News Story of the Day
Diocese of Orange settles Mater Dei sex abuse case for $3.5 million, 2 more cases expected
(James Carbone)
Dec. 19, 2024 3:14 PM PT
A $3.5-million settlement announced Tuesday in the case of a man allegedly abused by a former Catholic priest at Mater Dei High School decades ago is not the only such case involving the school, according to the law firm representing the victim.
Attorneys on the case held a news conference outside of Christ Cathedral in Garden Grove on Wednesday where the lawsuit against Michael Harris, a onetime Mater Dei administrator, was presented as one piece of a predatory puzzle at the private Catholic school overseen by the Diocese of Orange.
Attorney Mike Reck said there are two more cases involving Mater Dei High School that are set to go to trial next year as “bellwether” cases that could help predict the outcome of other similar lawsuits.
Admitted child rapist and retired priest Lawrence Hecker dies aged 93
Former Roman Catholic clergyman dies a little more than a week after beginning life sentence, according to officials
An undated photo of Lawrence Hecker. Photograph: Provided photo
December 27, 2024
By Ramon Antonio Vargas and David Hammer of WWL Louisiana in New Orleans
Admitted child rapist and retired Roman Catholic priest Lawrence Hecker has died a little more than a week after he began serving a sentence of life imprisonment, officials said on Friday.
Hecker, 93, had pleaded guilty on 3 December to charges that he had kidnapped and raped a teenager at a New Orleans church in 1975. He had received a mandatory sentence of life imprisonment on 18 December and, four days later, had been transferred to a Louisiana prison known as Elayn Hunt, according to the state’s department of corrections spokesperson Ken Pastorick.
Pastorick said Hecker died at about 3am on 26 December, at Elayn Hunt, of what were described as natural causes.
Hecker’s attorney Robert Hjortsberg said Hecker was meant to eventually be sent to Louisiana’s maximum-security state penitentiary, which is nicknamed Angola, before his death.
Archbishop says Church must 'be changed' over abuse
Aleem Maqbool
The Archbishop of York, who will effectively take over as leader of the Church of England next month, has called for change in his Christmas sermon.
Stephen Cottrell delivered his remarks as the Church faces criticism over failures in its handling of various abuse scandals.
Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby resigned last month after he was criticised for not doing enough to stop a prolific abuser. He will not preside over the Christmas service at Canterbury Cathedral.
Some victims directly affected by the abuse scandals have spoken about experiencing a difficult Christmas, saying they feel that they are still not being listened to.
Oakland Diocese accused of transferring $106 million just before bankruptcy
Attorneys representing child sexual abuse survivors allege the Oakland Diocese and Bishop Michael Barber are attempting to hide assets to minimize a potential settlement in the ongoing bankruptcy case.
December 22, 2024
By Candice Nguyen, Michael Bott, Robbie Beasom and Alex Bozovic
About a month before filing for bankruptcy last year, attorneys representing the interests of clergy sex abuse survivors allege the Diocese of Oakland transferred $106 million into a non-profit called the Oakland Parochial Fund that hadn’t been active for years.
The victims and their attorneys are slamming the transfer as a blatant attempt to shield the church’s assets in the ongoing bankruptcy case. The money, they say, should be available to victims as compensation for the abuse they endured by various East Bay priests, many of whom never faced jail time for their crimes.
“I think any bankruptcy judge would recognize that you can’t take $100 million out of the debtor and then say, ‘my pockets are empty,’” said Rick Simons, an attorney representing alleged child sexual abuse victims currently suing the Diocese in state court.
The revelation came out in a recent court filing objecting to the Bishop’s proposed reorganization plan, alleging the transfer is part of a broader effort to mislead abuse survivors, undervalue their civil claims, and hide funds that could go towards a potential settlement. Attorneys representing survivors recently filed a complaint with the court in an effort to force a reversal of the transfer.
“The Supreme Court recently reminded us that only a debtor placing virtually all its assets on the table for its creditors is entitled to a release,” said Brent Weisenberg, an attorney representing the Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors in the bankruptcy case, in an email to NBC Bay Area. “The Committee does not believe the Diocese has done so here. Rather, under the recently filed Plan of Reorganization, the Diocese fails to use hundreds of millions of dollars of cash, investments, and real estate from which to pay survivors of sexual abuse.”
Corporate records show the Oakland Parochial Fund, created in 2014 by the Diocese, is under the direct control of Bishop Michael Barber. Its articles of incorporation state the fund was “formed, and shall be operated, supervised or controlled by the Roman Catholic Bishop of Oakland.”
Records show the fund went dormant in 2017 and was listed as suspended by the California Secretary of State’s Office. Last year, however, a few months before the alleged $106 million transfer, the Diocese’s chief financial officer revived the fund. In their complaint to the court, attorneys representing survivors contend the fund had no cash or investments of any kind before the $106 million hit the non-profit’s books.
It’s now drawing the ire of victim advocates with the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP).
“In other words, this ‘fund’ was nothing more than a corporate shell until shortly before the bankruptcy was filed,” the group said in an email to NBC Bay Area. “Now, that shell has $106 million in liquid assets that Bishop Barber claims is off limits to victims who have sued the Diocese.”
N.L. judge rules that 59 abuse victims who had their claims rejected should be compensated
Catholic archdiocese in St. John's was liable for the abuse, says Justice Garrett Handrigan
Ohio lawmakers crack down on sextortion, grooming of children
Ohio's ban on sexual extortion is named for Braden Markus, an Olentangy High School student who died by suicide in 2021
Ohio will criminalize sexual extortion and the grooming of children under legislation approved Wednesday by state lawmakers.
The Ohio House and Senate voted to pass a bill named for Braden Markus, an Olentangy High School student who died by suicide after falling victim to sextortion. House Bill 531 makes sexual extortion a third-degree felony, with harsher penalties if the victims are minors, seniors or people with disabilities.
The measure also aims to make it easier for parents to access their child's digital assets if they die as a minor − something Braden's family struggled with after his death.
Former New Orleans priest, 93, is sentenced to life in prison for raping boy decades ago
This Dec. 1, 2012 file photo shows a silhouette of a crucifix and a stained glass window inside a Catholic Church in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert, File)
Former archbishop of Canterbury George Carey quits as priest
It comes following an investigation into the Church of England’s handling of a sexual abuse case.
George Carey, former archbishop of Canterbury, has quit as a priest (Kirsty Wigglesworth/PA)
December 17, 2024
By contributor By Ted Hennessey, PA
Former archbishop of Canterbury George Carey has quit as a priest following an investigation into the Church of England’s handling of a sexual abuse case.
Lord Carey resigned after the BBC contacted him about allegations he allowed a priest, who had been banned over sexual abuse claims, to return to priesthood.
However, the 89-year-old mentioned his age when announcing his decision to stand down.
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It comes as the Archbishop of York Stephen Cottrell faced calls to resign over his handling of the case of David Tudor, who was banned from ministry for life this year after admitting what the Church described as serious sexual abuse involving two girls aged 15 and 16.
AG report details abuse allegations against 52 priests, deacons in Diocese of Lansing
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel said there remains open investigations against former Catholic priests accused of sexual abuse of minors. Al Goldis, Special To The Detroit News
The Detroit News
December 16, 2024
By Kara Berg
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel released the fourth of seven reports Monday related to a years-long investigation into clergy sexual abuse within Michigan's Catholic dioceses.
The report indicated that the investigation into the Diocese of Lansing, which began in September 2018, found that 48 priests, three religious brothers, one apparent former religious brother and four deacons may have engaged in sexual misconduct since 1950. Of the 56 total, 42 were ordained or incardinated by the Diocese of Lansing.
"By publishing these reports we are sharing their stories and validating their experiences," Nessel said during a press conference Monday afternoon. "We hope this report provides a voice to those who have suffered in silence for so long."
Clergy abuse survivors hit out at moves to ban protests outside Australian places of worship
Those who protested outside Catholic churches believe they would have been arrested if such laws were in place
John Ellis believes he would have been arrested outside a Sydney cathedral if a proposed protest ban was in place when George Pell died. Photograph: Tracey Nearmy/AAP
Survivors of clergy abuse have expressed deep concern at proposals to ban protests outside places of worship, with lawyer John Ellis saying a blanket ban would have seen him arrested outside a Sydney cathedral last year.
Anthony Albanese on Wednesday backed proposals in New South Wales and Victoria to ban such protests after an arson attack on the Adass Israel synagogue in Melbourne and antisemitic vandalism in Sydney.
Speaking about the proposals, the prime minister said he “cannot conceive of any reason, apart from creating division in our community, of why someone would want to hold a demonstration outside a place of worship”.
