ABUSE TRACKER

RHODE ISLAND
NBC 10

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Providence said Thursday that a senior priest no longer has permission to serve due to sexual misconduct.

According to a press release from the Diocese, the Reverend B. Samuel Turillo, “is now prohibited from exercising the sacred ministry after the Diocese received a credible accusation regarding alleged sexual misconduct involving a minor that took place approximately 60 years ago.”

The release notes that Turillo’s faculties to serve as a priest were removed in accordance with the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People.

“Upon recently receiving the allegation, the Diocese immediately reported the information to the Rhode Island State Police and the Attorney General’s Office,” the release noted. “Simultaneously, Diocesan officials launched an investigation that concluded the allegation was of a credible nature.”

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.

PENNSYLVANIA
PennLive

By Ivey DeJesus | idejesus@pennlive.com

The prosecution of child sex crimes would change dramatically under a bill poised to go to Gov. Tom Wolf’s desk.

The Senate on Thursday voted 49-0 to approve a bill that amends the statute of limitations — the time limits that govern when victims of sex abuse can bring legal action against perpetrators.

Pennsylvania joined the ranks of more than three dozen states that have overhauled child sex crime laws in wake of child sex abuse scandals, but House Bill 1947 leaves a gaping void for victims.

House Bill 1947 — which passed the House in April by a vote of 180-15 — amends Title 42 (Judiciary and Judicial Procedure) to eliminate or extend statutes of limitation in criminal and civil cases involving child sexual abuse.

Here is a rundown of what the bill would and would not do:

* The bill eliminates the criminal statute of limitations on most child sex crimes.

* The bill would allow an individual to file a civil action against institutions and organizations based on child sexual abuse until that individual reaches the age of 50. (Currently it cuts off at 30).

* The bill eliminates time limits on when victims can file a civil action against certain individual defendants. Those individual defendants include: the perpetrator; any individual who conspired with the perpetrator of child sexual abuse; any individual who knew of child sexual abuse but failed to report the abuse to law enforcement or a child protective services agency.

* The bill eliminates the criminal statute of limitations for a conspiracy or solicitation that facilitates the offenses.

* The bill lowers the standard for actions against governmental defendants from “gross negligence” to “negligence.’

* The bill does not revive time-barred civil actions.

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.

PENNSYLVANIA
Tribune-Review

BY CARLEY MOSSBROOK | Thursday, June 30, 2016

The state Senate unanimously passed a bill Thursday that would overhaul Pennsylvania’s statute of limitations for child sexual abuse cases.

After weeks of debate and the removal of a key component of the bill, the Senate passed legislation that would remove the statute of limitations for criminal cases of child sexual abuse and extend the amount of time victims have to bring lawsuits against institutions.

Under current laws, criminal cases must be brought before the victim reaches the age of 50 and lawsuits against institutions must be filed before the victim reaches the age of 30. This bill would give victims until age 50 to bring suit against institutions.

There is no age restriction to file a lawsuit against individuals who perpetrated the abuse.

The bill was originally introduced in the House, but some controversial changes were made earlier this week in the Senate Judiciary Committee that will volley it back to the House for concurrence.

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NORTHERN IRELAND
Belfast Telegraph

At least one MI6-run agent was aware of sexual abuse being committed in a notorious Belfast boys’ home, according to one of the agency’s historic intelligence documents.

A classified MI6 note containing the claim about the Kincora abuse scandal was presented in evidence as a senior ranking MI6 officer was questioned at Northern Ireland’s Historical Institutional Abuse (HIA) inquiry.

But the anonymised deputy director of the Secret Intelligence Service (MI6), referred to as officer A as he testified via video-link, rejected any suggestion his organisation was aware of the abuse.

He told the inquiry panel that an extensive trawl of MI6’s files could find no other documentary evidence to corroborate the 1989 note.

“We have found nothing that was written at the same time that justifies that assertion or nothing in our subsequent records that backs up that assertion,” he said.

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KANSAS
Baptist News

BOB ALLEN | JUNE 30, 2016

A Southern Baptist church being sued over sexual abuse committed by a former Vacation Bible School volunteer currently behind bars is asking a court to reveal the identities of two underage victims, accusing the girls’ parents and lawyers of using pretrial publicity to malign the congregation’s reputation.

Westside Family Church of Lenexa, Kan., filed a petition in district court June 15 requesting that the teenaged sisters and their parents who sued the church June 9 not be allowed to proceed with the case with their identifies protected by pseudonyms.

Church officials accused the family of “a Pearl Harbor-styled barrage of negative publicity” against the congregation purposely timed to coincide with this year’s Vacation Bible School.

“Ordinarily, defense counsel would stipulate permission to use of an alias in a case involving a minor claiming sexual abuse,” the church claimed in the petition. “Sadly, the minors’ parents and attorneys have chosen a different path” by leaking their complaint to the media before the congregation received official notice that it was being sued.

“While the Defendant admits the sensitivity of the allegations, Plaintiffs tactically decided to ‘draw first blood’ on the issue publicly,” the church’s petition says. “In time, that may ultimately be seen in hindsight to be a bad decision. However, they should not be able to hide behind pseudonyms after systematically and intentionally initiating a campaign specifically designed to damage Defendant’s reputation.”

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RHODE ISLAND
Providence Journal

By Karen Lee Ziner
Journal Staff Writer

Posted Jun. 30, 2016

PROVIDENCE, R.I. — The Roman Catholic Diocese of Providence said Friday that a 95-year-old senior priest, the Rev. B. Samuel Turillo, is now prohibited from serving as a priest following “a credible accusation regarding alleged sexual misconduct involving a minor that took place approximately 60 years ago.”

Turillo had 10 assignments in eight cities and towns since he was ordained to the priesthood in 1946, according to a statement the Diocese issued on its website.

Turillo served at: St. Benedict, Warwick 1946-1946; St. Patrick, Providence 1946-1948; Sacred Heart, West Warwick 1948-1953; St. Mary, Cranston 1953-1954; Holy Angels, Barrington 1954-1962; St. Joseph Hospital, Providence 1962-1962; St. Anthony, Woonsocket 1962-1965; St. Ann, Providence 1965-1971; St. Joseph, Hope Valley 1971-1979 and Sacred Heart, West Warwick 1979-1994.

“It should be noted that Fr. Turillo will soon be 96 years old, that he retired from active ministry in June 1994, and is living in a private residence,” the Diocese said.

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UNITED KINGDOM
Christian Post

By Leonardo Blair , Christian Post Reporter

A Christian schoolteacher from England who police believe sexually abused as many as 200 children from poor communities in Malaysia and bragged about his exploits online, was given 22 life sentences after admitting to 71 charges of sex abuse against children aged 6 months to 12 years.

Richard Huckle, 30, the schoolteacher from Ashford, Kent, fancied himself such an expert in abusing minors, he wrote a 60-page how-to manual for other pedophiles to follow that Judge Peter Rook QC, called a “truly evil document” according to the BBC.

“Impoverished kids are definitely much easier to seduce than middle-class Western kids,” Huckle reportedly wrote online, according to the BBC. “I still plan on publishing a guide on this subject sometime.”

“I’d hit the jackpot,” he said on another occasion, “a 3yo girl as loyal to me as my dog and nobody seemed to care.”

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PENNSYLVANIA
Daily Times

By Marc Levy, The Associated Press

POSTED: 06/30/16

HARRISBURG, Pa. >> The Pennsylvania Senate voted unanimously Thursday to lift time limits for some perpetrators of child sexual abuse to be sued by their victims and prosecuted by authorities, amid fresh Roman Catholic Church scandals in Pennsylvania that have inflamed a push for the legislation.

However, the Senate also rejected a provision approved overwhelmingly in April by the House to restore the ability of onetime-child victims to sue for damages if they are now older than the current legal age limit of 30.

That provision has been hotly debated, particularly with prosecutors in Pennsylvania uncovering a long-running scandal in the Altoona-Johnstown Diocese and states increasingly providing that window to victims who are now older.

But the provision ran into concerns from senators that it would conflict with Pennsylvania’s constitutional case law, and it was opposed by the Pennsylvania Catholic Conference and the Insurance Federation of Pennsylvania, which represents for-profit insurers.

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CANADA
The Telegram

Barb Sweet

Published on June 30, 2016

Testimony in the Mount Cashel civil trial ended this morning in Newfoundland Supreme Court with Justice Alphonsus Faour acknowledging the co-operation of opposing lawyers, as well as the John Does and church officials who sat through much of the trial.

“I suppose there’s an element of Stockholm syndrome to be thrown together for this length of time, but it has been difficult for everyone concerned,” Faour said in thanking the lawyers for the “remarkable” way they conducted themselves.

The trial over many of its 31 non-consecutive days has contained disturbing testimony concerning the experiences of four John Does at the Mount Cashel orphanage several years ago, as well as personal details of their lives since then and various expert opinions on child sex abuse and its impacts.

A retired military man who is a John Doe in the case was in the courtroom Thursday when Faour acknowledged that he and fellow John Doe, a retired teacher, attended many days of testimony (long after they were on the witness stands.) Faour also noted one other John Doe had been a spectator on earlier occasions.

“I know for them that it must have been quite difficult to listen to a lot of the testimony,” Faour said.

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RHODE ISLAND
Roman Catholic Diocese of Providence

June 30, 2016

The Diocese of Providence today announced that in accordance with the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People, the law of the Church and diocesan policy, the Reverend B. Samuel Turillo, a senior priest of the Diocese, is now prohibited from exercising the sacred ministry after the Diocese received a credible accusation regarding alleged sexual misconduct involving a minor that took place approximately 60 years ago.

Father Turillo’s faculties or permission to serve as a priest have been removed in accordance with the Charter. It should be noted that Fr. Turillo will soon be 96 years old, that he retired from active ministry in June 1994 and is living in a private residence.

Upon recently receiving the allegation, the Diocese immediately reported the information to the Rhode Island State Police and the Attorney General’s Office. Simultaneously, diocesan officials launched an investigation that concluded the allegation was of a credible nature.

Father Turillo was ordained to the priesthood in 1946 and had assignments at St. Benedict, Warwick 1946-1946; St. Patrick, Providence 1946-1948; Sacred Heart, West Warwick 1948-1953; St. Mary, Cranston 1953-1954; Holy Angels, Barrington 1954-1962; St. Joseph Hospital, Providence 1962-1962; St. Anthony, Woonsocket 1962-1965; St. Ann, Providence 1965-1971; St. Joseph, Hope Valley 1971-1979 and Sacred Heart, West Warwick 1979-1994.

The Diocese of Providence takes very seriously all allegations of abuse and works closely with law enforcement agencies in accordance with the Charter and diocesan policy when an allegation of abuse is reported. Church law is firm and consistent regardless of the age of the accused priest or the time frame of the alleged incident. The full content of the Charter may be accessed through the diocesan website, www.dioceseofprovidence.org.

The Diocese urges anyone who has been the victim of sexual abuse, or with credible knowledge of such abuse, by any member of the church to report the information to the Rhode Island State Police Major Crimes Unit 401-444-1000, the Rhode Island Attorney General’s Office 401 274-4400 or the diocesan Office of Compliance at 401-941-0760.

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PENNSYLVANIA
Philly.com

JUNE 30, 2016

by Maria Panaritis and Angela Couloumbis, STAFF WRITERS

HARRISBURG – In a victory for the Catholic Church, the Pennsylvania Senate unanimously passed a bill Thursday that bars child sex abuse victims from suing their attackers and private institutions for incidents dating back to the 1970s.

In a 49-0 vote, the Republican-led chamber approved a change to the current statute of limitations so that future criminal cases may be brought at any time. But it blocks the filing of civil lawsuits for people abused as children decades ago – a controversial provision that had been approved by the House.

The Senate bill maintained House language permitting victims up to age 50 to bring civil actions against attackers and institutions – up from age 30, as allowed by current law. An amendment backed by Senate President Pro Tempore Joseph Scarnati and approved two days ago, however, stripped House language that would have made that change retroactive.

Opponents of the measure had said it would harm the Catholic Church by exposing it to liability for actions taken by bishops or priests decades ago, potentially forcing costly payouts that would harm parishes and dioceses.

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PENNSYLVANIA
CBS Philly

June 30, 2016 3:48 PM By Tony Romeo

HARRISBURG, PA. (CBS) – The Pennsylvania Senate has approved legislation that would give victims of child sex abuse more time to seek justice, but without a provision long sought by advocates.

The Senate Judiciary Committee earlier this week removed controversial language from the bill, to the dismay of advocates.

But as the full Senate voted to approve the amended version Thursday, Harrisburg area Democrat Rob Teplitz said the bill will still do a lot of good:

“We can’t provide justice for everyone, but we can provide justice for a significant number of people.”

The bill would eliminate the criminal statute of limitations in child sex abuse cases. In civil cases, the measure would also eliminate the statute of limitations for most individual defendants, and lengthen the time a victim would have to sue an organization.

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PENNSYLVANIA
PennLIve

By Ivey DeJesus | idejesus@pennlive.com

Pennsylvania on Thursday came one step closer to joining the ranks of states that have overhauled child sex crime laws in the wake of stunning child sex abuse scandals.

Three months after a grand jury investigation found systemic sexual abuse of hundreds of children by priests in the Altoona-Johnstown Diocese, the Senate by a 49-0 vote gave final passage to a bill that broadly amends and toughens the law on future sex crimes against children.

House Bill 1947, widely seen as a compromise bill out of that chamber, garnered wide support from the Senate just weeks after its constitutionality was questioned.

If signed into law by Gov. Tom Wolf, House Bill 1947 would eliminate criminal statute of limitations for most child sex crimes. The bill also broadens the time frame that victims have to file civil suits against predators.

The bill, however, dashed the hopes of hundreds if not thousands of victims of past child sex abuse who had look to legislative changes in the law for justice. A retroactive measure in the bill was eliminated this week under an amendment from Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati, R‑Jefferson County.

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ILLINOIS
Chicago Tribune

Rev. Robert A. Stepek, suddenly passed away on June 25, 2016, beloved son of Robert J. and Dorothy C. Stepek; loving brother of Susan (Jerry) Wachowiak and Scott (Netta) Stepek; devoted uncle of Terri (Christopher) La Via, Jeffrey (Nicole) Wachowiak, Scottie, Bobby, and Brianna; proud great-uncle of Lily, Marco, Andrew, and Bailee. Visitation: Wednesday, from 1 to 8 PM. Funeral: Thursday, at 9:15 AM, from Lawn Funeral Home, 7909 State Rd (5500 W) Burbank, IL 60459, to St. Bede the Venerable Church for a 10:00 AM Mass of the Resurrection. Interment: St. Mary Cemetery. Rev. Stepek was a former Associate Pastor at St. Symphorosa Church, St. Christina Church, St. Joseph Church in Homewood, and the former Pastor at St. Albert the Great Church. Funeral Info: 708-636-2320
Published in a Chicago Tribune Media Group Publication from June 28 to June 29, 2016

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ILLINOIS
Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests

For immediate release: Thursday, July 30, 2016

Statement by Barbara Blaine of Chicago, national president member of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests(312-399-4747, bblaine@SNAPnetwork.org)

Local Catholic officials have kept hidden the passing of Fr. Robert Stepek, a predator priest who sued his victims and who died last week. Shame on Archbishop Blasé Cupich for his hurtful secrecy.

[Chicago Tribune]

Fr. Stepek was permanently removed from active ministry in 2006 when two brothers reported having been sexually assaulted as kids by him. Then-Cardinal Francis George let Fr. Stepek sued the brothers for defamation. The brothers then sued George and Stepek. Inexplicably, Vatican officials insisted that Fr. Stepek’s status be restored, despite the credible accusations against him.

[SNAP]

We believe that local Catholic officials ignored and enabled Fr. Stepek’s crimes and then compounded their callous actions by ignoring and tolerating his hardball legal tactics.

We call on Archbishop Cupich to spread the word of Fr. Stepek’s death through church bulletins, parish websites and pulpit announcements and beg others who saw, suspected or suffered his crimes to come forward.

Once again, Catholic officials are staying silent about a predator. Once again, the feelings of his victims are disregarded while the comfort of church officials are protected. The people Fr. Stepek violated deserve to know that he can no longer hurt anyone.

We hope Fr. Stepek’s passing will bring some comfort to those he assaulted and will prompt others he hurt to finally get help, speak out and start healing.

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PENNSYLVANIA
The Morning Call

Bill White

The Senate is expected to vote later today on House Bill 1947, stripped of a key provision Tuesday by the Senate Judiciary Committee.

The bill no longer contains any kind of retroactive access to civil courts for child sex abuse victims blocked by the current statute of limitations, removed by senators who claimed it would be unconstitutional despite conflicting testimony from experts. Many of us saw this as a capitulation to powerful lobbyists from the Catholic Church and the insurance industry, which is why I wanted to use today’s post to report which senators went along with this.

In its present form, the bill removes statutes of limitations for criminal prosecution in child sex abuse cases and extends the statute from 30 to 50 for civil suits. It strengthens the provision allowing suits against public entities such as public school by requiring plaintiffs to prove negligence, as opposed to gross negligence. And it removes the statute of limitations for child sex abuse suits against individuals.

As a practical matter, that last change means that 20-plus years from now, when the first of the victims now under 30 reaches 51 and becomes blocked by the new age limit, they still will have access to court action — as long as they sue individuals, not the institutions that may have protected the offenders.

Clearly, the language is designed to defend the Catholic Church and its insurers. It couldn’t be more revealing about the committee’s priorities.

This willingness to eliminate statutes in all cases where the church has no financial exposure — criminal or suits against individuals — puts the lie to the claims that this reluctance to change statutes of limitations is about concern that old cases are too difficult to prove and unfair to defendants. Legislators and lobbyists seem to be fine with killing the statutes, as long as it doesn’t cost the church or the insurance industry money.

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POLAND
Radio Poland

The bishop of Płock, central Poland, has dismissed a parish priest in the village of Szreńsk, over “immoral actions” with a child.

The priest was suspended from his duties, a spokesperson with the Diocesan Curia in Płock, Elżbieta Grzybowska, said.

According to an official statement issued by the curia, the priest himself admitted guilt to the bishop.

“We express deep sorrow over the depraved action and the harm done,” the statement reads.

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UNITED STATES
Times of Israel

Michael J. Salamon

They take advantage of people, especially children and teens, those who are young, or impressionable and easy prey. They also take advantage of adults – yes, they know how to play to adults too.

They are accomplished liars. They know how to draw victims in with a combination of charm and threat. They can be magically captivating. They do not hide; rather they interact openly with their victims and families.

They tend to be fearless and if caught they can be convincing in their denials. If caught on video molesting a child they can just as easily deny that it is they, despite the pictures, as they are to blame their victims. Very few are willing to acknowledge that they have a problem controlling their abusive tendencies, the first and most necessary step to address their problem.

They take advantage of the fact that the organizations they work for provide them with a pool of likely victims. And if someone reports them to their superiors at work, they believe that the desire to protect the school, camp, youth organization, whichever organization they work for, will act as cover for them – for that is the way it usually is.

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FRANCE
FranceTVInfo

Quatre prêtres ont été relevés de leur ministère par le cardinal Philippe Barbarin pour des faits d’abus sexuels, après avis d’un collège d’experts, a indiqué jeudi 30 juin le diocèse de Lyon. “Il s’agit de prêtres mis en cause ou non dans la presse, déjà condamnés ou non”, a commenté une source diocésaine. Cette annonce intervient à la suite d’une affaire d’agressions sexuelles commises sur des scouts lyonnais par un prêtre.

Le père Bernard Preynat, mis en examen en janvier pour des agressions sexuelles sur mineurs de moins de 15 ans et déjà relevé de ses fonctions à l’été 2015, ne fait pas partie de ces quatre prêtres, a ajouté la source diocésaine.

Mesures d’accompagnement pour d’autres prêtres

A la suite des avis émis par le collège d’experts, d’autres prêtres du diocèse ont fait l’objet de mesures d’accompagnement particulières. Il s’agit de prêtres déjà jugés qui vont bénéficier d’un “suivi” du diocèse.

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FRANCE
GlobalPost

Agence France-Presse on Jun 30, 2016

Four priests of the Catholic diocese of Lyon in eastern France have been relieved of their duties for sexual abuse, a diocesan source said Thursday.

A panel of experts recommended the measure, the source added, declining to say whether the clerics had already been named since the diocese’s predator priest scandal came to light in March, rocking France’s Catholic Church.

French judicial authorities are aware of all four dossiers, the source said.

The dismissals come three weeks after Cardinal Philippe Barbarin, the archbishop of Lyon, was questioned by police over allegations that he covered up the sexual abuse of boy scouts.

One of France’s most powerful Catholic leaders, Barbarin has been accused of failing to remove a priest, Bernard Preynat, from his diocese when he became aware the man had sexually abused young boys 25 years ago.

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MINNESOTA
Reuters

BY JIM CHRISTIE

A bankrupt Catholic archdiocese in Minnesota is girding for a fight with victims of clergy sex abuse over more than $1 billion in assets held by parishes and other local Church branches that are not part of its Chapter 11 case.

The Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis will square off in Bankruptcy Court on July 7 against the consolidation motion by its unsecured creditors.

To read the full story on Westlaw Practitioner Insights, click here: bit.ly/296AC7K

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KANSAS
Daily Journal

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
June 30, 2016

WICHITA, Kansas — Federal court records show that a Catholic priest charged with stealing nearly $151,000 from two small parishes to fund his gambling has negotiated a diversion agreement.

The agreement filed Wednesday would delay Thomas Leland’s prosecution for 18 months and result in the dismissal of the case if it’s approved and he adheres to its terms. The Wichita Eagle (http://bit.ly/294ULZ7) reports that Leland is accused of taking unauthorized reimbursements, salary advances and overpayments and too much money for conducting church services while he was the parish priest at St. Francis in St. Paul and at St. Ambrose in Erie.

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GUYANE
Ere 1

Un ancien prêtre catholique de la commune de Macouria en Guyane, soupçonné d’agression sexuelle d’un mineur de moins de 15 ans, a été condamné mardi à 36 mois de prison dont 18 mois ferme par le tribunal correctionnel de Cayenne.

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GUYANE
Le Figaro

[A former Catholic priest suspected of sexual assault on a minor under 15 years old was sentenced this morning to 36 months in prison in French Guyana.]

Un ancien prêtre catholique soupçonné d’agression sexuelle sur un mineur de moins de 15 ans a été condamné ce matin à 36 mois de prison dont 18 mois ferme en Guyane française.

Les faits se sont déroulés “entre le 1er septembre 2014 et le 31 décembre 2015” selon le parquet de Cayenne. Henri-Claude Jean-Philippe, prêtre âgé de 67 ans, a également été frappé de l’interdiction de travailler au contact des mineurs pendant dix ans.

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FRANCE
Liberation

[The doctrine of the Church places the clergy above society and its laws. It embodies a “perfect model.” Hence the difficulties in taking the issue of sexual abuse.]

Par Philippe Portier, Historien et politologue.* — 28 juin 2016

La doctrine de l’Eglise place le clergé au-dessus de la société et de ses lois. Il incarne un «modèle de perfection» qui ne souffre pas la moindre remise en cause publique. D’où les difficultés à s’emparer de la question des abus sexuels.

Le scandale de la pédophilie n’a pas laissé l’Eglise inerte. A partir des années 90, après que le rapport Doyle aux Etats-Unis (1985), lui-même prolongé par des procès retentissants comme celui du père Pipala en1993, a révélé l’ampleur des abus sexuels en son sein, sa hiérarchie s’est lancée dans une opération de clarification des comportements. L’épiscopat américain est intervenu tout d’abord, en instituant, dès 1993, une commission d’étude dont les travaux déboucheront en 2002 sur la mise en place de dispositifs de sanction des prêtres pédophiles.

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NEDERLAND
Katholiek Nieusblad

Slachtoffers van seksueel misbruik zouden niet langer gebonden moeten zijn aan de geheimhoudingsplicht die ze soms overeengekomen zijn. Dat adviseert de voormalige Commissie Deetman “met klem” aan de Nederlandse bisschoppen en de oversten van religieuze orden en congregaties.

Laatste monitorrapport

Dinsdag publiceerde de voormalige onderzoekscommissie naar seksueel misbruik in de katholieke Kerk haar laatste monitorrapport. Daarin wordt het hele verloop van het onderzoek, gepubliceerd in 2011, tot de laatste stand van zaken rond de afwikkeling ervan belicht.

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NEDERLAND
CIP

[Victims of sexual abuse in the Catholic Church should no longer be bound by the confidentiality which they are sometimes agreed, advises Wim Deetman.]

Slachtoffers van seksueel misbruik zouden niet langer gebonden moeten zijn aan de geheimhoudingsplicht die ze soms overeengekomen zijn. Dat adviseert de voormalige Commissie Deetman “met klem” aan de Nederlandse bisschoppen en de oversten van religieuze orden en congregaties, laat het Katholiek Nieuwsblad weten.

Dinsdag publiceerde de voormalige onderzoekscommissie naar seksueel misbruik in de katholieke Kerk haar laatste monitorrapport. Daarin wordt het hele verloop van het onderzoek, gepubliceerd in 2011, tot de laatste stand van zaken rond de afwikkeling ervan belicht. In de verschillende onderzoeken en adviezen is gewezen op “de noodzaak van openbaarheid en transparantie bij de behandeling van klachten”.

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GEORGIA/INDIANA
New York Daily News

BY JADE R. GARDENER
NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
Wednesday, June 29, 2016

A disgraced Indiana pastor who was charged with soliciting sex with a minor hanged himself in a Georgia storage unit.

David James Brown, 46, was found dead from a suicide around 12:10 p.m. Monday inside the Attic Self Storage in Marietta, said Cobb County spokesman Sgt. Dana Pierce.

The death was ruled a suicide by asphyxiation by hanging, officials said.

Brown, who was a senior pastor at First Christian Church in Jeffersonville, was arrested on June 15 for the depraved act in Kentucky.

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GUAM
Pacific News Center

Written by Janela Carrera

Father Lito Abad will be the new chancellor and Father Jeffrey San Nicolas will be the new vicar general.
Guam – More changes have been implemented in the Archdiocese of Agana. Archbishop Savio Hon Tai Fai has replaced two key positions in the church, the vicar general and the chancellor.

The vicar general for the archdiocese was Msgr. David C. Quitugua and the chancellor was Father Adrian Cristobal. In a release from the archdiocese, Archbishop Hon announced that he is replacing Msgr. Quitugua with Father Jeffrey San Nicolas, whose official title will be Delegate of the Adminstrator.

Father Adrian Cristobal will be replaced by Father Jose Lito Abad.

The release states, “These appointments were made after Archbishop Hon had spoken personally with all of the clergy on the island and many other members of this local church.

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GUAM
Guam Daily Post

Archbishop Savio Hon Tai Fai today named new appointees to two of the Archdiocese of Agaña’s top leadership roles.

The apostolic administrator named Rev. Father Jeffrey San Nicolas as delegate of the administrator, according to a media release from the Chancery’s office. In this role, San Nicholas will assume responsibilities similar to those of the vicar general and moderator of the Curia. Rev. Father Jose Antonio “Lito” Abad has been appointed chancellor.

San Nicholas replaces Rev. Msgr. David C. Quitugua, formerly serving as vicar general, while Abad replaces Rev. Father Adrian L.F. Cristobal.

According to the release: “These appointments were made after the Apostolic Administrator had spoken personally with all of the Clergy on the island and many other members of this local Church. It was the result of the weekly meetings of the Presbyteral Council of the Archdiocese and must be seen as a collegial effort for the purpose of promoting unity and stability in the local Church.”

The two appointments take effect today.

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GUAM
KUAM

Updated: Jun 30, 2016
By Sabrina Salas Matanane

Fr. Adrian Cristobal has been replaced as Chancellor of the Archdiocese of Agana. According to a media release, Archbishop Savio Hon Ta Fai announced that the new Chancellor is Rev. Father Jose Antonio “Lito” Abad. Additionally Archbishop Hon appointed Rev. Father Jeffrey San Nicolas as Delegate of the Administrator. This means that he will be assuming responsibilities similar to those of the Vicar General and Moderator of the Curia.

According to the press release Archbishop Hon made the appointments after speaking personally with all of the local Clergy and many other members of the local church. “It was the result of the weekly meetings of the Presbyteral Council of the Archdiocese and must be seen as a collegial effort for the purpose of promoting unity and stability in the local Church.

According to the Archdiocese of Agana website the following individuals comprise the Presybteral Council:

Msgr. David C. Quitugua, JCD
Fr. Adrian Cristobal
Msgr. Brigido Arroyo
Msgr. David I.A. Quitugua
Very Rev. Joseph English, O.F.M., Cap.
Fr. Jose “Lito” Antonio Abad
Fr. Patrick Castro, O.F.M., Cap.
Fr. Jose Alberto Rodriguez
Fr. Agustin Gumataotao, O.F.M., Cap.
Fr. Jeffrey San Nicolas
Fr. Thomas B. McGrath, S.J.

The appointments of Fr. Jeffrey and Fr. Abad take effect today. They are scheduled to make their public Profession of Faith and Oath of Fidelity during the Prayer Meeting for Unity on Saturday, July 2nd, at 7:30 p.m. at Dulce Nombre de Maria Cathedral-Basilica. All of the Clergy, Consecrated Religious, and Lay Faithful are cordially invited and encouraged to attend, the press release stated.

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GUAM
Pacific Daily News

Haidee V Eugenio, Pacific Daily News June 30, 2016

Archbishop Savio Hon Tai Fai, who currently administers the local Catholic Church, announced Thursday two new key leaders of Guam’s archdiocese.

Hon appointed Rev. Father Jeffrey San Nicolas as delegate of the administrator, assuming responsibilities similar to those of the Vicar General and Moderator of the Curia, a post previously held by Rev. Msgr. David C. Quitugua.

Hon also appointed Rev. Father Jose Antonio “Lito” Abad as chancellor of the Archdiocese of Agana, a post previously held by Rev. Father Adrian L.F. Cristobal.

In a statement Thursday, the Archdiocese of Agana’s Chancery said the appointments were made after the Hon, the apostolic administrator, had spoken personally with all of the clergy in Guam and many other members of the local Church.

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NEW YORK
NBC Montana

(CNN) – Christopher Leonard survived the beating in the sanctuary of the Word of Life Christian Church in upstate New York that killed his brother, Lucas Leonard.

On Tuesday, while testifying against his step-sister Sarah Ferguson, one of eight church members charged in connection with the death, Christopher Leonard admitted he had “inappropriately” touched her children.

His step-sister learned about the touching during a church “counseling session” in October 2015, he testified.

“And you were telling [Ferguson] about that, correct?” defense attorney Rebecca Wittman asked.

“Yes,” Christopher Leonard responded.

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NEW YORK
CNY Homepage

By Tom Coyne | tcoyne@wutr.tv
Published 06/29 2016

UTICA, NY

Bruce Leonard, father of the victims in the Word of Life Church beatings, took the stand against his step daughter Wednesday afternoon. His sons, Lucas and Christopher, were the victims of the beating administered at the church in Chadwicks in October, 2015. Lucas died of his injuries from that beating and Chris was seriously injured.

Bruce Leonard has pleaded guilty to assault in a plea deal worked out in exchange for his testimony. Leonard begins to recall the events of October 11, 2015. He took his family to the church on Oneida Street in Chadwicks. He said that the service began about noon and during the dinner break he and Lucas left the church to take care of a neighbor’s dog. He added that he had to get Pastor Tiffanie Irwin’s permission to leave the church.

Bruce testified that Pastor Tiffanie told him that she wanted his family to stay after the service. Leonard said that he didn’t know that a “counseling session” was about to start and he did not know the subject matter to be covered.

Leonard testified that many people came and went at the counseling session, including Linda and David Morey and Joseph Irwin. They have each been indicted by a Grand Jury in the case. He said that Pastor Tiffanie was directing the session and asking questions of Lucas Leonard. He says that Lucas wasn’t forth coming with information.

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NEW YORK
Observer-Dispatch

By MICAELA PARKERmparker@uticaod.com

UTICA – The teens had admitted their sins and members of the parish were committed to a resolution.

When questioning Lucas and Christopher Leonard in the small sanctuary of the Word of Life Christian Church resulted in admissions of sexual misconduct but no reasonable explanations, discipline was introduced to the session, the father of the teens testified in court Wednesday.

Bruce Leonard, 66, was asked why he took part in the whipping with his wife and step-daughter.

“So they would understand the hurt they had caused,” Bruce Leonard said. “Discipline for punishment.”

Ferguson, 33, is one of nine defendants accused of participating in an October counseling session in the Chadwicks church that resulted in the death of 19-year-old Lucas Leonard and severe injury to his brother Christopher Leonard, 17. She faces charges including second-degree murder and first- and second-degree manslaughter.

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CANADA
CBC News

By David Bartlett, CBC News Posted: Jun 29, 2016

The Kent Centre for the Prevention of Violence wants to minimize the trauma of child victims of sexual assault by creating a place where they can get the help they need under one roof.

Most provinces and territories in Canada already have similar facilities, but there is no such facility in New Brunswick.

“There is a big need to have this kind of centre here,” Angele Richard, the community development coordinator of the group said on Information Morning Moncton on Wednesday.

“The rate of police reported sexual abuse in New Brunswick has exceeded the national average annually for almost 20 years now.”

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PENNSYLVANIA
The Morning Call

Bill White

Priorities are important, for people and for politicians.

Most members of the state Senate Judiciary Committee made their priorities clear Tuesday. They concluded that it was more important to protect the financial resources of the Catholic Church and insurance industry than to offer justice to more victims of child sex abuse, to unmask predators to protect future children and to punish institutions that have aided and abetted in child abuse.

They did this by amending House Bill 1947, the child sex-abuse statute of limitations bill, so that it no longer provides court access to abuse victims who are blocked by present law and haven’t reached age 50. Committee members ostensibly did this because they believe it’s unconstitutional. In fact, the amendment contains a strange preamble attempting to justify this view.

But they had ample expert opinion at their disposal to know this issue was far from decided. What they should have done, if they weren’t bowing to the wishes of powerful special interests, was allow the courts to resolve that question.

The bill in its new form still would eliminate the statute of limitations for criminal cases of child sexual abuse and extend the statute for civil cases until the victim reaches age 50, from the present age 30. Those who already are blocked by present law would remain out of luck.

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GUAM
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Agana

Archbishop Savio Hon Tai Fai, S.D.B., Apostolic Administrator of the Archdiocese of Agaña has appointed the following Officials for the Diocesan Curia:

Rev. Father Jeffrey San Nicolas – Delegate of the Administrator (assuming responsibilities similar to those of the Vicar General and Moderator of the Curia).

Rev. Father Jose Antonio “Lito” Abad – Chancellor

These appointments were made after the Apostolic Administrator had spoken personally with all of the Clergy on the island and many other members of this local Church. It was the result of the weekly meetings of the Presbyteral Council of the Archdiocese and must be seen as a collegial effort for the purpose of promoting unity and stability in the local Church.

The two appointments take effect today, June 30th, 2016. The two new Officials will make their public Profession of Faith and Oath of Fidelity during the Prayer Meeting for Unity on Saturday, July 2nd, at 7:30 p.m. at Dulce Nombre de Maria Cathedral-Basilica. All of the Clergy, Consecrated Religious, and Lay Faithful are cordially invited and encouraged to attend.

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GUAM
KUAM

Updated: Jun 30, 2016

By Krystal Paco

While he’s been criticized for his lack of action since his appointment to Guam earlier this month, Archbishop Savio Hon Tai Fai is modifying leadership at the Archdiocese of Agana. Guam’s interim archbishop says the changes are steps towards reunifying the local church.

Archbishop Hon was sent from the Vatican while Archbishop Anthony Apuron has been placed on leave.

Less than a month on the job and Guam’s interim archbishop is changing up leadership. Effective today, Archbishop Hon has replaced diocesan curia. In a release from the archdiocese, he announces a new delegate of the administrator, which would assume responsibilities of the vicar general. His pick: Father Jeffrey San Nicolas, who replaces Monsignor David C. Quitugua.

Also taking a new leadership role is Father Jose Antonio “Lito” Abad, who replaces Father Adrian Cristobal as chancellor. Both appointments follow Archbishop Hon’s meetings with all of the island’s clergy and members of the church. The appointments, the release states, “Must be seen as a collegial effort for the purpose of promoting unity and stability in the local church.”

Also in an effort to reunify the church, Archbishop Hon announced earlier this week the creation of four consultative committees, which include the scenario of the archdiocese, ongoing formation, proposal for repositioning of priests, and seminary visitation in addition to a new designated spokesperson, Monsignor Bibi Arroyo and a new support and contact person for alleged victims of sexual abuse perpetrated by a cleric, Father Patrick Castro. Father Patrick is tasked with reaching out and making contact with those who have been allegedly abused in some way.

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NEW YORK
News 12

MALVERNE – Parishioners say they are standing by a priest accused of sexually abusing a minor years ago.

Father Frank Parisi, the former pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes Roman Catholic Church in Malverne, is accused of sexually abusing the minor at a different parish.

Parisi stepped down from his position at Our Lady of Lourdes Roman Catholic Church last month amid the allegations.

The Suffolk DA’s Office has confirmed that police detectives are investigating the claim.

Supporters say they don’t think that Parisi is capable of such a heinous act.

“I’m sure he will be cleared of the allegations, except that now his name is now ruined,” says Pat McGoldrick, of Malverne.

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UNITED STATES
North Country Public Radio

by Brian Mann (Adirondack Bureau Chief) , in Westport, NY

Jun 30, 2016 — There is a growing effort around the country to make it easier to prosecute or bring civil lawsuits against people who sexually abuse children. Many states have already extended or eliminated the statute of limitations for reporting sex crimes against kids.

But the push to punish pedophiles has met fierce opposition from Roman Catholic organizations, who say they could be unfairly targeted and their institutions could be bankrupted.

How to punish adults who prey on kids?

These proposed laws, don’t just target pedophile priests. Bridie Farrell is Roman Catholic and former top speedskater. She says it was a coach, not a priest, who sexually assaulted her when she was a teenager in Saratoga County. “It happened at his house, in his car, in his hotel room. He knew the power that he had over me,” she said.

Farrell, who lives now in New York City, did what a lot of children do when they’re molested, kept silent for nearly two decades. “It was 18 years later when I was 31 that I came forward and publicly told anyone this story,” she said.

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SCOTLAND
Scotsman

CHRIS MARSHALL

EDUCATION secretary John Swinney has tried to allay fears about the future of Scotland’s child abuse inquiry after a key panel member quit in protest at government interference.

Michael Lamb, a professor of psychology at Cambridge University, resigned from his position on Monday, claiming the inquiry was “doomed”.

But in a letter to survivors of historical abuse, Mr Swinney said he “entirely rejected” allegations of state meddling.

Mr Swinney said: “My primary objective is now to ensure that this situation does not impact on the progress that the inquiry has made so far, and will continue to make over the coming weeks and months. I have, therefore, acted swiftly and decisively to ensure the continuing successful operation of the inquiry and have instructed my officials to begin planning for the appointment of a new panel member to the inquiry.”

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NEW YORK
News 12

[with video]

MALVERNE – The Suffolk district attorney is investigating claims that a Catholic priest sexually abused a minor years ago.

Father Frank Parisi, the former pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes Roman Catholic Church in Malverne, is accused of sexually abusing a minor years ago at a different parish.

Parisi stepped down from his position at Our Lady of Lourdes Roman Catholic Church last month amid the allegations.

The Suffolk DA’s Office says the Diocese of Rockvile Centre contacted it originally, but some residents say the church should have dealt with the issue many years ago.

Parishioner William Brown, of Malverne, says that the Roman Catholic Church hasn’t been strict enough when it comes to cracking down on abusive priests.

He says in this case, he’s somewhat surprised by the allegations against Parisi, but not completely.

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PENNSYLVANIA
WJAC

BY KODY LEIBOWITZ WEDNESDAY, JUNE 29TH 2016

HARRISBURG — Changes to the statute of limitations bill are now facing the state senate after passing through another committee.

But this bill comes with some speculation as to what happens next.

As currently amended, House Bill 1947 would still abolish the criminal statute of limitations prospectively, meaning a future victim of child sex abuse could go after criminal charges. The amendment passed Tuesday morning in a state senate committee.

The bill would also extend the civil statute of limitations to the age of 50 from age 30 for future victims.

Senators voted 9-4 to amend the statute of limitations bill, which took out retroactivity for civil lawsuits due to constitutionality concerns. Advocates and victims of sex abuse continue to say this bill doesn’t do enough and have asked for retroactivity to let the courts decide, while insurance and catholic church lobbyists said the provision would be unconstitutional.

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NORTHERN IRELAND
BBC News

A retired RUC detective has told the Historical Institutional Abuse Inquiry that when he started looking into events at Kincora Boys Home, the then Chief Constable Sir Jack Hermon told him to leave “no stone unturned”.

Former Detective Chief Superintendent George Caskey was giving evidence at the ongoing hearing in Banbridge.

He led the Kincora Inquiries from 1980-1985.

Six people were imprisoned for sexual abuse as a result of his team’s work.

Joseph Mains, Raymond Semple and William McGrath were jailed for abusing boys at Kincora.

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NORTHERN IRELAND
The Irish News

Michael McHugh, Press Association
29 June, 2016

THERE was no evidence of paedophile or prostitution rings involving members of the establishment at Kincora boys’ home in Northern Ireland, a retired detective has said.

The east Belfast home has long been at the centre of allegations about a group of abusers involving high-profile political and military figures in the 1970s.

There are also claims that security services covered up the abuse in order to use the perpetrators for intelligence purposes.

Retired Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) detective chief superintendent George Caskey said: “There was no paedophile ring or prominent figures involved in abusing boys at Kincora.”

However children were often legitimately moved between homes as part of normal care arrangements and an individual working at another premises may have advised a paedophile convicted of abuse about his targets, the former senior officer told retired judge Sir Anthony Hart’s Historical Institutional Abuse (HIA) inquiry.

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UNITED STATES
BishopAccountability.org

Compiled by BishopAccountability.org

This page was last updated at 11:00 a.m. on June 29, 2016. Please refresh the page whenever you visit; it will be revised and improved frequently.

Each summer, BishopAccountability.org summarizes the names that have been added to our Database of Accused Bishops, Priests, Nuns, Brothers, and Seminarians in the last year. The list is published as the back page of the program for SNAP’s annual conference.

SNAP leaders are instrumental in helping survivors come forward, and our annual list is intended to acknowledge that valuable work, and also to provide a convenient list of recent additions to the database. The text of the list that we published in the program may be viewed here.

Below we provide a linked version of the list. Click on a name to view the current Database entry for that accused person. This online version of the list has been updated to include persons who have been added to our database after the deadline for submitting copy for the program. Those additional names are marked +.

Most of the persons on this list have been publicly accused for the first time during the past year. A few were accused previously, but only came to our attention recently. Several others have been included after we reexamined their allegations and confirmed that they qualified for inclusion, based on our posting policy.

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CANADA
The Telegram

Barb Sweet
Published on June 29, 2016

Psychologist Peter Badgio told the Mount Cashel civil trial at Newfoundland Supreme Court this morning he doesn’t know enough about a particular Christian Brother to say if he was a sexual sadist.

Lawyer Will Hiscock is cross-examining Badgio, called as a expert witness for the Roman Catholic Episcopal Corp. of St. John’s, which refutes claims it should be held responsible for physical and sexual abuse of boys during the era late 1940s to early 1960s by certain members of the lay order Christian Brothers at the orphanage.

The church maintains it did not oversee the facility.

Badgio, of Philadelphia, Pa., met four test case John Does in 2010. He said he took their reports of abuse as fact as he was asked to evaluate the impact on their lives, not whether it happened.

The Does’ lawyer Will Hiscock pointed out Ronald J. Lasik had a custom-made strap and challenged Badgio on whether that was a tool of sexual sadism.

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GUAM
Guam Daily Post

Louella Losinio | Post News Staff

The National Association of Social Workers, Guam Chapter, has expressed support for Bill 326-33, the measure authored by Sen. Frank Blas Jr. that would amend current law to remove the statute of limitations in civil cases involving child sex abuse.

Craig Burns, NASW chapter president, said the group acknowledges the courage of each and every victim who comes forward, whether in the immediate aftermath of an assault or after many decades.

“Any measure to remove barriers to victims coming forward is a move in the right direction,” he said in a release sent yesterday.

According to Burns, recent events have brought the issue of child sexual abuse and molestation into the public consciousness. “Although the events being reported occurred almost four decades ago, the issue of child sexual abuse and molestation is something that has no time limits,” Burns said.

“The impact of child abuse cascades throughout one’s lifetime with a combination of economic, social, mental health and health consequences,” he said.

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UNITED KINGDOM
The Tablet

29 June 2016 | by Richard Leonard

When they come to analyse major shifts and changes in society, cultural theorists speak of “fault lines”. They sometimes apply the London Underground’s famous safety warning: “Mind the gap”. Two recent events made me aware of contemporary Catholicism’s major fault lines, and how we need to very carefully mind the gaps.

The first was a gathering for 85 well-educated Catholics aged 18–25. Quickly, conversation settled on one of the many consequences of the clergy sexual abuse crisis: the Church’s lack of credibility in its moral teaching. It appeared none of them would give the Church’s position much weight because the gap between our teaching and practice has been revealed to be just too great.

The case study in this discussion became same-sex marriage. As well as I tried to positively present the Church’s ideas about the nature of marriage – and this was before Pope Francis said the Church should apologise for the way it treated gay people in the past – not only did these young Catholics reject these arguments, it also was clear they just didn’t understand them.

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AUSTRALIA
The Courier

Melissa Cunningham
@MeljCunningham

June 29, 2016

National party candidate and clergy abuse survivor Paul Tatchell says lives will continue to be at risk until a redress scheme for all victims of childhood sexual abuse is implemented.

A recommendation from the Royal Commission Into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse said national redress for survivors should be fast-tracked by the federal government as a matter of urgency.

Redress for survivors is above party politics, Mr Tatchell said.

“We have a directive from a Royal Commission but we are putting it through a bureaucratic and political process which to me shows contempt for people suffering,” he said.“It’s putting politics before people.”

While Labor has pledged $33 million to establish a national redress scheme, the federal government said a single scheme would take too long to complete. Instead it is pushing for a national framework of consistent principles which would underpin redress schemes run by states and territories. Mr Tatchell said he couldn’t support the Coalition’s stance.

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UNITED STATES
Yated Ne’eman

By Yated – Jun 22, 2016

The Novominsker Rebbe, Rav Yaakov Perlow, issued a call for action in response to the festering scourge of child abuse and molestation. As a result of his seminal address at the recent Torah Umesorah convention, several groundbreaking initiatives have been launched to ensure that our children are safe at all times.

Torah Umesorah is preparing to train hundreds of principals, rabbeim and mechanchos across the country. This training will provide them with tools not only to prevent instances of child abuse and molestation from occurring within their schools, but also to recognize symptoms among students indicating that they may have been molested outside the school setting. (Statistics show that perpetrators are rarely strangers; generally, they are people the child knows and trusts.) The training program is slated to begin this fall.

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UNITED STATES
Frum Follies

An unsigned article in Yated Ne’eman (6/22/16), A Call to Action, claims fantastic things were initiated by the Novominsker Rebbe, Rabbi Yaakov Perlow, head of the Moetzet (Council of Torah Sages of Agudath Israel of America). The naïve can be forgiven for believing they live in Moshiach times. The article starts:

The Novominsker Rebbe, Rav Yaakov Perlow, issued a call for action in response to the festering scourge of child abuse and molestation. As a result of his seminal address at the recent Torah Umesorah convention, several groundbreaking initiatives have been launched to ensure that our children are safe at all times.

Unfortunately, they leave out most of the words spoken by R. Perlow at Torah Umesorah (5/26/16) and instead imply he has said all sorts of things which he did not .

I transcribed and posted his Torah Umesorah speech where he complained about bloggers on abuse, opposed extending the statute of limitations for child sex abuse, and insisted rabbis should decide whether to report abuse to the police. Most of all, he got all defensive and lashed out at bloggers as liars. He got in a lather about how much rabbonim care. But the real issue is not caring but tachlis, action.

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UNITED STATES
Frum Follies

I am a non-partisan critic of Jewish organizations. I will go after any group that enables child abuse. In my last post I revealed Satmar’s sad history in the case of Yisroel Moshe (Israel) Weingarten. Today I want to talk about Agudath Israel of America. They think of themselves as the voice of torah-true Jewry. Yet they are guilty of collusion with the ongoing epidemic of sexual abuse of children by frum Jews. They can hurl thunderbolts to confront a modern orthodox rabbi who ordains one woman. They can mobilize their masses for rachmonis on Martin Grossman, a vicious Jewish murderer. But suddenly they loose their oomph and speak bikol dmamah dakah when it comes to child molesting (unless of course the offender is a goy).

After being confronted by protesters two years ago at their convention they made noises about their willingness to confront the issue. A year ago, their lay leader, Rabbi Dovid Zweibel, Esq. used their convention to speak with passion about their dawning realization about the problem and their commitment to find a way to respond. This year they unveiled their response. It took the form of high profile speech by the head of their Moetzes, the Novominsker Rebbe (Rabbi Yaakov Perlow). At their annual convention over Thanksgiving weekend, Rabbi Perlow devoted over 12 minutes to the issue. Below are his words, followed by my reactions.

THE NOVOMINSKER REBBE’S SPEECH

Let me mention something else, another painful subject, which has arisen in our tzibbur, and it’s time that we recognize it, even in public (inaudible short Yiddish phrase). And sweep it out from under the carpet.

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UNITED STATES
Frum Follies

[with video]

I don’t know whether to laugh or cry about the latest pronouncements about child sex abuse by Agudath Israel of America’s lead figure, the Novominsker Rebbe, Rabbi Yaakov Perlow, on Sunday, May 26th at the Annual Convention of Torah Umesorah, the national umbrella organization for ultra orthodox Jewish schools. Below is a full transcript of the videotaped talk with translations in parentheses and my annotations below each section.

One of the problems that we are facing, more today, that we weren’t aware of, and it has to be mentioned, for a number of reasons, is the abuse of young people, b’oifen gufni (physical abuse) and molestation, al d’avoinoseinu harabim (which because of our many sins), have gotten into our tzibur (community).

Rabbi Yaakov Perlow (RYP) is dishonest in claiming they were not aware if the problem for decades. In fact he participated in the cover-up of the sex abuse of Yehuda Kolko among many other cases where molesting teachers were allowed to keep their jobs.

It is convenient for him to claim the problems have “gotten into our community” as if the problem wasn’t festering inside.

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GEORGIA
Atlanta Journal-Constitution

An Indiana pastor accused of trying to have sex with a minor died in what officials believe to be a suicide, Cobb County police said.

David James Brown’s body was discovered about noon Monday in a unit at Attic Self Storage near Marietta, Cobb police Sgt. Dana Pierce told the Lexington Herald Leader in Kentucky.

Brown, 46, was the senior pastor of First Christian Church in Jeffersonville, Ind. He was arrested June 15 after he arranged to meet with who he believed to be an underage boy to “engage in sex acts with him,” Kentucky Attorney General Andy Beshear’s office told the newspaper. Brown planned the meeting over the messaging app Kik and agreed to meet the boy in Frankfort, Ky.

When he arrived, he found that he was actually corresponding with an undercover cyber crime officer, officials said.

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NEW YORK/NEW JERSEY
Crux

Associated Press
June 29, 2016

Two New York-area developments illustrate the ongoing fallout from the child sexual abuse scandals in the Catholic Church, with the conviction of a former Paterson, N.J., priest for criminal sexual contact with an adolescent girl and the suspension of a current Long Island pastor over an abuse charge.

The former New Jersey priest was convicted of endangering the welfare of a child and criminal sexual contact after authorities say he lured a 14-year-old girl to his living quarters and molested her.

A Passaic County jury convicted Jose Lopez of luring Tuesday, but found him not guilty of attempted sexual assault.

Prosecutors say Lopez took the girl into his living quarters at St. Mary’s Assumption Church in Passaic in 2013 and touched her inappropriately.

Lopez has denied that he touched her sexually.

Defense attorney James Porfido says Lopez often hugged and kissed the girl near her mother. He says the interactions were never sexual.

Porfido says he’s shocked by the verdict.

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OHIO
Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests

For immediate release, June 29, 2016

Statement by: Judy Jones, SNAP Midwest Associate Director, 636-433-2511, SNAPjudy@gmail.com

A Catholic seminarian who attracted national media attention and spent time in Ohio, Vermont and Kentucky is scheduled to be sentenced on Friday (7/1) for horrific child sex crimes.

Former Josephinum College student Joel Wright travelled to San Diego seeking infants for sex.

We hope he will be given a long sentence. This dangerous child predator, who was rejected by forty other seminaries, needs to be kept far away from kids forever.

Wright was a seminarian in Columbus diocese, but he was also sponsored by the Steubenville diocese in Ohio. He also studied in Kentucky and is originally from Vermont.

Let’s hope that Vermont Bishop Christopher Coyne, Columbus Bishop Frederick Campbell, Steubenville Bishop Jeffrey Montforton and Covington Bishop Roger Foys will use pulpit announcements, parish bulletins and church websites to do what they should have done long ago – do outreach to others who may be suffering from Wright’s wrongdoing.

And we hope that current and former staff at St. Thomas More College near Covington Kentucky, Franciscan University in Steubenville and Josephinum in Columbus will aggressively seek out others with information or suspicions about other crimes by Wright and cover ups by his colleagues or supervisors.

And let’s hope that anyone who may have seen, suspected or suffered crimes by Wright will find the courage to come forward and contact law enforcement no matter how long ago the crimes may have happened.

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MISSOURI
Berger’s Beat

. . .Robert Vonnahmen, one of the area’s most notorious pedophile priests, has passed away though no Catholic official has acknowledged it in any formal way. As recently as 2013, Archbishop Robert Carlson let Vonnahmen run ads in the archdiocesan newspaper for the San Damiano Shrine in southern Illinois which the defrocked child molester operated. .

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PENNSYLVANIA
Catholics4Change

by Rich Green

What happened to my constitutional rights? I was just a little kid (beginning at around 7-years-old and continued until I was nearly 15). I was raped! I was physically, psychologically, and sexually tortured by grown men who were entrusted to protect me, not abuse me!

The only real justice in this life seems to be the kind some people purchase with secret handshakes, promises of favors returned, and the enormity of money and power offered for ignoring evil.

However, I’m not surprised with this decision. I haven’t had faith in much of anything in a very long time. I suppose it has something to do with my body being forced against a urinal in the boys bathroom at school, humiliated with my trousers and underwear being yanked down below my knees, threatened with physical harm, and then raped. He told me to shut up and stand still. I tried desperately to stay quiet, but as my front torso was being shoved against the inside of the urinal I was screaming in my mind. I can still hear myself silently suffering all alone, and I can still feel the chill against my face and the salty moisture on my lips from the tears beading down the tile wall he pressed my face against it. When the pain became too much, I shouted and I tried wedging myself away from between he and the urinal.

He became so enraged he grabbed my testicles and squeezed one so hard that it was severely painful, and beyond uncomfortable for me to walk, sit still, and use the bathroom for weeks. After he was through with me, he told me to get dressed and go home. I realized then that he’d actually penetrated me so forcefully and violently that I was bleeding from his evil intrusion. I returned home after school, I ran upstairs to my bedroom, closed the door, and hid beneath the blanket in bed. I don’t believe I slept for even one second of that night following the day Rev. John J. McDevitt told me “this is what guys do together. I’m teaching you to be a man. God approves.”

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PENNSYLVANIA
Catholics4Change

Provided by FASCA – Foundation to Abolish Child Sex Abuse

If you ever wanted to do something to support victims of child sex abuse, protect children and expose hidden predators, IT IS NOW! HB 1947 was brutally amended by the PA Senate Judiciary Committee today.

It went to the full Senate today and was referred to Appropriations. This is normal to assess the fiscal impact of the bill.

It will come back to Senate for a vote as early as tomorrow but could be Thursday also.
Several legislators have come up with a plan on how to get the bill back to its original language, eliminating the new amendment, putting back the section related to retroactivity and get it to the governor’s desk ASAP. Gov. Wolf has previously stated he would sign the bill in its original form.

This is how you can help:

Call your Senator TODAY. (You can leave a voice message!) Find your Senator here. It’s in the column on left.

Simply ask them to: “Support the motion to revert HB 1947 to the original printer’s number.”

Share this email with family and friends. Ask them to call also.”

I know this likely doesn’t make any sense to you, but it will to the Senators. (It’s a procedural move that can accomplish good things!)

Questions?
John Salveson (215) 870-0680 salveson@abolishsexabuse.org
Marie Whitehead 215-439-0536 mwhitehead@abolishsexabuse.org

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SCOTLAND
BBC News

The credibility of the Scottish government’s child abuse inquiry is at risk after a key panel member resigned, an abuse survivors group has said.

Psychology professor Michael Lamb stood down on Tuesday over what he claimed were “repeated” threats” to the inquiry’s independence.

Helen Holland, from In Care Survivors, said those who had already given evidence deserved answers quickly.

The Scottish government has rejected Prof Lamb’s comments.

The Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry – which concerns historical allegations in Scotland – will examine the extent of abuse of children in care, and identify any systemic failures.

It launched a formal call for evidence in March, but has already heard from some seriously ill or very elderly survivors.

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NEW YORK
Daily Journal

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
June 29, 2016

CENTRAL ISLIP, New York — Prosecutors are investigating allegations that a Long Island Catholic priest had sexually abused a minor years ago.

Newsday (http://nwsdy.li/29exuq2 ) reports that the Suffolk County District Attorney’s office said Tuesday it received a complaint from the Dioceses of Rockville Centre regarding the allegations against the Rev. Frank Parisi.

Parisi has been pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes Roman Catholic Church in Malverne for the past 11 years.

In a note published in the June 19 parish bulletin, Parisi said he was voluntarily stepping down until “I have been cleared” of the allegations.

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DEUTSCHLAND
MissBiT

[Bishop Stephan Ackermann: Why not mention how many perpetrators were added under your responsibility in the diocese of Trier and in how many cases you ever have a responsibility that no evidence of sexual assault can be found in the personal files?]

Bischof Dr. Stephan Ackermann: Warum erwähnen Sie nicht, wie viele Täter unter Ihrer Verantwortung im Bistum Trier versetzt wurden und in wie vielen Fällen Sie selber die Verantwortung dafür tragen, dass keine Hinweise auf sexuelle Übergriffe in den Personalakten zu finden sind?

“Oft gibt es in den Personalakten aber keine Hinweise auf sexuelle Übergriffe”, sagt Bischof Stephan Ackermann, Beauftragter der Bischofskonferenz für Fragen sexuellen Missbrauchs. In einer Sache ist sich Bischof Stephan Ackermann sicher: “Es gibt keine Anhaltspunkte für die massenhafte (!) Vernichtung von Akten von Missbrauchsfällen.”

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DEUTSCHLAND
Deutsche Bischofskonferenz

[The German Bishops ‘Conference presented on 24 March 2014 in Bonn the interdisciplinary research project “Sexual abuse of minors by Catholic priests, deacons and male members of religious orders in the German Bishops’ Conference”. Since then, several subprojects are under way, which have now been presented in a first intermediate information from the research consortium led by Prof. Dr. Harald Dressing (Central Institute of Mental Health, Mannheim). Below we document the presentation of the research consortium, in which the sub-projects, and findings from international studies.]

Die Deutsche Bischofskonferenz hat am 24. März 2014 in Bonn das interdisziplinäre Forschungsverbundprojekt „Sexueller Missbrauch an Minderjährigen durch katholische Priester, Diakone und männliche Ordensangehörige im Bereich der Deutschen Bischofskonferenz“ vorgestellt. Seitdem sind mehrere Teilprojekte angelaufen, die jetzt in einer ersten Zwischeninformation vom Forschungskonsortium um Prof. Dr. Harald Dreßing (Zentralinstitut für Seelische Gesundheit Mannheim) vorgestellt wurden. Im Folgenden dokumentieren wir die Präsentation des Forschungskonsortiums, in der die Teilprojekte und Erkenntnisse aus internationalen Studien vorgestellt werden.

Die Präsentation ist untenstehend als pdf-Datei verfügbar.

Weitere Informationen sind im Dossier „Thema: Sexueller Missbrauch“ zu finden.

Dateien:28.06.2016: Zwischenstand Forschungsverbundprojekt „Sexueller Missbrauch“ (MHG-Studie)

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IRELAND
National Board for Safeguarding Children in the Catholic Church

Click here to download the overview report

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IRELAND
Irish Times

Patsy McGarry

Public announcements by the church that a priest is standing aside from ministry due to child abuse allegations should emphasise the presumption of innocence, updated Catholic Church child protection guidelines have said.

Published by the Church’s child protection body, its National Board for Safeguarding Children (NBSC), the guidelines also emphasise that in such cases, while parishioners cannot be told everything, “what they are told should be the truth.”

The Guidance on Child Safeguarding seven documents, published on Wednesday morning, also advise that when an accused priest dies before an investigation has concluded “careful thought should be given by the Church authority to the way the requiem liturgy and internment is conducted. Publicly praising the respondent’s qualities as a priest could have a seriously detrimental impact on complainants.”

Once again the inviolability of the confessional is reiterated. While “all suspicions, concerns and allegations of child abuse must be reported to the statutory authorities,” they state that “there is one exception to this rule. That is “if abuse is disclosed during the Sacrament of Reconciliation,” the documents say.

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KENTUCKY
Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests

For immediate release: Tuesday, June 28, 2016

Statement by David Clohessy of St. Louis, Director of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (314 566 9790, 314 645 5915 home, davidgclohessy@gmail.com)

An accused child predator has passed away. We hope his death will prompt others who may have seen, suspected or suffered his crimes to come forward.

[News and Tribune]

Rev. David James Brown was arrested earlier this month and charged with use of electronic communications to procure a minor for sex. He headed First Christian Church in Jeffersonville.

We hope his colleagues and congregants now do all they can to reach out to others who may have been hurt by Rev. Brown.

No matter what church officials do or don’t do, we urge every single person who saw, suspected or suffered child sex crimes and cover ups in Catholic churches or institutions to protect kids by calling police, get help by calling therapists, expose wrongdoers by calling law enforcement, get justice by calling attorneys, and be comforted by calling support groups like ours. This is how kids will be safer, adults will recover, criminals will be prosecuted, cover ups will be deterred and the truth will surface.

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ILLINOIS
Patch

By Scott Viau (Patch Staff) – June 27, 2016

One of Dennis Hastert’s sexual abuse victims says the movie “Spotlight” helped him gather the courage to share his story.

Scott Cross spoke during a Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests news conference and award ceremony Sunday in Chicago. Cross said during Dennis Hastert’s sentencing that he was a “key figure in my life, as a coach and a teacher.

“The movie ‘Spotlight” was a very powerful moment for me as I struggled talking to my wife about this,” Cross said in a YouTube video of his speech posted by the Chicago Sun-Times. At the behest of his wife, Cross watched the movie alone, which helped him make the decision to come forward.

Cross said Hastert asking his brother, Illinois Rep. Tom Cross, for a letter of support also was a deciding factor.

“As I had gone into therapy, I had been looking for some thoughts on a sign of what to do. And there were several signs that came to me that said I should come forward,” Cross said.

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MISSOURI
Kansas City Star

The Editorial Board

The special Service of Lament on Sunday was a positive, public step toward healing from decades of sexual abuse by priests within the Catholic Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph.

It follows long-needed efforts by the Vatican last year to crack down on bishops who cover up for priests who molest children.

Under that pressure, Bishop Robert W. Finn finally resigned as leader of the diocese in April 2015. That action was too long in coming; it was three years after he was convicted of failing to report suspected child abuse by a priest, Shawn Ratigan.

Ratigan, who has been removed from the priesthood, pleaded guilty in 2013 to federal charges of producing and attempting to produce child pornography and was sentenced to 50 years in prison.

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NEW JERSEY
Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests

For immediate release: Tuesday, June 28, 2016

Statement by David Clohessy of St. Louis, Director of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (314 566 9790, 314 645 5915 home, davidgclohessy@gmail.com)

We’re relieved and grateful that a Paterson priest has been found guilty of child sex crimes. We applaud the brave girl who reported her suffering and hope this verdict brings her and her family some well-deserved consolation.

[The Record]

We also hope this verdict will bring solace to others who may have seen, suspected or suffered child sex crimes or cover ups in Paterson, by Fr. Jose Lopez or other clerics. And we hope these individuals will find the strength to speak up, expose wrongdoers, call police and start healing.

Finally, we hope Paterson Bishop Arthur Serratelli will

–aggressively use church bulletins, pulpit announcements and parish websites to find others with information or suspicions about Fr. Lopez and beg them to call law enforcement. It’s important that courts, prosecutors and cops know as much as possible about criminals before they’re sentenced.

–insist that his flock stop publicly rallying around a now-proven predator. That kind of callousness only deters other victims of horrific sexual violence into staying silent, which enables child molesters to hurt more kids.

No matter what church officials do or don’t do, we urge every single person who saw, suspected or suffered child sex crimes and cover ups in Catholic churches or institutions to protect kids by calling police, get help by calling therapists, expose wrongdoers by calling law enforcement, get justice by calling attorneys, and be comforted by calling support groups like ours. This is how kids will be safer, adults will recover, criminals will be prosecuted, cover ups will be deterred and the truth will surface.

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AUSTRALIA
Sydney Morning Herald

[with video]

Sexual predators can move freely between youth organisations by exploiting nationally inconsistent child protection laws and loopholes in background checks, a royal commission has heard.

Giving evidence on the seventh day of a public inquiry into the Australian Defence Force, retired Air Commodore Dennis Green agreed the situation created risks for youngsters.

Commodore Green is a former director general of the Australian Air Force Cadets, where the commission has heard a number of teenagers suffered sexual abuse.

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GUAM
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Agana

Archbishop Savio Hon Tai Fai, S.D.B., Apostolic Administrator of the Archdiocese of Agaña, cordially invites and encourages all of the clergy, consecrated religious, and lay faithful of the diocese to participate in a

Prayer Meeting for UNITY
this coming Saturday, July 2, 2016 at 7:30 p.m. at the Dulce Nombre de Maria Cathedral-Basilica in Hagatña.

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GUAM
KUAM

Updated: Jun 28, 2016
By Krystal Paco

While he’s being criticized for lack of action, in the latest issue of Umatuna Si Yu’os, Vatican-appointed apostolic administrator Archbishop Savio Hon Tai Fai assures the community he continues to meet with clergy, religious, and others of the archdiocese including the council of priests and college of consultors. He wrote, “During my meetings and visits I have become aware of the hurt and suffering that is present in the archdiocese and would like to assure the people of God that all the clergy will work together for the unity of this local church and that prayers will be offered for those who have experienced suffering and pain in the past; for healing, strength, and renewed hope for the future.”

On Saturday, Archbishop Hon also invites the community for a prayer meeting for unity set for 7:30 p.m. at the Agana Cathedral.

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ARGENTINA
Pagina 12

[The scandal reaches the dome: The Public Prosecutor presented wiretaps as evidence of the active participation of the highest ecclesiastical authority to protect Nestor Monzon, priest accused of aggravated sexual abuse to a child of three years.]

Por Juan Carlos Tizziani
Desde Santa Fe

La semana pasada, el Ministerio Público de la Acusación ponderó las escuchas telefónicas al cura de Reconquista, Néstor Monzón, como pruebas de que “la Iglesia puso en marcha todo su aparato para proteger” al sacerdote que estuvo 60 días en prisión domiciliaria por supuesto “abuso sexual gravemente ultrajante” a una niña de 3 años. Así lo planteó en la audiencia del martes, ante juez Irineo Berzano, quien -a pesar de las evidencias- dejó en libertad a Monzón. Ayer, el fiscal Alejandro Rodríguez avanzó en el destape: acusó a la abogada del Obispado de Reconquista, Gabriela Contepomi, por supuesto “encubrimiento agravado” a Monzón. “Lo ayudó a hacer desaparecer pruebas de sus delitos, le dijo reiteradamente que borre todo. Lo repitió en siete oportunidades y esto es lo que hemos imputado”, explicó el fiscal. Los otros en la mira son el obispo de Reconquista, Angel José Macín, a quien la querella ya denunció por el mismo cargo que pesa sobre Contepomi y podría ser imputado en los próximos días, según fuentes consultadas por Rosario/12. Y su antecesor y hoy obispo de Posadas, Juan Martínez, al que otro fiscal que interviene en la causa, Rubén Martínez, lo acusa de haberlo “abordado” afuera del Tribunal -en la audiencia imputativa a Monzón- con “una actitud de entorpecimiento de su trabajo investigativo”. El fiscal regional Eladio García ya dijo en público que “hay un encubrimiento claro”, así que ahora evalúa si el Ministerio Público imputará a los dos obispos. Mientras que Macín escribió una carta a la “querida comunidad diocesana de Reconquista” en la que pidió “perdón por el escándalo” y se declaró dispuesto “a colaborar con la justicia”.

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CANADA
The Telegram

Barb Sweet
Published on June 28, 2016

A clinical psychologist told a civil trial Tuesday that sexual abuse at Mount Cashel did not result in any permanent diagnosis of psychological disorders for the John Does in the case.

Peter Badgio of Philadelphia, Pa., also discounted a theory that severe beatings — including an infamous shower incident — of one of the John Does was sexual sadism.

Four test case John Does claim the Roman Catholic Episcopal Corp. of St. John’s should be held liable for the sexual and physical abuse perpetrated by certain members of the lay order Irish Christian Brothers at the orphanage during the late 1940s to early 1960s.

The church says it did not operate the orphanage, and therefore is not responsible.

Badgio was originally retained by the Christian Brothers, but they are no longer defendants in the case, as they are bankrupt. He was called to the stand Tuesday by Chris Blom, a lawyer for the Episcopal Corp.

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PENNSYLVANIA
We Are Central PA

By Lauren Handley | lhandley@wtajtv.com
Published 06/28 2016

Harrisburg, Dauphin County, Pa.

House Bill 1947, the legislation that would change the statute of limitations in child sexual abuse cases, passed the Senate Committee Tuesday, but not before some changes were made.

The bill was first stripped of the amendment that would make it retroactive.

According to Senator John Eichelberger (R) representing the 30th District, the Senate Committee eliminated the statute of limitations for civil and criminal actions. This essentially puts no cap on the time frame a person may seek jutice. It also expanded the people who could be sued in civil lawsuits. That means, those who covered it up could also be sued.

Representative Mark Rozzi (D) of Berks County disagrees. He said the changes make it so only perpetrators can be sued, not the institutions. He added he thinks the new amendments are ridiculous.

“They got everything they wanted today,” he said. “Not only were they the criminals committing the crimes but they got the right legislation that protects them. At the end of the day, you know, this amendment is ********. They did it to protect the church. Scarnati was the hit man that did it.”

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NEW YORK
Syracuse.com

[with video]

By Elizabeth Doran | edoran@syracuse.com

UTICA, NY – Grace Leonard, sister of two teens beaten at the Word of Life Christian Church near Utica, testified Tuesday about abuse she said she suffered at the hands of her brothers.

She also described how the church pastor, Tiffanie Irwin, called out her brother, Lucas Leonard, in church and asked him to stand up and say why he wanted to leave the church. Grace Leonard testified her brother said he wanted to leave the church so he could molest little girls and get away with it.

Grace Leonard, 16, who was testifying in the trial of her sister, Sarah Ferguson, said the beatings happened in a counseling session after Sunday church service on Oct. 11, 2015.

Sarah Ferguson is accused of taking part in the beatings that killed one of her half-brothers, 19-year-old Lucas Leonard, and severely injured another half-brother, Christopher Leonard, 17, at the church in New Hartford.

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NEW YORK
People Magazine

BY CHRIS HARRIS @chrisharrisment 06/28/2016

Christopher Leonard, the 17-year-old survivor of an alleged prolonged beating last fall inside a secretive upstate New York church, admitted while testifying on Monday he “inappropriately” touched several children, PEOPLE learns.

The unexpected revelation came during the third day of the murder trial for Leonard’s half-sister, Sarah Ferguson, as he recalled the events of Oct. 12, 2015.

That evening, Leonard and his 19-year-old brother, Lucas, were allegedly whipped and pummeled by several church members, including their own parents. The alleged violence lasted more than a dozen hours, and Lucas eventually died from injuries he’d sustained.

Prosecutors contend the alleged beatings began soon after both brothers approached church leaders with their plans to defect.

The alleged violence, authorities say, was fueled by the church’s 30-year-old pastor, Tiffanie Irwin. Initially, authorities believe Irwin falsely accused the two teens of sexually abusing their younger siblings and cousins over the course of several years.

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GEORGIA
Gainesville Times

By Nick Watson
nwatson@gainesvilletimes.com
@NickWatsonTimes

A former Gainesville Scoutmaster and members of First Baptist Church named in a March civil lawsuit have filed responses, claiming the statute of limitations has been reached and the entities can’t be sued.

Royal Fleming Weaver Jr. is accused of raping Robert William Lawson III during a scouting event in 1985, according to a civil action filed in Fulton County State Court.

Weaver was a former deacon with First Baptist Church, which sponsored Troop 26. Weaver was a scoutmaster for the troop from 1969-1981.

The case has since moved to Cobb County Superior Court, where the Boy Scouts of America are registered.

In its answer filed Friday, First Baptist Church called the complaint “inflammatory and appears to have been carefully framed to garner media attention.”

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NEW YORK
CNY Homepage

[with video]

By Angie Pavlovsky | apavlovsky@wutr.tv
Published 06/28 2016

UTICA

Another day of testimony in the Word of Life Case, today, a closer look at what happened behind the walls of the Leonard household.

In the eyes of her younger brother, Sarah Ferguson was his tormentor-

” If you had to rank who hit you the most- who hit you the most with the cord… Sarah.” Christopher Leonard said answering D.A. Scott McNamara’s question.

However to her younger sister, she’s the person who saved her life.

“When you say protect, protect you from who? My two brothers Lucas and Christopher. ”

Grace Leonard took the stand today, the young girl described years of sexual abuse at the hands of her brothers, acts she confided in Sarah and Pastor Tiffiane Irwin a year before the fatal counseling session.

She recalls sex abuse in her definition” being touched when you do not wish to be touched” as early as age 5, Lucas would have been 10 at the time.

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PENNSYLVANIA
Catholic Philly

By Amy Hill • Posted June 28, 2016

The Pennsylvania Senate Judiciary Committee took action on House Bill 1947 today, June 28. With an 8-4 vote the committee amended the bill to strip the provision that would retroactively nullify the civil statute of limitations for childhood sexual abuse cases from decades ago. The committee cited conflicts with Pennsylvania’s state constitution as the reason for the change.

The committee maintained the provision that will prospectively eliminate the criminal statute of limitations. The amendment also prospectively allows abuse survivors to sue either public or private entities under an equal standard of proof until they reach age 50, and allows survivors to sue in certain cases beyond age 50.

The amended bill passed out of the committee unanimously and is expected to be considered on the Senate floor this week. The Pennsylvania Catholic Conference will review the details of the amended bill to determine what impact it may have.

In a statement, the PCC reiterated that no matter the final resolution of the legislation, the Catholic Church will keep its sincere commitment to the emotional and spiritual well-being of individuals who have been impacted by the crime of childhood sexual abuse, no matter how long ago the crime was committed.

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PENNSYLVANIA
WITF

Written by Katie Meyer | Jun 29, 2016

(Harrisburg) — The state Senate Judiciary Committee has passed an amendment to weaken a bill that aims to make it easier for victims of childhood sex abuse to file charges against their attackers.

The original proposal had a clause that allowed the law to be applied retroactively and would have enabled victims to take legal action on assaults that happened up to four decades ago.

But the amendment removes that retroactivity clause.

Some, including advocates for the Catholic Church, said the clause could introduce flawed cases against the institution.

Democratic Representative Mark Rozzi of Berks County has a personal connection to the legislation–at 13, he was abused by a priest.

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NEW JERSEY
Clay Center Dispatch

PATERSON, N.J. (AP) — A former New Jersey priest has been convicted of endangering the welfare of a child and criminal sexual contact after authorities say he lured a 14-year-old girl to his living quarters and molested her.

A Passaic County jury also convicted Jose Lopez of luring Tuesday. They found him not guilty of attempted sexual assault.

Prosecutors say Lopez took the girl into his living quarters at St. Mary’s Assumption Church in Passaic in 2013 and touched her inappropriately.

Lopez has denied that he touched her sexually.

Defense attorney James Porfido says Lopez often hugged and kissed the girl near her mother. He says the interactions were never sexual.

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KENTUCKY
The Courier-Journal

Bobby Shipman, The Courier-Journal June 28, 2016

A Jeffersonville pastor charged with seeking sex with a minor died Monday, according to a release from the church.

An undercover investigation nabbed David James Brown, 46, earlier this month, when he was charged with one count of prohibited use of an electronic communication system for the purpose of procuring a minor for a sex offense.

Brown was the head pastor at First Christian Church of Jeffersonville.

“We were deeply saddened to learn yesterday about the tragic passing of Dave Brown,” said Chad Boseker, a Youth Minister at the church. “Please pray for his family and our church.”

Brown traveled to Frankfort on June 15 to meet with a person he thought was a minor – in reality, an investigator who communicated with the pastor online – and was booked into Franklin County Regional Jail on a $10,000 bond.

According to online records, Brown posted bond on June 20 and was scheduled for a second preliminary hearing Tuesday at 1 p.m.

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KENTUCKY
WAVE

By Charles Gazaway, Digital Content Producer

LOUISVILLE, KY (WAVE) – The southern Indiana pastor arrested earlier this month after traveling to Central Kentucky for a sexual encounter with a minor has died.

David James Brown, 46, had been arrested June 15 in Frankfort by investigators from the Kentucky Attorney General’s Office. Investigators said Brown’s arrest came after he used an online site to arrange a meeting for sex with a minor and arrived at the parking lot where the meeting was to take place.

Brown, who at the time of his arrest was senior pastor at First Christian Church of Jeffersonville, was charged with use of electronic communications to procure a minor for sex. He was booked into the Franklin County Regional Jail on $10,000 cash bond. The church placed Brown on administrative leave following his arrest.

In a statement issued by the church to the News and Tribune, a news gathering partner of WAVE 3 News, Youth Minister Chad Bosecker said Brown died Monday in Georgia where he was with family.

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INDIANA
News and Tribune

BY ELIZABETH DEPOMPEI

JEFFERSONVILLE — A Jeffersonville pastor arrested earlier this month died Monday, according to church staff.

David James Brown, 46, was arrested in Kentucky after allegedly arranging to meet a minor for sex in Frankfort on June 15, according to newsgathering partner WAVE3 News.

He was later charged with use of electronic communications to procure a minor for sex and booked into the Franklin County Regional Jail on $10,000 cash bond.

Brown was a pastor at First Christian Church in Jeffersonville. The church said in a statement that Brown was put on administrative leave following his arrest, according to WAVE.

Youth Minister Chad Bosecker said Brown died in Georgia where he was with family Monday.

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PENNSYLVANIA
PennLive

By Ivey DeJesus | idejesus@pennlive.com

Victims who were sexually abused as children decades ago have long looked to a change in the law for a shot at justice.

Those hopes were dashed on Tuesday with one swift vote from the Senate Judiciary Committee: By a 9-4 vote, the committee voted in favor of an amendment that eliminates from House Bill 1947 a measure that would have allowed victims of past sexual abuse to sue the perpetrators.

“My perpetrator sighs with relief knowing he got a free pass to continue to molest children. He will sleep well tonight,” said Kristen Pfautz Woolley, a victim of child sex abuse and founder of Turning Point Women’s Counseling & Advocacy Center in York. “The responsibility for every child that my perpetrator violates from this day forward lies squarely on the shoulders of the Senate Judiciary Committee members. I hope they can sleep tonight.”

The measure was widely one of the last hopes for victims of clergy sex abuse in Pennsylvania. With few exceptions, most victims out of the abuse scandals in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia and the Altoona-Johnstown Diocese have timed out of the legal system due to expired statutes.

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NEW JERSEY
The Record

BY KIBRET MARKOS
STAFF WRITER | THE RECORD

A former Passaic priest faces up to 10 years in prison after being convicted Tuesday of sex charges in a case in which he was accused of molesting a 14-year-old girl, though he was acquitted of the most serious charge against him.

Jose Lopez, 37, showed no emotion as a jury in Superior Court in Paterson found him guilty of luring, child endangerment and criminal sexual contact. The panel found him not guilty of attempted sexual assault.

Passaic County Sheriff’s Officers escorted Lopez out of the courtroom after Judge Sohail Mohammed revoked his bail and ordered him held at the county jail until his sentencing on Nov. 18.

Some of Lopez’s supporters, who filled half of the courtroom, burst into tears and comforted each other after the verdict.

Lisa Squitieri, a Passaic County chief assistant prosecutor, said she was pleased with the verdict but did not comment further.

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CANADA
National Post

Canadian Press

SASKATOON — A study suggests most indigenous children from Saskatchewan and Manitoba were healthy when they were sent to residential schools.

Paul Hackett, a researcher at the University of Saskatchewan, says he and two others analyzed the body mass index of more than 1,700 children entering the schools between 1919 and the 1950s.

The researchers found 80 per cent of the children were at a healthy weight — better than the average Canadian child today.

Hackett says the results suggest the residential school experience set the stage for health problems plaguing indigenous people today.

He says the study also undercuts the government’s justification for performing nutritional experiments on residential school students due to their poor health.

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PENNSYLVANIA
Tribune-Review

BY CARLEY MOSSBROOK | Tuesday, June 28, 2016

HARRISBURG – The Senate Judiciary Committee passed a bill on Tuesday that would remove the criminal statute of limitations on sexual abuse cases moving forward and give victims until they are 50 years old to file civil suits against institutions found negligent.

The bill also would remove the statute of limitations on civil suits against individuals who committed the sexual abuse. It also would remove the statute of limitations against those who conspire with the perpetrator to facilitate the abuse and those who know about the perpetrator’s abuse but fail to report it to law enforcement.

The committee also voted to strip a provision that would have allowed victims to file civil suits retroactively against institutions until the victim turns 50. The retroactive provision was part of a bill previously approved by the House.

The amendment, introduced by Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati, R- Cameron County, passed 9-4. Those in the minority disagreed over whether the courts should decide the constitutionality of retroactive lawsuits.

“In this case, if it is a matter of sympathy or balance of equities, I would oppose the Scarnati amendment,” said Sen. Daylin Leach, D-Montgomery County, adding the committee has an “independent obligation” to decide on the bill’s constitutionality.

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SCOTLAND
Scotsman

CHRIS MARSHALL
Tuesday 28 June 2016

An independent expert has resigned from his position on Scotland’s child abuse inquiry claiming it is “doomed” due to Scottish Government interference.

Professor Michael Lamb, a professor of psychology at Cambridge University, said the inquiry’s fact-finding was being “constrained” and “micro-managed” by ministers.

QC Susan O’Brien is leading Scotland’s inquiry into the historical abuse of children in care, which is expected to last four years.

Professor Lamb joined Ms O’Brien at a launch event in March during which the QC told abuse survivors the inquiry would “shine a light into the dark corners of the past”.

But in an open letter to education secretary John Swinney, Mr Lamb said he had grown frustrated that the Scottish Government was continuing to interfere “in ways large and small, directly and indirectly”.

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SCOTLAND
Herald Scotland

Helen McArdle, News Reporter / @HMcardleHT

A LEADING academic has criticised Scottish Government “interference” as he resigned from an historic child abuse inquiry.

Professor Michael Lamb said he was stepping down “with deep regret” from the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry, where he was a panel member, saying that it had “become increasingly clear over the last nine months that the Panel cannot act independently” and that the Scottish Government “intends to continue interfering in ways large and small, directly and indirectly”.

Prof Lamb, of Cambridge University, tendered his resignation today in a letter to Deputy First Minister John Swinney.

He stated: “Continuing interference threatens to prevent the Inquiry from investigating thoroughly and taking robust evidence of the highest quality.

“To be worthwhile, the Inquiry must ask fearlessly about what happened to children in care, who and what institutions failed in their duties of care at the time and subsequently, how the affected individuals can ‘be made whole,’ and how we can ensure that such unconscionable events never happen again.

“Crucially, its factfinding should not be constrained or micro-managed by one of the bodies whose actions or failures to act may ultimately be criticised.”

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SCOTLAND
BBC News

A key member of the Scottish Government’s child abuse inquiry has resigned, saying it is “doomed” by government interference.

Psychology professor Michael Lamb said there had been “repeated threats” to the independence of the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry.

The major review is scheduled to last four years, but has been criticised by survivors of abuse.

The Scottish government said it “entirely rejects” Mr Lamb’s comments.

The inquiry, which concerns historical allegations of child abuse in Scotland, will examine the extent of abuse of children in care, and identify any systemic failures.

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CANADA
The Telegram

Barb Sweet

Published on June 28, 2016

Sexual abuse at Mount Cashel did not create happy memories for a John Doe but didn’t result in a long-lasting psychological disturbance, a psychologist told a civil trial this morning.

Peter Badgio of Philadelphia, Pa., was originally retained by the Christian Brothers — no longer a party to the lawsuit — but was called as an expert for the Roman Catholic Episcopal Corp. of St. John’s.

Four test case John Does say the Episcopal Corp. should be held liable for physical and sexual abuse by certain Christian Brothers at the orphanage in the late 1940s to early ’60s.

The church contends it did not run the orphanage.

Badgio this morning was questioned about the case of a John Doe who is retired from the military and began discussing the case of a John Doe who is a retired teacher.

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PENNSYLVANIA
Philly.com

by Maria Panaritis, STAFF WRITER

HARRISBURG – A Senate committee on Tuesday voted to remove the most controversial provision of a bill that would let child sex-abuse victims sue their attackers.

By a near unanimous vote, the Judiciary Committee passed an amendment that bars the law from being applied retroactively, a move that would have enabled lawsuits by victims who were abused as far back as the 1970s.

Opponents have complained the measure would stir a flood of crippling lawsuits against the Catholic Church and other institutions.

Still intact is the plan to extend the civil statute of limitations for future victims, giving them until age 50, rather than 30, as the law now allows. The House bill, which included the retroactivity provision, overwhelmingly passed that chamber in April and Gov. Wolf had said he would sign it.

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PENNSYLVANIA
Herald Courier

Associated Press

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Legislation in Pennsylvania to give victims of child sexual abuse more time to sue took another step forward in the Senate on Tuesday, although not without debate over whether people who have lost the legal ability to sue should get it back.

As a result, the Senate Judiciary Committee’s vote narrowed portions of a bill that passed the House overwhelmingly in April, but broadened the proposal in other parts.

It comes amid scandals involving the Roman Catholic Church in Pennsylvania and a renewed push in Pennsylvania and other states to relax laws that prevent some child sexual abuse victims from suing for damages.

The committee’s half-hour hearing was dominated by debate over a House provision opposed by the Pennsylvania Catholic Conference and the Insurance Federation of Pennsylvania, which represents for-profit insurers, and the Senate committee ultimately removed it. That provision would have given victims the ability to sue, even if they are now older than the current legal age limit of 30.

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PENNSYLVANIA
CBS Philly

By Tony Romeo

HARRISBURG, Pa. (CBS) — Advocates for victims of child sex abuse suffered a major setback today when a Senate committee removed provisions from a bill that would have allowed victims to retroactively file lawsuits.

The bill already passed by the House eliminates the criminal statute of limitations in child sex abuse cases, and extends the statute of limitations for civil cases going forward. But it was amended by the Senate Judiciary Committee to eliminate provisions that would have allowed for retroactive lawsuits in cases where the current statute of limitations has already expired.

Berks County House Democrat Mark Rozzi supports retroactivity.

“Pedophiles and the institutions… they have gotten another free pass.”

But suburban Philadelphia Democrat Daylin Leach, a member of the Senate committee, says the retroactive provisions of the bill violated the state constitution.

“I really want to keep retroactivity in there. However, I just don’t feel I can.”

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DEUTSCHLAND
Tagesspiegel

[Who protected the perpetrators?]

CLAUDIA KELLER

Es braucht schon einiges, damit Johannes-Wilhelm Rörig der Kragen platzt. Doch jetzt ist es so weit. Der Missbrauchsbeauftragte der Bundesregierung fordert von der katholischen Kirche „volle Transparenz“, was die Aufarbeitung des sexuellen Missbrauchs betrifft. Die Namen der Bischöfe und kirchlichen Vorgesetzten, die Taten verschwiegen hätten, müssten genannt werden. Hintergrund sind die Aussagen eines Forscherteams, das seit 2014 im Auftrag der Bischofskonferenz die Fälle aufarbeitet.

Betroffene fordern, dass die Verantwortlichen mit Namen genannt werden

„Wir dürfen kein Bistums-Bashing betreiben. Wenn es ein Problem in den Führungsstrukturen gab, beschreiben wir das, aber ohne Namen zu nennen“, sagt Harald Dreßing vom Zentralinstitut für Seelische Gesundheit in Mannheim. Er koordiniert das 21-köpfige Forscherkonsortium aus Kriminologen, Forensikern und Gerontologen. Es gehe darum, die spezifischen Strukturen herauszuarbeiten, die den Missbrauch in der katholischen Kirche begünstigten. Die Ethikrichtlinie der Universität Heidelberg verbiete es, Namen zu nennen.

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NEW YORK
WKTV

UTICA, N.Y. – Testimony continues Tuesday in the Sarah Ferguson trial. NewsChannel 2’s Joleen Ferris is in Oneida County court live tweeting. Follow her at @joleenferris for updates.

Witness Grace Leonard, 16, took the stand. She is Sarah’s sister and a lifelong member of the Word of Life church.

Warning: Graphic testimony below (from Grace’s account)

Grace says her brother, Lucas, watched her take a shower through a peephole. She didn’t catch him, but was told by Lucas and Pastor Tiffanie.

Grace says she was moved to the attic of the family home to keep her safe and to protect her from her brothers, Christopher and Lucas. She lived up there with Sarah and her kids. (This is the same house as the Leonards.)

She also says the younger kids (Sarah’s kids), were only in the attic a few minutes at a time because she and Sarah were worried what would happen.

The kids were not allowed to watch TV with Christopher or Lucas.

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