News Story of the Day

By Amy Silverstein Fri., Mar. 6 2015 at 10:38 AM, Dallas Observer Blogs

By 2013, the stories of child molestation in the Catholic church, along with the archdiocese's attempts to sweep the allegations under the rug, were old news. In that year alone, sex abuse cases cost the Catholic church $108,954,109, according to a report by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. The bishops acknowledged the church's failings and laid out a series of recommendations to prevent more abuse and abuse cover-ups. "We pledge that we will work toward healing and reconciliation for those sexually abused by clerics," they wrote.

Lynn Walker, 12:01 PM, Mar 4, 2015, Time Record, Wichita Falls

A man who claims he suffered sexual abuse at the hands of a priest at Notre Dame Middle School in Wichita Falls has sued the Catholic Diocese of Fort Worth and its bishop, Michael F. Olson.

The plaintiff, who is identified in court papers only as John Doe 117, alleges he was abused by Father John Sutton, his history teacher and the school chaplain between 1989 and 1991.

March 3, 2015 by Susan Matthews, Catholics4Change

The Federal authorities have announced new evidence of more crimes committed by Father Mark Haynes. The new evidence includes destroying a laptop (which was evidence) and, far worse, allegations of sexual abuse of at least three children. The abuse accusations fall outside the statute of limitations (SOL).

Mary Carolan, Mon, Mar 2, 2015, 15:07, The Irish Times

A priest is seeking permission to bring High Court proceedings aimed at halting his trial on charges of indecently assaulting 14 boys at a secondary school in Munster.

The charges relate to alleged offences between 1969 and 1990 and the priest contends his right to a fair trial has been prejudiced due to a “fatal deficit” of disclosure, Mr Justice Seamus Noonan was told.

By Kathianne Boniello, March 1, 2015 | 9:48am, New York Post

Forgive me, fathers, for you have sinned.

Three Catholic priests who run homeless charities in Manhattan are anything but Christian behind closed doors, longtime female staffers at St. Francis Friends of the Poor claim in a lawsuit.

By Lori Falce, [email protected]February 27, 2015, Centre Daily Times

 A Philipsburg priest will not be celebrating Mass or performing other duties after being placed on leave.

In a statement Friday, Altoona-Johnstown Diocese Bishop Mark Bartchak announced that the Rev. Robert Kelly was “on leave from active ministry” because of allegations of sexual misconduct involving minors dating back more than 30 years.

William Petroski, [email protected] 4:10 p.m. CST February 26, 2015, Des Moines Register

Victims of child sexual abuse would have more time to file civil lawsuits, and the statute of limitations for child sex crimes would be eliminated, under a bill advanced by an Iowa Senate subcommittee following emotional testimony Thursday.

By Amy Silverstein Wed., Feb. 25 2015 at 10:39 PM, Dallas Observer  

The letter was anonymous, just like other warnings that came before it. In late January, it arrived in the mailboxes of advocates who work on behalf of Christian sex-abuse victims. For 26 pages, it offered a rambling defense of a place that shouldn't need one — Prestonwood Baptist Church, a Plano mega-church with 37,000 members, three campuses, decades of mostly good publicity and a celebrity pastor named Jack Graham.

Posted: Wed 7:05 AM, Feb 25, 2015, WILX.com News

DETROIT (AP) -- A Catholic priest charged with secretly recording high school hockey players in the locker room is returning to Detroit federal court for a likely guilty plea.

Feb. 24, 2015, 6:24 pm, The Courier, Australia

ONE less hurdle for victims of child abuse in Victoria has now been removed.

Victims of child abuse in this state will be able to seek civil damages regardless of when the abuse occurred thanks to new laws to remove complex time limitations.