News Story of the Day
Australian Bishop Who Testified About Child Sex Abuse Quits
March 15, 2017, Associated Press
MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) -- An Anglican bishop who says he was warned by churchgoers that he was not safe in his own Australian diocese over his work to address decades of child sexual abuse has announced his resignation.
Newcastle Bishop Greg Thompson, who was sexually molested as a teenager by bishop who died in 1988, said in a statement Thursday he was quitting to focus on his health.
The 60-year-old said he had witnessed firsthand the culture and conduct from some sections of the church, both as an abuse victim and in his work to address the diocese's abuse legacy.
Jesuit Pope Francis is Coming Out; Backsliding on Pedophile Crackdown, Catholic Official Says
By Nate Brown, March 14, 2017, Christian Truther
Pope Francis, the first Jesuit pope, has rescinded his policies regarding the crack down on pedophilia, Catholic officials claim. In fact, the last abuse survivor of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors recently left the commission, citing resistance coming from Vatican offices against implementing recommendations.
It is not clear exactly where the opposition is coming from within the Catholic Church, claimed the last abuse survivor Marie Collins, on the Pontifical Commission. However, she resigned as a direct result of the Catholic Church’s inability to implement recommendations that could curb sexual abuse within the Catholic Church.
Jehovah’s Witnesses refuse to change two-witness rule because ‘that’s our stand’
By Rohan Smith, March 14, 2017, new.com.au
CHILD sexual assault is a secret crime carried out by men and women who do everything they can to avoid detection.
Which is why one passage in the Bible is a Get Out of Jail Free card for offenders, particularly when adhered to so strictly by those within religious organisations.
Timothy 5:19: demands followers “do not entertain an accusation against an elder unless it is brought by two or three witnesses”.
Reflections from the frontline in the war on Catholic child sex abuse
By Jonathan Flynn, March 13, 2017, ABC.net.au
Each one is different, a unique voice speaking out, usually after decades of painful, secretive silence. But there is a terrible consistency in the effect the abuse had on these people's lives:
"I feel pain and self-hatred. I tried to obliterate it with alcohol."
"I've lost my right to a normal life."
"I can no longer trust anyone, I always wonder whether they will betray my trust the way my abuser did."
"I didn't know who to trust, so I trusted no one."
"It made my life the living embodiment of hell."
Kelly argues against time limits on sex cases involving children
By Beth Hundsdorfer, March 8, 2017, BND
SPRINGFIELD--St. Clair County State’s Attorney Brendan Kelly went before a Senate Committee on Tuesday to urge senators to pass legislation to eliminate the statute of limitations for felony sex crimes against children.
The bill, Senate Bill 189, passed unanimously and heads to the full Senate for consideration.
“There is no time limit for the pain and trauma endured by child victims of sex assault and there should be no time limit for our ability to reach justice for them,” Kelly told the committee, according to a press release.
LISTEN: Taoiseach says men are not blameless in Taum babies scandal
By GBFM News, March 7, 2017
Galway Bay fm newsroom – An Taoiseach has described the mass grave at the site of the former mother and baby home in Tuam as a ‘chamber of horrors.’
In a powerful Dail speech this afternoon, Enda Kenny said the men of the time are not blameless.
Child sex abuse victim reacts to sweeping changes in Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown
By Daniel Hamburg, March 6, 2017, WJAC
JOHNSTOWN – On Monday, Bishop Mark Bartchak of the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown announced sweeping changes in the Catholic church to protect victims of child sex abuse.
EX-SECT MEMBERS TELL AP: PROSECUTORS OBSTRUCTED ABUSE CASES
SPINDALE, N.C. (AP) -- At least a half-dozen times over two decades, authorities investigated reports that members of a secretive evangelical church were being beaten. And every time, according to former congregants, the orders came down from church leaders: They must lie to protect the sect.
Among the members of the Word of Faith Fellowship who coached congregants and their children on what to say to investigators were two assistant district attorneys and a veteran social worker, the ex-followers told The Associated Press.
Indian police hunt nuns accused of aiding rapist priest
The Sun Daily, March 5, 2017
NEW DELHI: Five nuns and a doctor are on the run in India after being accused of concealing the birth of a baby to a teenager who alleges that a priest raped her, police said Sunday.
Arrest warrants have been issued for the six and for two hospital staff. They are accused of concealing the 16-year-old's delivery from authorities and hiding the baby in a Catholic orphanage at Kunnur in the southern state of Kerala.
"They deliberately hid the incident from officials," Prajish Thottathil, a senior police officer, told AFP, adding some of the accused likely also knew about the alleged assault.
What is the Mother and Baby Homes Commission of Investigation?
Irish Times, March 3, 2017
Human remains of a significant number of babies and infants up to three years of age have been found on the site of the former mother and baby home in Tuam, Co Galway. This follows work by the Mother and Baby Homes Commission of Investigation which carried out planned excavations there.