Where’s the Windex? Church Transparency Is Cloudy on Father Paul

~ Susan Matthews ~ 23 Comments

by Susan Matthews First Father Paul resigned from Our Lady of Calvary, where he remained as pastor while under investigation and review for two allegations of child sex abuse. A week later, without announcement, the archdiocese temporarily removed his faculties and he will not be able to celebrate Mass in public pending the outcome of … Continue reading Where’s the Windex? Church Transparency Is Cloudy on Father Paul

Dizzy from Archdiocesan Spin and Furious About the Facts

~ Susan Matthews ~ 22 Comments

by Susan Matthews Kathy Kane noticed that Father John Paul's name was removed from the official clergy list at some point this past week. Father Paul resigned as pastor of Our Lady of Calvary Parish in Philadelphia on Sunday, Nov. 10 for "physical and spiritual" health reasons stemming from two separate allegations of child sex … Continue reading Dizzy from Archdiocesan Spin and Furious About the Facts

Victim’s Family Sues Philadelphia Archdiocese for Wrongful Death

~ Susan Matthews ~ 34 Comments

Click here to read: "Overdose victim's family sues Archdiocese for wrongful death," by Joseph A. Slobodzian, The Philadelphia Inquirer, November 13, 2013.     The lawsuit contends that church officials' failure to remove Brennan, a priest with a long history of complaints about misconduct with young boys, directly led to him molesting Patrick McIlmail from … Continue reading Victim’s Family Sues Philadelphia Archdiocese for Wrongful Death

Financial Investigation Prompted Removal While Sex Abuse Investigation Did Not

~ Susan Matthews ~ 17 Comments

By Kathy Kane,In the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, it seems financial allegations may be taken more seriously than child sex abuse allegations.Case in point, when the Archdiocese "suspected" Anita Guzzardi of embezzling, they removed the Chief Financial Officer from her position. Father John Paul was allowed to remain as pastor of Our Lady of Calvary after … Continue reading Financial Investigation Prompted Removal While Sex Abuse Investigation Did Not

Parish Parents Not Considered ‘Pertinent Parties’ in Pastor’s Child Abuse Allegations

~ Susan Matthews ~ 38 Comments

Archdiocesan Statement Father John Paul resigned as pastor of Our Lady of Calvary Parish earlier this week. He came to that decision of his own accord amid the stress and anxiety relative to an investigation into alleged misconduct on his part. Earlier this year, the Archdiocese received allegations that Father Paul had sexually abused minors … Continue reading Parish Parents Not Considered ‘Pertinent Parties’ in Pastor’s Child Abuse Allegations

Our Lady of Calvary Pastor Resigns Following Abuse Allegations

~ Susan Matthews ~ 20 Comments

Click here to read: "Pastor resigns following sex-abuse allegations," by Sulaiman Abdur-Rahman, The Philadelphia Inquirer, Nov. 10, 2013 Excerpt: "A pastor of a Northeast Philadelphia Catholic church who was accused of sexually abusing children 45 years ago has resigned and moved out of the parish's residential premises, according to a memo to parishioners. The Rev. … Continue reading Our Lady of Calvary Pastor Resigns Following Abuse Allegations

Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis Lobbied Against Extending Statutes of Limitations for Sex Abuse Cases

~ Susan Matthews ~ 17 Comments

Click here to read: "Archdiocese led lobby to stop abuse law change," by Tony Kennedy, Star Tribune, November 5, 2013. Excerpt:  An internal accounting analysis prepared by the archdiocese shows that the lobbying association known as the Minnesota Religious Council received more than $800,000 from the Catholic Church during a seven-year period ending in the … Continue reading Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis Lobbied Against Extending Statutes of Limitations for Sex Abuse Cases

Witness in Current Clergy Sex Abuse Case Dies

~ Susan Matthews ~ 142 Comments

Click here to read: "Witness who said priest raped him dies," by John Slobodzian, The Philadelphia Inquirer, October 17, 2013Excerpt: "The future of the sex abuse case against the Rev. Robert L. Brennan - the former Philadelphia priest arrested Sept. 26 and charged with raping a Northeast Philadelphia altar boy from 1998 to 2001 - is … Continue reading Witness in Current Clergy Sex Abuse Case Dies