Media Statements

The disgraced former bishop of a West Virginia diocese has been subjected to an “amends plan” as determined by the Congregation for Bishops in Rome following scandals related to financial impropriety and sexual abuse.

Dr. Scot Brandner and I grew up in the same St. Catherine of Siena parish neighborhood in Old Metairie in the 1970’s. We were both altar boys, though he was a couple of years older, and we never met. Our paths crossed in the mid 90’s at Ochsner Foundation Hospital where I was a medical social worker, and he was an anesthesia resident. Although we never met, I heard about his tragic suicide that shocked the entire community. Scotty was beloved by everyone who knew him.

The leader of New York’s largest archdiocese will lead the prayer at the upcoming Republican National Convention, shining a spotlight on the tight connection between religious and political officials and reminding us of the critical need to demand better of our leaders.

A priest in Ohio has been arrested on multiple federal charges including the sex trafficking of minors. These are serious charges that demand significant outreach efforts by Catholic officials in the Diocese of Toledo.

A now-disgraced cardinal who has already been accused of abuse at least a dozen times has been sued again in New Jersey. We applaud this brave survivor for coming forward and we hope this news will inspire other victims to speak out and get the help and support that they need.

Last year the Kansas Bureau of Investigation announced that they had opened an investigation into clergy abuse in 33 counties throughout their state. Today, the KBI updated Kansans with the news that they have opened 120 individual cases after receiving more than 200 reports from survivors, witnesses, and whistleblowers.

On the eve of the two-year anniversary of the bombshell Pennsylvania Grand Jury Report, twenty-eight people filed lawsuits against the Diocese of Pittsburgh. We hope that the legal theory being tested by these complaints holds true and that these brave men and women will have the opportunity to have their day in court.

Efforts by state attorneys general to block a new Title IX rule failed this week and now the updated policy is set to go into effect on Friday. This is a disappointing legal decision that will not only make it more difficult for survivors to report campus assaults but will also negatively impact the safety of university communities.

Election season offers us all an opportunity to assess the past position of our candidates and establish better, more modern expectations. When it comes to the critical issue of preventing sexual violence, this election offers a chance to demand that our federal government intervenes to make our communities safer for children and the vulnerable. 

A just filed lawsuit claims that a man and his sister were sexually abused by an Elwood priest and that the sister's allegations were ignored by the Catholic Church when first reported in the 1990s. We applaud these brave survivors for coming forward and call for Diocesan officials to come clean about what happened when the abuse was first reported and why no action was taken.