News Story of the Day

Ending Clergy Abuse

November 14, 2024

WHAT: At a news conference in Rome to mark the United Nations’ World Day for the Prevention of Child Abuse, a diverse group of survivors, advocates and theologians will unveil a landmark zero-tolerance proposal calling for sweeping reforms to Canon Law, aimed at confronting the Catholic Church’s ongoing clergy sexual abuse crisis head-on.

WHEN: Monday, November 18, 2024, at 11:00 AM (local time)

WHERE: Inside the Villa Aurelia, Via Leone XIII, 459, 00165, Rome WHY: Nearly six years after the first Papal Summit on Clerical Sexual Abuse, the Catholic Church has yet to fully implement the measures that were proclaimed at that time to protect children and vulnerable adults, and to hold Church leaders accountable. Pope Francis has repeatedly declared a zero-tolerance approach to abuse, but his intention must be met with meaningful action. Real progress within the Church, on a global level, will only occur through consistent implementation of its own principles. The recent “Annual Report” from the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors underscores the urgency for a shift in mentality—from self-defensiveness to accepting legal, moral, and spiritual responsibility. It also highlights the pressing need for proactive, well-resourced safeguarding measures.

WHO: ECA (Ending Clergy Abuse), a global coalition of survivors and human rights advocates from over 25 countries, and IADC (Institute of Anthropology and Interdisciplinary Studies on Human Dignity and Care), a research institute at the Pontifical Gregorian University focused on human rights and safeguarding within the Church, are co-leading this initiative. Also involved are Eckiger Tisch, a German non-profit supporting survivors and advocating for justice, and Bishop Accountability, a U.S.-based watchdog that has been documenting the worldwide Catholic abuse crisis since 2003.

To read the rest of the media advisory, go here.

Lawrence Hecker, 93, self-admitted serial child molester, grapples with Alzheimer’s disease and had trial delayed

The Guardian

November 14, 2024

By Ramon Antonio Vargas in New Orleans

An undated photo of Lawrence Hecker. Photograph: Provided photo

With less than a month to go before his latest scheduled trial date, a self-admitted serial child molester and retired Roman Catholic priest from New Orleans remains competent to proceed with his oft-delayed rape and kidnapping case – albeit marginally, as the 93-year-old grapples with Alzheimer’s disease, according to his most recent medical evaluation.

A pair of doctors who evaluated Lawrence Hecker on 6 November made it a point to note that his illness is “a chronic and progressive disease”, suggesting additional delays beyond several already seen in the case create a risk that the clergyman might decline into a state of legal incompetence, preventing him from ever standing trial given his advanced age.

Hecker is tentatively scheduled to begin being tried on 3 December on charges of child rape, kidnapping and other crimes. He has pleaded not guilty to the counts first filed against him in September 2023. But as many as a dozen witnesses who allege enduring a range of sexually abusive acts by Hecker after he met them during their childhoods between the 1960s and 80s are prepared to testify against him.

To read the entire article, go to this link.

Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, the primate of all England and leader of the Anglican Communion, announced his resignation on Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024, saying he takes “personal and institutional responsibility” for the mishandling of a number of high-profile abuse cases in the Anglican Church since taking the reigns in 2013. | Credit: Marinella Bandini

CNA Staff, Nov 12, 2024 / 13:45 pm

Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby announced his resignation on Tuesday, saying he takes “personal and institutional responsibility” for the mishandling of a number of high-profile abuse cases in the Anglican Church since taking the reins in 2013.

The Diocese of Oakland is facing significant pushback over its plan to settle hundreds of lawsuits.

The diocese entered Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings last year, overwhelmed by lawsuits over sexual abuse.

In a proposal filed Friday, the diocese is offering far less than other similar settlements in California.

"It's a definite message and the message is 'You are not important.' The message is 'We don't care!'" said attorney Rick Simons.

That outrage was directed at the Diocese of Oakland. Simons represents numerous church sex assault survivors.

On Friday, the diocese filed a plan of reorganization with the bankruptcy court.

In a press release, the diocese says it will create a trust for sexual abuse survivors worth between $160 and $198 million to pay out 345 claims.

But court documents show the initial installment is only $65 million.

"First off, it's not a hundred and some odd million dollars worth of cash, it's $60 million in cash and $10 million a year for four years. They keep that money, investing it and making money off of it all that time while inflation eats away of the value to survivors. It is, again, just plain insulting. It is nowhere near what Los Angeles did," Simons said.

Simons is referencing the $880 million that the Archdiocese of Los Angeles settled on recently in their sex abuse cases. The difference there though, the Archdiocese of Los Angeles never filed for bankruptcy.

Dan McNevin is a volunteer with SNAP, which stands for "Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests." His thoughts about the proposed monetary figures echo those of Simons.

"I think it's pretty pathetic. It's pretty low. This is a really, really wealthy Diocese and there is a lot of victims. ..."

To read the complete article click here.

Expatriate Christopher Bowen (Christopher Bowen), who claims to be a victim of sexual abuse when he was a 14-year-old inmate at St. Basil's Academy. PHOTO COURTESY OF SAME

Ekirikas.com

November 8, 2024

By Theodore Kalmoukos

(Translated from the original Greek)

BOSTON. Expatriate Christopher Bowen filed a lawsuit against the Archdiocese of America and St. Basil's Academy in Garrison, New York, alleging that he was sexually abused at age 14 while an inmate at the Academy....

Mr. Bowen, now 54, names his abuser as Finley Everett Eubanks in legal documents available to The National Herald and in a written interview with The National Herald in which he describes in detail what was delivered and describes his traumatic experience that marked his life, even having "suicidal tendencies", while the "nightmares" continue to this day.

Telephone and text messages of "E.K." to the director of the Academy of St. Basil's, priest Constantine Sitaras, and to the Legal Advisor of the Archdiocese, George Tsougarakis, remained unanswered.

The interview of Mr. Christopher Bowen is as follows:

THE BLADE/JEREMY WADSWORTH

Rachel Quackenbush on November 5, 2024

CV NEWS FEED // The Washington Attorney General’s Office has filed an appeal against a recent court ruling that bars the state from subpoenaing child sex abuse records from the Church, KUOW reported on October 31. The appeal argues that such records do not qualify for religious exemption and should be made public.

Gateway Church, located in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, launched an internal investigation after a pastor was accused of sexually abusing a 12-year-old girl

Laurie Wilson claims she was physically and sexually assaulted by staff and white students at St. James Parish

CBC News · Posted: Oct 31, 2024 8:00 AM EDT | Last Updated: 9 hours ago

A Syilx Okanagan woman has filed a lawsuit against Catholic authorities and the Canadian government alleging she suffered abuse at a Catholic-run school in the 1960s. (John Deacon Q.C./courthouses.co)

WARNING: This story contains details of experiences similar to those suffered by residential school survivors.

A Syilx Okanagan woman has filed a lawsuit against church authorities and the Canadian government alleging she was physically and sexually abused as a child at a Catholic-run Vernon, B.C., school. 

Pastor Ronnie Goines stepped away from Koinonia Christian Church in Arlington after turning himself in to face sexual assault and indecent assault charges.