I was contacted today by Martin Long, director of communications at the Irish Catholic Bishops' Conference, on behalf on Bishop William Lee. He shared Bishop Lee's statement which explains his resignation was due to serious health reasons that have recently worsened. Long states that Agence France-Presse Foundation (AFP), which reported the original story, gravely defamed … Continue reading Correction: Bishop Lee Resigns For Health Reasons
Category: Clergy Sex Abuse
Benedict Denies He Covered Up Sex Abuse
Click here to read: "Benedict Emerges and Defends HIs Abuse Record," by Nicole Winfield, Associated Press, ABCNews.com, September, 24, 2013 Excerpt: "Benedict wrote the letter to Piergiorgio Odifreddi, an Italian atheist and mathematician who in 2011 wrote a book "Dear Pope, I'm Writing to You." The book was Odifreddi's reaction to Benedict's classic "Introduction to … Continue reading Benedict Denies He Covered Up Sex Abuse
Priest Pornographer Gets Fifty Years For Violating Little Girls
Click here to read: "Priest sentenced to 50 years for lurid photographs of young girls" by Tony Rizzo and Glenn E. Rice, The Kansas City Star, September 12, 2013. Excerpt: “Your conduct shows, Mr. Ratigan, that you are a chronic sexual abuser,” Fenner said before imposing the sentence. “You violated the trust of individuals to … Continue reading Priest Pornographer Gets Fifty Years For Violating Little Girls
Victims’ Groups Question Pope on Vatican Envoy Child Sex Probe
Click here to read: "Pope under fire over Vatican envoy child sex probe," by Agence France Presse, September 5, 2013, Capital News Excerpt: "Pope Francis came under fire from victims groups on Thursday following news that he had quietly sacked the Vatican’s envoy to the Dominican Republic over allegations of paedophilia." Another link: http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/news/2013/09/05/vatican-envoy-to-dominican-republic-recalled-amid-sex-abuse-allegations/
Your Hour of Convenient Therapy Is Up
If the institutional Church really wants to prevent child sex abuse, it can’t continue to rely on therapists whose theories and practices may fall outside the guidelines of the American Psychological and Psychiatric Associations. Advice that had proven convenient in cover ups does little for real healing. Let’s look at the case of Father Edward … Continue reading Your Hour of Convenient Therapy Is Up
Priests and Nuns Form ‘Catholic Whistleblowers’
Click here to read, "Church Whistle-Blowers Join Forces on Abuse," by Laurie Goodstein, The New York Times, May, 20 2013 Excerpt: Although they know they could face repercussions, they have banded together to push the new pope to clean house and the American bishops to enforce the zero-tolerance policies they adopted more than a decade … Continue reading Priests and Nuns Form ‘Catholic Whistleblowers’
Help Protect Children: Ask Majority Leader to Call Up House Bill 342
Please send out this letter to your state representative. Locate their contact information by clicking here. To: All Members of the General Assembly From: Date: Re: Ask Majority Leader Turzai to Call Up House Bill 342 HB 342 proposed by Rep. Marguerite Quinn prevents the disclosure of the names of victims of child sexual … Continue reading Help Protect Children: Ask Majority Leader to Call Up House Bill 342
Church Found Compliant… with Coverups
With so much compliance, why are there still so many issues? The archdioceses of Philadelphia and Kansas City have always been found in compliance. Clearly, there are many who would beg to differ - the newest victims, the courts, the parents, law enforcement, etc. Who wants to bet that Newark will always be in found … Continue reading Church Found Compliant… with Coverups
Worth Repeating – We Need More Answers
The Philadelphia priests removed from ministry have three options: 1- Live a life of prayer and penance. 2- Laicization. 3- Appeal to the Vatican. The archdiocese has not updated the public on what each of the priests removed from ministry has chosen. Their choices impact the laity and society in general. There are no official … Continue reading Worth Repeating – We Need More Answers
Questions About Permanently Removed Priests Unanswered
Black smoke rose at the Vatican today, but I was thinking about the smoke screen here in Philadelphia until the 2011 Grand Jury Report cleared the air. That report, rather than concern or morality, was what prompted Cardinal Rigali to remove 26 "unsuitable" priests from ministry for investigation. According to court documents the Philadelphia hierarchy … Continue reading Questions About Permanently Removed Priests Unanswered
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