We’re disappointed that Bishop Bransfield is:

• apparently still not forcing his priest, Fr. Kevin Quirk, to testify at the trial in Philadelphia (as requested by prosecutors),
• has issued a written statement, instead of taking questions openly, about the child sex allegations against him,
• is apparently ignoring the allegation that he had a “lewd conversation” with a child,
• refusing to answer the allegation that he brought kids to the beach house he owns
• is only now making statements, seven years after it was first disclosed, about his alleged ownership of property with a child-molesting cleric, and
• continues to attack the judicial system and the judge and prosecutors in Philadelphia, especially since this is a trial that he has not attended. He apparently feels comfortable, from a distance, calling it a “circus.” But yesterday, he refused (through his lawyers) to respond to sworn testimony from that trial (he called the testimony “rumors.”)

For the first time in the history of the Sacramento Catholic diocese, a judge has ruled that two adults can seek punitive damages in a clergy sex abuse and cover up case involving a priest who is now a fugitive from justice.

Two groups involved in the Catholic  church's child sex abuse and cover up scandal are urging Pittsburgh's bishop to put a just-suspended priest in a treatment center.

Statement by Becky Ianni Washington, DC/Virginia SNAP Director, SNAPVirginia@cox.net,  703-801-6044

 A man has given sworn courtroom testimony in Philadelphia today that West Virginia's bishop, Michael Bransfield, took boys to a beach cabin, and a Philly priest told him Bransfield was abusing one of them.

Today the Vatican has announced a new “reform effort,” coming in the form of the renewal of the Leadership Council of Women Religious (LCWR). The Vatican has tapped Seattle Archbishop Peter Sartain to lead this effort. We argue that Archbishop Sartain is a poor choice.

Shame on West Virginia Bishop Michael Bransfield. In a blatant rebuke to a judge and prosecutors, Bransfield is refusing to send one of his top aides to a criminal child sex abuse and cover up trial in Philadelphia. (Reportedly, Bransfield claims the trial appears to be evolving into a circus.)

Cardinal Roger Mahony and his former second-in-command are refusing to show up for a clergy sex abuse and cover up trial happening now in Stockton. 

A predator priest from California has fled back to his home in Ireland. He's been found guilty of molesting one boy, is being investigated in another, and was to take the witness stand today. 

Our hearts go out to the loves ones of Nathan Stansbury, the Lafayette District Attorney who prosecuted the first pedophile priest to attract national headlines.

We are grateful to the Colorado law enforcement officials who apprehended this dangerous predator. While Routt Co. Sherriff Garrett Wiggins has said that these crimes are unrelated to a church, we still urge the officials at Hyland Baptist Church to aggressively seek anyone who may have seen, suspected, or suffered crimes at Brothers’ hand to come forward immediately. 

Our hearts go out to the young victim and recognize the pain and isolation she must feel. Her welfare is of utmost importance and everything should be done to insure that she is safe and secure, free from any intimidation. Detention seems a harsh remedy. Surely the courts can take into consideration her youth and emotional insecurity to make other arrangements less egregious and punitive.