News Story of the Day
ANOTHER GUARDIAN OF CATHOLIC ORTHODOXY ACCUSED OF PROTECTING SEXUAL ABUSERS
FEBRUARY 2, 2016, Religion Dispatches
Fast on the heels of the news that a Bavarian boys choir directed by Pope Benedict’s brother was a hotbed of physical and sexual abuse for decades, comes the allegation that Cardinal Gerhard Müller covered up the abuse when he was the bishop of Regensburg.
According to the National Catholic Reporter, the allegation is being made by the former head of the lay diocesan council in Regensburg, Germany, who said that Müller and a deputy “systematically” covered up the abuse, disbanded the diocesan council to thwart outside investigation, and installed at least one known abuser priest in a parish who then committed more acts of abuse.
Mother Of Accused Seminary Student: 'He's Innocent'
By
COLUMBUS, Ohio - Joel Wright appeared on a Vermont CBS affiliate WCAX not once but twice, at 16-years-old and 13-years-old; both times he was excited about a planned trip to a papal mass.
It was a sharp contrast to the 23-year-old seminary student who appeared in federal court on Monday on two felony charges for allegedly planning a trip to Tijuana, Mexico to adopt a 1-year-old and 4-year-old child for the purpose of raping and molesting.
Prominent Catholics want Seattle Archdiocese to open all sex-abuse files
OUR OPINION: North Dakota dioceses should release names of priests
By Tom Dennis, January 27, 2016, Grand Forks Herald
To weeks ago, the Archdiocese of Seattle published a list of its clergy and other employees who'd been credibly accused of sexually assaulting children.
The archdiocese took this step on its own—not because of a court ruling, not because a legal settlement forced its hand, but because the publication was the right thing to do.
SNAP pushing for public awareness of abuse by priests
By Sean Evan, Jan 25, 2016, wtvm.com
SAVANNAH, GA (WTOC) - The Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, or SNAP, says they want the public to be aware of seven credibly accused Catholic clerics who have worked in Georgia, but haven't been publicly called out until now.
The SNAP representatives WTOC spoke to want the names of those priests out there, in case there are any victims who might not have come forward yet. SNAP representatives gave WTOC the names of seven clerics who at one time worked in Georgia, some in the Diocese of Savannah, who have been credibly accused of crimes against children in other states, but not necessarily Georgia.
Lists of accused ND priests still under wraps
By Archie Ingersoll on Jan 24, 2016 at 5:45 a.m., Inforum
Fargo -- Over the years, nearly 30 Roman Catholic dioceses around the country have publicly disclosed a list naming priests accused of sexually abusing children.
Sometimes these lists held no surprises – the priests named were already known as alleged predators. But often these lists revealed new names, shedding light on dark corners of the church.
Former St. Mary’s School principal thinks clergy sex abuse disclosure is incomplete
By Jake Schild, The Daily World, January 23, 2016
A former nun who worked at St. Mary’s School in Aberdeen during the 1970s and ‘80s believes the recently released list of priests accused of sexual abuse is incomplete.
The list, released last week by the Archdiocese of Seattle, also should have come out earlier, said Mary Dispenza, who was the principal of St. Mary’s for 10 years starting in 1973.
Sen. John Cooke works to remove 10-year sex-assault statute of limitations
The Tribune, January 23, 2016
Greeley’s Sen. John Cooke, the former Weld County Sheriff, wants to remove the statute of limitations on sexual assault crimes.
The Republican senator is working across the aisle with Rep. Rhonda Fields, D-Aurora, to completely repeal Colorado’s 10-year statute of limitations on felony sexual assault crimes, such as rape.
Bronx Priest Suspended in Abuse Case
JAN. 21, 2016, NY Times
A Roman Catholic priest also active in Bronx politics has been suspended from priestly duties because of allegations that he sexually abused minors three decades ago, church officials said on Thursday.
The priest, the Rev. Richard Gorman, is the director of prison chaplains for the Archdiocese of New York, with an office at the archdiocese’s headquarters in Manhattan.
