News Story of the Day
Christians and the struggle to report child abuse
By Boz Tchividjian
February 07, 2014
I recently came across a legal alert from a Christian organization that directs pastors who learn of suspected child abuse to first conduct their own internal investigation “to decide whether the situation requires reporting to the authorities.” Yikes!
UN report on Catholic priest sex abuse, and a chance for Pope Francis: Editorial
By Star-Ledger Editorial Board
February 05, 2014 at 7:00 PM
The most surprising thing about today’s scathing United Nations rebuke of the Vatican over decades of unchecked child abuse had nothing to do with its content. The allegations of systemic rape and cover-ups weren't new, nor even shocking. The report compiles a tragic list of known crimes, and scolds the Catholic Church for inaction.
Read the "devistating" UN Report on the Vatican
The UN has issued a report on how the Vatican handles clergy sexual abuse and cover up. The AP calls the report “devastating.” Reuters calls it “scathing.” We call it “on target.” Click here to read the report and the Vatican's unrepentant 150 word response – which does not contain the words “abuse,” “crimes,” or “cover ups.”
U.N. grilling: The Vatican should step up action against abuse
February 2, 2014
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
A United Nations investigation of the Catholic Church’s clergy sex-abuse scandal should prompt the Vatican to be more transparent and Pope Francis to crack down harder on the abusers’ enablers.
Document shows church leaders knew of abuse, but waited to report
By Madeleine Baran, MPR News, Jan 29, 2014
Archbishop John Nienstedt did not immediately report to police allegations that the Rev. Curtis Wehmeyer sexually abused a child, according to a document obtained Wednesday by MPR News that the archbishop signed in 2012.
From Philly to Dallas, ex-priest a 'brutal abuser' without remorse
WILLIAM BENDER, Daily News Staff Writer [email protected], 215-854-5255
WHEN BILL Johnson moved into a Dallas apartment complex in October 2012, a neighbor named James rolled out the welcome wagon. Sort of.
Read more at http://www.philly.com/philly/news/20140129_From_Philly_to_Dallas__ex-priest_a__brutal_abuser__without_remorse.html#g8WFJrivDudmbi3U.99
Read more at http://www.philly.com/philly/news/20140129_From_Philly_to_Dallas__ex-priest_a__brutal_abuser__without_remorse.html#g8WFJrivDudmbi3U.99
Read more at http://www.philly.com/philly/news/20140129_From_Philly_to_Dallas__ex-priest_a__brutal_abuser__without_remorse.html#g8WFJrivDudmbi3U.99
Do public inquiries really benefit survivors of childhood abuse?
Ruth Stark, Guardian Professional, Wednesday 22 January 2014 05.20 EST
Social care professionals need to inform the political will to seek redress for those who have suffered abuse.
Sex Abuse – Just Another PR Opportunity for Pope Francis
A Vatican delegation received what was widely reported as a “grilling” at a hearing conducted by the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) on Jan. 16. They feigned concern for victims of sexual abuse, evaded questions, hyped the Church’s continuous too-little-too-late response andgave assurances that Pope Francis will do better from now on. Like claims that the pope is “cleaning up” Vatican finances, examining his actions reveals attitudes 180 degrees different than his rhetoric.
U.N. committee on sexual abuse grills Vatican officials
(CNN) -- A senior Vatican official acknowledged Thursday there is "no excuse" for child sex abuse, as he and others were grilled by a U.N. committee about the Catholic Church's handling of pedophile priests.
It's the first time the Vatican has been forced to answer allegations so publicly that it enabled the sexual abuse of children by protecting such priests.
