Click here to read: "Report praises U.S. bishops' work to stop child sex abuse," by Stephanie Simon, Reuters, June 6, 2012 Excerpt: David Clohessy, director of the victims' support group SNAP, said the bishops' discussion "was sad, predictable and disappointing." He pointed to several cases in recent years, and even recent weeks, where church authorities … Continue reading What Grade Would You Give the Bishops?

Click here to read: "Accused pedophile priest's picture included in Holy Spirit yearbook," by Regina Medina, The Philadelphia Daily News, June 13, 2012 Excerpt: Parents and Packer Park community members are incensed with a parish decision to include a photograph of a smiling defrocked priest in the last Holy Spirit yearbook — next to a … Continue reading Accused Priest’s Inclusion In Yearbook Angers School’s Parents

I've heard the argument that those who leave the Church because of the clergy sex abuse cover up are just looking for any excuse to not practice their faith. Why is it so hard to believe that some might find the horrible hypocrisy enough to question Church teachings as a whole? It certainly happened in … Continue reading Clergy Sex Abuse Cover Up Impacts Core Beliefs

Click here to read: "Trying to read the tea leaves in priests' trial," by John P. Martin, The Philadelphia Inquirer, June 10, 2012 Excerpt: "As jurors' questions began to pile up during deliberations, about two dozen reporters and other observers cycled in and out of the courtroom, trading guesses as to what they meant. Some … Continue reading Jury Deliberations Continue

As I predicted in my last post, the fund raising will now begin. Click here to read: "Chaput: Priest sex-abuse scandal to cost more than $11 million," by David O'Reilly, The Philadelphia Inquirer, June 2, 2012 Excerpt: "With the current clergy sex abuse scandal likely to cost more than $11 million, and because years of … Continue reading $11 Million to Defend the Indefensible

Pope Benedict announced Sunday that Philadelphia will host the World Family Meeting in 2015. This could be viewed as a positive sign of support to Philadelphia during troubled times. Despite often being characterized as relentlessly optimistic, I'm not ready to call this a positive. The Nobel Peace Prize-winning group Amnesty International cited the Vatican in … Continue reading More Reaction to the Pope’s Planned Visit

By SUSAN MATTHEWS The Pope has chosen Philadelphia as the site for the World Meeting of Families in 2015. Archbishop Chaput called this "a gift to Philadelphia." Where's the receipt? I'd like to exchange it for one that includes enforced policies on clergy child sex abuse. As a Catholic mother, I know how important moral leadership … Continue reading Pope Plans Visit to Philadelphia

Click here to read: "In closing arguments, Lynn's actions called brave, shameful," by John P. Martin and Joseph A. Slobodzian and Inquirer staff writers, The Philadelphia Inquirer, May 31, 2012 "He and everyone else who protected pedophile priests were murdering the souls of children," Assistant District Attorney Patrick Blessington said."