Allen-Faiella never held that meeting. Another parent discovered the same sex-offender information on January 6 and ran straight to the school's principal, Carol Shabe, who sprang into crisis-management mode. [...]
In fact she claims that Shabe told her: "We're just going to keep this quiet. No reason to get people alarmed." (Shabe has told parents she doesn't recall such a conversation.) [...]
Shabe, meanwhile, has hired an attorney to contest her dismissal. Several parents have contributed to the ex-principal's legal fund, money they had intended to donate to St. Stephen's. # [Emphasis added]
• Ad campaign will seek out clergy abuse victims -- RCC. 22 lawsuits.
Fox 11, By Stephanie Innes / Arizona Daily Star, 05:24 PM MST on Wednesday, November 3, 2004
TUCSON (AZ): An advertising campaign aimed at anyone who was molested by a Roman Catholic Diocese of Tucson priest as a child is expected to begin this month.
Federal Bankruptcy Judge James M. Marlar on Wednesday gave a preliminary stamp of approval to claims forms and public notices that will be advertised nationally and in Mexico in an effort to reach potential abuse victims by April 15, 2005 - the deadline for filing any claims against the Diocese.
Marlar is expected to approve a Spanish version of the forms within the week.
The diocese filed for federal Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection Sept. 20 in the face of 22 lawsuits alleging sexual abuse of children by clergy members who worked here. The cases have been temporarily stayed while the diocese is in the bankruptcy process.
• Church bankruptcy plan under fire -- RCC.
The Arizona Republic, www.azcentral. com/arizonare public/local/ articles/1104 diocesebank ruptcy04.html , by Arthur H. Rotstein, Associated Press, Nov. 4, 2004
TUCSON (AZ) - A lawyer representing potential claimants in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Tucson's bankruptcy proceedings needs broader authority to find victims of clergy sexual abuse, a self-described victim told a bankruptcy judge Wednesday.
Attorney A. Bates Butler III should have more leeway to find victims who haven't come forward, Reginald Lewis told U.S. Bankruptcy Court Judge James Marlar.
Marlar was making Butler's appointment final when Lewis objected to restrictions he perceived on Butler, saying there are undiscovered victims the church knows about.
The court "has a duty to these children who were raped. If you discover these children, you should throw this bankruptcy out as a fraud. This is not about money," Lewis told Marlar.
At an earlier hearing, Lewis described himself as a victim in Tucson's priest abuse scandal and said he has not filed a lawsuit against the diocese.
• Abuse Case Against Diocese Is to Proceed -- RCC. 25 boys. $US2.8m wasted.
The New York Times, www.nytimes. com/2004/11/ 04/nyregion/ 04priest.html By ROBERT HANLEY, Published: November 4, 2004
MORRISTOWN, N.J., Nov. 3 - A sexual abuse lawsuit against the Roman Catholic Diocese of Paterson, its former bishop and several churches and schools cleared a legal hurdle Wednesday when a New Jersey judge rejected a diocesan motion to dismiss the suit.
The judge, Deanne Wilson, of New Jersey Superior Court, rejected arguments by a lawyer for the diocese that under the statutes of limitation, the filing deadline for the suit lapsed years ago. Judge Wilson's ruling allowed the lawsuit brought by 25 men and six of their wives to proceed. They are seeking unspecified financial damages and nonmonetary relief from the diocese.
The Paterson Diocese's decision to fight the lawsuit, which charges negligence in the abuse of young boys, comes after other Catholic dioceses in New Jersey and elsewhere have settled sex abuse lawsuits brought by former altar boys and other victims. In early October, the Archdiocese of Newark paid $1.1 million to seven men and two women who said they had been sexually abused as children by nine priests.
In October 2003, the Diocese of Bridgeport, Conn., announced an agreement to pay $21 million to 40 people who contended they were abused by priests. Several months before that, the Diocese of Camden in southern New Jersey paid $880,000 to resolve 23 abuse claims.
Since 1950, the Paterson Diocese has paid about $2.8 million in settlements, legal fees, therapy and counseling related to sexual abuse by priests, the most recent last December, said Marianna Thompson, a spokeswoman for the diocese. Ms. Thompson declined to give details on why the diocese is fighting the latest suit in court.
• Judge refuses to dismiss priest abuse suit [1968-82 Hanley, 21 victims] -- RCC. 26 boys.
Star-Ledger, www.nj.com/ news/ledger/ jersey/index. ssf?/base/news- 7/109955107 0278900.xml , BY JEFF DIAMANT, Star-Ledger Staff, Thursday, November 04, 2004
NEW JERSEY: Twenty-six men who have accused Catholic priests of sexually abusing them as children cleared a legal hurdle yesterday when a judge declined a request from the Diocese of Paterson to dismiss a lawsuit against it.
The ruling by Superior Court Judge Deanne Wilson in Morristown gives the plaintiffs a chance to argue one by one at pretrial hearings that their decades-old claims against the diocese should be exempt from regular statutes of limitations and proceed to trial.
At a news conference outside the Morris County Courthouse after yesterday's ruling, Gregory Gianforcaro, lawyer for most of the plaintiffs, called Wilson's decision "an important and dramatic victory for the 25 people I represent who were sexually abused by Catholic priests."
Twenty-one of the plaintiffs say the former Rev. James Hanley abused them at the Church of St. Joseph in Mendham or Our Lady of Good Counsel in Pompton Plains between 1968 and 1982, and contend diocese negligence and inaction allowed that abuse. [Posted by Kathy Shaw at 01:38 AM]
////////// End of Clergy Sex Abuse Tracker www.ncrnews.org/abuse , Thu November 04, 2004
Abuse Chronology: http://www.multiline.com.au/~johnm/ethics/ethcont103.htm
For good teachings to be heeded, a big clean-up is needed.
• SBS screening documentary on abuse by nuns. - RCC. Film Unholy Orders
CathNews from Church Resources, Australia, http://www.cathnews.com/news/411/30.php , Nov 4, 2004
AUSTRALIA and SCOTLAND:
The Australian SBS TV network will tonight show Unholy Orders, which presents the view of a group of people fighting back against the Scottish nuns they accuse of abusing and silencing them as children. In May 1997, newspapers broke the story of abuse in Scottish orphanages by nuns. A class action formed and quickly escalated to four hundred and fifty people. Claims are for abuse that spread from the 1920s to the late 1970s, charging the nuns with degrading and inhumane punishment. Cath Yeomans, now living in Australia, is the oldest claimant. She and her sisters spent ten years in an institution run by the Sisters of Nazareth in Glasgow.
When ill health prevented Cath from returning to Scotland to settle her past, filmmaker Geraldine Gandolfo, who had made a successful claim against the Church, offered to go to Scotland as Cath's go-between.
Gandolfo and some of the participants in the film join a crowd of survivors and press for the sentencing. Despite being found guilty on four charges, she was let off without a jail sentence or a fine. Publicity for the film states that even after this case, the Church and the nuns continued to deny that the abuse had taken place and refused to apologise.
Unholy Orders, part of the Storyline Australia collection of documentaries that screens on Thursdays at 8:30 pm, is an Australian production made with funding assistance from SBS Independent.
SOURCE: Storyline Australia: Unholy Orders (Sydney Morning Herald 4/11/04)
LINKS
Unholy Orders
Storyline Australia | Unholy Orders (SBS)
HAVE YOUR SAY Click here [Nov 4, 2004]
Abuse Chronology: http://www.multiline.com.au/~johnm/ethics/ethcont103.htm
For good teachings to be heeded, a big clean-up is needed.
#### Clergy Sex Abuse Tracker, www.ncrnews.org/abuse, Fri November 05, 2004 edition follows:-
• Redress list excludes key groups -- Church of Ireland. Orphans.
One in Four, http://onein four.org/news/ news2004/lists
IRELAND: There is a group of people in this country who believe that they are being discriminated against purely on the basis of their religion. Had they been born Catholic, they argue, they would now be better treated, writes Mary Raftery - Irish Times www.ireland. com/newspaper/ opinion/2004/11 04/221080 7765OPRAF TERY.html , Nov 4, 2004
These are the former residents of a number of Church of Ireland children's homes which remain excluded from the remit of the Residential Institutions Redress Board.
The individuals concerned had great hopes that their situation would have been rectified last week, when the Government finally announced its additions to the list of institutions where those who suffered childhood abuse may now seek compensation.
We have been waiting a long time for these additions. The list has apparently been up and back to Cabinet on several occasions. Initially there was talk of a further 50 institutions qualifying for redress, then it went down to 30. The final total added only 13.
Some Church of Ireland homes have always been on the Redress list. However, two, in particular, remain excluded, despite intensive lobbying from former residents. One of these is the Bethany Home in Rathgar. It was principally a mother and baby home, but maintained children until at least the age of three.
Derek Linster spent some years at Bethany as a young child. He has obtained his medical records, which show that he was transferred at the age of three from Bethany to a fever hospital, suffering from a range of illnesses which he argues could have been caused by neglect. [...]
But it is not only in this area that the Government should think again. Its meanness in the redress area also extends to another group, equally small but just as important. These are the children sent from industrial schools directly into Magdalen laundries.
We have it on the best authority possible that there were at least 70 children in this category in 1970. This is clearly identified by that era's official inquiry into industrial schools, chaired by Justice Eileen Kennedy. [...] [Posted by Kathy Shaw at 06:49 AM]
• Biddeford church abuse victim pursuing another small-claims lawsuit [? 1970s Doucette] -- RCC. Priest removed, reinstated, removed. Boy.
Foster's Daily Democrat, http://www4. fosters.com/ november_2004/ 11.05.04/news/ ap_me 1105c.asp , Nov 5, 2004
PORTLAND, Maine (AP) - A Biddeford native who was sexually abused as a child by a Catholic priest is pursuing a small-claims lawsuit against Portland’s Roman Catholic Bishop despite the church already paying for his therapy.
David Gagnon, who now lives in Canada, said he has had to file two separate small-claims cases against the church to get payment for acupressure therapy he received as treatment from the effects of childhood sexual abuse.
"If I have to sue them again it would be the third time," Gagnon said. "I don’t want to have to go through this again." [...]
Gagnon, 39, was abused more than two decades ago by Michael Doucette, who was then pastor at St. Andre’s Church in Biddeford. Through his lawyer, Gagnon negotiated a settlement with the diocese and Doucette in 1993.
Doucette, who admitted his conduct, was allowed to return to the priesthood, but was removed from active ministry in 2002. [...]
• Man pursues suit against church [? 1970s Doucette] -- RCC. Priest removed, reinstated, removed. Boy.
Portland Press Herald, By GREGORY D. KESICH, Nov 5, 2004
PORTLAND (ME): A victim of sexual abuse by a priest plans to pursue his small-claims lawsuit against the Roman Catholic Bishop of Portland, even though the church has already paid his overdue therapy bills.
David Gagnon, who now lives in Canada, said he has had to file two separate small-claims cases against the church to get payment for acupressure therapy he received as treatment from the effects of childhood sexual abuse. Gagnon said he will go forward with the current case in the hopes of getting a court to order church officials to pay his future bills. [Next sentences are similar to other newsitem]
• 'Pedophile' priest faces committal [1973-74, 1993 Klep (Salesian)] -- RCC. Boy/s. 9 more complainants.
The Australian, www.theaustralian. news.com.au/ common/story_ page/0,5744, 112869 41%255 E1702,00.html , By Adam Morton, November 04, 2004
AUSTRALIA: Nine alleged victims would give evidence at a committal hearing against accused pedophile priest Frank Klep, a Victorian court was told today.
Klep stayed outside the Melbourne Magistrates Court room as Magistrate Jelena Popovic ordered he face the preliminary hearing from March 29 on multiple counts of indecent assault.
Ms Popovic today said she had read the brief of evidence, which included testimony from the nine alleged victims over assaults that happened "a long time ago".
Five of the counts related to alleged sex attacks on a 15-year-old boy in 1973, while Klep was teaching at the Salesian order's Rupertswood College in Sunbury, on Melbourne's suburban north-western fringe. [...]
The 61-year-old was charged in May 1998, a month after he moved to Alafua, Samoa to become senior financial officer with Moamoa Theological College. [...]
An earlier court hearing was told the deportation order was made after an American journalist from The Dallas Morning News contacted Victoria Police and asked why Klep was allowed to teach in Samoa. [...]
Detective Senior Constable John Raglus said the ensuing investigation found Klep lied on a Samoan visa application about a conviction on four counts of sexually assaulting two teenagers between 1973 and 1994. [...]
In August, the Office of Public Prosecution won a time extension before the committal while police interviewed another eight possible victims. [...] [Emphasis added]
• Pastor Arrested On Sex Charges [2000s Simental] -- The Word of Life Worship Center.
TheBakersfieldChannel.com ; www.thebakers fieldchannel.com/ news/3891924/ detail. html , POSTED: 7:30 p.m. PST November 4, 2004
BAKERSFIELD (CA) -- A man who sheriff's officials say is a pastor at a local church has pleaded not guilty to charges of sex crimes against a child, and it's not the first time he had faced claims like this.
Leonard Simental is charged with lewd or lascivious acts against a child he met at an East Bakersfield church.
While he has never been convicted of a sex crime, court records show he has faced seven different charges over the past 12 years for sex crimes against young children in Bakersfield.
Sheriff's say he committed a sex crime against a child he met at The Word of Life Worship Center on Bernard Street.
Sheriff's say he is known as a pastor there, through church officials say he is not.
• Grand jury to hear sex case against former youth minister [2004 Valentine] -- Methodist. Girl.
Sun Herald, www.sunherald. com/mld/sunh erald/news/ state/1009 8435.htm , Associated Press
OCEAN SPRINGS, Miss. - A grand jury will hear the charges against a former church youth minister accused of sexual battery.
The Rev. Paul Valentine was arrested on Sept. 29 after the mother of the alleged victim filed complaints with the Ocean Springs Police Department. He was charged with two counts of sexual battery and later released on a $100,000 bond.
The charges involve a 15-year-old girl.
Two mother told authorities that Valentine, 33, engaged in inappropriate sexual behavior with her daughter on Sept. 16 while he was youth minister at St. Paul United Methodist Church.
• Youth pastor sex case to go to grand jury [2000s Valentine] -- Female.
Mississippi Press, By VIRGINIA LANGUM, Thursday, November 04, 2004
OCEAN SPRINGS (MS) -- The case of a former youth pastor who allegedly engaged in sex acts with one of his minor parishioners will go to a grand jury, Ocean Springs City Judge Matthew Mestayer ruled Wednesday night.
At a preliminary hearing, Capt. Ray Akins presented evidence against Paul Valentine, 33. Valentine is charged with two counts of sexual battery.
Valentine was arrested on Sept. 29 after the mother of the alleged victim filed complaints with the Ocean Springs Police Department.
Akins testified that Valentine sent two suicide notes to the alleged victim and to her father, as well as posting a similar letter on an online journal. He said Valentine expressed remorse for his actions and a desire for forgiveness.
• Molestation suspect was acquitted in earlier case [2000s Simental] -- World of Life Worship Center.
Bakersfield Californian, www.bakersfield. com/local/ story/5051791p- 5103811c.html , By CHRISTINA VANCE, cvance@bakersfield.com , Californian staff writer
CALIFORNIA: A self-proclaimed pastor accused of child molestation on Tuesday was acquitted of similar church-linked molestation charges earlier this year.
Leonard Simental, 43, pleaded not guilty Thursday to one felony count of child molestation.
The east Bakersfield man was acquitted in March of six counts of child molestation tied to one of his previous churches.
Simental, who currently attends World of Life Worship Center at 404 Bernard St., allegedly told deputies he was ordained in 2002, according to investigative reports filed in court.
But leaders at Simental's current church said he's not acting as a minister there. Rather, he helps at church functions such as food giveaways.
• Victims of clergy sex abuse want accused priests' names public -- RCC.
Monterey Herald, www.monterey herald.com/ mld/monterey herald/1010 1949.htm , Associated Press
OAKLAND, Calif. - Reacting to a recent court order, victims of clergy sexual abuse called on Roman Catholic dioceses throughout California to release the names of accused priests.
The Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests [SNAP] sent a letter to every bishop in the state asking them to publish the names of known and suspected abusive priests on their diocesan Web sites and in their newsletters and parish bulletins.
"It's a simple, inexpensive, but imperative step," the letter said. "We can only protect the vulnerable from the dangerous if we know who the dangerous are."
The letter was a reaction to an order issued last week by an Alameda County Superior Court judge overseeing 160 consolidated civil cases against Northern California dioceses. In that order, Judge Ronald M. Sabraw said priest personnel documents, among other information, should remain confidential until the civil cases proceed to trial.
• Arlington diocese picks chastity track -- RCC.
The Washington Times, http://washington times.com/metro/ 20041104-1025 42-3967r.htm , By Julia Duin, Nov 4, 2004
ARLINGTON (VA): The Catholic Diocese of Arlington has acquired a tamer child-protection curriculum 10 months after being forced to shelve a plan that drew criticism for being sexually explicit.
In a column in the diocesan newspaper Catholic Herald yesterday, the Rev. Terry Specht, director of the diocesan Office of Child Protection and Safety, said the diocese has selected "Formation in Christian Chastity," developed by the Diocese of Harrisburg, Pa.
"We went through 20 programs and weren't happy with any of them," Father Specht said. "We were going to develop our own until we saw what Harrisburg was developing. The real thrust of the program is to teach chastity and the dignity of the human person."
• Rapist gets 80 years in prison [Heilman] -- Church of the Nazarene. Girl + pornography.
Tribune Chronicle, www.tribune- chronicle.com/ news/story/ 113202004_new 30apist3.asp , By CHRISTOPHER BOBBY
WARREN (OH) - Showing little or no remorse, a shackled Mark Heilman claimed he was a "man of God" as he accused Niles police of creating a tape that showed him raping a female family member.
The 41-year-old Niles computer enthusiast held back tears, and his parents wept Tuesday as Trumbull County Common Pleas Judge Andrew Logan sentenced him to what amounts to an 80-year-to-life sentence.
Last month, a jury found Heilman guilty on a multicount indictment that included sexual attacks and computer pornography charges.
Heilman - who passed out last month when he heard the verdicts in court - insisted that when he fought for custody for the victim, no psychological tests showed signs of sexual perversion.
"I was a youth counselor for the church. Don't you think this would have turned up something long before now?" Heilman told Logan.
But the victim, who now attends college, lashed out at Heilman, telling him she finally reported the eight years of repeated rapes so the same thing wouldn't happen to another relative. She said her possessions were taken from her by the defendant and the only way to earn them back was through sex. [...]
Besides labeling Heilman a sexual predator, Logan ran as consecutive terms the eight life counts of rape on the girl before she was 14 years old. Rape charges with the potential of life means parole eligibility after serving a full 10 years. In Heilman's case, Assistant Prosecutors Thomas Wrenn and Michael Burnett said the state possibly could have Heilman serve an 80-year sentence.
Wrenn and Burnett made use of two computer experts to explain the highly technical computer network Heilman had set up and how the pictures ended up on the computers. [...] [Posted by Kathy Shaw at 02:31 AM]
////////// End of Clergy Sex Abuse Tracker www.ncrnews.org/abuse , Fri November 05, 2004
Abuse Chronology: http://www.multiline.com.au/~johnm/ethics/ethcont103.htm
For good teachings to be heeded, a big clean-up is needed.
• Queensland priest due for release from prison. [1970s Creen] -- RCC. 22 girls.
CathNews from Church Resources, Australia, http://www.cathnews.com/news/411/36.php , Nov 5, 2004
BRISBANE, Qld, Australia: A former Catholic priest jailed in Queensland for child sex offences will be released from prison despite today pleading guilty to further charges.
The Age reports that Neville Joseph Creen, 64, was jailed for three-and-a-half years in September 2003, to be suspended after 14 months, after pleading guilty to 34 counts of indecent dealing of 20 girls aged between four and 13.
He was due for release next Monday.
Yesterday, he pleaded guilty to a further six charges of indecent dealing of two more girls under 12.
The Brisbane District Court was told the latest offences were committed when he was a priest in Mt Isa, in Queensland's far west, in the 1970s, probably during the same time he had committed the other offences.
The court was told Creen, who dealt with a number of daughters of his parishioners, committed his offences while the children sat on his lap.
He had slipped his hand under the girls' clothing to touch them in the genital region, even when their parents were in the room, and on two occasions had penetrated them digitally.
In his sentencing, Judge Brian Boulton said the new complaints were of a similar nature.
He said he had taken into account Creen had rehabilitated himself since the offences were committed, and gave him a two-year wholly suspended sentence on the condition he did not re-offend during that period.
Judge Boulton, however, said Creen's breach of trust had ruined the women's lives.
"The effect upon them has been quite disastrous," he said.
A bid to give Creen a longer sentence in November last year was thrown out by the Queensland Court of Appeal.
SOURCE:Paedophile priest to walk free (The Age/Australian Associated Press 4/11/04)
LINKS:
Ex-priest's release sparks outburst (The Courier Mail 5/11/04)
Abuser's release sparks outburst (The Courier Mail 5/11/04)
'Pedophile' priest faces committal (The Courier Mail 5/11/04)
Court ruling angers pedophile priest's victim (CathNews 17/11/03)
Former Towsville priest in court on abuse charges (CathNews 10/9/03)
Diocese of Townsville
HAVE YOUR SAY Click here [Nov 5, 04]
• Why not have a victim advocate on the parole board?.
Sent to The West Australian, Perth, W.A., by John C. Massam, Greenwood (Perth), sent Nov 5, 2004
PERTH: The appointment of a victims' advocate to the WA Parole Board is an idea well worth putting into effect, because such a person is unlikely to be any worse than the present majority of the board.
So it was regrettable that two praiseworthy community justice figures, Michelle Stubbs (5/11) and Brian Tennant (3/11), have conflicting opinions on that.
The board is making mistakes and does not understand the expert evidence it receives.
A recent example was when a psychiatrist recently said that the applicant could be rehabilitated. The word "could" ought to be understood as "possibly might -- and possibly might not."
The opinion provided no "conflict" as a board spokesman [error: the judge] described it.
Only if the psychiatrist were willing to deposit a $10,000 cash bond that the prisoner would not return to crime, would a sensible victims' advocate vote for early release.
Society has to be protected from further crimes. At the same time, education must continue in the prisons and outside for offenders.
But the present justice and rehabilitation system needs replacing or upgrading for offering an air-rifle shooting course to prisoners.
If the citizens want the police and the public to be shot by people trained at public expense, keep on electing the kind of governments who dumb-down education, avoid teaching civilised morals, and appoint lenient judges and officials.
Successive governments have been reducing, in real terms, the amounts provided for mental health, general health, police, and justice.
Letting prisoners out is done so that, on paper, the costs of crime seem less. In reality, the costs are shifted to the citizens in suffering, providing security equipment and rangers, paying more insurance, etc. [Nov 5, 2004]
Abuse Chronology: http://www.multiline.com.au/~johnm/ethics/ethcont103.htm
For good teachings to be heeded, a big clean-up is needed.
#### Clergy Sex Abuse Tracker, www.ncrnews.org/abuse, Sat November 06, 2004 edition follows:-
• The pastor and the missing money [Hughes] -- RCC. $US500,000
Star-Ledger www.nj.com/ news/ledger/ index.ssf?/ base/news- 18/1099 720278253 680.xml , BY BRIAN DONOHUE AND MARY JO PATTERSON, Saturday, November 06, 2004
NEW JERSEY: In Rumson, a jewel of a town by the Jersey Shore known for its quiet wealth and shaded lawns, the Rev. Joseph W. Hughes blended right in.
There was the constant stream of luxury cars, the membership at the Rumson Country Club, the frequent vacations, and of course his big diamond ring.
Father Hughes, pastor of Holy Cross Catholic Church for the past 16 years, seemed to dine out every night at pricey restaurants like the Fromagerie or Harry's Lobster Restaurant, often with the same few couples from church.
It may have been a flamboyant lifestyle for a parish priest, but most people believed he had inherited family money. Yesterday, authorities said the 60-year-old priest was tapping into an altogether different source.
The Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office held a news conference in Freehold to announce that, between 2001 and 2004, Hughes allegedly misappropriated at least $500,000 of the church's funds to cover personal expenses such as limo rentals and airline tickets -- and bestow gifts on a 25-year-old male "personal friend," including a $58,000 BMW, giant-screen TV, stainless steel refrigerator, jewelry and trips to Bermuda and Cancun. [Posted by Kathy Shaw at 12:11 PM]
• Diocese bankruptcy notice approved -- RCC.
Casa Grande Valley Newspapers, Wire Services, Associated Press, November 06, 2004
TUCSON (AZ) (AP) - A federal bankruptcy judge Friday approved publication of a public notice to alert potential sexual abuse victims of Catholic Diocese of Tucson clergy of their rights to file claims by April 15.
The notice, in both English and Spanish, was placed immediately on the diocesan Web site. [ www.diocesetucson.org ]
The diocese filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization protection on Sept. 20 as a result of ongoing litigation stemming from priestly abuse.
The notice says that the U.S. Bankruptcy Court "has ordered that all persons claiming injury against the diocese for acts of sexual abuse must file a claim" by April 15.
The online notice includes a five-page proof of claim form that can be downloaded.
[ACCUSED CLERGY about whom the Diocese is aware of Credible Allegations of Sexual Misconduct involving a Minor, http://www. diocesetucson. org/list.html , has 32 names.]
• Clergy abuse lawyers scour for information [1970s O'Grady] -- RCC. Altar boy.
Lodi News-Sentinel, By Ross Farrow, Saturday, Nov 06, 2004
CALIFORNIA: Hoping to find any tidbit of information on former Lodi Priest Oliver O'Grady, attorneys in a civil sexual abuse case against the Stockton Diocese have resorted to local newspaper advertising to find potential witnesses.
Orange County attorneys John Manly and Ryan DiMaria, who represent a former altar boy at St. Anne's Catholic Church who says that O'Grady had sexually abused him in the 1970s, have advertised in the News-Sentinel six times looking for more information on the case.
A June trial date has been set in San Joaquin County Superior Court. However, investigations for all Northern California clergy abuse cases is being coordinated through Alameda County, Manly said.
The Stockton Diocese has seven pending lawsuits that involve O'Grady. Cardinal Roger Mahony of the Los Angeles Archdiocese is scheduled to give a deposition before the end of the year about his knowledge about O'Grady. Mahony was bishop of the Stockton Diocese from 1980 to 1985.
O'Grady, a priest at St. Anne's from 1971 to 1978, later served at Church of the Presentation in Stockton, Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Turlock, St. Andrew Catholic Church in San Andreas and St. Anthony Catholic Church in Hughson.
• Church abuse row talks 'constructive' -- RCC.
Irish Independent www.unison. ie/irish_ independent/ stories.php3? ca=9&si=1282966 &issue_ id=11661 , Sat, Nov 06 04
IRELAND: Church heads and officials of the Lynott Working Group on child protection policy met for the second time in a month yesterday to discuss how best to resolve a disagreement between the two sides on child protection procedures.
A dispute between the working group and the religious bodies which appointed it broke out over precise division of responsibility for management of child abuse cases between Church leaders and professional advisers. A third meeting is due in Maynooth next month after yesterday's "constructive" gathering. The group was appointed by the Bishops, the Conference of Religious of Ireland (CORI) and the Irish Missionary Union (IMU).
• Priest in child porn probe; The Rev. Stephen Fernandes, former pastor of a Hyannis church, will be arraigned Monday. [2004 Fernandes] -- RCC. PC technicians told diocese, which told police.
The Cape Cod Times, www.capecodonline.com/cctimes/priestchild6.htm , By STEVE URBON, November 6, 2004
NEW BEDFORD (MA): The former pastor of St. Francis Xavier Church in Hyannis, the Rev. Stephen A. Fernandes, was arrested yesterday and charged with possession of child pornography.
An affidavit for a search warrant in the case revealed that the investigation began after computer repair technicians summoned by Fernandes allegedly discovered a trove of child pornography involving men and boys on his laptop computer, and called the diocese to report it.
Fernandes, 54, currently the pastor of Our Lady of Fatima Church in New Bedford, was arrested by state police at a medical facility in Pembroke on a warrant that was issued yesterday. He was taken to the Ash Street Jail for booking and will be arraigned Monday in district court, said Joseph DeMedeiros, a spokesman for Bristol County District Attorney Paul F. Walsh Jr.
Fernandes was placed on administrative leave a week ago by Fall River Diocese Bishop George Coleman after allegations surfaced about the priest. [...]
Assistant District Attorney Tom Carroll ... said the computer technicians' discovery was verified by police specialists, which estimated that there were 5,000 "pornographic depictions" on the computer's hard drive, along with "150 child pornography movies." There was no indication of the origin of the movies or pictures. [...]
The affidavit says McNamee contacted the diocese's attorney, Frederick Torphy, and the two of them turned the computer over to Carroll, who gave it to Detective Michael Ellsworth of Mansfield.
Detectives Ellsworth and David Papageris of the Metro Law Enforcement Computer Crime Division did a partial forensic check of the computer and "advised me that there was substantial child pornography located within the hard drive of the computer," [...]
• Catholic pastor arrested on child porn charge [2004 Fernandes] -- RCC.
Providence Journal, BY ROB MARGETTA, Saturday, November 6, 2004
NEW BEDFORD (MA) -- The state police last night arrested the Rev. Stephen Fernandes, the pastor of Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Parish, on charges of possessing child pornography.
Earlier this week, the Diocese of Fall River had removed Fernandes from his duties.
The state police said last night that troopers had arrested Fernandes on a warrant and brought him to the Ash Street Jail, in New Bedford.
Bail was set at $5,000. Fernandes is due for an arraignment in New Bedford District Court on Monday.
• New Bedford priest is charged with possessing child pornography [2004 Fernandes] -- RCC.
Boston Globe, By Associated Press, November 6, 2004
PEMBROKE (MA) -- A Roman Catholic priest placed on leave by the Diocese of Fall River last weekend was arrested in Pembroke yesterday and charged with one count of possession of child pornography.
A spokesman for Bristol District Attorney Paul F. Walsh Jr. said the Rev. Stephen A. Fernandes of New Bedford was arrested on a warrant issued yesterday.
Fernandes was arrested by State Police assigned to Walsh's office. He was scheduled to be arraigned Monday in New Bedford District Court, spokesman Joe DeMedeiros said.
DeMedeiros said Fernandes was arrested at a medical facility in Pembroke but did not disclose any more details.
Bernie Sullivan, a spokesman for Bristol County Sheriff Thomas Hodgson, said Fernandes was in county custody last night and that a clerk-magistrate set his bail at $5,000, which Fernandes did not immediately post. It was not clear last evening if Fernandes had a lawyer.
• Church theft probe widens [Hughes, Rogers] -- RCC
Asbury Park Press, By BOB JORDAN, FREEHOLD BUREAU, Nov/06/04
FREEHOLD (NJ) -- Authorities said the investigation of the alleged embezzlement of parish funds by the longtime pastor of a Rumson church will also focus on the recipient of gifts and favors from the pastor.
The Rev. Joseph W. Hughes, pastor since 1988 at Holy Cross Roman Catholic Church, paid the mortgage, taxes and utilities on a Northwoods Place home in Howell where David C. Rogers, 25, lives, authorities said. Rogers is an operations supervisor and carpenter at Holy Cross.
During the past three years, authorities said, Hughes paid for vacations for Rogers, bought a BMW for him and used a church credit card to buy furnishings for the house.
"Mr. Rogers at this point is being looked at as part of the investigation," First Assistant Monmouth County Prosecutor Robert A. Honecker Jr. said yesterday. "He hasn't been charged with anything. . . . But as this investigation proceeds, a harder look will will be taken at Rogers. I don't believe he was totally unwitting."
• Father Fernandes charged [2004 Fernandes] -- RCC. Child porn.
Herald News, By JOHN MOSS, Nov/06/2004
NEW BEDFORD (MA) -- State police Friday arrested the pastor of Our Lady of Fatima Parish and charged him with one count of possession of child pornography.
Father Stephen A. Fernandes, former pastor of Sts. Peter and Paul Parish in Fall River, is scheduled to be arraigned Monday in Third District Court.
On Friday night, he was ordered held at the Ash Street Jail on $5,000 cash bail.
Court magistrates go to the jail twice daily to give arrestees an opportunity to post bail, so the priest would not necessarily have to spend the weekend behind bars.
Fernandes was arrested by state police, assigned to Bristol County District Attorney Paul F. Walsh Jr.’s office. They have been investigating the case along with the state Department of Social Services since the Diocese of Fall River requested the probe.
• Juries, not technicalities, are way to settle abuse cases -- RCC.
The Morning Call, www.mcall.com/ news/opinion/ all-columnnov 06,0,4161059. column? coll=all-news opinion-hed ; by Donald P. Russo dprusso1@verizon.net , November 6, 2004
ALLENTOWN (PA): In a one-sentence order, the state Superior Court indicated last month that it will not entertain arguments regarding a decision handed down in June by the Court of Common Pleas of Lehigh County in certain sexual abuse cases filed against the Catholic Diocese of Allentown.
A panel of three Lehigh County Judges held that sexual abuse suits against the Diocese could proceed, notwithstanding that they had been filed after the expiration of the two year statute of limitations for personal injury actions.
Overall, the issue remains unresolved; however, the recent action of the Superior Court regarding the Lehigh County sexual abuse cases does not augur well for the Catholic Church's ability to use statute of limitations arguments to ward off sexual abuse suits.
Doctrines of equity are used to abrogate statute of limitations defenses in certain situations.
Equity can be used by a court to refine the hard edges of the law if the application of a legal principle might have an overly harsh and unwarranted effect.
It doesn't happen often, but it might now be happening in the Lehigh County sex abuse cases.
Generally, the statute of limitations meter begins running when the wrongdoing occurs.
Once the two-year period has expired, the party is barred from bringing suit unless it is established that an exception to the general rule applies, which acts to extend, or "toll", the running of the statute.
The "discovery rule" is such an exception to the statute of limitations. The discovery rule arises from the inability of the injured, despite the exercise of due diligence, to know about his injury or its cause.
However, where through fraud or concealment, a defendant causes the plaintiff to relax his vigilance or deviate from his right of inquiry, the defendant is precluded from invoking the statute of limitations.
• Bk'lyn priest cleared of sex abuse -- RCC. Lewkiewicz cleared.
New York Newsday, www.nynewsday. com/news/local/ crime/nyc-priest1106, 0,1537285.story? coll=nyc-man headlines-crime , BY STEPHANIE SAUL, 5:12 PM EST, November 5, 2004
BROOKLYN (NY): The Diocese of Brooklyn said Friday it had cleared a Bay Ridge priest of sexual-abuse allegations.
The claim that the Rev. Richard Lewkiewicz abused a minor more than 30 years ago had "no merit and no credibility," according to a statement by Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio.
DiMarzio said a retired city police detective conducted an investigation into Lewkiewicz, who serves as parochial vicar at Our Lady of Angels Roman Catholic Church.
The investigation included "an extensive series of interviews over a considerable period of time" and found "no evidence" that Lewkiewicz had sexually abused a minor, according to DiMarzio's written statement released by diocesan spokesman Frank DeRosa.
The detective reported her findings to an independent review panel appointed by the diocese.
The allegation against Lewkiewicz, 62, was first disclosed in a $300 million lawsuit last year against 24 current and former priests of the Diocese of Brooklyn. The plaintiffs included a Maine resident who alleged that Lewkiewicz sexually abused him at Blessed Sacrament Church in Cypress Hills in 1970.
• Calif. man files suit against former rector; The lawsuit makes allegations of sexual abuse by an Episcopal priest. [1968 Thacker] -- Episcopal. Boy.
The Roanoke Times, By Jen McCaffery, 981-3336, News researcher Belinda Harris contributed to this report, Saturday, November 06, 2004
ROANOKE (VA): A California man has filed a federal lawsuit against a former rector at Christ Episcopal Church in Roanoke, alleging that the priest sexually abused him when he was 15.
The alleged abuse took place in Bland County and in West Virginia in 1968, according to the lawsuit - more than 15 years before the Rev. Robert Thacker came to work in Roanoke. The lawsuit asserts that Thacker admitted his sexual abuse of the plaintiff - Frank Patton Jarrell - in 2002 to Jarrell and the Episcopal Diocese of Southwestern Virginia.
Jarrell has sued Thacker and the Episcopal Diocese of West Virginia. He is seeking $10 million in damages, according to the lawsuit, which was filed in Roanoke and made public Friday.
The case was filed in Virginia because the lawsuit makes allegations of events that occurred in the state, according to Guy Harbert of Roanoke, one of Jarrell's attorneys. [...]
Thacker has been working in an Episcopal church in Japan, according to the lawsuit. But it was not clear Friday if he is still there.
Thacker made news during his tenure as rector at Christ Episcopal Church after he was arrested when protesting with other priests on behalf of striking mine workers in Southwest Virginia.
Then in 1990, after serving as the Southwest Roanoke church's rector for about five years, Bishop Heath Light asked him to resign because of leadership conflicts. [...]
Thacker, who is married and has two children, went to work for a church in Bermuda after he left Christ Episcopal. He later worked as a priest in Japan, Light said. [...]
The lawsuit says that Thacker gave Jarrell alcohol to lower his inhibitions. Then, over that day and the next, he kissed, fondled and sodomized Jarrell before and after religious services, according to the lawsuit.
According to the lawsuit, Thacker suffered from emotional distress, psychiatric problems, depression and other problems before the abuse occurred. But the diocese denied Thacker's request for psychiatric treatment and did not adequately supervise Thacker, according to the lawsuit.
Jarrell, 51, could not be reached for comment. But according to the lawsuit, he has suffered from personal and emotional injury, mental anguish, shame and humiliation for the past 36 years. # [Emphasis added.]
• Talks fail to settle sexual abuse claims against Roman Catholic Diocese of Spokane [O'Donnell] -- RCC. 28 complainants. Bankruptcy possible. Boys all through.
Billings Gazette, Associated Press, November 6, 2004
SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) - Talks to settle 28 sexual abuse claims against the Roman Catholic Diocese of Spokane have failed, leaving the possibility the diocese will file for bankruptcy.
The lawsuits all involve allegations against former priest Patrick O'Donnell.
"We could not reach a solution which would provide fairness, justice, and equity for all involved parties," Bishop William Skylstad said in a statement late Thursday.
Insurance companies were not willing to pay the demands of the victims, which totaled millions of dollars, Skylstad said. Lawyers for the victims also sought additional millions from the diocese, which it could not pay, Skylstad said.
The amounts were not disclosed because of a confidentiality agreement between the parties.
The mediation efforts in Seattle that broke down this week involved five lawsuits filed by 28 alleged victims of O'Donnell, who has admitted to sexually abusing boys from the time he was in seminary. [Emphasis added]
• Talks fail to settle claims of sex abuse [O'Donnell] -- RCC. 28 claims.
The Seattle Times http://seattle times.nwsource. com/html/local news/2002083 783_dige0 6m.html , Saturday, November 06, 2004
SPOKANE (WA) - Talks to settle 28 sexual-abuse claims against the Roman Catholic Diocese of Spokane have failed, leaving the possibility that the diocese will file for bankruptcy protection.
The lawsuits all involve alleged sexual abuse by former priest Patrick O'Donnell.
Insurance companies were not willing to pay the demands of the victims, which totaled millions of dollars, Spokane Bishop William Skylstad said. Lawyers for the victims also sought additional millions from the diocese, which it could not pay, Skylstad said.
• Abuse fuels debate on immunity
The Express-Times, By TERRENCE DOPP, Saturday, November 06, 2004
TRENTON (NJ) -- Lawmakers on Monday are scheduled to debate a measure that would strip nonprofit groups of so-called charitable immunity, a 1958 law detractors contend has been a roadblock to victims of clergy sexual abuse in the Roman Catholic Church.
New Jersey's "Charitable Immunity Act," one of only nine laws in the nation protecting charities from members' suits, is tantamount to government protection of abusers, according to those looking to reverse it. Under a plan set to go before members of the Assembly Banking and Financial Services on Monday, sexual abuse would nullify any legal protection.
"It's going to make the church safer. When they no longer have a shield under these circumstances it's going to force them to make the environment safer when there are kids involved," said Matt Kelly, a spokesman for the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests [SNAP]. "They can no longer hide behind it."
• Diocese sued in sex abuse cases [Convert] -- RCC.
News-Miner, www.news-miner. com/Stories/ 0,1413,113~7 244~2517993, 00.html , By MARY BETH SMETZER, Saturday, November 06, 2004
ALASKA: A civil lawsuit was filed Friday against the Catholic Bishop of Northern Alaska on behalf of 14 of 16 men, alleging sexual abuse by the Rev. Jules Convert.
The number of complainants against Convert has steadily increased since June 2003, when the first four men, identified as John Does 1-4, filed suit against the Fairbanks-based diocese as well as the Society of Jesus, Oregon Province, and the Society of Jesus, Alaska.
Convert, a French-born Jesuit priest who ministered in villages along the Yukon River from 1945 until 1978, died in 1995 in France.
Friday's filing was directed solely at the diocese because the Oregon Jesuit Province and its Alaska subsidiary settled with 15 of the men, said Ken Roosa, an Anchorage attorney representing all 16.
The 16th and most recent complainant hasn't had the opportunity to complete a settlement with the Jesuits, Roosa said. [...]
The lawsuit says the men suffered and continue to suffer severe emotional distress and mental anguish, depression, repression and disassociation, including loss of faith in God and the Catholic Church, fear of priests, loss of social interaction with others in the community and loss of access to the sacraments of the church.
Each man seeks more than $50,000 in damages. # [Posted by Kathy Shaw at 09:26 AM]
////////// End of Clergy Sex Abuse Tracker www.ncrnews.org/abuse , Sat November 06, 2004
Abuse Chronology: http://www.multiline.com.au/~johnm/ethics/ethcont103.htm
For good teachings to be heeded, a big clean-up is needed.
There doesn't seem to have been an edition of CSAT for Sunday, November 07, 2004. A well-deserved rest!
#### Clergy Sex Abuse Tracker, www.ncrnews.org/abuse, Mon November 08, 2004 edition follows:- • RP's oldest priest says seminaries too lenient -- RCC.
The Philippine Star, www.philstar. com/philstar/ News2004110 96601.htm , By Nikko Dizon, Nov/08/2004
PHILIPPINES: Seminaries these days are too lenient and the greatest temptations to priests are those that challenge their vows of chastity and poverty, the country's oldest priest said yesterday.
In his 72 years as a priest, 101-year-old Fr. Quirino Glorioso has seen how times have changed and how some things remain the same in the priestly vocation.
"Father Lolo," as he is fondly called, observed that seminaries have become a far cry from the San Jose Seminary he attended in the 1920s when it was still located on Padre Faura street in Ermita, Manila.
But some things have not changed, he says in a forthright manner that could only come from a century-old member of the Church.
"Pera (money) and sex," the priest says bluntly of the deadly temptations through the generations, that put to test chastity, poverty, and obedience. [Posted by Kathy Shaw at 05:40 PM]
• Priest arraigned on child pornography charges [2004 Fernandes] -- RCC.
Boston Globe, www.boston. com/news/local/ massachusetts/ articles/2004/ 11/08/priest_ arraigned_on_ child_ pornography_ charges ; November 8, 2004
NEW BEDFORD, Mass. -- A Catholic priest accused of storing thousands of pornographic images of boys on his computer was released Monday on $5,000 cash bail after pleading innocent.
The Rev. Stephen A. Fernandes, pastor of Our Lady of Fatima church in New Bedford, was arraigned in New Bedford District Court on a charge of possession of child pornography.
Fernandes was suspended from his post last week after some 5,000 explicit photos of children were discovered on his personal computer.
The priest was arrested Friday at a medical facility in Pembroke, according to a spokesman for Bristol district attorney Paul Walsh, but he did not say why Fernandes was at the facility.
Fernandes and his lawyer declined to comment to reporters as they left court after the arraignment.
In a statement released Monday, the Diocese of Fall River said the photos were discovered by a representative of a computer firm that had been hired to repair Fernandes' computer. The worker reported the photos to Catholic Social Services, which contacted Bishop George Coleman and turned over the computer to the District Attorney's Office.
• Study reveals church loss of credibility -- Inter-faith survey.
CathNews (from Church Resources, Australia), www.cathnews. com/news/411/ 49.php , Nov 9, 2004
AUSTRALIA:The findings of a major church-backed research project suggest that the reputation of the Church is sinking faster than that of the government, legal system, banks and media.
Sydneyanglicans.net reports on a study supported by the National Church Life Survey, Edith Cowan University and Deakin University that draws on the results of a similar survey conducted in 1998.
It says confidence has risen in relation to almost all Australian institutions - including State and Federal Governments and the legal, health, education and police systems. The only institution to continue to lose the public's trust in recent years has been churches.
The National Church Life Survey is a project of several church organisations, including the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference, Anglicare, and the Uniting Church NSW Synod.
Researcher Philip Hughes pointed to abuse of power, cover-ups, and slipping moral standards within the Church.
• Fr. Billing named archdiocesan chancellor -- RCC.
St. Louis Review (The Weekly Newspaper of the Archdiocese of St. Louis), November 5, 2004
ST. LOUIS (MO): Father Jerome D. Billing is the new chancellor of the Archdiocese of St. Louis.
Archbishop Raymond Burke also has appointed Msgr. Richard F. Stika, formerly chancellor and vicar general, as pastor of Annunziata Parish in Ladue and to continue as episcopal vicar for child and youth protection.
The appointments and a reorganization of the Archdiocesan Curia were effective Nov. 1.
As chancellor, Father Billing will serve as notary of the archdiocese, responsible for the written documents in the governance of the archdiocese.
Father Billing's new duties will include serving as president of the Priests' Purgatorial Society, secretary of the Board of Directors of the St. Louis Roman Catholic Seminary Board and a member of the Board of Trustees of Father Dempsey's Charities. ...
In his role as episcopal vicar for child and youth protection, Msgr. Stika will continue the service he has given to those who make allegations of sexual abuse or misconduct by a member of the clergy of the archdiocese and to the accused clergy. He will oversee the Child Safety Committee and the implementation of related policies.
• SHOW OF SUPPORT [Sanders] -- RCC.
The Times-Picayune, www.nola.com/ news/t-p/front page/index. ssf?/base/news- 2/10998152 7277200.xml , By Bruce Nolan, Sunday, November 07, 2004
LOUISIANA: Six months after they lost their pastor on an allegation that he sexually abused two teenagers 11 years ago, hundreds of friends have quietly rallied around Patrick Sanders in an extraordinary web of emotional and spiritual support that continues today.
It is visible in the baby-blue ribbons with which parishioners long ago decorated Belle Chasse's Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish and many of their own porches and roadside mailboxes. The motif is replicated in lapel ribbons and the baby-blue bumper stickers a parishioner designed as a show of support for Catholic priests in general and Sanders in particular.
Sanders' supporters still gather for a once-a-month prayer service dedicated to him. And a weekly Sunday night rosary for Sanders attracts a steady core of faithful, about 50 or 60 recently, said Jeremy Smith, a teenage parishioner among Sanders' defenders.
Shortly after Sanders was relieved of duty in April, nearly 900 parishioners dispatched a petition to Archbishop Alfred Hughes expressing confidence in Sanders' innocence. And they raised nearly $6,000 for legal expenses in an account they named the Veritas -- Latin for "truth" -- Fund said Ed Theriot, head of the church's parish council.
• Tucson Diocese faces liquidation -- RCC. 34 claimants.
The Arizona Republic, by Michael Clancy, Nov. 7, 2004
TUCSON (AZ): Shuttered churches and schools could be the legacy of bankruptcy in the Catholic Diocese of Tucson.
But it will depend on how several other bankruptcy issues are resolved, and decisions could be a while in coming.
The diocese, facing the potential of millions of dollars in judgments to at least 34 victims of sexual abuse by diocese priests, entered bankruptcy proceedings Sept. 20. Its reorganization plan does not include the 75 parishes and their associated schools among its assets, and attorneys disagree on whether they should be included. Parish property is believed to be worth at least $50 million, far more than the $16.6 million in assets the diocese listed in its bankruptcy filing.
James A. Hayes Jr., assistant professor at Western State University College of Law in Fullerton, Calif., says the decision on whether to include parish assets as part of the diocese "may forever change the legal rights of all churches" by giving civil authorities power over church property.
• Friends, strangers come to help heal [Campobello] -- RCC.
Daily Herald, By Leslie Hague, Posted Monday, November 08, 2004
ILLINOIS: After Sue Black, a parishioner at St. Peter's Catholic Church, helped set up a P.O. box for people to write to two victims of sexual abuse in the area, the two young women were overwhelmed by the response.
Cards. Teddy bears. Buttons. Angels. And about 100 letters.
"People say, 'I don't know what to say'," Black said. "Well, one of the letters just said, 'I have no words.' How profound is that?"
Some of the people who wrote those letters gathered Sunday night at Peck Farm Park in Geneva for a prayer service and candlelight vigil for those two women and all victims of abuse.
The community members who spoke talked about the two victims of Mark Campobello, a former associate pastor at St. Peter's in Geneva and former vice principal at Aurora Central Catholic, who pleaded guilty to two counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse in May, but stressed their prayers were for all abuse victims.
• Churches Preventing Child Abuse -- Christianity.
Worldwide Faith News, www.wfn.org/ 2004/11/msg 00060.html , By Ruth Lee
UNITED STATES: Can you think of a time when you last heard the words "child abuse" and "church" used together in a sentence that did not refer to a high-profile scandal involving a church leader who had sexually abused children?
It is almost impossible to think of such an example, particularly considering the deluge of stories in the media about church-related child sexual abuse over the past few years.
As a result, an accusing spotlight has shone on the inadequacies of systems within churches to protect children entrusted into their care from abuse.
Church institutions have been exposed as having turned a blind eye to, or even attempted to cover up, internal cases of child abuse.
In reaction to this, many churches have been falling over themselves to introduce child protection policies into all aspects of their work with children.
So much so that it almost seems that today, a mother wanting to lend a helping hand at her child's summer scout camp has to fill in long and complicated forms and go through a vigorous police check before she is declared fit to teach the intricacies of knot-tying and to initiate songs around the campfire.
Of course, these steps - strides in many cases - towards better child protection are going in the right direction.
Doubtlessly, children at Sunday School or in the church choir are much safer when a child protection policy is in operation.
And it is vital that all churches shake off their self-righteousness, admit that children have been abused by a system often more interested in protecting itself than the children themselves, and set up and implement stringent policies on child protection.
This is all well and good. But the nagging doubt does remain whether churches would actually have started out on the journey of taking child protection seriously at all had it not been for the extensive negative media coverage.
In any case, does the ensuing focus and attention on protection policies go deep enough to really protect our children from abuse?
Or is it, in a way, contributing to a neglect of the root causes of child abuse in our churches and in our communities? [...]
(*) Ruth Lee has been working for the WCC Asia Desk on the Dignity of Children Programme for the past two years. In December 2004 she will take up the post of Social Policy Officer for the Mothers' Union in the UK.
For more information on the "On the Wings of a Dove" Campaign, click on: http://www. overcomingviolence. org
For more information on WCC Dignity of Children programme, click on: www.wcc-coe. org/wcc/ what/regional/ index-e.html
For more information on the World Day of Prevention of Child Abuse - November 19th, click on: www.woman. ch/children/1- introduction. asp
Opinions expressed in WCC Features do not necessarily reflect WCC policy. This material may be reprinted freely, providing credit is given to the author. [Emphasis added.] [It would be well worth reading the rest of this wide-ranging thoughtful article, which covers Christianity's work on preventing other kinds of abuse, such as war-caused, child labour exploitation, etc.]
• Bankruptcy threatens churches, schools -- RCC. 34 claimants.
Tucson Citizen, www.tucsoncitizen. com/index.php? page=local& story_id=110 804a3_diocese , The Arizona Republic, Monday, November 8, 2004
TUCSON (AZ): Shuttered churches and schools could be the legacy of bankruptcy in the Catholic Diocese of Tucson.
But it will depend on how several other bankruptcy issues are resolved, and decisions could be a while in coming.
The diocese, facing the potential of millions of dollars in judgments to at least 34 victims of sexual abuse by diocese priests, entered bankruptcy proceedings Sept. 20. Its reorganization plan does not include the 75 parishes and their associated schools among its assets, and attorneys disagree on whether they should be included.
Parish property is believed to be worth at least $50 million, far more than the $16.6 million in assets the diocese listed in its bankruptcy filing.
James A. Hayes Jr., assistant professor at Western State University College of Law in Fullerton, Calif., says the decision on whether to include parish assets as part of the diocese "may forever change the legal rights of all churches" by giving civil authorities power over church property.
"If these assets are liquidated to satisfy the claims of abuse claimants, parishioners may literally be left without a house in which to worship," said Hayes, who has closely observed the case and a similar filing in Portland, Ore.
• Talks Fail to Settle Sexual Abuse Claims Against Diocese of Spokane -- RCC. 28 claims.
Insurance Journal, www.insurance journal.com/ news/west/ 2004/11/08/ 47511.htm , November 8, 2004
SPOKANE (WA): Talks to settle 28 sexual abuse claims against the Roman Catholic Diocese of Spokane have failed, leaving the possibility the diocese will file for bankruptcy.
The lawsuits all involve allegations against former priest Patrick O'Donnell.
"We could not reach a solution which would provide fairness, justice, and equity for all involved parties," Bishop William Skylstad said in a statement.
Insurance companies were not willing to pay the demands of the victims, which totaled millions of dollars, Skylstad said. Lawyers for the victims also sought additional millions from the diocese, which it could not pay, Skylstad said.
The amounts were not disclosed because of a confidentiality agreement between the parties.
• Clueless diocese asks abuse victim, 'What's in a name?' [1970s Colleary] -- RCC.
The Arizona Republic, by E.J. Montini, Republic columnist, Nov. 7, 2004
ARIZONA: It's just a name on a brochure that's designed to introduce newcomers to Holy Spirit Church in Tempe. It's one name on a list of six pastors and six associate pastors who have served at the parish.
It's a "historical document," according to the Roman Catholic Diocese of Phoenix, and therefore should not offend anyone. After all, the church history told in the pamphlet begins, "We are a community of people who journey together toward God's kingdom. We welcome you as friends, traveler, visitor, neighbor."
"How about abuse victim?" asks a one-time parishioner of Holy Spirit. "How about saying that this was a place where a predator priest went after children. How could you not mention that little fact and still put his name on that list?"
The name to which he refers appears at the top of those who were assistant pastors: "Rev. Patrick Colleary 1977-1984."
Last year, Colleary was among a group of priests indicted by Maricopa County Attorney Rick Romley. Colleary is accused of two counts of felony sexual conduct with a minor that were said to have occurred in the late 1970s.
A previous investigation on similar charges had to be dropped by prosecutors because the statute of limitations had expired. Colleary is in Ireland, from which he is fighting extradition. [Emphasis added.]
• OC pastor to return after review board finds abuse claim unfounded -- RCC. Rev. Richard Delahunty.
Monterey Herald, www.monterey herald.com/ mld/monterey herald/news/ politics/1012 0970.htm , Associated Press
LAGUNA WOODS, Calif. - The Rev. Richard Delahunty has been allowed to return to work as a pastor at St. Nicholas Church after being placed on leave because of a child abuse claim, church officials said Saturday.
A Diocese of Orange review board determined the accusation was unfounded, Bishop Tod Brown said in announcing Delahunty's reinstatement.
Delahunty had been on paid administrative leave since shortly after the suit was filed in December.
"I know this has been a painful time for Father Delahunty and for the parishioners of St. Nicholas Church," Brown told parishioners at evening Mass Saturday.
Details about the civil case weren't disclosed.
• Church tackles child abuse through vast network of volunteers -- RCC.
New Haven Register, by Luther Turmelle, North Bureau Chief, Nov/07/2004
CONNECTICUT: Connie Gustafson has spent more than a year training fellow Roman Catholics in Orange, Milford and West Haven in how to recognize - and prevent - child sexual abuse.
But none of her experiences prepared her for what happened during a training session last weekend.
"A woman came up to me and told me how much the videos we use had moved her because she had been molested by an uncle as a young woman," said Gustafson, a communicant at Holy Infant Church in Orange.
Gustafson is at the forefront of an effort by the Archdiocese of Hartford to ensure that sexual-abuse scandals that engulfed the Catholic Church in the United States in recent years never happen again.
She is one of three dozen volunteers from across the archdiocese who were trained last year to serve as volunteer facilitators to implement the training program, which is called Protecting God's Children.
• Retired bishop denies latest allegations [1973-74 Hart, Reardon] -- RCC.
Casper Star Tribune, www.casperstar tribune.net/ articles/2004/ 11/07/news/wyo ming/036a38644 cddf14a87256f 4500095108.txt ;
CHEYENNE (WO) (AP) -- The former leader of the Roman Catholic Church in Wyoming has been sued a second time for sexual abuse, and again he says the allegations are false and unjust.
Tony Padilla, 48, of Gladstone, Mo., accused Joseph Hart, now retired from the Cheyenne Diocese, and Thomas M. Reardon of sexually abusing and exploiting him in 1973 and 1974 when the defendants were priests at the St. John Francis Regis parish in southeast Kansas City.
The suit was filed in Jackson County Circuit Court on Oct. 28.
Reardon and Hart also were sued in January by several men, some anonymously, who said that the priests had sexually abused them as boys.
Reardon was sued again in June by a Kansas City man, who also alleged sexual abuse.
• Lawmakers to debate 'Charitable Immunity Act' -- Churches and other groups.
Today's Sunbeam, By Terrence Dopp, gcnews@sjnewsco.com , Sunday, November 07, 2004
TRENTON (NJ) - Lawmakers on Monday are scheduled to debate a measure that would strip non-profit groups of so-called charitable immunity, a 1958 law detractors contend has been a roadblock to victims of clergy sexual abuse in the Roman Catholic Church.
New Jersey's "Charitable Immunity Act," one of only nine laws in the nation protecting charities from members' suits, is tantamount to government protection of abusers, according to those looking to reverse it.
Under a plan set to go before members of the Assembly Banking and Financial Services on Monday, sexual abuse would nullify any legal protection.
"It's going to make the Church safer. When they no longer have a shield under these circumstances it's going to force them to make the environment safer when here are kids involved," said Matt Kelly, a spokesman for the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests [SNAP]. "They can no longer hide behind it."
• A denim nun with the writer's habit -- RCC. Sr Karol Jackowski
Newsday, www.newsday.com/news/columnists/ny-ddugg4031423nov07,0,1978793.column?coll=ny-news-columnists ; by Dennis Duggan, November 7, 2004
UNITED STATES: Sister Karol Jackowski is one of an endangered species, a jeans-wearing nun who lives alone in the East Village and whose last book "The Silence We Keep: A Nun's View of the Catholic Priest Scandal" (Harmony / Crown), was a departure from the fun-filled books that catapulted her into a visible presence with a spread in People magazine in 2000 under the heading "Happy Habits."
At 58, Jackowski looks like a woman who has found her place in the city she has grown to love and in the church that she says keeps its spiritual women under wraps. "The priests have a far more independent life than we do," she says, biting into a cheeseburger at a Union Square restaurant. "You see us mostly in the daytime but at 3 p.m. we disappear into the convent and you don't see us until the next morning."
She thinks the sex abuse scandal that rocked the church, which is spending hundreds of millions to settle cases stemming from the misdeeds of its priests, is only the tip of a very large iceberg.
She sees a time when American Catholics will split from the Vatican and when women will be ordained as priests, the kind of talk that rattles the walls of the Catholic church.
• Father Tony to be consecrated a bishop -- RCC.
London Free Press (Canada), By JOE MATYAS, Nov 07, 2004
CANADA: A priest whose assignments have included representing the Diocese of London in difficult sexual abuse cases will be consecrated as a bishop Tuesday.
Rev. Anthony Daniels, known more widely as Father Tony, said yesterday the burdens he's had in the heart-rending cases "pales in comparison with the burdens that have been carried by the victims of sexual abuse and that they'll continue to carry for the rest of their lives."
Although the cases involved only a few priests, it was difficult for people in the diocese because "they want to be able to trust their priests," he said.
"It was hurtful. We need to earn our people's trust and respect again."
Daniels said Canadian bishops were among the first in the world to react publicly to abuse cases and develop a clear policy.
• Retired Bishop Denies Latest Allegations [1970s Hart]-- RCC.
KGWN, www.kgwn.tv/ home/headlines/ 1166901.html , Associated Press
CHEYENNE (WO): The former leader of the Roman Catholic Church in Wyoming has been sued a second time for sexual abuse, and again Joseph Hart says the allegations are false.
A 48-year-old Missouri man, Tony Padilla, has accused Hart of abuse and exploitation when he was a boy in the 1970s.
The accuser is seeking a jury trial and unspecified damages.
In January, Hart was sued by several men who alleged abuse.
Hart was a priest in Kansas City before he became a bishop in Wyoming in 1976. He retired in 2001.
Hart issued a statement today (Saturday) saying that he prays for all legitimate victims of abuse but says it's wrong to unjustly accuse an innocent person.
• Turmoil dogged outgoing president of Catholic Bishops group -- RCC.
The News-Sentinel, www.fortwayne. com/mld/news sentinel/news/ local/1012 3888.htm , By PATRICK J. POWERS, Belleville News-Democrat, Belleville, Ill.
BELLEVILLE, Ill. - It was a tenure of turmoil from the beginning.
Never before had the Catholic Church been so reluctantly shoved into the national spotlight. Starting in January 2002, critics lambasted the church for its failure to address allegations of sexual abuse. The church scrambled for answers and, in turn, to put a public face on its plans for reconciliation.
Enter Bishop Wilton Gregory.
"Would I do it all over again? In a heartbeat," the 56-year-old Gregory said during a recent interview with the Belleville (Ill.) News-Democrat at the Belleville chancery. "Because love is the only reason to do anything important, and I love this church."
• Church struggles with change -- RCC. $US772m so far.
USA Today, By Cathy Lynn Grossman and Anthony DeBarros, Nov 7, 2004
UNITED STATES: The Catholic Church is changing in America at its most visible point: the parish church where believers pray, sing and clasp hands across pews to share the peace of God.
Today there are fewer parishes and fewer priests than in 1990 and fewer of the nation's 65 million Catholics in those pews. And there's no sign of return.
Some blame the explosive 2002 clergy sexual abuse scandal and its financial price tag. But a USA TODAY study of 176 Roman Catholic dioceses shows no statistically significant link between the decline in priests and parishes and the $772 million the church has spent to date on dealing with the scandal.
• Two cities, 10 years, same crisis -- RCC.
USA Today, www.usatoday. com/news/reli gion/2004- 11-07-church- two-cities- same-crisis_ x.htm , By Cathy Lynn Grossman, Nov 7, 2004
UNITED STATES: USA TODAY visits two cities, Boston and Milwaukee, where parishes have closed, and finds the same tensions played out, 10 years apart - the same issues, the same anger and perhaps the same prospect for resolution.
St. Joseph,, the smallest of seven parishes in Waltham, Mass., holds its farewell Mass, the first standing-room-only Mass since the 110-year-old French-Canadian parish's centennial celebration.
The pastor praises St. Joseph's loyal families for their spiritual gifts, urging them to "go forth to make new places come alive." ...
A new leader, known as a healer for wounded dioceses, arrived in Boston in 2003 after Cardinal Bernard Law resigned as archbishop, accused of mishandling the explosive sexual abuse scandal.
Archbishop Sean O'Malley soon agreed to an $85 million settlement with abuse victims and arranged to sell Law's luxurious residence and nearby property to pay the settlement costs.
But Law left another landmine - systematic financial problems. He forgave millions in parish debts in 2000, the church's Jubilee year, when the economy, investments and donations were booming.
• Abuse isn't the only issue -- RCC.
USA Today, By Cathy Lynn Grossman, USA TODAY, Nov 7, 2004
UNITED STATES: The 2002 clergy child sexual abuse scandal did more than trigger immeasurable outrage and costs nearing $772 million.
It "peeled the lid off" another set of festering problems - money and power, says David Gibson, an expert on the laity who fears the next church scandal is lurking in the ledgers.
Experts see similarities between the way bishops dealt with the abuse scandal and the way they run their dioceses. Among the parallels:
• No uniformly excellent management.
In 1993 the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops drew up guidelines on recognizing, reporting and preventing sexual abuse of minors by clergy and church personnel, reaching out to victims and involving the laity.
But the voluntary guidelines were unenforceable. Bishops answer only to God and the pope, not to each other. Public anger soon forced the bishops to set a national policy and seek Vatican approval for special church laws necessary to carry it out.
• Protecting Children -- RCC. 8 stood down.
WEEK, http://week. com/morenews/ morenews-read. asp?n=6206 , Posted November 8, 2004 11:40am
PEORIA (IL): The Peoria Catholic Diocese is putting a new program in place to protect children from potential abuse.
Two years ago, Bishop Daniel Jenky asked eight central Illinois priests to step down following allegations of sexual abuse.
On Monday, the Diocese started training 70 newly identified volunteers who will become the stewards of a new program to prevent wrongdoing in the church.
Church leaders say the 'Virtus' program empowers organizations and people to better control risk of those who interact with the Church.
Virtus is part of the 'Protecting God's Children' campaign in the church.
• Police remove parishioners from church sit-in -- RCC. Sweeney arrested for Church in Winchester church.
CathNews (from Church Resources, Australia), www.cathnews. com/news/411/ 53.php , Nov 9, 2004
BOSTON (MA): A two-month-old sit-in campaign by Boston Archdiocese Catholics has led to a parishioner being forcibly removed from a suburban church in Boston in the USA.
Parishioners from at least eight churches have been holding sit-ins, some lasting as long as two months, to protest against the Archdiocese's plan to close or consolidate 82 of its 357 parishes. The restructuring was prompted in part by economic problems caused by the sexual abuse scandal involving priests.
The Archdiocese has not disrupted the vigils, but on Saturday, at Immaculate Conception Church in the suburb of Winchester, an official for the first time had one of the protesters, Gene Sweeney, 69, removed. Sweeney was charged with trespassing and released on bail.
"This is really a crossing of the line - arresting a Catholic in a church," said Peter Borre, co-chairman of a lay group that has organised vigils at the churches slated for closing. ...
Church officials have said that the restructuring is a result of declining revenue and Mass attendance and a shortage of priests. Archbishop Sean O'Malley has also acknowledged the problems were made worse by the $A118 million settlement of more than 500 lawsuits stemming from the sexual abuse scandal. [Posted by Kathy Shaw at 04:47 PM]
SOURCE:Parishioner Is Removed by Force From Sit-In at Church Near Boston (New York Times/Associated Press 8/11/04)
LINKS:
Church struggles with change (USA Today/Yahoo 8/11/04)
New Yorkers brace for church closings (Boston Globe 8/11/04)
Boston Archbishop in plea to protesting parishioners (CathNews 17/9/04)
Italian police break parishioners' church sit-in (CathNews 24/3/04)
HAVE YOUR SAY Click here
////////// End of Clergy Sex Abuse Tracker www.ncrnews.org/abuse , Mon November 08, 2004
Abuse Chronology, visit: http://www.multiline.com.au/~johnm/ethics/ethcont103.htm
For good teachings to be heeded, a big clean-up is needed.
#### Clergy Sex Abuse Tracker, www.ncrnews.org/abuse, Tue November 09, 2004 edition follows:-
• Diocese lawyer: Case going smoothly -- RCC.
Tucson Citizen, www.tucson citizen.com/ index.php? page=local& story_id= 110904a9_ diocese , By ARTHUR H. ROTSTEIN, The Associated Press, Tuesday, November 9, 2004
TUCSON (AZ): The chief bankruptcy lawyer for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Tucson gave the judge overseeing its bankruptcy case an upbeat progress assessment yesterday.
"Everyone is focused on resolution of the case," attorney Susan Boswell told U.S. Bankruptcy Judge James Marlar after a brief procedural hearing, advising him that preliminary steps of the diocese's Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization were going smoothly.
"So everything is moving along? Unlike what I'm hearing about in Portland?" Marlar said, a reference to apparent discord in the Archdiocese of Portland, Ore.'s bankruptcy reorganization case, the nation's first.
The Tucson diocese became the second in the country to seek reorganization protection Sept. 20, two months after Portland's filing.
Boswell told Marlar the number of additional claims of sexual abuse by diocesan clergy and "the size of the pot" of eventual proceeds to be paid to plaintiffs and other creditors will determine how soon the diocese can file an amended reorganization plan and move forward to have the court approve it. [Posted by Kathy Shaw at 05:03 PM]
• Fetish Priest remanded for defilement [2004 Adofo] -- Fetish religion. Girl.
Ghana Web, www.ghanaweb. com/GhanaHome Page/NewsArch ive/artikel. php?ID=69429 , Tuesday, 09 November 2004
ASAMANKESE, GHANA (E/R), Nov. 9, GNA - A Fetish Priest has been remanded into prison custody by the Asamankese Circuit Court, for allegedly defiling a 13 year-old patient at a shrine at Akyem-Akropong near Kyebi. Okomfo Kwabena Adofo, 37, pleaded not guilty to the charge and is to re-appear on November 23.
Police Chief Inspector E. M. Zokottoh told the Court that Adofo defiled the girl who was undergoing treatment at the shrine at 2200 hours on August 10, this year while she was asleep.
He said witnesses in the case, saw the accused person in the act and raised the alarm, leading to his arrest.
• Priest sentenced to 16 years in prison for sexual assault [1990s Palathingal (Salesian)] -- RCC. Male.
Duluth News Tribune, www.duluth superior.com/ mld/duluth superior/news/ politics/101 38558.htm , Associated Press, Tue, Nov. 09, 2004
MILWAUKEE (WI) - A Catholic priest was sentenced to 16 years in prison Tuesday for sexually assaulting a child.
Simon Palathingal, 62, a member of the Salesians of Don Bosco religious order, had pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual assault of a child in Milwaukee County Circuit Court in exchange for two other counts being dropped.
Palathingal was charged in June with four counts of first-degree sexual assault. His accuser, now 23, said he was abused as a boy in Milwaukee during the 1990s while Palathingal was studying at Marquette University.
Circuit Judge Karen Christenson sentenced the priest to two concurrent terms of 16 years. Prosecutors had recommended a 20-year sentence.
• Priest 'Abused Choirboy Hundreds of Times' [1985-90 Cranch] -- Church of England. Choir boy.
The Scotsman, http://news. scotsman.com/ latest.cfm? id=3736428 , By Liam Creedon, PA
BRITAIN: A choirboy was sexually assaulted by his local priest "hundreds of times" over a five-year period, a court today heard.
Church of England priest Peter Cranch, 59, denies subjecting the boy to sex attacks from 1985 to 1990.
The victim, now in his 20s, who cannot be named for legal reasons, claims Cranch attacked him while serving as a priest at All Saints Church in Exmouth, Devon.
Cranch, from Exeter, denies six counts of indecent assault on a male person aged under 16, four counts of b*ggery and two counts of indecency with a child.
A jury at Bristol Crown Court heard that Cranch had first come into contact with the alleged victim, then aged eight, while he was a choirboy at All Saints.
Cranch was heavily involved with youth activities at the church and would take groups of youngsters on swimming trips and confirmation classes.
• Frankfort man fights motion to move trial [Hubbard, Bertolucci] -- RCC. Stigmatines.
The Evening Telegram, www.herkimer telegram.com/ articles/2004/ 11/09/news/ news04.txt , By JESSICA ARSENAULT, Nov 9, 2004
FRANKFORT (NY) - A Frankfort man who filed suit against the Albany Diocese is now fighting to keep the trial in Massachusetts rather than New York, said his Attorney John A. Aretakis.
David Leonard, a Frankfort resident for about 25 years, is opposing a motion by the accused, the Bishop Howard J. Hubbard and the Albany Diocese, to bring the suit to New York courts rather than Massachusetts.
Leonard alleges that when he was a teenager living in Massachusetts, he was repeatedly sexually abused by Stigmatine priests. As a result of this abuse, Leonard says he was mentally unsettled.
The Boston Diocese referred Leonard to the Rev. Joseph Bertolucci of the Albany Diocese for help. Bertolucci served at a Little Falls Church from 1976 to 1980 and was removed from clergy service in 2002 for sexually abusing children, Aretakis said.
Bertolucci, knowing of Leonard's abuse, allegedly conducted an unnecessary exorcism on Leonard in 1980, saying he was possessed by three demons, Leonard said in his opposition papers to the court. He was charged $6,000 for the procedure.
• Priest Accused Of Child Molestation Returns To Parish -- RCC. Rev Richard Delahunty resumes.
NBC 4, www.nbc4.tv/ news/3902806/ detail.html , November 9, 2004
LOS ANGELES (CA) -- A priest accused in a lawsuit of molesting a boy two decades ago returned to his Roman Catholic parish over the weekend after he was cleared in an internal 10-month investigation, it was reported Tuesday.
Father Richard Delahunty returned to his Roman Catholic parish Saturday after the investigation found "no credible evidence" against him, church officials said in remarks reported by the Los Angeles Times.
The pastor of St. Nicholas Church in Laguna Woods is the first Orange County cleric to be reinstated after a molestation accusation since the Roman Catholic Church's sex scandal erupted in 2002, according to The Times.
The alleged abuse occurred in the early 1980s while Delahunty was a pastor at St. Barbara Church in Santa Ana, and the suit is pending. He had been on paid leave since Dec. 26, 2003, after a civil suit alleging sexual abuse was filed against him.
"No decision by a bishop has been more deliberated than the one I have just made," Bishop Tod D. Brown said in a written statement quoted by The Times.
• Beine asks court to dismiss conviction [2001-02 Beine] -- RCC. At school.
St. Louis Post-Dispatch, By Matt Franck, Post-Dispatch Jefferson City Bureau, Nov/09/2004
JEFFERSON CITY (MO) -- The Missouri Supreme Court was asked today to toss out the conviction of former priest James Beine for exposing himself in a St. Louis school bathroom in 2001 and 2002.
Beine's attorney, Larry Fleming, argued that the convictions were based on a constitutionally vague statute that allowed the simple act of urinating to be interpreted as sexual misconduct.
Beine, also known as Mar James, is serving 12 years on three counts of sexual misconduct involving a child. Prosecutors say Beine went far beyond merely urinating in front of school children by standing back from the urinal at least three feet to expose himself.
The incidents took place at the Patrick Henry School, where Beine was working as a school counselor.
• Priest pleads innocent in porn case [2004 Fernandes] -- RCC.
Cape Cod Times, www.capecod online.com/cc times/priest pleads9.htm , By STEVE URBON, The Standard-Times
NEW BEDFORD (MA) - Confronted with evidence of child pornography on his computer, the pastor of Our Lady of Fatima Church slumped in his chair, put his head down on the table, and told his bishop, "This will kill my father."
Thomas Carroll, investigator for the district attorney, related the scene Oct. 29 in an affidavit for an arrest warrant for the Rev. Stephen A. Fernandes, who pleaded innocent in court yesterday.
In the affidavit, he described what happened, as told to him by those present: a despondent priest, being removed from his post, muttering that his reputation was ruined, and "it's all over."
The former pastor of St. Francis Xavier Church in Hyannis from 2000 to 2002 was in court yesterday on a charge of possession of child pornography and was released on $5,000 cash bail.
Fernandes, 54, remained stony-faced, stared straight ahead and didn't speak a word as his attorney, Hugh Curran, entered his plea before Judge David Turcotte in New Bedford District Court.
• Accused priest applies for stay of prosecution [1976] -- RCC. Girl.
The Mercury, By Monica Langanparsad, November 9, 2004
SOUTH AFRICA: An application for a stay of prosecution by an elderly Catholic priest accused of raping a child 28 years ago was adjourned yesterday.
The priest is alleged to have raped the child on several occasions between 1976 and 1979. The woman is now 36.
In his application before the Durban Regional Court, the priest said he faced an unfair trial because he could not be expected to remember details of events that happened 28 years ago.
The state is opposing the application. The woman and her psychologist, Johan Ferreira, had already testified before Magistrate Trevor Levitt with regard to the application for the stay of prosecution.
Yesterday, defence advocate Rob Mossop made an application for Ferreira to hand over the raw data he had used to compile his report on the woman.
• Nigerian priest a 'flight risk' -- RCC. Girls.
IOL, www.iol.co. za/index.php? set_id=1&click_ id=15&art_id= qw10999258 21134B263
SOUTH AFRICA: A Nigerian priest, facing seven charges of rape, was denied bail in the Clocolan magistrate's court on Monday.
The priest appeared in court on Monday for a formal bail application. A court official told Sapa reporters bail was denied on the basis that the priest was a flight risk.
The possibility that he could interfere with the witnesses - girls between the ages of nine and 16 - was also considered.
The 40-year-old priest was arrested on October 7 after six schoolgirls alleged that he raped them at his mission in Hlohlolwane.
• Priest: 'Not guilty' [2004 Fernandes] -- RCC. Child porn.
The Herald News, By DANIEL FOWLER, Nov/09/2004
NEW BEDFORD (MA) -- A sullen Father Stephen A. Fernandes, pastor of Our Lady of Fatima Parish, pleaded not guilty to a single count of possession of child pornography during his arraignment Monday morning in District Court.
During the brief arraignment, Judge David Turcotte ordered Fernandes to surrender his passport to the commonwealth. Fernandes' attorney, Hugh R. Curran, of the Boston-based law firm Bonner, Kiernan, Trebach and Crociata, told Turcotte that his client's passport was "in the custody of a family friend."
Curran told Turcotte the passport would be in the court's possession by noon Monday.
State police arrested Fernandes, a former pastor of Sts. Peter and Paul Parish in Fall River, Friday at a medical facility in Pembroke, said Joseph DeMedeiros, a spokesman for the Bristol County District Attorney's Office. DeMedeiros declined to say why Fernandes was at the facility.
• Priest arrested for child porn feared reaction of his father [2004 Fernandes] -- RCC. Child porn.
Boston Herald, By Herald staff, Tuesday, November 9, 2004
NEW BEDFORD (MA): A New Bedford priest, whose computers allegedly harbored hundreds of pornographic images and videos of children, feared word of his arrest would "kill his father," according to court records.
Stephen Fernandes, 54, pastor of Our Lady of Fatima, pleaded not guilty yesterday in New Bedford District Court to one count of possession of child pornography. Fernandes, who is on administrative leave from the church, was ordered by Judge David Turcotte to turn over his passport and released on $5,000 cash bail.
Fernandes was arrested Friday after a police investigation found 190 pictures and 115 videos containing child pornography on his computer, according to court records. Investigators are still reviewing the machine's files, but have found 5,000 child pornographic images and 150 child pornography movies on another seized computer, court records said.
Bishop George Coleman will probably name a temporary replacement for Fernandes by the end of the week, said John Kearns, a spokesman for the Diocese of Fall River.
• Diocese adds course to stop sexual abuse -- RCC.
Republican, By BILL ZAJAC, wzajac@repub.com , Sunday, November 07, 2004
CHICOPEE (MA): "Does anyone know what a safe secret is?" asked teacher Stephanie A. Pouliot, standing in front of her fifth-grade pupils at St. Stanislaus School in Chicopee.
"A surprise party," said one student. "A birthday gift," responded another.
"Yes. Safe secrets are secrets that are eventually found out or told," Pouliot said.
She continued with the lesson.
"Does anyone know what an unsafe secret is?" Pouliot said.
"Like when someone sexually abuses you and tells you not to tell anyone," replied Jillian, a student.
The lesson is part of "Child Lures Prevention," an education program designed to prevent sexual exploitation, abduction, Internet crimes, drug use and school violence.
• Diocese lawyer gives upbeat assessment -- RCC.
KOLD, www.kold.com/ Global/story. asp?S=2538510
TUCSON, Ariz. The chief bankruptcy lawyer for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Tucson gave the judge overseeing the case an upbeat progress assessment today.
Attorney Susan Boswell says "everyone is focused on resolution of the case."
Boswell told Judge James Marlar the number of additional claims of sexual abuse by diocesan clergy and "the size of the pot" of eventual proceeds to be paid to plaintiffs and other creditors will determine how soon the diocese can file an amended reorganization plan.
Last month, Marlar set an April 15th deadline for clergy abuse victims to file claims unless they suffer from repressed memories.
• Lawyer: Chapter 11 for diocese is on track -- RCC.
The Arizona Republic, by Arthur H. Rotstein, Associated Press, Nov. 9, 2004
TUCSON (AZ) - The chief bankruptcy lawyer for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Tucson gave the judge overseeing its bankruptcy case an upbeat progress assessment Monday.
"Everyone is focused on resolution of the case," attorney Susan Boswell told U.S. Bankruptcy Judge James Marlar after a brief procedural hearing, advising him that preliminary steps of the diocese's Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization were going smoothly.
"So everything is moving along? Unlike what I'm hearing about in Portland?" Marlar said, a reference to apparent discord in the bankruptcy reorganization case of the Archdiocese of Portland, Ore.
The Tucson Diocese became the second in the country to seek reorganization protection Sept. 20, two months after Portland's filing.
• Support for Suits Claiming Child Abuse by Charities
The New York Times, By LAURA MANSNERUS, Published: November 9, 2004
TRENTON, (NJ) Nov. 8 - John W. Hardwicke Jr. describes his two years at the American Boychoir School as a hellish series of encounters with pedophiles on the school's staff, led by the choirmaster who was in charge of the boys 24 hours a day. For more than 30 years, Mr. Hardwicke says, the consequences have been devastating.
In most states, Mr. Hardwicke would be free to sue the school for negligence in its hiring and oversight of the choirmaster. But New Jersey continues to provide a legal shield to negligence lawsuits against charitable institutions like the Boychoir School, the state's Roman Catholic archdiocese, the Boy Scouts and other groups that work with children.
That soon may change. On Monday, a General Assembly committee, after three hours of wrenching stories from more than a dozen victims, approved a measure that would allow many people sexually abused as children to go to court after years of silence. A favorable vote by the full Assembly, which is expected soon, would send the bill to the governor's desk.
And the State Supreme Court has agreed to reconsider its much-disputed decision in 1984 to bar a suit against the Archdiocese of Newark by the family of a boy who had been sexually abused by a priest. At the end of this month, the court will hear arguments in a new case, which was brought by Mr. Hardwicke.
• Judge rules church abuse suit can continue [1980-82] -- RCC.
Tribune-Review, By Matthew Junker, Tuesday, November 9, 2004
PENNSYLVANIA: A Westmoreland County judge has ruled allegations that Roman Catholics covered up abuse of young boys by priests is enough to allow a suit over 24-year-old abuse allegations to continue.
John Morrison, of State College, Centre County, filed suit in February against the St. Vincent Archabbey and other defendants, alleging sexual abuse between 1980 and 1982 at the hands of a substitute parish priest who took him to St. Vincent on a retreat.
Westmoreland County President Judge Daniel J. Ackerman ruled on Oct. 20 that Morrison's claim that the Catholic Church had covered up sexual abuse of boys by priests was enough to allow the allegations to clear the hurdle of an objection over the state's statute of limitations.
"I thought it was a well-reasoned, well-thought-out opinion," said Morrison's attorney, Helen R. Kotler, of Pittsburgh.
• Priest arraigned on child pornography [2004 Fernandes] -- RCC. Child porn.
Providence Journal, www.projo.com/ massachusetts/ content/projo_ 20041109 _ma9porn.2 bf755.html , BY ROB MARGETTA, Tuesday, November 9, 2004
NEW BEDFORD (MA) -- More than 5,000 pornographic images and about 150 child pornography movies were found on a church-owned laptop computer used by the Rev. Stephen Fernandes, according to District Court records. Father Fernandes was arraigned yesterday on one count of possessing child pornography.
The Bristol County District Attorney's Office began investigating the 54-year-old pastor of Our Lady of Fatima parish in New Bedford Oct. 27, after a Fall River computer servicing company reported discovering child pornography on his laptop.
Two days later, the Diocese of Fall River, which supervises Our Lady of Fatima, removed Father Fernandes from his duties. During a conference with diocesan officials, Father Fernandes said, "It's all over," and requested treatment at a Baltimore hospital, according to court records.
State police arrested him Friday.
Yesterday, Father Fernandes, dressed in a dark suit and lacking the clerical collar that Catholic priests customarily wear, appeared for his arraignment in New Bedford District Court with his lawyers, Hugh R. Curran and Thomas Burke.
The lawyers entered a plea of not guilty for Father Fernandes before District Court Judge David Turcotte.
• Bishop's visit strives to heal; Diocese's leader offers Mass for victims of clergy sex abuse -- RCC.
The Free Lance-Star, By JESSICA ALLEN, Date published: 11/9/2004
FREDERICKSBURG (VA): Joan Izzo was disappointed when allegations of sexual abuse against the Catholic clergy surfaced two years ago.
The Fredericksburg resident, who has been attending St. Mary Catholic Church on William Street for 30 years, said parents don't imagine that clergy would threaten their children's safety.
She has found forgiveness in her heart for church officials' past actions against children, and prays others will, too.
"There is nothing beyond forgiveness," Izzo said.
That idea--forgiveness--dominated last night's Mass at St. Mary, where about 125 local Catholics gathered to hear the Most Rev. Paul S. Loverde, bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Arlington, apologize to parishioners who were sexually abused in the church or under other circumstances.
• Probe of priest continues [2004 Fernandes] -- RCC. Child porn.
Boston Globe, By John Ellement, November 9, 2004
NEW BEDFORD (MA) -- Investigators have found tens of thousands of child pornography images on a laptop computer used by the Rev. Stephen A. Fernandes and are now looking into whether any area children were victimized by the priest at Our Lady of Fatima Church, Bristol County District Attorney Paul F. Walsh Jr. said yesterday.
Walsh said that the images are from movies, videos, and printed materials. Investigators are now trying to determine whether any of the children in the images were residents of the area, Walsh said.
"If we can discover their identities, we then contact them and find out if they've been the victims of any kind of sexual assaults," he said. "That's ongoing now."
Walsh spoke in a phone interview after Fernandes, 54, pleaded not guilty yesterday in New Bedford District Court to one count of possessing child pornography. District Court Judge David T. Turcotte set bail at $5,000 cash, ordered Fernandes to surrender his passport, and set Dec. 28 as his next court date.
Fernandes, who had been pastor of Our Lady of Fatima Church in New Bedford since 2002, was silent as he left the courthouse, surrounded by news cameras and reporters. In a statement and an interview, John E. Kearns Jr., the spokesman for the Fall River Diocese, said Fernandes has been placed on administrative leave with pay, ordered out of the rectory, and banned from performing any priestly duties.
• Civil suit filed against the Rev. Liberatore [1990s Liberatore] -- RCC. Altar boy.
The Citizens Voice, www.zwire.com/ site/news.cfm? newsid=13321867& BRD=2259&PAG=461&dept_ id=455154&rfi=6 By Chris Birk, Times-Shamrock News Writer, Nov/09/2004
SCRANTON (PA): A Scranton priest facing criminal charges of child molestation is now facing the accusations in a civil case filed in federal court.
The Rev. Albert M. Liberatore, charged in New York and Pennsylvania with abusing a former altar boy, was named in a civil complaint filed Friday in U.S. District Court on behalf of his alleged victim, now a 19-year-old University of Scranton student.
The complaint also charges a host of diocesan-related entities with failing to protect the victim and having prior knowledge of the Rev. Liberatore's alleged behavior.
Those also named in the suit are the Diocese of Scranton, the Most. Rev. James C. Timlin, former bishop, Sacred Heart of Jesus Church in Duryea, the Rev. Joseph R. Kopacz, former diocesan vicar of priests, and Brother Antonio F. Antonucci, who worked at Sacred Heart.
Citing a "longstanding practice of the diocese," spokeswoman Maria Orzel declined to comment on the lawsuit. She said she had yet to see a copy.
• Bishop ending difficult term -- RCC.
Canton Repository, By RACHEL ZOLL, AP religion writer, Tuesday, November 9, 2004
BELLEVILLE, Ill. - A week before his term expires as leader of the nation's Roman Catholic hierarchy, Bishop Wilton Gregory said that the pressure of guiding the U.S. church through the height of the clergy sex abuse crisis "drove me to my knees" spiritually.
Yet in an interview Monday with The Associated Press, Gregory said he was grateful for the chance to serve during what many believe is the worst tragedy ever to befall the Catholic Church in America.
"Had I been able to script my presidency, I would certainly not have given myself this particular drama to live," Gregory said, speaking at his office in the Diocese of Belleville. "But I was able to do something to strengthen and to help the church I love."
The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops will elect a new president next week during its regular meeting in Washington, and Gregory, who has completed his three-year term, will be relieved of answering for the misdeeds of priests and misjudgments of his fellow bishops.
"From a spiritual point of view, it drove me to my knees," Gregory said. "I used the sacramental life of the church to buttress me. Celebrating Eucharist and receiving the Sacrament of Reconciliation probably have never meant more to me as a believer than they did in the past three years. As I stood at the altar, I knew how completely I depended upon God's strength."
• Catholics angry over scandals, study finds -- RCC.
The Times-Picayune, www.nola.com/ news/t-p/front page/index. ssf?/base/news- 2/109998721 7279450.xml , By David Briggs, Newhouse News Service, Tuesday, November 09, 2004
UNITED STATES: The sexual abuse scandal is creating a historic shift in relations between U.S. Catholics and their church hierarchy.
In the first comprehensive national study of the effects of the sexual abuse scandal, researchers at Catholic University of America and Purdue University found nearly four of five people in the pews said they were ashamed and embarrassed for their church, and nearly three-quarters said the failure of bishops to stop the abuse is a bigger problem than the abuse itself.
Anger in the pews toward church leaders so far is having little effect on Catholics' commitment to their church, however. Respondents reported only a slight decline in attendance and giving as a result of the scandal; more than four in five report that being Catholic remains very important to them personally.
But what the results indicate is that while the church itself remains intact, the sexual abuse scandal is shaping up to be a seminal moment in how Catholics view the authority of bishops, some observers said.
"The development of lay organizations, such as Voice of the Faithful, demanding accountability and openness to me represents a new day. It's new in my life," said Catholic University sociologist Dean Hoge. [Posted by Kathy Shaw at 04:50 AM]
////////// End of Clergy Sex Abuse Tracker www.ncrnews.org/abuse , Tue November 09, 2004
Abuse Chronology, visit: http://www.multiline.com.au/~johnm/ethics/ethcont103.htm
For good teachings to be heeded, a big clean-up is needed.
#### Clergy Sex Abuse Tracker, www.ncrnews.org/abuse, Wed November 10, 2004 edition follows:-
• Spokane Diocese to file for bankruptcy -- RCC.
OregonLive.com ; www.oregonlive. com/newsflash/ washingtonstate/ index.ssf?/base/ news-10/110013 1741234440.xml &storylist=or washington ; By JOHN K. WILEY, The Associated Press, 5:01 p.m. PT, Nov/10/2004
SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) - The Roman Catholic Diocese of Spokane, unable to settle sexual abuse lawsuits, will file for bankruptcy by the end of the month, Bishop William Skylstad said Wednesday.
The Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection will allow the diocese to continue functioning while protecting people who were sexually abused by priests in the past, Skylstad said.
"In the end, Chapter 11 gives everyone a sense of finality and closure with fairness, justice and equity," Skylstad said in a news conference. "Valid claims will be settled. The diocese will continue its ministry."
Skylstad, who is scheduled to assume the presidency of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops on Monday, said filing for bankruptcy will suspend litigation and its costs on dozens of sexual abuse claims against the diocese.
The first of those cases, seeking tens of millions of dollars in damages, is scheduled to start Nov. 29. Skylstad said the bankruptcy filing will occur on or before that date. [Posted by Kathy Shaw at 10:52 PM]
• Wash. diocese to file for bankruptcy -- RCC.
USA Today, www.usatoday. com/news/reli gion/2004-11- 10-wash-dio cese_x.htm , By Cathy Lynn Grossman, Nov 10, 2004
SPOKANE (WA): The Roman Catholic diocese of Spokane, Wash., facing a wave of lawsuits by alleged victims of child sexual abuse involving clergy, will file for bankruptcy protection Nov. 29, its bishop said Wednesday. It is the third diocese to do so since July.
Spokane Bishop William Skylstad said Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection was needed to protect the diocese's assets and ministries serving 90,000 Catholics in eastern Washington, and still offer just compensation to 125 alleged abuse victims "as well as those who may come forward in the future."
Multimillion-dollar lawsuits continue to be filed in a scandal that has already cost the church $772 million nationwide.
"The public better get used to the idea of the Catholic Church going bankrupt," says the Rev. Thomas Reese, editor of the Jesuit magazine America. "That's the future if these suits continue to mount up and cost millions and millions of dollars. There's no other solution for many dioceses."
• Former judge to head school's investigation of its president [Garvey] -- RCC. 6 boys.
NEPA News, The Associated Press, November 10, 2004
PENNSYLVANIA: A former state police investigator and a retired judge will investigate allegations that the longtime president of Mercyhurst College had improper sexual contact with minors.
Michael M. Palmisano, who retired as an Erie County judge in 1999, and Bernie Teodorski, who retired from the state police in 1993, will hear accusations that William Garvey had improper sexual contact with six men when they were minors, mostly during the time Garvey was coaching basketball at a Roman Catholic high school.
The Erie Times-News reported the allegations in October. Shortly after the article was published, Mercyhurst's board of trustees called for its own investigation.
The board hired Palmisano on Friday and he in turn called Teodorski because of his "criminal investigation background," Palmisano said.
Garvey, 68, who has been president at Mercyhurst since 1980, has said he is "profoundly saddened and shocked" by accusations that have been lodged against him.
• N.H. cannot prosecute Mass. bishop on sex charges [1970s Dupre] -- RCC.
Foster's Daily Democrat, http://www4. fosters.com/ november_2004/ 11.10.04/news/ ap_nh1110e.asp , Associated Press
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (AP) - New Hampshire authorities said Wednesday they cannot prosecute Bishop Thomas Dupre on sexual abuse charges dating back to the 1970s because it wasn't a crime at the time to have sex with teenagers who were at least 16.
"The conduct the victims say happened in New Hampshire would not have been a crime in New Hampshire," Will Delker, New Hampshire's senior assistant attorney general, told The Associated Press.
Federal authorities as well as law enforcement in New Hampshire, New York and Canada have been reviewing the allegations against the former leader of the Springfield Diocese after a grand jury indicted him on child rape charges.
Although Dupre was the first American bishop to face such charges, Hampden County District Attorney William Bennett declined to prosecute the case saying the statute of limitations had expired.
• Eight Years for Priest Who Assaulted Choirboy [1985-90 Cranch] -- Church of England. Boy.
The Scotsman, http://news. scotsman.com/ latest.cfm? id=3742204 , By Liam Creedon, PA
BRITAIN: A Church of England priest who sexually assaulted a choirboy "hundreds of times" over a five-year period was jailed for eight years today.
Peter Cranch, 57, from Exeter, was found guilty of six charges of assaulting a male person aged under 16, four of b*ggery and two of indecency with a child.
The victim, who is now in his 20s and cannot be named for legal reasons, was attacked between 1985 and 1990 while Cranch was a priest at All Saints Church, Exmouth, Devon.
Jailing Cranch at Bristol Crown Court, Judge Julian Lambert told him: "You took a little boy of eight and groomed him for your sexual pleasure.
"You stole his childhood by sexualising him.
• Church officials plan abuse claim payments -- RCC.
Arizona Daily Sun, www.azdailysun. com/non_sec/nav_ includes/story. cfm?storyID= 97636 , Nov/10/2004
TUCSON (AZ) (AP) -- The Roman Catholic Diocese of Tucson will attempt to sell some properties, try to get significant help from its insurers and encourage parish contributions to settle sex abuse claims, diocesan officials told bankruptcy creditors Tuesday.
Bishop Gerald Kicanas, accountant Chris Linscott and bankruptcy lawyer Susan Boswell were among a half-dozen people who fielded questions for the diocese for more than 2 1/2 hours from lawyers for present and potential creditors -- who include abuse victims seeking damages -- in its bankruptcy case.
The diocese filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection Sept. 20, becoming the second in the nation to do so. The Archdiocese of Portland (Ore.) filed in July.
The Tucson diocese settled 11 lawsuits in 2002, but continuing litigation prompted Kicanas to decide to file for bankruptcy reorganization.
He said doing so was the only way to guarantee a mechanism to pay others who also were victims of sexually abusive priests or other clergy and still allow the diocese to continue operating.
• Priest accused of sexually abusing boy in 1968 [1968 Thacker] -- Anglican. Boy.
The Royal Gazette, www.theroyal gazette.com/ apps/pbcs.dll/ article?AID=/200411 10/NEWS/1111 00061" , By Stuart Roberts, Nov 10, 2004
BERMUDA: A priest who ministered at St. Mark's Anglican Church in Smith's for several years is facing a $10 million lawsuit amid claims he sexually abused a 15-year-old boy in the United States.
The allegations against Rev. Robert Thacker include sodomy, kissing, fondling and inappropriate touching.
Rev. Thacker is now being sued along with the Episcopal Diocese of West Virginia by Frank Jarrell, 51, of California.
Jarrell, a member of Rev. Thacker's American congregation, claims he was abused by the minister in Virginia in the 1960s.
He also claims the Virginia diocese knew about the abuse but did nothing about it.
According to the lawsuit - obtained by The Royal Gazette - Rev. Thacker is a priest in the Episcopal Church who currently lives in Japan. But he has maintained a canonical residence through the Episcopal Diocese of West Virginia.
The lawsuit states that when Jarrell was 15 and living in Welch, West Virginia, he "expressed a desire to learn about the beliefs, rituals and practices of the Episcopal Church".
• Priest gets 16 years for sexual assault [1990s Palathingal (Salesian)]-- RCC. Boy.
Pioneer Press, www.twincities. com/mld/pioneer press/news/ local/101 40904.htm
MILWAUKEE (WI): A Catholic priest was sentenced to 16 years in prison Tuesday for sexually assaulting a child.
Simon Palathingal, 62, a member of the Salesians of Don Bosco religious order, had pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual assault of a child in Milwaukee County Circuit Court in exchange for two other counts being dropped.
Palathingal was charged in June with four counts of first-degree sexual assault. His accuser, now 23, said he was abused as a boy in Milwaukee during the 1990s while Palathingal was studying at Marquette University.
Circuit Judge Karen Christenson sentenced the priest to two concurrent terms of 16 years. Prosecutors had recommended a 20-year sentence.
• Episcopalian ex-pastor suspended in Manchester [Stretch] -- Episcopalian.
The Union Leader, www.theunion leader.com/ articles_show fast.html? article=46875 , By KATHRYN MARCHOCKI
MANCHESTER (NH) - The former, long-time pastor of St. Andrew's Episcopal Church last month agreed to a voluntary nine-year suspension from his priestly ministry after a misconduct allegation was brought against him, a diocesan official said yesterday.
The Rev. Jerome B. Stretch, 66, neither admitted to nor denied the accusation, but agreed to the disciplinary action last month following a preliminary investigation by Bishop V Gene Robinson, said the Rev Timothy T Rich, the bishop's assistant.
Stretch, who retired on Easter, 2003, as rector of the West Side parish where he served since 1984, was accused of inappropriate behavior with a parishioner while under the former pastor's care, said Rich, who conducted the investigation with the bishop.
"We heard through the grapevine, in fact, some question of inappropriate behavior. The bishop was concerned . . . He initiated the preliminary investigation to get to the source," said Rich.
• No wrongdoing by priest's pal, lawyer asserts [Hughes] -- RCC.
Asbury Park Press, By BOB JORDAN, FREEHOLD BUREAU, Nov/10/04
NEW JERSEY: The attorney for David C. Rogers -- who authorities said received numerous and expensive gifts purchased with money a priest embezzled from a Rumson church -- said his client and the pastor were friends, but that Rogers has done nothing wrong.
The attorney, David H. Sternlieb of Manalapan, said the friendship between Rogers, 25, and the Rev. Joseph W. Hughes, 60, pastor of Holy Cross Roman Catholic Church, was not unusual.
"Joe Hughes has many friends within the community," Sternlieb said. "David Rogers hasn't been charged with anything. We have no reason to believe he will be charged. If the prosecuting authorities have questions for Mr. Rogers, they can reach out to me and ask me, and I'll instruct my client accordingly."
• Diocese to pay abuse victims -- RCC.
Fox 11, By Stephanie Innes / Arizona Daily Star, 05:33 PM MST, Tuesday, November 9, 2004
TUCSON (AZ): The Roman Catholic Diocese of Tucson expects property sales, insurance and parish contributions will help pay victims of clergy sexual abuse.
"Our hope would be our parishes would consider contributing to a settlement, but that has not been committed," Bishop Gerald F. Kicanas said Tuesday during the first public meeting between the diocese and creditors in the diocese's Chapter 11 bankruptcy case.
Contributions from parishes had not been publicly mentioned in previous court proceedings as a source for funds that will be created to pay plaintiffs with valid claims they were sexually abused as children by clergy.
The diocese's reorganization plan calls for money to be set aside for claims reported by a deadline of April 15, 2005, future claims, and expenses for litigation should any of the claims need to be resolved in a trial.
• Diocese, McFadden face two more sexual abuse lawsuits [1969-72 McFadden] -- RCC.
Sioux City Journal, www.siouxcity journal.com/art icles/2004/11/ 10/news/local/47 fe552060494b9686 256f480015c5d4.txt ; By Nick Hytrek, Nov 10, 2004
SIOUX CITY (IA): The Catholic Diocese of Sioux City and the Rev. George McFadden are defendants in two more sexual abuse lawsuits.
The latest, filed in Woodbury County District Court, bring the total number of pending lawsuits against the diocese to 20. Four others have been settled.
The new lawsuits were filed by men listed on court documents as John Doe II and John Doe III. Both suits contain few details about the men, other than both alleged that McFadden had inappropriate sexual contact with them as young boys. Doe II alleges the action took place from 1969-72; Doe III's allegations cover 1971-72.
Neither lawsuit says which parish McFadden was serving when the alleged abuse occurred, although according to a previous lawsuit, McFadden was at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Jefferson at that time.
The allegations made against the diocese in the two new suits are similar to those made in the previous lawsuits: the diocese was negligent in its hiring and supervising and aided and abetted McFadden by continually transferring him to new parishes to cover up his actions instead of stopping them.
• Parishes advised to help fund sex abuse settlements -- RCC.
Tucson Citizen, By SHERYL KORNMAN, Nov 10, 2004
ARIZONA: Catholic parishes in southern Arizona have been advised by bankruptcy attorneys to put money now into a settlement fund, whether or not their clergy have been accused of sexual abuse.
Contributing to the fund will protect them from future claims, under bankruptcy reorganization plans being developed, according to Susan Boswell, the Tucson diocese's chief bankruptcy attorney.
Boswell said the 75 parishes have been advised that contributing something to the fund is the only way they can "get relief from future claims." The amount of a parish contribution has not been specified, she said.
Boswell said money collected from parishes will be combined with other money, including donations and insurance funds, to settle sex abuse claims against the diocese.
The fund would be administered by attorneys appointed by a federal bankruptcy court judge to settle claims of abuse.
• Catholic giving increases -- RCC.
Republican, By BILL ZAJAC, wzajac@repub.com , Wednesday, November 10, 2004
SPRINGFIELD (MA) - With fewer donors but larger gifts, the 2004 Annual Catholic Appeal of the Springfield Diocese has raised $2.9 million - about $250,000 more than a year ago.
The appeal's success seemed to even surprise diocesan officials, who kicked off the campaign last spring two months after the past bishop, the Most Rev. Thomas L. Dupre, left his position amid allegations of sexual abuse of two minors.
"I really am delighted about the people of the four counties of Western Massachusetts. To do something like this, despite the fact there was trouble, despite the fact there was turmoil, they realized what this is about - helping those most in need," said the Most Rev. Timothy A. McDonnell, who succeeded Dupre as bishop.
Virginia M. Webb, the campaign's director and a campaign leader for about seven years, praised local Catholics' generosity.
• Ex-priest appeals sex case conviction [Beine, now known as Mar James] -- RCC, Islam.
St. Louis Post-Dispatch, By Matt Franck, Post-Dispatch Jefferson City Bureau, Nov/09/2004
JEFFERSON CITY (MO) - The Missouri Supreme Court was asked Tuesday to toss out the conviction of former Catholic priest James Beine for exposing himself to three boys in a St. Louis school bathroom.
And in a separate case involving child sex abuse, an attorney for a former teacher at a West County Islamic day school told the high court that his client was not granted a fair trial because African-Americans were excluded from the jury.
In the Beine case, attorney Larry Fleming argued that his client's convictions were based on a constitutionally vague statute that allowed the simple act of urinating to be interpreted as sexual misconduct.
Beine, who has changed his name to Mar James, is serving 12 years on three counts of sexual misconduct involving a child. Prosecutors say Beine went far beyond merely urinating in front of schoolchildren by standing back from the urinal at least 3 feet to expose himself.
• Former priest's hearing delayed [Campobello] -- RCC. Girls.
Chicago Daily Herald, By Tona Kunz, Posted Wednesday, November 10, 2004
ILLINOIS: Convicted pedophile Mark Campobello got a stay from being found in default on the second of two lawsuits against him for abusing an Aurora teen and Geneva teen.
Not a problem, said the girls' attorney, that just provides more time to build a case against him from sexual abuse in 1999 and 2000 when he worked at St. Peters Church in Geneva and Aurora Central Catholic High School.
Attorney Keith Aeschliman, of Shorewood, agreed to delay the hearing on finding Campobello in default because the Rockford Catholic Diocese, which oversees the area, had mistakenly forgot to inform Campobello of the court date. Diocese attorneys did not attend Tuesday's court hearing in Kane County.
Campobello now is expected to be found in default next Thursday for not answering a court summons or hiring an attorney for the case involving a then 15-year-old girl enrolled at St. Peters Church in Geneva. Campobello will have 30 days to respond or lose the case and face a financial judgment against him.
Campobello already lost the case involving a then 15-year-old girl from Aurora Central Catholic High School where he taught Latin there and was the spiritual leader.
• Fair City to return to abuse story -- Serial will cover sexual abuse again.
RTE, www.rte.ie/ arts/2004/11 10/faircity.html , Nov 10, 2004
IRELAND: RTÉ has announced the return of TP McKenna, Anna Manahan and Frank Grimes to 'Fair City', in a continuation of last year's clerical sexual abuse story line.
McKenna, Manahan and Grimes play an ex-priest, housekeeper and priest, attempting to deal with the devastation surrounding accusations of sexual abuse against priests.
The plot centres around Father Mitchell (McKenna), a former priest who returns to Carraigstown determined to support a case in favour of Aiden Quirke (played by Feidhlim Cannon), one of the abused.
Another priest, Father Rowe (Tony Rohr) is about to be released from prison, with secrets that could further damage the church. [Posted by Kathy Shaw at 06:23 AM]
////////// End of Clergy Sex Abuse Tracker www.ncrnews.org/abuse , Wed November 10, 2004
Abuse Chronology, visit: http://www.multiline.com.au/~johnm/ethics/ethcont103.htm
For good teachings to be heeded, a big clean-up is needed.
• 13 months gaol for filming girl, child porn; father admits porn movies. [2003-04 Wilson-Brown] -- No religion involved. Images. Girls. [2004 Taseski] -- -- No religion reported. Images. Girls.
The West Australian, "Man jailed for child porn, video of girl," by David Darragh, p 11, Wednesday, November 10, 2004
PERTH: A man caught in Australia's biggest child pornography crackdown was jailed for 13 months yesterday for secretly filming an eight-year-old girl undressing in her bedroom and for possessing nearly 1500 child pornography images.
In sentencing, District Court Judge Peter Martino said Andrew James Wilson-Brown, 34, had committed a gross invasion of the young girl's privacy by making the one-minute video-recording last year.
The offence was opportunistic and voyeuristic but was not of the most serious type of indecent recording.
... caught ... Kinross home on September 28 and seized the indecent videotape and a CD [compact disk] containing 1496 child pornography images involving girls, mainly from Belarus, aged seven to 15.
Judge Martino said ... depraved sex ... adults and each other ...
The demand for child pornography by people such as Wilson-Brown led directly to the abuse of children throughout the world, he said.
... Wilson-Brown ... childhood ... suffered physical and sexual abuse ... low risk ... motivated to have treatment ... US-based company ... Connections ... early 2003 ... one-month subscription ... filmed the girl ... over a back fence ... cost ... his marriage and his job.
... strong support from family members who were involved in the Baptist Church ...
In another Operation Auxin case, Stojan Taseski, a 30-year-old father of two, faces jail after pleading guilty yesterday to one count of possessing child pornography.
...serious sexual abuse images involving girls who were clearly under 16. [Emphasis added] [Nov 10, 04]
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