News Story of the Day
Catholics4Change Launches Global Community
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE — October 10, 2021
The founders of Catholics4Change, an online forum dedicated to the prevention of clergy child sex abuse, have launched the Catholics4Change Community. The virtual and global platform allows Catholics, survivors, and advocates to communicate and collaborate virtually.
“We didn’t want the efforts of these amazing people from around the world working to prevent child sex abuse to be limited by chain emails, conference calls and social media,” said co-founder Kathy Kane, a social worker who advocates for policy reform.
“During the pandemic, people have become more comfortable in virtual settings,” says co-founder Susan Matthews, who was an editor at The Catholic Standard and Times in the early 90s under publisher Cardinal Anthony Bevilacqua. “We’ve built this private membership community to go way beyond a website, Zoom or online meetup group. It’s a fully-equipped international hub that can be customized by the members.
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’
Evangelical pastor Douglas Wilson wrote that men “conquer” and women “surrender.” Christ Church survivors are starting to speak out.
Topeka Catholic priest suspended after allegation of sexual abuse of a minor, which he denies
"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
Vatican verdict looms for Knoxville bishop
News: Vos estis lux mundi
16 hr ago |
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