Former Penn State President Gets Jail Time in Child Molestation Scandal

A judge on Friday sentenced three former Pennsylvania State University officials, including a former president, to short jail terms followed by home confinement for their roles in the child molestation scandal that rocked the university.

In March, a jury found Graham B. Spanier, the former president, guilty of one misdemeanor count of endangering the welfare of a child, and not guilty of two other charges. His lawyers have said he will appeal the conviction, and they argued for a sentence of probation rather than jail time.

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/02/us/penn-state-graham-spanier-child-molestation-sentence.html?emc=edit_tnt_20170602&nlid=63876270&tntemail0=y&_r=0 

State Funeral Service for Mr Anthony Foster

Date  Wednesday 7 June 2017

Location

Elisabeth Murdoch Hall
Melbourne Recital Centre
31 Sturt Street
Melbourne

• guests should arrive via the Sturt Street Entrance to the venue
• doors open at 9:30am
• guests are asked to arrive and be seated by 10:00am
• service commences promptly at 10:30am.

Attendance

Public

• Mr Foster impacted the lives of many and was closely associated with a significant number of people and organisations
• there is unfortunately limited capacity for the broader community to attend inside the venue and we are unable guarantee access on the day
• for those who wish to pay their respects to Mr Foster, there will be an opportunity to farewell as the casket leaves the venue following the service
• this will take place on Sturt Street between approximately 11:30am and 12 noon on Wednesday.

http://www.vic.gov.au/news/state-funeral-service-for-mr-anthony-foster.html 

Archbishop Says he Thought it was Legal for Priests to Have sex With Children

A St Louis Archbishop who covered up for pedophile priests claimed that he didn't know it was illegal for adults or priests to have sex with children. Archbishop Robert Carlson made the shocking claims during a deposition as part of a sexual abuse lawsuit in Minnesota involving the archdiocese and the Diocese of Winona
During his testimony, he is asked why he didn't report the cases of child rape to the police, to which he replies, "I'm not sure whether I knew it was a crime or not"

http://www.neonnettle.com/features/923-archbishop-says-he-thought-it-was-legal-for-priests-to-have-sex-with-children 

Pope Francis Reduces Penalties For Priests Who Have Sex With Children

Pope Francis has come under fire by Church officials and sex abuse survivors for cutting the penalties for pedophile priests. The Pope wants to create a more "merciful church' by giving weaker sentences to sex offending priests.
The DailyMail Reports: It has been revealed by church officials that Pope Francis overruled advice given to him by the Vatican Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith about two priests - allowing them to be punished by a lifetime of prayer.

http://www.neonnettle.com/features/752-pope-francis-reduces-penalties-for-priests-who-have-sex-with-children- 

Anthony Foster: Family accept state funeral for 'brave' child sex abuse victim advocate

he family of long-time advocate for child sex abuse victims, Anthony Foster, has accepted an offer from the Victorian Government for a state funeral.
Mr Foster, who died in a Melbourne hospital on Friday, aged 64, after a fall last week, was yesterday hailed as "brave and gracious" and a "hero" for his campaigning for victims.  He dedicated his life to seeking justice for child sex abuse at the hands of the Catholic Church after two of his daughters were repeatedly raped by a priest in the 1980s.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-05-28/anthony-fosters-family-accept-state-funeral-from-victorian-govt/8567002 

Australia police to consider advice on abuse allegations — Cardinal George Pell

Victorian police have been given the green light to charge Australia’s most senior catholic figure, Cardinal George Pell. More recently, Pell has faced accusations of child abuse himself when he was a young priest in the 1970s.
But the Cardinal, who is now living in Rome while working at the Vatican, has vehemently denied the allegations, with a spokesperson for him telling The Australian that “each and every allegation of abuse and cover up against him is false”.
Victoria Police has received advice from the Director of Public Prosecutions about its investigation into Cardinal Pell, days after fresh details of the claims were aired.

http://pppfocus.com/2017/05/28/australia-police-to-consider-advice-on-abuse-allegations-cardinal-george-pell/ 

From ‘Spotlight’ to ‘Keepers,’ Richard Sipe sees celibate priesthood as problem for the Catholic Church

(The Baltimore Sun) Richard Sipe, the former priest who spent 25 years studying the sexual behavior of the Catholic clergy, appears in “The Keepers,” the Netflix documentary series about the unsolved murder of Sister Catherine Cesnick and the monstrous abuse of some of her students by the chaplain of a Baltimore high school in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Sipe is the bearded fellow with the cool eyeglasses in Episode 4.

http://www.cathnewsusa.com/2017/05/spotlight-keepers-richard-sipe-sees-celibate-priesthood-problem-catholic-church/?newsletter=1 

Anthony Foster: campaigner for child sexual abuse victims dies

The chair of Australia’s child sex abuse royal commission has said he is “deeply saddened” by the death of tireless victims advocate Anthony Foster.
Foster, who became a relentless advocate after his daughters were raped by a priest, was reported to have died on Friday evening from a major stroke. Foster and his wife, Chrissie, shared their torment to the media and the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse.

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2017/may/27/anthony-foster-campaigner-for-child-sexual-abuse-victims-dies?CMP=share_btn_fb 

Pope Francis Absolves 2,000 Pedophile Priests – “No Arrests Necessary”

Pope Francis has come under fire after announcing that over 2,000 pedophile priests will not face criminal prosecution and may be absolved by the Vatican for their heinous crimes.
Speaking to reporters aboard the Papal plane on Saturday, Francis responded to criticism leveled at the Vatican’s handling of sex abuse cases by Marie Collins – an Irish child abuse survivor who resigned from Francis’ internal sex abuse advisory commission in March.

http://yournewswire.com/pope-francis-absolves-pedophile-priests/ 

Convicted pedophiles to lose travel rights

Up to 20,000 registered sex offenders will be banned from travelling overseas or holding an Australian passport under new measures signed-off by government MPs.

About 400 of the 800 offenders who travelled overseas from Australia in 2016 were in breach of an obligation under state or territory laws to notify police of their intent to travel.

http://www.news.com.au/national/breaking-news/convicted-pedophiles-to-lose-travel-rights/news-story/91c99f6173192a6cac60fe9bb20b31ef 

George Pell should not be charged just to clear the air

Cardinal George Pell is not someone who attracts public sympathy. He presents as cold and aloof and as someone who at best did not have the capacity to deal with systemic child abuse committed within the Catholic Church.
For an intelligent man he misread the play alarmingly when giving evidence to the child abuse royal commission saying of one case, "It is a sad story and it wasn't of much interest to me." (He later desperately sought to clarify his meaning).

http://www.theage.com.au/national/george-pell-should-not-be-charged-just-to-clear-the-air-20170524-gwbweo.html 

Mark Pearson disappointed by NSW Parliament's 'watered down' child sex abuse motion

NEWCASTLE MP and former Marist Brothers, Hamilton student Mark Pearson says Australia must end its diplomatic ties with the Catholic Church after an unsuccessful attempt by him to have NSW Parliament condemn the church over its history of child sexual abuse.
Mr Pearson was disappointed that Labor and the Coalition on Thursday refused to support his motion to condemn the church, first raised in October, and instead voted on a motion condemning child sexual abuse in all institutions.

http://www.theherald.com.au/story/4689651/time-to-condemn-catholic-church-mp/ 

Pell lawyer steps down amid talk of impropriety

The inquiry set up to investigate allegations of sex abuse levelled against Sydney's Catholic Archbishop, George Pell has suffered a setback with the resignation of Dr Pell's legal representative, Melbourne barrister Michael Rozenes.
The Sydney Morning Herald reports that Mr Rozenes represented Dr Pell's accuser during the Costigan inquiry into the Ship Painters and Dockers' Union in the early 1980s. But the paper said it is unclear what part, if any, this previous association played in yesterday's developments.

http://cathnews.acu.edu.au/209/34.php