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John Cummins, Oakland’s longest serving bishop, dies at 96

December 06, 2024

The clergyman oversaw the Diocese of Oakland for 26 years and served on several national committees Bishop Emeritus John S. Cummins, center, speaks during a mass and memorial for former Bishop O’Dowd High School President Dr. Stephen W. Phelps at the Cathedral of Christ the Light in Oakland, Calif., on Wednesday, Jan. 3, 2018. Phelps, president of the school since 2005, died of complications after heart surgery at St. Mary’s Medical Center in San Francisco on Dec. 26. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group) The Mercury News December 4, 2024 By Jason Green OAKLAND – John S. Cummins, the second and longest-serving bishop of Oakland, died Tuesday. He was 96. The Diocese of Oakland confirmed Cummins’ death, writing in a statement that the retired bishop emeritus “leaves a legacy of service to God through his priesthood and episcopacy.” “Our diocese has lost a father, grandfather, shepherd and true priest of Jesus Christ,” Bishop Michael C. Barber said. “May Christ the Good Shepherd welcome Bishop John into the eternal reward prepared for him who served the flock of Oakland so well.” ... Cummins’ tenure was not without controversy. In a 2022 letter, defrocked Oakland priest Tim Stier expressed dismay that Barber, the current bishop, had not held Cummins accountable for his role in allegedly enabling sexual abuse by credibly accused priests in the diocese, this news organization reported at the time.

New Zealand Catholic Bishop Denies Mishandling Abuse Complaints. Survivors Respond

November 20, 2024

MEDIA RELEASE20 November 2024For immediate release A New Zealand Catholic bishop, John Adams of Palmerston North, has denied knowing his National Office for Professional Standards (NOPS) mishandled clerical and religious sexual abuse complaints. Adams told the press last week, “I’m not aware of any cover-ups or any of the bishops conspiring to keep things hidden.” However, church-abuse survivors who lodged complaints in Bishop Adams' clergy sex abuse redress process “A Path to Healing/ Te Houhanga Rongo” (APTH), have reported to church authorities and to the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP Aotearoa), repeated and significant breaches of APTH principles and procedures by NOPS staff. SNAP is aware that as recent as April this year, Bishop Adams was sent files regarding the mishandling of clergy child sex abuse complaints. The files included: 1. Abandoned scopes of investigative work,2. An independent review report upholding a complainant’s claim that investigative work remained outstanding,3. A legal request to further investigate remaining areas identified in an independent review report,4. Documentation from an independent law firm requiring the handling of complaints be clarified,5. Eight other files supporting claims of mishandling abuse cases. But Adams did not acknowledge any of the correspondence. However, NOPS confirmed the files were received.

Head of Church of England resigns over abuse scandal; SNAP urges institutional reform

November 13, 2024

For immediate release: November 13, 2024 The Archbishop of Canterbury stepped down this week following an outcry over his role in the cover-up of child abuse. SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, sees this resignation as a positive first step, but believes that the Archbishop is only a symptom of a deeper problem. An independent review by Keith Makin into the Church of England’s handling of accusations of abuse by the late John Smyth was released on November 7, 2024. Smyth, who was a lawyer actively involved in Christian ministry for children, physically, sexually, psychologically, and spiritually abused about 30 boys and young men in the U.K. and 85 in Africa over five decades. The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, issued a statement in response to the report. In his statement, Archbishop Welby acknowledged that, "I personally failed to ensure that after disclosure in 2013 the awful tragedy was energetically investigated. … I did not meet quickly with victims after the full horror of the abuse was revealed by Channel 4 in 2017.” Despite this admission, the Archbishop did not intend to step down until public outcry forced his resignation. However, SNAP European Coordinator, Marc Artzrouni, while applauding this development, does not believe that it is enough. He said, “The rot is institutional: any other person in Welby's position would have covered-up the crimes in the same way.”

Catholic Diocese of Oakland offers pathetic settlement to survivors; SNAP reacts

November 12, 2024

For Immediate Release: November 12, 2024 On Friday, the Catholic Diocese of Oakland filed a plan of reorganization with the bankruptcy court. In a press release, the Diocese said it will create a trust for sexual abuse survivors worth between $160 and $198 million to pay out 345 claims. SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, called the settlement offer “pathetic.” Court documents show the initial installment is only $65 million. The Treasurer of SNAP’s Board of Directors, Dan McNevin said, “I think it's pretty pathetic. It's low. This is a really, really wealthy Diocese and there are a lot of victims. I can't imagine that creditors' counsel will accept such a low number that just calculates to about nothing per victim." Cathy, an Oakland sexual abuse survivor echoed Dan’s reaction, “I believe the Diocese will pay the lowest amount they can. They are before this court looking for a discount on my pain. On our pain. The church protects its money and reputation more than its children. No amount of money will make me whole and restore the child that was damaged in that one moment.” Victim attorneys Rick Simons and Jeff Anderson also pushed back. Rick said the offer was "a definite message and the message is 'You are not important.' The message is 'We don't care!'" Jeff called the proposal “a scam and a sham.” The 330 innocent victims who have filed lawsuits were members of the Oakland Diocese. They were baptized and confirmed, worked as altar servers, or attended Catholic schools. Their families trusted the priests who assaulted their children, and those families donated time and money to the Diocese. They helped to compensate the clergy who damaged their children's lives.

SNAP Press Event in Houma on Thursday

October 09, 2024

Victims charge Houma Catholic church is ‘reckless’ on abuse Group says diocese ‘is still hiding at least 4 local perpetrators’ Other dioceses post their names & say the allegations are ‘credible’ SNAP: “But Houma officials refuse, leaving kids at risk & victims wounded” Support group also alerts child victims to an unusual new legal opportunity New law means that anyone molested at any time by anyone can now sue ‘By coming forward, the wounded can protect the vulnerable,’ survivors say WHAT Holding signs and childhood photos at a sidewalk news conference, clergy sex abuse victims will --write on a sidewalk the names of four publicly accused clerics who are or were in the Houma-Thibodaux diocese but are largely ‘under the radar’ and are still being hidden by local church officials, and ---urge anyone “with information or suspicions about known or possible abusers” to call police, not church staff, contact SNAP and “protect others and start healing.” They will also urge Catholics to join with them in spreading awareness of an “unusual and ground-breaking child safety law” that “enables virtually any child sex abuse victim to sue, no matter how long ago the crime happened, so that the truth will be known about every bishop, priest, brother, nun, seminarian, or layperson who hurt kids.” WHEN Thursday, Oct. 10 at 11:15 a.m. WHERE On the sidewalk outside the Cathedral of St. Francis, 500 Goode St. in Houma (985-876-6904) WHO Two child sex abuse victims who belong to a support group called SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAPnetwork.org), including a Missouri man who for 30 years was the organization’s national director

SNAP Press Event in Baton Rouge on Wednesday

October 08, 2024

Abuse victims blast Baton Rouge bishop He’s hiding at least three ‘credibly accused’ abusive priests Other church officials say allegations against the men are ‘credible’ SNAP: “If church officials are hiding them, what else might they be hiding?” Support group also alerts child victims to unusual new legal opportunity New law means that anyone molested at any time by anyone can now sue ‘By coming forward, the wounded can protect the vulnerable,’ victims say WHAT Using sidewalk chalk, while holding signs and childhood photos, clergy sex abuse victims will write on a sidewalk the names of three publicly accused child molesting clerics who are NOT on the Baton Rouge Catholic bishop’s ‘credibly accused’ list and thus remain largely ‘under the radar.’ They will also urge ---Catholics and others to “spread the word” about an unusual new Louisiana law that will make kids safer by enabling victims of childhood sexual abuse to sue those who committed or concealed the crimes - no matter how long ago they were violated, and ---those with information or suspicions about ANY other known or possible perpetrators to a) call police, not church staff, and b) contact SNAP. WHEN Wednesday, Oct. 9, at 2 PM WHERE On the sidewalk outside St. Joseph Cathedral, 401 Main Street (corner of 4th) in Baton Rouge WHO Two child sex abuse victims who belong to a support group called SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAPnetwork.org), including a Missouri man who for 30 years was the organization’s national director

SNAP Press Event in Lafayette on Wednesday

October 08, 2024

New perpetrator priest lawsuit is filed Victims also blast local bishop over ‘continued secrecy’ SNAP: He’s hiding at least 3 ‘credibly accused’ abusive priests They’re still alive, so they may still be a threat to kids, group says Other church officials say charges against them are substantiated But their names are NOT on the official Lafayette diocese list Victims also urge greater awareness of new state child molestation law WHAT Holding signs and childhood photos at a sidewalk news conference, abuse victims will announce and discuss a new child sexual abuse and cover up lawsuit against ‘the most notorious child molesting’ cleric in Louisiana history. Using chalk, they will also write on a sidewalk the names of several publicly accused pedophile priests who have spent time in the Lafayette area but are NOT on the Lafayette bishop’s ‘credibly accused’ list. And they will also “urge anyone who may have seen, suspected or suffered ANY other known or possible abuse to a) call police, not church staff, and b) contact SNAP. WHEN Wednesday, Oct. 9 at 11:00 a.m. (NOTE: The group will hold a similar event in Baton Rouge later the same day, Wednesday, October 9 at 2 p.m.) WHERE On the sidewalk outside the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist, the address for the Cathedral is 914 St. John Street, Lafayette, LA, press conference will be at 515 Cathedral. Call if you can't locate them: David, 314-566-9790 (Cathedral phone: 337-232-1322) WHO Two child sexual abuse victims who belong to a support group called SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAPnetwork.org), including a Missouri man who for 30 years was the organization’s national director

Take Action and Stop Child Sexual Abuse

If you see child sexual abuse, or have a reasonable suspicion of sexual abuse or your child has been sexually abused, call 911 or your local police immediately.

If you suspect abuse, call the National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child or visit the Child Help Hotline. Trained crisis operators staff the lines 24/7 to answer your questions. If necessary, they will show you how to report in your local area.

Child pornography is a federal crime. If you see or suspect images that may be child pornography, report to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children CyberTip Line.

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