News Story of the Day

Clergy abuse survivors and advocates ready for meeting with newly-announced Vatican ambassador

October 11, 2021 (Joint Press Release E.C.A , Nate's Mission, SNAP)

In an open letter to Vatican ambassador nominee Joe Donnelly, leading survivor-activists and advocacy organizations have requested a meeting to discuss actions and solutions to address the ongoing clergy abuse and coverup crisis. 

In the letter, survivors express hope that Donnelly’s nomination will open up negotiations between US survivors and the Holy See. Donnelly has placed human rights at the top of his agenda in the US relationship with Pope Francis and the Vatican. The rape and abuse of children and its institutional concealment constitute one of the most serious violations of human rights and religious liberty of children in the United States and around the world. Despite the prevalence of ongoing revelations of abuse and coverup across the country, this issue has never been addressed by a US President or State Department even though there is incontrovertible evidence of a relationship between the coverup of these crimes in the United States and Vatican law, policy, and practice. 


The Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement allowed the Catholic Church to escape justice

It failed residential school survivors, and it failed the many Catholics of goodwill who expected better of their spiritual leaders


Thousands of paedophiles active in French Catholic Church since 1950, commission finds

France 24 - October 3, 2021 

Some 3,000 paedophiles have operated inside the French Catholic Church since 1950, the head of an independent commission investigating the scandal told AFP, days ahead of the release of its report.

The commission’s report is due to be released on Tuesday after two and a half years of research based on church, court and police archives, as well as interviews with witnesses.

Sauve, senior French civil servant, said the report, which runs to 2,500 pages, had attempted to quantify both the number of offenders and the number of victims.


Inside the Church That Preaches ‘Wives Need to Be Led with a Firm Hand’


Topeka Catholic priest suspended after allegation of sexual abuse of a minor, which he denies

Tim Hrenchir
Topeka Capital-Journal
September 27, 2021

The Rev. John Pilcher, pastor of Topeka's Mater Dei Catholic Parish, has been suspended from the public exercise of priestly ministry after being accused of sexually abusing a minor, the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas announced Monday.

"Father Pilcher denies the allegation and is cooperating fully," the archdiocese said in a news release. "He will remain on leave until the investigation is concluded and the archdiocesan Independent Review Board has reviewed the case and made a recommendation to Archbishop Joseph Naumann regarding the matter."


Years into attorney general investigation of Maryland’s Catholic Church, abuse survivors wonder where it stands

The Baltimore Sun - by Alison Knezevich 

September 24, 2021 

 

Three years after it became public that Maryland Attorney General Brian Frosh was investigating child sexual abuse in the Catholic church, abuse survivors are wondering: Is he building a case, or has the probe stalled?
In September 2018, Baltimore Archbishop William E. Lori told clergy the archdiocese was under investigation by the state. A few months later, church officials confirmed they had given the attorney general more than 50,000 pages of internal documents dating to 1965.
But to this day, Frosh has not provided details on the investigation, which members of his office say is ongoing.

Vatican verdict looms for Knoxville bishop

News: Vos estis lux mundi

A report on Knoxville’s Bishop Rick Stika is under review at the Vatican’s Congregation for Bishops, months after multiple allegations of administrative and personal misconduct triggered an investigation into Stika’s leadership.   

Vatican sources tell The Pillar that a Vatican-ordered investigation was conducted over the summer, and that a decision is expected soon on whether Stika will remain in ministry as diocesan bishop.   


Louisville priest convicted of sex abuse to be released; victim says kids aren’t safe

Michael Norris’ life was altered by sexual abuse, dealing with the trauma for nearly 50 years.

In just days, Norris’ abuser is soon to be set free.


San Antonio SNAP Leader Letter to the Editor - San Antonio Express News

Abusers to account

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott: Since you say it is time to “make sure we eliminate all rapists from the streets of Texas,” then let us get on with this removal of all sexual predator bishops, priests, nuns, pastors, health care providers, teachers, janitors, mental health professionals, fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters, grandfathers, grandmothers, aunts, and uncles.

However, in most cases of sexual abuse by those whom we trust, it takes decades to report, allowing most rapists to stay not on the streets but in our parishes and homes, and in all walks of our lives.

Clearly, your plan must include the elimination of the statute of limitations, or at least a look-back window, so that all abusers and the institutions who cover for them are held accountable in the court system.

Surely, this must be a part of your plan?

Patti Koo, chapter leader,

San Antonio-New Braunfels Survivors Network of those

Abused by Priests

(Originally found here - https://www.expressnews.com/opinion/letters-editor/article/Your-turn-Sept-19-16467499.php

Abusers to account

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott: Since you say it is time to “make sure we eliminate all rapists from the streets of Texas,” then let us get on with this removal of all sexual predator bishops, priests, nuns, pastors, health care providers, teachers, janitors, mental health professionals, fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters, grandfathers, grandmothers, aunts and uncles.

However, in most cases of sexual abuse by those whom we trust, it takes decades to report, allowing most rapists to stay not on the streets but in our parishes and homes, and in all walks of our lives.

Clearly, your plan must include the elimination of the statute of limitations, or at least a look-back window, so that all abusers and the institutions who cover for them are held accountable in the court system.

Surely, this must be a part of your plan?

Patti Koo, chapter leader,

San Antonio-New Braunfels Survivors Network of those

Abused by Priests

Abusers to account

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott: Since you say it is time to “make sure we eliminate all rapists from the streets of Texas,” then let us get on with this removal of all sexual predator bishops, priests, nuns, pastors, health care providers, teachers, janitors, mental health professionals, fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters, grandfathers, grandmothers, aunts and uncles.

However, in most cases of sexual abuse by those whom we trust, it takes decades to report, allowing most rapists to stay not on the streets but in our parishes and homes, and in all walks of our lives.

Clearly, your plan must include the elimination of the statute of limitations, or at least a look-back window, so that all abusers and the institutions who cover for them are held accountable in the court system.

Surely, this must be a part of your plan?

Patti Koo, chapter leader,

San Antonio-New Braunfels Survivors Network of those

Abused by Priests


Second woman accuses priest of sexual abuse

A second woman is accusing Fr. Bob Vaillancourt, most recently pastor of St. Brendan the Navigator parish in Camden, ME, of raping her forty years ago when she was 15 years old. 

SNAP Network is a GuideStar Gold Participant