ABUSE TRACKER

UNITED STATES
dotComonweal

Grant Gallicho
August 21, 2014

Read part one here.

“Dream with us,” read a 1999 Society of St. John promotional mailer, “of a small city with winding streets scattered with warm homes, fields with children playing, an amphitheater with drama and music, a schoolhouse and markets.” The city has a “magnificent church,” where daily “the bells call the families up the hill” for Mass, and a college, where students receive “the best of Catholic education.” This place—dreamed up by the Society of St. John and its founder, Fr. Carlos Urrutigoity—would stand as a beacon of “healthy civil life in our declining society.” It would, according to the brochure, be nothing less than “a new foundation for Catholic culture.” It would also require something the Society of St. John evidently had no idea how to handle: money.

If the Society of St. John was going to build a seminary, a Catholic college, and a city, it would need breathing room. The SSJ turned to its lay advisory board, which had been recently established to help manage the organization’s financial affairs. These advisers were laypeople “who had a certain stature among those attached to the Latin Mass,” according to a report written by James Earley, then chancellor of the Diocese of Scranton. They included prominent conservative Catholics like John Blewett, president of the Wanderer Forum Foundation (now called the Bellarmine Foundation), which publishes the Wanderer, and Howard Walsh, then president of Keep the Faith, another conservative publishing outfit.

In consultation with the advisory board, the Society of St. John eventually settled on a thousand-acre piece of land in rural Shohola, Pennsylvania. With the permission of Bishop James Timlin, the SSJ purchased the land for nearly $2 million on September 16, 1999—just two days after the diocesan Review Board had considered an accusation of sexual misconduct against Urrutigoity, and found the evidence inconclusive.

Diocesan property is customarily deeded to the bishop, but the Society of St. John neglected to put Timlin on the title. Instead, the property was put in the name of the Society of St. John, which had incorporated as a nonprofit organization. On September 8, Fr. Eric Ensey of the SSJ wrote to Timlin to assure him that “we·will gladly follow your advice on all points”—including putting his name on the title as trustee. But days later the SSJ claimed that they weren’t sure how to put the bishop on the property—and the closing date was too near to add him. Timlin gave them a pass. “Rather than cause any kind of difficulty, it is perfectly all right with me to proceed as you requested,” he replied.

Note: This is an Abuse Tracker excerpt. Click the title to view the full text of the original article. If the original article is no longer available, see our News Archive.

AUSTRALIA
Sydney Morning Herald

August 21, 2014

Cardinal George Pell has strongly defended Melbourne Response as Australia’s first comprehensive redress scheme for victims of clerical sexual abuse.

Appearing at the royal commission via video link from the Vatican in Rome on Thursday night, Cardinal Pell likened the Catholic Church’s responsibility for child abuse to that of a “trucking company”.

If a driver sexually assaulted a passenger they picked up along the way, “I don’t think it appropriate for the ownership leadership of that company be held responsible.”

Cardinal Pell, who established the Melbourne Response when he was Archbishop of the Melbourne Archdiocese in 1996, denied suggestions that any of its three arms – the Independent Commissioner, compensation panel and counselling arm Carelink – had stopped operating independently of the other.

Note: This is an Abuse Tracker excerpt. Click the title to view the full text of the original article. If the original article is no longer available, see our News Archive.

AUSTRALIA
ABC News

By Freya Michie
Updated 21 Aug 2014

Cardinal George Pell says he was surprised by the number of complaints made in the lead up to the introduction of the Melbourne Response to abuse within the Catholic Church.

Cardinal Pell has appeared at the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse in Melbourne via video-link from the Vatican.

The inquiry has been examining the Catholic Church’s Melbourne Response, which Cardinal Pell established when he was Archbishop of Melbourne in 1996.

Under the scheme, independent commissioners were appointed to investigate claims, a free counselling and support service known as Carelink was created, as well as a panel to provide ex-gratia compensation payments.

Note: This is an Abuse Tracker excerpt. Click the title to view the full text of the original article. If the original article is no longer available, see our News Archive.

AUSTRALIA
Goulburn Post

[with video]

Detectives from the Hume Local Area Command have arrested and charged a brother from a religious order in relation to alleged historical indecent assaults upon children in the Goulburn area.

In February 2014, Strike Force Charish was formed to investigate allegations of child sex offences said to have occurred between 1978 and 1980.

The offences allegedly occurred upon eight boys aged 12, while the man was a school teacher at a private school in Goulburn.

As a result of ongoing inquiries, about 7.15am today (Tuesday 19 August 2014), investigators arrested a 65-year-old man at Sydney Airport.

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AUSTRALIA
Broken Rites

In this article, you can watch a video of detectives arresting a member of the Christian Brothers religious order at Sydney airport on 19 August 2014. The Christian Brother has been charged in relation to alleged indecent assaults upon children in the Goulburn area in southern New South Wales.

The detectives are based at Goulburn (within the Hume Local Area Command of the NSW Police).

In February 2014, the New South Wales Police formed a unit (called Strike Force Charish) to investigate allegations of a series of child sex offences said to have occurred between 1978 and 1980.

The offences allegedly were committed against eight boys aged 12, while the man was a teacher at a private school in Goulburn.

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AUSTRALIA
SBS

Source AAP 21 AUG 2014

Former Victorian priest David Edwin Rapson has been granted a six-month delay before facing new trials on child sex charges after his convictions were quashed.

Rapson, 61, was jailed for 13 years in 2013 for rape and sexual assault offences involving eight boys at two Victorian Catholic colleges between the 1970s and 1990.

But he was released on bail earlier this month after the Victorian Court of Appeal quashed his convictions.

The convictions were set aside after the Office of Public Prosecutions (OPP) conceded the charges should not have been dealt with in the one trial.

Rapson’s barrister Shaun Ginsbourg told a brief hearing in Victorian County Court on Thursday that there should be a delay of at least six months from the convictions being quashed to his new trials.

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PENNSYLVANIA
The Sentinel

August 20, 2014
Associated Press

PITTSBURGH (AP) — In a story Aug. 18 about a retired priest accused of molesting a child in the early 1960s in western Pennsylvania, The Associated Press reported erroneously that he now resides at a home for retired priests in the Boston area. The Boston Archdiocese said the Rev. John Carroll lives at an assisted-living facility neither owned nor operated by the archdiocese.

A corrected version of the story is below:

Boston priest. 86, accused of Pennsylvania abuse

Retired Boston priest accused of abuse while working in Pittsburgh diocese in early 1960s

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Pittsburgh’s bishop has notified parishioners that a retired priest now living in Boston has been accused of molesting a child at a western Pennsylvania parish where he served in 1962 and 1963.

Bishop David Zubik also urged anyone who attended St. Michael Parish in Elizabeth — or five other Pittsburgh-area parishes through 1972 — of the allegations.

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AUSTRALIA
The Age

August 21, 2014

Adam Cooper
Court reporter for The Age

A former priest who this month had convictions for sexually abusing eight boys at a Catholic boarding school quashed has been granted a six-month wait before a retrial.

David Rapson, 61, was last year jailed for a minimum 10 years after he was found guilty by a County Court jury of five counts of rape and eight charges of indecent assault related to the abuse of eight boys at the school between the mid-1970s and 1990.

But the Court of Appeal this month overturned the convictions after the Office of Public Prosecutions conceded the 13 charges should not have been heard in the one trial because of differences in the offending that was alleged. Rapson was released on bail.

The Court of Appeal ruled Rapson should face a retrial and that the number of trials to be held should be a matter for the presiding judge.

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MALTA
Times of Malta

A Gozitan priest charged with defiling three girls has been banned by both the civil and Church authorities from contact with minors.

The priest, who served as a religion teacher at a boys’ secondary school in Malta, was barred from entering classrooms until the court proceedings were over, an Education Ministry spokesman said.

The crimes the priest was accused of were allegedly perpetrated in Gozo and were unrelated to his work at the school.

Church sources said the priest’s pastoral activities were stopped the moment the case was referred to the police.

Gozo Bishop Mario Grech said yesterday he followed all civil and Canon law protocols in this case and would do so in other cases.

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AUSTRALIA
The Australian

AAP AUGUST 21, 2014

CARDINAL George Pell says the Catholic Church never anticipated the volume of complaints against paedophile priests when he launched the Melbourne archdiocese’s compensation scheme in 1996.

Dr Pell told the child abuse royal commission he expected the Melbourne Response, set up to handle claims of clergy sex abuse in the Melbourne archdiocese, would originally go for six months.

“I was aware that there were dozens of complaints that (Vicar General) Monsignor Cudmore was dealing with in, I think, an effective way under great, great pressure,” Cardinal Pell told the commission via video link from the Vatican in Rome, where he holds a senior position.

“We never anticipated the volume of responses, that it would go on for years.”

The former Melbourne archbishop said he was initially sceptical about the groups involved in advocating for the church to investigate scores of allegations of child abuse.

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AUSTRALIA
3AW

Posted by: Pat Mitchell | 21 August, 2014

Cardinal George Pell says money was never a primary concern when he set up the Melbourne Response compensation scheme for the victims of abuse by the clergy.

Cardinal George Pell admits he originally took complaints about sexual abuse involving Catholic clergy with a “grain of salt”.

He told the Royal Commission into child abuse via video link from the Vatican there were groups such as Broken Rites who very active in pushing for the church to act on behalf of the victims.

“With some of those groups, I took what they said with a grain of salt but nonetheless there was evidence that something needed to be done to deal with the suffering,” he said.

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AUSTRALIA
The Age

Cardinal George Pell says he is not in favour of financial caps on claims and struggled when he tried to suggest today’s equivalent compensensation amount, speaking from Rome to the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse.

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AUSTRALIA
Sky News

Cardinal George Pell insists he only tried to help the victims of a Victorian paedophile priest, and has apologised for their suffering.

Christine and Anthony Foster won a $750,000 settlement from the Melbourne archdiocese after two of their daughters were raped by notorious abuser Father Kevin O’Donnell.

Mr Foster said Cardinal Pell showed a ‘sociopathic lack of empathy’ when they met to discuss the case in the 1990s.

In his statement to the child abuse royal commission, Cardinal Pell said he had not tried to insult the Fosters.

‘I am sorry for anything I did to upset them at this meeting,’ he said.

‘It was certainly not my intention to upset them. I wanted to help them.’

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AUSTRALIA
The West Australian

AAP

BY ANGUS LIVINGSTON AND DANNY ROSE
August 21, 2014

The Catholic Church is no more legally responsible for priests who abuse children than a trucking company which employs a driver who molests women, Cardinal George Pell maintains.

Victims’ families say it’s a ludicrous comparison and even the chair of the child abuse royal commission thinks the situation is quite different when it comes to a priest getting access to a child.

Cardinal Pell accepts the church has a moral obligation to victims, but when it comes to its legal responsibility, the actions of its priests are not necessarily its fault.

“If the truck driver picks up some lady and then molests her, I don’t think it’s appropriate, because it is contrary to the policy, for the ownership, the leadership of that company to be held responsible,” Cardinal Pell told the commission via video link from Rome on Thursday.

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AUSTRALIA
9 News

Compensation payouts to Melbourne victims of pedophile priests have effectively gone backwards over the past two decades, an inquiry has been told.

The Catholic Church’s payments in the Melbourne archdiocese, when introduced in 1996, were capped at $50,000.

Cardinal George Pell told the child abuse royal commission that was about $120,000 in today’s dollars.

Senior counsel assisting the commission Gail Furness was quick to point out the cap on compensation had increased but payments today were well short of $120,000.

“The cap is now $75,000 which suggests it might have gone backwards,” Ms Furness said.

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MINNESOTA
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis

Date: Wednesday, August 20, 2014

Source: Jim Accurso, Media and Public Relations Manager

Today, a mediated settlement was reached in the case of Doe 100, who was abused by Thomas Stitts in 1971. Stitts was assigned as a priest at local parishes from 1962 until his death in 1985. Stitts’ name was disclosed by the archdiocese last year and his assignment history is posted on the archdiocesan website here.

The settlement mediation involved attorneys for the victim and for the archdiocese, as well as the archdiocese’s vicar general, who functions as the archbishop’s chief of staff. We regret that the victim’s pleas for help were not heard earlier by the archdiocese. We are grateful now that we were able to listen to Doe 100.

The settlement is not confidential. Since the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People was issued by U.S. bishops in 2002, dioceses have not engaged in confidential settlements. However, out of deference to the victim, the archdiocese is not presently disclosing the terms of the settlement.

The Doe 100 case was slated to go to trial on December 15, 2014. It is now the first case filed under Minnesota’s Child Victims Act to be settled.

The archdiocese apologizes for the harm suffered by abuse victim/survivors and their families and friends and asks for forgiveness for the Church’s shameful failures of the past. We were grateful this week to hear this victim and make a positive step toward helping.

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MINNESOTA
Houston Chronicle

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A man who was molested by a priest in the 1970s has become the first plaintiff to settle under a new state law that opened a three-year window for people to sue over older abuse cases.

Fifty-two-year-old Jon Jaker sued the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis last year, saying he was an 11-year-old altar boy at St. Leo’s Church in St. Paul when the Rev. Thomas Stitts sexually abused him. Stitts died in 1985.

Jaker, who now lives in California, told reporters Wednesday he’s ready to go public and is no longer afraid. He says he wants to encourage other victims to come forward.

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MINNESOTA
KSTP

[with video]

By: Cassie Hart

A former Minnesota man says he’s finally getting justice for what a Catholic priest did to him. Fifty-four-year-old Jon Jaker says Father Thomas Stitts sexually abused him at St. Leo’s Catholic Church in St. Paul in 1971. Stitts died in 1985 but now, after a change in state law, the victim sued the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis.

Following the settlement, we sat down with Bishop Andrew Cozzens of the archdiocese.

It’s one of few times a high-ranking member of the archdiocese was available for an interview with us.

“Some people have accused us of being somewhat silent over the last six months and there’s some truth to that. We believe actions speak louder than words. We are taking victims seriously, ” Fr. Cozzens said in a one-on-one interview.

The archdiocese says it is leaving it up to the family to talk about a settlement.

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UNITED KINGDOM
Spectator

[with audio and video]

Damian Thompson

If you want to understand how Pope Francis is planning to change the Catholic church, then don’t waste time searching for clues in the charming, self-effacing press conference he gave on the plane back from South Korea on Monday.

It’s easy to be misled by the Pope’s shoulder-shrugging interviews and impromptu phone calls. On his return flight from Rio last year, he said, ‘If a gay person seeks God, who am I to judge?’ What did that mean? Then there was that mysterious telephone conversation with an Argentinian woman apparently telling her it was OK to receive communion despite her irregular marriage. The media has concluded that Francis wants the church to change its stance on divorcees and same-sex couples.

But the media are wrong. Neither of these subjects is high on Francis’s agenda — and, even if they were, he wouldn’t alter Catholic teaching on sexuality.

The first non-European Pope was elected to do one thing: reform the Roman Curia, the pitifully disorganised, corrupt and lazy central machinery of the church. He is determined to pull it off — but he’s 77 and has part of a lung missing. When he looks at his watch during long Masses in St Peter’s, it’s not just because elaborate services bore him. He knows he may not have much time. ‘Two or three years and then off to the house of the Father,’ he said this week. Was he serious? You can never tell.

Jorge Bergoglio has little in common with Joseph Ratzinger apart from an intense, orthodox Catholic faith and a love of classical music. Like many Jesuits, Francis isn’t interested in liturgy. This is actually good news for traditionalists, because it means he won’t clamp down on the Latin Mass (with one baffling exception: the Franciscan Friars of the Immaculate, a new order whose use of the Old Missal has been brutally restricted).

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MALTA
Malta Independent

Gozo Bishop Mario Grech personally called in the police over allegations that a priest had abused a number of girls in the past weeks and months, according to sources close to the Gozo diocese. It is understood that, at least one of the victims spoke to Mgr. Grech, who immediately asked police investigators to handle the matter. Police Inspector Sandro Camilleri yesterday confirmed that the Gozo Bishop collaborated with them.

The Gozo Bishop said in a statement yesterday that he had followed protocol indicated by canon and civil law and will act in the same way if other similar cases emerge.

In the press communique, Mgr. Grech said “any abuse case is a deep wound for the Maltese Church and society.

The Gozo Bishop said he is staying close to the victims and their families but said he understood he had responsibilities towards all priests, even those who commit mistakes, and towards God’s people, in particular minors.

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AUSTRALIA
9 News

The vast majority of victims of pedophile priests came forward as adults many years after the abuse, the child abuse royal commission has heard.

Only three victims have gone to the Catholic Church’s Melbourne Response scheme, set up in 1996 to handle clergy sex abuse claims in the Melbourne archdiocese, while still children.

Church lawyer Richard Leder said the vast majority of more than 300 victims came forward as adults.

“It was and remained very unusual for a victim to come forward so soon after the abuse,” Mr Leder told the commission on Thursday.

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OHIO
Toledo Blade

TIFFIN — A former layman at Bloomville United Methodist Church has been indicted by a Seneca County grand jury for kidnapping and gross sexual imposition.

Emanuel Lewis, 61, of New Washington, Ohio, is in the Seneca County jail in lieu of $500,000 bond, which was set Tuesday by Common Pleas Judge Steve Shuff.

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AUSTRALIA
The Age

August 21, 2014

Cameron Houston and Jane Lee

The Catholic Church’s lawyer has been forced to apologise before the Royal Commission over insensitive and incorrect statements made in correspondence between himself and senior figures in the Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne.

The comments, by Corrs Chambers Westgarth partner Richard Leder, were made about an application for church funding by Chrissie and Anthony Foster, whose daughter, Emma, was abused by notorious paedophile priest Kevin O’Donnell.

The Foster family requested the church pay for special accommodation for Emma, who suffered from depression, anorexia and drug addiction.

Their application was supported by a report from a counsellor and clinical psychologist.

But Mr Leder accused the Fosters of kicking their eldest daughter out of home, while the church’s “Melbourne Response”, which was established in 1996 to deal with clerical abuse, rejected their funding request.

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AUSTRALIA
Yahoo! News

By Freya Michie | ABC

Cardinal George Pell says he was surprised by the number of complaints made in the lead up to the introduction of the Melbourne Response to abuse within the Catholic Church.

Cardinal Pell has appeared at the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse in Melbourne via video-link from the Vatican.

The inquiry has been examining the Catholic Church’s Melbourne Response, which Cardinal Pell established when he was Archbishop of Melbourne in 1996.

Under the scheme, independent commissioners were appointed to investigate claims, a free counselling and support service known as Carelink was created, as well as a panel to provide ex-gratia compensation payments.

Once victims went to police they were no longer eligible for compensation.

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AUSTRALIA
Echo Netdaily

Prime Minister Tony Abbott has all but confirmed the royal commission into institutional abuse will be given extra funding and its term extended to enable all victims to be heard.

The commission has requested an additional $104 million and a two-year extension to its 2015 reporting deadline to allow hundreds, if not thousands, more victims to come forward and give evidence.

So far the request has gone unanswered, but on Thursday Mr Abbott said he was confident he would be able to grant the commission’s wishes.

‘We ought to be in a position in the new few weeks to commit additional resources,’ he told ABC Radio, adding the government had supported it ‘every step of the way’.

More than 2000 victims already have presented to the commission which is investigating institutional sexual abuse.

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ALABAMA/TEXAS
AL.com

By Jonathan Grass | jgrass@al.com
on August 20, 2014

MUSCLE SHOALS, Alabama — A man was arrested in Texas Wednesday in relation to sex crimes against a child during his time as a youth minister in Muscle Shoals.

Charles Kyle Adcock, 31, faces 22 counts of second-degree rape and nine counts of second-degree sodomy. He was picked up by Frisco police in Texas after arrest warrants were issued out of Muscle Shoals a few days ago. He is currently being extradited back to Alabama. In the meantime, his bond at the Frisco City Jail is $500,000.

Lt. Sieg Mueller with the Muscle Shoals Police Department said Adcock is committing these crimes against a young girl at his Muscle Shoals home and at Woodward Avenue Baptist Church, where he served a youth minister. Mueller said the girl came forward within the last few weeks, telling police Adcock abused her between 2010 and 2012. She was 14 years old when it started.

Mueller said Adcock left the church and Alabama in 2013, moving to Arkansas then to Grand Prairie, Texas.

Church employees could not comment. The woman who answered the phone said she did not work there while he was there, and no one else was available to speak.

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MINNESOTA
KAAL

[with video]

By: Todd Wilson

A former Minnesota man says he’s finally getting justice for what a Catholic priest did to him.

Fifty-four-year-old Jon Jaker says Fr. Thomas Stitts sexually abused him at St. Leo’s Catholic Church in St. Paul in 1971.

Stitts died in 1985 but now, after a change in state law, the victim sued the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis.

The church says this is the first case filed under the state’s Child Victims Act to be settled. Jaker and his mother Yvonne settled the case Wednesday morning.

Jon said it was a long time coming and he finally has some justice. He hopes others will follow him to find their own closure.

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AUSTRALIA
The Australian

Parents of schoolgirl victims upset by lawyer’s description of abuse as ‘relatively minor’

AUGUST 21, 2014

Pia Akerman
Reporter
Melbourne

A SENIOR lawyer representing the Catholic Church has described a notorious priest’s sexual abuse of a young girl as “relatively minor”.

The royal commission investigating institutional responses to child sexual abuse today saw a letter Corrs Chambers Westgarth partner Richard Leder, who has advised the Melbourne archdiocese since it established a scheme to compensate victims of clergy sexual abuse,

wrote to then Vicar-General Denis Hart in 1998 about the case of Emma Foster.

Emma and her sister Katie were abused as schoolgirls in the 1990s by priest Kevin O’Donnell, and nearly 20 per cent of all compensation paid by the Melbourne Response relate to his crimes.

“This is plainly a situation where special efforts are needed to try and solve a horrendous problem,” Mr Leder wrote.

He wrote that while Emma was reluctant to give details of the abuse she suffered, it appeared she had been fondled and not penetrated by O’Donnell.

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MINNESOTA
Pioneer Press

By Emily Gurnon
egurnon@pioneerpress.com
POSTED: 08/20/2014

St. Paul archdiocese put accused priest on marriage tribunal, documents say
He was once a terrified 11-year-old filled with guilt and shame at being molested by his St. Paul parish priest.

As an adult serving six years aboard Navy submarines, he felt safer next to a nuclear warhead in the middle of the Pacific Ocean than he had at church.

Now, he said, he’s not terrified anymore. And he wants the world to know his name.

“My name is Jon Jaker,” said the 54-year-old resident of Orange, Calif., who won a settlement Wednesday morning in his lawsuit against the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis.

Jaker claimed he was sexually abused by the Rev. Thomas Stitts at the rectory of St. Leo Parish (now Lumen Christi in the Highland Park neighborhood).

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IRELAND
Belfast Telegraph

BY GREG HARKIN – 21 AUGUST 2014

A victim of a paedophile priest has criticised Majella O’Donnell over her public support for singer Sir Cliff Richard following the launch of a police investigation.

Sir Cliff strenuously denies an historical child sex abuse allegation after his home was searched by police last week.

Majella, wife of country singer Daniel O’Donnell and a close friend of Sir Cliff, took to Twitter to defend him.

Majella (54) said she believed the legendary singer had been “treated appallingly” by police after his home in England was searched with the operation captured live by the BBC.

But Michael Connolly, who lives close to the O’Donnells’ family home in Dungloe, Co Donegal, said Majella should apologise for her comments.

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AUSTRALIA
The Guardian (UK)

Melissa Davey
theguardian.com, Thursday 21 August 2014

Cardinal George Pell has described a compensation scheme for victims of child sex abuse that he introduced to the Catholic archdiocese of Melbourne in 1996 as “ahead of the curve”.

Appearing on Thursday afternoon before the royal commission into institutional responses to child sex abuse via video link from the Vatican, Pell defended the church’s response to investigating sex abuse claims, called the Melbourne Response, which included compensating some victims.

Earlier in the week three witnesses had criticised the scheme for capping payments to victims at $50,000 when it was first introduced, and then at $75,000 since 1998.

Chrissie Foster told the commission her two daughters were abused by a priest at Sacred Heart school in the late 80s and through to the early 90s. She told on Monday how her family withdrew their compensation claims under the Melbourne Response.

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AUSTRALIA
The Guardian (UK)

Melissa Davey
theguardian.com, Thursday 21 August 2014

Cardinal George Pell has told the royal commission into institutional responses to child sex abuse that he originally took comments about the extent of abuse within the church from victim rights groups “with a grain of salt”.

He was facing questions via videolink in Rome about the Melbourne Response, a scheme he introduced to the Catholic archdiocese of Melbourne in 1996 to investigate sex abuse claims.

He introduced the scheme in 1996 because dozens of sexual abuse complaints had come to the attention of the church, putting it under great pressure, he said.

It led to him appointing an independent commissioner, lawyer Peter O’Callaghan, to investigate complaints and interview witnesses, Pell, now the financial controller of the Vatican, said.

Counsel assisting, Gail Furness, asked, “Was there any work that you did or you instructed to be done to come to a view as to how many complainants there may be out there who wished to come forward to the independent commissioner?”

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AUSTRALIA
The Guardian (UK)

Australian Associated Press
theguardian.com, Wednesday 20 August 2014

Cardinal George Pell’s role in setting up a Catholic Church compensation scheme for victims of pedophile priests will be scrutinised on Thursday at the child abuse royal commission.

Pell was archbishop of Melbourne in 1996 when the Melbourne archdiocese decided to respond to growing allegations of child sex abuse by its clergy. The church considered creating a legal entity that could be sued by victims, but designed the Melbourne Response compensation scheme instead.

Cardinal Pell told the royal commission earlier this year he believed the church should now create an entity that could be sued.

A Victorian parliamentary inquiry last year recommended the Catholic Church be incorporated so it could be sued.

Melbourne archdiocese lawyer Richard Leder said the church’s position had shifted due to a better understanding of the extent of clergy sexual abuse.

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TEXAS
KERA

By SHELLEY KOFLER

Wendy Davis, the Democratic candidate for governor, said Wednesday she wants to eliminate the statute of limitations for prosecuting cases of rape and sex assault.

Candidate for Governor Wendy Davis calling for and end to the statute of limitations on rape in Texas.
“I will classify sexual assault at the same level as other heinous crimes such as murder and manslaughter and human trafficking, which have no statute of limitations. Eight states are already doing do,” Davis told reporters gathered on the steps of the Frank Crowley Criminal Courts building in Dallas.

Davis appeared with Dallas County Constable Beth Villareal, a victim of domestic violence, whose current job requires her to assist with sex assault cases.

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MINNESOTA
Star Tribune

Article by: JEAN HOPFENSPERGER , Star Tribune Updated: August 20, 2014

Jon Jaker, who was abused as an 11-year-old boy in a St. Paul parish, has reached the first legal settlement with the archdiocese.

A man who was sexually abused by a Catholic priest in the 1970s became the first to reach a settlement with the St. Paul-Minneapolis Archdiocese Monday under a new law that temporarily expands the time period in which such clergy abuse lawsuits can be brought to court.

Jon Jaker had sued the archdiocese last year, charging he had been sexually abused more than 10 times by the now-deceased Rev. Thomas Stitts while serving as an altar boy at St. Leo’s Church in St. Paul. He said he was 11 years old when sexually molested by Stitts, who has been accused by at least a dozen others over the past year.

“This has been a long battle,” said Jaker, at a news conference in the offices of Minneapolis attorney Patrick Noaker.

”I would encourage other victims and survivors to come forward,” he said. “Know that you are not alone. There are hundreds of you still in the shadows. There’s a chorus of us building as strong survivors. I want that chorus to grow.”

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AUSTRALIA
Sky News

Thursday, 21 August 2014

Cardinal George Pell’s role in setting up a Catholic Church compensation scheme for victims of pedophile priests will be scrutinised at the child abuse royal commission.

He was Archbishop of Melbourne in 1996 when the Melbourne archdiocese decided to respond to growing allegations of child sex abuse by its clergy.

The church considered creating a legal entity in 1996 that could be sued by victims, but designed the Melbourne Response compensation scheme instead.

Cardinal Pell told the royal commission earlier this year he believed the church should now create an entity that could be sued. …

Cardinal Pell, now working in the Vatican, will give evidence via video-link from Rome at 4pm (AEST) on Thursday.

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VIRGINIA
Richmond Times-Dispatch

BY BRANDON SHULLEETA Richmond Times-Dispatch

Former Catholic priest Rodney L. Rodis — who lived a secret life as a husband and father of three children — died as a prisoner earlier this month, after stealing at least hundreds of thousands of dollars from two Louisa County parishes.

Rodis, 58, was serving an 18-year prison sentence for embezzling money intended for church construction, tsunami relief and mission work in Haiti, among other causes. The money was used to support Rodis’ wife and children.

He also wired hundreds of thousands of dollars to his native Philippines, according to evidence presented in court leading up to convictions of 10 counts of felony theft in 2008, in addition to other related convictions.

Rodis died on Aug. 5, according to Chiles Funeral Home in Richmond. At the request of his family, a death notice was not provided, and a cause of death was not available.

Rodis wired at least $515,000 to the Philippines, according to authorities, who said at the time of the investigation Rodis bought properties there, including a three-story mansion.

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VIRGINIA
Newsplex

Aug. 20, 2014

A former Catholic priest serving time for stealing from two churches where he served as pastor has died behind bars.

According to a national online database, 58-year-old Rodney Lee Rodis died on August 5th.

Rodis was serving 13 years in prison in Louisa County for embezzling more than a million dollars from Immaculate Conception and St. Jude Catholic churches.

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MINNESOTA
CBS Minnesota

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) — A victim of clergy sex abuse spoke out Wednesday after settling his case with the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis.

The case involved Father Thomas Stitts, who was working at St. Leo’s Catholic Church in St. Paul when the alleged abuse occurred.

The victim, 52-year-old Jon Jaker, came forward Wednesday with his mother and his attorneys. Jaker says the abuse happened when he was 11, and his attempts to speak out were shut down by the church for years.

He was one of the first to bring a lawsuit after the statute of limitations was lifted for victims last year under the Minnesota Child Victims Act.

“I didn’t know what to do, and at 11, I was terrified,” Jaker said. “I’m not terrified anymore, I’m not afraid and I’m going to sit here and tell you my name again. My name is Jon Jaker and I’m a survivor, and today we won a little bit back.”

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MINNESOTA
Fox 9

Updated: Aug 20, 2014
by Shelby Capacio

ST. PAUL, Minn. (KMSP) –
It’s a case that dates back to the early 1970s, but the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis is settling a suit with a 54-year-old man who claims Father Tom Stitts sexually abused him while being shuffled through metro parishes.

“This is a bittersweet day,” said Leander James, victim’s attorney. “Our client was sexually abused and his mother silenced. After 43 years, his abuser’s employer has finally heard him, his mother and acknowledged his injury. It’s a first step.”

It took more than 40 years for the man known only as John Doe 100 to get the resolution he’d hoped for. On Wednesday, he and his mother intend to emerge from that confidentiality to speak publicly about the case with their attorneys.

“I need to speak up,” John Doe 100 said. “I’m no longer afraid.”

Seated next to his mother, Yvonne, at a Wednesday afternoon press conference, he announced, “My name is Jon Jaker, and I am a survivor, and today, we won a little bit back.”

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KANSAS CITY (MO)
Catholic League

Bill Donohue comments on the latest assault by the Kansas City Star on Kansas City-St. Joseph Bishop Robert Finn:

Last week a judge agreed with the finding of an arbitrator that Bishop Finn violated a 2008 agreement mandating that suspected child abuse be reported immediately to the authorities. The Kansas City Star says it is “still waiting for the bishop and the Catholic Diocese to do the right thing,” by which it means he should resign. The Star has been waiting for a long time: this is its sixth call for Finn’s resignation in three years. They must be slow learners—few seem to care what it says.

Here are some fast facts that the Star doesn’t want the public to know:

* In 2010 a computer technician finds disturbing crotch-shot photos of girls fully clothed on the computer of a priest; there is one naked photo of a non-sexual nature
* A police officer and an attorney are contacted by diocesan officials
* After the priest attempts suicide, he is sent for psychiatric analysis: it is determined that he is depressed, but he is not a pedophile
* When it is learned that restrictions placed on the priest are violated, the diocese contacts the authorities—even though it had no legal mandate to do so
* Bishop Finn orders an independent investigation of this matter even though there is no complainant
* Porn pictures are later found and Bishop Finn is then found guilty of one misdemeanor for not reporting suspected child abuse

The Star doesn’t want the facts to come out: In 2011, it turned down $25,000 for a full-page ad I had written exposing all the players involved in their well-coordinated war on Bishop Finn, including the role played by the Star.

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MALTA
Malta Today

Gozo bishop Mario Grech today said that he will abide by canonical and civil laws in dealing with priests accused of sexual abuse. In a brief statement, Grech said that in his role as “spiritual leader,” he stands close to the “alleged victims” and their families.

Yesterday, a Gozitan priest was charged in court with sexually abusing a number of underage girls.

Today it emerged that the police intend to file an appeal against bail, after the young priest was released on bail against a €5,000 personal guarantee and €1,000 deposit after pleading not guilty to charges of child molestation, in what is understood to have been criminal acts taking place over several months and involving a number of minors.

Grech added “I acknowledge that I have a duty towards all priests, including those who err and towards God’s people, especially children.”

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PARAGUAY
Religion Digital

José Manuel Vidal, 15 de agosto de 2014 a las 19:30

(José Manuel Vidal).- Estuvo en el centro de todas las miradas en la reciente visita apostólica a su diócesis Ciudad del Este. De hecho, antes de la llegada de los visitadores, el padre Carlos Urrutigoity, fue relevado de su cargo de vicario general de la diócesis de Ciudad del Este. En entrevista exclusiva con RD, el sacerdote niega las acusaciones de pederastia, asegura que la Teología de la Liberación “es una ideología anticuada que fracasó” y cree que los “aires primaverales” del Papa existen “sólo en la prensa”.

¿Cómo se encuentra tras la visita apostólica? ¿Tuvo ocasión de entrevistarse con alguno de los dos visitadores o con ambos?

Para sorpresa mía y de muchos, los Visitadores no me llamaron a ninguna entrevista ni me pidieron ningún tipo de información. Al parecer, estaban concentrados en otras áreas. Sólo pude conversar unos minutos con el Cardenal Santos y Abril durante una de sus visitas. No me hizo preguntas ni me pidió ningún informe.

¿Cree que los visitadores llegaron con ideas preconcebidas?

No quisiera juzgar ni prejuzgar. Es cierto que todos tenemos ideas preconcebidas, ya que es parte de nuestro proceso de conocimiento. Pero no sabría decir a ciencia cierta cuáles serían las ideas con que vinieron los Visitadores.

Todos ellos me parecieron observadores muy puntillosos, aunque no parecen haberse interesado en algunos de los temas que uno esperaba. Por la impresión que me dio el Cardenal, no dudo que presentará al Santo Padre un relato muy puntual.

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CALIFORNIA
Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests

For immediate release: Wednesday, August 20, 2014

Statement by Barbara Dorris of St. Louis, Outreach Director of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests ( 314 503 0003, SNAPdorris@gmail.com )

A California priest has been removed from his position following allegations of sexual abuse with at least one teenager. We are grateful to the brave individual who spoke up and reported to law enforcement. Children are safer when victims, witnesses and whistleblowers speak up and report crimes.

Fr. Robert E. Gamel was a priest at St. Joseph’s Church in Los Banos since 2009. According to officials at the Diocese of Fresno Gamel has been removed to an undisclosed location away from kids. We are glad he has been removed, but urge Catholic officials to be open and transparent about what they know and when they knew it.

We hope anyone who saw, suspects or suffered child sex crimes will find the courage to speak up, report to law enforcement, and start healing.

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PARAGUAY
ABC

[Summary: Priest Carlos Urrutigoity agreed to give an interview with Religion Digital, whose managers are linked to Opus Dei which also answers to Rigelio Livieres, bishop of Ciudad del Este. Urritugoity has been accused of sexual abuse and pedophilia.

Asked about allegations of sexual abuse filed in the United States he replied there is no place for that in ministry and it is a serious disorder and psychological and emotional imbalance and is a grave sin. He said information on the internet is slander. He did not mention that in one of the accusations the church had to play the complainant $500,000 to close the case. In the interview which was later released by the press office of the Ciudad del Este diocese, he recognizes himself as a traditional Catholic and conservative and far from the theology of liberation.]

El sacerdote Carlos Urrutigoity accedió a dar una entrevista publicada en un sitio religioso, rompiendo el largo silencio desde las acusaciones por supuestos abusos sexuales y pedofilia, que inclusive propiciaron una intervención del Vaticano.

El portal religioso “Religión Digital” –cuyos directivos estarían ligados al grupo Opus Dei, al que también responde el obispo de Ciudad del Este, Rogelio Livieres– accedió a una entrevista con Urrutigoity, luego de que se haya cumplido la intervención hecha por los enviados del papa Francisco, ante las denuncias de abusos sexuales y pedofilia, además de otras supuestas irregularidades dentro del seminario y de la diócesis, y el público enfrentamiento con el arzobispo de Asunción, Pastor Cuquejo.

“Si yo tuviera el problema que me atribuyen, no debería servir como sacerdote”, reflexiona el sacerdote argentino al ser encarado sobre los casos de abuso sexual y pedofilia que le han venido siguiendo desde hace años en diferentes países y que lo trajeron finalmente a Paraguay, donde practica su ministerio en Ciudad del Este, con el férreo apoyo del obispo local, Rogelio Livieres.

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AUSTRALIA
The Australian

AUGUST 21, 2014

Pia Akerman
Reporter
Melbourne

A SENIOR lawyer who was ­instrumental in establishing the Melbourne Catholic archdiocese’s compensation scheme for victims of clergy sex abuse has denied any economic modelling was undertaken before a $50,000 cap was established.

This was despite the church’s plan to offer the scheme as an ­alternative to civil litigation.

Richard Leder, who acts on ­behalf of the archdiocese, its archbishops and its representatives in the Melbourne Response, yesterday told a royal commission that $50,000 was insufficient to meet the needs of some victims.

But he defended the church’s intentions in setting up the scheme and denied its requirement that participants waive their rights to future litigation was ­intended to protect the church and its assets.

“I don’t agree, but I can see people would say that,” Mr Leder said, prompting jeers from the public gallery during his testimony in Melbourne.

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MALTA
Times of Malta

Priest abuse case: Bishop says Church and civil law procedures followed; Police planning to appeal bail decision

Gozo Bishop Mario Grech said today that he had followed the protocols laid down by Church and Civil law in the case revealed yesterday of a priest who allegedly defiled three girls.

In a brief statement, Mgr Grech said any case of sexual abuse of minors deeply hurt the Church and society.

As bishop, he was close to the alleged victims and their their families. He recognised that he had duties to all priests, even those who made mistakes, as well as the people of God, particularly children.

In this case, he said, he had followed the protocols indicated by church and civil law and would continue to do so in other cases.

Meanwhile, informed sources said the police are planning to appeal the Gozo court decision granting bail to the priest, who stands accused of defiling three girls.

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MALTA
Malta Independent

Gozo Bishop Mgr Mario Grech today said he followed protocol indicated by canon and civil law in the case of a Gozo priest who was accused of abusing girls.

In a short statement, the bishop said that any case of abuse is a deep wound for the Church and society. He said he was staying close to the victims and their families.

He said he understood he had responsibilities towards all priests, even those who commit mistakes, and towards God’s people, in particular minors.

He said that in this case – the Bishop did not mention it in particular, but was making an obvious reference to that priest who was accused of defiling children over the past years – “I followed canon and civil law” and will act in the same way if other similar cases emerged.

Police Inspector Sandro Camilleri also confirmed that the Gozo Bishop collaborated with them.

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CONNECTICUT
NBC Connecticut

Wednesday, Aug 20, 2014

A Connecticut priest who was suspended last year and arrested in March on several sexual assault charges is due in court on Wednesday for pre-trial proceedings.

Rev. Paul Gotta, 55, of Bridgeport pleaded not guilty to seven counts of sexual assault charges he faces, according to the state judicial website.

Gotta, who served as administrator of St. Philip Church in East Windsor and St. Catherine Church in Broadbrook until he was placed on administrative leave, is accused of sexual abuse, according to the Archdiocese of Hartford.

Police said in April that the arrest warrant is sealed.

Gotta is facing two counts of second-degree sexual assault, felony charges, in connection to reported incidents on April 1, 2012 and Feb. 1 2013, and five counts of fourth-degree sexual assault, misdemeanor charges, for reported incidents in January, February, March, April and May of 2012, according to the state judicial website.

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MALTA
Times of Malta

The police are planning to appeal a Gozo court decision granting bail to a Gozitan priest who stands accused of defiling three girls.

The 38-year-old priest, who cannot be identified by court order, was arraigned yesterday and his case is being heard behind closed doors.

It is understood the allegations relate to incidents that took place some years ago in Gozo.

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MALTA
Malta Today

Daniel Mizzi 20 August 2014

Clarificaton: this article erroneously referred to the defendant’s previous employment as having been inside a Church school.

The police intend to file an appeal against bail, after a a young priest was yesterday allowed out against a €5,000 personal guarantee and €1,000 deposit after pleading not guilty to charges of child molestation, in what is understood to have been criminal acts taking place over several months and involving a number of minors.

The priest has been prohibited from approaching the victims and their homes, the court said in its bail conditions.

Sources told MaltaToday that the accused has been a priest for around 10 to 12 years and he was recently employed as a religion teacher at a boys’ secondary state school in Hamrun.

Victims were said to be aged close to 15, but one of the girls is said to be aged eight years old.

Standing before Magistrate Paul Coppini at the Gozo courts, the priest, whose name cannot be published by court order, appeared wearing casual clothes and a pair of flip flops after he was summonsed to court by arrest.

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CALIFORNIA
Modesto Bee

BY ROB PARSONS
rparsons@mercedsunstar.com
August 19, 2014

A Los Banos Catholic priest under investigation for possible sex crimes involving a teenager has been moved to an undisclosed location where there are no children present, a Catholic church official said Tuesday.

The Rev. Robert E. Gamel was placed on paid administrative leave early Friday, the morning after allegations surfaced involving a teenage church member, said Teresa Dominguez, chancellor for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Fresno.

“There was no way we could’ve acted any sooner on the information,” Dominguez told the Merced Sun-Star in a telephone interview.

Gamel, 64, has not been arrested or formally accused of any wrongdoing by law enforcement, the Los Banos Police Department said Tuesday. “The detectives are still continuing their investigation,” Cmdr. Jason Hedden said, “and we’re still hoping for anyone from the public with information to come forward.”

The Rev. Joe Baca has been appointed interim administrator of the Los Banos parish for an indefinite period of time.

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MALTA
Malta Independent

More voices are calling for “a shakeup” of the Maltese Church’s top levels to rid the Curia of its “leadership crisis.”

The debate was sparked by former Mgarr Parish Priest Fr Emanuel Camilleri, who was unceremoniously dismissed by the curia. Speaking to The Malta Independent last week, Fr Camilleri accused Archbishop Paul Cremona and Auxiliary Bishop Charles Scicluna of bowing in to pressure. He was the first to claim that the church is gripped by a leadership crisis.

Fr Camilleri’s comments this week echoed by Fr Joe Borg his regular column on The Times. He compared the current “leadership crisis” to the state the PN was in after losing the 1976 election.

But in comments to the same newspaper today, Victor Axiak, the head of the Church Environment Commission, disagreed with Fr Borg and said that those clamouring for change and seeking the “crucifixion” of Archbishop Cremona, want the Church to move closer to the Nationalist Party. “It (the Church) will not be rendered vibrant and kicking if it resumes its ‘local mission’ of religio et patria and of allowing itself to be pulled one way or the other to the tune of some political group. Paul Cremona is being crucified because he does not want to play this dirty game.”

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AUSTRALIA
Sydney Morning Herald

August 20, 2014

Cameron Houston, Jane Lee

The Catholic Church’s independent commissioner was unable to explain how he received confidential information from a victim of serial paedophile priest Kevin O’Donnell or why it was passed on to the church’s lawyers in an apparent breach of confidentiality.

The Royal Commission also raised concerns about the independence of Peter O’Callaghan, QC, who has investigated allegations of clerical abuse for the past 18 years under the church’s controversial Melbourne Response.

The church’s law firm Corrs Chambers Westgarth was also questioned over its handling of files and sensitive information from three separate arms of the Melbourne Response, which claim to be independent of each other.

Corrs Chambers Westgarth partner Richard Leder denied any confidentiality had been compromised in his role as lawyer for the Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne and the Melbourne Response, which he helped establish in 1996.

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MAINE
WGME

[with video]

PORTLAND (WGME) — New allegations are lodged against a former priest from Gray.

Demonstrators outside the Portland Diocese on Tuesday accused Father Tony Caron of sexually abusing Norman Smith when he was a teen.

Father Tony Caron is the former priest of St. Gregory Parish in Gray.

Smith showed CBS 13 News photos from several trips he says Caron took him on after his mother died. His older sister says she thought Caron was befriending her brother.

Instead, Norman Smith claims he was sexually abused for three years.

“The Catholic Church has hidden this stuff for so long. And so many people have been hurt by this. It’s not fair to the children. It’s not fair to their families,” Normal Smith said.

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CALIFORNIA
ABC 30

By Corin Hoggard
Tuesday, August 19, 2014

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) — A Catholic priest in Los Banos is under investigation for possible sex crimes against a teen.

As the faithful gathered at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church Friday, police were next door, serving a search warrant.

The night before, the Diocese of Fresno alerted police of possible internet sex crimes against a local teen by the church’s lead pastor, Father Bob Gamel.

“During the search warrant, detectives recovered computer equipment, hard drives and other evidence related to the crime,” said Los Banos police Commander Jason Hedden.

Federal investigators are now analyzing the evidence, but Gamel has not been arrested or charged with any crime. The diocese removed him from the church, though, moving him to another location in Los Banos.

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AUSTRALIA
7 News

ABC

BY CANDICE MARCUS
August 20, 2014

A woman whose son was sexually abused by a paedophile school bus driver in Adelaide more than two decades ago says she wants a national organisation set up to monitor child institutions.

Convicted paedophile Brian Perkins abused children while he was employed without a background check as a bus driver for the St Ann’s special school in the 1980s and early 1990s.

Helen Gitsham’s son was abused by Perkins and, in a written submission to a federal royal commission into institutional responses to child sexual abuse, said the Catholic Church’s response was inadequate.

She said a Catholic Church inquiry that was announced in 2002 was not independent, transparent or comprehensive, and the process had not been scrutinised by anyone other than those associated with the church itself.

“From the very beginning of the inquiry the intention of the Catholic Church was to seek advice on legal matters and liability, not to determine whether the school tried to identify children who may have been abused, nor how families and children were affected and followed up at the time and since,” Mrs Gitsham said.

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AUSTRALIA
WA Today

August 20, 2014

Leanne Nicholson
Deputy editor, WAtoday

Strengthening child abuse laws, more education and easier reporting of crimes are among recommended changes to toughen state laws protecting West Australia’s vulnerable.

Sixteen recommendations from a review into the Commissioner for Children and Young People Act were tabled in state parliament on Wednesday and are now open for public comment for the next three months.

Among the recommendation are the commissioner should receive complaints from children and young people, or adults acting on their behalf, about alleged child abuse, for referral on to the relevant investigative authority.

WA Attorney General Michael Mischin said the review found overall the Act had operated effectively and achieved the purpose of promoting the wellbeing of children and young people in Western Australia.

However, Mr Mischin said the review identified some areas for improvement.

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AUSTRALIA
ABC News

By Quentin McDermott and Peter Cronau
Updated 20 Aug 2014

An investigation should be launched into a cluster of paedophile priests at the Holy Family School in Doveton, one of Victoria’s poorest communities, according to one of the MPs who conducted an inquiry last year into the handling of child abuse by religious and other organisations.

Victorian Labor MP Frank McGuire made a statement to the Victorian Parliament today, following revelations in last week’s ABC Four Corners program, In the Name of the Law.

The program revealed that Cardinal George Pell did not explain in oral evidence to last year’s Victorian inquiry that the church had held a private hearing in 1997 at which the finding was made that local parish priest, Father Peter Searson, had been guilty of the sexual abuse of two children.

Father Searson was eventually removed from the Doveton parish and charged by police for an unrelated physical assault of a young boy attending the Holy Family School.

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AUSTRALIA
Herald Sun

MATT JOHNSTON HERALD SUN AUGUST 20, 2014

CARDINAL George Pell has been blasted by state Labor MP Frank McGuire over evidence provided about a paedophile priest during a parliamentary inquiry.

Calling for a fresh investigation into the Catholic Church’s response to decades-long sex offences committed in Doveton — uncovered in the 1980s and 1990s — Mr McGuire accused Cardinal Pell of glossing over crimes of former priest Peter Searson.

He said that when Cardinal Pell was questioned about Searson at the recent Victorian parliamentary inquiry into child sex abuse, Cardinal Pell said “no conviction was recorded for Searson on sexual misbehaviour”.

Mr McGuire told parliament while courts did not convict Searson, documents he had obtained showed that the church’s Melbourne Response, led by independent commissioner Peter O’Callaghan, had found Fr Searson was “guilty of sexual abuse of two girls”.

Last night the church fired back at Mr McGuire.

A statement released says: “in his evidence to the inquiry, Cardinal Pell drew attention to Mr O’Callaghan’s investigation into Fr Searson”.

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NEW YORK
Albany Times Union

Robert Gavin, Law Beat
Published 7:02 pm, Tuesday, August 19, 2014

Troy attorney Jay Hernandez could have employed a defense last week that might have convinced an Albany County jury that reasonable doubt existed in the sexual abuse case against disgraced former Albany deacon Angel Garcia.

But if Hernandez had used that defense, the jury might have convicted Garcia in an hour.

In the end, Garcia was convicted of sexually abusing a girl when she was 6 years old, in 2003.

Hernandez sought to convince the jury that Garcia’s accuser, now 17, concocted the sex abuse charge when she was in her midteens so her family, which is in the United States illegally, could stay in the country. Their daughter’s status as a sex-crime victim was grounds for remaining, he said.

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ZAMBIA
Times of Zambia

By MARILYN ROSE and REBECCA MUSHOTA-

A PENTECOSTAL bishop in Kitwe who was facing charges of sexually abusing nine girls from his church has committed suicide, his wife has said.

Dominic Nyondo of Holy Fire Christian Ministry Church is believed to have thrown himself in the crocodile-infested Kafue River.

Mable Nyondo said her husband left home around 22:00 hours on Monday after informing her that whatever was going to happen to him was because of the allegations of sexual abuse against him.

“He left the house between 22:00 hours and 23:00 hours after reading the Bible and said that whatever will happen to him was because of the allegations of sexual abuse against him,” Ms Nyondo said.

“I tried to chase him but he ran towards the river and when I reached (the river), I only found his shirt.”

Ms Nyondo was narrating the ordeal during an interview at the funeral house in Ipusukilo Township in Kitwe yesterday.

Kitwe District Police Commissioner Lizzie Machina said her officers were investigating the matter.

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UNITED KINGDOM
The Guardian (UK)

Martin Williams
The Guardian, Tuesday 19 August 2014

Sir Cliff Richard, facing a historical sexual assault claim, has withdrawn from a charity event because he did not “want the event to be overshadowed by the false allegation”, his spokesman said on Tuesday.

The singer was due to perform at Canterbury cathedral on 26 September in a fundraising concert. The statement added: “He is sorry for any disappointment or inconvenience caused.”

Police searched Richard’s apartment last week as part of an investigation into an alleged sexual assault on a young boy at a religious event in 1985 in Sheffield. The pop star, who was in Portugal at the time of the search, has denied any wrongdoing.

The decision to pull out of the charity event comes after the pop star, 73, hired the high-profile lawyer, Ian Burton.

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AUSTRALIA
SBS

Source AAP 20 AUG 2014

Catholic Church payouts to victims of pedophile priests don’t recognise the harm they have suffered, a lawyer for the Melbourne archdiocese says.

Many victims have told the abuse royal commission they’ve received only “token amounts” in compensation under the church’s Melbourne Response scheme for handling clergy sex abuse complaints.

Lawyer Richard Leder, who represents the Melbourne archdiocese, said it was clear now that the capped payouts set under the Melbourne Response don’t recognise the harm suffered by victims.

“It is clear that for some victims the ability to receive only up to $75,000 in lump sum compensation indicates that the compensation component of the Melbourne Response is not achieving the objective that it was set out to achieve in terms of delivering a financial recognition of the harm.

“I’m absolutely supportive of the commitments that the archbishop has made to review those matters,” Mr Leder told the royal commission on Wednesday.

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IRELAND
Irish Examiner

JP O’Malley

BETWEEN 1914 and 1915, the Jewish Czech writer, Franz Kafka, wrote the mesmerising novel, The Trial.

Today, 100 years later, it illuminates the connection between bureaucracy and power.

In The Trial, a young bank official, Joseph K, is arrested for a crime that doesn’t seem to exist. He is taken to a quarry outside of his town and killed.

The word ‘Kafkaesque’ is overused by journalists, but it is appropriate in describing my experience when attempting to ‘excommunicate’ myself from the Catholic Church. Attempting to leave this immensely powerful organisation is like being locked in a crystal maze with no exit sign in sight.

Ostensibly, my official attempt to depart from Catholicism started last October. But the philosophical quest began 18 years ago. As a young boy, the Catholic Church was vital in shaping my cultural and intellectual identity.

There was a picture of the Sacred Heart in my bedroom. Every night, until I was eight years old, my brother and I would kneel and say prayers before sleep. …

This was just one year after the arrest of Father Brendan Smith, the notorious paedophile priest whom the Catholic Church initially protected, but who was eventually convicted of several, depraved sex crimes on innocent children: first in Northern Ireland, in 1994, and then again in the Republic, in 1997.

From aged 12, I had no belief, whatsoever, in the concept of a divine being.

By the time I was in my 20s, I was a militant-atheist.

And after my close reading of the ‘Ferns’, ‘Murphy’, and ‘Ryan Reports’, I was fully convinced that this was not an organisation I wanted to be associated with in any way.

It came as a huge surprise to me, then, last October, after I wrote to Reverend Fintan Gavin, the assistant chancellor of the Dublin Dioceses, asking if I could formally leave the Catholic Church, to be told that it was impossible.

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AUSTRALIA
The Australian

AUGUST 20, 2014

Pia Akerman
Reporter
Melbourne

THE ‘‘independent commissioner’’ heading the Melbourne archdiocese’s response to clergy sex abuse has admitted providing the church’s media adviser with suggested answers about a notorious abuse case.

Peter O’Callaghan QC, who has spearheaded the Melbourne Response since it began in 1996, has been repeatedly challenged on his independent status from the archdiocese while giving evidence at the royal commission investigating institutional responses to child sexual abuse.

Today it was revealed that he had given the archdiocese’s communications director extensive answers in response to questions from a journalist about the church’s handling of the Foster family after two of their daughters were abused by a priest.

Mr O’Callaghan accepted his action had not been “strictly speaking” any of his business, but said he still believed it was reasonable.

The commission has heard Mr O’Callaghan refused to provide one of the daughters, Katie Foster, with his report on the abuse because her family was considering suing the church.

Mr O’Callaghan has said he believed he had acted appropriately by denying the Foster family his written findings, even though he had verbally confirmed to them that their daughter Katie was abused by one of Victoria’s most notorious priests, Kevin O’Donnell.

Mr O’Callaghan yesterday said he had based his 2000 decision on a 1976 judicial ruling, prompting criticism from NSW appellate judge Peter McClellan as chair of the royal commission investigating institutional responses to child sexual abuse.

“The law has moved quite a bit,” Justice McClellan told Mr O’Callaghan, who was called to the Bar in 1961 and took silk in 1974.

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AUSTRALIA
Yahoo! News

By court reporter Peta Carlyon | ABC

The man in charge of the Catholic Church’s so-called Melbourne Response to allegations of child abuse has rejected suggestions he failed to encourage victims to go to police.

Peter O’Callaghan QC has been dealing with complainants and deciding whether they are eligible for compensation since the scheme began in 1996.

He was repeatedly questioned about the legal integrity of his decision-making at today’s hearing of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse.

Mr O’Callaghan has been a Queen’s Counsel for 40 years and said the Melbourne Response was based in canon law and “natural justice”.

He said when there was a dispute with a claim he would take on a role similar to a magistrate in a criminal case.

He was again asked repeatedly why he did not report cases of abuse to Victoria Police and why he took it upon himself to advise victims on the potential strength of their cases.

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MALTA
Malta Today

Daniel Mizzi 20 August 2014

Clarificaton: this article erroneously referred to the defendant’s previous employment as having been inside a Church school.

A young priest was yesterday allowed out on bail against a hefty personal guarantee and deposit after pleading not guilty to charges of child molestation, in what is understood to have been criminal acts taking place over several months and involving a number of minors.

Sources told MaltaToday that the accused has been a priest for around 10 to 12 years and he was recently employed as a religion teacher at a boys’ secondary state school in Hamrun.

Standing before Magistrate Paul Coppini at the Gozo courts, the priest, whose name cannot be published by court order, appeared wearing casual clothes and a pair of flip flops after he was summonsed to court by arrest.

The priest, believed to be in his early 40s, covered his face as he was taken in to court.

At the start of the sitting, the priest’s defence lawyer, Carmelo Gauci, requested that the case be heard behind closed doors, and almost immediately, Magistrate Coppini upheld the request.

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KANSAS CITY (MO)
The Kansas City Star

Editorial

The only reassuring news to come out of an arbitrator’s recent finding against the Catholic Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph is that its Victim Advocacy Program, created in 2008 in response to the priest abuse scandal, is operating well.

But every other conclusion of the arbitrator — upheld last week by Jackson County Circuit Judge Bryan Round — brought shame to the diocese and provided more than enough reasons for Bishop Robert W. Finn, already convicted of a misdemeanor, to resign.

In ordering the diocese to pay $1.1 million for violating its agreement with sex abuse victims, arbitrator Hollis Hanover was blunt: “Where they (the victims) expected protection, they received desertion; where the assertion of authority on their behalf was required, they received betrayal.”

He also said he hopes “that I am dead wrong in my opinion that this Diocese as presently constituted will not mend its ways.”

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FLORIDA
ABC 7

By George Solis, Reporter

FORT MYERS, FL –
New allegations came to light Tuesday against a former Catholic priest in Fort Myers.

The church found him guilty of sexually abusing a boy and now he’s accused of inappropriate behavior with other children.

A first victim stepped forward in 2008, saying Ronald Joseph abused him when he was just 16-years-old at Saint Francis Xavier near downtown Fort Myers.

Diocese leaders conducted their own investigation and removed him from the church – we discovered new information that reveals there could be other victims.

Once again all eyes are on Saint Francis Xaiver Catholic Church in Fort Myers.

Nearly six years ago the church was under scrutiny after allegations of sexual abuse first surfaced. They revolved around Rev. Jean Ronald Joseph.

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NEW MEXICO
Renegade Catholic

Jay Nelson

Just when you think it’s really and truly finally over, the past reaches out and grabs at you like a zombie hand from a grave. Once again the scandal of clergy sexual abuse hangs over the Land of Enchantment as new lawsuits are filed.

The story below for some reason does not name the accused priest, and the details provided don’t help that much, for there were at least two child-molesting priests who were sent to the Servants of the Paraclete from Connecticut and later became fugitives: Fr. Laurence Brett and Msgr. Arthur J. Perrault. But Brett was ultimately found, laicized and died, and there’s no mention of any of that here, so it would have to be Perrault, who has never been seen again.

Perrault was a big apple here – popular (winning a local “People’s Choice for Favorite Clergy” award), a close friend of later-disgraced Archbishop Robert Sanchez, a top liturgist who wrote columns for the archdiocesan newsletter, did the TV Mass regularly, and served as the coordinator of worship for bishops in the West. He’d been a colonel in the Air Force reserve Chaplains Corps, and served in the four biggest and richest parishes in the state.

And Fr. Perrault was also a major perp. Screwed male and female over a wide range of ages, and he nearly got me once, too. For he taught ethics, of all things, at St. Pius X High School here in Albuquerque back then. I went there back when it was located where the ABQ Uptown shopping mall is now. Thank God, I was only there for my freshman and sophomore years. But on one occasion, I had to see him in his office after school – I had found out about a gang fight that was scheduled for after school that I thought needed to be stopped.

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FLORIDA
WINK News

FORT MYERS, Fla. – The details were kept sealed for years, but new documents show explicit details about the abuse one teen who says he suffered at the hands of former father, Jean Ronald Joseph.

“We did reach a settlement last month, says Adam Horowitz, attorney for the victim. “It was a 6 figure settlement.”

These documents outline an internal investigation by the Diocese of Venice into former father Jean Ronald Joseph, accused of sexually abusing a teen while he worked here at the saint francis xavier parish.

“For 15 years, between 1993 and 2008, the diocese of Venice was aware of a history of red flags by this priest,” says Horowitz

The victim says Joseph groped him in his sleep back in 1993 when he was 16 years old.

The new documents show questionable behavior by Joseph, and witness accounts of other possible victims. Something attorney Adam Horowitz’s client wasn’t aware of. “He had no idea that there were these suspicious behavior that father Joseph was engaged in.”

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FLORIDA
WGCU

The Diocese of Venice has reached a six figure settlement with a man who accused a former Fort Myers priest of sexual abuse. The agreement was reached after the accuser obtained secret documents showing the Catholic Church knew the priest was guilty of abusing him as a child.

During a press conference in front of St. Francis Xavier Church in Fort Myers Tuesday, the accuser’s attorney released documents from an investigation conducted by the Diocese of Venice over the span of four years.

The confidential investigation found Jean Ronald Joseph – a former priest at St. Francis—was guilty of violating cannon law by abusing a sixteen year old boy nearly two decades ago.

Adam Horowitz, the victim’s attorney, said his client came forward in 2008, but was only able to seek damages now because of these documents.

“We obtained these confidential church documents because one of the priests at the Diocese of Venice happened to be a friend and an associate of my client’s father—and he acted perhaps out of turn and gave my client that document,” he said. “Had he not done so, we would have never seen this document. It would have never seen the light of day. And much of the community would have believed that Father Joseph was innocent of these charges and my client was a liar.”

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FLORIDA
Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests

For immediate release: Tuesday, Aug. 19, 2014

Statement by David Clohessy of St. Louis, Director of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests ( 314 566 9790, SNAPclohessy@aol.com )

A Venice Catholic official gave a clergy sex abuse victim a damning document about a predator priest, a document which has now been made public. It clearly shows that the victim told the truth and the priest told lies.

We are grateful to the church official who was brave and caring enough to provide this nine-page ruling by a church court to a man who was sexually assaulted as a child by Fr. Jean Ronald Joseph in Ft. Myers. (We don’t know the church official’s name.)

Fr. Jean Ronald Joseph was accused of molesting a boy and “sleeping with young boys multiple times.” Last year, a church panel found that Fr. Joseph “touched genital area and penis” and “did not cooperate with attempts of reformation by the diocese.”

In 2009, in a horribly mean-spirited move, after church officials disclosed he was accused of abuse, Fr. Joseph publicly released the name of his victim at a news conference and called him a liar.

Not a single Catholic official or employee in the Venice diocese – from bishop to bookkeeper – disciplined or even denounced Fr. Joseph for such a hurtful and intimidating move. Nor did a single church staffer call the police about these alleged heinous crimes. Shame on them.

What now?

Venice Bishop Frank Dewane should publicly apologize for tolerating Fr. Joseph’s cruel but shrewd media stunt in 2009. He should also personally visit each parish where Fr. Joseph worked, begging victims, witnesses and whistleblowers to call law enforcement. Finally, Bishop Dewane should write to his colleagues in Haiti, where Fr. Joseph allegedly lives now, and insist that they warn their flocks about this dangerous cleric.

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MALTA
Gozo News

A young priest was arraigned in the Gozo Court this afternoon charged with child molestation.

Magistrate Paul Coppini granted a request made by Carmelo Galea, the priest’s lawyer, for the hearing to be held behind closed doors.

The court also agreed to a ban of the publication of proceedings, his name, or the name of the victims. The priest, hid his face from waiting reporters as he was taken in to court.

It is understood that the alleged abuse took place over several months.

The priest was granted bail against a personal guarantee and deposit.

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MALTA
Times of Malta

August 19, 2014

by Steve Mallia

Editor’s Blog: Why did magistrate ban the press from priest case?

Was it correct for the presiding magistrate to ban the press after a Gozitan priest was taken to court today (Tuesday) charged with offences related to molestation?

That depends on the circumstances. If for some reason the complainant felt there was no way he or she could testify and there are objective reasons to support this – i.e., embarrassment is not enough – then there are grounds for the magistrate to entertain such a request. But even there, such a decision should only be taken in the most exceptional circumstances.

Yet in this case it appears no such request was made by the complainant. The request came from the defendant’s lawyer. This raises the bar considerably.

Innocent till proven guilty is a given, especially when delicate accusations are made against a priest. But there is a very simple option open to the magistrate to deal with such a scenario: banning publication of the name. This also serves the purpose of protecting the identity of the complainant.
However, a blanket ban on all coverage tends to defeat the object of open justice. Making court proceedings accessible to the public is not just a desirable notion; it is a fundamental principle contained within the European Convention of Human Rights and, as such, should not be dispensed with unless there is a very special reason for doing so. If such a reason is present, it should be communicated clearly so that everybody can understand it.

The magistrate did no such thing in this case. First he threw out certain members of the media for not wearing jacket and tie (a ridiculous requirement, particularly in the sweltering heat of August), and then he threw out the press altogether.

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INDIA
Business Standard

Police have arrested a priest for having allegedly raping an eight-year-old girl within the premises of a temple in Satbiri area of south Delhi on the occasion on Janmashtami.

According to the police, the incident took place last night when the girl was playing in the temple yard with a few children on the occasion of Janmashtami.

“The accused, identified as Vishvender, a 60-year-old priest took the girl to a separate room made in the temple and raped her,” said a senior police official.

The priest was later arrested from the temple after the girl narrated the incident to her parents who then approached police.

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FLORIDA
News-Press

Fort Myers, Florida (News-Press) — A confidential Diocese of Venice document detailing sexual abuse by a former priest at a Fort Myers church will be released Tuesday at a press conference announcing a settlement in the case.

The defrocked priest, Jean Ronald Joseph, was accused in 2009 of sexually abusing a child while he was serving at St. Francis Xavier church.

Adam Horowitz, the victim’s lawyer, and an attorney for survivors of clergy sexual abuse, will hold the press conference at the church, 2157 Cleveland Ave.

“This is a case in which the priest held a press conference to call his victim a liar,” Horowitz said this morning.

The allegations were made against Joseph in 2009 by a 31-year-old man. The events happened about 15 years previous, the victim said. The diocese made the accusations public at that time. The priest was defrocked by the diocese in 2013.

“What I’m going to release today is a confidential church document when the diocese found the priest guilty,” Horowitz said. He claims a cover-up by the diocese.

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MISSOURI
Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests

For immediate release: Tuesday, Aug. 19, 2014

For more information: David Clohessy of St. Louis, SNAP Director (314) 566-9790 cell, SNAPclohessy@aol.com

Victims challenge Presbyterian officials
They sent six lawyers in convicted sex offender case
After a child porn conviction, they still hired him as pastor
He is now serving 30 years for child porn & illegal castration
Stop “cruel and intimidating” legal maneuvers, group says
They beg church officials to reach out to victims in churches & Scouts

A support group for clergy sex abuse victims is criticizing a Jefferson City-based Protestant organization for bringing six lawyers to a court hearing yesterday in Fulton to defend it in an abuse case involving a convicted and incarcerated offender.

Presbyterian officials from the Missouri Union Presbytery (573-635-9221) sent six lawyers to defend a civil child sex abuse and cover-up lawsuit against the church and Jack Wayne Rogers. Rogers is being sued by a Kansas City man who charges he was abused as a child by the former youth pastor in 2000. Rogers worked at the Presbyterian Church of Bellflower (MO).

Rogers was working at the church in 2000, 8 years after his 1992 conviction for the possession of child pornography. In 2003, Rogers pleaded guilty to additional counts of possession and distribution of child pornography and was sentenced to 30 years in prison. In 2004, he also pleaded guilty to illegally castrating another man. He is currently incarcerated in Florida.

Leaders of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAPnetwork.org), are blasting Presbyterian officials and urging them to stop what the group calls “vindictive and intimidating” legal maneuvers.

“The judge heard three uncontested simple motions, so church officials knew the hearing was neither complex nor contentious,” said David Clohessy of St. Louis, SNAP Executive Director. “Still, Presbyterian officials brought in the big guns from Missouri’s largest law firm in what we suspect was an effort to intimidate the victim. If that’s their goal, we’re confident they’ll fail.”

News reports say that Rogers was a Boy Scout leader.

SNAP wants church officials to:

— disclose how much they are spending to defend themselves in the Rogers case,
— reach out to all congregations that may have welcomed or hired Rogers, and
— make a public plea to local Boy Scout organization to reach out to other potential victims.

“There is no good, moral, or legal reason for this kind of legal overkill,” said Barb Dorris of St. Louis, SNAP Outreach Director. “The only reason to send that many lawyers into a courtroom is to intimidate the victim and help continue cover-ups.”

The victim in this case, Rev. Kristopher D. Schondelmeyer, is a now a Presbyterian minister living in Ohio. His goal in filing the lawsuit is to encourage other victims to come forward and get healing.

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MALTA
Malta Today

Daniel Mizzi 19 August 2014

A priest in his 40s was today arraigned in court in Gozo to face charges of child molestation. He was released on bail against “a hefty” personal guarantee and deposit.

It is understood that the victims were all girls.

The priest was seen leaving the courtroom with his lawyer, getting into a Toyota Yaris and speeding off to avoid journalists and members of the media. The court’s decision to ban the publication of the name also restricts media houses from showing his face in photographs.

“Some witnesses, who are still young, are afraid to testify,” sources told this newspaper.

Magistrate Paul Coppini upheld a request by the priest’s defence lawyer, Carmelo Galea, for the case to be heard behind closed doors. The request was upheld almost immediately by the court.
However, it is thought the magistrate put the sitting forward by 24 hours after arguing that the prosecution had enough evidence to proceed. So far there is no ban on the publication of details, which is normally reserved for cases involving minors who are related to the accused.

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BOSTON (MA)
Boston Globe

By Mark Shanahan and Meredith Goldstein | GLOBE STAFF AUGUST 19, 2014

As you know, a big-budget Hollywood movie about The Boston Globe’s Pulitzer Prize-winning series on the Catholic Church sex abuse scandal is in the works, and we managed to get our hands on a draft of the script, dated June 2013.

Co-written by Josh Singer, whose name might be familiar to fans of “The West Wing,” and Tom McCarthy, who’s also directing the movie, “Spotlight” tells the story of how a team of Boston Globe reporters and editors discovered and, despite concerns about a possible backlash among the newspaper’s advertisers and Catholic subscribers, chronicled the Archdiocese of Boston’s practice of covering up the crimes of problematic priests.

Even at 131 pages, the script moves briskly, starting with the Eileen McNamara column about pedophile priest John Geoghan that originally piqued the interest of then-Globe editor Marty Baron. To be played in the movie by Liev Schreiber, Baron comes across as fearless, heroic, and mostly humorless. Much is made of his outsider status — “So the new editor of the Globe is an unmarried man of the Jewish faith who hates baseball?” — the clear implication being that if not for Baron’s willingness to pursue the story, the issue of priest sex abuse may not have been so fully investigated.

The other stars of this story, at least according to the screenplay we read, are editor Walter V. Robinson, described as a “Boston everyman,” reporters Michael Rezendes (“good looks, bad haircut”) and Sacha Pfeiffer (“wholesome”), and Mitchell Garabedian, the lawyer who represented several of the victims. (He’s described in the script as “abrasive, to say the least.”) In the movie, Michael Keaton will play Robinson, while Mark Ruffalo will play Rezendes, Rachel McAdams is in discussions to play Pfeiffer, and Stanley Tucci will play Garabedian.

Because every good movie about investigative journalists has to have a scene in a parking garage, the script includes a scene in a parking garage. There are also scenes at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, a “crappy” East Boston diner, Faneuil Hall, Ringgold Park in the South End, a courtroom, and, of course, the offices of the Globe.

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IRELAND
Irish Times

Paul Cullen

Fri, Aug 15, 2014

Childhood sexual abuse has a profound long-term economic impact on survivors, according to a new study by the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI).

Even decades after the abuse occurred, survivors are more than twice as likely as others to be out of the labour force as a result of being sick or permanently disabled, the research has established.

When account is taken of the psychological difficulties that abuse is already known to cause, male survivors are three times more likely to be sick or disabled than other men.

For women, the impact of child sexual abuse on involvement in the labour force in later life is much smaller and not statistically significant, the study finds. This may arise because the older women who were surveyed were more likely than their male peers to have been “in and out” of the workforce during their adult lives, according to co-author Prof Alan Barrett, head of the economic analysis division of ESRI.

Research has shown the links between abuse and psychological disorders such as depression, post-traumatic stress disorder and anxiety. However, the ESRI research is one of the first to examine the economic effect on people who suffered sexual abuse in their childhood years.

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UNITED STATES
The Catholic Eye

Posted by David H Lukenbill

SNAP, the Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests, is a wonderful organization that keeps the pressure on the Church to deal with sexual abuse within its priestly ranks effectively.

I have been following them for several years, and they are an organization to keep in touch with for the absolutely amazing work they do.

Many critics claim they are anti-Catholic, but, from what I’ve seen, they area anti-sexual abuse by priests and pro-children.

Here is an excerpt about how they were formed.

An excerpt.

SNAP all began with one person. Barbara Blaine founded SNAP in 1988 after years of pain, depression and shame. She was abused as an 8th grade child by a Toledo, Ohio priest who taught in the catholic school she attended. Years later, her pleas for help from Toledo’s bishop fell on deaf ears. Barbara realized that survivors of clergy abuse could help each other and, by mid 1988, she had built a network of about two dozen victims. By early 1989 several survivors had struck up friendships, held regular telephone conversations and exchanged letters. In 1991, the very first SNAP Meeting was held at the Holiday Inn, Chicago.

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FLORIDA
News-Press

At a news conference this afternoon, Adam Horowitz, an attorney for survivors of clergy sexual abuse, will announce a pre-litigation settlement of a child sexual abuse and cover-up claim against the Diocese of Venice involving the Rev. Jean Ronald Joseph.

The allegations relate to Joseph’s abuse of a teenage boy while assigned to St. Francis Xavier parish in Fort Myers, according to a news release from Horowitz.

In 2009, allegations against Joseph by a 31-year-old man were made public by the Diocese of Venice. Joseph denied the abuse, which was alleged to have happened at St. Francis Xavier about 15 years ago.

Horowitz said he will release the new church document, which outlines the internal church investigation and judicial proceedings against Joseph that led to his removal as a priest last year.

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AUSTRALIA
Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse

19 August, 2014

The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse will be holding private sessions in Launceston from 26 – 29 August 2014.

Royal Commission CEO Philip Reed said all people affected by child sexual abuse while in the care of an Australian institution have the opportunity to tell the Royal Commission of their experiences in a private session.

“Over the course of this week 18 survivors of child sexual abuse in Tasmania will have the opportunity to tell the Royal Commission of their experiences, in a private session with a Commissioner.

“The Royal Commission has already held more than 2,200 private sessions in cities and town across Australia and this is the first time the Royal Commission has held private sessions in Launceston.

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MALTA
Times of Malta

[with video]

Young priest hides face as he is arraigned over alleged child abuse, bail granted after sitting behind closed doors

A young priest was granted bail this afternoon after being arraigned before a magistrate in Gozo to face charges of child molestation.

The priest, believed to be in his thirties, covered his face as he was taken to court.

No details of the case were given, but the alleged abuses are understood to have taken place over a number of months and involved several children.

The sitting was held held behind closed doors following a request by lawyer Carmelo Galea. Reporters were ordered out of the courtroom. The court also banned publication of the priest’s name.

Following the granting of bail, the priest left the courtroom accompanied by his lawyer.

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FLORIDA
10 News

Fort Myers News-Press, news source August 19, 2014

Fort Myers, Florida (News-Press) — An attorney for survivors of clergy sexual abuse is planning to announce a pre-litigation settlement of a child sexual abuse and cover-up claim against the Diocese of Venice involving the Rev. Jean Ronald Joseph.

The allegations relate to Joseph’s abuse of a teenage boy while assigned to St. Francis Xavier parish in Fort Myers, according to a news release from attorney Adam Horowitz.

In 2009, allegations against Joseph by a 31-year-old man were made public by the Diocese of Venice. Joseph denied the abuse, which was alleged to have happened at St. Francis Xavier about 15 years ago.

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MALTA
Malta Independent

A young priest was charged with child molestation in Gozo this afternoon, but no details of the case are forthcoming as a total ban has been imposed by the court.

The case was heard behind closed doors on the request of the priest’s lawyer Carmelo Borg. Journalists present for the sitting were ordered to leave.

The priest, in plain clothes, hid his face as he was escorted up the steps leading to the Gozo courts. His attitude changed after the court sitting, as he walked down the steps without covering his face in spite of the clicking or rolling cameras, having been given protection by the magistrate.

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IRELAND
Dundalk Democrat

Dundalk man Brendan Boland, who has just published a book on his experience of abuse by the serial paedophile Fr Brendan Smyth, has said he is disappointed with the Cardinal’s letter of resignation to the Pope.

“It’s a long time coming,” he said. “He should have done it back in 2010. Maybe he should not have taken the job at all in 1994 when he found out Smyth was arrested in Northern Ireland”.

The cardinal, who was 75 on Saturday, has submitted his resignation to the Vatican.

This is required of all Catholic bishops when they reach that age.

He will remain a cardinal for life and may continue to vote in papal elections until 2019, when he will be 80.

Interviewed on RTÉ Radio One’s This Week programme on Sunday, Mr Boland said he and Smyth’s other victims were “really disappointed. Cardinal Brady is resigning. It appears to us that he’s just retiring naturally as if he’s done nothing wrong. I feel let down again. They’re attempting to save face again”.

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Sydney Morning Herald

Onboard the Papal plane: The Pope has publicly broached the prospect of his own death for the first time, giving himself “two or three years” but not ruling out retirement before then.

Talking to reporters on a flight back to the Vatican from South Korea, the 77-year-old pontiff, who seemed in good spirits, was asked about his global popularity, which was evident again during his five-day visit.

“I see it as the generosity of the people of God. I try to think of my sins, my mistakes, not to become proud. Because I know it will last only a short time. Two or three years and then I’ll be off to the Father’s House,” he replied light-heartedly.

The Argentine Pope said he could handle the popularity “more naturally” these days, though at first it had “scared me a little”.

While the Pope has not spoken publicly before about when he might meet his maker, a Vatican source said he had previously told those close to him that he thought he only had a few years left.

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AUSTRALIA
Sydney Morning Herald

August 19, 2014

Jane Lee, Cameron Houston

The Catholic Church’s independent investigator into allegations of clerical abuse has been asked at the sex abuse royal commission whether he reported abuse to police and if he obstructed certain victims’ attempts to take legal action against the church.

Independent Commissioner Peter O’Callaghan, QC, was also questioned over his involvement in decisions on how much counselling the church should fund and his frequent communication with lawyers for the Archdiocese of Melbourne, which could have compromised his independence.

Counsel assisting the commission, Gail Furness, SC, repeatedly asked Mr O’Callaghan why it was his role to advise Carelink, the Melbourne Response’s counselling arm, if and when victims were given treatment.

Mr O’Callaghan replied that he was responding to a request, and that his position “doesn’t preclude me from other roles in the organisation”. He insisted he had acted independently at all times.

A barrister since 1961, he was appointed the Independent Commissioner of the church’s Melbourne Response – its internal process for handling abuse allegations – initially for a six-month term in 1996. Since 1996 the church has paid him more than $7 million.

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AUSTRALIA
Courier-Mail

BY ANGUS LIVINGSTON AAP AUGUST 19, 2014

AFTER 18 years investigating pedophiles in the Catholic Church, Peter O’Callaghan QC is sure of one thing: people don’t make up stories about sexual abuse.

HE was appointed in 1996 to investigate sexual abuse in the Melbourne archdiocese and thought the claims would flood in over the first six months.

They never stopped coming.

Almost two decades later he is still getting calls from victims, including one during a break in a royal commission hearing on Monday.

As the independent commissioner of the church’s Melbourne Response to clergy sex abuse, Mr O’Callaghan has identified 81 offenders and upheld 326 claims of abuse since October 1996, with just nine claims unsubstantiated.

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Inquisitr

Pope Francis made a shocking revelation on Monday, as reported by Newsmax, claiming that he only has “two or three years” to live.

The 77-year-old Pontiff apparently shared the shocking news with reporters during his flight back from South Korea and seemed to be in good spirits about the whole thing. When he was asked about the global popularity he enjoys he responded:

I see it as the generosity of the people of God. I try to think of my sins, my mistakes, not to become proud. Because I know it will last only a short time. Two or three years and then I’ll be off to the Father’s House.

The Pope added that he was able to handle the popularity “more naturally” these days even though it was tough at first.

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GUAM
KUAM

by Sabrina Salas Matanane

Guam – Archbishop Anthony Apuron responds to a letter written by five Catholic priests calling on him to clarify statements he made in a July 29th press release regarding his reasons for the removal of Monsignor James Benavente.

According to Father Adrian Cristobal Archbishop Anthony Apuron had and still has every intention of meeting with Fathers Tom McGrath, Jeff San Nicolas, Mike Crisostomo, Patrick Castro and Gus Gumataotao. The five priests as we reported wrote a letter to the archbishop dated August 4th. They were seeking clarification on his statement in his July 29th press release explaining his decision to remove Monsignor James Benavente from his positions as rector of the Archdiocese of Agana and director of the Catholic Cemeteries. The basis for his removal? Allegations of financial mismanagement. In the statement the archbishop wrote, “I informed the Presbyteral Council, the College of Consultors and the Archdiocesan Finance Council about this situation and they expressed their support.”

The five priests are part of that Presbyteral Council and in their letter to the archbishop said they disagree with his statement and it’s connection with his decision to remove Monsignor James. As we reported they referred to a meeting they had with the archbishop on July 25th during which he presented the financial situation of the Archdiocese of Agana. The priests state the archbishop made no mention of his intent to remove Monsignor James and that they were not consulted on the matter. They also stated they had no opportunity to discuss or raise objection to his removal and that at no point during these proceedings was a vote or question on the matter placed on the table for discussion to come to the conclusion of our “expressed support of your decision to remove him”.

According to Father Cristobal however, he tells KUAM today that the archbishop explained in detail the serious situation that the archdiocese found itself to the Presybteral Council during that july 25th meeting and he told the council clearly that he was going to take action.

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MALTA
Times of Malta

A priest is to be arraigned in court in Gozo today to face charges of child molestation.

The alleged abuses took place over a series of months.

This will be the first arraignment since two former priests were imprisoned in November 2012 after they lost their appeal against abuse convictions.

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CALIFORNIA
Roman Catholic Diocese of Fresno

To: All Media Contacts
From: Teresa Dominguez, Chancellor
Date: August 18, 2014
Re: Investigation of Diocesan Priest in Progress

On Thursday, August 14, 2014, the Victim Assistant Coordinator for the Diocese of Fresno received a call from a concerned parent. Arrangements were made to meet with the parents and their youth that evening to receive a detailed account of the events and observations that motivated the family to make contact with the Diocesan officials. Immediately following the interview, mandated reporting procedures were engaged and the report was received by the Los Banos Police Department.

On Friday, August 15, 2014, an investigation by law enforcement was initiated and the priest, Rev. Robert E. Gamel, Pastor of St. Joseph Church in Los Banos, was placed on administrative leave. Rev. Joe Baca has been appointed Administrator Pro Tem for an indefinite amount of time.

The Diocese of Fresno is cooperating with the investigators while following diocesan safe environment policies and procedures which take into consideration the wellbeing of all parties involved. Since an investigation is in progress, the Diocese is unable to comment on any details regarding this case.

Anyone with information that may be relevant to this investigation is asked to contact Sergeant Ivan Mendez at (209) 827-7070 Ext. 114. The Diocesan Victim Assistance Coordinator, Cheryl Sarkisian, may be contacted at (559) 493-2882.

Most Rev. Armando X. Ochoa, Bishop of the Diocese of Fresno, calls upon the faithful to hold this issue in prayer out of concern for all involved.

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CALIFORNIA
Fresno Bee

BY ROB PARSONS
Merced Sun-Star
August 18, 2014

A 64-year-old Catholic priest in Los Banos is under investigation for alleged “Internet related sex crimes” involving at least one teenager, the Los Banos Police Department announced Monday.

The Rev. Robert E. Gamel was placed on administrative leave Thursday pending further investigation, according to a statement from the Roman Catholic Diocese in Fresno. Gamel, 64, has been a priest at St. Joseph’s Catholic Parish since 2009, according to media archives.

Catholic officials in Fresno confirmed Gamel is under investigation in the statement released late Monday. Gamel could not immediately be reached for comment Monday.

No arrests have been made and no criminal charges have been filed, Los Banos Police Cmdr. Jason Hedden said.

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UNITED STATES
TheMediaReport

David Pierre

As if any further proof were needed of how the anti-Catholic group SNAP manipulates the media and lies to the public about the Church’s handling of sex abuse cases, consider this recent ominous media statement from David Clohessy, the group’s National Director:

“A new child sex abuse lawsuit has been filed against Fr. William Authenrieth who is apparently still alive and living in Massachusetts.

“We urge [a Florida bishop] to urge his colleagues in Massachusetts to warn the public and their parishioners about Fr. Authenrieth …”

But wait …

There is no “Fr. William Authenrieth.” Authenrieth was indeed once a priest, but as a few seconds of research clearly show, the Church laicized him some three decades ago, in 1985.

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UNITED STATES
Emes Ve-Emunah

Guest Post by Rabbi Yosef Blau

One of the strongest advocates for victims of sex abuse is Rabbi Yosef Blau, Mashgiach Ruchani of Yeshivas Rabbenu Yitzchok Elchanan (YU). I received the following a submission of a short post generated by the scandal in the seminaries owned and operated by sex abuser Elimelech Meisels. I am honored to do so. It follows:

Sexual abuse is criminal behavior and the police should be contacted. This does not imply that there is no role for the rabbinate and the community leaders in confronting abuse. In many cases the victims are unwilling to cooperate with the police often because of community pressures. Even when they do there is a need to remove an accused offender from a position where he is a potential danger before the slow process of a police investigation and prosecution is completed.

The recent case of the head of a seminary in Israel accused of sexual misconduct with students is an example of the need for rabbinic action. While according to Israeli law the behavior is illegal it is unlikely that American students, who have returned home and know little Hebrew, will go to the Israeli police. Only pressure from an external דין בית will cause the offender to resign his position.

Since he created the school and chose its staff a thorough investigation of the circumstances is necessary to determine if others were negligent and guilty of enabling the abuse or covering it up. This would require speaking first to all the students who were abused or witnessed any questionable behavior and to ascertain if they informed anyone on staff of their concerns.

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AUSTRALIA
Echo Netdaily

Victims may be turned away from the child abuse royal commission from next month, with the government yet to make a decision on an extension.

The commission has requested its 2015 deadline be extended by two years, along with an additional $104 million, but is yet to be told the outcome.

Without the extension, the commission says 3000 victims won’t be heard.

Commission chairman Peter McClellan told a closed community meeting in Victoria the uncertainty meant victims may be turned away from September, News Corp Australia reports.

More than 2200 abuse victims have had private sessions with the commission, with another 1800 scheduled before the end of the year.

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