and Raped as little boys... teens and young men... these are post which will open your eyes... in how these men kept quite... because men do not tell about the raped... which happened to them as young children... they are suppose to be tough... guys who take anything dished out to them... even near to death some of them... as they were gang raped in the Army in the showers... The army should stand up to her crimes... and pay these brave men compensation for the pain... torture... suffering they have carried all of their lives... and who have just come forward to face their abusers... they each should be given a Medal of Bravery... for even being courageous enough in challenging their abusers...

These men are New Zealand's Heroes... Ann Free Spirit ========================================= 

NZ’s male sexual trauma stories: ‘We have failed to protect our children’ WARNING: This video series has graphic descriptions of rape, sexual violation, substance abuse and discusses suicide and self-harm. It is recommended for adult audiences only. Why did 10 men and one of their partners sit down and tell their harrowing story of sexual trauma to our cameras? In the finale of the series, peer support worker Paul Davenport and Males Survivors Aotearoa national advocate Ken Clearwater talk about New Zealand’s path to ‘owning’ how badly it has ‘failed to protect children’. NZ’s sexual trauma story: ‘We have failed to protect our children’NZ’s sexual trauma story:

https://www.star.kiwi/challenge-the-silence/ 

Fr Frank Brennan debunks myths

"Spread a culture of tolerance and learn to engage respectfully with people who passionately disagree with you". This was the dominant theme of Fr Frank Brennan’s presentation at CatholicCare’s, Towards Practice Excellence, two-day staff conference held at the Hunter Stadium in late February. Close to 100 employees attended the 30-minute presentation, Catholic Social Teaching – Debunking the Myths.

 http://mnnews.today/aurora/april-2019/fr-frank-brennan-debunks-myths/

Some priests abused so many children they lost track - Diarmuid Martin

Former president Mary McAleese has said the recent decades of clerical abuse scandals have shown how “careless” the Catholic Church is of human rights, particularly those of children. “We trust them with our children, 90 per cent of our little primary school children we trust to them,” she said. “To be that trusted they have to be that accountable.”

https://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/religion-and-beliefs/some-priests-abused-so-many-children-they-lost-track-diarmuid-martin-1.3852679 

Pope is close to wounded survivors, faithful in Chile, bishop says

Pope Francis is aware of the suffering that abuse survivors and all Catholics in Chile have endured following the revelations of abuse and cover-up and is doing everything possible to accompany them, said the new apostolic administrator of the Archdiocese of Santiago. Bishop Celestino Aos Braco of Copiapo, Chile, told journalists at the Vatican on Monday that the pope conveyed a message to the faithful in the country.

https://www.thecatholicuniverse.com/pope-is-close-to-wounded-survivors-faithful-in-chile-bishop-says-26510 

State House passes relief for clerical sex abuse victims

The state House Wednesday approved measures to eliminate the criminal statute of limitations for child sex crimes and to propose a Constitutional amendment to open a window for lawsuits in cases where the statute of limitations has already expired. How much momentum those measures will get in the Senate remains unclear.

https://www.sharonherald.com/pennsylvania/news/state-house-passes-relief-for-clerical-sex-abuse-victims/article_77beb281-26cc-5f63-bacf-5ce0122236e3.html 

Police probing child abuse of paedophile priest report seven people to prosecutors

In March 2018 a PSNI team was established to investigate allegations of serial child abuse by Finegan over 20 years at St Colman's College in Newry. This was expanded to include other claims of physical and sexual abuse by staff during the 1960s and 1970s and an alleged cover-up. Finegan died in 2002 without facing justice.

https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/police-probing-child-abuse-of-paedophile-priest-report-seven-people-to-prosecutors-38003185.html 

Catholics must speak up to end abuse

When I see stories of sexual abuse by clergy members, I’m often angry with many people. Mostly, I’m angry with those who allowed the abuse to go on uninterrupted for years, whether they be church officials who helped cover it up, or the older generation of Catholics, who wouldn’t believe victims because they didn’t think priests would commit such heinous acts.

http://www.liherald.com/stories/catholics-must-speak-up-to-end-abuse,113593 

KC-St. Joseph Diocese hires ex-FBI agents to compile list of credibly accused priests.

The Catholic Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph has hired an investigative and consulting firm run by three former FBI agents to compile a list of priests who have been credibly accused of sexual abuse of minors. The St.-Louis based firm, Fidelity Consultants, comprises three investigators who each spent more than two decades with the Federal Bureau of Investigation before founding the company, according to an announcement this week in The Catholic Key, the diocesan newspaper.

https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/article229165494.html 

Anger and confusion over concealed list of 25 accused priests in the Diocese of Buffalo

Revelations of the list has angered priest abuse victims and resulted in new calls for leadership change. Reaction to a 7 Eyewitness News I-Team investigation that found the Diocese of Buffalo was concealing the names of 25 priests accused of sexual misconduct or abuse is generating some strong reactions from priest abuse victims and the president of Saint Bonaventure University, Dr. Dennis DePerro, who is calling for Bishop Richard Malone to step aside so the diocese can begin to heal and move forward.

https://www.wkbw.com/news/i-team/anger-and-confusion-over-concealed-list-of-25-accused-priests-in-the-diocese-of-buffalo 

The change maker: A conversation with Cardinal John Dew about the future of the Catholic Church

A wooden cross made from a lifeboat wrecked on rocks off the Italian island of Lampedusa hangs on Cardinal John Dew's office wall. The boat was carrying refugees from Africa in search of a new life in Europe when, like so many others, it crashed on the outskirts of the island. Many of the boat's occupants, including children, would have died.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/111958799/the-change-maker-a-conversation-with-cardinal-john-dew-about-the-future-of-the-catholic-church 

New Zealand cardinal asks laity to stop calling priests ‘Father’ to fight ‘clericalism’

AUCKLAND, New Zealand, April 12, 2019 (LifeSiteNews) — Cardinal John Dew of New Zealand wrote a missive to Catholics of the Pacific archipelago urging them to not address priests as “Father.” In providing a synopsis of an article by Fr. Jean-Pierre Roche that appeared in La Croix, Cardinal Dew said he joined the French priest in wondering why priests are called “Father.”

https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/new-zealand-cardinal-asks-laity-to-stop-calling-priests-father-to-fight-clericalism 

'George Pell' defence rejected over sexually offensive texts

The Fair Work Commission has rejected the "George Pell" defence of a truck driver sacked for allegedly sexually harassing a male colleague by joking about "molesting" him and calling him his "toy boy" or "step son". Toll Transport fired the pick-up driver after finding he had acted inappropriately by sending vulgar and sexually offensive text messages younger forklift driver, despite evidence the relationship was consensual.

https://www.afr.com/leadership/workplace/george-pell-defence-rejected-over-sexually-offensive-texts-20190409-p51c9n 

A spent volcano': 'old, ill' former priest bailed on 131 charges

A former Catholic priest facing trial on more than 130 sexual abuse charges has been bailed after being described as a "spent volcano" who may have only six months to live. With a walking stick across his lap, a wheelchair-bound David Joseph Perrett, 82, faced the NSW Supreme Court via audio-visual link from Long Bay prison hospital after being charged with abusing 37 children over more than 20 years.

https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/a-spent-volcano-old-ill-former-priest-bailed-on-131-charges-20190409-p51cip.html?ref=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_source=rss_feed 

Priest pleads guilty after victim calls sex abuse hotline

A New Jersey priest has pleaded guilty to a child sexual assault dating back almost three decades. The charge against the Rev. Thomas Ganley was the first sexual assault case brought by the state's clergy abuse task force, which was established last September. Ganley was charged in January, just two days after the victim had called the state's clergy abuse hotline.

https://www.sfchronicle.com/news/crime/article/Priest-arrested-after-sex-abuse-hotline-call-13752432.php 

Unending, inconclusive public inquiries another form of abuse

In four reports, they haven’t made a single finding of fact. We knew more about what happened in that foster home before this inquiry than we do now, writes Fergus Finlay. THIS newspaper, at the end of 2015 and the start of 2016, first highlighted a case of abuse in the South-East of Ireland. The abuse had continued for 20 years, up to about 2009. It was John McGuinness and John Deasy who used their positions on the Public Accounts Committee to highlight the potential cover-up of that abuse.

https://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/views/columnists/unending-inconclusive-public-inquiries-another-form-of-abuse-916385.html 

Fading into oblivion: A rest home horror story

When *Alice McCarthy’s partner had a seizure and went into a rest home hospital-care unit, she thought it would be temporary. That was three years ago – and since then, she’s lost every battle to get him home. This is her story. *Names have been changed for privacy reasons.

https://www.msn.com/en-nz/news/national/fading-into-oblivion-a-rest-home-horror-story/ar-BBVM2Ny?ocid=sf 

After all of the abuse horrors, what have we really learned?

The aftermath of the George Pell conviction has led the family of Andy MacQueen – an abuse victim from another time, another place – to speak up, and question what has really changed in protecting and helping the innocent. David and Loryn MacQueen hope the death of son Andy can be a catalyst for change in the mental health system.

https://indaily.com.au/opinion/2019/04/10/after-all-of-the-abuse-horrors-what-have-we-really-learned/ 

Saskatchewan priest might be extradited on decades-old sex abuse charges

The allegations against Father Robert MacKenzie span roughly 30 years — from the 1950s to the 1980s — and involve several complainants who attended two boarding schools in Scotland. That was confirmed by MacKenzie’s lawyer, who stressed that his client maintains his innocence. “Father Robert MacKenzie categorically denies now, and he has denied under oath to the minister of justice, that he was involved in any sexual impropriety,” said lawyer Alan McIntyre.

https://leaderpost.com/news/saskatchewan/saskatchewan-priest-facing-extradition-on-decades-old-sex-abuse-charges 

New French bishops’ head follows pope in linking sex abuse crisis to power abuse

Homosexual activist Frédéric Martel is at it again. Shortly after the election of the new president of the French Bishops conference, Bishop Eric de Moulins-Beaufort, Martel retweeted a short clip from a TV interview with the bishop in Lourdes where the bishops were holding their general assembly, accusing him of “disastrous” words about homosexuality.

https://www.lifesitenews.com/blogs/new-french-bishops-head-follows-pope-in-linking-sex-abuse-crisis-to-power-abuse 

Child abuse is the serpent coiled around the roots of Christianity

‘The Devil works through children abused by priests’, former President Mary McAleese was told by senior Vatican officials. In a new RTÉ documentary, Rome v Republic, to be aired this Thursday, former President McAleese says the then Vatican secretary of state Angelo Sodano, attempted in 2003 to secure an agreement with Ireland that it would not access church documents.

https://avondhupress.ie/child-abuse-is-the-serpent-coiled-around-the-roots-of-christianity/ 

'Is God really only calling single, celibate men to the priesthood?' Why two men left

ust a year after becoming a Catholic priest, Doug Langner said the loneliness started to creep in. “You would go through times of (thinking), wouldn’t it be nice to just share your day with someone else?” said Langner, who was ordained in 2008 after graduating from Mundelein Seminary, and started to work in a Kansas City, Mo.-area parish. Soon he was the only priest assigned to his church, living alone in the rectory, which isn’t uncommon as the Catholic Church faces a priest shortage that has forced many churches to shut down or merge.

https://www.chicagotribune.com/lifestyles/ct-life-former-priests-why-they-left-20190325-story.html 

Church Abuse Scandal Continues Unabated

“We may be surprised at the people we find in heaven. God has a soft spot for sinners. His standards are quite low” Desmond Tutu. God’s mercy is uniform, constant and unwaveringly applied to all who seek it. Justice, however, is a flawed mimicry of it because it is a human invention and therefore subject to discretion.

http://valleypatriot.com/church-abuse-scandal-continues-unabated/ 

Richard Serbin | Bishops: In public, humility; in private, arrogance

Few records so clearly show how arrogant and callous bishops can be. I’d never seen the document before, despite representing victims of clergy child sexual abuse for over 30 years, and despite having scoured thousands of pages of church records, purposely hidden away in the “secret archives” of the church.

https://www.tribdem.com/news/editorials/columns/richard-serbin-bishops-in-public-humility-in-private-arrogance/article_22b52baa-57ce-11e9-8338-274e60effb3b.html 

Priests 'abused so many children, they can't remember names'

The Archbishop of Dublin has told of his shock at finding serial paedophile priests are unable to conclusively confirm newly-reported cases of abuse they were involved in because they had so many victims. Dr Diarmuid Martin made the disturbing revelation in an RTE documentary detailing how the Vatican came to exert control over almost every aspect of Irish life since the foundation of the State.

https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/priests-abused-so-many-children-they-cant-remember-names-37990081.html 

Some priests abused so many children they lost track - Diarmuid Martin

Former president Mary McAleese has said the recent decades of clerical abuse scandals have shown how “careless” the Catholic Church is of human rights, particularly those of children. “We trust them with our children, 90 per cent of our little primary school children we trust to them,” she said. “To be that trusted they have to be that accountable.”

https://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/religion-and-beliefs/some-priests-abused-so-many-children-they-lost-track-diarmuid-martin-1.3852679 

Japan Catholic bishops to probe alleged child sexual abuse

The Catholic Bishops' Conference of Japan said Monday it will open an internal investigation into sexual abuse among its ranks against children in the country. The standing committee of the bishops' conference decided Thursday at a meeting in Tokyo that it will quickly launch an "in-depth investigation" in all 16 dioceses in Japan. Five reports of sexual abuse were made when the entity conducted questionnaire surveys in 2002 and 2012 throughout its dioceses.

https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2019/04/47da40b0aef1-urgent-japan-catholic-bishops-to-probe-alleged-child-sexual-abuse.html 

Creep of the week: Cardinal Raymond Burke

He is blaming it on the gays — again A Pennsylvania grand jury report found sex abuse rampant in the church, something everyone who has ever delved into it has also found to be true. According to the report some 300 priests preyed on children for decades while church leaders turned a blind eye to the literal hell on earth they were letting fester.

https://outinjersey.net/creep-of-the-week-cardinal-raymond-burke/ 

Time for the Feds?

President Donald Trump's former chief strategist, Steve Bannon, is saying a federal investigation into clerical sex abuse is inevitable. Bannon told Crux on Tuesday that such an investigation would be devastating for Church assets. "It's so obvious that this thing is going to end in tears," he said. "They're going to start treating the Church like the mob … the RICO statutes are set up so they can grab assets immediately, start to monetize those assets and give them to whoever.

https://www.churchmilitant.com/news/article/time-for-the-feds 

The Catholic Church’s child molestation cover-up

Pope Francis and other highly ranked members of the Vatican have been covering these cases up for centuries. Less than two months ago, Pope Francis gave a historic first mass in the birthplace of Islam – the United Arab Emirates. The world nodded in approval as the Vatican seemed to be on a positive trajectory. However, we’ve just learned that under the surface, the biggest child molestation scandal in the Vatican’s history was brewing.

https://amherstwire.com/27910/current-affairs/the-catholic-churchs-child-molestation-cover-up/ 

Chicago Archdiocese using Catholic cemetery funds to cover sex abuse costs

the tables have turned yet once again... remember when the catholic church used the survivors abused money for the Cemetery... you don't fool us survivors ... we have seen this happening from day one... like you apology'syou are full of emtry words... Ann                                                                                                                                                                                        =================================== 

The Archdiocese of Chicago is using proceeds from its cemetery system to help pay down its sizable settlement debt from clergy sexual abuse, a new report says. The Chicago archdiocese currently owes roughly $200 million from sex abuse settlements and other related costs, according to the Chicago Sun-Times, and for years it has used loans or sold property to meet those costs.

https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/chicago-archdiocese-using-catholic-cemetery-funds-to-cover-sex-abuse-costs 

Hearing Set To Assess Mistreatment Of Native American Students

The Navajo Nation Human Rights Commission will be conducting a public hearing to assess the mistreatment of Navajo and Native American students attending K through 12th grade in schools on and off the Navajo Nation. The hearing stems from a lawsuit filed last week in a New Mexico court by a law firm that has represented dozens of abuse survivors over the years. The suit surrounds alleged abuses in the 1980's when an unnamed plaintiff was a student at a Catholic boarding school in Santa Fe.

https://www.knau.org/post/hearing-set-assess-mistreatment-native-american-students 

Cardinal Dolan suspends priest who embezzled church money to pay male prostitute

Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York suspended a priest in his archdiocese who has been accused of embezzling hundreds of thousands of dollars. Fr. Peter Miqueli resigned in 2016 after parishioners filed a lawsuit charging that he had embezzled almost $1 million to pay for narcotics and the services of a male prostitute, Keith Crist.

https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/cardinal-dolan-suspends-priest-who-embezzled-church-money-to-pay-male-prostitute 

'I was abused by a priest': Victims share stories, concerns regarding clergy abuse

uesday was a night to mourn and heal in the Catholic Community. About a 100 people gathered at the St. Nicholas of Myra Church in Hays. Salina Bishop Gerald Vincke and Capuchin Provincial Minster Fr. Christopher Popravak of Denver hosted a listening session for the public to ask questions regarding the 14 cases of clergy abuse out of the Salina Diocese. Vincke started the meeting off offering his apologies. Emotions were high in the meeting.

https://www.ksn.com/news/local/-i-was-abused-by-a-priest-victims-share-stories-concerns-regarding-clergy-abuse/1896591061 

Group gathers at uptown, calls for release of credibly accused priests' names

The Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests is asking for anyone who saw, suspected or suffered clergy sex crimes or cover ups to call law enforcement and their support group. Tuesday, people took to the streets of uptown Charlotte to call out abuse in the Catholic church. Members of a support group called the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests held signs at a sidewalk news conference, calling for Charlotte Catholic officials to reveal the names of credibly accused priests.

https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/group-gathers-at-uptown-calls-for-release-of-credibly-accused-priests-names/275-7485d54e-3255-4d8a-b7a5-d1533463356b 

After Pa. senators fail older victims of child sexual abuse, lawmakers try a strategy that strikes us as a long shot

Two state lawmakers are working in tandem to reform Pennsylvania’s statutes of limitations in cases of child sexual abuse. Last week, Berks County Democratic state Rep. Mark Rozzi and Blair County Republican Rep. Jim Gregory introduced House Bill 962, which would eliminate the commonwealth’s criminal statute of limitations in child sexual abuse cases and extend the age limit for civil suits from 30 to 55.

https://lancasteronline.com/opinion/editorials/after-pa-senators-fail-older-victims-of-child-sexual-abuse/article_55446568-5599-11e9-b515-8fb6e958bc82.html

‘We have to get to the bottom of this’: Archbishop Lépine

The Archdiocese of Montreal and four smaller dioceses within its ecclesiastical province have enlisted a former judge to conduct an external audit of files on the sexual abuse of minors dating back to 1950. The move is unusual in Canada, where dioceses have generally kept audits internal. Several American dioceses have also launched external audits in the wake of last summer’s Pennsylvania Grand Jury report that exposed thousands of cases of sexual assault that were covered up.

https://www.catholicregister.org/item/29278-we-have-to-get-to-the-bottom-of-this-archbishop-lepine 

‘Arrogant and cold’: Abuse survivor reveals she turned to George Pell for help

For more than a decade during her childhood, Sonia St Claire was abused at the hands of nuns and staff at an orphanage she grew up in, which was run by the Catholic Church. St Claire claims the abuse she endured, between the ages of approximately six and 20-years old, was so terrible it caused her to subconsciously block out the horrific memories, leaving her with no recollection of the abuse for much of her adult life.

https://startsat60.com/discover/news/child-abuse-sonia-st-claire-cardinal-george-pell