CLERGY CHILD MOLESTERS -- OVERVIEW (Many headings have been amplified)25 A.D. approx.: Jesus of Nazareth said: "Anyone who is the downfall of one of these little ones who have faith in me, it would be better for him ... that he were drowned in the deep sea." (Matthew 18:6)1947: Western Australian Government Minister was told of the disaster of the 1938-39 child migration, in writing, by the Secretary of the Child Welfare Department. Refer Bruce Blyth (pp 10-11), book In the Shadow of the Cross, (P & B Press, PO Box 81, Como, WA, 6952, $24.95) 1954: Christian Brothers' leaders knew; In 1954 Bro. P.L.Duffy, an assistant to the R.C. Christian Brothers' Superior-General in Ireland, wrote to Bro. Carroll, an Australian leader, to warn that a certain Brother in W.A. could not be trusted with boys. Refer Bruce Blyth (pp 100-01), In the Shadow of the Cross 1975: Newfoundland 1975 cover-up: Christian Brothers Mount Cashel orphanage in St John's, Newfoundland, widespread abuse allegations were covered up by both the Church and the government. In 1989 priests there faced charges, and the orphanage abusers too. Refer Dr Barry Coldrey book (p 4) Religious Life Without Integrity, (2001, P & B Press, PO Box 81, Como, WA, 6952, $17.95) http://www.thelinkup.com/integrity1.html 1978: Melbourne priest Father Michael Glennon in 1978 served seven months of a two-year sentence for indecently assaulting a ten-year-old girl (and see 1985 below). Refer Bruce Blyth (p 111), In the Shadow of the Cross, (1997) 1985: Father Gauthe in U.S.A.: Most of the news media reported about Fr Gilbert Gauthe of Louisiana, who had sexually molested scores of boys. See Survivors of Clergy Abuse in Catholic Seminaries www.arizweb.net/seminary.htm 1985: U.S. R.C. bishops urged to clean up: Arising from the adverse publicity, three professionals including U.S. Dominican Fr Thomas Doyle (a canon lawyer at the Vatican Embassy) wrote a confidential report in 1985 urging every U.S. R.C. bishop to help form a national policy to stop clergy sex-abuse. See Aug 2 02 The National Catholic Reporter www. natcath.org/ NCR_ Online/archives/ 080202/ 080202a. htm 1985: Australia, repeat offender, high publicity: Fr Michael Glennon (see 1978 above) faced new charges. Crusading television personality Derryn Hinch pointed out that Fr Glennon was a convicted child abuser yet continued as a priest, but as this tended to stop Fr Glennon getting a fair trial Mr Hinch was punished for contempt of court, and the trial was delayed until '91. 1987: Child migration exposed: Fairbridge Farm School in Western Australia criticised for taking child-migrants' identities and some violence, and Christian |
Brothers for sex molesting, physical beatings, work without wages, etc.,
The Western Mail, August 8-9 1987, p 20, and August 15-16 1987, pp 26-27,
see Dr Barry Coldrey's book p 5 Religious Life Without Integrity
http://www.thelinkup.com/integrity2.html
1988: Derryn Hinch television programme "Christian Brothers?" shown on Channel 7 in all States except Western Australia. 1989: The book Lost Children of the Empire by Philip Bean and Joy Melville was published, and a television programme based largely on it was screened. 1992: There was great publicity about the U.S. abuser Fr. James Porter, and other survivors came forward accusing other clergymen. See "Survivors of Clergy Abuse in Catholic Seminaries" www.arizweb.net/seminary.htm 1992: The Leaving of Liverpool Australian Broadcasting Commission (ABC) TV mini-series screened. ABC Compass programme The Ultimate Betrayal shown 1993: U.S. R.C. bishops seemed to accept a special report on sex-abuse scandal, but many did nothing, according to Bishop John Kinney in "Sins of the Fathers" on "Foreign Correspondent", June 19 2002, Australian Broadcasting Commission radio. 1996 (?): Sipe Report of Richard Sipe, about 25 pages based on professional experience. One statement is: "These families were inhibited by false, incomplete, and misleading information that would in effect serve the interest of the Church rather than the best interest of the child victim. This pattern is quite consistent in dioceses and archdioceses across the U.S." www.thelinkup.com/sipe.html 1998: Australian "whistleblower" found dead, files gone: R.C. priest Morrie Crocker, who had asked the Church and police since 1989 to act concerning the child abuse of priests and a brother, was found hanged at Wollongong on March 26, 1998. http://www.thelinkup.com/crocker.html 2001: U.K. "Crackdown on abuse by priests;" The English and Welsh R.C. Church was asked yesterday to appoint child protection representatives in every parish after a series of clergy abuse cases. The Guardian Britain at www.guardian.co.uk Apr 18 01 2001: Australia, parliamentary inquiry: "Quite exceptional depravity" -- Christian Brothers at Bindoon, Castledare, Clontarf and Tardun in Western Australia, period 1938 to late 1960s, (AND some other aspects of the child-migration scheme) in chapter 4 of "Lost Innocents: Righting the Record" pp 76-77 http://www.aph.gov.au/ senate/committee/clac_ctte/ child_migrat/c04.doc , Senate Community Affairs References Committee, Australia, Aug 2001 • Former Brisbane Anglican Archbishop Peter Hollingworth (now Governor-General) defends himself against charges he mishandled clergy child sex-abuse. The Weekend Australian, Feb 16-17 02 • Guidelines for handling clergy abusing children. Evidence that the ancient method was exclusion. multiline.com.au/~johnm/nonmarital.htm Feb 19 02 |
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Clergy Child Molesters, Overview, p. 2
!!!: Father Kelly's escape to Belgium stymied by 77 more sex charges The West Australian Feb 28 02 • Paying for sins of the fathers; Anglican, Catholic, United and Presbyterian Churches in Canada face child-abuse compensation of $C1000m; Australian dioceses facing ruin Weekend Australian, Mar 2-3 02 •Father Geoghan -- Deal close on $60m U.S. sex payout [later cut to $10m] West Australian Mar 7 02 !!!: Florida has two sex-abuse bishops in a row! Yet parishioners support Church. Boston $15 to $30m extra for Father Geoghan abuse Record Mar 21 02 !!!: Polish archbishop quits over sneaking through tunnel to seminary dormitory The West Australian Mar 30 02 • Priest abuse, abortion woman gets $2m payout Los Angeles (Fr John Lenihan) West Australian Apr 3 02 !!!: Irish Bishop resigns over boy-sex cleric, had tried everything but dismissal! West Australian, Apr 3 02 • Scandal keeps lawyer Stephen Rubino busy with 250 clients on 3 continents The West Australian Apr 3 02 • Abuse of Trust: Child Sexual Abuse and the Australian Churches with world background, more than 100 Australian Catholic and Anglican clergy convicted of child sexual abuse in past 5 yrs www.abc.net.au/rn/talks/bbing/stories/s531384.htm ABC Background Briefing Apr 14 02 • Married teachers jailed, Victoria, seduced 14-year-old Wesley College girl West Australian Apr 20 02 • Priest was evil one, says cover-up victim , Fr Paul Shanley said cardinal abused him in seminary, U.S. bishops fostered him since 1967, cardinals for Rome, Victims broken Weekend Australian Apr 20-21 02 • R.C. priest Paul Shanley talked up boy-love, but was not dismissed; The West Australian, Apr 27 02 !!!: Priest sex video sent to flock by homosexual blackmailing ex-lover, Spain West Australian Apr 30 02 • ABC Radio talk about RC priests' problems with celibacy, some go visiting prostitutes May 03 02 !!!: Confessional rapes? Accused U.S. priest Paul Shanley may be jailed for life; Boston diocese backs out of settling for $75m for 86 John Geoghan victims The Sunday Times, Perth, May 05 02 • Priest Maurice Blackwell shot by accuser in US sex case The West Australian May 16 02 •"Loss of Faith", 60 Minutes, TV Channel 9. Catholic Archbishop George Pell said the Church requires that people who get sex-abuse compensation don't talk about it. [Before and after the broadcast for a total of 10 days he denied that "hush money" was paid. You see, the Church calls it "compensation"!] Dr Pell first denied four times that a nephew had reported to him that Fr Gerald Ridsdale had sexually abused him, then agreed he had. Dr Pell had been to court in support of the boy-abusing Fr Ridsdale. Complaints about girl-abusing Fr Kevin O'Donnell had been received in 1985, no action. (Click the two parts, and the follow-up.) |
http://sixtyminutes.ninemsn.com.au/ sixtyminutes/stories/2002_06_02/story_602.asp
Richard Carleton, TV Channel 9, June 2 02
• "Church admits hush edict." Australian R.C. lawyer-spokesman admits that victims of sexual abuse were effectively paid hush money, despite a week of denials by Sydney Archbishop George Pell. West Australian Jun 10 02 • "Sins of the Fathers" on "Foreign Correspondent", U.S.A. R.C. sex abuse crisis, big coverage. Included: Bishop John Kinney said that a Church committee around 1993 recommended steps to stop child abuse. Bishops seemed to agree, but went home and did nothing. -- Australian Broadcasting Corp. radio Jun 19 02 • New Zealand R.C. bishops apologise to sex abuse victims, 9 convicted since 1990. Record Jul 11 02 • Priest Paul Shanley denies Massachusetts 1979-1989 child rape (Gregory Ford and other cases); insurance firms win Minnesota case not to pay $1m because R.C. officials knew priest there had 15-year abuse history. The West Australian July 12 02 • G-G Hollingworth may face police probe, Anglican Bishop Shearman's 'affair' with 14-y-o, allegation re 10-y-o, Brisbane Church inquiry. West Australian Jul 22 02 • In rift with Cardinal Law, agency to accept lay group's funds, USA's Voice of the Faithful offer, laypeople in both camps resist orders from Cardinal The Boston Globe http://www.boston.com July 24 02 !!!: Bishop on homosexual priests' internet newsgroup! South African Bishop Cawcutt resigns, http://allafrica.com/stories/200207190010. html and The Record Jul 25 02 • Furore at Pell's view that child abuse is less serious than abortion The West Australian Jul 30 02 !!!: Two boy-sex charges during pope's youth forums in 2002, crossed into Canada! And, abuse victims claim U.S. priests still abusing, The West Australian Jul 31 02 • 4000 meet to give laity a voice, (about the July 20 Boston conference of the Voice of the Faithful with the slogan "Keep the Faith, Change the Church.") The National Catholic Reporter www.natcath.org/ NCR_ Online/archives/ 080202/080202a.htm Aug 2 02 !!!: See-through confessionals for San Jose? "Where seeing is believing" The West Australian Aug 14 02 • R.C. Sydney Archbishop George Pell faces abuse claim, www.abc.net.au/news/2002/08/ item20020820180852_1.htm ABC news Aug 20 02 • Canberra-Goulburn "Bishop attacks Catholic culture of secrecy" and celibacy; Bishop Pat Power calls for reforms. www.smh.com.au/articles/2002/08/27/ 1030053060196.html Sydney Morning Herald Aug 28 02 • "The facts about Wesley College" internet peeks by Principal John Bednall, the police were told, and he resigned. Western Impact, Uniting Church, Sep 2002 |
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Clergy Child Molesters, Overview, p. 3
• Church leaders knew priests were doing unspeakable things to kids, and ignored it. -- Response to Bunbury RC Bishop Gerard Holohan's Sep 5 apologia, and see the Bunbury Anglican Bishop David McCall's June 27 claim ~ Sep 14 02 • Party priest jailed 10 1/2 yrs for sex abuse of schoolboys at Albury NSW, Fr Vincent Kiss, 70; The Weekend Australian, Sep 14-15 02 • U.S. Catholic "Bishops sued on child sex counts" for conspiracy, Michael Harris cost $5.2m. The West Australian, Wed Sep 18 02 • Prosecutor releases names of 20 uncharged priests from the 1960s and 1970s (U.S.). www.boston.com/news/daily/26/priests_names.htm The Boston Globe Sep 26 02 !!!: Cruising away! "Police divert ship to arrest alleged paedophile priest": Retired U.S. priest Neville Rucker, 82, was taken off a Pacific cruise to face 23 charges of sexual abuse of girls The West Australian, Oct 1 02, p 23 • Dr Pell case not proven, closed-doors RC Church inquiry results announced. ABC news Oct 14 02 !!!: "Hush money" clauses for Australian R.Cs. are still a condition of compensation offered by the bishops, in spite of the National Committee for Professional Standards, Sister Angela Ryan leading it for three years, and the "Towards Healing" rules. -- Australian Catholics, Richmond (Victoria), "Healing touch" by Kent Rosenthal SJ Christmas 2002 !!!: Boston priests involved in fatal drug overdose, and woman thrown down stairs! "Pressure on abuse row cardinal to go," reasons also included continuing to pay priests who gave drugs to the young, and seduced would-be nuns. "No confidence" letter to Dr Law being signed by some priests. The West Australian Dec 10 02 !!!: Gaolbird to Amarillo parish until May 2002. Summary shows: Court actions against 15 Catholic entities; 568+ victims; bankruptcy protection considered. The Record "More US strife" Dec 12 02 • Pope's 1999 "hush-up" transfer document unearthed; "Sex priests scandal draws in the Vatican" because of the 1999 defrocking order discovered about convicted paedophile Robert Burns, who had child sex accusations in New Hampshire, Ohio, and Massachusetts. Well-known accused Fr Paul Shanley was let out on $US300,000 bail on Dec. 11. The West Australian, Dec 13 02 !!!: Pornography and cocaine priest put into parish in 2001. Boston Cardinal Law's resignation is accepted [at last] by Pope. Legal authorities say there has been an "elaborate system" over a period of "decades, and perhaps generations" to shield Boston priests. Friends and relations of accused Fr Paul Shanley reportedly raised $US300,000 bail so he could leave gaol. James Post of VOTF said that tens of millions of dollars had been diverted from the Church's charities and religious works to shield child-abusing clergy. The Weekend Australian "Cardinal |
succumbs to sex abuse scandal" Dec 14-15 2002
• Baltimore area jury acquitted Mr Dontee Stokes, 26, hairdresser, of a charge of attempted murder around May 15 2002 of a priest, Fr Maurice Blackwell, whom Stokes said had sexually assaulted him nearly a decade ago. Stokes was convicted of three handgun charges. The West Australian, Dec 18 02 • Denier Pell gets more good Press from the Church! A Zenit interview with Tess Livingstone, author of an autobiography George Pell, praising the Sydney Archbishop, but not touching on sex-abuse subjects! Dr Pell grew up in his parents' country hotel in Ballarat, and recovered from illness to be a star footballer etc. at St Patrick's CBC in Ballarat. He mixes freely and well with people of other faiths, for example Judaism and Islam. (And much more.) -- The Record, "The Church's helmsman Down Under," (Zenit), Dec 26 2002, p 6 • Thank you to good priests, on Internet; More than 25,000 messages of thanks to good priests since it started in August 2002 have been received on the Thank You Father Website www.thankyoufather. com . -- The Record, Dec 26 02 • On December 18 2002 Polish Fr Roman Kramek in the U.S.A. sexually assaulted a girl, 17, who was supposed to be receiving his counselling on sex assault! NEW YORK: "Abuse fighters set sights on Bishop" John McCormack, who in June 2002 moved a priest who had sex with a teenager to a new parish! And more. -- The Weekend Australian, Nicholas Wapshott (New York), Dec 28-29 2002, p 8 !!!: Restraining order, Australia: MELBOURNE: Jilted lady invited herself to Archbishop Denis Hart's Christmas dinner! In 2001 there had been a "relationship" with an ex-priest, woman claims. The archbishop obtained a restraining order against Anne Furness over her actions supposedly arising from the relationship. [Archbishop Hart had joined in Dr Pell's advertisements denying "hush money." See West Australian, Jun 7 02 p 5] -- Weekend Australian, "Churchman restrains stalker," Dec 28-29 02 p 4 • "The abusive behaviour continues still; No broad vision in Fr Steve Rossetti's defence of indefensible U.S. bishops." This is a RESPONSE to "I say, I say...." (No more prevalent in the Church than it is in society) by Paul Gray, giving a number of arguments by Fr Steve Rossetti, in The Record, Perth, Nov 7 2002. Why isn't sex abuse by clergy almost NON-EXISTENT? Aren't the bishops and priests supposed to be showing through their celibacy a sign of sacrifice and holiness to the world? (see Pope John XXIII, quoted in E.Gilson, "Souvenir du Père," in La France Catholique, No. 862, 7:vi:1963) For decades the global Catholic establishment has been pretending the problem is smaller than it is. The article had said that a case had come up in Boston diocese over Fr John Geoghan. The reality is that he had repeated court cases, and many other clergy are being sued or charged, costing millions. Dec 30 02 |
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Clergy Child Molesters, Overview, p. 4
!!!: Doorstep passion denied by Anglican clergyman: LONDON: Rev. Harry Brown denies he bounded towards a married woman parishioner at her own front door in 1996, overpowered her, and gave her a French kiss, etc. He is appealing against a Church of England decision. -- The West Australian, "Priest fights passion claims," Jan 4 2003 • 40% of U.S. nuns sexually abused: report. WASHINGTON: Forty per cent of United States nuns have been sexually abused, according to a study conducted by St Louis University. -- West Australian, "Nuns sexually abused: report," Jan 6 03 • Tolkien son accused of sex abuse; LONDON: Father John Tolkien, 94, the eldest son of J.R.R. Tolkien, the author of The Lord of the Rings, has been questioned by police over allegations that he sexually abused boys while working as a priest. -- The Age, Melbourne, "Tolkien son accused of sex abuse," www.theage.com.au/ , Jan 7 02 !!!: No punishment because clinch took place three years ago! MEXICO CITY: Bishop Juan Lopez said he was not going to punish Father Salomon Palma, 60, whose self-videoed image in a clinch with his secretary, 28, was shown on TV. -- The West Australian, "Anger over priest in a clinch" Jan 8 03 • Six per cent molesters in some U.S. dioceses; 1205 R.C. priests harmed 4268 youngsters. NEW YORK: There are 1205 U.S. priests who have molested 4268 minors during the past 60 years, according to a survey of documented cases only. "This has been going on for decades, probably centuries," said Richard K. O'Connor, a former Dominican priest." -- New York Times, www.nytimes.com/ "Decades of Damage; Trail of Pain in Church Crisis Leads to Nearly Every Diocese," Jan 12 03 !!!: Leaflets at churches, and archbishop suddenly has time to see victims! ST PAUL (U.S.A.): A day after SNAP, a sex-abuse victims' group, distributed leaflets at Catholic churches asking parishioners to support their three-month effort to meet with Archbishop Harry Flynn, the archbishop agreed Monday to a meeting. --Star Tribune, St Paul, Minnesota, USA, http://www.startribune.com "Archbishop Flynn to meet with sex-abuse victims group" Jan 14 03 !!!: Sex "Hush money" denier appointed to deal with sex! SYDNEY: The Vatican has appointed Catholic Archbishop of Sydney George Pell, who in mid-2002 vainly denied there was a silence clause, to a Vatican Curia position dealing with sex education, family life, etc., etc. -- The West Australian "Pell appointed to Vatican body" Jan 15 03 • Only 42% of U.S. Catholics believe in the Church's organisation now; Pollster George Gallup Jr said the plunge plainly reflected "the 2002 Catholic sexual abuse scandals." -- The Record Perth, "Popularity plunge" Jan 16 03 • Women left adrift by priests and/or the Church system, organise in Scotland. EDINBURGH: "Sonflowers," a support group for women who have |
affairs with Catholic priests is
opening a branch in Scotland because its English headquarters cannot cope with the number of calls received from Scottish women.
-- Scotland on Sunday, "Silent mistresses find voice against priests"
http://www.thelinkup.com/ abuse-women/scotland.html
Jan 16 03
• Cardinal Law to be interviewed by panel investigating church's abuse crisis -- and victims' confidentiality is being destroyed by legal means. NEW YORK (AP): Lawyers for the Boston Archdiocese, which offered to pay for counseling for people who say they were abused by priests, began this week issuing subpoenas to the therapists to get details about the sessions, thus outraging alleged victims and their lawyers. -- Star Tribune, St Paul, Minnesota, USA, "Cardinal Law to be interviewed by panel investigating church's abuse crisis" http://www.startribune.com/ Jan 18 03 !!!: Sliding naked around oily floor with five children under 13! BUNBURY, Western Australia: Dutch-born Catholic priest Adrian Richard van Klooster, 60, of Australind, formerly of New South Wales, admitted indecent dealing with the children in February 2002. He allegedly also took digital photographs and photocopies of the naked children. He could expect to go to jail, a judge said today. -- Sunday Times Online http://www.sundaytimes.news.com.au "Catholic priest admits indecent dealing" Jan 21 03 • Former priest in Hong Kong convicted in sex abuse case. HONG KONG -- Michael Lau, a former Roman Catholic priest, was jailed yesterday after he was convicted of molesting a 15-year-old altar boy. A Church coverup was reported. -- Boston Globe "Former priest in Hong Kong convicted in sex abuse case" www.boston.com/dailyglobe2/ Jan 28 03 • Jehovah's Witnesses cover up child abuse: HALIFAX, Canada: A television channel plans to screen tonight a show claiming that the elders in the Jehovah's Witness Church had covered up sex abuse by the stepfather of a girl called Holly from the time she was two, and his abuse of a younger daughter. -- Halifax Daily News "CBC uncovers surprising revelations" Jan 29 03 • Catholic Church backs 'cure for gays': MELBOURNE, Australia: A controversial American psychologist Dr Peter Rudegeair, who claims homosexuals can be cured, will speak in Melbourne tonight with the support of the Catholic Archbishop of Melbourne, Denis Hart. Dr Rudegeair is visiting Australia with Father John Harvey, the founder of Courage, an organisation that helps homosexuals live by the precepts of the Catholic Church. -- The Age "Catholic Church backs 'cure for gays'" www.theage.com.au/ Jan 30 03 • Bishops must not abstain from the duty of pastoral governance, while guarding individuals' rights, says Pope. VATICAN CITY: The Pope on January 24 urged bishops not to neglect their duty to govern through administrative processes. -- The Record "Canon Law avoids injustice" Jan 30 03 |
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Clergy Child Molesters, Overview, p. 5
!!!: Catholic leaders pretended that suspect had gone to India, but he had shifted across the river! NEW YORK: Reversing earlier official statements, a diocesan chancellor testified yesterday that Brooklyn church officials knew that Rev. Francis Nelson, 39, accused of molesting a 12-year-old girl, had got a job in the Archdiocese of New York, and had not gone to India as previously claimed by Church officials. -- Newsday, "Changing Church Story Official: Diocese knew accused priest was still in NY" www.newsday. com/ Jan 30 03 • GRAND JURY BLAST ROCKVILLE CENTRE DIOCESE. SUFFOLK COUNTY (NY), U.S.A.: "Priests assigned to and working in the Diocese of Rockville Centre committed criminal acts in violation of New York State Penal Law Article 130, Sex Offenses, and other statutes designed to protect the health, safety and welfare of children. These criminal acts included, but were not limited to, Rape, Sodomy, Sexual Abuse, Endangering the Welfare of a Child and Use of a Child in a Sexual Performance. Not one priest in the Diocese who knew about these criminal acts reported them to any law enforcement agency." [Also refer to Feb 11 newspaper articles on this, titled "Diocese of Lies Exposed," and "Revs called 'serial child molesters'."] -- Suffolk County Supreme Court Special Grand Jury, www.newsday. com/ news/local/ longisland/ ny-suffolkreport 0210, 0,2290700. acrobat?coll=ny% 2Dtop%2Dspan% 2Dheadlines , Report "Priest child sex abuse in Diocese of Rockville Centre" released Feb 10 03 • Rabbi Arraigned After Arrest In Underage Cyber Sting; NEW YORK: Rabbi Israel Kestenbaum, 54, the father of a 9-year-old girl, was arraigned Friday after his arrest in Manhattan for allegedly trying to arrange a tryst with a person he believed to be a 13-year-old girl he met over the Internet. -- Newsday http://www.newsday.com/news/ local/wire/ ny-bc-ny--rabbi- arrested0221feb21.story Feb 21 03 • Man allegedly abused by priest kills himself. SEATTLE (Washington State): Jeff Alfieri, 43, of Seattle, who said he was molested decades ago by a priest in the Seattle Roman Catholic Archdiocese committed suicide by gunshot earlier this week, his family said, in the parking lot of the church in Kirkland where the alleged abuse occurred. -- The Seattle Times Feb 21 03 • Globe honored for stories on church, Islamic world. BOSTON (MA): The Boston Globe has been honored with two George Polk Awards. -- Boston Globe Feb 24 03 • Mexico mayor vows crackdown on gay prostitutes after slaying of priest. MEXICO CITY: The mayor of Torreon in northern Mexico is urging a crackdown on male prostitutes following the murder of a priest who prosecutors say had patronized them. -- Arizona Republic Feb 25 03 |
• Globe adds Selden Ring Award to its awards.
BOSTON (MA):
Reporters and editors at The Boston
Globe have won the 2003 Selden Ring Award for
articles revealing that the Archdiocese of Boston routinely hid sexual abuse by Catholic priests.
-- Boston Globe "Globe receives Selden Ring Award" Feb 25 03
• Let's deal with apologists pretending that Church child abuse isn't costly and continuing. Clifford Longley published in the British Catholic newspaper The Tablet of 25 January 2003 an article trying to defend a British Cardinal from requests for him to resign because he fostered a serial child sex abuser, and it was republished headed "How can we deal with our collective paranoia over paedophiles?" in On Line Opinion on 24 Feb 2003. See also Tom Utley's article in The Telegraph's Nov 30 2002 internet version entitled "Paedophile obsession is killing trust in the Church", reprinted in Perth on Jan 2 2003. We've had the US's Fr Steve Rossetti writing in April 2002 that the clergy's sex abuse is no more prevalent than elsewhere in society, republished in Perth on Nov 7 2002. A Boston lady, then a Harvard law professor, Mary Ann Glendon, in a November 4 2002 speech (republished in Perth on Nov 7) blamed the news media. One would have thought that Catholic journalists and editors would have realised that the only "obsession" was the desire for child sex among a surprising percentage of clergymen, and there was no mass-media "paranoia," but among too many leaders of Churches and religious orders there was a "paralysis." Voice of the Faithful (VOTF) estimates that U.S. Catholics have been deprived of tens of millions of dollars in payouts because of clergy sex abuse. -- Faith Purification Programme, Perth, Feb 26 03 • Jehovah's Witness girls abused, leaders shielded abuser. NASHUA (NH): Two sisters can pursue their claims that elders from their Jehovah’s Witness congregation in Wilton ignored their mother’s complaints of sexual abuse, a judge has ruled. -- The Telegraph "Judge: Sisters may pursue church case" (Poynteronline Feb 27 03) • DEFIANT BISHOPS Mahony and Lennon pleading Constitution to hide crimes! LOS ANGELES (CA): Frank Keating, the chairman of the lay review board named by US Catholic bishops to monitor compliance with their child-abuse prevention plan says he is "stunned" that Cardinal Roger M. Mahony of Los Angeles has raised First Amendment objections to the release of church documents to law enforcement officials. Bishop Richard G. Lennon, of Boston Archdiocese, is also citing the First Amendment. -- Boston Globe, "Bid to shield priest data faulted," Mar 14 03 |
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Clergy Child Molesters, Overview, p. 6
• PULITZER PRIZE to THE BOSTON GLOBE for exposing sex abuse by priests. UNITED STATES of AMERICA: The Pulitzer prize for Public Service was awarded to The Boston Globe for its courageous, comprehensive coverage of sexual abuse by priests, an effort that pierced secrecy, stirred local, national and international reaction and produced changes in the Roman Catholic Church. -- The Pulitzer Board, http://www.pulitzer.org/year/2003/public-service/ , Mon Apr 7 03 !!!: SAN BERNADINO CATHOLIC DIOCESE SUES BOSTON ARCHDIOCESE! CALIFORNIA: The Diocese of San Bernardino, Calif., will sue the Archdiocese of Boston for recommending to them the Rev. Paul Shanley, a notoriously depraved sex-abuser, as a priest in good standing. Officials in San Bernardino say they would have to close schools and cut services for the needy if they had to pay damages in a local suit against Father Shanley. -- The New York Times, "Church Disunity in the Priest Scandal," Opinion, http://www.nytimes. com/ , Apr 9 03 • Brisbane Diocese ANGLICAN ABUSE REPORT is tabled in Queensland Parliament. BRISBANE (Queensland, Australia): The full unabridged report of 471 pages by an Anglican Board was tabled on May 1 2003 by Premier Peter Beattie in the Queensland Parliament, and published on the internet. It reports on the Governor-General Peter Hollingworth's handling of clergy child sex abuse while he was archbishop of Brisbane. "The Board considers that no Bishop acting reasonably could have reached the decision to continue a known paedophile in the ministry. There were no extenuating circumstances nor can the Board imagine any that could have justified his continuance." (15.8 on page 49) -- http://www. parliament.qld.gov.au/AnglicanReport.pdf , May 1 03 • FOUR PRIEST MOLESTERS AT CATHOLIC NOTRE DAME UNIVERSITY, U.S.A. SOUTH BEND (Indiana): University of Notre Dame officials are reaching out to former students who experienced sexual misconduct by clergy while at the university. Four known cases are: The Revs. James T. Burtchaell and Robert D. Huneke; a priest, 73, from the Diocese of Erie, Pa., who worked as rector in a Notre Dame men's residence hall in the 1970s; and an unnamed priest accused of misconduct in the past year. -- South Bend Tribune, "ND reaches out to victims; Former students claim clergy misconduct; Alumni Group Wants To Know How University Handles Investigations," http://www.southbendtribune.com/ stories/ 2003/05/04/ local.20030504- sbt-FULL-A1- ND_reaches_out.sto (costs $US 1.95 to see this) , May 4 03 • Relationship, so dormitory priest dismissed at Notre Dame, U.S.A. SOUTH BEND (Indiana): A dormitory rector at the Catholic University of Notre Dame, Father Samuel Peters, has been dismissed; he admitted a relationship with an "of age" female. |
-- NewsCenter16, WNDU 16,
"Notre Dame priest fired,"
http://www.wndu.com/ news/ 052003/ news_19763.php ,
May 6, 03.
!!!: Catholic school says students responsible for alleged abuse! NASHUA (NH): The Roman Catholic Bishop Guertin High School says that the alleged sexual abuse of three former students by a teacher was caused by their own failure to exercise reasonable care. The men are among 10 suing the school and the brothers' order. -- Portsmouth Herald (U.S.A.), "Catholic school says students responsible for alleged abuse," http://www.seacoastonline.com/ news/05162003/ news/28874.htm , May 16, 03 • Priest used internet in May 2003 trying for sex with "15-year-old boy". OGDEN (Utah): Catholic priest Mario Arbelaez Olarte, 44, had an internet online sex chat with a police officer posing as a 15-year-old boy, and was charged Friday with enticing a minor over the internet to a rendezvous near a private apartment he has away from the church. He was arrested when he arrived for the meeting. -- Salt Lake Tribune, "Ogden Priest Charged With Enticing Minor on the Net," http://www.sltrib.com/ 2003/May/ 05172003/ utah/ 57724.asp , May 17 03 • PETER HOLLINGWORTH RESIGNS. AUSTRALIA: Dr Peter Hollingworth has resigned from the office of Australian Governor-General due to the controversy surrounding his handling of child sexual abuse cases in the Anglican Church when he was the archbishop of Brisbane. -- Australian Broadcasting Corporation TV, http://www.abc.net. au/news/ , Sun May 25 03. • By the Windows: A crisis of faith. MALAYBALAY CITY (Philippines): Never in recent memory has the Philippine Catholic Church been confronted with a crisis of such magnitude as happened in the wake of allegations of sexual harassment hurled against Bishop Teodoro Bacani. He is a prominent church figure whose stand on certain social and political issues has presumably influenced policy-making. Some people's reaction is either one of disbelief or denial, or worse, irrational indignation toward the victim of Bacani’s alleged misconduct. Bacani went abroad after the issue became public. His spokesperson has virtually admitted the incident, although he interjected that the bishop acted with no malice aforethought. -- Minda News, http://www. mindanews. com/2003/06/18vws-boymords.html , by H. Marcos C. Mordeno Jun 18 03 • Let off charge of commanding sex-abuse concealment, bishop later arrested for hit-and-run death. PHOENIX (Arizona): The Catholic bishop of Phoenix, Thomas O'Brien, 67, has been arrested and charged with leaving the scene of a fatal car accident on Saturday night [June 14]. Two weeks ago, Bishop O'Brien avoided charges on an accusation of ordering a priest to persuade a Catholic family not to report another priest's abuse of a child. -- The West Australian, "Bishop in car kill case," Jun 18 03, p 23 He resigned. -- The New York Times, Jun 18 / 19, 03 |
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Clergy Child Molesters, Overview, p. 7
• Rogue bishops won't obey clean-up board; leader resigns. WASHINGTON (DC): On Monday, Frank Keating resigned his voluntary position as chairman of the National Review Board of lay Catholics charged with enforcing the zero-tolerance charter against child sexual abuse adopted last year by America's Roman Catholic Bishops. "I left, after almost exactly a year of service, for two reasons: the need to devote full time to my job, and frustration over the efforts of a small minority of church leaders to obstruct the workings of the board." -- New York Times, "Finding Hope in My Faith," Jun 19 03 • U.S. SUPREME COURT REFUSES RIGHTS OF VICTIMS. WASHINGTON (DC): A deeply divided Supreme Court, ruling in a case with potential impact on child abuse cases across the nation, decided that after the time for prosecuting a crime has run out, it is unconstitutional to pass a new law reviving the power to prosecute. -- Boston Globe, "Court upholds statute of limitations on prosecution," (Poynteronline Abuse Tracker, Friday, Jun 27 2003) • Australian Jesuit leader reverses policy, apologises to victim. AUSTRALIA: Father Mark Raper, Australian Provincial (i.e., leader) of the Roman Catholic Jesuit Order, has reversed the Order's previous policy, and apologised in writing and on this programme to Mr Lucien Leech-Larkin, who was allegedly abused in 1968 by a science teacher, Mr Colin Fearon, at a Jesuit school. Fr Raper had decided to apologise after seeing the 23 June "7.30 Report". -- Australian Broadcasting Corporation, "7.30 Report," Jul 1 03. • Tolkien's son abuse case; Church payout. LONDON: The Catholic Church has reached an out-of-court settlement with a former scout who claimed he had been sexually abused by Father John Tolkien, son of Lord of the Rings author J.R.R. Tolkien. Christopher Carrie was awarded $36,800 in compensation. The 57-year-old claimed he had been assaulted by the priest in a church in Birmingham, England, more than 40 years ago. The 85-year-old priest, who denied the allegations, died in January. -- The West Australian, "Payout in Tolkien abuse case," Tue Jul 22 03, p 23 |
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Prosecutor issues church abuse report; 1,000 estimated victims since 1940; charges against leaders unlikely.
BOSTON (Massachusetts): More than 1,000 people were likely sexually abused by clergy and other workers in the Boston Archdiocese over a period of six decades, Massachusetts Attorney General Tom Reilly said in a grand jury investigation report issued Wednesday. Reilly’s report suggests changes, but no charges are to be filed against church leaders because child-protection laws in place while abuses were taking place were too weak.
-- Associated Press,
Jul 23 03
!!!: Co-author of Anglican sex abuse research was abuser; Bishop acts on interviewees. AUSTRALIA: Tasmania's Anglican Bishop is urging child abuse victims to contact the church if they are concerned about their interviews for a report into sexual abuse within the diocese. The report's credibility has been brought into question, after admissions of sexual abuse by co-author Michael James Crowley. -- Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), Tasmania, "Bishop urges victims to contact church with concerns," Jul 29 03 • Vatican Threatened Excommunication For Making Sex Abuse Public. BOSTON, Massachusetts: The hierarchy of the Catholic church has been instructed by the Vatican at least since 1962 to keep certain cases of clergy sexual abuse secret under pain of excommunication, according to Boston lawyer Carmen L. Durso. Houston lawyer Daniel J. Shea provided Mr. Durso with a copy of the 40-page Vatican document, called "On the Manner of Proceeding in Cases of Solicitation" (Latin title: "Crimen Sollicitones"). "The constant admonitions that information regarding accusations against priests are to be deemed 'a secret of the Holy Office' may explain, but most certainly do not justify, their actions," Mr. Durso said. The document was promulgated in 1962 by the Supreme and Holy Congregation of the Holy Office under the pontificate of Pope John XXIII and was printed by the Vatican Press. It is marked confidential and states it is to be stored in the "secret archives" and is to be treated as "strictly confidential." -- Telegram & Gazette, "Vatican document instructed secrecy in abuse cases," Jul 29 03 |
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