Catholic Bishop Michael Malone was forced to choose between abuse survivors and the church, and the royal commission asked why

HE was the Catholic bishop whose term in office started in 1995 with two of the Hunter’s most notorious paedophile priests, was dominated for 16 years by “quite explosive local problems of historical abuse”, and ended with his request for early retirement, exhausted by the struggle within his own church.
In the witness box at the royal commission on Thursday, retired Maitland-Newcastle Bishop Michael Malone said he reached a point where “You either had to try to defend the church or you had to try to serve the needs of survivors, and I chose the latter”.

http://www.theherald.com.au/story/4137259/bishops-choice/ 

Germany’s Cardinal Marx faces scrutiny in sexual abuse case

Cardinal Reinhard Marx of Munich, head of the German Bishops Conference and one of Pope Francis’ closest advisers, is criticized for negligent behavior regarding a case of sexual abuse by a priest of his former diocese from 10 years ago.
A recent legal investigation follows past inquiries regarding accusations of sexual abuse by the former parish priest involving a 15-year-old boy in the Diocese of Trier. The first accusation surfaced in 2006 but was suspended because of statutory limitations. Subsequent lawsuits were filed in 2013 and 2015 against the priest, who has been retired since 2015.

https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/german-cardinal-pope-francis-adviser-faces-scrutiny-in-sexual-abuse-case 

: Catholic Church and the crimes of its clergy

FOR the second time in three years, the former Bishop of Maitland-Newcastle, Michael Malone, has taken the stand at a judicial commission to explain what he did when word of the paedophiles who had operated with impunity in the diocese began to assert itself in the outside world.
As he did before the NSW special commission of inquiry in 2013, Bishop Malone positioned himself as an inexperienced bishop who arrived in the Hunter just as the lid was starting to come off some horrific secrets. He said, as he has before, that he felt torn between the need to defend the church or to serve the needs of survivors, but that he eventually chose the latter.

http://www.theherald.com.au/story/4137297/catholic-church-and-the-crimes-of-its-clergy/ 

21 things that shouldn’t be said to sexual abuse victims

As a sexual abuse survivor, I’ve heard my share of insensitive comments. I’ve also talked to enough victims to be able to gather some of the most damaging words here—all for the sake of those who truly, truly want to be loving, sensitive and helpful.
My intention in writing these is not to shame those who want to help, or make them walk on eggshells. Instead it’s to help friends and family members of victims best love and understand the sexual abuse recovery journey.

http://sarahbessey.com/21-things-shouldnt-said-sexual-abuse-victims-guest-post-mary-demuth/ 

Former altar boy sexually abused by NSW Catholic priest said he ‘feels guilty he didn’t kill him’

A FORMER altar boy who was sexually abused by a NSW Catholic priest after every practice session says he feels guilty that he didn’t kill the paedophile as a child, an inquiry has heard.

Gerard McDonald was in Year 5 in 1975 when he suffered sickening abuse at the hands of Newcastle’s Father Vincent Ryan.

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/former-altar-boy-sexually-abused-by-nsw-catholic-priest-said-he-feels-guilty-he-didnt-kill-him/news-story/cb96edf51013c2e3d17b62143e3f6a29 

Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse in the Maitland-Newcastle Catholic diocese

The royal commission has finished for the day and will resume on Thursday at 10am. Joanne McCarthy gives a wrap up of the first day of the commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse in the Maitland-Newcastle Catholic diocese.
3.09pm Sister Evelyn Woodward has taken the stand to give evidence.
Woodward is a psychologist, and has worked on the Australian bishops’ committee for professional standards. She worked as a psychologist from 1975, was living in the Merewether convent with other nuns, and had her own counselling practice at Merewether.

http://www.theherald.com.au/story/4132198/child-sexual-abuse-royal-commission-live-blog/

Friendly priest became pedophile 'monster'

For more than 40 years, Gerard McDonald has been living with "fear, shame and guilt" as a result of sickening sexual abuse at the hands of a notorious Catholic pedophile priest.

"Vincent Gerard Ryan was the monster of Merewether," Mr McDonald told media outside the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse in Newcastle on Wednesday.

https://au.news.yahoo.com/nsw/a/32488058/abuse-focus-on-nsw-catholic-authorities/#page1 

Child abuse commission turns focus to Newcastle

The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse has turned its attention to the Catholic diocese of Maitland-Newcastle in a move welcomed by abuse victims.
The royal commission is also investigating child sexual abuse in the Hunter Valley’s Anglican diocese. In an interview with ABC, abuse victim Peter Fogarty welcomed the development saying he and the people in the Hunter see the commission’s attention as an important win.

http://www.australasianlawyer.com.au/news/child-abuse-commission-turns-focus-to-newcastle-222615.aspx 

Suspected Child Abuse Complaint Filed in Anthony Weiner 'Sexting' Scandal

Because former Congressman Anthony Weiner (D-N.Y.) reportedly "sexted" a picture of his crotch while his four-year-old son was sleeping next to him, the president of the Catholic League, Bill Donohue, has filed a Report of Suspected Child Abuse or Maltreatment with the New York State Office of Children and Family Services.
"As president of the nation's largest Catholic civil rights organization, I am well aware of the plague of child sexual abuse that marks virtually every sector of society, including, regrettably, the Catholic Church," said Donohue in an Aug. 31 press release.  "I am writing to express my concerns about the emotional and physical well being of Jordan Weiner, son of Anthony Weiner and Huma Abedin

."http://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/michael-w-chapman/suspected-child-sexual-abuse-complain-filed-anthony-weiner-scandal

N.B. sex-abuse ruling sets record as more victims sue their tormentors

FREDERICTON -- Canadian lawyers are applauding a precedent-setting judgment for decades-old child abuse in New Brunswick, saying it's an important moment as more sex-abuse victims come forward to seek justice.
A 52-year-old woman was awarded $188,914 by the Court of Queen's Bench, including $125,000 for pain and suffering. "It knocked my socks off," said Rob Talach, a London, Ont.-based injury lawyer, who deals with sexual assault cases across Canada.

http://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/n-b-sex-abuse-ruling-sets-record-as-more-victims-sue-their-tormentors-1.3052714 

Child abuse survivors quit Scottish inquiry to seek ‘justice’

A group of child abuse survivors are to have their case heard by the English inquiry into the issue amid claims they face “no prospect of justice” in Scotland. White Flowers Alba, which represents about 30 adults abused in childhood, has been awarded “core participant” status by the Independent Inquiry into Child Sex Abuse, which is being led by Professor Alexis Jay.

http://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/child-abuse-survivors-quit-scottish-inquiry-to-seek-justice-1-4218166 

Canadian lawyers applaud precedent-setting judgment for decades-old N.B. child abuse

Canadian lawyers are applauding a precedent-setting judgment for decades-old child abuse in New Brunswick, saying it’s an important moment as more sex-abuse victims come forward to seek justice.
A 52-year-old woman was awarded almost 189-thousand dollars by the Court of Queen’s Bench, of which 125-thousand dollars was for pain and suffering.

http://globalnews.ca/news/2913956/canadian-lawyers-applaud-precedent-setting-judgment-for-decades-old-n-b-child-abuse/ 

Paedophile priest told to pray to end sexual attraction to children, royal commission hears

A notorious paedophile priest who molested dozens of boys raised concerns about his sexual attraction to children before entering the seminary, the child abuse royal commission has heard.

The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse hearing in Newcastle is investigating the Catholic Church's response to widespread paedophilia in the Maitland-Newcastle diocese.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-09-01/paedophile-priest-prayer-to-end-sexual-attraction-to-boys-nun/7804380