‘Spotlight’ shows people need to be ready for the truth

People have to be ready for the truth before it can be revealed. That’s a theme of the riveting, award-winning movie, Spotlight, which recounts how the Boston Globe newspaper laid bare an ecclesiastical and political coverup of rampant pedophilia by more than 87 Roman Catholic priests and brothers.
After years of Boston Globe staff ignoring clergy abuse cases, the newspaper’s investigative team, called Spotlight, broke its explosive story in 2002. It led to the resignation of Cardinal Bernard Law and helped elevate clergy abuse into an international issue, which continues to reverberate.

http://blogs.vancouversun.com/2016/01/23/spotlight-shows-people-need-to-be-ready-for-the-truth/ 

In defense of Billy Doe

Ralph Cipriano, a blogger who once wrote for a Catholic publication, writes often about the case of Billy Doe of Philadelphia. His abusers have been criminally convicted.
Cipriano believes that experienced and unbiased professionals, including police, prosecutors, judges, jurors and civil attorneys, all got this case completely wrong and he, Cipriano, got it all right. 

http://www.snapnetwork.org/in_defense_of_billy_doe

Lists of accused ND priests still under wraps

FARGO – Over the years, nearly 30 Roman Catholic dioceses around the country have publicly disclosed a list naming priests accused of sexually abusing children.

Sometimes these lists held no surprises – the priests named were already known as alleged predators. But often these lists revealed new names, shedding light on dark corners of the church.

http://www.inforum.com/news/3931507-lists-accused-nd-priests-still-under-wraps 

Possible just 5 of 77 abusive clergymen were convicted

It's possible that just five of the 77 Catholic priests and clergy members in western Washington identified as likely sex abusers of children were ever convicted.

Read more here: http://www.bellinghamherald.com/news/state/washington/article56360935.html#storylink=cpy

Read more here: http://www.bellinghamherald.com/news/state/washington/article56360935.html#storylink=cp members in western Washington identified as likely sex abusers of children were ever convicted.

The Seattle Times reported Sunday (http://is.gd/vet1nH ) that it came to that conclusion after analyzing a list published this month by the Seattle Archdiocese. The list includes names of priests and other clergy who served or lived in western Washington since the 1920s "for whom allegations of sexual abuse of a minor have been admitted, established or determined to be credible" following a two-year review by a consultant and an archdiocese-appointed board.

http://www.bellinghamherald.com/news/state/washington/article56360935.html

Read more here: http://www.bellinghamherald.com/news/state/washington/article56360935.html#storylink=cpyIt's possible that just five of the 77 Catholic priests and clergy members in western Washington identified as likely sex abusers of children were ever convicted.
The Seattle Times reported Sunday (http://is.gd/vet1nH ) that it came to that conclusion after analyzing a list published this month by the Seattle Archdiocese. The list includes names of priests and other clergy who served or lived in western Washington since the 1920s "for whom allegations of sexual abuse of a minor have been admitted, established or determined to be credible" following a two-year review by a consultant and an archdiocese-appointed board.

Read more here: http://www.bellinghamherald.com/news/state/washington/article56360935.html#storylink=cpy

Fr Paul Symonds: Ballymena priest to retire after Catholic Church inquiry

A priest who was investigated but never charged after concerns were raised about the safeguarding of children is to retire after a Church inquiry.

Fr Paul Symonds stepped aside from ministry in County Antrim in 2009 to facilitate a police investigation.  After a decision was made to not to prosecute him, the Catholic Church resumed its internal inquiry.

http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-politics-35388046 

Catholic priest investigated for child abuse to retire after review by church

A Catholic priest who was investigated for what were called "safeguarding issues" is to retire following a church review.
Concerns about Fr Paul Symonds date back to the 1970s, when he worked in England. The priest, who comes from England, was working as a curate in Ballymena when concerns about him were brought to the attention of the authorities.

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/catholic-priest-investigated-for-child-abuse-to-retire-after-review-by-church-34389392.html 

Priest who faced abuse claims to stay out of public ministry

Fr Paul Symonds who was not charged by civil authorities to ‘live as retired priest’. The diocese of Down and Connor in Northern Ireland has decided a priest who faced child abuse allegations but was not charged by the civil authorities should remain out of public ministry.

In a statement on Friday the diocese said that in October 2009 it was notified by the civil authorities “of concerns of a safeguarding nature raised against Fr Paul Symonds”. 

http://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/religion-and-beliefs/priest-who-faced-abuse-claims-to-stay-out-of-public-ministry-1.2507263 

Paul Little: She's right to sing out about abuse

The Catholic Church's doughty spokeswoman Lyndsay Freer was being economical with, if not the truth, at least with institutional memory when she defended her employer from criticism from Dame Kiri Te Kanawa. If you can call them criticisms.
The singer probably thought she was doing no more than stating the obvious when she reminisced about being "beaten by nuns".

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11578860 

Former Furlong students file complaint against B.C. Supreme Court judge

Former students and accusers of John Furlong at Immaculata Catholic School in central British Columbia have filed a complaint against B.C. Supreme Court Justice Catherine Wedge, who last year ruled in his favour in a highly-publicized defamation case against investigative journalist Laura Robinson.
The Canadian Judicial Council confirmed the complaint, filed on Jan. 8 on behalf of the Lake Babine Nation's hereditary chiefs, who say their voices were never heard during Furlong’s trial.

http://www.nationalobserver.com/2016/01/22/news/former-furlong-students-file-complaint-against-bc-supreme-court-judge 

Sen. John Cooke works to remove 10-year sex-assault statute of limitations

Greeley’s Sen. John Cooke, the former Weld County Sheriff, wants to remove the statute of limitations on sexual assault crimes.

The Republican senator is working across the aisle with Rep. Rhonda Fields, D-Aurora, to completely repeal Colorado’s 10-year statute of limitations on felony sexual assault crimes, such as rape.

http://www.greeleytribune.com/news/20277194-113/sen-john-cooke-works-to-remove-10-year-sex-assault#

Outrage over video showing Catholic priest violently shaking the heads of young children and even KICKING one as they lined up for their First Communion

Share this on your facebook page... let the world see... the truth how children are treated... in the catholic church... this is absolutely terrible... if this is the way the catholic church nuns and priest... still behave as they did to children... in their hell hole orphanages years ago... you can see by this video... the abuse to children by the catholic church... is still happening... what a thing to do to these children... as they were about to receive... the body and blood of Jesus Christ... they are bashed about their heads.. pushed to the ground... and even a little boy... trying to get away from the priest... is kicked in the back.;.. you can certainly tell... which children he does not like... their hair was pulled even harder... Ann 

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A priest yanks hard on children's hair and kicks one up the backside as he tries to avoid him in this astonishing video filmed inside a Brazilian church.

The images have caused controversy throughout south America where the footage is going viral. The youngsters are said to have been preparing for their First Communion and the unnamed holy man was reported to have been giving them an unorthodox blessing. 

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3412216/Outrage-video-showing-Catholic-priest-violently-shaking-heads-young-children-KICKING-one-lined-Communion.html 

New film, "Spotlight": How a U.S. newspaper exposed the church's child-abuse, like Australia's Broken Rites did

You have this wrong folks... it is the victims = survivors who exposed... the catholic church abuse... once we knew that we were innocent of our crimes... and that the lies we were told... by the catholic church nuns and priest... we wanted the world to know the TRUTH... we came forward one by one... knowing that the Truth... was the only thing that we stand for... and as we told our stories... while we were not believed... and being verbal abuse across the airways... on the phone... and in person... called all the names under the sun... as they thought... that by them doing this to me... I would walk away... it was the TRUTH... which kept me going... and it still is today... the TRUTH always wins out in the end... 

Without the victim = survivor stories... the papers... movies... and the TVs... would not have anything... we forth a long hard battle for many years... and still there are some people... who do not believe about the abuse... which many children of yesterday... still suffer the shame and pain alone today... we are ONE OF MANY... and WE WILL NOT GO AWAY... until justice is done for the last... child who suffered at the hands of their abusers... no matter what home... orphanages... state care homes... or religion worldwide... face us and say WE DID ABUSE YOU... but that I think... we will never see... or hear... Ann

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In 1993, Broken Rites Australia began researching — and exposing — the Catholic Church's sex-abuse cover-ups throughout Australia. Ten years later, in 2002 and 2003, the Boston Globe newspaper revealed similar cover-ups in the United States, Now, people can see the Boston story told in a major film, Spotlight, which is being released in Australian cinemas on 28 January 2016.
In the United States, where Spotlight was released in cinemas in November 2015, it is being hailed as one of the best movies of 2015. In late January 2016, Australian newspapers have begun publishing reviews of Spotlight.

http://brokenrites.org.au/drupal/node/389 

Kenya: Clericalism Is a Crime in Jesus' Name

Churches are popping up everywhere... and all that they are about... is making MONEY... they do not pay TAX... as long as they give money to four charities... they get most of that money back... and that is why... the nuns and priest... made sure without us knowing... that they put us victim - survivors... in with one of their charities... now you will see why... the catholic church orphanages worldwide... were so keen... to pay for our well being... and that was the last thing on their minds... it has always being about money...

So don't be fooled... when you hear the catholic church tell you... about the amount of money that they have paid out... in Australia and most orphanages worldwide... they have paid out in kind... we had to send a quote to them... and they would pay for it... with them keeping the recites...  then handing those recites over to the tax departments... they got their money back... I pulled out because... they turned me down in what every I asked for... it was re-abuse... over and over again... the nuns still have their hold over me... they have our family home... Ann

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It would appear that there is as much bad religion as dirty politics in this country. Just as politics is often the last refuge for the scoundrel, religion offers sanctuary, power and frequently massive wealth to another breed of opportunists and conmen.

There are over 20,000 registered churches in Kenya. Religion, politics and security are the growth industries at the moment. The lies, deceit, corruption, extortion and showmanship found in many churches would drive a sane person to atheism.

http://allafrica.com/stories/201601230435.html