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Catholic Church found liable for historical sexual abuse by Newcastle priest

By Giselle Wakatama Father Ron Pickin died in 2015. (Courtesy of Brock Perks, Newcastle Herald/ACM) In short: In a landmark NSW court case a judge has found the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle directly and vicariously liable for the childhood sexual abuse of a man known as AA. The court heard AA was given beer and cigarettes and was sexually assaulted after blacking out in a presbytery. What's next? A directions hearing has been scheduled for next week.

Federal judge denies request to open sealed records in Archdiocese of Milwaukee’s bankruptcy; SNAP is saddened by the decision

For Immediate Release: October 3, 2024 This week, a federal judge denied the Wisconsin Attorney General’s request to review the Milwaukee Archdiocese’s sealed bankruptcy records as part of an investigation into child sexual abuse in the Catholic Church . SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, is saddened by this ruling, which in our view does not make the protection of children the priority. Attorney General Josh Kaul argued in his request that the sealed claims meant that some abusers could have gotten away with their crimes, and that some survivors never got the justice they deserved. We agree wholeheartedly with AG Kaul, and we hope that, if he is able, he will appeal this short-sighted ruling. In response to the decision, the attorney for the Archdiocese of Milwaukee said that, “Judge [G. Michael] reasserts the bankruptcy court’s finding at the time that because the abuse happened so long ago in the 1950s-70s, there are no longer any public safety concerns." Sadly, it is simply not true that those who abuse boys and girls cease to become a threat as they age. In fact, child predators very rarely stop without outside intervention. This ruling may very well mean that today’s children could be harmed by some of these unidentified men and women. The Archdiocesan attorney also asserted that a review of the records “would have been devastating to abuse survivors who see this case as closed, and want their claim kept under seal by the court.” We are incredulous that the Catholic Church purports to speak on behalf of those victimized. Most, if not all, only suffered life-long injuries because of decisions made by that entity. In fact, in our experience, most survivors come forward because they do not want another child to experience what happened to them. We suspect that most, if not all, would welcome seeing their abusers held accountable for their crimes.

Vermont Catholic bishop filed for bankruptcy on Monday; SNAP concerned

For Immediate Release: October 2, 2024 On Monday, the Catholic bishop of Vermont filed for bankruptcy in the face of 31 lawsuits for child sexual abuse. SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, is concerned that by employing this legal tactic, the Diocese will avoid accountability for past actions that resulted in life-long injuries to innocent boys and girls. In fact, we suspect that the real motive behind the decision is to prevent disclosures about what happened to these brave survivors as children, as well as the knowledge that the Diocese could have prevented that harm in most, if not all, the cases. As the cherry on top for Bishop McDermott, a bankruptcy will also mean that the recoveries to the victims will be severely reduced.

Diocese of Rockville Centre reaches settlement with sexual abuse survivors; SNAP leaders weigh in

For Immediate Release: October 2, 2024  Last week the Catholic Diocese of Rockville Centre reached a settlement with 600 survivors of child sexual abuse. The Diocese agreed to pay $320 million in compensation. SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, is grateful to the survivors who stood up for their rights and for all victims. We hope that this process will bring some measure of healing those who came forward. The bankruptcy case was begun in 2020 and it has taken 4 years to reach an agreement. Rockville Centre initially only offered $200 million, which was rejected by the survivors. In 2004, the Diocese was among the 10 largest in the United States. However, it is important to note that, while the settlement is justly deserved by those who have suffered decades in silence, no amount of money can make up for the lifetime of trauma that results from child sexual abuse.  Moreover, in the grand scheme of things, the money is but a drop in the bucket given the great wealth of the Catholic Church. Still, we suspect that after all the time between the filing of their lawsuits and the conclusion of the bankruptcy, most will simply be happy that their claims are finally resolved and try to move forward.  New York SNAP Leader Mary McKenna puts it this way, “The amount of money each survivor will receive is always less than they deserve. The awards in the Rockville Centre bishop’s reconciliation program run by Cardinal Timothy Dolan were similar, and survivors got that money right away. Moreover, it was reported in Newsday yesterday that the Bay Shore school district settled with 5 victims: one received $4.5 million and the other 4 $3.5 million each!!! The Catholic Church got off easy!!! I just hope this little bit of money will help some survivors get what they need. But I can’t help but feel that overall the Catholic Church has failed victims once again.” In one bright spot in the whole situation, Long Island SNAP Leader Janet Klinger noted that for years prior to the bankruptcy she fought for the release of a list of accused priests in the Diocese of Rockville Centre, but without success. However, the names were finally released in 2021 as part of the federal proceedings. We hope that the Diocese will continue to update their list as new reports of abuse are made to them. However, we know that no institution can, or should, police itself. We hope that law enforcement and legislators in New York are looking long and hard to find new pathways to provide justice for survivors and to prevent more children from being harmed in the future. It seems to us that one critical step is to change the law to ensure that covering up and enabling abuse is itself prosecuted as a serious crime. Those who fail to protect innocent boys and girls, like the perpetrators, should also face time behind bars.

More clergy abusers named in lawsuit-SNAP news conf Thurs 9/19 @ 11a.m. in Jeff City

Victims say top Catholic official is 'becoming worse' on abuse They write names of 'credibly accused perpetrators' on sidewalk Newly filed civil lawsuit targets four or five priests accused of abuse SNAP: But Jeff City bishop refuses to 'reveal even one fact' about them Group wants Bp. McKnight to disclose who 'Fr. Dave' is and where he is now And it 'especially urges' those who were hurt as adults to 'come forward & get help' WHAT Holding signs and childhood photos at a sidewalk news conference, abuse victims will discuss a new lawsuit filed last week accusing four or five Jefferson City area Catholic priests of child sexual crimes and adult sexual misconduct. They will also prod Jefferson City's Catholic bishop to reveal more information about  --the four newly-accused abusers - including which are alive and where they are now  --all of the clerics on his 'credibly accused' abusers list, including their photos and complete lists of each parish where they worked.  Using chalk, they will write the names of the 10-12 proven, admitted and 'credibly accused' priests who are or were in the Jeff City area and are still alive. And they will call on  --anyone who was 'sexually manipulated, exploited or victimized' as an adult to 'speak up, protect others and start healing,' and --state lawmakers to reform Missouri's 'archaic, arbitrary and predator-friendly' statute of limitations on child sexual crimes. WHEN Thursday, Sept. 19 at 11:00 a.m. WHERE On the sidewalk outside Immaculate Conception Catholic Church (where one of the priests is accused of abusing a woman), 1206 E. McCarty in Jefferson City (573 635 6143) WHO Two abuse victims including a mid-Missouri native who for 30 years led SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAPnetwork.org) and who sued the Jefferson City diocese years ago

New boarding school abuse suit & upcoming big trial-SNAP presser Fri. Sept. 6 @ 1:15 p.m.

Young abuse victim files unusual suit vs. sheriff’s department He charges staffers 'committed & concealed' crimes against kids The victim, now 23, was assaulted in 2015 & speaks for the 1st time And a criminal trial vs. Christian school's co-founder starts next month Missouri’s 'most prolific female predator' faces dozens of charges & civil suits In last minute plea, SNAP says 'victims, witnesses & whistleblowers must speak now' WHAT Holding signs and childhood photos at a sidewalk news conference, a 23 year old abuse victim will speak publicly for the first time and will announce his unusual new lawsuit. It charges that a southern Missouri sheriff’s department repeatedly ignored, concealed and committed abuses at a Christian facility for 'troubled' children and seeks four unprecedented reforms that will help prevent similar crimes. Separately, next month, a long-awaited criminal trial against Missouri’s most notorious serial boarding school abuser begins. So abuse victims are making 'a last-ditch plea' to 'anyone who saw, suspected or suffered wrongdoing' by the female defendant to 'help prosecutors lock her up by coming forward to law enforcement now.' And they will beg anyone with information or suspicions about crimes at Christian boarding schools to 'come forward, protect others and get healing.' WHEN TOMORROW, Friday, Sept. 6 at 1:15 p.m. WHERE On the sidewalk just south of the Charles E. Whittaker US Federal Courthouse, 400 E. 9th St., corner of Oak, (in Ilus Davis Park) in Kansas City, MO WHO The 23 year old plaintiff and victim who is suing, two other survivors/advocates and a St. Louis man who was abused as a boy and is the volunteer Missouri director of a support group called SNAP (the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAPnetwork.org)

Spgfld MO event: Horrific new boarding school abuse case filed & big trial looms

New horrific abuse suit filed vs. Christian boarding school   As a 13 year old, the victim suffered ‘torture’ in 2019 & 2020   She’s now just 18, making her the youngest to take legal action   Prominent local pastor reportedly ‘hid children’ from state authorities   He’s named as a defendant and SNAP says he should be fired or resign   A high profile criminal trial against school’s co-founder starts next month   She faces dozens of charges & civil suits; case will be heard in Stockton   In last minute plea, SNAP says ‘victims, witnesses & whistleblowers must speak up now’   WHAT At a sidewalk news conference, holding signs and childhood photos, abuse survivors will -- announce the filing of a “horrific” new abuse and cover up lawsuit against a controversial Christian boarding school for girls in southwest Missouri, -- call for a prominent local pastor, named as a defendant in the suit, to resign or be fired, and -- urge others to help prosecutors convict a female serial abuser by contacting law enforcement before her trial next month if they “saw, suspected or suffered her crimes.” WHENWednesday, Sept. 4, at 1:15 p.m. WHERE On the sidewalk outside the federal courthouse at 222 S. John Q. Hammons Pkwy (between Broadway and Washington) in Springfield MO WHO Two-three victims and anti-abuse advocates, including a Drury University graduate and child sex abuse survivor who for 30 years headed SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAPnetwork.org) WHY --1) The suit is being filed by girl who - as a 13 year old in 2019 and 2020 - was repeatedly subjected to “torture” and “physical, sexualized and mental abuse” at Circle of Hope Girls Ranch in Humansville (in Polk County, 40 minutes north of Springfield.) Now 18, she’s the youngest victim to sue the facility. Among the offenses alleged in the suit: trafficking, involuntary servitude, brainwashing children, defrauding parents, child sexual abuse, and negligently hiring staff, negligently supervising staff and kids and intentionally inflicting emotional distress. One of the defendants is Rev. Jeff Ables of Berean Baptist in Springfield (507 East Norton Rd, [email protected], 417.833.1529). He allegedly “hid children” from DCFS,” according to the suit, and refused to report abuses to authorities even though he’d been told of the crimes as far back as 2008. Some of the abuses were sadistic and bizarre, the suit says, such as withholding food as punishment and force-feeding kids until they threw up and then forcing them to eat their vomit. Staffers shoved the victim’s face into manure, put Wasabi sauce in her mouth and forced her to watch as other girls were “punched in the face, choked, beaten and whipped.” The victim, identified only as Jane Doe, will NOT be at the news conference. She lives in Kansas City and is represented by KC attorney Rebecca Randles (816 931 9901). 2)) Next month, Missouri’s most notorious Christian boarding school abuser goes on trial facing 22 counts of child abuse and neglect. She is Stephanie Householder who, for years, along with her husband, ran two Christian boarding schools for ‘troubled kids’ in southern Missouri. (Before he died in June, her spouse Boyd was charged with 79 similar counts.) https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/crime/article289535052.html SNAP is begging other victims, witnesses and whistleblowers to contact the FBI or the Missouri attorney general’s office before the widely-anticipated trial begins next month in Stockton. “Over decades, hundreds of kids suffered because of the Householders,” said David Clohessy of SNAP. “So please, don’t sit back and be silent. If you saw, suspected or suffered abuse at these schools, help prosecutors get her locked up by coming forward now to the attorney general’s office, local law enforcement or SNAP.” Dozens of ex-students accuse the Householders of using “brutal restraints, excessive workouts in extreme temperatures, psychological and sexual abuse” and withholding food and water as punishment. According to the AP, 16 former residents said they were handcuffed, whipped with belts, had their mouths taped shut and were punched for minor offenses such as singing. https://www.insurancejournal.com/news/midwest/2024/05/15/774285.htm https://www.bishop-accountability.org/2024/06/after-ex-mo-boarding-school-owner-accused/ In recent years, criminal charges, civil lawsuits, and media reports have exposed shocking and severe abuse of kids in at least three similar facilities in Missouri (Agape School in Stockton, Kanakuk Kamp near Branson and ABM Ministries, a.k.a. Lighthouse Christian Academy, in Piedmont.) https://www.davidclohessy.com/blog/2nd-letter-to-mo-ag-bailey-re-boarding-schools CONTACT David Clohessy 314 566 9790, [email protected] (davidclohessy.com)

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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