ABUSE TRACKER

AUSTRALIA
The Chronicle

Emma McBryde | 8th Oct 2014

A FATHER has criticised a Pentecostal church organisation for abandoning his family after a Sunshine Coast youth pastor sexually abused his son.

Two senior Australian Christian Churches’ executives will come before the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sex Abuse as it investigates the responses of the movement and its affiliated churches.

The Sunshine Coast church’s former senior pastor Ian Lehmann will also testify at the public hearing which began in Sydney on Tuesday.

Pastor Lehmann is accused of being slow to act after the allegations surfaced because the youth pastor, Jonathan Baldwin, was his son-in-law.

The victim, who cannot be named to protect his identity, was aged between 13 and 15 when he came to Baldwin for counselling and was abused on and off church premises.

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.

VIRGINIA
Roanoke Times

Luanne Rife luanne.rife@roanoke.com 981-3209

LEXINGTON – The first of three trials began Tuesday for a Buena Vista pastor accused of sexually molesting three boys who belonged to his Pentecostal churches, but not before the defense tried to have the prosecutors removed from the case.

Larry McKinley Clark’s attorney, Kelly Cutler, asked the judge to remove Commonwealth’s Attorney Bucky Joyce and his chief deputy, Christopher Billias, who is trying the case. She claimed they inappropriately ignored evidence and steered the story of the alleged teenage victim.

“She’s alleging unethical conduct, which I vehemently deny,” said Billias, who noted this was a last-minute motion by the defense which had the recordings for months. Rockbridge County Circuit Judge Michael Irvine agreed.

Clark was indicted on numerous counts related to alleged sexual assault on three teenage victims. The judge earlier had separated the trials, one for each alleged victim. The first case initially involved 28 counts. Ballias said all but six would not be prosecuted as it would confuse the jury. Instead, he is proceeding with one count of indecent assault and one count of corruption of a minor for each of three years that he claims the assault took place.

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MINNESOTA
KAAL

(ABC 6 News) – Just before 4pm this afternoon, the Diocese of Winona released a statement regarding former Pacelli Catholic School teacher, Mary Gilles, who was arrested on a charge of 3rd Degree Criminal.

The Diocese says, “Ms. Gilles was arrested on suspicion of Criminal Sexual Conduct involving a minor. The Pacelli High School Administration has been cooperating with law enforcement during this investigation…” “…and will continue to provide any assistance needed by law enforcement…”

Austin Police Chief Brian Krueger says officers went to Pacelli Catholic School on Monday for what he describes as an “incident”.

By mid-afternoon, officers arrested Gilles at her home. School officials tell us she was terminated yesterday.

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.

MICHIGAN
The Detroit News

Oralandar Brand-Williams; The Detroit News

Detroit – — The Rev. Timothy Kane, accused of defrauding a Catholic church charity out of thousands of dollars through an elaborate scheme using the poor, was found guilty of the charges by a Wayne County jury Tuesday.

Kane, 57, was convicted on embezzlement, conspiracy and other related charges for embezzling about $131,000 from the Angel Fund through a “scam” using straw applicants to apply for $1,500 grants for the needy and then receiving kickbacks on some of the money paid out. He will be sentenced at 9 a.m. Dec. 12.

The Angel Fund is supported by an anonymous donor family and operated by the Archdiocese of Detroit. Since 2005, it has provided more than $17 million in grants to needy individuals and families in Detroit, Hamtramck and Highland Park, according to the archdiocese.

The applicant usually received $300 and the second person in the alleged scheme, Kane’s former co-defendant, Dorreca Brewer, a 34-year-old Jackson resident, received part of the remaining part of the grant.

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CONNECTICUT
Greenwich Time

Daniel Tepfer
Published 5:54 pm, Tuesday, October 7, 2014

A former Greenwich priest, suspended following allegations that he sexually assaulted a teenage boy in the early 1980s, has died.

Robert P. Morrissey, 69, who served as a parochial vicar at St. Mary Church on Greenwich Avenue several decades ago, died last week in Jupiter, Fla., where he had been living. He was buried Tuesday in a family plot in Flushing, N.Y.

In 2002, Morrissey was removed from active ministry, shortly after resigning his position as pastor of St. Mary Parish in Ridgefield, following accusations that he and two other priests, the Rev. Albert McGoldrick, pastor of St. Paul Church in Greenwich, and the Rev. Sherman Gray, pastor of Holy Name of Jesus Church in Stamford, had sexually assaulted a boy from 1979 to 1983, beginning when the victim was 15.

At the time of the alleged abuse, Gray and McGoldrick were assigned to parishes in Stamford and Morrissey was at a Greenwich parish — although it was unclear Tuesday whether or not that parish was St. Mary. After the allegations became public, all three were suspended from the priesthood.

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MINNESOTA
Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests

For immediate release: Tuesday, October 07, 2014

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

A female Catholic teacher is being held on a charge of third degree criminal sexual conduct.

Mary Gilles was teaching at Pacelli Catholic School in Austin, MN when she was arrested yesterday.

Whether the alleged victim is a student or a minor, Winona Bishop John Quinn needs to quickly and aggressively help police and prosecutors purse this case. He should personally visit the school and nearby parishes begging anyone who may have seen, suspected or suffered Gilles’ crimes or misdeeds to law enforcement. He should insist that school staff write to current and former staff, students and parents, seeking more information.

We predict Quinn will have his public relations team issue a terse statement in the name of school officials. But that’s a cowardly and irresponsibly move. The protection of kids is the bishop’s job. He should step up and help here.

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MINNESOTA
Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests

For immediate release: Tuesday, October 07, 2014

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

It’s interesting to note that Winona bishop John Michael Quinn says he plans to seek Chapter 11 protection even before a single trial or settlement or verdict happens, based just on his fears.

Winona’s bishop has hidden from his flock for more than six months his intention to seek bankruptcy protection. Winona Catholics deserve better, especially because bishops keep pledging to be “open” about clergy sex cases.

It’s sad that in 2014, after decades of revelations about clergy sex crimes and cover ups, Winona’s bishop still puts the blame squarely on others, claiming that “attorneys and elements within the public media have exhibited unwavering resolve in their efforts to further defame alleged offenders, foster discredit in church officials, and instill common anger and mistrust toward the Universal Church.”

Clearly, Bishop Quinn, the problem is not that many Catholic clerics assault many kids and many church employees ignore or hide the crimes.

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MINNESOTA
Houston Chronicle

ROCHESTER, Minn. (AP) — The Diocese of Winona anticipates it will file for bankruptcy as a result of lawsuits filed by victims of clergy sex abuse.

Minnesota Public Radio News reports (http://bit.ly/1vLmcw5 ) that in a March 25 letter to the Vatican, Winona Bishop John Quinn says the diocese has received several claims of negligence and anticipates more. He wrote the diocese “anticipates eventually bankruptcy as a result of these lawsuits.”

The lawsuits are being filed under legislation that gave victims a three-year window to sue over older sexual abuse allegations.

It’s unclear whether Quinn’s letter was sent to the Vatican.

Diocese spokesman Joel Hennessy says the diocese hasn’t decided whether to seek bankruptcy because it doesn’t know how many lawsuits it will face.

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.

MICHIGAN
Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests

For immediate release: Tuesday, October 7, 2014

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

A credibly accused Michigan priest will not be charged for his crimes due to archaic statute of limitation laws. We are disappointed by this and hope church officials will remove him to a remote and secure treatment facility.

Father James Menapace was reported to have sexually abused boys in the late 1990s in the Diocese of Marquette. He has been removed from ministry, but we hope more action is immediately taken to ensure he does not hurt another child.

Often times church officials do the bare minimum after allegations are found credible. But church officials train, ordain, hire, and transfer priests; they have an obligation to prevent them from hurting more children even after they are suspended.

Bishop John F. Doerfler should immediately move Fr. Menapace to a remote and secure treatment facility so that he cannot harm any more children. He should tell parishioners, police, prosecutors and the public where Fr. Menapace is now. He should disclose when the abuse report was made. (We fear it’s taken weeks or months for Doerfler to act.) And he should disclose whether other accusations against Fr. Menapace have been made in the past.

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ISRAEL
RIA Novosti

JERUSALEM, October 7 (RIA Novosti) – Jerusalem District Court upheld the decision for Gleb Grozovsky, a Russian priest suspected of sexually abusing children, to remain in custody pending a final decision on his extradition to Russia.

Later the same day, Grozovsky’s attorney Haim Azencott said he would lodge an appeal to the Supreme Court of Israel following today’s decision. The defense hopes that the Supreme Court will override the decision and order house arrest as a measure of restraint.

On September 22, Gleb Grozovsky was detained by Interpol in Israel, where he had spent one year trying to obtain local citizenship and refusing to return home without guarantees of personal liberty.

On September 23, the priest first appeared before the court, which has twice extended his arrest since that date.

Grozovsky, 34, is suspected of abusing two girls, aged 9 and 12, in June 2013 at a hotel on the territory of the Philadelphia Orthodox travel club on the Greek island of Kos, as well as of committing “a range of similar crimes in St. Petersburg and the Leningrad Region,” according to Russia’s Investigative Committee. Last year, he was put on an international wanted list on Russia’s request.

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MICHIGAN
Daily Journal

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
First Posted: October 07, 2014

GRAND BLANC, Michigan — The Genesee County prosecutor says there’s no basis for criminal charges against a priest who was accused of inappropriately touching two students at a Catholic school in Grand Blanc.

David Leyton says his investigators “not find probable cause necessary to charge a crime.”

The investigation followed a complaint that the Rev. Ken Coughlin of inappropriately touching two students on their hands and legs on April 30. The Catholic Diocese of Lansing has placed him on leave from his post at Holy Family Catholic School, Church of the Holy Family.

Coughlin has said in a letter posted online and in a parish bulletin that he’s innocent.

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MICHIGAN
MLive

By Gary Ridley | gridley@mlive.com
on October 07, 2014

GRAND BLANC, MI — A Grand Blanc priest will not face charges over accusations that he inappropriately touched two children.

Genesee County Prosecutor David Leyton announced Tuesday, Oct. 7, that the Rev. Ken Coughlin would not be charged on claims he touched the hand and legs of two students earlier this year at Holy Family Catholic School in Grand Blanc.

“My office has reviewed the police investigation reports related to allegations of inappropriate behavior by a priest who is presently on leave from Holy Family Catholic Church,” Leyton said in a statement announcing the decision not to file charges. “Based upon those reports, we do not find probable cause necessary to charge a crime related to the alleged actions of April 30, 2014.”

Attorney Frank J. Manley, who represents Coughlin, called the announcement “fabulous news for Father Coughlin and his family.”

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MINNESOTA
KARE

ROCHESTER, Minn. – The files of 14 priests from the Archdiocese of Winona accused of child sex abuse were made public during a news conference Tuesday in Rochester.

Joining Twin Cities attorney Jeff Anderson at the news conference was Paul Hotchkiss. Hotchkiss said he was abused by former priest Thomas Adamson, a native of Byron who was ordained as a priest in 1958 and got his first assignment in Winona with pastoral duties at St. Casimir’s Parish.

Adamson is at the center of lawsuits against church officials in both St. Paul/Minneapolis and Winona. In a deposition he admitted to molesting at least 10 teenage boys between the 1960’s and the mid-1980’s.

Anderson said the documents have been looked over extensively in order to protect the identities of the survivors.

In a statement released Tuesday afternoon, Winona Bishop John Quinn said the diocese voluntarily released summaries of each of the files in June that were publicly disclosed Tuesday morning. The diocese said nearly all of the child sexual abuse committed by clergy occurred in the 1960’s and 1970’s.

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MICHIGAN
Detroit Free Press

A Wayne County Circuit Court jury has found Catholic priest Timothy Kane guilty today on all counts in the embezzlement case against him.

Come back to Freep.com for updates in this developing story.

Taking the stand in his own defense, Kane testified today that he did not steal money from the Angel Fund charity, and that diabetic low blood sugar caused him to be confused and wrongly sign a confession he gave police.

Kane, 58, also denied having a “relationship,” described in the police statement as sexual, with a prison inmate whom prosecutors contend was Kane’s partner in establishing a scheme to make fraudulent requests for charity money from the Angel Fund. Kane also testified that he received no kickbacks from people who received Angel Fund grants.

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VATICAN CITY
Associated Press

BY NICOLE WINFIELD
ASSOCIATED PRESS

VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Francis, cardinals and bishops from around the world have gotten an unexpected lecture on the joys of sex, from a Catholic couple brought in to talk about what makes a marriage last.

Ron and Mavis Pirola, parents of four from Sydney, Australia, told a Vatican gathering of some 200 prelates that sexual attraction brought them together 57 years ago and that sex has helped keep them married for 55 years.

“The little things we did for each other, the telephone calls and love notes, the way we planned our day around each other and the things we shared were outward expressions of our longing to be intimate with each other,” the couple said in a joint statement to the closed meeting late Monday.

“Gradually we came to see that the only feature that distinguishes our sacramental relationship from that of any other good Christ-centered relationship is sexual intimacy, and that marriage is a sexual sacrament with its fullest expression in sexual intercourse.”

The audience of celibate men was a bit taken aback.

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VATICAN CITY
National Catholic Reporter

Thomas Reese | Oct. 7, 2014 NCR Today

The bishops at the synod on the family will not change any doctrines, according to reports from the Vatican Press Office on the second day of their discussions.

On the floor of the synod, “There was no language whatsoever of a need to change doctrine,” reported Basilian Fr. Thomas Rosica who attended the closed sessions. Rather the desire was “to repurpose what we know in a way that’s accessible” to all. “I didn’t hear anything about changing doctrine, but I heard a great desire to deepen our understanding of doctrine,” he told journalists.

Over and over again, journalists are being told there will be no change in doctrine.

Jesuit Father Bernard Lonergan, the great 20th-century expert in theological method, is turning over in his grave. Hearing such language, Lonergan would have said that the bishops are caught in classical mentality and have not moved into a historical consciousness.

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NORTHERN IRELAND
Belfast Telegraph

Rubane House ‘like Hell upon Earth’ for 69-year-old branded a liar for reporting his abuse as boy

BY HARRIET CRAWFORD – 07 OCTOBER 2014

A former resident of a Catholic children’s home stayed silent about the horrific abuse he suffered as a 10-year-old boy for more than half-a-century after he was branded a liar when he first tried to raise the alarm.

The witness, now 69, described his eight years at Rubane House as “like Hell upon Earth” in evidence to the Historical Institutional Abuse (HIA) inquiry into child sexual abuse at the home in County Down yesterday.

The four instances of his sexual abuse at Rubane began in 1955 when he was just 10. In the first occurrence he was asked how he was settling into the house before having to “fight off” a Brother who attempted to rape him. He said that he knew that what the Brother was doing was wrong – “even as a child it was something I wouldn’t want to do”.

The same Brother attempted to rape him again, as well as taking him out of his bed in the boys’ dormitory to sexually abuse him. The witness described the fear he felt going to sleep, in case a Brother would come to wake him up for abuse.

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WINONA (MN)
Diocese of Winona

However, the Diocese of Winona has received several claims of negligence upon other offenders since the statute’s inception, anticipates several more, and anticipates eventually bankuptcy as a result of these lawsuits.

Both attorneys and elements within the public media have exhibited unwavering resolve in their efforts to further defame alleged offenders, foster discredit in church officials, and instill common anger [and] mistrust toward the Universal Church. The charge of negligence is especially difficult to overcome in this climate if the accused priest retains his status as a cleric of the Diocese, since attorneys are accustomed to exploring this aspect in order to build their argument against the Diocese. And so my support of this voluntary petition [for Rev Leland J. Smith’s laicization] is based, in part, on a need for the aid of the Congregation in the face of the broad provision of the Minnesota State Legislature, so that the goods and reputation of the Church may be protected.

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NEW JERSEY
Greenwich Time

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — A northern New Jersey man is suing the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Newark, alleging that a now-deceased priest sexually molested him more than 30 years ago.

Stephen Marlowe, of Hoboken, discussed his claims during a news conference Tuesday on the steps of the Statehouse in Trenton. The suit was filed last month in state Superior Court.

Marlowe and members a sexual-assault victims advocacy group called for passage of a state Senate measure aimed at rolling back the state’s two-year statute of limitations in civil suits involving sex assault.

Marlowe says he supports the bill in part because he’s concerned his case could be dismissed due to the statute. He first came forward in 2010.

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MINNESOTA
KAAL

(ABC 6 News) – On Monday morning Austin Police went to Pacelli Catholic School for what they described as an “incident”.

By mid-afternoon, officers arrested 28-year-old Mary Gilles who was teaching at that time. School officials tell us she was terminated yesterday.

Chief Krueger says Gilles was taken to jail and is being held on a charge of third degree criminal sexual conduct. However, Krueger has declined to say whether the alleged victim is a student or a minor. The investigation is on-going.

ABC 6 News is attempting to contact Pacelli officials, as well as those from the Diocese of Winona, for comment.

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MINNESOTA
Star Tribune

Article by: PAUL WALSH , Star Tribune Updated: October 7, 2014

The 28-year-old woman, who began the school year at Pacelli High School, was arrested at her home.

A onetime Catholic schoolteacher in Austin, Minn., stands accused of sexual assault and could be charged as soon as Wednesday, police said.

The 28-year-old woman, who began the school year at Pacelli High School, was arrested at her home Monday in Austin and is suspected of third-degree criminal sexual conduct, said Police Chief Brian Krueger.

Krueger declined to say anything about the victim, including age and gender, until the Mower County attorney’s office files a criminal complaint. He also wouldn’t say whether the victim is a student.

A police officer assigned to Austin High School was asked first thing Monday to report to neighboring Pacelli High School regarding the teacher, Krueger said. That afternoon, she was arrested at her apartment about a half-mile from Pacelli, the chief added.

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NEW YORK
The Jewish Week

10/06/14
Hella Winston
Contributing Editor

A judge’s apparent misunderstanding of correction law caused a notorious chasidic child molester to get out of jail at least eight months earlier than the judge intended when he sentenced him — despite being informed of the mistake, The Jewish Week has learned.

In July, Brooklyn Supreme Court Judge Mark R. Dwyer imposed a two-year sentence on Lebovits, who at the time had pleaded guilty to eight felony counts of sexual abuse. Lebovits was released early from jail last week “for good behavior.” The Brooklyn district attorney had opposed the sentence, having sought two-to-six-years for Lebovits.

Lebovits’ years-long case, and the way it — and the related case of Sam Kellner — was handled by prosecutors, became political fodder in the race for Brooklyn district attorney between the longtime incumbent, Charles Hynes, and his successor, Kenneth Thompson.

In 2010, Lebovits was convicted at trial of the same crimes and sentenced to 10 2/3 to 32 years in prison. But his conviction was reversed on appeal due to an error by the Brooklyn District Attorney and a new trial was ordered; this ultimately resulted in the July sentence. At the time of his release on bail in 2011 pending a new trial, Lebovits had served just days over 12 months in an upstate prison.

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MINNESOTA
Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests

For immediate release: Tuesday, October 07, 2014

Statement by Barbara Dorris of St. Louis, Outreach Director of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests ( 314 862 7688 home, 314 503 0003 cell, SNAPdorris@gmail.com )

The Diocese of Winona may declare bankruptcy, according to documents released today.

It’s a selfish cop-out when Catholic institutions misuse the Chapter 11 process to protect their secrets and deny child sex abuse victims a chance to expose predators in court.

This isn’t about protecting church assets. It’s about protecting the power and reputations of powerful church officials who desperately want to keep their complicity in child sex cases under wraps.

We hope every single man, woman and child who is being or has been molested by Catholic clerics steps forward, calls police and protects others.

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MINNESOTA
Winona Daily News

Diocese Of Winona Priest Files

The attorneys who have brought a sprawling suit against the Diocese of Winona and Archdiocese of St. Paul-Minneapolis released on Tuesday what are presumed to be the full personnel files for 14 priests “credibly accused” of abuse in cases that span more than a half-century.

Attorney Jeff Anderson and others spoke at a news conference in Rochester announcing the release of the files, as they continue preparations for the trial in Ramsey County District Court, slated to begin the first week of November.

Tuesday marked the first public release of all of the personnel files, collectively numbering many thousands of pages. Various groups and individuals have unsuccessfully demanded their release dating back years. The diocese last December in response to a court order released the names of the 14 priests, as well as provided minimal details about their tenures at various churches and dates when they entered and left the ministry.

The full files have been publicly posted on Anderson’s firm’s website and provided to area media outlets. The files contain sensitive information, including explicit descriptions of allegations of abuse. The Daily News has chosen to publish the files online as a way to further the reporting on the lawsuit, as well as in the interest of ongoing transparency related to the suit.

“The details of the sexual abuse contained in the files are painful reminders of the significant impact that sexual abuse has on the survivors of child sexual abuse,” said Winona diocese spokesperson Joel Hennessy in a statement.

Hennessy also said: “The documents released today are redacted to protect the identity and information regarding the survivor of abuse. Redactions have not been made to conceal the abuser or the nature of the abuse. Other redactions are made to comply with legal restrictions and requirements, including removal of mental health or medical information from public dissemination.

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MINNESOTA
Minnesota Public Radio

[with copy of Bishop John Quinn’s letter]

Madeleine Baran St. Paul, Minn.
Oct 7, 2014

Updated 1:15 p.m.

Documents released Tuesday show the Catholic Diocese of Winona expects to file for bankruptcy because of clergy sex abuse lawsuits.

Winona bishop John Quinn described the plan in a March 25, 2014 letter to the Vatican. He cited the Minnesota Child Victims Act, which created a three-year window for victims of child sex abuse to file lawsuits for older claims. The window expires in mid-2016.

The Winona diocese “has received several claims of negligence upon other offenders since the statute’s inception, anticipates several more, and anticipates eventually bankruptcy as a result of these lawsuits,” Quinn wrote.

“Both attorneys and elements within the public media have exhibited unwavering resolve in their efforts to further defame alleged offenders, foster discredit in church officials, and instill common anger and mistrust toward the Universal Church,” he added.

It’s unclear whether the letter was sent.

Diocese spokesman Joel Hennessy said he was unaware of the bankruptcy reference. He said the diocese will issue a statement on the files later today.

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PUERTO RICO
Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests

For immediate release: Tuesday, October 07, 2014

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

Authorities say that they are investigating at least 17 Puerto Rico priests for alleged child sex crimes. We hope anyone who has suffered child sexual abuse by Catholic priests in Puerto Rico finds the courage to speak up.

The now defrocked priest, Edwin Mercado Viera, plead guilty to molesting a 13 year old altar boy. We are grateful to the brave victim who spoke up and to the brave victims of the other 17 priests being investigated in Puerto Rico.

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PUERTO RICO
Business Standard

AP

A defrocked priest in Puerto Rico accused of lewd acts involving a 13-year-old boy has accepted a plea deal as his trial was set to begin.

Edwin Mercado Viera pleaded guilty to aggravated assault and now faces between three to eight years in prison. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Nov. 21.

The 53-year-old was a popular figure in the Diocese of Arecibo before he was accused of fondling the genitals of a 13-year-old altar boy in 2007.

Prosecutors were preparing to select the jury when Mercado entered his plea yesterday. He was one of six defrocked priests from the Arecibo parish.

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MINNESOTA
Star Tribune

Article by: JEAN HOPFENSPERGER , Star Tribune Updated: October 7, 2014

Details of child sexual abuse by 14 priests serving the Winona Diocese are made public for the first time.

The personnel files of 14 priests in the Winona Diocese who have been credibly accused of child sex abuse were released Tuesday, documenting details behind their work at every Catholic high school in the diocese — from Rochester to Worthington — as well as 45 parishes across southern Minnesota.

For the first time, the priests’ mental health reports, sexual abuse complaints and hundreds more documents were made public as part of a groundbreaking lawsuit making its way through Ramsey District Court.

The lawsuit was filed last year by a man who said he was abused by former priest Thomas Adamson, who had been accused of molesting boys in the Winona diocese before being transferred to the Archdiocese of St. Paul Minneapolis.

The alleged victim sued both the Winona diocese and the archdiocese, which has released thousands of documents related to its list of more than 30 credibly accused priests.

The Winona Diocese documents show when bishops and leaders knew of the accusations and what they did about.

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VATICAN CITY
National Catholic Reporter

Joshua J. McElwee | Oct. 7, 2014

VATICAN CITY
The first days of discussions at the global meeting of Catholic bishops have focused partly on how to change “harsh language” used by the church in discussing family life and on acknowledging that people grow in faith slowly, according to Vatican observers of the meeting.

One theme said to be included in 70 speeches made by prelates over the past two days is how the prelates label people with words that “are not necessarily words that invite people to draw closer to the church.”

Briefing reporters Tuesday on the event, known as a Synod of Bishops, Basilian Fr. Thomas Rosica said one or more synod members specifically referred to three terms commonly used by the church:

* “Living in sin”: a reference to couples who live together before marriage;
* “Intrinsically disordered”: a reference to gay people; and
* “Contraceptive mentality”: a reference made by some prelates to refer to a society that does not respect life.

“To label people … does not help in bringing people to Christ,” said Rosica, summarizing the synod member. “There was a great desire that our language has to change in order to meet the very difficult situations.”

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WISCONSIN
Green Bay Press-Gazette

A Plymouth man charged with 15 counts of felony possession of child pornography, stored flash drives with child pornography in a cabin near Sturgeon Bay.

Calvin D. Gideon, W6408 Aurora Road, faces 225 years in prison if convicted of all the charges.

The Door County Sheriff’s Department assisted officers with their search of the cabin, Sheriff Terry Vogel said.

Vogel called it “routine” to help another agency when going into another’s jurisdiction.

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MICHIGAN
WHBL

by Mike Kinzel

SHEBOYGAN, WI (WHBL) – A former youth pastor in Plymouth faces a number of child pornography possession charges.

According to the criminal complaint, a search warrant was executed this week at the residence of 53 year old Calvin Gideon based on results from an undercover investigation started in July. At first Gideon denied having anything to do with child porn, but later said he had been downloading such images for ten years.

He led authorities to a cabin he owns in Sturgeon Bay where laptops, flash drives and storage devises had at least 15 videos and images of children ages 4 to 11 performing sexual acts. Gideon, who was recently fired from St. John the Baptist Church in Plymouth for drinking, claims he could have up to 1,000 child porn items.

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WISCONSIN
Sheboygan Press

A Plymouth man has been charged with 15 counts of felony possession of child pornography, each of which carries a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison.

Calvin D. Gideon, W6408 Aurora Road, faces 225 years in prison if convicted of all the charges.

According to the criminal complaint:

A Special Deputy U.S. Marshal began an investigation into child pornography in July, and discovered child pornography files that were downloaded to an Internet address in Plymouth.

A search warrant was carried out at Gideon’s Plymouth home on Sept. 30 by the detective, the Sheboygan County Sheriff’s Office and the Milwaukee FBI Child Exploitation Task Force.

When talking to authorities, Gideon denied having child pornography, calling it “disgusting,” and said he was a youth pastor at St. John the Baptist Church in Plymouth who had recently lost his job because of drinking.

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WISCONSIN
Fox 6

SHEYBOYGAN (WITI) — A 53-year-old Plymouth man and former youth church director, Calvin Gideon, was charged on Friday, October 3rd with possessing child pornography. Gideon faces 15 counts of possession of child pornography.

According to the criminal complaint, the Sheboygan County Sheriff’s Office conducted an undercover online search on July 15, 2014 — in attempt to find people possessing, requesting, and/or distributing child pornography. In that search, police were able to not only identify suspected child pornography files, but also connect several downloads to internet IP addresses. The target IP address was Gideon’s residence.

The criminal complaint states detectives secured a search warrant for Gideon’s home — which was executed on September 30th with help from the Sheboygan County Sheriff’s Office, and Milwaukee FBI Child Exploitation Task Force.

Gideon initially denied any knowledge of child pornography, stating it was “disgusting”. In the complaint, Gideon further identified himself as a youth pastor at St. John the Baptist Church in Plymouth, stating he had been recently fired from that position due to his drinking.

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WISCONSIN
WISN

[with video]

PLYMOUTH, Wis. —A former religious education director from Sheboygan County has been charged with 15 counts of possessing child pornography.

Calvin Gideon, 53, of Plymouth, was charged Friday with multiple counts of having photos or videos of children performing sex acts.

Forensic investigators determined that downloads of suspected pornographic files were taking place at Gideon’s home in Plymouth.

“I don’t understand how adults can do this to kids. I just don’t understand this,” Sheboygan County District Attorney Joe DeCecco said.

According to the complaint, Gideon denied any knowledge of the files, stating that he was a youth pastor at St. John the Baptist Church and found pornography disgusting. He told police he had recently been fired from his job because of his drinking.

Officials with the Archdiocese of Milwaukee said Gideon served as the Director of Religious Education for the parish.

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MINNESOTA
KAAL

By: Jennie Olson

The names of 14 more priests who have been credibly accused of child sexual abuse are expected to be made public Tuesday.

The files were obtained as part of the Doe 1 investigation against the Diocese of Winona and the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis.

Attorney Jeff Anderson will release the names during a news conference, which is scheduled for 11 a.m. Tuesday in Winona. He says the lawsuit was made possible by the Child Victims Act, which allows sexual abuse victims to file claims against their alleged abusers and the institutions that protected them.

The files, timelines and key documents will be available online at www.andersonadvocates.com.

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MICHIGAN
WNMU

By NICOLE WALTON

MANISTIQUE, MI– A retired priest from the Marquette Diocese will not be charged with sexually abusing male minors, even though officials deemed the accusations credible.

The incidents allegedly happened in the late ‘90s when Father James Menapace was retired from active ministry.

Schoolcraft County prosecutor Tim Noble says the statute of limitations says charges must be filed within ten years of the offense or before the victim’s 21st birthday, whichever is greater. The prosecutor’s office received information about the allegations in February of this year.

Menapace has been removed from all public priestly ministry.

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MINNESOTA
Jeff Anderson & Associates

[live stream]

Media Advisory

October 7, 2014

Perpetrators worked at 45 parishes in 44 cities in Southern Minnesota

WHAT: At a news conference today in Rochester, sexual abuse survivors, Attorney Jeff Anderson and former priest and advocate Patrick J. Wall, will release the files of 14 priests with credible allegations of child sexual abuse in the Diocese of Winona.

The files were obtained as part of the Doe 1 v. Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis and the Diocese of Winona civil lawsuit filed in Ramsey County last year. The lawsuit was made possible due to the Child Victims Act passed by the Minnesota legislature which allows sexual abuse survivors abused in the past to file claims against their abusers and the institutions that protected the abusers. The Child Victims Act also eliminated the civil statute of limitations moving forward.

WHEN: Tuesday, October 7, 2014, at 11:00AM CDT

WHERE: Doubletree Hotel – Downtown Rochester
150 S. Broadway – University Hall
Rochester, MN 55904

Notes:
· The press conference will be live streamed from our website. A link can be found on the homepage. The entire video will be available tomorrow on our YouTube channel AndersonAdvocates.

· All 14 priest files, timelines, and key documents will be available today on our website at www.andersonadvocates.com.

Contact Jeff Anderson: Office/651.227.9990 Cell/612.817.8665
Contact Patrick Wall: Office/651.227.9990 Cell/949.307.3935

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NEW JERSEY
Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests

For immediate release: Tuesday, October 07, 2014

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

A New Jersey Catholic priest has stepped down while officials investigate allegations of sexual abuse. He should have been suspended. And Newark church officials should disclose exactly when the abuse report was made and where the priest is now.

Monsignor George Trabold had been working at St. Rose of Lima church in Short Hills prior to him stepping down. The allegations stem from his time at St. John the Evangelist church.

We urge Newark Archbishop John Myers to immediately reach out to parishioners using his parish bulletins, church websites, and pulpit announcements, asking anyone who saw, suspects, or suffered harm by Trabold to come forward, report to police, and start healing.

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KANSAS CITY (MO)
Kansas City Business Journal

Staff
Kansas City Business Journal

The diocese received complaints for years about Monsignor Thomas O’Brien’s alcohol use and heard concerns about possible sexual misconduct but did nothing, a church official testified Monday, according to The Kansas City Star.

The Rev. Pat Rush also said the Kansas City-St. Joseph Diocese didn’t alert parishioners and instead recommended O’Brien be made chaplain for the Kansas City Police Department in 1978, the report said.

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NEW YORK
The Daily Beast

Emily Shire

Brooklyn DA Kenneth Thompson ran on the promise that he’d clean up the office’s problems with prosecuting ultra-Orthodox sex offenders who preyed on children—but so far he appears just as lax as his predecessor.

After initially facing up to 32 years in prison for eight counts of child sexual abuse, Baruch Lebovits walked out of Riker’s Island last week a free man. He had served just under 16 months of total prison time.

That Lebovits, a cantor from the ultra-Orthodox Borough Park section of Brooklyn, was even convicted is seen as a victory considering the difficulty of prosecuting abuse in that community. However, his release is disappointing, if not surprising, for those who hoped Brooklyn district attorney Kenneth Thompson would be the man to end decades of ultra-Orthodox sex abuse cover-ups.

Thompson beat out Charles Hynes for Brooklyn DA, ending a reign that last more than 23 years. Towards the end of his time as DA, Hynes was scrutinized for his perceived unwillingness to prosecute crimes against the ultra-Orthodox, especially in regards to sexual abuse. At best, his administration appeared exceptionally lax, and at worst, it willfully obstructed justice. He was famously reluctant to release the names of convicted sex abusers in the Orthodox community.

His office let Rabbi Yehuda Kolko get away without jail time or registering as a sex offender. Instead, Kolko received a plea deal that allowed him to plea guilty to child endangerment. The DA claimed the alleged victims—first graders in Kolko’s class—were unwilling to testify, but chief of the Kings County sex crimes division, Rhonnie Jaus, publicly said that their parents had been willing to put the kids on the stand. It was one of many cases that raised questions about Hynes’ willingness to prosecute ultra-Orthodox sex abuse.

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UNITED STATES
Religion Dispatches

Mary E. Hunt

The Synod on the Family (EXTRAORDINARY ASSEMBLY OF THE SYNOD OF BISHOPS 5-19 OCTOBER 2014) is in full swing in Rome. The official photos of the opening tell the story better than any comment an informed theologian might offer. The plethora of men in vestments, the dearth of women in any form (except the painting of the Blessed Virgin Mary), and the conspicuous absence of children (save little Jesus in his mother’s arms) speak volumes about the meeting. How could such an assembly presume to discuss family life with any authenticity or integrity?

Luckily, representatives of progressive Catholic groups from around the world are also in Rome. They are sharing experiences of families of many sorts, telling stories of their efforts to love faithfully, and insisting on substantive changes in Catholic teachings on sexuality, marriage, and family.

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VATICAN CITY
Crux

By John L. Allen Jr.
Associate editor October 7, 2014

ROME – Although the Oct. 5-19 Synod of Bishops on the family may be primarily a gathering of prelates, during the opening two days of the meeting it’s largely been the laity who have stolen the show.

Since this is a summit on family issues, the synod invited 12 married couples from around the world to be among a group of what’s known as “auditors,” meaning people who take part in discussions but don’t get a vote.

So far, however, the lack of voting rights hasn’t prevented these couples from making an impression. …

Today, it was the turn of a couple from the Philippines who’ve been married for 27 years and also have four children. Both are involved in “Couples for Christ,” a lay association recognized by the Vatican.

Cynthia and George Campos told the bishops that at one stage they tried to launch an outreach program for couples in “irregular situations,” such as people who weren’t married in the Church, who are living together without marriage, or whose marriages broke down and they remarried without an annulment.

The organization didn’t get off the ground, the Camposes said, in part because they were told by Church officials that their group is meant only for couples married in the Church.

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PENNSYLVANIA
We Are Central PA

Two arrest warrants have been signed and sent to Interpol from the Honduran government.

Reverend Joseph Maurizio is facing charges of child sex abuse and exploitation charges. About a week ago the 69-year-old was in federal court and detained in jail. Investigators say they found images of child pornography on his computer at his church in Central City.

A federal magistrate judge issued a motion saying the U.S. Attorney’s office still needs to provide additional evidence against Maurizio.

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UNITED KINGDOM/IRELAND
Manchester Evening News

A retired priest may have to be extradited to face a string of sex charges involving schoolgirls.

The Crown Prosecution Service has authorised Greater Manchester Police to charge Canon Mortimer Stanley, 82, after numerous complaints by former pupils at a Rochdale school.

The clergyman, who is now living in Ireland after retiring from St Vincent de Paul RC Church in Norden, was first quizzed by police last year.

He is now due to face 17 charges of indecent assault on girls under 14.

The allegations involved ten victims and are said to have taken place between 1977 and 2002. All the victims were pupils at St Vincent’s Primary School, which has been historically linked to the parish.

Canon Stanley, who lives in Ballybunion, Kerry, has twice travelled to Greater Manchester to answer police questions.

But the MEN understands that police are now considering extradition proceedings in order to press charges.

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UNITED KINGDOM/IRELAND
Mirror

Oct 07, 2014 By Neal Keeling

A retired priest may have to be extradited to face a string of sex charges involving schoolgirls.

Canon Mortimer Stanley, 82, is facing 17 charges of indecent assault on girls under 14 after numerous complaints by former pupils at a Rochdale school.

The clergyman, who is now living in Ireland after retiring from St Vincent de Paul RC Church in Norden, was first quizzed by police last year.

The allegations involved ten victims and are said to have taken place between 1977 and 2002. All the victims were pupils at St Vincent’s Primary School, which has been historically linked to the parish.

Canon Stanley, who lives in Ballybunion, Kerry, has twice travelled to Greater Manchester to answer police questions.

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NEW JERSEY
Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests

New clergy sex case filed
Victim will speak publicly for the first time
Lawsuit names former bishops in Newark

What:
A press conference to announce a newly filed lawsuit against the Catholic Church by a survivor of childhood sexual abuse who was abused more than 30 years ago by a priest at St. Mary’s RC Church in Rutherford, NJ.

When:
Tuesday, October 7, 2014, at 1:30 p.m.

Where:
The Statehouse in Trenton, NJ (125 W State St, Trenton, NJ 08608 In front of main entrance)

Who:
Four-five victims of clergy sex crimes who belong to an international support group called SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, including the organization’s long time NJ leader

Why:
A lawsuit has been filed last month against the Archdiocese of Newark (and several former bishops) by a former Rutherford man who was abused as a child by a Catholic priest assigned to St. Mary’s Parish.

The abusive priest, Rev. David A. Ernst, died in 1988, after serving 34 years in 5 different parishes within the Archdiocese. Several other survivors have come forward in the past accusing Ernst of abuse. The Archdiocese of Newark included Ernst in a 2004 $1 million settlement where nine priests were accused of sexually abusing children

Ernst was ordained as a priest in 1954 and worked at the following parishes: St. Mary’s, Help of Christians/Our Lady of Help of Christians, in East Orange; St. Francis’ in Ridgefield Park; St. Mary’s in Rutherford; St. Joseph’s in Union City; and St. Elizabeth’s in Wyckoff. His work history and photo can be found at

[BishopAccountability.org]

The most-recent accuser will speak publicly before the press about his ordeal for the first time since coming forward in 2010. The 48-year-old man, who now lives in Hoboken, NJ, met with the Archdiocese Review Board who deemed his accusations “credible.” After failing to reach a mediated settlement, the accuser decided to file a lawsuit in Bergen County against the Archdiocese of Newark, the parish of St. Mary’s in Rutherford, and two former archbishops, Peter L. Gerety and Theodore E. McCarrick.

Gerety, 102, is the oldest living bishop in the United States. He served as Bishop of Portland, Ore, from 1969 to 1974, when he became Archbishop of Newark. He served there until 1986. McCarrick, 84, served as Archbishop of Newark from 1986, when he became Archbishop of Washington where he served until his retirement in 2006.

The press conference is being held in Trenton to highlight the fight to change New Jersey’s statute of limitations for childhood sexual abuse crimes. Victims of sexual abuse in New Jersey currently have two years to sue after discovering other problems, such as depression, are connected to the abuse.

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CIUDAD DEL VATICANO
El Nuevo Dia

[APNewsBreak: Pope’s sex abuse panel makes progress]

POR NICOLE WINFIELD ASSOCIATED PRESS

CIUDAD DEL VATICANO
La comisión establecida por el papa Francisco para atender asuntos relacionados con abuso sexual por parte de miembros de la Iglesia ha logrado nuevos avances después de languidecer gran parte del año pasado.

Ésta aprobó sus estatutos legales, propuso nuevos miembros y dividió el trabajo para enfocarse en su acercamiento a sobrevivientes, obligar a obispos a rendir cuentas y mantener fuera del sacerdocio a pederastas, se enteró The Associated Press.

La comisión se reunió el fin de semana pasado por tercera vez desde que fue anunciada en diciembre.

Mientras que otras comisiones de expertos nombradas por el pontífice que examinan las finanzas y la administración del Vaticano trabajaron a un paso frenético durante 2014 y terminaron sus proyectos en meses recientes, la comisión para asuntos de abuso sexual nunca pareció despegar. Careció de organización, de una clara declaración de intenciones, de una oficina, financiamiento y personal completo.

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UNITED STATES
City of Angels

Kay Ebeling

Parallel Hells Continued

“Earlier in day the nun was beating me, now she has me suckle on her breast. I heard them killing a kid once. Just some of the things I’m dealing with in therapy.”

Seeing stories in the news today about Irish orphanages where sex was only part of the abuse children experienced, I knew it was time to publish Ted 4 (Ted 1 is here and Ted 2 is here ), since the theme of the Parallel Hells series is the similarities in pedophile priest crimes and coverups around the world. I have not been able to complete Ted 3, which will be of the R Rated site and include details of sodomy rape by a priest in a confessional. To be honest, I can’t even open that Word file and work on it lately, so the project has been stalled, until I saw recent news reports from Ireland.

The interview is a firsthand account of the nightmare of life for young boys in Madonna Manor children’s home run by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New Orleans in the 1960s and 70s. Based on interviews with Ted Lausche Summer 2012 in Chicago, here is Ted 4, in Ted’s own words:

I heard them killing a kid once.

We’d seen other kids get killed too. You just didn’t talk about it. One kid got thrown under a giant tractor they used to cut the lawn.

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NEW JERSEY
Houston Chronicle

MILLBURN, N.J. (AP) — The pastor of a Roman Catholic church in Millburn has voluntarily stepped down while officials investigate sexual abuse allegations stemming from when he served at another church.

The Rev. Monsignor George Trabold has served at St. Rose of Lima Church in the Short Hills section since 1998.

The allegations stem from when the 67-year-old worked at St. John the Evangelist Church in Bergenfield from 1973 to 1977 and 1994 to 1998.

Newark Diocese spokesman Jim Goodness tells NJ Advance Media (http://bit.ly/1vMiuSG ) the allegation relates to something decades ago.

The archdiocese as notified the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office.

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AUSTRALIA
The Australian Jewish News

UPDATED: Rebbetzin Pnina Feldman apologised to child-sexual-abuse victim Manny Waks after pressure from rabbis in Melbourne.

Several rabbis in Melbourne were going to publicly call on Rebbetzin Feldman to apologise for her email that was described by Waks as “vile” and “bewildering”.

“I haven’t met a person yet with one nice word to say about you. Most people consider you a lowlife,” Rebbetzin Pnina Feldman said in an email to Waks on erev Yom Kippur.

She told Waks to “get over it”, said that he needs “counselling” and that his “blame-game”, as she calls it, is “unjust, unwarranted, undeserved and wicked”.

“There is something very ugly and personal about your anti Yeshiva campaign. Just because a security guard molested you don’t blame Yeshiva,” Rebbetzin Feldman said referring to David Cyprys, who was found guilty of abusing Waks at Yeshivah in Melbourne.

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NORTHERN IRELAND
BBC News

A former resident of Kincora Boys Home has described how he was taken out of the care home and introduced to other men for sex at hotels.

The children’s home, in east Belfast, was the subject of a high-profile child sex abuse scandal in the 1980s.

Richard Kerr was among the young residents who were abused. He was sent to live there in 1975, when he was 14.

In a new BBC Spotlight programme, he has given an account that questions the outcome of past Kincora investigations.

Three senior staff were jailed in 1981 for abusing 11 boys in their care at the home.

Those convicted were the warden Joe Mains, his assistant Raymond Semple and Kincora’s housefather, William McGrath.

However, previous police investigations and a public inquiry into the scandal found there was no evidence of a paedophile ring connected to Kincora.

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KANSAS CITY (MO)
The Kansas City Star

BY JUDY L. THOMAS
THE KANSAS CITY STAR

10/06/2014

CommentsThe former vicar general of the Kansas City-St. Joseph Diocese told jurors Monday that despite complaints of alcohol abuse and concerns about sexual misconduct, Monsignor Thomas O’Brien did not receive treatment for years.

The Rev. Pat Rush told a Jackson County jury that the diocese also did not alert parishioners or report the concerns to authorities. Rather, it recommended in 1978 that O’Brien be appointed as Catholic chaplain for the Kansas City Police Department.

The revelations came on the sixth day of a sexual abuse trial in a lawsuit filed by a former altar boy. Jon David Couzens filed the lawsuit in 2011 alleging O’Brien sexually abused him at Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish in Independence in the early 1980s. Couzens claims the diocese was told repeatedly that O’Brien was a danger to children but failed to prevent abuse.

The diocese contends no credible evidence exists to prove those allegations. It argues Couzens’ claims that he repressed the memories of the abuse for years are invalid. O’Brien, who has been the subject of dozens of sexual abuse lawsuits, died last year at age 87.

The Rev. Pat Rush, a former vicar general of the Kansas City-St. Joseph Diocese, testified Monday in a lawsuit filed by former altar boy Jon David Couzens, who alleges that Monsignor Thomas O’Brien sexually abused him at Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish in Independence in the early 1980s. The Rev. Pat Rush, a former vicar general of the Kansas City-St. Joseph Diocese, testified Monday in a lawsuit filed by former altar boy Jon David Couzens, who alleges that Monsignor Thomas O’Brien sexually abused him at Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish in Independence in the early 1980s. | File photo/The Kansas City Star

Couzens’ attorney, Pedro Irigonegaray, questioned Rush for more than two hours Monday. Most of the questions focused on a six-inch stack of documents that Rush described as O’Brien’s priest personnel file.

It included a 1979 letter from O’Brien in which the priest said that former Bishop Charles Helmsing had talked to him about “activity … a couple of years ago.”

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AUSTRALIA
Central Queensland News

Emma McBryde | 7th Oct 2014

A SENIOR Pentecostal pastor has been accused of discouraging an alleged sexual abuse victim from going to authorities.

The alleged victim was the first person to testify at the royal commission into child sex abuse today as its focus turned to the Pentecostal movement Australian Christian Churches, formerly known as Assemblies of God, and affiliated churches.

The commission is first inquiring into the AOG, Sydney Christian Life Centre and Hills Christian Life Centre’s responses to allegations against Pastor William Francis “Frank” Houston in 1999.

The two churches merged to become Hillsong Church.

Mr Houston Snr, who has died, was a family friend when he allegedly began abusing the man at age seven in the boy’s house and in Mr Houston’s church office.

The man, whose name has been suppressed, said his mother told him years later, when he revealed the abuse, he would not want to be responsible for stopping people going to church and causing them to go to hell.

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NEW JERSEY
NJ Today

Monsignor George Trabold has stepped down from St. Rose of Lima in Millburn, where he has been pastor for the past 16 years, while the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Newark investigates an allegation of child sexual abuse in a Bergenfield parish 40 years ago.

A spokesperson for the archdiocese, Jim Goodness, said the report was forwarded to the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office and is being examined by an archdiocesan review board but he declined to provide details about the complaint, except that it was received “recently” and involved alleged abuse that happened “many years ago.”

Goodness said a review board will make a recommendation to Archbishop John J. Myers about whether Trabold should be permanently removed from ministry after it determines the credibility of the allegation.

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AUSTRALIA
The Australian

Dan Box
Crime Reporter
Sydney

A FOUNDER of the Hillsong Church told a victim of child sexual abuse: “It’s your fault all this happened, you tempted my father,” a royal commission has heard.

Brian Houston, whose family “were considered to be almost like royalty” in the Pentecostal Christian movement was speaking to the victim after his father agreed to pay him $10,000 over his abuse, the commission heard.

The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse has heard evidence that Brian Houston’s father, William Francis ‘Frank’ Houston abused several children in Australia and New Zealand.

One victim, who was abused by the late Frank Houston for several years during the 1960s and 1970s, said the pastor “would be touching me inappropriately, I would be petrified and would just lay very still”.

The abuse took place in his family home, the victim said, and when he finally told his mother, he said: “It was difficult for her to accept … all of her friends were involved in the church and the Houstons were considered to be almost like royalty in those circles.”

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AUSTRALIA
7 News

ABC

BY NICOLE CHETTLE
October 7, 2014

The head of the Hillsong church accused an alleged child abuse victim of “tempting” his father into molesting him, a royal commission has heard.

A man, referred to as AHA, told the hearing when he was offered a payout, Brian Houston said: “You know this is your fault this all happened. You tempted my father.”

In a statement Brian Houston said: “I strongly refute that I, at any time, accused him of tempting my father. I would never say this and I do not believe this.”

“At no stage did I attempt to hide or cover up the allegations against my father,” he said.

The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse is examining how Pentecostal churches like Hillsong in New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland responded to abuse allegations against Pastor Frank Houston and two other men.

AHA told the hearing William Francis, otherwise known as Frank Houston, visited his family in the Sydney suburb of Coogee in 1969 and 1970 and would sometimes stay over.

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AUSTRALIA
Sky News

Serious child sexual abuse allegations were made against the man behind the evangelical movement that created Hillsong but never reported to police, a national inquiry has heard.

The child sexual abuse royal commission on Tuesday was told a special executive meeting of Pentecostal churches was held at the Qantas Club at Sydney Airport in 1999.

The meeting heard Frank Houston had confessed to abusing a seven-year-old boy in Sydney decades earlier.

The information was conveyed by Frank Houston’s son, Brian Houston, a senior pastor at Hillsong Church and who was at the time president of the Assemblies of God (AoG) – the affiliation of Pentecostal churches which investigated complaints against ministers.

Counsel assisting the royal commission Simeon Beckett said the commission would hear ‘no allegations of child sexual abuse’ against Frank Houston were referred to police and ‘no civil proceedings have been commenced in Australia’.

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AUSTRALIA
Daily Telegraph

Hillsong church leader slams paedophile father William Francis ‘Frank’ Houston as ‘repulsive’ at child sex abuse royal commission

JANET FIFE-YEOMANS THE DAILY TELEGRAPH OCTOBER 07, 2014

THE spiritual leader of Hillsong Church, Brian Houston, accused his father’s victim of sexual assault of “tempting” him as a seven-year-old boy.

“You know it’s your fault all of this happened. You tempted my father,” the victim, now 52, has claimed Brian Houston said to him.

The man said he replied: “Why, did he molest you also?” and Brian Houston became very angry and slammed down the phone.

The man, whose identity has been suppressed, said this conversation happened in early 2000 after his mother had told the church about how Frank Houston, a pioneer of the evangelical movement, had sexually abused her son for some years from the age of 7 or 8 until he reached puberty.

He said he had agreed to meet “Pastor Frank” at the McDonalds restaurant at Thornleigh because he was sick of him calling him for forgiveness because he was afraid what would happen when he died.

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AUSTRALIA
Daily Mail (UK)

Hillsong founder ‘accused sex abuse victim of tempting his paedophile father’ as hearing is told of $10,000 hush money offer scribbled on a McDonald’s napkin

By AMY ZINIAK and AAP and NELSON GROOM FOR DAILY MAIL AUSTRALIA

Hillsong Church senior pastor Brian Houston accused a child sex abuse victim of tempting his father Frank, a royal comission into institutional paedophilia heard.

The hearing was also told evidence would be given about a meeting at McDonald’s in Sydney’s north between Frank Houston and the victim, known as AHA, where the church leader asked for forgiveness and allegedly offered $10,000 and passed him a napkin to sign.

AHA told the commission Frank Houston would stay with his family when he came to Sydney from New Zealand in the 1970s.

AHA was seven when Frank Houston would come to his room, lie on him, fondle him and masturbate him, he told the commission.

‘I would wake up petrified and I would stay very still,’ he said.

He said the abuse left him feeling ashamed, and he now suffered depression.

AHA said his family was very involved in the church, and when he eventually told his mother in 1978 she told him he did not ‘want to be responsible for turning people from the church and sending them to hell’.

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AUSTRALIA
SBS

By Manny Tsigas
7 OCT 2014

Known for its rock’n’roll style of worship, Hillsong has transformed the image of Christianity. Its music has had number one hits in Australia and made the charts in the United States.

Allegations against one of the men who helped create the church that is now known as Hillsong were raised in the royal commission today.

It heard from a man who claims to have been abused by Pastor Frank Houston, a charismatic preacher who died in 2004.

His son, Brian Houston, a founder of Hillsong, who is also due to appear, was accused today of telling his father’s alleged victim that the abuse he suffered was his own fault.

The victim, who can only be identified as AHA, told the hearing Brian Houston said to him during a phone conversation about the alleged abuse by Frank Houston: “Yes, okay, I’ll get the money to you. There’s no problem. You know, it’s your fault all this happened. You tempted my father.”

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AUSTRALIA
The Guardian

Helen Davidson
theguardian.com, Monday 6 October 2014

The head of Hillsong Church, Brian Houston, told a man who was abused by Houston’s father that it was his fault for tempting the preacher, the victim has told the royal commission into institutional responses to child sexual abuse.

It was also alleged that Frank Houston, a preacher who helped build Australia’s Pentecostal movement, which led to the establishment of Hillsong, met the victim in a McDonald’s and offered him $10,000, saying he did not want his actions hanging over his head when he stood before God.

The royal commission is examining the responses by the Sydney Christian Life Centre and Hills Christian Life Centre (now Hillsong Church) and Assemblies of God in Australia (now Australian Christian Churches) to allegations against the Pentecostal Christian pastor, and began by hearing from a victim of abuse.

Frank Houston, who died in 2004, confessed in 2000 to sexually abusing a boy in New Zealand more than 30 years earlier. He was immediately sacked by his son, Brian Houston, the high-profile founder of the Hillsong Church, who was then national president of the Assemblies of God.

It was also revealed on Tuesday that Frank Houston had allegedly abused up to nine boys in Australia and New Zealand and that no allegations were referred to police nor civil proceedings commenced in Australia.

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AUSTRALIA
9 News

Damian Ryan

With fire and brimstone he preached the word of God and condemned the evils of sin.

But throughout all of that, preacher Frank Houston reportedly lived a shocking lie, the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse heard today.

“I remember he would be touching me in inappropriately… I would be petrified I would lay very still,” one of his victims, who can only be identified as AHA, told the commission.

AHA was aged seven when Frank Houston would come to his room, lie upon him, fondle him and masturbate him, he told the commission.

But the pastor was considered royalty within Australia’s Pentecostal ministry in the 1970s and would go on to see his son, Brian, found the multi-million dollar Hillsong success story.

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AUSTRALIA/NEW ZEALAND
3 News

By Annette Blackwell

Brian Houston, the senior pastor at Australia’s popular Hillsong Church, accused a child sex abuse victim of tempting his father Frank Houston, an inquiry has heard.

The royal commission into the response of Pentecostal churches to claims of child sexual abuse is hearing evidence of allegations made against the late Pastor Frank Houston, the man attributed with driving the evangelical movement in Australia from the 1970s when he and his son moved from New Zealand.

Today, a man known for legal reasons as AHA told the commission Frank Houston would stay with his family when he came to Sydney from New Zealand in the 1970s.

AHA was seven when Frank Houston would come to his room and sexually abuse him, he told the commission.

“I would wake up petrified and I would stay very still,” he said.

He said the abuse left him feeling ashamed, and he now suffered depression.

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NEW JERSEY
NBC New York

The pastor of a Roman Catholic church in New Jersey has voluntarily stepped down while officials investigate sexual abuse allegations stemming from when he served at another church.

The Rev. Monsignor George Trabold has served at St. Rose of Lima Church in the Short Hills section of Millburn since 1998.

The allegations stem from when the 67-year-old worked at St. John the Evangelist Church in Bergenfield from 1973 to 1977 and 1994 to 1998.

Newark Diocese spokesman Jim Goodness tells NJ Advance Media the allegation relates to something decades ago.

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NORTHERN IRELAND
The Irish News

A MAN has given harrowing evidence to the north’s child abuse inquiry of being held in a cattle crush while being raped.

The witness said a religious brother at Rubane House in Co Down put him in the farm equipment, used to hold animals while veterinary work is carried out, before abusing him.

He said he reported the attack to a priest, but claimed the cleric told his abuser.

He was then beaten with a walking stick and locked in a cupboard over-night, the man told the Historical Institutional Abuse (HIA) inquiry.

The victim was a resident at the boys’ home, run by the De La Salle order, which is the subject of a government-ordered investigation into allegations of historical physical and sexual attacks on boys.
Claims of bestiality and children going missing were also made by witnesses.

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UNITED STATES
Christian Catholicism

Jerry Slevin

Likely facing pressure from worldwide media observers assembled now at the Vatican to report on Family Synod issues, Cardinal Sean O’Malley’s seemingly “do nothing advisory commission on minors” made its latest pitch at trying to appear serious. Now as “chief papal protector of children”, Boston’s O’Malley is supposedly addressing the most important current Catholic family issue — clerical child sexual abuse, that the Family Synod is obscenely ducking, it appears.

Predictably, this “abuse commission”, after ten months (and 19 months of Francis’ papacy”), has not yet even finalized its membership or operating rules or even set up a permanent office. Indeed, its lone abuse survivor member, Marie Collins today (10/6) indicated to AP that she had been frustrated earlier in the year with the slow pace of work on the commission.

AP’s forthright Rome reporter, Nicole Winfield, honestly observed today that, while “Francis’ other expert commissions looking into Vatican finance and administration worked at a frenzied pace through 2014 and finished their projects in recent months, the sex abuse commission never seemed to get off the ground. It lacked organization, a clear mission statement, office space, funding and a full membership roster. …” Would that some other Vatican reporters had some of Winfield’s candor!

Winfield also noted that ” …O”Malley has pledged that the commission will develop “clear and effective protocols” to hold accountable bishops who covered up for abusive priests …” O’Malley seems to have made similar pledges before with little to show for it, it appears.

For the full AP report, please see:

[Tampa Tribune]

As to Pope Francis’ new “papal protector of children”, Cardinal Sean O’Malley, the recent National Catholic Reporter (NCR) comments of Jim Jenkins are revealing. Reportedly, Jenkins, a prominent California psychologist with some abuse survivor patients, has battled with Cardinal Levada, beginning a decade ago when Jenkins was on Levada’s San Francisco’s Archdiocesan child protection board.

Jenkins observes at NCR about O’Malley, in pertinent part:

“Hierarchs in the Vatican are only motivated by power and it’s twisted sister, money. This is a typical maneuver by Cardinal Sean O’Malley. He says the pious thing in public but in private, behind the scenes, he makes sure that the fix is in. This is the way that O’Malley has conducted himself ever since he became a bishop – it’s the way he has climbed the clerical ladder. O’Malley is the chief Vatican cleaner-upper who sweeps up after the elephant parade of abusers. … “

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MINNESOTA
Winona Daily News

Extensive personnel files of 14 priests “credibly accused” of abuse will become public today

By Jerome Christenson

What the bishops knew of the activities of abusive priests, and when they knew it, will become public knowledge today [Oct. 7].

The personnel files of 14 priests “credibly accused” of sexual abuse who at one time were assigned to parishes in the Winona diocese are scheduled to be released following a news conference in Rochester Tuesday morning. Nine of the 14 priests on the list are deceased, two have been laicized, and two are pending laicization. None are in active ministry.

The files were obtained and are being released by Anderson & Associates, attorneys for the plaintiff in a suit brought against the Diocese of Winona and the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis in Minnesota’s Ramsey County in June 2013.

The suit was the first to be brought under the Minnesota Child Victims Act, which lifted the statute of limitation on claims of sexual abuse for three years for past abuse cases and eliminated the civil statute of limitation on abuse cases into the future.

________________________

“Credibly accused” priests who served the Winona Diocese:

Thomas P. Adamson, Rochester, Minn.
Sylvester F. Brown, 1930-2010
Joseph C. Cashman, Dallas
Louis G. Cook, 1924-2004
William D. Curtis, 1919-2001
John R. Feiten, 1924-2001
Richard H. Hatch, 1927-2005
Ferdinand L. Kaiser, 1910-1973
Jack L. Krough, Barron, Wis.
Michael J. Kuisle, 1916-1971
James W. Lennon, 1939-2000
Leland J. Smith, Winona
Robert H. Taylor, 1930-2012
Leo C. Koppala, deported to India

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AUSTRALIA
The Guardian

Helen Davidson
theguardian.com, Monday 6 October 2014

The high-profile head of the Hillsong Church, Brian Houston said he was affected in a “personal way” when his father, Frank Houston, admitted in 2000 that he had sexually abused a child 30 years earlier.

The royal commission into institutional responses to child sexual abuse is examining the responses to allegations of abuse against Frank Houston, a preacher who helped build Australia’s pentecostal movement, as well as allegations against two other men.

Frank Houston, who died in 2004, confessed in 2000 to sexually abusing a boy in New Zealand more than 30 years earlier. He was immediately sacked by his son, who was then national president of the Assemblies of God.

Houston said in a statement on Monday morning that although there were no allegations against him or Hillsong, he had been affected by child sexual abuse “in a very personal way”.

“Having to face the fact that my father engaged in such repulsive acts was – and still is – agonising,” said Houston.

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KENTUCKY
WBKO

HANCOCK COUNTY, Ky (WBKO) — Police say a youth pastor in Hancock County is charged with rape.

Monday morning, Kentucky State Police arrested Joshua Whicker of Hawesville on two counts of rape.

He is the former Mt. Eden church youth pastor.

Police say he had inappropriate sexual relations with a 15-year-old girl during youth group meetings.

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KENTUCKY
TriState Homepage

A former Hancock County youth pastor is arrested on charges of having a sexual relationship with a 15 year-old girl during youth group meetings.

Joshua Whicker is booked in the Breckinridge County Detention Center and charged with 2 counts of 3rd degree rape.

Kentucky State Police arrested Whicker Monday morning following reports of his alleged relationship with the girl.

Whicker is the youth pastor Mt. Eden Church in Hawesville.

A former member of the Mt. Eden Church tells us, Whicker resigned as youth pastor the day before the investigation began.

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NEW JERSEY
The Record

OCTOBER 6, 2014
BY JEFF GREEN
STAFF WRITER
THE RECORD

BERGENFIELD — A long-time pastor has stepped down from ministry while the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Newark investigates an allegation of child sexual abuse stemming from his work at a borough parish 40 years ago.

An archdiocesan representative announced the allegation against Monsignor George Trabold during Sunday services at St. John the Baptist in Bergenfield and at St. Rose of Lima in Millburn, where he has been pastor for the past 16 years.

Jim Goodness, a spokesman for the archdiocese, did not provide details about the complaint, except that it was received “recently” and that the abuse was alleged to have happened “many years ago.” The report was forwarded to the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office and is being examined by an archdiocesan review board, he said.

The review board will determine the credibility of the allegation and make a recommendation to Archbishop John J. Myers about whether Trabold should be permanently removed from ministry.

Trabold was assigned to St. John following his ordination as a priest in 1973. He served there nearly five years and later returned when he was appointed the parish pastor in 1994.

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NEW YORK
Religion News Service

David Gibson | October 6, 2014

NEW YORK (RNS) The Rev. Benedict Groeschel, a Franciscan priest whose long beard, gray robes, prolific writings and often controversial views made him a distinctive and popular presence in Catholic media, died Friday (Oct. 3) at St. Joseph’s Home for the Elderly in Totowa, N.J.

Groeschel was 81 and had been in declining health.

Grosechel had been out of the spotlight since 2012 when he made controversial comments that blamed some victims of sexual abuse by priests for inviting the molestation.

“We are deeply saddened by the loss of Fr. Benedict but also relieved that God has set him free from the physical and mental suffering he has experienced over the past decade,” the New York-based community he helped found, the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal, said in a statement. …

In August 2012, Groeschel sparked a firestorm when he gave an interview saying priests who sexually abuse children “on their first offense” should not go to jail and that the child is often “the seducer.” He also expressed sympathy for Jerry Sandusky, the former Penn State assistant football coach who was convicted that year of 45 counts of child sexual abuse.

A spokesman for New York Cardinal Timothy Dolan, a longtime friend of Groeschel’s, denounced the remarks. The newspaper that ran the interview, the National Catholic Register, which is an EWTN affiliate, removed the piece and replaced it with an apology.

Groeschel himself also apologized, as did the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal. Groeschel also gave up his EWTN appearances. “At some point you have to take the car keys away from grandpa,” the Rev. Glenn Sudano, a spokesman for the friars, said at the time.

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VATICAN CITY
ABC News

VATICAN CITY — Oct 6, 2014, 4:30 PM ET
By NICOLE WINFIELD Associated Press

Pope Francis’ sex abuse commission has made new progress after languishing for much of the past year. It approved its legal statutes, proposed new members and divided up work to focus on reaching out to survivors, holding bishops accountable and keeping pedophiles out of the priesthood, The Associated Press has learned.

The commission met over the past weekend for the third time since it was announced last December.

While Francis’ other expert commissions looking into Vatican finance and administration worked at a frenzied pace through 2014 and finished their projects in recent months, the sex abuse commission never seemed to get off the ground. It lacked organization, a clear mission statement, office space, funding and a full membership roster.

But commission member Marie Collins, herself a sex abuse survivor, told AP on Monday that much progress was made this weekend. It was the first meeting since Francis put the Vatican’s sex crimes prosecutor, Monsignor Robert Oliver, on the job full-time as the commission’s secretary, or No. 2.

Headed by Boston Cardinal Sean O’Malley, the nine commission members – four of whom are women – approved their provisional statutes laying out the scope of their work that will now be put to Francis for approval, Collins said. They also finalized a list of other member candidates whom Francis must approve: There will be fewer than 20 comissioners altogether, adding experts from other fields and geographic locations and including another survivor of abuse.

The commission will soon have permanent office space and members have divided themselves into working groups focusing on a laundry list of issues, including training of priests, education outreach, accountability, guidelines and policy issues and reaching out to survivors so their input to the commission can be heard, Collins said.

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NEW JERSEY
NJ.com

Pastor of Short Hills church steps down following allegation of sexual abuse; authorities notified

By Mark Mueller | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
on October 06, 2014

The popular pastor of a Millburn church has stepped down from ministry while authorities and officials with the Archdiocese of Newark investigate an allegation of sexual abuse related to his tenure at another parish.

The Rev. Msgr. George Trabold, pastor of St. Rose of Lima Church in Millburn’s Short Hills section, was removed from ministry sometime last week. An announcement was read aloud during weekend Masses at the church, said Jim Goodness, a spokesman for the archdiocese.

“He voluntarily stepped down while the investigation goes on,” Goodness said.

The allegation stems from Trabold’s time at St. John the Evangelist Church in Bergenfield, according to a copy of the announcement. Trabold served two stints at the Bergen County church, first as an associate pastor from 1973 to 1977 and then as pastor from 1994 to 1998. A similar announcement was read at St. John the Evangelist over the weekend.

“We know that most of you in the parish have great affection and respect for Msgr. Trabold and it is with great sadness that the archdiocese must take these steps,” the statements at both parishes said. “However, it is important to investigate this information fully, and to cooperate with authorities in such matters. … We ask for your understanding and prayers for all involved in this matter during this time.”

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MICHIGAN
Upper Michigan’s Source

by Aaron Boehm

SCHOOLCRAFT COUNTY — No charges will be filed against the retired priest accused of sexual abuse against male minors which occurred in the late 1990s.

According to Schoolcraft County Prosecuting Attorney Tim Noble, sexual assault charges cannot legally be filed against Father James Menapace due to the statute of limitations. Michigan law states that crimes of this nature must be charged within 10 years of the offense date or before the victim’s 21st birthday, whichever is greater. Investigation has determined that both of these timeframes have passed.

The prosecutor’s office was made aware of the allegations in February of 2014. They referred the information to the Michigan State Police for investigation, who subsequently submitted the full report to their office.

The Catholic Diocese of Marquette released a press release on September 23 reporting that allegations of sexual abuse against Menapace were deemed credible. Menapace has been removed from all public priestly ministry and prohibited from presenting himself as a priest.

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UNITED STATES
Catholic League

Bill Donohue comments on the death of Fr. Benedict Groeschel:

Fr. Groeschel was one of the most courageous and honorable priests I ever met. His passing is a great loss.

His death has not occasioned the plaudits he deserves. No doubt it has much to do with his much misunderstood statements from 2012 where he commented on males aged 14, 16 or 18 who might conceivably take sexual advantage of a priest. His critics saw this as a defense of the abusive priest. Nonsense. He clearly hypothesized that this could happen to a priest who was having a “nervous breakdown.” In this same interview, he explicitly said that priests who are sexual abusers “have to leave.” Moreover, for decades he put his Columbia Ph.D. in psychology to good use working with troubled seminarians and priests in the New York Archdiocese; this is not the kind of thing apologists are wont to do.

If we are looking for real apologists, we don’t have to look too far. Last year atheist superstar Richard Dawkins defended what he called the “mild pedophilia” of a teacher who “pulled me on his knee [at a boarding school] and put his hand inside my shorts.” He added, “I don’t think he did any of us lasting harm.” Two years earlier at a B4U-ACT conference, mental health experts said such things as “Assuming children are unable to consent lends itself to criminalization and stigmatization.” Not surprisingly does B4U-ACT talk incessantly about “minor-attracted” adults.

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VATICAN CITY
National Catholic Reporter

Francis X. Rocca Catholic News Service | Oct. 6, 2014

VATICAN CITY
A married couple told Pope Francis and the Synod of Bishops on the family that Catholic parishes should welcome same-sex couples, following the example of parents who invite their son and his male partner to their home for Christmas.

“The church constantly faces the tension of upholding the truth while expressing compassion and mercy. Families face this tension all the time,” Ron and Mavis Pirola of Sydney told the synod Monday.

“Take homosexuality as an example. Friends of ours were planning their Christmas family gathering when their gay son said he wanted to bring his partner home, too. They fully believed in the church’s teachings and they knew their grandchildren would see them welcome the son and his partner into the family. Their response could be summed up in three [sic] words, ‘He is our son.’ ”

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MINNESOTA
Jeff Anderson & Associates

Media Advisory

October 6, 2014

Perpetrators worked at 45 parishes in 44 cities in Southern Minnesota

WHAT: At a news conference tomorrow in Rochester, sexual abuse survivors, attorney Jeff Anderson and a former priest and advocate Patrick J. Wall, will release the files of 14 priests with credible allegations of child sexual abuse in the Diocese of Winona.

The files were obtained as part of the Doe 1 v. Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis and the Diocese of Winona civil lawsuit filed in Ramsey County last year. The lawsuit was made possible due to the Child Victims Act passed by the Minnesota legislature which allows sexual abuse survivors abused in the past to file claims against their abusers and the institutions that protected the abusers. The Child Victims Act also eliminated the civil statute of limitations moving forward.

WHEN: Tuesday, October 7, 2014, at 11:00AM CDT

WHERE: Doubletree Hotel – Downtown Rochester
150 S. Broadway – University Hall
Rochester, MN 55904

Notes:
· All 14 priest files, timelines, and key documents will be available tomorrow morning on our website at www.andersonadvocates.com.

Contact Jeff Anderson: Office/651.227.9990 Cell/612.817.8665
Contact Patrick Wall: Office/651.227.9990 Cell/949.307.3935

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UNITED STATES
Bilgrimage

William D. Lindsey

The synod on the family opened in Rome yesterday, and as this gathering begins, journalist Robert Mickens states, in an interview with Ari Shapiro of NPR,

Married people need to be heard. Gay people and their struggles need to be heard. Single mothers need to be heard. It won’t do for a bunch of celibate men, so-called, to be parsimonious with God’s mercy.

Yes, as Mickens notes in his recent “Letter from Rome” column at Commonweal (a regular feature of that journal that he’s now resuming after he has been named editor in chief of the journal Global Pulse), Francis is facing open resistance from younger priests, seminarians, and some bishops. Mickens reports that those hostile to Francis and what he appears to stand for have “placed the bull’s eye on the backs” of several of his close advisers.

And:

Precisely because there is substance to changes the seventy-seven-year-old pope is trying to make, especially in his efforts to root out clericalism, resistance to him has grown. It is not, however, good form for priests or bishops to go around bashing the bishop of Rome. (Nor is it particularly good for one’s clerical career.) So they must select another target. That is exactly what happened during Benedict XVI’s pontificate, when the former pope’s enemies chose his secretary of state, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone as their surrogate punching bag.

Mickens observes that Cardinal Walter Kasper is the latest and most prominent adviser of Francis to have had a bull’s eye placed on his back, due to his suggestion that mercy might dictate that the leaders of the Catholic church relax their opposition to admitting divorced and remarried people to communion — a stand that has earned him a rebuke from Cardinal Raymond Burke, as David Gibson recently reported. Burke: Catholic leaders are “held to obedience to the truth.” End of story.

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NETHERLANDS
Dutch News

Monday 06 October 2014

An Israeli rabbi wanted in Israel for allegedly sexually abusing several young women does not have to be locked up pending an extradition hearing, a Dutch court ruled on Monday.

Eliezer Berland was arrested at Schiphol airport in September but released from custody the next day. The public prosecution department said he should be kept under lock and key while the courts consider the extradition request.

Judges said on Monday Berland can remain a free man until the hearing on November 17. However, he has been ordered to report to the police on a daily basis.

Berland is suspected of sexually abusing and raping a number of young women. The claims first emerged in 2012 and since then the rabbi has managed to keep out of Israel hands, spending time in the US, Switzerland, Moroco, Zimbabwe and South Africa.

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NETHERLANDS
Times of Israel

THE HAGUE, Netherlands — A Dutch municipality ordered the eviction of 270 Jews from a camping site that is overcrowded with followers of the fugitive rabbi Eliezer Berland.

The order was issued Friday by the island municipality of Texel in the country’s north in connection with the arrival of 300 Orthodox Jews from the Breslov Hasidic sect ahead of Yom Kippur to a Jewish-owned camping site with a capacity of 30 people, the Noordhollands Dagblad daily newspaper reported Friday.

The visitors came from various countries to spend the holiday with Berland, who was arrested in the Netherlands last month.

Berland, the founder of the Shuvu Bonim religious seminary, fled Israel to Morocco and from there to South Africa last year amid allegations that he molested two female followers, including a minor. Israel requested his extradition; he is staying in Holland while justice authorities review the request.

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NETHRLANDS
Yeshiva World

The head of the Shuvu Banim community, Rabbi Eliezer Berland, spent Yom Kippur in northern Holland together with hundreds of his chassidim.

A Dutch court held a hearing last week to entertain an Israel Police request to remand the rabbi. Officials in Israel have filed for extradition and they want the rabbi held behind bars until that hearing so he cannot flee again. He has remained a step ahead of Israel Police for two years and has traveled to many countries including Morocco and S. Africa in his effort to avoid arrest.

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NETHERLANDS
Haaretz

A Dutch court is to decide on the possible remand of an elderly Orthodox Jewish rabbi, until a decision is made on an extradition request by Israel on Monday, Dutch news site De Telegraaf reported.

Fugitive ultra-Orthodox rabbi Eliezer Berland, 77, was arrested in at Schiphol Airport Amsterdam in September, almost two years after he fled Israel to avoid arrest for sex crimes. However, he was released from custody the next day, according to Dutchnews.nl.

Berland, a Breslov rabbi, then went to the northern Dutch island of Texel, joined by 300 followers from all over the world. The Jewish-owned camping site’s capacity is 30, so the municipality ordered the eviction of 270 of his followers from the site. The visitors came from various countries to spend the holiday with Berland, who was arrested in the Netherlands last month.

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NETHERLANDS
NL Times

by Janene Van Jaarsveldt

The controversial Israeli Rabbi Eliezer Berland, who is suspected of sexual abuse in his own country, remains at large.

This was determined by the court in Haarlem on Monday.

There is an extradition request for the man from Israel. There he has been sought for two years on suspicion of sexual abuse within his sect. The 77 year old Berland was arrested at Schiphol in September. He was released under conditions by the court a day later.

The Public Prosecutor appealed against this decision. Justice would have liked Berland to remain in custody pending the processing of the extradition request.

The court has tightened the conditions under which the rabbi remains free. He must now report daily to a police station in his neighborhood.

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WASHINGTON (DC)
YouTube

Speech by Jerome Elam, child sex trafficking survivor at the 2014 D.C. Stop Modern Slavery Walkfest held at the National Mall in Washington D.C. October 4, 2014

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MICHIGAN
Detroit Free Press

Eric D. Lawrence, Detroit Free Press October 6, 2014

The continuation of the embezzlement trial of a Detroit priest who admitted having a sexual relationship with a Michigan prison inmate imprisoned for manslaughter has been rescheduled for Tuesday.

Timothy Kane, 58, is accused of stealing from the Archdiocese of Detroit’s Angel Fund to get money for the inmate and his family, according to previous Free Press reports. Kane faces embezzlement of less than $20,00 and other charges and his jury trial was expected to resume today in Wayne County Circuit Court.

Kane was arrested at the St. Gregory the Great Catholic Church rectory in northwest Detroit on Feb. 6, the Free Press has reported.

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NORTHERN IRELAND
RTE News

Alleged victims of sex abuse at a children’s home run by the Catholic De La Salle Brothers in Northern Ireland have begun giving evidence at a public inquiry.

This part of the Historical Institutional Abuse inquiry is focusing on the former De La Salle Boys Home at Rubane House in Kircubbin in Co Down.

Last week, a lawyer for the inquiry claimed that around one fifth of the 1,000 boys who stayed at Rubane between 1951 and 1985 had suffered sexual or physical abuse.

A 77-year-old man, who was a resident in Rubane as a teenager in the 1950s, told the inquiry he was abused by one of the brothers the day after he arrived at the home.

He claimed he was interfered with while having a shower and while in bed in the dormitory.

The man alleged that some of the abuse was done very craftily under the guise of horseplay.

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NORTHERN IRELAND
Irish Times

Gerry Moriarty

Mon, Oct 6, 2014

A 77-year-old Co Tyrone man has described as a “hell hole” and “hell on earth” the De La Salle Rubane House boys’ care home in Kircubbin, Co Down, where he spent two years as a teenager in the early 1950s.

The witness, who asked to remain anonymous, said he was one of the first boys to enter the new care home in 1951 and that right from the start he suffered abuse.

“I don’t remember the good times because I had so many bad times,” he told the Historical Institutional Abuse inquiry in Banbridge, Co Down, today.

Although the witness had a happy childhood in Australia, she said feelings of “abandonment and isolation came to the surface” when she got engaged.Witness suffered feelings of ‘abandonment and isolation’

His step-brother, now aged 70, who spent almost two years in the home from August 1958, also told the inquiry that he was locked in a special pen for cattle, which he described as a “cattle crusher”, and then raped by one of the brothers.

The inquiry is investigating alleged child abuse at total of 13 Northern Ireland institutions from 1922 to 1995.

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NORTHERN IRELAND
Belfast Telegraph

06 OCTOBER 2014

A religious order under scrutiny at a historic abuse inquiry has said some of the allegations were inaccurate.

A lawyer for the De La Salle congregation of brothers said it had apologised and paid compensation where it accepted that wrongdoing took place.

Kevin Rooney QC challenged some of the evidence due to be given to the Historical Institutional Abuse (HIA) inquiry.

He said: “There are allegations which lawyers say are inaccurate, unreliable, possibly untruthful.”

He said the order sought to protect the reputation, integrity and character of those brothers whom it said did not abuse.

“The apology is also based on the civil claims that have been brought against the order, they have paid deserved compensation to those applicants who they accept have been abused.”

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NORTHERN IRELAND
Belfast Telegraph

BY MICHAEL MCHUGH – 06 OCTOBER 2014

One of the first boys to enter a children’s home in Northern Ireland has said he was abused by a religious brother the day after he arrived.

He claimed he was interfered with while having a shower at Rubane House, Co Down, in 1951, under the guise of “horse play”.

Once he went missing, he told a public inquiry, was brought home by police, beaten by members of the Catholic order which ran the home and had his hair shaved off in what he claimed was an act of humiliation.

He said: “It was just hell on earth.”

The witness’s evidence was that the abuse started the day after he arrived at Rubane and left him feeling extremely uncomfortable. He criticised some of the brothers.

“They did come into the dorms. It did not appear that they came in to check if someone wanted to go to the toilet, it was always something of a sexual nature.”

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NORTHERN IRELAND
Yahoo! News

Press Association

A man who claims he was raped using a piece of equipment for restraining farm animals has given evidence to a child abuse inquiry in Northern Ireland.

When he reported the cattle crush assault to a priest he was beaten and locked in a cupboard overnight, the witness told the Historical Institutional Abuse (HIA) inquiry.

The victim was a resident at Rubane House, which is the subject of a government-ordered investigation into claims of historic physical and sexual attacks on boys.

It was run by the Catholic De La Salle order of brothers.

Allegations of bestiality and children going missing were also made by witnesses.
One said: “It was just hell on earth.”

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VATICAN CITY
Crux

By John L. Allen Jr.
Associate editor October 6, 2014

ROME — Theoretically, in a Synod of Bishops, all of the 200-plus prelates taking part from around the world are equal. Politically, however, some are clearly more equal than others, and this time around, few are more equal than Cardinal Péter Erdö of Hungary.

Erdö is serving as the relator for the Oct. 5-19 Synod of Bishops on the Family, a position that means he sets the table for the discussion at the beginning and then sums it up at the end. Being chosen can be a hint of bigger things to come, since each of the last three popes at earlier stages in their careers had served as a synod’s relator.

The relatio ante disceptationem, or “speech before the discussion” this morning, amounted to an effort by Erdö to define the terms of discussion, focused as much on what the synod won’t be talking about as what it will. He took “doctrinal issues” off the table, but opened the door to practical changes such as a streamlined system for granting annulments, meaning a declaration that a marriage was invalid.

In truth, in past synods the opening relatio often didn’t have much impact on the exchange that followed, but it is nevertheless closely read as a signal of what’s on the mind of one of the session’s prime movers.

The 62-year-old Hungarian prelate is known as a strong defender of Church teaching. Erdö had enough going for him back in early 2013 that some considered him a candidate for the papacy himself, leading to speculation about whether the successor to Benedict XVI might be history’s first “Goulash Pope.”

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TEXAS
Watch Keep

Amy Smith

[with copy of the lawsuit]

Last week a lawsuit was filed against two large, popular Houston churches, Second Baptist Church (a Baptist mega-church) and Community of Faith. The lawsuit claims “the organizations were negligent by employing a youth pastor who was convicted of sexually soliciting their daughter while working there,” according to a Houston Chronicle story.”

Foster was part of a “marketing scheme” by Second Baptist that allowed youth pastors to encourage students in public schools to attend church activities and events, enticing them with fast food, the suit states. The goal was to recruit their parents to join. He later went to work for Community of Faith, the suit states.

The girl met Foster during her lunch hour at school, where he was able to get her involved in activities with Second Baptist. The two started a relationship as one of religious guidance, the suit states.

“This is no different than a pedophile with candy in his pocket,” said Cris Feldman, attorney in the case for the parents of the girl, now 17. “It’s just someone who worked for Second Baptist and was told to go into school lunch rooms and recruit.”

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UNITED STATES
The New York Times

Pedophilia: A Disorder, Not a Crime

By MARGO KAPLAN
OCT. 5, 2014

CAMDEN, N.J. — THINK back to your first childhood crush. Maybe it was a classmate or a friend next door. Most likely, through school and into adulthood, your affections continued to focus on others in your approximate age group. But imagine if they did not.

By some estimates, 1 percent of the male population continues, long after puberty, to find themselves attracted to prepubescent children. These people are living with pedophilia, a sexual attraction to prepubescents that often constitutes a mental illness. Unfortunately, our laws are failing them and, consequently, ignoring opportunities to prevent child abuse.

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders defines pedophilia as an intense and recurrent sexual interest in prepubescent children, and a disorder if it causes a person “marked distress or interpersonal difficulty” or if the person acts on his interests. Yet our laws ignore pedophilia until after the commission of a sexual offense, emphasizing punishment, not prevention.

Part of this failure stems from the misconception that pedophilia is the same as child molestation. One can live with pedophilia and not act on it. Sites like Virtuous Pedophiles provide support for pedophiles who do not molest children and believe that sex with children is wrong. It is not that these individuals are “inactive” or “nonpracticing” pedophiles, but rather that pedophilia is a status and not an act. In fact, research shows, about half of all child molesters are not sexually attracted to their victims.

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VATICAN CITY
Vatican Information Service

Vatican City, 6 October 2014 (VIS) – The Holy Father has:

On Saturday, 4 October the Holy Father:

– accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the diocese of Arundel and Brighton, England, presented by Bishop Kieran Conry, in accordance with canon 401 para. 2 of the Code of Canon Law.

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VATICAN CITY
National Catholic Reporter

Joshua J. McElwee | Oct. 6, 2014

VATICAN CITY
Pope Francis opened discussions at his worldwide meeting of Catholic bishops Monday by telling the prelates they should speak openly, without fear of upsetting him or limiting discussions to things he would want to hear.

Using the Greek term parrhesia — meaning to speak candidly or boldly, and without fear — the pontiff told the some 190 prelates gathered in the Vatican’s Paul VI Hall they should “speak with parrhesia and listen with humility.”

Working in a synod, the pontiff continued, does not mean prelates should say only what Francis wants to hear. “This is not good!” said the pope.

“A general condition is this,” said the pope. “Speak clearly. Let no one say: ‘This you cannot say.'”

“You need to say all that you feel with parrhesia,” he continued. “And, at the same time, you should listen with humility and accept with an open heart what your brothers say.”

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Francis was opening discussions Monday at the Synod of Bishops, one of two worldwide meeting of bishops for 2014 and 2015 the pontiff has called to focus on issue of family life.

The meetings have raised expectations that there may be changes coming to certain church practices regarding family life, particularly how the church treats people who have been divorced and remarried without first obtaining an annulment from the church.

Yet Monday’s morning session — the only session of the meetings of the Oct. 5-19 synod to be televised, and the only to have release of the texts of the speakers — was a mix of exhortations from prelates that the synod should see open discussions on the one hand, but no substantial changes to church teachings on the other.

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UNITED STATES
National Catholic Reporter

EDITORIAL

Last February, the U.N. Committee on the Rights of the Child chastised the Vatican for substandard policies that fall short in protecting children, specifically from sexual abuse. At the time, NCR acknowledged that the report had weaknesses — it lacked focus and didn’t appreciate that some of what it called “policies” are actually “teachings,” and important distinction. In an editorial, however, we said we “should not lose sight of the truth the report contains: When it comes to sex abuse, church officials continue to cloak themselves in secrecy, deceive the faithful and act with impunity.” It is a refrain, sadly, often repeated in this newspaper over the last 30 years.

Month earlier, we had criticized Pope Francis for seeming indifference to the crisis. “Priests can be removed from ministry with just the suspicion of wrongdoing. Bishops and their staff face no consequences. They stay in office and are even promoted. Until that changes, the abuses and cover-ups will continue,” we said.

It looks as if real change might be underway. In the last few months, Francis as appointed a special commission on clerical sex abuse to advise him directly and staffed it with professionals and competent advisers, including an abuse survivor. He has meet with the commission twice since May, and he had substantive meetings with abuse victims in June. We hope those are not his last such meetings.

Moreover, it appears that Francis is finally making headway in holding bishops accountable for the protection of children. The summer, it laicized Jozef Wesolowski, a former Vatican diplomat whom the Congregation of the Faith found guilty of sexually abusing minors. The congregation has now placed him under house arrest in Vatican City, pending a criminal trial. He wasn’t allowed to retire to a monastery or convent for a life of “prayer and penance.” This is progress.

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UNITED STATES
Christian Catholicism

Jerry Slevin

It may come down to where you sit as a Catholic. Some optimists say any movement at a Family Synod is progress among a dysfunctional Vatican hierarchy, even if the voting participants are all clerical celibate males who are ducking discussion at the Synod of the key family issue — the clerical child abuse scandal. Some pessimists say that Pope Francis has just bought a diversionary delay from the clerical child abuse scandal, and also a delay perhaps of three years (until 2016, his 80th year) from any need for him to state a clear position on controversial “pope-made moral dogmas”, like the Pope Paul VI’s 1968 Ban of the Pill.

This, of course, seems to then enable Pope Francis to continue to focus, as he has mainly for a over a year and a half now, on maximizing the protection of Catholic cardinals and bishops from criminal investigations related to the numerous clerical child abuse and financial corruption scandals.

For example, a lay Catholic reform group like Future Church that is interested in real reforms that benefit women and others, may see it one way. This reform group has, however, not been invited to be present during Synod deliberations.

On the other hand, a German Catholic bishop concerned about protecting significant “future church” governmental tax subsidies that may no longer be paid with respect to some divorced and remarried “ex-German Catholics”, may see it differently. Prominent Cardinal Walter Kasper, who many years earlier had been Hans Kung’s assistant, is present for the Synod deliberations and is expected, along with other bishops from Germany and elsewhere, to press for welcoming back divorced Catholics to full participation in the Eucharist celebration at Mass. This apparently may then secure German bishops’ access to their pro rata shares of German tax subsidies related to many of these divorced Catholics. Money still matters.

Please note the description from the reform group, Future Church, about what they faced recently (10/5) from Vatican security when they tried to express in St. Peter’s Square their views supporting lay voting participation at the Family Synod that presently excludes almost all independent lay Catholics from meaningful participation and excludes all all lay Catholics from voting on family moral matters.

This happened in Rome, not in Hong Kong, Moscow or Beijing! Here is an excerpt from Future Church’s recent e-mail:

Heading — “As Catholics stream to the opening mass for the Synod, reformers ask for a vote and run into the police.”

“As the crowds streamed into the Vatican Basilica for the opening mass for the Synod on the Family, members of Catholic Church Reform International were joined by International Movement of We Are Church, Women’s Ordination Worldwide and other international reform groups to protest the lack of real decision making power for families at the Synod. They unfurled a sign that read, “Families must have vote in family synods.”

“The group was quickly surrounded by the police who challenged their right to be in the square. Leader Rene Reid, showed the officers the permit she had obtained for the event, but that was not sufficient. With more than a dozen officers surrounding the group, the police snapped photos of the group’s signs, song sheets, and confiscated Reid’s passport. Given the circumstances, the group rolled up the signs and waited. The police later returned with Reid’s passport and agreed they could conduct their peaceful protest.” ***

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MALAWI
Maravi Post

BLANTYRE (MaraviPost)—Catholic Archbishop for Blantyre Archdiocese Thomas Msusa has revealed that five of his 70 plus priests are on suspension on various reasons, but most of them had shown “remorse and are ready to come back.”

The church was recently criticised by some faithful why suspended priest Tasiano Kunkeyani was given a Christian burial after he broke the celibacy law by fathering children.

But Msusa, who came to the thrown of the vast diocese early this year, briefed reporters at his Catholic Institute office that “everyone makes mistakes in life and priests are no exception.

“It’s not in our place as human beings to judge each other but fulfil God’s wishes of loving and forgiving one another.”

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AUSTRALIA
ABC News

The Hutchins School and Anglican Diocese of Tasmania will appear before the Royal Commission into Child Sexual Abuse over allegations of sexual assault at the school in the 1960s.

The allegations relate to former headmaster David Lawrence and former teacher Lyndon Hickman, both of whom are dead.

The school and diocese have said they will cooperate fully with the royal commission.

Tasmania is the only state or territory where the commission has not yet taken formal evidence in open sessions.

However, public hearings will be held in Hobart next month, after the royal commission secured money for an extra 30 public hearings and 3,000 private sessions.

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