Media Statements

Two attorneys who represent child sex abuse victims are calling on Congress to audit the Boy Scouts after more than 20,000 documents have been released focusing on the more than 1,200 of the Scout “ineligible volunteers.” 

In light of the Jimmy Savile scandal, every mom and dad must stress to themselves and their families this simple fact: child molesters come in every shape and size and occupation. Neither prominence and power, nor charm and charisma, means an adult is “safe.”

Where is the list of scout officials who’ve been fired, demoted, disciplined and denounced by Scout executives for hiding child sex crimes of their colleagues? When Scout executives post that list on their websites, voluntarily, that’s when we’ll believe progress is happening. 

The fact that two teachers over the course of two years have been arrested at the same school for sexual abuse is beyond disappointing; it is frightening. 

We are disappointed that Rev. Dr. John Cameron would make such ignorant and hurtful claims about the alleged victims of Jimmy Savile. To publicly proclaim that the multitudes of victims making allegations against Savile are only doing so for a “cash-grab” is both obtuse and callous.

Today, thousands of pages of long-secret Boy Scout files about child sex crimes and cover ups are being released. Our heart aches for every child who was assaulted by Scout personnel, especially those who were sexually violated after Scout executives knew or suspected that the assailant was a child molester.

It's the structure, not the membership, of this board that's the problem. As long as the archbishop picks every single member and as long as the board depends almost strictly on church officials for information, it will lack effectiveness, objectivity and credibility.

Today, according to the Vatican Insider, the Pope appointed Archbishop Joseph Tobin, who currently heads the Congregation for religious in Rome, to be the new archbishop of Indianapolis.

Wisconsin abuse victims push to open files

Hundreds of pages may implicate NY's Cardinal

Apparently, Chaput has unilaterally revised the American bishops’ child sex abuse policy. For years, it officially was “one strike and you’re out.” Now, in Philly at least, it’s become “one strike and you’re in.” Chaput is putting Fr. Joseph DiGregorio back on the job, in part, because “no other complaints were reported.”