News Story of the Day
Abuse Survivors Group Asks Superior Bishop To Revisit Investigation Of Priest
An advocacy group for those abused by priests is calling on the new leader of Superior's Catholic Diocese to look into the case of an Ashland priest suspended by the district six years ago.
The previous leader of the diocese, Bishop Peter Christensen, suspended Father Henry Willenborg from parish duties at Our Lady of the Lake in Ashland over accusations that he had sex with a minor. David Clohessy, the director of the Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests, said the newly appointed Bishop James Powers should release information on the Franciscans' investigation into Father Willenborg.
Rockland priest abuse: Dolan sends rep to Mass
PEARL RIVER - Parishioners at St. Margaret of Antioch Church will notice something missing at Mass Sunday morning: their pastor.
Rockland County authorities are prepared to probe Msgr. John O'Keefe, who has been accused of sexually abusing a child more than 30 years ago.
Port Arthur priest placed on leave pending investigation by police and Child Protective Services
Dec 16, 2015, 12NewsNow.com
Father David Placette, who's the pastor of St. Catherine Church, is being investigated by Port Arthur police and Child Protective Services, following an allegation made against him.
The Diocese of Beaumont confirmed this in a statement.
How Jehovah’s Witness leaders are responding to child abuse scrutiny
By Trey Bundy / December 14, 2015, Reveal, the Center for Investigative Reporting
Besieged by reports that Jehovah’s Witnesses shield child sexual abusers from prosecution, the religion’s top leadership appears to have settled on a strategy: “Let the story die.”
A Portuguese news documentary released in October was yet another report from across the globe to detail the Witnesses’ policy of not reporting child abusers to law enforcement. As in other media reports, top officials refused to speak to the journalists who produced it.
NJ a safe haven for sexual predators until legislation passes
By Jersey Journal Guest Columnist, on December 11, 2015, NJ.com
The critically acclaimed movie "Spotlight," currently in theaters, is a compelling real life look at the cover up of heinous acts by priests against children in Massachusetts that was unearthed by the Boston Globe. It is a powerful story about the active efforts to hide the truth as well as the harm done to innocent victims. It is time that the spotlight be put on New Jersey.
Victims left reeling from shock Pell decision
Dec. 11, 2015, The Courier (Australia)
CLERGY sex abuse survivors have been left reeling by news Cardinal George Pell will not be appearing at the child sex abuse inquiry next week. Victim and nephew of disgraced priest Gerard Ridsdale said the lives of survivors had been thrown into turmoil again.
He called for Cardinal Pell to “come and face the music” like the survivors have been forced to do for years.
Cops: Pastor charged in ‘super felony’ sex assault may have hurt others
By Philip Jankowski - American-Statesman Staff, December 8, 2015
Round Rock police officers arrested an East Austin pastor accused of having a sexual relationship with a teenage parishioner.
Henry Lee McGee Sr., 68, is charged with continuous sexual abuse of a child after the victim told authorities of numerous sexual encounters with the pastor of First Baptist Church, 4805 Heflin Lane in East Austin. The abuse lasted more than a year, according to an arrest affidavit.
San Diego priest who covered up sex assault placed in charge of sex abuse hotline
TOM BOGGIONI, 07 DEC 2015, Raw Story
A group representing victims of sexual abuse at the hands of Catholic priests has blasted the San Diego Catholic Diocese for appointing a priest who admitted to destroying documents detailing sexual assaults to oversee their sex abuse hotline.
Likening him to “an admitted embezzler [who] shouldn’t oversee bank accounts,” Melanie Sakoda of SNAP (Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests) said Fr. Steven Callahan shouldn’t be allowed to “oversee abuse reports.”
Bishop accused of protecting paedophile priests refuses to appear at inquiry
Bishop Ronald Mulkearns is set to again evade questioning over his role as an alleged protector of paedophile priests, with the former Ballarat Bishop expected to shun a royal commission hearing despite being compelled to appear as a witness.
The testimony of Bishop Mulkearns, and the second grilling of Cardinal George Pell, shaped as a crucial piece of the final weeks of the commission's hearings into institutional responses to child sexual abuse.
