News Story of the Day
William Casey Post-Conviction Relief Denied By Panel
William Casey’s bid for post-conviction relief in connection with the former Catholic priest’s 2011 conviction on charges of first-degree criminal sexual conduct and two counts of aggravated rape was denied by the Court of Criminal Appeals of Tennessee at Knoxville.
In a filing Wednesday, the appeals court affirmed the judgment of a post-conviction court denying Casey’s challenges to the convictions for actions committed in 1979 and 1980.
Casey’s bid for a new trial was denied in 2020 by Sullivan County Criminal Court Judge James M. Goodwin. Casey, a Greene County resident, was convicted in 2011 by a Sullivan County Criminal Court jury of the criminal sexual conduct and aggravated rape counts.
Victim of priest child sexual abuse case against David Huneck comes forward
In a statement released Monday, Mariella Warney identified herself as 'victim one' in a sexual assault of a minor case against Father David Huneck.
FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WFFT) -- In a statement sent to FOX 55 on Monday, Mariella Warney identified herself as "victim one" in a sexual assault of a minor case against Rev. David Huneck.
Although Warney says she's emotionally devastated, she will no longer remain in the shadows.
David Huneck
This comes after Huneck resigned as chaplain at Bishop Dwenger High School and as a pastor at Saint Paul of the Cross Catholic Church.
Huneck is charged with child seduction, sexual battery and furnishing alcohol to a minor in Whitley County.
Investigators say the 31-year-old offered alcohol to and groped two young women, one 17 and one 19.
Melanie Sakoda with Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, SNAP, says this incident isn’t surprising.
“Although Catholic bishops say clergy sexual abuse is a thing of the past, it really isn’t. It’s really unfortunate that their response is to keep things hidden and secret,” Sakoda said.
Sakoda commended Warney’s bravery in coming forward.
“I think it’s important for victims to come forward if and when they’re ready. Whenever someone does come forward and share their story, they bring comfort to other people, whether or not they’re abused by the same person," she said.
Catholics4Change Launches Global Community
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE — October 10, 2021
The founders of Catholics4Change, an online forum dedicated to the prevention of clergy child sex abuse, have launched the Catholics4Change Community. The virtual and global platform allows Catholics, survivors, and advocates to communicate and collaborate virtually.
“We didn’t want the efforts of these amazing people from around the world working to prevent child sex abuse to be limited by chain emails, conference calls and social media,” said co-founder Kathy Kane, a social worker who advocates for policy reform.
“During the pandemic, people have become more comfortable in virtual settings,” says co-founder Susan Matthews, who was an editor at The Catholic Standard and Times in the early 90s under publisher Cardinal Anthony Bevilacqua. “We’ve built this private membership community to go way beyond a website, Zoom or online meetup group. It’s a fully-equipped international hub that can be customized by the members.
Clergy abuse survivors and advocates ready for meeting with newly-announced Vatican ambassador
October 11, 2021 (Joint Press Release E.C.A , Nate's Mission, SNAP)
In an open letter to Vatican ambassador nominee Joe Donnelly, leading survivor-activists and advocacy organizations have requested a meeting to discuss actions and solutions to address the ongoing clergy abuse and coverup crisis.
In the letter, survivors express hope that Donnelly’s nomination will open up negotiations between US survivors and the Holy See. Donnelly has placed human rights at the top of his agenda in the US relationship with Pope Francis and the Vatican. The rape and abuse of children and its institutional concealment constitute one of the most serious violations of human rights and religious liberty of children in the United States and around the world. Despite the prevalence of ongoing revelations of abuse and coverup across the country, this issue has never been addressed by a US President or State Department even though there is incontrovertible evidence of a relationship between the coverup of these crimes in the United States and Vatican law, policy, and practice.
The Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement allowed the Catholic Church to escape justice
It failed residential school survivors, and it failed the many Catholics of goodwill who expected better of their spiritual leaders
Thousands of paedophiles active in French Catholic Church since 1950, commission finds
France 24 - October 3, 2021
Some 3,000 paedophiles have operated inside the French Catholic Church since 1950, the head of an independent commission investigating the scandal told AFP, days ahead of the release of its report.
The commission’s report is due to be released on Tuesday after two and a half years of research based on church, court and police archives, as well as interviews with witnesses.
Sauve, senior French civil servant, said the report, which runs to 2,500 pages, had attempted to quantify both the number of offenders and the number of victims.
Inside the Church That Preaches ‘Wives Need to Be Led with a Firm Hand’
Evangelical pastor Douglas Wilson wrote that men “conquer” and women “surrender.” Christ Church survivors are starting to speak out.
Topeka Catholic priest suspended after allegation of sexual abuse of a minor, which he denies
"Father Pilcher denies the allegation and is cooperating fully," the archdiocese said in a news release. "He will remain on leave until the investigation is concluded and the archdiocesan Independent Review Board has reviewed the case and made a recommendation to Archbishop Joseph Naumann regarding the matter."
Years into attorney general investigation of Maryland’s Catholic Church, abuse survivors wonder where it stands
The Baltimore Sun - by Alison Knezevich
September 24, 2021
Vatican verdict looms for Knoxville bishop
News: Vos estis lux mundi
| 16 hr ago |
A report on Knoxville’s Bishop Rick Stika is under review at the Vatican’s Congregation for Bishops, months after multiple allegations of administrative and personal misconduct triggered an investigation into Stika’s leadership.
Vatican sources tell The Pillar that a Vatican-ordered investigation was conducted over the summer, and that a decision is expected soon on whether Stika will remain in ministry as diocesan bishop.
Winter Appeal 2023
To our friends,
2023 has been a long year with many ups and downs for us all. As we close out the year, we at SNAP hope that you are feeling like you are on your way to being healthy, fulfilled, and happy. This past year has brought both successes and challenges. Thanks to the support you have shown in the past, we’ve been able to celebrate the good days and weather the stormy ones. Now, we are once again asking for your support as we work to support survivors new and old as we ‘Move SNAP Forward.’
At SNAP we are proud to have hosted a very well-attended conference in August 2023. This event allowed us to gather friends, survivors, advocates, and allies for a weekend of camaraderie and connection. We were so happy to be able to welcome many first-time attendees to gather in person and are already looking forward to the next conference.
To strengthen our movement for justice, healing, and prevention, SNAP will be expanding our peer support and providing more volunteer opportunities in the coming year. Through this great work, we are ensuring survivor voices are represented as we work for significant change that will benefit children and survivors.
Right now, survivors worldwide are getting the help they need from SNAP, and more and more reach out to us daily, but we need your help to keep those programs going and get our volunteers the training they need to thrive.
Your tax-deductible gift to SNAP can help offset the cost of our important mission. If you are not in a position to contribute, you can still support us by sharing this letter with those who can. As we continue to fight for survivors across the globe, your donation or sharing the great work SNAP does will help us continue our work to protect the vulnerable, heal the wounded, and prevent abuse.
Your donation ensures SNAP will be there for those who need us more than ever!
Warmly,
Michael W. McDonnell, C.P.S.
Interim Executive Director