Media Statements

A Baptist pastor in Florida has been arrested on multiple counts of possessing child pornography and two counts of “promoting sexual performance of a child.” Given this man’s prominent position in his local faith community, we are concerned that there may be more victims and hope that the news of this arrest will encourage survivors and witnesses to come forward to local law enforcement.

The first oral argument in a lawsuit filed against the Catholic Church in Japan will be heard on Tuesday, December 15, 2020, at 10 AM in the Sendai District Court. We sincerely hope that the plaintiff’s position will be heard and upheld by the judge.

Last November, church officials in Vancouver released a report on the extent of clergy sexual abuse in their archdiocese. Now, they are releasing an updated report that includes information on the steps that church officials have taken since 2019 as well as information regarding newly-reported abusers.

Catholic officials from the Diocese of Oakland have settled a lawsuit with a former seminarian who was sexually abused by a priest. The clergyman remains on leave and is still receiving his paycheck. We hope that this story encourages others who were hurt by clergy in Oakland to come forward, make a report to the police, and start healing.

In the latest display of arrogance and ignorance, an attorney representing the Catholic Church claims that the men and women who are suing the Archdiocese of Santa Fe for sexual abuse and cover-ups are trying to “eliminate the Archdiocese.” It is beyond offensive that an institution that allowed children to be preyed upon is trying to play the victim. We believe that Archdiocesan officials must forcefully disavow these insensitive comments from their lawyer.

A Catholic school in Rhode Island is being sued by a young woman who accuses a teacher of sexually abusing her from 2012 to 2014. This story is yet another example that the abuse scandal continues to be a major problem in the Church, one that requires secular oversight and intervention to solve.

A Catholic bishop from South Carolina who was accused of sexual abuse in a civil lawsuit claimed today that he has been “cleared” by the Vatican. However, we believe that allegations should be investigated by secular authorities before anyone can make a public pronouncement of guilt or innocence.

Recently retired Archbishop Charles Chaput is a pot calling the kettle black when he criticizes President-electJoseph Biden as being “scandalous.” After all, Archbishop Chaput knows a thing or two about being scandalous.

Two days ago, Archbishop Gregory Aymond named a deceased priest, Rev. Robert Cooper, as the 73rd cleric on his ever-growing list of clergymen accused of molesting children. The Archbishop also suspended Fr. J. Luis Fernandez and Fr. Joseph deWater from ministry pending further investigation into allegations of child sexual abuse.

Yesterday, the Green Bay Press Gazette released a detailed and well-researched account of clergy abuse survivor Nate Lindstrom. Nate was sexually abused as a teenager by three Norbertine priests from the St. Norbert Abbey in De Pere, Wisconsin. Although the abuse he endured was never formally recognized by the church, Nate received monthly payments from the St. Norbert Abbey for over ten years specifically to cover treatment costs. The payments suddenly stopped in May 2019. On March 9th, 2020, Nate died by suicide.