News Story of the Day
6 Reasons Why Sexual Predators Target Churches
March 09, 2015, Tim Challies, Challies.com
It is terrible but true—sexual predators target churches. In the mind of a predator, a church offers a compelling target and, too often, an easy target. I recently worked my way through On Guard by Deepak Reju and learned that there are at least 6 reasons why sexual predators specifically target churches.
Lakewood rabbi ordered beatings and demanded cash for forced divorces, attacker testifies
By March 12, 2015 at 7:56 AM
, March 11, 2015 at 7:17 PM, updatedTRENTON —A Lakewood rabbi accused of arranging forced divorces orchestrated the beating of a Brooklyn man and demanded $50,000 for his work, a convicted Jewish religious leader said on Wednesday.
Archdiocese of St. Louis ordered to produce 20 years of documents on sexual abuse
, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, March 11, 2015
A judge has ordered the Archdiocese of St. Louis to produce two decades worth of internal documents on sexual abuse allegations.
Thomas J. Prebil is only the second judge to attempt to compel the archdiocese to hand over such an extensive number of records.
Court rules church can't shield $60 million in abuse cases
By
In a blow to the Archdiocese of Milwaukee in its ongoing bankruptcy, a federal appeals court on Monday put a $60 million cemetery trust fund back in play to potentially settle claims related to sexual abuse by priests.
The ruling from the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said the church cannot use the First Amendment or a 1993 law aimed at protecting religious freedom to shield the funds.
More than 1,000 quizzed already in sex abuse allegations: Detectives raid homes of Leon Brittan and ex-head of the Army
- ~Homes of Leon Brittan and Lord Bramall have been raided by the police
- ~Raids conducted by officers from Scotland Yard's Operation Midland
- ~Operation was set up to investigate claims of a child sex abuse ring in 80s
- ~Properties in London and Yorkshire belonging to Lord Brittan searched
- ~Home owned by Lord Bramall in Surrey was also raided by officers
- ~Lord Bramall is one of the country's most decorated war veterans
Forth Worth Diocese Interrogated Sex Abuse Victim and His Mother in a Starbucks: Lawsuit
, 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.
Suit accuses ex-Notre Dame chaplain of sex abuse
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.
Priest seeks to halt trial on indecent assault charges
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.