Defence again questions complainant's memory at Rev. Brent Hawkes' sex trial

Man alleges Hawkes sexually assaulted him in the 1970s when he was a student at West Kings.  The trial of Rev. Brent Hawkes continued in Kentville provincial court Thursday morning, with defence lawyer Clayton Ruby again questioning the memory of a man who alleges that Hawkes sexually assaulted him in the 1970s.
Hawkes is charged with indecent assault and gross indecency for allegedly assaulting the man when he was a student at West Kings District High School in the 1970s.

https://www.localxpress.ca/local-news/defence-again-questions-complainants-memory-at-rev-brent-hawkes-sex-trial-d-466901 

Why Several Native Americans Are Suing the Mormon Church

Native Americans who were part of a little-known Mormon program from 1947 to the mid-1990s share much of the same story. Year after year, missionaries or other members of the Church of Jesus-Christ of Latter-day Saints approached these families and invited their children into Mormon foster homes.
As part of the Mormon Indian Student Placement Program, Native American children would live with Mormon families during the school year, an experience designed to “provide educational, spiritual, social, and cultural opportunities in non-Indian community life,” according to the Church. Typically, the Mormon foster families were white and financially stable. Native American children who weren’t already Mormon were baptized. And some of them now claim they were sexually abused.

http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2016/10/why-some-native-americans-are-suing-the-mormon-church/504944/ 

John Swinney removes time bar limiting abuse survivors on court action

John Swinney is to remove a three year time bar which constrains the ability of child abuse victims to seek civil damages in court.
The Deputy First Minister published legislation to get rid of the time bar, which requires those who want to raise a personal injury action for damages to do so within three years of the date on which the injuries were sustained.

http://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/john-swinney-removes-time-bar-limiting-abuse-survivors-on-court-action-1-4292451 

Part 2: Dougherty plans to keep fighting for victims of child sex abuse

JOHNSTOWN - A state grand jury continues its investigation of child sex abuse within the Catholic Church. Agents of the attorney general recently raided the offices of the diocese of Erie, collecting boxes of documents.
Whispers of abuse have been prevalent in the Catholic Church for years. That whisper became a roar when the grand jury announced its findings of widespread abuse in the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown.

http://wjactv.com/news/local/part-2-dougherty-plans-to-keep-fighting-for-victims-of-child-sex-abuse# 

‘The single biggest reform to child welfare’ is a re-run of decade-old promises

After ABC TV’s Four Corners aired horrifying evidence of abuse and mismanagement in the out-of-home care system for foster children, New South Wales Premier Mike Baird announced what he called the “single biggest reform to child welfare in NSW”.
While I have no doubt Baird is trying to improve the lives of children, his “solution” is a re-run of failed promises made by the Carr government more than a decade ago.

http://theconversation.com/the-single-biggest-reform-to-child-welfare-is-a-re-run-of-decade-old-promises-68822 

6 News Investigates: Who's paying for clergy abuse settlements?

HOLLIDAYSBURG -- It was reported for years that the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown paid for settlements and fees involving alleged clergy abuse through insurance and investment profits. The Associated Press reported in May 2004 that "the diocese said it will continue discussions with various insurance companies to recover the cost" of a 21-person settlement that cost the diocese millions.
"To provide for immediate payment, however, it will use the surplus from the Mutual Aid Plan, the deposit and loan fund for parish savings accounts," wrote the AP. "None of the parish deposits [or] interests will be use, just the investment profits that are owned by the diocese, according to the diocese' news release."

http://wjactv.com/news/diocese-investigation/6-news-investigates-whos-paying-for-clergy-abuse-settlements 

Ex-Corning man settles abuse claim

CORNING | A former Corning resident has reached a settlement for sexual abuse he says he received at St. Mary’s Church in Corning in the 1960s.
Thomas Mclaughlin, who lived on West 6th Street at the time and now lives near Wilmington, North Carolina, settled for an undisclosed sum with the Roman Catholic Diocese of Rochester for abuse he allegedly received from former priest John Gormley. Gormley is no longer affiliated with the church. He left the priesthood in 1971. The Diocese of Rochester confirmed that Gormley was with St. Mary’s Church in Corning from 1962-1965 as an assisting priest.

http://www.eveningtribune.com/news/20161113/ex-corning-man-settles-abuse-claim 

Broken Homes child protection

For decades, Australia has been in the grip of a child protection crisis. Despite more than 40 inquiries since 1997, and the transfer of foster care to the private sector, sexual abuse and neglect remain rife. A Four Corners investigation into residential group homes has found some of the country's most damaged children are still being placed in danger. Now, it's not state institutions in the spotlight, but private providers, beneficiaries of a multi-billion-dollar taxpayer-funded industry.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-11-14/four-corners-broken-homes-child-protection/7987450 

Nothing to see here? The abuse and neglect of children in care is a century-old story

Last night's Four Corners program presented evidence of widespread abuse and neglect suffered by children in the out-of-home care system. Sadly, it was an all too familiar story. The Australian care system has been subject to criticism for over a century. When Jessica was taken from her family, it was meant to stop abuse

Children described bullying, harassment and sexual abuse inflicted by other children who share their homes.  Children also described adult men preying on and sexually exploiting girls in "resi" or residential, care.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-11-15/abuse-and-neglect-of-children-in-care-is-a-century-old-story/8026408 

Low conviction rate and heavy backlog of cases; Kerala losing fight against child abuse?

A recent report revealed that only 7.07% of the child sexual abuse (CSA) cases reported in Kerala have been settled in the last four years. Data released by special courts reveal that from November 2012 to December 2015, of the 3,711 cases, 3,500 are pending. Apart from this, in another 197 cases, the accused have been acquitted.
In the last four years, only in 53 cases have the accused been convicted. Speaking to the media, chairperson of Kerala State Commission for Protection of Child Rights Shobha Koshy said that the situation is critical and institutions dealing with such cases should be more sensitive.

http://www.thenewsminute.com/article/low-conviction-rate-and-heavy-backlog-cases-kerala-losing-fight-against-child-abuse-52936

Sex Abuse Claims Launch City Investigation Into Memphis Library Employee

Three Men Ask Other Possible Victims To Report Allegations.  The City of Memphis is investigating an employee, named Chris Carwile, who works at a Memphis library,  and is accused of abusing children while he worked with church youth almost two decades ago. 

Three men filed a police report stating Carwile sexually abused them about 20 years ago while he was an associate youth pastor Immanuel Baptist Church in Germantown.  Immanuel later changed its name to the Church at Schilling Farms and then moved to Collierville under the continued leadership of Pastor Scott Payne.

 

http://www.localmemphis.com/news/local-news/sex-abuse-claims-launch-city-investigation-into-memphis-library-employee 

The Catholic Church has a plan to compensate sexual-abuse victims, but many will get nothing

Neal Gumpel, a 57-year-old screenwriter, said he was elated when he heard in October that Cardinal Timothy Dolan, archbishop of New York, announced that the church was setting up a fund to compensate sexual-abuse victims. Gumpel said that when he was 16 the Rev. Roy Drake, a Jesuit priest, sexually assaulted him.
The program, called the Independent Reconciliation and Compensation Program (IRCP), is intended to “bring a measure of peace and healing to those who have suffered abuse,” Dolan said.

http://www.businessinsider.com.au/catholic-church-sexual-abuse-victims-compensation-fund-2016-11?r=UK&IR=T 

Royal Commission announces final hearings in child sexual abuse investigation

The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse has announced its final schedule of public hearings including a three week examination of Catholic Church authorities which have been the subject of past case studies.
The hearings will inquire into the current policies and procedures in relation to child protection and child-safe standards, including responding to allegations of child sexual abuse

http://www.christiantoday.com.au/article/royal.commission.announces.final.hearings.in.child.sexual.abuse.investigation/23115.htm