- Nieuws GOG Kerken Buitenland -

• Would you like to update the news in the field of sexual boundary crossing by clergy on a daily basis? Click on this link for daily updates of clergy abuse (predominantly American & Canadean newsitems).
• Jewish Survivors of Sexual Violence: this Blog is for and about Jewish Survivors of childhood sexual abuse, survivors of sexual assault and RABBINICAL SEXUAL MISCONDUCT.
• Pokrov.org is a website informing about sexual abuse within the orthodox church. A site with information and support for victims.

Priester veroordeeld voor bezit kinderporno -- 14 december 2005 -- Red. MdH -- Een priester in de Amerikaanse staat New York werd woensdag tot vijftien maanden cel veroordeeld voor het bezit van kinderporno, zo bericht De Telegraaf. De porno was begin dit jaar op computerbestanden van de 42-jarige katholieke geestelijke ontdekt, toen hij met computerproblemen kampte en hulp inriep. De affaire zou de jongste zijn in een reeks schandalen rond pedofiele geestelijken binnen de rooms-katholieke kerk in de Verenigde Staten.

Hoge geestelijke 17 jaar cel in na streling -- 13 december 2005 -- Red. MdH -- ATHENE - Een 60-jarige opperabt van de Grieks-orthodoxe kerk op Kos is maandag veroordeeld tot een gevangenisstraf van zeventien jaar omdat hij drie minderjarige meisjes over hun rug gestreeld zou hebben, zo bericht De Telegraaf. Het incident vond plaats in het huis van de abt waar de meisjes hem vrijwillig bezochten. De geestelijke zei dat hij onschuldig is. De meisjes verklaarden niet seksueel misbruikt te zijn, aldus de rechtbank.

Jury awards $4.2 million in sex abuse case against Mormon Church -- November 22, 2005 -- Associated Press -- Two college-age sisters have been awarded $4.2 million in a lawsuit against the Mormon Church, a judgment prompted partly by the way a bishop dealt with sexual abuse committed by their stepfather while they were children. Jessica Cavalieri, 24, and her younger sister, Ashley Cavalieri, were abused at their home in suburban Federal Way during the 1990s. The decision Friday by a King County Superior Court jury could be a landmark in sexual abuse litigation against religious institutions in Washington state, lawyers said. It's the first sex abuse verdict by a jury in a lawsuit against a church in the state and could affect settlements in other abuse cases, including those against the Roman Catholic Church, said Timothy D. Kosnoff, a lawyer for the Cavalieris. "The size of the verdict is particularly newsworthy. I think the jury is making a statement," Kosnoff said. James S. Rogers, a lawyer who has represented people claiming they were abused by Catholic priests, agreed. The Mormon Church would "aggressively pursue an appeal," said Gordon Conger, a spokesman for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Settlements in several abuse cases involving Catholic priests have averaged less than $1 million per victim. The Boston Archdiocese reached an $85 million settlement with 552 victims in 2003, the diocese of Orange, Calif., settled 90 abuse claims for $100 million last year and the Archdiocese of Seattle has settled about 100 cases for an average of about $100,000. The sisters, both enrolled in college, told The Seattle Times on Monday they feel vindicated by the verdict but remain troubled by the abuse. Jessica Cavalieri said she hoped the case would help the church deal better with such situations. "They don't know how to handle abuse victims and pedophiles," she said. "They're just completely naive." The jury found the church liable for intentional misconduct and negligence and responsible for damages of at least $2.5 million. The church also must pay another $1.7 million for damages assessed to the girls' stepfather, Peter N. Taylor, who was a Mormon priest when the girls were children. Taylor was sentenced to four years and three months in prison after he pleaded guilty to child molesting in 2001. One juror, Nikki Easterbrooks, said the issue boiled down to whether church officials should be allowed to treat an abuse complaint as a confidential confession or be required to report it to civil authorities. "I think abuse happens way more frequently than we think, and it gets handled internally," Easterbrooks said. Conger said he was shocked that the church was held liable for damages. He said the girls were molested at home and denied that Taylor used his church position to take advantage of his stepdaughters. Jessica Cavalieri said she told her congregational leader, Bishop Bruce Hatch, in 1994 that Taylor had been abusing her since she was 7. Hatch invited Jessica and her mother to speak with him, Kosnoff said, telling her mother the meeting was about tension between daughter and stepfather. When Jessica went in alone first, Kosnoff said, Hatch told her to be glad she had not told civil authorities, who would try to destroy her family. Hatch then met with the mother and Taylor, but told the mother only that her daughter had spoken of tension in the family and then encouraged them to work out problems through worship, Kosnoff said. Cavalieri said she was unaware that the bishop had not informed her mother of the abuse and wound up feeling ashamed and too scared to tell anyone else, even when Taylor began abusing her younger sister, according to court documents. In 1998 the older sister wrote a friend about the abuse in an e-mail message which the friend forwarded to her own parents, who then alerted Stan Wade, Hatch's successor as bishop. Wade summoned the family for an interview, Taylor confessed and church officials said civil authorities would be notified, Kosnoff said. After learning Taylor had abused the younger sister as well, the mother called authorities and learned neither church leaders nor a Mormon social service therapist who discussed the abuse with Jessica Cavalieri had reported the abuse of the older sister, the sisters' lawyer said. Wade and other church officials refused to cooperate with a police investigation, Kosnoff added. A church lawyer, Von G. Keetch, disputed Kosnoff's account, noting that Hatch testified that he never had any confirmation of abuse. He also cited testimony by one of the older sister's friends who said Jessica told her she initially lied to the bishop by denying she had been abused. "Our position was Bishop Hatch did not know." Keetch said. We all know that catholic priests never lie.

Doodstraf voor Japanse duivelbezweerster -- 22 november 2005 -- RTLNieuws.nl -- Een Japanse vrouw is ter dood veroordeeld omdat zij zes mensen had gedood bij wie zij de duivel probeerde uit te drijven.

Trommelstokken

De 58-jarige duivelbezweerster sloeg om de demonen uit te drijven haar klanten met trommelstokken dood. De zes, die bij de gebedsgenezeres in huis woonden, kwamen tussen januari en juni 1995 om het leven. De politie uit het Noord-Japanse Sukagawa stuitte op de lijken, nadat een vrouw aangifte had gedaan van de verdwijning van haar man.

Bezeten

De verdediging betoogde dat Eto niet toerekeningsvatbaar was, omdat ze geloofde dat ze op het moment van de sessies zelf bezeten was. Volgens de aanklagers sloeg ze echter doelbewust op haar slachtoffers in.

Bloedbad

Hoewel in Japan honderden mensen in dodencellen zitten, wordt een doodvonnis zelden voltrokken. Vorig jaar wel; toen werd een man opgehangen die in 2001 een bloedbad had aangericht in een school. Daardoor kwamen 21 scholieren en twee leraren om.

Sex abuse in Brazil: Abuser priest provides checklist for selecting victims – November 21 , 2005 -- National Catholic Reporter, By John L. Allen Jr. -- A Brazilian newsmagazine has reported that two priests recently convicted for sexual abuse of minor boys kept diaries of their experiences, often featuring graphic sexual details, as well as in one instance a set of "rules" for selecting victims -- such as that the target be a young male from a poor family and preferably without a father. The magazine also names two other Brazilian priests recently arrested for abuse of minors, including one caught in early November in a hotel room in northeastern Brazil with four young boys. In that case, the priest has denied charges of abuse. The Brazilian newsmagazine Istoè, a nationally circulated newsweekly, published these findings on Nov. 16, suggesting that they represent a broad pattern of sexual misconduct among Brazilian clergy. The Istoè report was given prominent treatment Nov. 21 in Corriere della Sera, the leading Italian daily newspaper. The magazine reports that in at least two instances, priests eventually convicted of sexual abuse of minors had previously been transferred from one assignment to another by church officials after initial complaints had surfaced. According to the same report, one emeritus bishop in Brazil has been accused of sexual misconduct by a young priest whom he ordained. Corriere della Sera's coverage suggested that sexual abuse of minors by priests is no longer a phenomenon associated largely with the United States, pointing to scandals in England, France, Croatia and Ireland, in addition to Brazil. The original Corriere della Sera report claimed that 10 Brazilian priests are currently behind bars for abuse of minors, with another 40 missing. According to that report, a 48-year-old Brazilian priest named Tarcisio Tadeu Spricigo, convicted in 2003 of the sexual abuse of a nine-year-old boy, kept a diary in which he listed 10 guidelines for identifying potential victims and acting with impunity. They included:

· "Age: 7, 8, 9 or 10"

· "Sex: Male"

· "Social condition: poor"

· "Family condition: preferably a boy without a father, living with a single mother or a sister"

· "Where to find him: in the streets, in schools or in families"

· "How to lure him: guitar lessons, or service as an altar boy or girl"

· "Very important to keep the family at a distance"

· "Possibilities: an affectionate young man, calm, without inhibitions, missing a father, without moralisms"

· "Find out what pleases the young man and, departing from that premise, lead him to give everything to me"

· "How to present yourself: always certain, serious, dominating, like a father, never ask questions, always have certainties"

The diary, according to the Corriere della Sera report, came to light after Spricigo accidentally gave it to a religious sister, who turned it over to the police.

Likewise, according to Corriere della Sera, a Brazilian priest named Alfieri Edoardo Bompani, 45, also kept a diary of his sexual encounters with young men. Bompani was convicted of abuse in 2004 and sentenced to 93 years in jail, considered a symbolic gesture since the maximum sentence under Brazilian law is 30 years. Quotes from his diary provided in the Corriere della Sera account include lurid, and sometimes repugnant, sexual details. The magazine also quotes from a written complaint filed in the Vatican by Brazilian priest Fr. Alberto Mendes, against emeritus Bishop Antônio Sarto, 79, who resigned from the Diocese of Barra do Garças in 2001. The magazine reproduced a May 20, 2003, letter from the Roman Rota, the main Vatican appeals court, to Mendes indicating that his complaint had arrived. In the complaint, which dates back almost 20 years, Mendes details -- once again in graphic detail -- sexual advances Sarto allegedly made toward him. Mendes told Corriere della Sera that he tried for 14 years to lodge a canonical complaint against Sarto in a Brazilian ecclesiastical court, without success. The most recent case to arise is that of the priest apprehended in early November in a hotel room with four boys, Fr. Felix Barbosa Carreiro. In that instance, the vice-president of the Brazilian bishops' conference, Bishop Antônio Celso Queiroz of Catanduva, told a press conference in Brazil Nov. 10 that Carreiro should be subject to both civil and ecclesiastical prosecution. Corriere della Sera reported that Pope Benedict XVI sent a commission in early September to investigate the reports of sexual of minors by clergy in Brazil. The magazine quoted from what it identified as that commission's conclusions. As of late Monday, however, NCR could not independently confirm that such a commission existed. The logical Vatican agency to have impaneled the commission would be the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, which has responsibility for cases of sexual abuse of minors by priests under a February 2001 ruling from Pope John Paul II. A Vatican source told NCR, however, that the congregation was not aware of any commission sent to Brazil, or anywhere else. A spokesperson for the Brazilian bishops' conference told NCR late Monday that the conference was also not aware of any such commission. Pope Benedict XVI is scheduled to attend the meeting of the Latin American bishops' conference, CELAM, to be held at the Marian shrine of Aparecida, Brazil, in May 2007.

Te weinig aandacht voor volwassen slachtoffers van seksueel misbruik door geestelijken – 20 november 2005 – Red. MdH –

Gary Schoener, psycholoog en directeur van het Walk in Counseling Center in Minnesota benadrukt het bestaan van volwassen slachtoffers van seksueel misbruik door geestelijken. Volgens de vooraanstaande deskundige in zaken seksueel misbruik door artsen, therapeuten en geestelijken ontstaan er veel meer volwassen slachtoffers door seksueel grensoverschrijd gedrag plegende geestelijken dan slachoffers van kindermisbruik door geestelijken. Echter, gevallen van misbruik van volwassen leden van kerkelijke gemeentes die zich voor counselling en/of steun aan een geestelijke toevertrouwen, worden slechts bij uizondering door de media in beeld gebracht. Lees het onderstaande artikel, inclusief een interview met Gary Schoener, dat op vrijdag jl. in het Canadese dagblad ‘The Toronto Sun’ verscheen.

Priests’hidden victims: abuse of women prevalent: expert -- November 18, 2005 -- The TORONTO SUN, by SARAH GREEN, Elizabeth McKenna suffered "horrifically degrading" abuse at the hands of her parish priest four decades ago. The 58-year-old woman, who grew up in Sault Ste. Marie, is not alone. More than 1,000 Canadian women and adolescent girls have been sexually abused by Roman Catholic priests, a leading expert on abuse victims told a Vision TV documentary last night. Unlike high-profile abuse cases with child victims, such as the Mount Cashel orphanage, the incidents involving women and teenage girls are seldom brought to light, said Gary Schoener, a Minnesota psychologist who works with victims abused by doctors, counsellors and clergy.

'I HATED MYSELF': "The reality is that there are far more priests who have had sexual contact with a late adolescent or adult woman who come to them for counselling or guidance or support than who have had sex with children," Schoener told 360 Vision. McKenna, then 17, was flattered at first by the attention she received from the newly ordained priest, Rev. Francis Reed. The attention allegedly escalated to kisses and demands for sex. The abuse lasted for a decade. "I began to think of myself as his sexual toilet," McKenna told 360 Vision. "I began to hate him for making me do these things and not being able to stop it and I hated myself." Depression has plagued McKenna and her arms bear the scars from self-inflicted cuts and burns. She reached an out-of-court settlement with the Sault diocese and its insurers in 2000.

'FAITH BROKEN': Reed, still a priest at three Northern Ontario parishes, was not prosecuted criminally. Winnipeg Archbishop James Weisberger, co-chairman of a Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops task force that made recommendations in September for dealing with sexual abuse, said "there's no place in the church" for abusers. Victims need compassion, Weisberger told 360 Vision. "This is a great violation of people. And it has great repercussions," he said. "Faith has been broken and the priest and the church stands in judgment with that issue."

SARAH.GREEN@TOR.SUNPUB.COM Elizabeth McKenna is just one of 1,000 Canadian women who have been sexually abused by priests, a leading expert

says.

Priest up for sexual abuse – November 5, 2005 – news24.com – SAO PAULO - A Roman Catholic priest was arrested and charged with paedophilia on Saturday after police allegedly found him abusing four teenage boys at a hotel in northeastern Brazil, authorities said. Felix Barbosa Carreiro was taken into custody after an anonymous tip led police to the hotel where Carreiro was allegedly abusing the teenagers, police officer Ana Carla Fernandes Silvestre said. Carreiro, who did not resist the arrest, headed a small parish in the city of Sao Luis. He admitted going out with the teenagers, but denied having sexual relations with them. "I went out with them only to have fun," Carreiro told the Mirante radio station. "I never abused them sexually and always stayed true to my obligations with the Church. I don't admit being called a paedophile." Carreiro's lawyers could not be immediately reached for comment. Police said Carreiro persuaded the teenagers to meet him by giving away money and presents. Authorities said some of the teenagers were as young as 15 years old, but did not elaborate further on their ages. Police said Carreiro likely abused other victims in the past. "We have been investigating him for the past two months after we received accusations against him," Silvestre said. He had been probed for abuse of minors in 2002, but was never charged because of lack of evidence, she said. Authorities also were investigating the possibility Carreiro used internet chat rooms to attract his victims. He could be sentenced to up to 25 years in prison if convicted.

Rabbi, Teacher Lose Jobs After Taping 4 november 2005

Rabbi, Teacher Lose Jobs After Taping: 'Dateline NBC' Used Hidden Camera in Internet Sex Story -- November 4, 2005 -- Washington Post, By Allan Lenge

Door bovenstaande link te volgen, kunt u het artikel op onze nieuwspagina NIEUWS GOG ONDERWIJS BUITENLAND 2005 lezen.

Judy DeLonga Breaks 40 Years Of Silence -- November 2, 2005 – Keoland TV -- For 40 years, she kept quiet about her dark past, but tonight a woman who was sexually abused by a former South Dakota catholic priest breaks her silence. Judy Delonga reached an out-of-court settlement with the Sioux Falls Catholic Diocese in her civil lawsuit, claiming she was repeatedly raped as a child by Father Bruce MacArthur. Terms of the settlement are not being made public, but Judy DeLonga's attorney tells me it's substantial. But for Judy DeLonga this case wasn't about money, she says it was about justice, healing and protecting others from a man she says betrayed her trust. An emotional Judy DeLonga could barely get the words out. Surrounded by her supporters, DeLonga spoke in front of the federal courthouse, letting out 40 years of penned-up pain. "The abuse was severe and frequent, it was rape and he continued to stalk me for years after he left town," said DeLonga. DeLonga was only ten years old when Father Bruce MacArthur began his sexual attacks, once even while she was in the hospital. "Because he was a priest he was a God-like figure to me and could do no wrong in my Catholic world," said DeLonga. DeLonga says MacArthur was manipulative and controlling. She says he convinced her the sexual acts were okay. "It started at a very young age, but as I got older he said we would marry, he made it out to be a relationship." DeLonga says they would play with his dog and go horseback riding together. It wasn't until a few years ago, that she realized MacArthur, an admitted serial pedophile, had actually preyed on her and other children. Since DeLonga's lawsuit nine other victims have come forward accusing Father MacArthur of similar sexual abuse acts, but by his own admission, there are many more. In his sworn deposition to police, MacArthur said he didn't know how many other victims he had, maybe 25-30. DeLonga is hoping her courage will help other victims come forward. "The days of calling the bishop and chancery to report sex abuse are over, priests and churches shouldn't be doing criminal investigations," said Stephanie Blaine, an advocate for sexually abused women of priests. "I lost my childhood and it has had a devastating effect on my adult life," said DeLonga. Father MacArthur is currently in St. Louis living in a church-run housing center for pedophile priests. Here are the locations where MacArthur preached between in 1953 and and 1973: Don Jorgensen

Legal deadline in Ireland spurs outreach to abused -- October 17, 2005 -- New York Times, by Kevin Cullen -- They're fanning out to pubs and social clubs, anywhere the Irish gather in Boston. They're spreading the word about an effort to provide compensation for children who were abused at Catholic orphanages and reform schools back in Ireland -- children who may later have moved to America and settled in Boston. Advocates for those abused believe the Irish government has done too little to let those living abroad know about the compensation available, so they are dropping off fliers and talking to Irish natives themselves. Fewer than 3 percent of about 8,000 claims of abuse suffered at the institutions, which were run by Roman Catholic religious orders in Ireland, have come from people living in the United States.''It is nothing short of a scandal that so few applications have come from places like Boston, which has such a large Irish community, and from the United States as a whole," said Tony Treacy, a founding member of the County Cork-based group Right of Place, which helps victims of institutional abuse. Treacy was first here two years ago, holding community meetings about the effort. Until recently in Ireland, Catholic religious orders provided social services to troubled children, running reform schools and orphanages for those who had been abandoned or whose parents could not care for them, or who got into trouble with the law. In the 1990s, when the deference previously shown the Catholic Church receded, and adults shared stories of horrific sexual and physical abuse they suffered in the institutions, the government established a commission to determine the extent of the abuse, why it took place, and who was responsible. Those who passed through Ireland's youth institutions between the 1920s and 1980s -- an estimated 150,000 people -- have until Dec. 15 to file a claim with the board set up to compensate the abused. While there is no authoritative information about the whereabouts of those who passed through the institutions, victims' groups estimate that as many as 100,000 left Ireland, mostly for Britain and the United States. About 10,000 of them are believed to have settled in the Boston area, according to the groups. The Residential Institutions Redress Board's figures show that more than half of claims have come from people living in Ireland, and nearly a third from Britain. Victim advocates say claims from the United States should be closer to the percentage of those coming from Britain. Eugene Murphy, a Cork lawyer who is traveling with Treacy and whose firm has represented about 400 people before the Redress Board, said the board advertised in Britain, but not in the United States. ''If they had advertised in the States, I have no doubt the number of applications would have been similar to those from the UK," said Murphy, who with Treacy spent the weekend dropping off fliers and talking to Irish natives at area pubs and social clubs. Two years ago, an official with the Redress Board told the Globe it planned to advertise in the United States, but another board official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, last week acknowledged that the board has not advertised in newspapers or radio and television as it did in Britain. She could not explain why the advertising campaign did not take place in the United States. While ostensibly under the aegis of Ireland's Department of Education, the Redress Board acts independently, according to Education spokeswoman Emma Kinsella. But the board conducts its business in private, and has no one authorized to talk to the public or media. According to its website, the Redress Board has processed more than 3,600 claims and awarded $340 million, with an average award of $92,000. Government projections say there will be more than 9,000 claims, with a final payout around $1 billion. Despite the noble intent behind the compensation plan when it was introduced in 2002, it has been beset by controversy. Many Irish object to the government using taxpayer money to limit the financial liability of 18 Roman Catholic religious orders whose members or employees committed the abuse, while some victims have complained about the dry, businesslike manner of the process. The religious orders will contribute about $150 million, with taxpayers footing more than 80 percent of the bill. Last week, Ireland was scandalized by reports that some lawyers already compensated by the Redress Board were cheating victims, deducting fees from victims' awards. Treacy said victims should be aware that the redress process was created to deliver compensation, not therapy. ''All you're going to get from redress is money, not sympathy," said Treacy, who was sentenced to a reform school at age 11 for stealing chickens. Those who bypass the Redress Board can take their claims to court, or appear before a separate panel trying to establish how prevalent abuse was, why it took place, and who was responsible. In an interview, a New Hampshire woman who spent 13 years in a Dublin orphanage said she withdrew her claim, because she was more interested in putting the abuse that she and nine siblings suffered into the public record than in getting compensation. Treacy said that whatever the final number seeking compensation, it will constitute a fraction of those who suffered. ''I personally know of 25 to 30 men who were at school with me who have told me they will not apply," said Treacy, who was sexually and physically abused at the reform school. ''Their wives don't know. Their children don't know." Treacy will speak at 7 p.m. tomorrow at the Irish Immigration Center, 59 Temple Place, Suite 1010. The Residential Institutions Redress Board website is www.rirb.ie.

Vlaanderen: brochure over seksueel kindermisbruik in kerk klaar -- 19 oktober 2005 – Red. MdH -- Op 4 oktober jl. publiceerde het Vlaamse dagblad Het Laatste Nieuws het nieuwsbericht Brochure over seksueel kindermisbruik in kerk klaar. Met de brochure "Seksueel misbruik van kinderen. Handreiking voor wie in de pastorale sector werken" wil het Contactpunt voor seksuele misbruiken binnen het kader van pastorale relaties iedereen binnen de gelovige gemeenschap alert maken op de problematiek ‘seksueel kindermisbruik binnen pastorale relaties’. Het gaat om een pastoraal document. De brochure biedt een omschrijving van wat de organisatie onder seksueel misbruik van kinderen verstaat. Het tweede gedeelte van de brochure gaat over medeslachtoffers van seksueel misbruik. In de derde plaats wordt het bijzondere karakter van de pastorale begeleiding beschreven en de vraag “wat kan een pastorale medewerker doen?” beantwoord. In de vierde plaats komt de vraag van het doorverwijzen ter sprake. In het laatste gedeelte van de brochure wordt aandacht besteedt aan het thema ‘pastorale begeleiding van daders van seksueel misbruik van kinderen.’ De integrale tekst van de brochure ‘Seksueel misbruik van kinderen. Handreiking voor priesters, diakens en leken die werkzaam zijn in de pastorale sector’ kunt u onder eerder genoemde link raadplegen (of: website www.kerknet.be, rubriek bisschoppenconferentie). Sinds 1 september 1997 waren er twee telefonische contactpunten operationeel voor het opvangen van klachten over seksueel misbruik binnen het kader van pastorale relaties. Eerder genoemde krant meldde dat de pastorale telefoon sinds 1 september 2005 zou zijn opgehouden te bestaan. Echter, bij navraag bleek het nog steeds mogelijk naast de dienstverlening via e-mail (ce.belgica@catho.kerknet.be) telefonisch contact op te kunnen nemen met de telefonische contactpunten. De contactpunten kunnen worden bereikt op maandag avond van 20 tot 22 uur en op dinsdag- en vrijdag ochtend van 10 tot 12 uur. Nederlandstalige slachtoffers kunnen het navolgende nummer in België bellen 078/15.30.70. Franstalige slachtoffers kunnen via het nummer 078/15.30.71 contact opnemen met het Contactpunt. Hoofddoel is slachtoffers te helpen bij eventuele verdere stappen: een juridische procedure opstarten, psychologische hulp vragen, in contact komen met religieuze verantwoordelijken, vragen en problemen bespreekbaar maken of informatie inwinnen over diverse vormen van hulpverlening. Onze redactie heeft met blijdschap kennis genomen van het bestaan van het Contactpunt in België. Echter, wij betreuren het zeer dat de brochure zich uitsluitend op kindermisbruik binnen pastorale relaties richt en het probleem ‘misbruik van volwassen pastoranten binnen pastorale relaties’ niet in de brochure werd geïntegreerd.

Bisdom verkoopt paleis om seksslachtoffers te vergoeden -- 15 oktober 2005 -- Nieuwsblad -- Het bisdom Spokane (Washington) verkoopt zijn hoofdzetel en het bisschoppelijk paleis om geld in de la te krijgen. De schadevergoedingen voor het seksueel misbruik door geestelijken van minderjarigen swingen immers zodanig de pan uit dat giften in de offerblok niet meer volstaan. Bisschop William Skylstad verklaarde dat de plannen zijn bisdom in staat stellen de schadevergoedingen uit te betalen, terwijl het bisdom toch kan blijven voortbestaan.

Greek priest faces pimping charge after sting – 14 oktober 2005 – IOL/ Sapa-AFP -- ATHENS - A Greek Orthodox priest was arrested on suspicion of accessory to prostitution by an undercover police officer posing as a client, the semi-state Athens News Agency reported on Friday. The unidentified clergyman, 42, was arrested on the island of Lesvos late on Thursday outside a local hotel room, where he had left the undercover officer with a 20-year-old Polish woman, the agency said. The priest had brought the woman to her presumed client at a local bar earlier that evening, demanding a fee of €100. He will be arraigned before a prosecutor on Lesvos. Greece's powerful Orthodox Church is still recovering from a series of high-profile sex and corruption scandals earlier this year that tarnished its image. An investigation is currently ongoing into an alleged graft ring said to have included judges, lawyers and Greek Orthodox clerics.

Kardinalen hielden pedofilie geheim – 10 oktober 2005 – Nieuwsblad -- Twee voormalige kardinalen van het Amerikaanse aartsbisdom Philadelphia hebben samen veertig jaar lang systematisch seksueel misbruik door priesters verborgen gehouden. Dankzij de gepensioneerde kardinaal Anthony Bevilacqua en de overleden kardinaal John Krol ontglipten zo 63 priesters die samen honderden kinderen seksueel hebben misbruikt aan elke vervolging . Het 418 pagina's dikke rapport van een kamer van inbeschuldigingstelling beschrijft de ,,huiveringwekkend'' genoemde gevallen van seksueel misbruik, veelal verkrachtingen.

Roman Catholic priest found hanged and likely killed two people – October 3, 2005 – Reuters -- CHICAGO - A judge in Wisconsin ruled on Monday that a Roman Catholic parish priest found hanged in an apparent suicide likely killed two people, perhaps because one of them had uncovered evidence of sexual abuse, according to a published report. St. Croix County Judge Eric Lundell found there was a very high probability that the Rev. Ryan Erickson killed two men at a funeral home in Hudson, Wisconsin, in February 2002. The Minneapolis Star Tribune said the judge felt prosecutors had presented a very strong case of circumstantial evidence, including indications that on at least 10 occasions Erickson touched a young man inappropriately. The ruling came as the Vatican is reportedly considering a ban on the admission of homosexuals to the clergy, and is conducting an inspection of more than 200 U.S. seminaries to check for homosexual activity and the way that candidates for the priesthood are being taught to practice celibacy. Killed at a funeral home in Hudson, Wisconsin, not far from St. Paul, were Dan O'Connell, 39, a funeral director, and his intern, James Ellison, 22. Erickson, 31, was found hanged in December 2004 from a fire escape at his parish in Hurley, a village in northern Wisconsin, not long after he was questioned by police. County prosecutor Eric Johnson said evidence indicates O'Connell found out something about the priest -- perhaps sexual abuse or giving alcohol to underage youths -- that may have been a motive, the newspaper said.

Reactie (3) van een lezer van HUMO op het artikel “Dubieuze praktijk…” – 27 september 2005 – HUMO (3395) – Lang geleden werd ik als jong meisje drie jaar seksueel misbruikt door een broeder op school. Na een hele resem gevoelens van machteloosheid, schuld, verdriet en onbegrip had ik 20 jaar later eindelijk de moed om alles uit te brengen en heb ik, samen met de hulp van enkele hele lieve mensen, geprobeerd om de dader te laten inzien waar hij fout zat, temeer omdat hij na mij zijn activitieten niet gestaakt heeft. Ontelbare jonge mensen zijn bij hem gepasseerd zodat hij zelf van zijn seksuele frustratie af geraakte en zijn macht op de onschuldige slachtoffers kon laten gelden. Want geeft u het maar toe, Meester, daar komt seksueel misbruik op neer: intimidatie en machtsvertoon bij de dader, verdriet, machteloosheid en het niet kunnen vatten bij het slachtoffer. Onze verwoede pogingen om de dader te bekeren en te straffen zijn natuurlijk mislukt, zelfs zonder uitstekende advocaat aan zijn zijde. Wat had u nu gedacht? Wij waren het toch, de slachtoffers, die het uitgelokt hadden, en hij zelf wist niet wat hij verkeerd gedaan had. Ondertussen werden wij wel met de onmacht, het onbegrip en nog wat meer schuldgvoelens opgezadeld. Ondertussen ben ik 41 jaar en alles lijkt een beetje op zijn plaats gezet en verwerkt. Ik ben er sterker uitgekomen dan ik was en weet nu wel met honderd procent zekerheid dat het zijn smerige fout was en niet de mijne en dat ik helemaal niets ontketend heb. Maar gisteren kreeg ik te horen dat er nu nog een mannelijk slachtoffer van hem hier in de buurt rondloopt, die het allemaal niet op een rijtje krijgt en wiens leven voor een groot stuk om zeep is. Komt u mij en zoveel anderen dan niet vertellen, Meester Vermassen, dat uw cliënt in een moeilijke periode in zijn leven zat en dat hij bij gevolg al zijn kortgerokte, gedecolleteerde en vriendelijke patiënten moest bepotelen. Ik denk dat het hoog tijd wordt dat u zelf even een psychiater opzoekt die gespecialiseerd is in deze materie, zodat u eindelijk begrijpt waar het om draait. Volgens mij ontloopt Vincent Martin op 3 oktober zijn straf, want hij heeft een goede advocaat en kan bij gevolg rustig zijn gang blijven gaan. Wedden we? Ik hoop dat u nog met een rustig geweten lekker kan slapen. [Linda Opdebeeck, uit Hoeilaart].

Toronto Pastor Charged in Sex Assault – September 4, 2005 -- Toronto 24Hour Newscentre -- TORONTO - Sexual assault and death threat charges have been slapped against a 56-year-old religious figure in Toronto. A 26-year-old woman says the pastor befriended her in 2003 and offered her a place to stay. While living with him, she says he forced her to perform sex acts and as a result she gave birth to his child. After serving the pastor with family court papers, the suspect apparently threatened to kill the woman and the treasurer of his church. Frank Lawrence, who founded Mount Zion Revival Church, faces sex assault and death threat charges. He'll be in court today.

Tien maal levenslang voor seriemoordenaar -- 18 augustus 2005 -- Telegraaf -- WICHITA - Een beruchte Amerikaanse seriemoordenaar heeft donderdag tien maal levenslang gekregen. Dennis Rader werd veroordeeld wegens de tien moorden die hij naar eigen zeggen tussen 1974 en 1991 heeft gepleegd. Demonen en seksuele motieven waren volgens de 60-jarige voormalige voorganger en hondenvanger de drijfveren. Rader werd bekend als de BTK-moordenaar. BTK staat voor Bind, Torture, Kill (vastbinden, martelen, doden), waarmee Rader beschreef hoe hij te werk ging. Met de drie letters ondertekende hij brieven waarin hij de politie belachelijk maakte. Dertien jaar was het stil rond de moordenaar, totdat hij zich een jaar geleden weer in een brief meldde. Hij werd in februari van dit jaar gearresteerd.

Sex-abuse claimant kills himself before mediation – 17 augustus 2005 -- The Associated Press – (Also see: http://www.theawarenesscenter.org/suicideprevention.html) - PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — A man whose sexual-abuse claim against the Archdiocese of Portland was scheduled for mediation later this month shot himself to death, the third suicide among sexual-abuse plaintiffs since December. Larry Lynn Craven, 49, of Marion County had been identified in court records only as L.C. or John Doe. He died on July 21, according to the county's vital statistics office. Craven had sought more than $2 million in his claim against the archdiocese. He accused the Rev. John MacNaughton of molesting him in 1967. He was one 66 claimants now in mediation with the archdiocese. The death prompted Craven's lawyer, Daniel Gatti, to ask the U.S. Bankruptcy Court the let the archdiocese pay for counseling for any claimants who need emergency counseling. "Time is of the essence," Gatti wrote in court papers. "My clients are deeply troubled, and the mediation process is not making it any easier on them." The archdiocese, entering its second week of settlement talks, offered condolences in a statement this week. "The archdiocese has no direct information about any of the events described in the motion, nor the cause of those events," the statement said, "but is very sorry to hear about loss of life under any circumstances." Craven's death came five months after Peter Ryan, 44, of Portland, who received a $1 million settlement for abuse by the late Rev. Maurice Grammond, committed suicide. Steven D. Colvin, 43, of Portland, who had accused the Rev. Michael Sprauer of abusing him when he was a teenage inmate of MacLaren School for Boys, killed himself in December. Gatti said the archdiocese, before its July 2004 bankruptcy filing, provided 10 weeks of free counseling to those with credible claims of sexual abuse. However, his legal filing states, the archdiocese rightfully stopped making payments for counseling services because it needed the bankruptcy court's permission to make certain expenditures. Gatti suggests that the archdiocese be allowed to spend as much as $3,500 for each claimant.

Pleitbezorger van celibaat pleegt overspel – 10 augustus 2005 – Telegraaf -- NEW YORK - Een vooraanstaande priester in het aartsbisdom New York, die bekend staat om zijn felle protesten tegen de 'van seks doordrenkte' Amerikaanse samenleving en zijn scherpe veroordeling van de 'campagne van liberaal Amerika tegen het celibaat' is betrapt op een relatie met zijn secretaresse. Dat onthulde de New Yorkse krant New York Daily News woensdag. Het aartsbisdom New York is een onderzoek begonnen naar de affaire, die aan het licht werd gebracht door de man van de geliefde van de priester, Philip De Filippo. Hij had een detective in de arm genomen omdat hij zijn 46-jarige vrouw Laura verdacht van een buitenechtelijke relatie. Dat leverde videobeelden op waaruit bleek dat Laura en de 79-jarige mgr. Eugene Clark op zijn minst een keer samen urenlang in een motel hadden verbleven. Na dit urenlange verblijf in een van de kamers kwamen beiden in andere kleding naar buiten dan waarin zij naar binnen waren gegaan. In verklaring die De Filippo, zijn veertienjarige dochter en de zus van zijn echtgenote bij de politie hebben afgelegd, staat dat het meisje haar moeder aantrof terwijl die slechts gekleed in lingerie bij Clark op schoot zat. De Filippo was achterdochtig geworden omdat zijn echtgenote sinds enige tijd steeds vaker laat thuis kwam omdat zij naar eigen zeggen moest overwerken. Ook ging zij niet mee met een gezinsvakantie naar Disney World, vertelde hij aan New York Daily News. In plaats daarvan zou Clark haar hebben meegenomen op een vakantie naar een Caribisch eiland. Via zijn advocate liet Clark weten dat er niets waar is van de aantijgingen en dat er slechts sprake is van 'onschuldige gebeurtenissen'. Laura De Filippo is woedend op haar man. Haar advocaat verklaarde namens haar tegenover de krant dat haar man met zijn actie is begonnen 'in een wanhopige poging om haar te dwingen aan de uitzinnige eisen te voldoen die haar man stelt'. Inmiddels heeft een rechter De Filippo's verzoek gehonoreerd om mevrouw De Filippo toegang tot de echtelijke woning te ontzeggen omdat zij had gedreigd hem met een mes te steken toen hij haar vertelde dat hij achter de affaire was gekomen. Laura De Filippo werkt al voor Clark sinds zij van school kwam. Hij was het ook die twintig jaar geleden haar huwelijk met Philip De Filippo inzegende. Volgens haar echtgenoot verdient zij per jaar zeker 70.000 dollar bij het aartsbisdom. "De perfecte dekmantel", aldus DeFilippo, die inmiddels een echtscheidingsprocedure is begonnen.

Bisdom Californië koopt misbruikzaken af -- 6 augustus 2005 – Telegraaf -- SAN FRANCISCO - Het bisdom Oakland in de Amerikaanse staat Californië betaalt 56 miljoen dollar om aanklachten af te kopen die 56 personen hebben ingediend wegens seksueel misbruik door priesters van het bisdom. Het gaat om individuele schikkingen. Hoe het geld wordt verdeeld werd niet gezegd. "Het is mijn welgemeende hoop dat deze oplossing de slachtoffers zal helpen met meer zekerheid verder te gaan op het pad van genezing", zei bisschop Allen Vigneron. Minstens vijftien rechtszaken die de komende maanden zouden beginnen komen door de schikking te vervallen. De afgelopen tijd zijn meerdere schikkingen getroffen in misbruikzaken tegen de katholieke kerk in Californië. Begin juni betaalde het aartsbisdom van San Francisco 21,2 miljoen dollar om vijftien aanklachten af te kopen. Een maand later volgde een tweede schikking van 16 miljoen dollar. Eveneens in juni werden schikkingen getroffen in de bisdommen van Sacramento (35 miljoen) en Santa Rosa (7,3 miljoen). De schikking in Oakland was de op een na grootste tot nu toe in Californië. In december ging het bisdom van Orange akkoord met een schikking van honderd miljoen dollar voor 87 aanklachten. In totaal hebben de aanklachten wegens seksueel misbruik de katholieke kerk in de Verenigde Staten al meer dan een miljard dollar gekost.

Priester gepakt op verdenking van moord -- 27 juli 2005 – Katholiek Nieuwsblad -- De overheid van Haïti heeft een katholieke priester gearresteerd op verdenking van de moord op een prominente journalist. Pater Gerard Jean-Juste, een uitgesproken fan van de afgezette president Jean-Baptiste Aristide, werd aangehouden na de begrafenis van de vermoorde journalist Jacque Roches. Amnesty International heeft de Haïtiaanse overheid opgeroepen de priester vrij te laten. AI beschouwt de priester als een politieke gevangene. Bovendien wees de mensenrechtenorganisatie erop dat pater Jean-Juste op het moment van de moord in de VS verbleef.

Web site gives face to rape victims -- July 24, 2005 -- Lincoln Journal Star, by: COLLEEN KENNEY -- Many take her to the place they were raped. A cabin in the woods. A home on a lake. A playground. At first, this surprised Nobuko Oyabu, a photographer from Omaha. Now she almost expects it. She knows it helps some of them heal. They give her their first and last names, their stories, their faces. They let her post it all on her Web site, Faces of Rape and Sexual Abuse Survivors" They let Nobuko talk about them as she travels around the country with their photos, speaking to groups, arranging exhibitions, explaining that these faces are teachers and law students, sons and mothers.

Survivors

Sometimes, when she's interviewing them, tears run down her own face. KayLisha Taylor, 18, Omaha. When I was 3 or 4, I was raped by my van driver at day care. Then growing up, when I was 12, by my sister's boyfriend. Nobuko goes to my church. (Faces of Rape) was like a healing process, you know. It was better to get it off my chest and to help somebody else. It's been relieving. Often, it's their first time back, so Nobuko gives them time to deal with the flood of emotion. When they're ready, she lifts her camera.

Some faces look vulnerable. Like the face of 50-year-old Phil Saviano, molested by a priest as a boy. He took her to a Boston church. Some look straight into the camera, as if confronting the rapist.

Like Shannon Lambert, raped at 15 in a friend's bedroom by a kid from her high school.

Some smile sweetly, like Jessica Sears. A neighbor broke into her home while she was sleeping at night. Some nights at her Omaha apartment, when her husband is gone and she's alone, Nobuko closes her eyes and can't help picturing it: A dark shadow at the bedroom door. A smell of dirty clothes, alcohol on a man's breath. Shut up or I'll kill you. A scream that won't come out.

Brenda Bell, 46, Omaha, sexually abused by her father. In pictures from when I was a kid, you can just see it in my eyes. I could never really smile.

Nobuko is from Osaka, Japan. She speaks softly. Her father is a Methodist minister. Her mother a homemaker. She has two older brothers who are close in age — the evil twins, she says, laughing. Her parents kept having kids until they got their girl, and she grew up the adored baby and a tomboy. Now Nobuko is pregnant. Her first baby is due in September. Her stomach is big on her 5-foot-2 body. This summer seems extra hot. The baby will be a girl. Nobuko worries she won't be able to protect her. It's crazy, she says. Rape is everywhere. It can happen to everyone, even to people who lock their back doors and avoid crazy parties and stay away from weirdos. Even to people who never thought it would happen to them. She doesn't want to be overprotective. But how much protection is enough? "One girl took me to the playground where she was raped when she was 12 or 13 by a boy she had a crush on." They tend to think no one will believe them. They blame themselves. So many keep it a secret, Nobuko says, even from their parents. Nobuko didn't tell her parents about what happened to her. She didn't want to see her mother cry. More than 300 people have contacted Nobuko. She has photographed about 70. One survivor told Nobuko that the pain of her own rape came back to her during childbirth. Nobuko's photo is on the Web site, too, with her camera. It's a self-portrait. For fun, she made it dissolve into a color photo of her when she was a 2-year-old back in Osaka.

She thinks her mom took the photo. It shows Nobuko holding a white puppy. "I love that picture because of my face," she says, chuckling. "The little dog I'm holding has the same expression as the one on my face n very confused."

Shannon Lambert Cooper, 26, Beresford, S.D. I was raped when I was 15. And the absolute only thing I knew to do about it was to keep quiet, shut up, and do whatever I could to protect my frail self. Speaking out and sharing my story helps me to regain some of that control, and to fight back a bit: What happened may have silenced me for five years, but I will not be silenced now. He left. And Nobuko ran out of her apartment wearing only a T-shirt. A neighbor took one look at her and called 911. The police recognized her from her job at the newspaper. They treated her well. They arrested the man three days later, based on her description. A former neighbor. A weird guy who'd kept asking her out. About 35 years old. Had a little daughter who used to visit him. Nobuko woman didn't remember the man's name. Was it Brian? No, David. One reason the police caught him so quickly was because she remembered his face. Thin. White. A mustache. He's in prison now for 20 years.

The rape was six years ago this August. Each anniversary, her stomach hurts. His face appears in nightmares, though less often now. He sees his dark shadow at the bedroom door. She smells his dirty clothes, alcohol on his breath. Shut up or I'll kill you. She screams and nothing comes out. "You would think when something like that happened, you could scream. But you can't. Your body is totally frozen. "At least that is how it was for me."

Dee Miller, 59, Council Bluffs, Iowa, sexually assaulted while a missionary in Africa. Nobuko contacted me on the first anniversary of her rape. She was trying to find someone in the Omaha area to be a support to her, because the anniversary thing was coming up. She said, ‘I want to do something.' She is so confident, so poised now. But in the beginning, she was really, really, very nervous. She was quiet, fidgety. I remember she said, ‘I want to do this because I realize that it was unusual for me to get justice, and I want to give back to the people, especially those who didn't get justice.' Reach Colleen Kenney at 473-2655 or ckenney@journalstar.com

Safety Basics for both paid and volunteer church workers:

· Require references from all potential employees and volunteers, and check them thoroughly.

· Conduct background checks using a professional screening service or state agency on employees and volunteers. Some states require this for individuals who work with children.

· Require a six-month waiting period prior to allowing new staff members or volunteers to work with children.

· Set counseling guidelines for ministers and staff members.

· Develop an action plan to confront and handle any sexual misconduct complaints.

· Take all allegations seriously and respond to them immediately and thoroughly.

· If needed, add additional liability insurance coverage to the church’s current policy.

Jeff Hanna, executive director of the GuideOne Center for Risk Management , an insurance carrier for the Presbyterian Church in America.

Lawsuit alleges rabbi groped former employee -- July 19, 2005 -- South Florida Sun Sentinel - A former employee sued a Boca Raton Judaic studies institute Monday, alleging that a rabbi there groped and sexually harassed her. The harassment happened between January 2004 and June 2004 while Nicole Davis was an administrative assistant for Rabbi Gabriel Ohayon at Boca Raton Community Kollel, according to the lawsuit filed in Palm Beach County Circuit Court. During that period, Ohayon asked Davis to expose her breasts, and put his hands on her buttocks, the lawsuit alleges. Ohayon also asked Davis to accompany him to strip clubs, come to his house on nights his wife was out of town and to provide after-hours massages in exchange for extra money, according to the lawsuit. Ohayon pushed Davis out of her chair when she was on the phone with her boyfriend, hung up the phone and yelled that she was not to talk to men on the phone while in the office, according to the lawsuit. Ohayon was not listed Monday in the faculty section of the Community Kollel Web site. Institute officials could not be reached for comment Monday night, despite attempts by phone and e-mail. For more information on this case go to: http://www.jewishwhistleblower.blogspot.com & http://www.theawarenesscenter.org/Ohayon_Gabriel.html (will soon be up)

A mother's anguish: Beneath the clergy sex-abuse headlines is a lifetime of suffering -- U.S. Catholic: Joan Ryan -- August 2005 -- I am a mother of a son who was sexually abused by our parish priest. Since the exposure of this grim period in our church, I have wondered where I went wrong. Why did I fail to protect my son from the horrific abuse he suffered for more than four years? I am the product of 16 years of Catholic education, having been raised in a conservative Catholic family where we were never allowed to talk negatively about our clergy or religious. I accepted what they did and said as coming from God. Not even the fact that I was a child protective services worker opened my eyes to the signs of the gross pedophilia of our parish priest. We always warned our children of “stranger danger,” but it never occurred to us to tell our son to beware of our pastor. Father Maurice Grammond started sexually abusing young boys shortly after his ordination. When parents complained to the archdiocese, he was moved to another parish. Thus began a long history of abuse and cover-up. Grammond was allowed to serve in our parish in Seaside, Oregon for 19 years despite reports to the archdiocese of which our parish was unaware. When our son Peter was 10 years old, he became an altar boy. It wasn’t long after he began his training that he was raped. Grammond told him he would be killed if he told. I am still haunted by the fact that I saw the blood in Peter’s underpants in the laundry. When I asked him about it, he said he hurt himself on his bike. Peter remembers coming home that day and seeing his dad reading the paper at the kitchen table. He felt such shame and guilt that he couldn’t talk to him. The rape and torture he endured was the first of many Grammond inflicted on him. Grammond often used drugs to quiet his victims. He also bought bikes and rifles for some of them. On Sundays all the altar boys went swimming in a local hotel pool. Only later did we discover that Grammond helped them dress so he would have another opportunity to molest them. The rectory kitchen counter was always filled with candy and cookies for the boys who served. As part of his cover-up, Grammond had a bell installed at the bottom of the stairs leading to his bedrooms. When, as an adult, Peter revealed to me the horrific abuse he had suffered, I didn’t know where to turn. I also saw the suffering among our good priests. I even wrote a published letter in their defense. I sought out another mother whose sons were victimized. She and I have been our own support group as none was organized by the archdiocese. There has been much talk about the healing of victims, but the church still has a long way to go in reaching out to victims and their families. In our archdiocese, no real reconciliation efforts have been made to the families of victims. These victims were not raised in a vacuum, nor are they living isolated lives. Where is the church when their lives fall apart? Whom can the families call on when they see their loved ones in agony, suicidal, despairing of ever leading a normal life because of their abuse? How many mothers’ mental, physical, and spiritual health has been damaged by sleepless nights, guilt, and regret for trusting in our spiritual leaders? Why is our church still more interested in power and money than in seeing the reality of both the past and present? Money can’t and won’t cure it. Money cannot begin to compensate for the absolute horror that my son and the children of many other mothers have gone through and are still going through. We buried Peter on March 3. He was one of many who have committed suicide because of sexual abuse by a priest. He could no longer live with his terrible memories. Though Peter received a financial settlement, it did not include ongoing medical care. He died owing $24,000 for treatment. Future lawsuit settlements need to include payment for insurance for ongoing treatment of the victims. I pray that openness becomes a part of our church. I pray also that other parents not be so trusting with their precious children. And I ask that the church provide counseling and support for the parents and siblings of all the victims. Finally I pray that the persons who were in power when these abuses took place—those who were involved in making decisions that allowed pedophile priests to continue to serve—be held accountable and sanctioned. Joan Ryan lives in Seaside, Oregon.

N.Y. High Court Reverses Itself, Places Clergy Sex-Abuse Cases on Docket – July 18, 2005 -- New York Law Journal, John Caher -- The New York Court of Appeals so rarely reverses itself that when it does, observers take notice. Such is the case with two clergy abuse matters now pending before the court. Earlier this month, after denying leave in a 30-year-old alleged sexual abuse case, the court reversed itself and agreed to hear the appeal of Zumpano v. Quinn. That decision followed another, Boyle v. Smith, where the court -- subsequent to the initial leave denial in Zumpano -- granted leave in a case involving claims by 42 men and women who contend they were abused by a dozen priests in the Diocese of Brooklyn. There is no way to determine what was on the judges' minds when they granted leave in Boyle and reversed themselves in Zumpano, but the motion papers do at least show what the plaintiffs argued in their successful bids. In both cases, plaintiffs counsel focused on the doctrine of equitable estoppel and an exception to the statute of limitations where it is alleged that the wrongdoing of the defendant caused the plaintiff to refrain from timely filing. In Zumpano, for instance, counsel Frank Policelli of Utica, N.Y., contends that his client's mental illness is directly attributable to the abuse he allegedly suffered at the hands of a Syracuse, N.Y., diocese priest. He claims the defendant held such psychological power over John Zumpano that there was no way the victim could have sought legal relief earlier. "[I]t would be grossly unfair to reward defendants because their initial wrongdoing was successful in preventing Zumpano from asserting his legal rights," Policelli said in his motion papers. The Appellate Division, 4th Department, had noted in rejecting Zumpano's appeal that there is no indication that the priest at issue or the diocese overtly committed any acts against the plaintiff since 1970. The alleged abuse, which according to Zumpano occurred over several years, had stopped by then. There are no allegations that either the priest or the diocese asserted control over Zumpano anytime in the last 35 years. On May 5, the Court of Appeals denied Zumpano leave. But it reversed itself on July 6, something it can do under CPLR 500.11 only when it has misapprehended or overlooked a major point, or for "extraordinary and compelling" reasons. In the last five years, the court considered 275 requests to reargue a motion and granted five. The Zumpano reversal came just weeks after the court agreed to hear Boyle v. Smith. Both cases ask for clarification of General Stencils v. Chiappa, 18 NY2d 125, a 1966 opinion where the court made clear that one who conceals theft is estopped from asserting a statute of limitations defense. In Chiappa, it said equity bars favoring a wrongdoer over a victim and permitting the wrongdoer to "take refuge behind the shield of his own wrong." That is the same argument plaintiffs' attorneys make in Zumpano and Boyle. However, those cases present much different fact patterns than Chiappa, which dealt with a thief, and implicate the insanity disability exception under CPLR § 208. Under CPLR § 208, those who were insane at the time of the alleged occurrence, or rendered insane by the incident or incidents, are entitled to a toll of up to 10 years. It is not clear, though, when that clock starts running, particularly when the alleged victim claims continuing mental illness or, as in the clergy cases, long-lasting effects of psychological and/or spiritual intimidation. "There are genuine and legitimate concerns for statutes of limitations to exist, but in clergy pedophilia cases the use of the statute of limitations defense is bad and dangerous policy, and also unwarranted because almost all of those victims are unable to recognize how the abuse adversely affected their lives until they are in their 30s, 40s or even 50s," said attorney John A. Aretakis, who represents dozens of clergy abuse victims, generally in the Albany area. MEDIATION PROGRAMS: If the court does revive otherwise time-barred clergy abuse claims, it could provide an unexpected avenue of redress for untold numbers of victims while exposing Catholic churches throughout the state to financial catastrophe. But it would also raise questions about the various mediation programs sponsored by the church, programs in which the church provides counseling and often compensation to victims it thought had no remedy in the courts. One such program is operating in Albany under the direction of former Court of Appeals Judge Howard A. Levine, now of Whiteman Osterman & Hanna. Diocesan spokesman Kenneth Goldfarb said the program is active. He declined to speculate on the impact, if any, if the court were to revive seemingly stale claims. "More and more cases are being settled [through the mediation program]," Goldfarb said. "People are entering the program and going through the mediation and coming out the other end with some sort of assistance that hopefully will help them." Aretakis suggested that those in the program may be settling because they believe they had no other recourse. He said victims who go through the church-sponsored mediation receive only 10 to 20 percent of the awards those who pursued legal action received. Before the clergy abuse scandal became national front-page news, many of those cases were quietly settled for significant sums and a pledge of secrecy. Paul Hanrahan of Hancock & Estabrook in Syracuse and Emil M. Rossi of Syracuse represent the Zumpano defendants. The Boyle plaintiffs are represented by Michael G. Dowd of Manhattan. John T. Uejio of Conway, Farrell, Curtin & Kelly in Manhattan represents the defendants in Boyle. The Court of Appeals is not likely to hear either case until next year.

Priest indicted on rape charges -- July 13, 2005 -- Associated Press -- CINCINNATI - A Roman Catholic priest already convicted of soliciting sex from an undercover police officer was indicted Wednesday on charges he raped a boy while he was a church pastor in the 1990s. The Archdiocese of Cincinnati placed the Rev. Raymond Larger, 54, on administrative leave following the indictment by a Hamilton County grand jury. Prosecutors said the victim came forward earlier this year.

It's the second time that Larger has faced sex charges. In 2003, Larger pleaded no contest to misdemeanor charges of public indecency and soliciting sex from a male undercover officer in a Dayton park. The archdiocese returned him to active duty last year over the objection of a support group for victims of clergy abuse. The archdiocese said in a statement Wednesday that the boy was allegedly raped in the 1990s but didn't notify the church. "How is this still going on?" said Dan Frondorf, of the local chapter of Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests. "It just reiterates the fact that it's an ongoing problem and there's nothing that anybody can really do to make sure it never happens again." Also Wednesday, county prosecutor Joseph Deters said a six-month investigation found no reason to question a settlement with the archdiocese in 2003, when Mike Allen ran the office. The archdiocese pleaded no contest in 2003 to charges that it failed to inform authorities that its priests had been accused of sex abuse. The archdiocese also agreed to set up a $3 million fund to compensate abuse victims. It was only the third Roman Catholic diocese to make a deal with prosecutors in the growing national scandal. Critics wondered whether Allen, who previously worked for the law firm that represented the archdiocese, let it off easy. Deters said there is no evidence of a sweetheart deal, pointing out that prosecutors couldn't press charges in the abuse cases because the statute of limitations had run out. "I think if the archdiocese would have said, 'We're going to fight you,' that based on the evidence we believe they had and what we've seen, they could have done that and won," Deters said. Christy Miller, another leader of the local Survivors Network, accepted the findings but still questioned how Allen struck the deal. "The victims were never asked about the settlement, what we felt about it," Miller said. "We know the victims had to give up every right they had to participate in the settlement fund. Because it was part of the plea agreement, we couldn't do anything about it. "We still feel it was a sweetheart deal." Prosecutors began investigating Larger after a 21-year-old man filed a claim with the victims' fund, saying he was abused in 1995-97 while Larger was the pastor of St. James Church. A message left with Larger's lawyer wasn't returned. After Larger's arrest in Dayton for soliciting sex, a magistrate fined him $100 and placed him on probation for a year. The archdiocese also placed him on administrative leave. Archbishop Daniel E. Pilarczyk reinstated Larger to active duty in May 2004, saying a psychiatrist had recommended the move. Larger was based at a downtown cathedral. In response to the growing sex abuse scandal, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops has adopted a zero-tolerance policy. Any priest who is convicted or who admits to sexually abusing a child is permanently suspended from priestly duties. The policy did not apply to Larger because he was convicted of soliciting sex from an adult rather than abusing a child. The grand jury on Wednesday indicted Larger on one count of gross sexual imposition, three counts of rape and two counts of sexual battery. If convicted on the six felony charges, he faces between 14 years and life in prison.

ON THE NET: Hamilton County prosecutor: http://www.hcpros.org, Cincinnati Archdiocese: http://www.catholiccincinnatiorg, Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests: http://www.snapnetwork.org

The Vatican Removes 6 Priests in New York Accused or Convicted of Sexual Abuse -- July 10, 2005 -- New York Times -- The Vatican has expelled six New York priests either accused or convicted of sexual abuse, including one man who was convicted of sodomizing a teenager in an upstate church rectory. Joseph G. Zwilling, a spokesman for the Archdiocese of New York, said Saturday in a phone interview that all six men had lost their pensions and could no longer perform church sacraments. "They are no longer priests, period," he said. "They are reduced to the lay state." Defrocking is the harshest penalty the Roman Catholic Church can impose on a priest. The six priests, who were first identified in Catholic New York, a monthly magazine published by the archdiocese, served in parishes throughout the state. Their punishment was reported yesterday in Newsday and The New York Post. Daniel Calabrese was a priest in Staten Island and upstate New York. He pleaded guilty in 1992 to performing oral sex on a 16-year-old boy in a Poughkeepsie, N.Y., rectory, after giving the teenager vodka. He served 90 days in a Dutchess County jail. Patrick Quigley, who pleaded guilty in the early 1990's to soliciting adolescent boys for sex in Rockland County, was a priest in Manhattan, Staten Island and Rockland County. The four other ex-priests - Ralph LaBelle, Francis Stinner, Kenneth Jesselli and David Carson - had been assigned to churches in the Bronx and Westchester, Orange, Sullivan and Putnam Counties. A seventh man accused of sexual abuse, the Rev. Alfred Gallant, was permitted to keep his pension and title as a priest under a provision allowing "those of advanced age or infirmity to live a life of prayer and penance," Mr. Zwilling said. "That means they cannot function as priests, serving Mass or performing the sacraments." Mr. Zwilling declined to provide details of the allegations against Father Gallant, Mr. LaBelle, Mr. Stinner, Mr. Jesselli and Mr. Carson. He said the seven men were among the 30 New York area priests accused of sexual abuse whose cases were turned over to the Vatican in 2002 by Cardinal Edward M. Egan, the archbishop of New York. At the time the church was struggling with molesting cases across the country.

Levenslang voor Amerikaanse ex–priester voor aanranding -- 7 juli 2005 -- Reformatorisch Dagblad -- DALLAS (AP) – Een voormalige katholieke priester is donderdag in de Verenigde Staten tot een levenslange gevangenisstraf veroordeeld voor het aanranden van een minderjarige jongen twee jaar geleden. De ex–priester was al eerder verscheidene malen veroordeeld voor seksuele delicten, waardoor de rechter hem verplicht levenslang oplegde. Volgens het nu 18–jarige slachtoffer Beau Villegas randde priester John Salazar hem twee jaar geleden aan toen hij de jongen na een bruiloftsfeest in beschonken toestand mee naar zijn hotelkamer had genomen. Salazar was toentertijd priester, maar is in de tussenliggende periode uit zijn ambt gezet. De advocaten van Salazar hebben aangekondigd in hoger beroep te gaan.

Verkoop kerken om slachtoffers seksueel misbruik te vergoeden -- 6 juli 2005 – Standaard -- MONTREAL - Een katholiek bisdom in Canada zal de slachtoffers van het seksueel misbruik waarvoor het verantwoordelijk is, schadeloos stellen door de kerken van het bisdom te verkopen. Het Hooggerechtshof van Newfoundland bekrachtigde een akkoord tussen het katholieke bisdom Sint-George en de veertigtal slachtoffers van seksueel misbruik door een ex-priester van de kerk. Het akkoord omvat een schadevergoeding van 13 miljoen dollar. Het bisdom moet de slachtoffers van priester Kevin Bennett vergoeden. Die werd in 1990 beschuldigd van het plegen van seksueel misbruik tussen 1962 en 1989. In mei stelde de kerk aan de slachtoffers een afbetalingsplan voor dat voorziet in de verkoop van meer dan 130 eigendommen, waaronder een zestigtal kerken. ,,De beslissing van het Hof bevestigt onze overtuiging dat het voorstel juist en rechtvaardig was. Wij zullen onze wettelijke en financiële verplichtingen aflossen'', verklaarde de bisschop van het bisdom in een persmededeling.

Bad Karma -- by Mary Garden -- July 04, 05 -- New Humanist - A recent court case in the United States has found Hare Krishnas guilty of child abuse on a massive scale. Mary Garden uncovers the story of a hidden scandal. I remember dancing along with the Hare Krishnas on the streets of Auckland in 1973. The most visible of the religious groups that mushroomed during the 1960s and 70s, they were known for their chanting, shaved heads and saffron robes. For me they were the ultimate rebellion, the finger up at authority and the ‘establishment’. I was a new devotee of Eastern mysticism (yes I was lost, naïve and idealistic) and even though I did not join that particular group, I could well have done. They seemed a bit extreme but I regarded myself as not quite ready for the austere, ‘pure’ lifestyle that the Hare Krishnas demanded. How ironic, then, that of all the religious sects spawned from the counterculture movement, the Hare Krishnas (also called International Society for Krishna Consciousness — ISKCON) ended up being one of the most authoritarian. It also ended up being one of the most abusive to the children in its care. On 23 May 2005, the United States bankruptcy court approved a plan for ISKCON to pay $9.5 million in damages to former students who had suffered sexual, physical and emotional abuse during the 1970s and 80s. Even though a majority of claimants had to vote for the plan in order for the court to accept it, there have been reports that many did so grudgingly, because they thought they would miss out otherwise. Regardless, a total of 550 plaintiffs will receive amounts ranging from $2,500 to $50,000 each (depending on the severity of the abuse) with disbursements beginning in September 2005 and the bulk of compensation to be paid by 2011. The case was originally filed at a federal court in Dallas, Texas, in 2000 on behalf of 90 students with a claim for $400 million. At the time, the plaintiffs’ lawyer Windle Turley said: “This lawsuit describes the most unthinkable abuse and maltreatment of little children as we have seen. [...] As a result, a generation of ISKCON children are permanently, and many profoundly, injured. It is estimated that more than one thousand children as young as three years of age suffered neglect, emotional, physical and sexual abuse. A number have already taken their own lives.” Unlike other Hindu–derived sects such as the Sathya Sai Baba and Muktananda groups, who have had similar allegations made against them, ISKCON has not disputed the abuse claims. In fact, some members have been very active in bringing the issue into the open. They even commissioned Burke Rochford, a sociology professor at Vermont University, to investigate the allegations, and published his report in 1998. For some years a Child Protection Office was set up to investigate cases of alleged child abuse (a list of 200 alleged abusers was complied) and to help temples and schools establish child protection teams and screening systems. So what happened to the victims and why did it take so long for these allegations to be brought into the open? Most of the abuse took place in ashram–based gurukulas (Sanskrit for school of the guru), in particular those in India but also in several schools in the United States. During the 1970s and 80s parents were encouraged to send their children to these schools from the age of three. Most were discouraged from visiting or forming close bonds with their children as parental attachments (along with material possessions) were regarded as ‘illusionary’ and hence would prevent them from doing the work of Krishna — the god of love in the Hindu pantheon. They were however expected to raise money for the organisation, but little of this went to running the schools. Their children were taught that in the spiritual world there were no parents, only souls and hence this justified their being kept out of view from others, cloistered in separate buildings and sheltered from the ‘evil material world’. From court documents lodged by Turley and reports from ISKCON itself, what happened during those years is horrifying. Children suffered broken noses, serious bruises and contusions, lost teeth from being beaten with clubs and fists and also from being kicked. A number had their ears slapped so severely that bleeding and loss of hearing occurred. Medical care was sometimes denied, even for malaria, hepatitis and broken bones. Children did not receive proper food and some report they “were always hungry” and had to eat leftovers or insect–infested food. If they vomited they had to eat their own vomit; if they wet their beds they were forced to drink urine and wear soiled underwear on their heads. Apart from physical beatings they were also punished by being shut in closets, refrigerators or trash bins for hours, even days at a time. Some schools were filthy and overcrowded: children slept on the floor, often in sleeping bags. There was no TV, radio, toys or games. Some children were raped every day for years and there were arranged marriages between girls as young as eleven to men twice or thrice their age. The perpetrators of these crimes were none other than teachers, administrators, and, in some cases, ISKCON leaders. It was not uncommon for the children to be told they were being treated this way because it was their bad karma and they must have hurt a child in a past life. The leader of the group, Indian–born Sri Prabhupada, was told of the abuse as early as 1972 but evidently did nothing to stop it. After he died in 1977, leadership was passed on to eleven male disciples, called gurus, and the abuse continued. Nori Muster, former devotee and author of Betrayal of the Spirit, claims: “If parents tried to speak up, the gurus either silenced them or kicked them out. Some parents just pulled their kids out and left the organisation. Also, many parents abused their children, since they were low on parenting skills and violence was a way of life in ISKCON.” In 1988 one of the mothers wrote to ISKCON’s minister of education regarding the abuse of her son at one of the smaller schools. “A total of five children are known to have been abused to some degree. Penetration had been attempted and oral sex had been done repeatedly to the degree of seminal discharge into the mouth with a condom. It seems it had all been going on for a year and a half with no one suspecting it. The real horror of all this is that they were abused in the holy dharma by teachers, monitors, etc. And the children were even witnessing a guru doing it to boys. It seems it had been very rampant and ‘just a part of life there’. You were either forced to engage in it or you observed it around you.” Her letter was ignored. Finally a few autobiographical essays were published and gurukula reunions held where survivors began to talk about what had happened, but it wasn’t until the late 1990s that these stories reached the media, at about the time that stories of abuse within a range of other religious organisations (including the Catholic and Anglican churches) were aired. The world of academia hasn’t helped. What is astonishing is that over the past 20 years there has been a tendency among academics to give more weight to the statements of members and leaders than to claims by former members and the media. The late Dr Bryan Wilson, a sociologist of religion at Oxford University, once wrote: “Neither the objective sociological researcher nor the court of law can readily regard the apostate as a credible or reliable source of evidence.” In what other sort of crime is a victim not a credible or reliable source of evidence? Professor Beit–Hallahmi of Haifa University challenges this “supportive collaborative majority” and points out that allegations by outsiders and detractors have been closer to reality than any other accounts. Ever since the Jonestown tragedy, statements by ex–members turned out to be more accurate than those of apologists and academic researchers. He points out that the reality revealed in the cases of the Rajneeshees, the Branch Davidians, Aum Shinrikyo, Solar Temple, or Heaven’s Gate is positively horrifying as in these “we encounter a hidden world of madness and exploitation in a totalitarian, psychotic, group, whose reality is actually even worse than detractors’ allegations”. Research on child abuse suggests that religious beliefs can foster, encourage, and justify the abuse of children. When contempt for sex underlies teachings — as it does in some traditional and new age religions — this creates a breeding ground for abuse. Abuse is widespread in some of the guru–based groups in India, which is understandable given the fact that gurus are often considered to be vehicles of God — if not God incarnate — hence one should not question or doubt them, let alone judge them. Some devotees regard their leaders as operating on a level beyond good and evil! ISKCON has now developed a zero tolerance attitude towards child abuse. To safeguard children, teacher Karuna Purna claims on the website chakra.org that it is now “absolutely forbidden for school staff to have any physical contact with any pupil under any circumstance. Not even a gentle hand on a shoulder when they did well or to make a queue move faster.” Unlike some mainstream religious groups, such as the Catholic church, which have been responsible for appalling cases of child abuse, it is clear that a small group within ISKCON has worked tirelessly over the years to bring the issue of child abuse out into the open and bring some justice to the victims. At the conclusion of the court case, spokesman Anuttama Dasa announced: “It is heartbreaking that many of our children were abused. On behalf of our entire society, I apologise to these young people. I pray that someday they will be able to forgive us. And, I pray that today’s agreement will help them heal and move forward in their lives.” From personal experience I can say that for the survivors the major hurdle is yet to come: realising that the abuse was not their fault. Or as ISKCON would put it, their karma.

Mary Garden is a freelance writer from Queensland, Australia. She is the author of The Serpent Rising — a journey of spiritual seduction, based on her experiences in India during the 1970s. This book is now available for AUS$19.95 post–free anywhere in the world from www.marygarden.net

Seksueel misbruik: EUR 950.000 – 1 juli 2005 – Algemeen Dagblad – MANCHESTER – Een Britse rechtbank heeft een man die in zijn jeugd jarenlang seksueel is misbruikt door een priester een schadevergoeding toegekend van 951.196 euro. Priester Christopher Clonan begon de man te misbruiken toen deze zeven jaar was. Het misbruik in een kerkgenootschap in Coventry hield ruim tien jaar lang aan en vond één tot drie keer in de week plaats. De man zit al vijf jaar in een inrichting voor psychiatrische patiënten. Clonan vluchtte na het bekend worden van het misbruik naar Australië. Hij is inmiddels dood. Het aartsbisdom van Birmingham moet de schadevergoeding betalen.

Voor meer informatie lees ook het onderstaande artikel (BBC News).

Recordbedrag ter compensatie misbruik -- juni 2005 – Nederlands Dagblad -- LEXINGTON – De Rooms-Katholieke kerk in de Amerikaanse staat Kentucky zet 120 miljoen dollar (98 miljoen euro) opzij om kerkleden die door priesters zijn misbruikt te compenseren. Het gaat om het hoogste geldbedrag dat tot nu toe is geregeld in het schandaal dat het kerkgenootschap in de Verenigde Staten al jaren bezighoudt. De schikking werd gesloten door een lokale bisschop en een advocaat van de slachtoffers.

Priest abuse victim wins pay-out -- June 30, 2005 -- BBC News -- Fr Clonan died in Australia in 1998 while on the run from British police. A man who was sexually abused as a child by a Roman Catholic priest has been awarded damages of more than £600,000 at the High Court. The man, known as A, was abused by Father Christopher Clonan over a 10-year period from the age of eight when the priest worked in Coventry. Now 35, he suffers from schizophrenia and post-traumatic stress disorder. It is believed the case could result in further claims totalling millions of pounds against the Church. Fr Clonan died in Australia in 1998 while on the run from British police. The damage that he has done is deep and lasting. An amount of £635,684 was awarded by the High Court in Manchester against the defendants, the Archbishop of Birmingham and the trustees of the Birmingham Archdiocese of the Roman Catholic Church. Mr Justice Christopher Clarke said at the High Court on Thursday the abuse had been regular - between one and three times a week. "The abuse went undetected for so long because, initially, A did not comprehend what was going on, and latterly he was too afraid to speak, thinking that he would not be believed, as Father Clonan told him would be the case," he said. The defendants admitted legal liability for "failing to prevent these activities". 'Position of trust': The Archdiocese of Birmingham said it had been in contact with the claimant and his family since the case. In a statement, it said: "The Archdiocese deeply regrets that a priest should have totally misused his position of trust in such a way and apologises again to those who have been abused and offended. "This trust was placed in him by the Church and especially by his parishioners. The damage that he has done is deep and lasting. "The Archdiocese hopes that this settlement will bring some resolution of the distress and anguish experienced by the claimant and his family." Representatives for A said after the case: "We very much hope that the Church will now offer realistic compensation to all those who have been sexually abused by Catholic priests so that victims and their families can be spared the trauma of giving evidence."

Catholic Church admits abuse claims up by 50% -- June 28, 2005 – Times Online -- ALLEGATIONS of child abuse in the Roman Catholic Church increased by 50 per cent in England and Wales last year. But of 153 reported incidents of abuse, 116 took place in the 60 years before 2004 and involved abusers who have since died. The increase in allegations of abuse from 62 in 2003 to 100 last year was disclosed in the third annual report from the Catholic Office for the Protection of Children and Vulnerable Adults. The 100 incidents involved 153 victims. There were 111 cases of sexual abuse, 14 of physical abuse and 11 of child pornography. Of the 37 incidents of alleged abuse that actually took place last year, 17 involved priests and 10 of these concerned sexual abuse. The remaining complaints were against employees, volunteers and parishioners. All allegations were reported to the police. There have already been two convictions from last year’s cases. The sixty-two reported incidents in 2003 led to two cautions and five convictions with two prosecutions still ongoing. The willingness of the Church to be open about its legacy of child sex abuse marks a sea change that has taken place after the 2001 investigation headed by Lord Nolan. The child protection office was set up as a result of his report, A Programme for Action. The Archbishop of Birmingham, the Most Rev Vincent Nichols, who chairs the child protection management board, said that the figures illustrated a growing ability and awareness in the Church when confronted with child abuse. He said: “This report gives an unambiguous message that any move towards the abuse of children that takes place within the Catholic community will be noted, reported and acted upon. That is absolutely clear. There is no hiding place within the Catholic community for people who would seek to abuse vulnerable people.” He said that the issue was a difficult area which could get quite upsetting. He continued: “As a bishop I am always upset when a priest or religious or someone who has been trusted with a role within the Church misbehaves in a particular way. What upsets me far more is the abuse of youngsters. In that sense, I can only be satisfied that there is a growing confidence within the Catholic community that if someone wants to come forward and say they have been abused, either 30 years ago or last week, that is what they should do. “What we are more determined than anything to ensure is that these things will not take place within the Catholic community.” Eileen Shearer, director of the child protection office, said: “The Church’s vital ongoing commitment to transparency on child protection matters is courageously demonstrated here. The changes in practice are clear to see. “Allegations of abuse are routinely reported to the police and we should not be surprised or disheartened that more reports have been made in 2004. “This is the fruit of the culture of vigilance commended by Lord Nolan.”

Acht jaar cel voor pedofiele Franse priester – 25 juni 2005 – Het Laatste Nieuws -- Het hof van assisen van Hauts-de-Seine bij Parijs heeft vrijdag een katholieke priester tot 8 jaar gevangenisstraf veroordeeld. Hij stond terecht wegens pogingen tot seksueel misbruik, seksuele agressie en verkrachting van zes jonge Senegalezen in de leeftijd van 13 tot 16 jaar. De aanklager had vrijdagmiddag een straf van 13 tot 15 jaar geëist. De verdediging van de Franse priester en arts had vrijspraak gepleit. De feiten vonden plaats in 1994 in een tehuis voor straatkinderen in Senegal, waar de priester werkzaam was, en in diens woning in Neuilly-sur-Seine.

Hope takes wings: Belinda Martinez & 1.000 origami paper cranes -- June 19, 2005 – twincities.com / Pioneer Press / BY KAY HARVEY -- A clery abuse survivor is crafting 1,000 origami cranes to bring attention to her cause. Hope comes in many forms. Belinda Martinez has crafted it in the shape of origami cranes - a thousand of them. That number is symbolic of 1,092 victims who for the first time last year alleged sexual abuse at the hands of Roman Catholic priests or deacons. As she folded the paper cranes one by one, "it was astounding to me the number who've been hurt," says Martinez, co-founder and survivor liaison for the Minnesota chapter of Survivors' Network of those Abused by Priests, or SNAP. The newest tally of victims, recorded in a 2004 report of alleged clergy sex crimes by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, comes on the heels of 10,667 allegations of abuse by priests reported from 1950 to 2002. The paper cranes, strung together in groups of 100 and tied in a circle, have been sent off in recent days to a meeting of the bishops' conference in Chicago, the Vatican in Rome, the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis and a children's peace memorial in Hiroshima, Japan.

The Sadako Memorial was built on a myth that Japanese gods will grant a wish to those who fashion a thousand origami cranes. Her wish for victims is a sense of peace, she says. "And that the bishops will foster an environment that feels safe enough that victims can continue to come forward." Martinez was 18 when a priest who had earned her trust sexually abused her, she says. Like many who have told their stories, the shame and grief plummeted her into "a netherworld of despair," she says. "Because of who they (church leaders) are, you don't have permission to tell your story." Seventeen years later, she filed suit against the archdiocese where the abuse occurred. She had by then also been sexually assaulted by a hospital chaplain while she was medicated on the day following surgery. Both priests admitted their guilt, and she received an out-of-court settlement. For Martinez, the healing journey already had begun. An article she stumbled on helped her to turn an empowering corner. "It told me the abuse wasn't my fault," she remembers. A church organist and freelance writer, she turned to the arts to express her feelings. She composed music and wrote hundreds of poems to work through hurt and grief. The Internet opened other doors. She met people online, gave support and helped them find resources. When she found a Web site's invitation to submit hopeful messages for an online newsletter, she rallied to the cause, contributing dozens of inspirational messages - many in poetic form. A sign language interpreter who lives in Maplewood, she also has led spiritual healing workshops and given award-winning sermons. She founded the Minnesota chapter of SNAP in 2002 with Michael Wegs, who works as a corporate communications specialist and is a national public policy adviser for SNAP. A.W. Richard Sipe, a former Benedictine monk, researcher and author on the subject of clergy sex abuse, calls her "a survivor for survivors." No matter how weary or overworked, she never gives up, says Sipe, a Minnesota native and California psychotherapist. As the organization's survivor liaison, Martinez has talked with nearly a thousand victims of clergy sex abuse. Last summer, she hit the road to take her message of hope and healing to survivors in 25 states and the province of Ontario. "You can do it," she tells them. "It's no different from an alcoholic who says, 'I'm a drunk. I take it day by day.' " She counts herself now among victims who stand on the other side of the pain.

"But always that memory will be there," she says.

Hope is Bigger

I know that some still Struggle

With nightmares of their past.

The pain is real. The load is great.

The lifeless void seems vast.

I know how great their burden.

I see the scars and stains.

I know the passing moments

Remind them what remains.

Despair can overcome them.

Their dreams can go astray,

And grief controls with whispers

'Til time just slips away.

But . . . . .

Hope is BIGGER

Hope repeals.

Hope refreshes.

Hope still heals.

Belinda Martinez

WEB SITES ADDRESS SEXUAL ABUSE

These are among online resources for sex-abuse victims and their advocates:

• www.snapnetwork.org ; Survivors' Network of those Abused by Priests
• www.advocateweb.org ; resources for victims, families, advocates and professionals

Roemeense duiveluitdrijvers zullen vervolgd worden -- 18 juni 2005 -- Het Laatste Nieuws --

Het parket van het district Vaslui in het noordoosten van Roemenië heeft meegedeeld dat strafvervolging is ingezet tegen priester Daniël Corogeanu en vier zusters van het orthodoxe klooster in Tanacu. Dat gebeurt naar aanleiding van het overlijden van een jonge zuster. Zij stierf vorige woensdag nadat zij was gekruisigd. De vijf geestelijken zijn beschuldigd van "opsluiting met de dood tot gevolg" van de 23-jarige zuster Irina, die werd gekruisigd omdat zij volgens de vijf zou "bezeten zijn door de duivel". Procureurs hebben al 24 religieuzen van het klooster ondervraagd in verband met de zaak. Volgens het onderzoek zou priester Daniël, de overste van het klooster, geholpen door de vier zusters, de jonge vrouw opgesloten hebben in een klein kamertje. Ze was aan handen en voeten vastgebonden om "het kwaad uit te drijven". Drie dagen later, toen de jonge vrouw "heftig te keer ging", besloten ze haar vast te ketenen op een kruis en haar de mond te snoeren. Nog eens drie dagen later werd zuster Irina dood gevonden.

Polygamous Sect Leader Charged in Arizona -- By JACQUES BILLEAUD, Associated Press Writer -- June 11, 2005 -- PHOENIX - The leader of a polygamous sect has been charged with sex crimes for allegedly arranging a marriage between a teenage girl and a 28-year-old man who was already married, prosecutors said. Warren Jeffs, president of the Fundamental Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, was charged with counts that include conspiracy to commit sexual conduct with a minor, prosecutors said Friday. If convicted, he could face up to two years in jail. Jeffs, 49, didn't have sex with the 16-year-old girl but arranged her marriage to the man, said Matthew Smith, the attorney for Mohave County, Ariz. Authorities do not know where Jeffs is and were hoping the release of his name would help result in his arrest. Jeffs has not been seen publicly in more than a year and is thought by some to be in Texas on a new church ranch. "He's going to be held accountable for the charges. That's the bottom line," Utah Attorney General Shurtleff said. "This sends a message that Warren Jeffs is not above the law." Polygamy is illegal, but it is believed that tens of thousands of Mormon fundamentalists and others across the West continue the practice. Polygamy is practiced openly in Colorado City, a remote enclave in Arizona on the state line with Utah that is dominated by the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Polygamy also is practiced in Hildale, Utah, across the state line from Colorado City. The fundamentalist sect split from mainstream Mormonism after the broader church renounced polygamy more than a century ago. The fundamentalist group touts that men must have at least three wives to reach heaven. The married man was not identified. He is expected to be charged with two counts of sexual assault and one count of sexual conduct with a minor. Messages left with Rod Parker and R. Scott Barry, attorneys who have represented Jeffs and the church in the past, were not immediately returned Friday afternoon. Shurtleff's office has brought the church under increasing scrutiny amid allegations of sexual abuse, forced marriages and welfare fraud. Utah has also prosecuted a police officer for bigamy for having two wives. Jeffs also is the subject of several other civil complaints filed by residents of Hildale and Colorado City. Shurtleff said his office has tried for two weeks to serve Jeffs with a court order showing the state can take temporary control of the church's trust fund. Rowenna Erickson, co-founder of the anti-polygamy group Tapestry Against Polygamy, cheered the ruling Friday when reached by phone at her Salt Lake City home. "Hallelujah. Now if they can just get him," Erickson said. "I truly believe it will ripple on back up to Utah, and affect what can happen to these groups." Colorado City is 370 miles north of Phoenix. Associated Press writer Paul Foy contributed to this report from Salt Lake City.

Recordbedrag voor misbruikte gelovigen – 4 juni 2005 – RTL Nieuws -- De rooms-katholieke kerk in de Amerikaanse staat Kentucky heeft een recordbedrag van omgerekend 98 miljoen euro gereserveerd voor gelovigen die door priesters zijn misbruikt. Het bedrag komt voort uit een schikking tussen de bisschop en een advocaat van de slachtoffers. Afhankelijk van de ernst van het misbruik krijgen die vergoedingen van 5000 tot 450.000 dollar. Uit onderzoek van het bisdom Covington in Kentucky is gebleken dat in de jaren '50 en '60 van de vorige eeuw een groot aantal priesters gelovigen seksueel misbruikte. De miljoenen aan schadevergoedingen worden grotendeels uitgekeerd door verzekeringsmaatschappijen en betaald met opbrengsten uit investeringen en de verkoop van kerkelijke bezittingen. Eerder keerde de katholieke kerk in een vergelijkbare zaak in het Californische Orange County 100 miljoen dollar aan schadevergoedingen uit. De kerk in Boston (Massachusetts) richtte een fonds van 85 miljoen dollar op voor gelovigen die door priesters zijn misbruikt.

Southeast Iowa SNAP Chapter Formed - Catholic Priest to Lead SNAP Chapter - Support Needed for Area Survivors says Priest -- June 2, 2005 -- Press Release SNAP -- A support group has been formed for victim-survivors of religious sexual abuse. The group is called Southeast Iowa SNAP (Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests). Fr. David Hitch of Tipton will lead this Chapter. Fr. Hitch is brother to a man who was sexually abused by James M. Janssen. Fr. Hitch said, "I've talked to so many survivors of religious sexual abuse and I've talked to their families. Their pain is enormous. There is a need in the Diocese of Davenport for survivors of sexual abuse by priests and religious to have a place to gather and support one another. SNAP is a very effect format for this to happen." "The chapter was formed to let survivors of religious sexual abuse in our area know that they are not alone and they can gain strength from each other," said Hitch. "Our first support group meeting will be Saturday evening, June 25th after The Weekend of Hope and Understanding in Iowa City. We will make further plans from there." Steve Theisen of Hudson, IA (Co-founder of Northeast Iowa SNAP) said, "I've had the wonderful opportunity to meet and visit with Fr. Dave Hitch on a few occasions during support meetings. He is a wonderful person and a wonderful priest. He is deeply concerned about survivors, their families, and those in the pews who have had their faith lives challenged by the religious sexual abuse crisis in Davenport." Heather Smith of Waterloo and also Co-founder of Northeast Iowa SNAP said, "I'm just so happy that Fr. Hitch is willing to organize and run a support group for survivors and their families in southeast Iowa. Those suffering in silence need to know they are not alone and can find strength in each other." Smith also added, "You know, not one priest, not one nun, nor one parish social justice committee within the Archdiocese of Dubuque has come out publicly and supported survivors of religious sexual abuse. I don't know why. It's sad that their ministry does not include those who were hurt the most by the Catholic Church. Fr. Hitch has given us hope that this may change." According to Hitch, the support meetings will be a safe place for victims and their families. Because the meetings are to be a safe place, no media or religious personnel will be allowed to attend unless they themselves have suffered the indignity and pain of religious sexual abuse or are a relative to the survivor. The support meeting is opened to all denominations of faith.
Contacts:
Steve Theisen, Hudson, IA - Co-founder, Northeast Iowa SNAP - (319) 231-1663
Heather Smith, Waterloo, IA - Co-founder, Northeast Iowa SNAP - (319) 939-4144
David Clohessy of St. Louis (SNAP National Director) 314-566 9790 cell
Fr. David Hitch, Tipton, IA - Southeast Iowa SNAP - 563-886-2506
SNAP is the nation's largest, oldest and most active support group for women and men wounded by religious authority figures (priests, ministers, bishops, deacons, nuns and others). SNAP is an independent and confidential organization with no connections with church or church officials.

Pedopaters in Italië ontmaskerd – 25 mei 2005 – Algemeen Dagblad -- De rechtbank van de Siciliaanse stad Siracusa heeft een onderzoek ingesteld tegen 186 consumenten van kinderporno op het internet. Onder hen zijn drie pastoors, een burgemeester, twee wethouders en een sociaal werker. Allen worden er van beschuldigd filmpjes te hebben gedownload van verkrachting en mishandeling van Aziatische meisjes van vier tot acht jaar. De verdachten kunnen moeilijk volhouden dat zij per ongeluk of buiten hun medeweten aan de beelden zijn gekomen. De bewuste site kon namelijk alleen met de nodige ervaring en na een lange zoektocht door een pornografische jungle worden gevonden. Het bestaan ervan werd bekendgemaakt via de vitrine van een andere, in dergelijk materiaal gespecialiseerde, Aziatische site. Op weer een ander internetadres kon een uit 15 cijfers en letters bestaand wachtwoord worden aangevraagd. De site is maar negen dagen in functie geweest en werd er gebruik gemaakt van een Italiaanse server, die daar zelf geen weet van had. Toch stuitte de Siciliaanse particuliere antipedofilie organisatie Telefono Arcobaleno (Regenboogtelefoon) vorig jaar op de - ook in het Italiaans gestelde - site, waarna meteen aangifte werd gedaan. Na 11 maanden onderzoek is de 'telematische opsporingseenheid' van de politie van Siracusa er in geslaagd om de 186 Italianen te identificeren die de site hebben bezocht in de negen dagen van zijn bestaan. Het zijn allemaal mannen, meest van middelbare leeftijd, uit alle delen van Italië en van uiteenlopende maatschappelijke achtergrond. De meest opvallende onder hen zijn drie priesters in wier computers hele collecties van filmpjes met kinderporno zijn gevonden. De rechtbank van Siracusa heeft in de afgelopen twee jaar beslag laten leggen op meer dan 400 sites met kinderporno na aangiften van Telefono Arcobaleno, die in 1999 werd opgericht door de Siracusaanse pater en geleerde Fortunato Di Noto. Volgens adjunct-hoofdofficier van justitie Giuseppe Toscano is daarmee 'aangetoond dat in Italië dagelijks een grote hoeveelheid kinderporno wordt geconsumeerd'.

Cult suspect booked; FBI digs at church – 2theadvocate.com/Florida parishes bureau – May 25, 2005 -- PONCHATOULA -- Tangipahoa Parish sheriff's deputies worked to bring two alleged cult members to jail in Amite on Tuesday while the Federal Bureau of Investigation dug up the grounds at the Hosanna Church in Ponchatoula looking for more evidence. The extradition of the two suspects and the excavation are part of a seven-week investigation into the alleged occult practices of the church that includes sex with children and animals. Nine people have been arrested so far. Deputies were scheduled to fly to Ohio today to bring the woman who first alerted the Sheriff's Office about the abuse at Hosanna to Amite in order to book her into the parish jail on a count of aggravated rape, Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff Daniel Edwards said. Nicole Bernard of Columbus, Ohio, waived extradition Tuesday in Ohio's Franklin County Common Pleas Court. She was arrested Friday. Bernard told deputies she moved to Ohio a several months ago out of fear for her safety. FBI agents and East Baton Rouge Parish sheriff's deputies arrested Patricia "Trish" Pierson, 54, when she arrived at Metro Airport in Baton Rouge aboard a flight from Tulsa, Okla., said Laura Covington, a spokeswoman for the Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff's Office. Pierson was arrested as a fugitive and then transferred to Tangipahoa Parish, where she was booked with sexual battery and principal to aggravated rape, Covington said. The two women are among the nine people deputies in Livingston and Tangipahoa parishes arrested in connection with the alleged abuse at Hosanna Church in Ponchatoula from 1999 to 2003. The pastor and his wife, Louis David Lamonica and Robbin Lamonica, were arrested by Livingston Parish authorities, who listed Louis David Lamonica as a resident of Tickfaw and his wife as a resident of Holden. Louis David Lamonica had surrendered to Livingston Parish authorities last week. Sheriff Edwards said Tuesday that no outstanding warrants remain in the case at this point. Detectives want to interview 75 to 100 people in connection with the investigation, which could lead to more arrests. About 25 of the people deputies are looking for are potential victims of the church. The child victims include boys and girls and range in age from 1 to 15 years old. It is hard to say how many people deputies will seek out because the church left no records of membership and some potential victims have been identified only by partial names or nicknames, the sheriff said. All day Tuesday, FBI agents, Tangipahoa Parish deputies, and Ponchatoula police officers searched the church compound for more evidence, digging holes as deep as 10 feet in the back of the church. "We are not acting on any specific tips or leads," Edwards said. Edwards said he was aware of no evidence garnered from the pits even though deputies were seen carrying a tarp loaded with dirt away from the site. They searched areas where it looked like the ground had been disturbed, and most of what they found looked like construction debris related to a past renovation of the church, the sheriff said. Edwards said he could not offer details on what FBI agents found inside the church, but potential evidence was seized there. Last week, deputies recovered computers and pieces of carpet from the church. The new materials from the church will be added to the three vehicles, 20 computers, several dozen CDs and discs and handwritten records recovered from suspects' homes during the past several days. Deputies will also bring back computers and bedding from Ohio found in a storage unit rented by Bernard. Edwards said investigators have found child pornography among the seized materials but they do not know whether the pornography contains images of abuse by church members. "Within a matter of days, we should be able to speak to that," he said. The bulk of the evidence so far comes from suspects' and witnesses' statements, he said. Edwards, a former trial attorney before he was elected sheriff, said investigators are looking for physical evidence, such as candles or clothing used in rituals, to corroborate witness statements. For example, some suspects have said they used pentagrams in their rituals, but none have been found. Although some suspects have told deputies that they are witches or worshipped the devil, Edwards hesitated to call church members a "devil-worshipping cult." Some suspects have denied an occult motive to their actions, he said.

Hare Krishna abuse cases settled for USD 9.5 million -- May 24, 2005 -- Hindustan Times, India, S. Rajagopalan -- A US bankruptcy court has ordered the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) to pay $ 9.5 million (nearly Rs 42 crore) to about 450 alleged victims of sexual, physical and emotional abuse at its boarding schools in the US and India. The abuses relate to the 1970s and the '80s and have been the subject of a long drawn litigation by a group of former students. Some of them have alleged rape, while others have catalogued physical and emotional abuse. The allegations had led to the closure of the US 'gurukulas' by the mid-1980s. The settlement, handed down on Monday by a California federal bankruptcy court, comes two years after 92 former students of the Hare Krishna organisation slapped a $ 400 million lawsuit in Texas on ISKCON. An earlier federal suit filed by them had been dismissed. Each of the 450 victims will receive compensation ranging from $2,500 to $50,000, depending on the nature of the abuse, its severity and the time factor. Distribution of the funds will begin later this year and will be completed by 2011. Not long after the lawsuit was filed in Texas, ISKCON filed for bankruptcy to protect its assets and to prevent closure of its numerous temples and other facilities across the US. At the same time, ISKCON apologised for the abuses at its centres. Under the settlement, a reorganisation plan allows the group's Hare Krishna temples in California and West Virginia to remain open. The suit by the former students was directed at ISKCON's boarding schools in California, Texas and West Virginia, and some 'gurukulas' in India. "It is heartbreaking that many of our children were abused. On behalf of our entire society, I apologise to these young people. I pray that someday they will be able to forgive us. And, I pray that today's agreement will help them heal and move forward in their lives," ISKCON spokesman Anuttama Dasa said.

Murder Haunts Catholic Church -- May 24, 2005 -- CBS news -- Thirteen-year-old Danny Croteau was brutally murdered in 1972 and the only suspect in the case was his priest. Father Richard Lavigne continued to work in the diocese of Springfield, Mass., for the next two decades, until two men accused him of sexually molesting them when they were boys. Since then, 43 other men have accused Lavigne. The molestation charges against Lavigne led police to refocus the investigation into Danny's murder. Correspondent Dan Rather reports on the case on 60 Minutes Wednesday, May 25, at 8 p.m. ET/PT. After Danny's murder, Lavigne, who had identified the body to police and participated in the funeral mass, became a suspect. Local police had circumstantial evidence against Lavigne at the time, but with no witnesses and no firm physical evidence, the district attorney did not prosecute. Lavigne declined an interview with 60 Minutes Wednesday, but his lawyers maintain that Lavigne was not involved in Croteau's murder and point to crime-scene evidence that seems to support their claim. Tom Martin disagrees. Martin is one of the 43 men who came forward about sexual abuse and he believes that Lavigne had a motive for killing Danny: to hide the dark secret of abuse that the boy was threatening to tell. "[Danny] told me that he hated Father Lavigne [because] he hurt him and I knew exactly what that meant," says Martin. After spending seven months at a hospital specializing in therapy for pedophile priests, Lavigne returned to the Springfield diocese, where he was no longer allowed to function as a priest. However, Lavigne continued to be paid a monthly salary of more than $1,000 plus benefits, even as the diocese paid millions of dollars to settle lawsuits filed by his abuse victims, including three of Danny's brothers. Many Springfield residents were outraged. One of them, Warren Mason, met with James Scahill, the pastor at a church less than five miles from Levigne's old church. Mason suggested that the congregation withhold from the Springfield diocese the six percent contribution that every parish is required to send up to its bishop until Lavigne was defrocked and removed from the diocese payroll. "I told him at that meeting that as long as father Richard Lavigne was receiving any sustenance from the diocese, I wouldn't give any money to the church and I flippantly said, 'Hold back the 6 percent' and father looked like he was going to pass out about that point in time." Scahill submitted the ultimatum to the head of the Springfield diocese, Bishop Thomas Dupre. "He said, 'What?' remembers Scahill. "I told him again and he said, 'You cannot do that... there's no conversation relative to this matter. You absolutely cannot do that.'" Seven months later, Dupre was indicted for statutory rape -- the first U.S. Roman Catholic bishop to be charged with sexual abuse. Dupre pleaded not guilty and the charges were later dropped because the district attorney concluded the statue of limitations had expired. Soon after Dupre's resignation, Lavigne was defrocked and his financial support ended. Despite everything they've been through, Danny's parents are still attending the same church. "They can't take God away from us," says Bunny Croteau. "That's the one thing they can't have."

Priests probed in child sex case -- May 24, 2005 – CNN -- ROME, Italy (CNN) -- Authorities in Italy say three Roman Catholic priests are among the 186 people under investigation in connection with an Internet pedophilia ring. The ring was allegedly involved in downloading illegal videos of child sex abuse from a Web site. The children in the videos were aged 4 to 8 years old, police said. The investigation began several months ago when a Sicilian agency working with abused children alerted police. After its start in Siracusa, the investigation spread across the country, with people in 16 of Italy's 21 regions involved. As well as the three priests, those under investigation include a mayor, a social worker and a police officer, police said. There have been no arrests yet. CNN has unsuccessfully attempted to reach a Vatican spokesman for comment.

Kerk VS verzweeg misbruik bewust -- 20 mei 2005 -- Reformatorisch Dagblad -- LOS ANGELES (ANP) - Het bisdom van Orange in de Amerikaanse staat Californië heeft jarenlang stelselmatig geestelijken die zich schuldig maakten aan seksueel misbruik de hand boven het hoofd gehouden. Dat blijkt uit duizenden documenten die het diocees op last van de rechter openbaar heeft moeten maken, meldde de New York Times donderdag. Priesters en andere geestelijken die beschuldigd werden van wanpraktijken, werden routinematig overgeplaatst naar andere parochies. Normaal gesproken werden de nieuwe standplaatsen niet op de hoogte gesteld van het besmette verleden van de geestelijken. Geregeld prees het bisdom de in opspraak geraakte priesters zelfs aan. Slachtoffers zijn tevreden over het vrijgeven van de documenten, maar hadden graag gezien dat er nog meer papieren openbaar gemaakt werden. „Er hadden niet alleen gruwelijke misdaden plaats tegen kinderen, maar de omvang van de geheimhoudingsoperatie was enorm”, aldus een van de slachtoffers. „Veel mannen die vandaag de dag nog steeds in dienst zijn, en van wie er enkelen bisschop zijn, spanden samen om de misdaden te verbergen”, tekende The New York Times op uit de mond van Joelle Casteix.

Child-abuser monk in suicide bid: -- May 16, 2005 -- BBC -- A Buddhist monk in Sri Lanka has tried to commit suicide after he was jailed for raping a nine-year-old girl. Bellana Pannaloka Thero, of the Sri Vimalarama temple in Nugegoda, near Colombo, drank a substance from his pocket shortly after sentencing. The monk, 42, who had been jailed for 20 years for raping the girl in 2001, was in critical condition in hospital. Monks play a highly influential role in Sri Lanka, whose 19m population is about 70% Buddhist. Insecticide: Bellana Pannaloka Thero took the poison from his bag when he was led away after being sentenced and fined 10,000 rupees ($100) by Colombo High Court judge, Rohini Perera, on Monday. He was convicted of the multiple rape of the Sunday school pupil between May and June 2001. The director of Colombo National Hospital, Hector Weerasinghe, told Associated Press the monk appeared to have consumed insecticide. Convictions of monks for sexual abuse are extremely rare in Sri Lanka. In one earlier case a monk was sentenced to 15 years for abusing a boy.

Nun abuse -- May 13, 2005 -- KSTP-TV,LLC 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS ABC -- Most kids who went to a catholic school have stories about 'the nuns.' Now a story that is for the most part untold. Allegations that some of those nuns sexually abused children. The story starts in southern Minnesota. The building sits so stately in the small town of Frontenac and has such a pretty name. Villa Maria. Mary Dunford left home to live there when it was a boarding school run by the Ursuline Nuns. She told us, "They had quite an emphasis on education and lot of religion and discipline." Young girls respected the Sisters dressed in their black habits. What Mary Dunford didn't expect was the darkness she'd find inside one of those habits. Dunford explained, "She would come into my room every night after the other girls had been in bed. And she would take off her upper clothing down to her waist and then she would kiss me on the mouth a lot and tell me she loved me and pull me to her breasts. At the time Dunford thought she was having an affair with a Catholic nun. Steve Theisen thought he was too while he attended Sacred Heart Catholic school in Dubuque, Iowa. Theisen said, "Here's a young, just a nine year old kid, thinking he's committed the greatest sin in the world by fooling around with the wife of Jesus." Theisen describes his experience. "She showed me how the Americans kiss by kissing me on the lips, standing by her desk. After that she said I'll show you how the French kissed. Then she had her tongue in my mouth." Steve and Mary are now adults. It took years but both now realize a nun sexually abused them. They're not alone. Our investigation found cases across the country. Among them: Boston: nine students claim they were sexually molested by the nuns who ran a school for the deaf. Tucson: a woman says she was turned into a sex slave at a convent. And in Kentucky, two dozen people are suing, claiming the sisters molested them at an orphanage. Dunford says, "It's time for all of us to get together and see that we receive acknowledgement, apologies and some restorative justice." Mary and Dan are frustrated that nun abuse has not gotten the same attention as the priest abuse scandal. But Sister Beatrice Eichten said, "Our sense at this point is it's not a major problem, in the sense that it's a huge hidden problem." Sister Eichten is Vice President of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious which represents orders of sisters across the country. She doesn't think nun abuse is a big problem, but she admits no one really knows. She said, "We don't really try to gather a lot of data." To ease the pain Mary writes about what happened, saying about the nun who abused her: 'like a vulture you circled the skies above the Villa, and dove down upon any fragile creature you hungered for.' The leadership conference tells us it's up to individual religious orders to reach out to victims. The ursuline order which ran villa maria says it paid for counseling for mary and returned a tuition check. Mary says it's too little, too late. Dunford is willing to take calls from those victimized by nuns. You can reach her at 651-731-0315. Danjdun@aol.com. To learn more about abuse by all clergy go to www.snapnetwork.org. For more recent news about clergy abuse, go to the Abuse Tracker of NCR (National Catholic Reporter).

Abuse suit wipes out diocese: 150 properties up for sale. $13 million to cover hundreds of assaults by one priest over three decades -- May 10, 2005 -- The Gazette (Montreal) -- A 16-year court battle for compensation that included a trip to the country's highest court will end soon for 39 victims of a pedophile priest. The Catholic Diocese of St. George's says it will sell all of its churches and missions to come up with $13 million for the victims of Rev. Kevin Bennett. "Everything," Bishop Douglas Crosby said yesterday from the diocesan headquarters in Corner Brook, Nfld. "All of the churches, all of the parish houses, all the missions." The sale will include about 150 properties stretching from Port aux Basques to St. Anthony in western Newfoundland. Greg Stack, the lawyer for 37 of 39 boys abused by Bennett, said they will accept the offer when an official vote takes place May 25. "The amount of the settlement is almost secondary," Stack said. "It's been 16 years since this court action was started. I mean, they're just happy that it's over." If all goes according to plan, victims could receive funds by late June or early July. Bennett was convicted in 1990 of hundreds of sexual assaults over three decades as a priest on the west coast of the island. From 1961 until 1989, Bennett used liquor, money and threats to coerce his victims and keep them quiet. He served four years of a nearly 20-year prison sentence for his crimes and now lives on a family property near Port au Port, Nfld., on a church pension. "These are the things that gall a lot of the victims," Stack said. The case was appealed all the way to the Supreme Court of Canada, which upheld lower court rulings against the diocese in March 2004. But the high court did not rule on the liability of the worldwide Roman Catholic Church, saying there was not enough evidence. Earlier this year, St. George's became the first Catholic diocese in Canada to seek bankruptcy protection as a result of sexual abuse claims. The accounting firm Ernst and Young was then brought in to review finances and come up with a settlement proposal. Faced with $50 million in claims, the only alternative was outright bankruptcy, Crosby said. Other church organizations have been bankrupted by abuse claims, including the Christian Brothers of Canada and the Anglican diocese of Cariboo, in British Columbia. Some of the 32,000 Catholic parishioners in western Newfoundland are upset about the sale, Crosby said. "Others are grateful that something is being done to resolve this problem that has been a heavy burden on the diocese for a long time, and not only for the diocese but for the victims as well," he said. The organization is appealing to parishioners for funds to buy back core properties when they go on sale in the coming months. "What we're hoping is we can save, or repurchase, one-third of them," Crosby said. The diocese will have to put all of its current savings and investments toward the $13-million settlement along with the properties. It's unclear whether insurers will cover some of the settlement costs. Stack blames the organization for drawing out the case. "With this diocese there was no attempt to settle, there was no bargaining. They just litigated this thing all the way, right to the Supreme Court of Canada," he said. "They've been victimized by Kevin Bennett sexually as kids, and they've been victimized as adults by the Catholic Church, by what the diocese did to them." Newfoundland has been rocked by church abuse scandals, including the sexual and physical abuse of boys by Christian Brothers at the Mount Cashel Orphanage in St. John's. Stack's law firm has about 30 other cases pending involving six other priests.

Canadees bisdom moet kerken verkopen -- 10 mei 2005 -- freeler.nl / Novum -- Het rooms-katholieke bisdom St. George's in de oostelijke Canadese provincie Newfoundland gaat al zijn kerken en andere gebouwen verkopen om schadevergoeding te kunnen betalen aan de 39 slachtoffers van een pedofiele priester. De slachtoffers zullen naar verwachting akkoord gaan met een schikkingsvoorstel van 8,2 miljoen euro. Daarnaast lopen nog een stuk of dertig zaken tegen zes andere priesters, waarmee in totaal nog eens 23 miljoen euro kan zijn gemoeid. Het bisdom, dat eerder surseance aanvroeg, hoopt dat parochieleden als de zaken zijn afgewikkeld zullen helpen om essentiële gebouwen terug te kopen. Bisschop Douglas Cosby zei te hopen op die manier ongeveer vijftig van de honderdvijftig kerken en gebouwen te kunnen behouden. Lees ook het artikel ‘Abuse suit wipes out diocese’ (10 mei 2005) dat u eveneens op deze pagina aantreft.

Recordbedrag voor slachtoffers van seksueel misbruik -- 1 mei 2005 – Nederlands Dagblad -- ORANGE - De rooms-katholieke diocees van Orange in de Amerikaanse staat Californië gaat slachtoffers van seksueel misbruik door katholieke priesters het recordbedrag van in totaal 100 miljoen dollar (75 miljoen euro) betalen als schadevergoeding en smartengeld. Dat heeft de bisschop van de diocees, Ted Brown, bekendgemaakt tijdens een speciale dienst voor de slachtoffers. Brown bood zijn excuses aan voor het gedrag van degenen die het seksueel misbruik hebben gepleegd. Hij beloofde alles te zullen doen om te voorkomen dat dit soort dingen in de toekomst weer gebeurt. Het bedrag gaat naar negentig slachtoffers, die naar eigen zeggen in de afgelopen drie decennia zijn misbruikt door priesters, nonnen en personeelsleden van de kerk. Enkele klagers krijgen bedragen van bijna 4 miljoen dollar, meldden Amerikaanse media gisteren. Ongeveer eenderde van het totaal uit te keren bedrag gaat naar de advocaten van de klagers. De kerk moet zelf de helft van het bedrag betalen. De rest komt van verzekeringen. De eerste berichten over misbruik van kinderen door rooms-katholieke geestelijken schrikten de VS drie jaar geleden op. De tot dusver grootste schadevergoeding werd uitbetaald door de diocees Boston. Die betaalde aan driehonderd slachtoffers ongeveer 85 miljoen dollar. Tegen de diocees Los Angeles lopen nog meer dan vijfhonderd klachten.

Imane dood na drinken 11 liter water – 26 april 2005 -- Het Nieuwsblad -- Duivelsuitdrijving voor huwelijksproblemen loopt fataal af voor jonge bruid . Duivelsuitdrijver Abdeslam B. (59) riskeert 15 tot 20 jaar cel. Zondag dwong hij in zijn praktijk in Koekelberg een jonge Marokkaanse vrouw meer dan 10 liter water te drinken. Het vocht moest het kwade verdrijven dat haar al twee jaar verhinderde een normaal huwelijksleven te hebben. Imane (22) overleefde de behandeling niet. Toen het amper twee jaar jonge huwelijk van Imane en haar echtgenoot dreigde op de klippen te lopen, besloten de ouders van de bruidegom het heft in handen te nemen. Zij hadden gehoord dat Abdeslam B., die in de buurt van het Dellieplein woonde, wonderen kon verrichten. Een kennis van de oom van Imane had zijn zoon destijds met succes naar de uitdrijver gestuurd. Waarom zou Imane het er niet op wagen? ,,Romeinse therapie'' Sinds enige tijd terug trokken Imane, haar echtgenoot en diens vader geregeld naar de uitdrijver. Deze laatste koos van meet af aan voor een ,,therapie'' van zuivering op z'n Romeins door het drinken van veel water en het uitbraken ervan door een vinger in de keel te steken. De wansmakelijke operatie kreeg een hygiënisch tintje door het gebruik van handschoenen om de braakvinger in te kleden. Zondag was het de zoveelste beurt in de behandeling. Omstreeks 7 uur meldden schoonvader Mostapha en Imane zich bij Abdeslam B. Opnieuw luidde de opdracht om liters water in te nemen, gevolgd door geregeld braken. Het ceremonieel ging gepaard met aanrakingen en er kwamen naar verluidt ook snoeren aan te pas. Alles leek goed te verlopen, tot op het ogenblik dat Imane omstreeks 11 uur plots het bewustzijn verloor en niet meer bij bewustzijn kon worden gebracht. Schoonvader Mostapha vroeg of hij een ziekenwagen mocht oproepen. Uitdrijver Abdeslam wees dat voornemen resoluut van de hand en verzekerde dat hij de enige persoon was die de jonge vrouw opnieuw bij bewustzijn kon brengen. Maar al zijn pogingen bleven vruchteloos. Een half uur later hield de man nog altijd staande dat ,,het kwaad aan het wegtrekken was uit Imanes lichaam''. Omstreeks 12.30 uur moest de uitdrijver zich bij het feit neerleggen dat Imane zijn behandeling niet overleefd had. Abdeslam probeerde de zaak nog te relativeren door te stellen dat ,,haar uur hoe dan ook geslagen had.'' Deze keer ving hij bij de familie van de pas overleden jonge vrouw bot. De politie werd op de hoogte gebracht. Onderzoeksrechter Anne Gruwez heeft uitdrijver Abdeslam B. gisteren aangehouden op verdenking van het in die mate toedienen van stoffen dat ze de dood tot gevolg hebben zonder dat het de bedoeling was iemand te doden. In dit geval was de dodelijke stof dus water. Tweede drama in goed negen maanden. Het tragische voorval herinnert aan een soortgelijk drama in augustus vorig jaar eveneens in het Brusselse. Een man belde toen de hulpdiensten omdat zijn 23-jarige vrouw bijna bewusteloos in bad lag. Hij slaagde er maar niet in haar opnieuw bij haar positieven te brengen. Enkele uren na de overbrenging naar het ziekenhuis, overleed de vrouw. Volgens het Brusselse gerecht was het koppel in contact gekomen met twee groepen van uitdrijvers om huwelijksproblemen op te lossen. De uitdrijvers lieten hun rituelen gepaard gaan met het luid voorlezen van verzen uit de koran. Ook tijdens de uitdrijving bij Imane kreeg de vrouw een koptelefoon opgezet waaruit verzen uit de koran klonken. In beide gevallen is tijdens het onderzoek sprake geweest van het gebruik van snoeren. Over de rol ervan kon het gerecht gisteren geen bijkomende inlichtingen geven.

Tovenaars opereren op rand van legaliteit – 26 april 2005 – Het Nieuwsblad -- In de grote steden, en zeker in Brussel, zijn heel wat mensen actief die beweren met magische krachten mensen te kunnen genezen of hun toekomst te voorspellen. Deze zogezegde tovenaars hebben veel succes bij een bepaald deel van de bevolking. Veel migranten zijn bijgelovig of vertrouwen op hun traditionele vorm van geneeskunde. De meeste Marokkanen geloven in het bestaan geesten, goede en kwade, die het leven van een persoon kunnen bepalen. Dat is een gevolg van de islam met zijn geloof in het bestaan van djinns, mannelijke of vrouwelijke geesten, goede en kwade. Het boze oog: Veel Marokkanen en Afrikanen hebben schrik voor het boze oog. Velen geloven dat bepaalde mensen de gave hebben om anderen te vervloeken en hun leven te ruïneren. Senegalezen en andere Afrikanen koesteren dikwijls een groter vertrouwen in hun eigen volksgeneeskunde dan in de moderne geneeskunde, zeker wanneer deze laatste een ziekte niet kan genzen. Maar ook vele Westerlingen zoeken hun heil en troost bij die tovenaars en toekomstvoorspellers. Zieken bijvoorbeeld die nergens anders genezing hebben gevonden, mensen die hun persoonlijk leed niet meer de baas kunnen of bijgelovige zielen die zekerheid en steun zoeken tegen ingebeelde gevaren. En er zijn genoeg mensen die bij zulke tovenaars en zieners aankloppen om de juiste lottocijfers te weten te komen of zekerheid willen krijgen over een aanstaand huwelijk. Al deze activiteiten vinden plaats in de schaduw van de samenleving en op de rand van de legaliteit. Sommige praktijken komen gevaarlijk dicht bij het illegaal uitoefenen van de geneeskunde en het toebrengen van slagen en verwondingen. Andere zijn puur edrog. Nu en dan komen dergelijke feiten aan de oppervlakte wanneer een of andere charlatan tegen de lamp loopt. Maar dat gebeurt zelden. Dikwijls schamen slachtoffers zich er voor om klacht in te dienen, of vrezen ze de reactie van de boze geesten. Kerk: Daarnaast zijn er nog de duivelsuitdrijvingen in de katholieke Kerk. Het gaat hierbij niet om het genezen van ziekten, maar om het uitdrijven van het kwaad. Een steeds groeiend aantal mensen wendt zich tot de Kerk om de duivel te laten uitdrijven. De overgrote meerderheid van hen wordt doorverwezen naar een psycholoog of psychiater. Een eigenlijke duiveluitdrijving komt zeer zelden voor en gelijkt bitter weinig op de sensationele beelden die de filmindustrie het publiek voortovert.

Pope 'obstructed' sex abuse inquiry: Confidential letter reveals Ratzinger ordered bishops to keep allegations secret -- April 24, 2005 -- The Observer -- Pope Benedict XVI faced claims last night he had 'obstructed justice' after it emerged he issued an order ensuring the church's investigations into child sex abuse claims be carried out in secret. The order was made in a confidential letter, obtained by The Observer, which was sent to every Catholic bishop in May 2001. It asserted the church's right to hold its inquiries behind closed doors and keep the evidence confidential for up to 10 years after the victims reached adulthood. The letter was signed by Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, who was elected as John Paul II's successor last week. Lawyers acting for abuse victims claim it was designed to prevent the allegations from becoming public knowledge or being investigated by the police. They accuse Ratzinger of committing a 'clear obstruction of justice'. The letter, 'concerning very grave sins', was sent from the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, the Vatican office that once presided over the Inquisition and was overseen by Ratzinger. It spells out to bishops the church's position on a number of matters ranging from celebrating the eucharist with a non-Catholic to sexual abuse by a cleric 'with a minor below the age of 18 years'. Ratzinger's letter states that the church can claim jurisdiction in cases where abuse has been 'perpetrated with a minor by a cleric'. The letter states that the church's jurisdiction 'begins to run from the day when the minor has completed the 18th year of age' and lasts for 10 years. It orders that 'preliminary investigations' into any claims of abuse should be sent to Ratzinger's office, which has the option of referring them back to private tribunals in which the 'functions of judge, promoter of justice, notary and legal representative can validly be performed for these cases only by priests'. 'Cases of this kind are subject to the pontifical secret,' Ratzinger's letter concludes. Breaching the pontifical secret at any time while the 10-year jurisdiction order is operating carries penalties, including the threat of excommunication. The letter is referred to in documents relating to a lawsuit filed earlier this year against a church in Texas and Ratzinger on behalf of two alleged abuse victims. By sending the letter, lawyers acting for the alleged victims claim the cardinal conspired to obstruct justice. Daniel Shea, the lawyer for the two alleged victims who discovered the letter, said: 'It speaks for itself. You have to ask: why do you not start the clock ticking until the kid turns 18? It's an obstruction of justice.' Father John Beal, professor of canon law at the Catholic University of America, gave an oral deposition under oath on 8 April last year in which he admitted to Shea that the letter extended the church's jurisdiction and control over sexual assault crimes. The Ratzinger letter was co-signed by Archbishop Tarcisio Bertone who gave an interview two years ago in which he hinted at the church's opposition to allowing outside agencies to investigate abuse claims. 'In my opinion, the demand that a bishop be obligated to contact the police in order to denounce a priest who has admitted the offence of paedophilia is unfounded,' Bertone said. Shea criticised the order that abuse allegations should be investigated only in secret tribunals. 'They are imposing procedures and secrecy on these cases. If law enforcement agencies find out about the case, they can deal with it. But you can't investigate a case if you never find out about it. If you can manage to keep it secret for 18 years plus 10 the priest will get away with it,' Shea added. A spokeswoman in the Vatican press office declined to comment when told about the contents of the letter. 'This is not a public document, so we would not talk about it,' she said. Bekijk in dit verband ook onderstaande cartoon van Joep Bertrams waarmee hij het bovenstaande in beeld heft gebracht. Waarschuwing: er bestaat de mogelijkheid dat u de cartoon als confronterend ervaart.

CARTOON ‘The listening pope’ (published on April 25, 2005 in the Dutch newspaper ‘Het Parool’).

Paus hinderde onderzoek naar kindermisbruik -- 24 april 2005 – Volkskrant / ANP -- LONDEN - Paus Benedictus XVI heeft vier jaar geleden geprobeerd beschuldigingen van seksueel misbruik van kinderen door priesters binnen de deuren van de Rooms-Katholieke kerk te houden. Daardoor heeft hij volgens advocaten van slachtoffers de rechtsgang belemmerd. Dat berichtte de Britse krant The Observer zondag. Kardinaal Joseph Ratzinger, die zondag wordt geïnaugureerd als paus Benedictus XVI, stuurde in mei 2001 een brief naar de bisschoppen waarin hij hen opdroeg beschuldigingen van kindermisbruik intern en in het geheim te onderzoeken. De brief kwam van de Vaticaanse congregatie voor de geloofsleer, waarvan Ratzinger jarenlang prefect was. In de brief stelde Ratzinger dat de kerk bevoegd is zelf gevallen van misbruik te onderzoeken en af te handelen. Dergelijke zaken dienen absoluut geheim te worden gehouden, voegde de Duitse kardinaal eraan toe. Volgens advocaten van slachtoffers wilde het Vaticaan op deze wijze gevallen van kindermisbruik geheim houden en voorkomen dat de politie er onderzoek naar zou doen. Zij vinden dan ook dat Ratzinger zich overduidelijk schuldig heeft gemaakt aan ernstige belemmering van de rechtsgang.

New Pope, Same Crisis -- April 24, 2005 -- NEW ORLEANS - Although his papacy is not yet a week old, Benedict XVI is already assured a prominent place in the culture wars. Admirers and critics alike will pay close attention not only to his pronouncements on issues like bioethics and birth control, but also to his response to the crisis of sexually abusive priests. Historians will debate why the politically visionary Pope John Paul II, who was well briefed by many bishops on the sex abuse scandals that erupted in 1993, stood passive, offering minimal leadership as criminal and civil actions mounted around the world. And they may yet be surprised by Pope Benedict XVI: if he stays true to his moral absolutism, the Vatican could take a stronger stance against priests who have molested children. The notorious case of the Rev. Marcial Maciel Degollado, a powerful Mexican priest who founded his own order and lives in its seminary in Rome, suggests that the pope's approach to this issue may be evolving. While the case is yet to be decided and all legal proceedings are secret, it may offer some hope to victims of abuse looking for a change in Vatican policy under Benedict, the former Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger. In 1998, when Cardinal Ratzinger was head of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, a legal tribunal of the congregation accepted a case by nine seminarians who accused Father Maciel, founder of the Legionaries of Christ, of sexual assault. The allegations, which stretch back to the 1960's, have been presented to the Vatican on several occasions. The response has always been silence. Initially, Cardinal Ratzinger as well failed to respond; in 1999 he shelved the case, later telling a Mexican bishop that it was not "prudent" to proceed against a man who had helped the church by attracting young men to the priesthood. Late last year, however, even as John Paul praised Father Maciel, Cardinal Ratzinger quietly reopened the case, dispatching Msgr. Charles Scicluna, a canon lawyer on his staff, to investigate the charges. Monsignor Scicluna is not allowed to speak publicly about his work. The men who charged Father Maciel, who have spoken to reporters in the past, also agreed not to speak about his investigation. How long will the world have to wait for a verdict in the Maciel case? In the meantime, it may be useful to ask another question: why did Cardinal Ratzinger reopen the case? Foreseeing that he might become pope, perhaps he realized that the Maciel scandal would tarnish him. Or perhaps there is a deeper reason: Cardinal Ratzinger, as head of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, knew more about the crisis than anyone in the Roman Curia; all requests to defrock priests were sent to his office. As a theologian of fundamentalist convictions, he may have felt he had to confront a crisis tearing at the central nervous system of the church. "How much filth there is in the church, and even among those who, in the priesthood, ought to belong entirely" to God, he said on Good Friday services last month in Rome. He later likened the church to "a boat about to sink, taking in water on every side." Those are remarkable words from a theologian who considers the church as the seat of divine truth. Cardinal Ratzinger wielded a strong hand in silencing or disciplining theologians deemed errant. His comments on Good Friday suggest he has an emerging sense of how seriously this crisis threatens the church, by contradicting the mystery of faith as espoused by ecclesiastical authority. This crisis is an epic challenge to Benedict's papacy. The lay reform group Voice of the Faithful has renewed a call it first made to John Paul, asking Benedict to meet with an international delegation of abuse survivors. That would be a great act by the pope to promote healing - and introspection at the Vatican. The pope should also make permanent the American bishops' 2002 youth protection charter, which was due to expire last month and has been only temporarily extended. He should also make it apply to all priests, not just those in the United States. Undoubtedly Benedict does not much care how he is perceived in the culture wars, and in the past he has attributed the sexual abuse scandal to "a planned campaign" by the news media "to discredit the church." Yet he has also urged bishops not to be afraid to confront Catholics "with the authority of the truth." Benedict's first press conference, scheduled for yesterday, was an opportunity for him to clarify his position on these and other issues. In the case of Father Maciel, and the larger crisis of which he is a symbol, Pope Benedict XVI must move forcefully in the tradition of St. Augustine: "Justice is that virtue which gives everyone his due." Jason Berry [(the author of this newsarticle] is the co-author of "Vows of Silence: The Abuse of Power in the Papacy of John Paul II."

Slachtoffer van misbruik door rock-priester krijgt 3,3 miljoen dollar – 23 april 2005 – Het Volk -- SAN FRANCISCO - Een vrouw in Californië heeft 3,3 miljoen dollar schadevergoeding toegewezen gekregen nadat ze zes jaar lang seksueel werd misbruikt door een priester die rockmuziek gebruikte om zijn boodschap aan jongeren te verkondigen. Volgens advocaten is de schikking die het bisdom van Santa Rosa in het noorden van de Amerikaanse staat moet ophoesten, de hoogste regeling ten gunste van een vrouwelijk slachtoffer sinds de katholieke kerk in de Verenigde Staten in 2002 door een aantal misbruikschandalen getroffen werd. De 44-jarige Roberta Saum was vijftien toen ze werd misbruikt door de gewezen priester Don Kimball. Hij werd veroordeeld tot zeven jaar cel voor het molesteren van een tienermeisje in 1981. Die straf werd later door het Hooggerechtshof vernietigd. Saum zei dat ze een pleegkind was en zes jaar lang een seksuele relatie had met Kimball, in wie ze een vaderfiguur zag. ,,Hij heeft van de rest van mijn leven een puinhoop gemaakt. Ik hoop dat ik andere mensen kan helpen door mijn verhaal te vertellen’’, zei ze bij het verlaten van het gerechtsgebouw in Alameda County. ,,Met deze schikking herbevestigen we onze belofte om rechtvaardige en redelijke compensatie te bieden aan de slachtoffers van vroeger misbruik, om alles te doen om het helings- en verzoeningsproces te versnellen en om ervoor te zorgen dat zulke tragische gebeurtenissen niet meer plaatsvinden’’, luidde een statement van bisschop Daniel F. Walsh. Het bisdom is één van de vele die betrokken zijn in de schandalen van seksueel misbruik. Die reikte tot aan de top van het bisdom van Santa Rosa waar een bisschop, G. Patrick Ziemann, ontslag nam nadat hij ervan werd beschuldigd een andere priester te hebben gedwongen seks met hem te hebben, schreef de Los Angeles Times.

Aartsbisdom VS moet miljoenen betalen in misbruikzaak -- 21 april 2005 – De Telegraaf -- SAN FRANCISCO - Een jury in de Amerikaanse stad San Francisco heeft een schadevergoeding van 6 miljoen dollar toegewezen aan drie mannen en een vrouw die in hun jeugd zijn misbruikt door een katholieke priester. Zij hadden een civiele procedure aangespannen tegen het aartsbisdom San Francisco. Volgens de advocaat van de eisers is het het hoogste bedrag dat in een dergelijke zaak is toegekend sinds 1998. Het aartsbisdom erkende tijdens de rechtszaak dat zijn functionarissen in de jaren '70 op de hoogte waren van de beschuldigingen tegen de priester, maar die niet hebben onderzocht.

'Heilige man' slaat kokosnoten stuk op hoofd naakte vrouw -- 20 april 2005 -- Het Laatste Nieuws -- De politie in India heeft een 'heilige man' gearresteerd die een vrouw verplichtte zich uit te kleden. Nadien sloeg hij kokosnoten op haar hoofd stuk. Volgens de 27-jarige goeroe was de vrouw bezeten door de duivel. De ouders, die al hun vertrouwen in deze mysterieuze medicijnman stelden, stemden ermee in dat hij de kwade geest uit het lichaam van hun dochter zou proberen te bevrijden. Hij sloot zichzelf met de vrouw in een kamer op. Daar trok hij haar kleren uit en smeerde hij kamfer - een soort etherische olie - uit over haar borsten en handpalmen. Toen hij echter kokosnoten op haar hoofd begon kapot te slaan, was het hek van de dam. De vrouw gilde het uit van de pijn en haar ouders, die buiten stonden te wachten, trapten de deur in. Daar troffen ze hun dochter naakt en volledig onder het bloed aan. Alvorens hij opgepakt werd door de politie, gaven plaatselijke dorpelingen hem nog een stevige bolwassening. Hij staat nu terecht voor poging tot moord en bedrog.

SNAP Asks New Pope to Protect Children from Predator Priests: Minnesota SNAP Chapter Fears Benedict XVI Will Continue to Shield Serial Predators – April 19, 2005 – Pressrelease SNAP Minnesota -- A Minnesota support group for clergy sex abuse victims today announced that its members expect the new Pope to adopt a global "zero tolerance" policy that will protect children and vulnerable adults from ordained sexual predators operating within the confines of the Roman Catholic Church. "Although we wish Cardinal Josef Ratzinger well in his new role as Pope Benedict XVI, we also expect the new Pope to act forcefully in eliminating child molesters and sexual predators from the ranks of the Roman Catholic priesthood," said Belinda Martinez, survivor outreach liaison for the Minnesota chapter of Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (MNSNAP). Martinez added that SNAP members will ask Benedict XVI to meet as soon as possible with an international delegation of survivors chosen by SNAP and similar independent support groups. "We think a pontifical commission of survivors should have the Pope's ear," Martinez said. "Wouldn't it be wonderful if Benedict XVI stepped forward to say enough is enough regarding this institutional mentality that protects sexual predators and their accomplices, while shunning those children and vulnerable adults who have been raped and sodomized?" Martinez also noted that representatives of the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis announced in the 2004 Gavin Report that 18 new allegations were made against priests last year. Most of the charges were made against clergyman already deceased or who have been identified previously in civil suits. "We hope, too, that Pope Benedict XVI will promptly discipline complicit bishops who have transferred and shielded serial molesters, while shunning wounded victims and ignoring vulnerable families," Martinez said. "Virtually no consequences can deter abusers, but serious consequences can deter their enablers. In Minnesota, MNSNAP would like the new Pope to further investigate the Order of St. Benedict, which operates St. John's University, and the Crosier Fathers in Shoreview, which operate private schools in the Twin Cities and in Onamia. Currently, the Benedictines admit to warehousing at least 17 self-admitted pedophiles monks at their Collegeville monastery and the Crosiers have at least 13 living at their priory in Shoreview. "Religious orders are able to transfer their identified sexual predators to nearly any part of the globe to escape civil authorities in the United States and other countries," said Michael Wegs, public policy advisor for the Minnesota chapter of Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (MNSNAP). "As the dean of the College of Cardinals and a close advisor of Pope John Paul II, we are aware that Ratzinger quietly scuttled a Vatican probe into allegations involving founder of the religious order the Legion of Christ, Fr. Marciel Macial," Wegs said. "Maciel sexually abused at least nine boys." Known as the Legionnaires, the Legion of Christ order of priests operates Catholic high schools in the United States and other countries. Archbishop Harry N. Flynn of Saint Paul and Minneapolis has prohibited the Legionaires from operating here. "We desperately hope that, as Pope, Ratzinger will thoroughly investigate Macial," Wegs said. "It is important that Ratzinger thoroughly vet the life of deceased Legion of Christ founder and the religious order itself. "We are encouraged that just a few months ago, that investigation was re-opened," Wegs said. "It is our wish that results be made available to the public." Wegs said Ratzinger is a polarizing figure to many Catholics worldwide; someone who seems to prefer combativeness to compromise and compassion. "We recognize that the Vatican may set the tone for the Church management framework, and that no one can effectively supervise a global operation where each bishop is, essentially, an independent operator," Wegs said.  "But the Pontiff can implement an effective "zero tolerance" policy that forces recalcitrant bishops to prevent abuse and promote the healing of victims with kindness and charity. "Consequently, it is crucial that the new pope follow the words and views of John Paul II who said 'there is no place in the priesthood for anyone who would harm the young.'" Wegs said.

Priesterslachtoffers maken lijst ‘onacceptabele’ pausen -- 16 april 2005 – Volkskrant / ANP -- LOS ANGELES - Een Amerikaanse belangenvereniging van slachtoffers van seksueel misbruik door priesters heeft een lijst opgesteld van vijf kardinalen die moreel ‘onacceptabel’ zouden zijn als paus. De organisatie Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP) maakte de lijst vrijdag bekend, drie dagen voordat de 115 kardinalen in conclaaf gaan om een nieuwe rooms-katholieke kerkvorst te kiezen. Op het lijstje staan de Italiaan Angelo Sodano (de tweede man van het Vaticaan), Oscar Andres Rodriquez Maradiaga uit Honduras, Norberta Rivera Carrera uit Mexico, de Chileen Francisco Javier Errazuriz Ossa en Dario Castrillon-Hoyos uit Colombia. De laatste geeft leiding aan de Vaticaanse congregatie voor de geestelijkheid. De vijf kansrijk geachte kardinalen hebben volgens de belangenorganisatie ‘aangegeven in essentie pedofiele priesters te zullen beschermen’. Ook zouden zij de crisis over seksueel misbruik niet begrijpen of niet serieus nemen. De steungroep voor slachtoffers van seksueel misbruik protesteerde eerder deze week ook al tegen een mis die de omstreden kardinaal Bernard Law opdroeg tijdens een herdenkingsdienst voor de paus in Rome. Law trad drie jaar geleden af als aartsbisschop van Boston. Hij was ervan beschuldigd seksueel misbruik door priesters te hebben ‘toegedekt’. Een groeiend schandaal over misdragingen van priesters heeft de Amerikaanse Rooms-Katholieke Kerk de afgelopen jaren op zijn grondvesten doen schudden. Vooral in het aartsbisdom Boston liepen de emoties over priesters die zich aan kinderen vergrepen hoog op.

Lasting trauma of priest abuse alleged – April 6, 2005 -- Mercury News – CALIFORNIA - Nearly all still have thoughts of suicide. Cocaine binges almost ended one man's marriage. Sexual dysfunction is keeping another, who wants children, from becoming a parent. A woman cannot work. Lawyers for four former students of St. Martin of Tours parish school described the ways in which their lives have been traumatized by childhood sexual abuse by their pastor, the Rev. Joseph Pritchard. The third trial in the 160 clergy sex-abuse lawsuits in Northern California, which began with an admission of negligence by the San Francisco Archdiocese, will be focused entirely on how much of that trauma is due to the molestation -- and how much compensation the church should pay. The three men and one woman are among nearly two dozen former students who are suing the archdiocese for abuse in the mid- to late-'70s. One of the plaintiffs sobbed as attorney Larry Drivon described the decline of another, his school friend -- an honor roll student who, once the abuse began, started smoking pot. Later, as a teenager, he began using cocaine, and as an adult was often homeless and sometimes in jail.

Pastor resigns amid sexual misconduct complaint -- 5 april 2005 -- Associated Press -- NEW BRAUNFELS -- A minister who wrote of overcoming an addiction to porn and prostitutes has resigned as senior pastor of a 4,000-member New Braunfels church. Leaders of The Tree of Life Fellowship say Mike Fehlauer resigned as the congregation's senior pastor after a woman accused him of sexual misconduct. The resignation was announced to the congregation Sunday in an hourlong sermon by Ted Haggard, president of the 30 million-member National Association of Evangelicals. Haggard said a married woman wrote a letter about two weeks ago to the church board, detailing her allegations. He says Fehlauer confessed to the misconduct and resigned after the woman threatened to sue the church if Fehlauer didn't. Fehlauer and his wife already have moved to Colorado, where they will seek secular employment.

Catholic priest on 29 child sex charges – March 29, 2005 -- Australasia News -- A Catholic priest facing 29 child sex charges dating back to the 1970s has appeared in Melbourne Magistrates Court for the start of his committal hearing. Frank Gerard Klep, 61, has been charged by Sexual Crimes Squad detectives with 28 counts of indecent assault and one of buggery. The offences involve eight boys and were allegedly committed at Sunbury between 1973 and 1979. Klep, a member of the Salesian order, was a teacher at the order's Rupertswood College in Sunbury, on Melbourne's north-west fringe, during the period and eventually rose to become principal. He left Melbourne in April 1998 to become the senior financial officer at a Salesian theological college in Samoa. A month later, Klep was charged with five counts of indecent assault involving a 15-year-old student at the college that dated back to 1973. He has since been charged with a further 24 offences but was released on conditional bail. In a statement, the head of the Salesian order's Australia-Pacific region, Father Ian Murdoch, said Klep remained a member of the order and was living in supervised salesian accommodation in Melbourne. "As with anyone else while still a member of a religious order, and in keeping with the Catholic Church's Towards Healing protocol, Klep's legal fees are being paid for by the Salesians," Father Murdoch said. Magistrate Rowan McIndoe closed the hearing to all members of the public and the media to protect the identities of witnesses in the case.

Mother of priest's twins sues church – March 29, 2005 – abc.net -- An Adelaide woman who alleges she was raped by an Anglican priest says she is speaking out because she feels the church is not admitting what it has done wrong in the past. The woman, who is now aged 62 and wants to be known as Jess, is suing the church, claiming she was raped by Reverend Leonard Goggs, who died in 1979. The church has acknowledged Reverend Goggs is the father of Jess's twin boys but she says it has not provided any money to help raise the children, who are now adults. Jess says an apology is not good enough and the church should beg for her forgiveness. "I allowed this person to have his life, his wife, his parish and allowed him to die in office in peace," she said. "I had to live a double life. I had to battle to keep my children. I went without lots of things." The administrator of the church's Adelaide diocese, John Collas, says the woman was the victim of sexual abuse by a person in a position of trust. He says the church is investigating the claim that she was raped. Archdeacon Collas says any priest breaking professional boundaries in a similar manner today would be suspended from office. He says the church has acknowledged that it failed victims of sexual abuse in the past and has pledged to do better.

Slachtoffer pedofiele priester 437.000 dollar toegewezen – 25 maart 2005 – Telegraaf -- AMSTERDAM - Het aartsbisdom San Francisco moet 437.000 dollar (336.620 euro) schadevergoeding betalen aan een 47-jarige man die als tiener door een pedofiele priester is misbruikt. Een rechtbank in Californië heeft dat donderdag bepaald. Dennis Kavanaugh, links, verlaat de rechtszaal in San Francisco met zijn advocaat nadat hij door de rechtbank een schadevergoeding is toegewezen. Dezelfde rechtbank besliste vorige week vrijdag dat het aartsbisdom aansprakelijk is voor het gedrag van de inmiddels overleden priester. De kerk heeft zich bij die beslissing neergelegd. Het is de eerste uitspraak in meer dan 750 rechtszaken die tegen de kerk zijn aangespannen sinds Californië in 2002 de verjaringstermijn voor misbruikgevallen opschortte.

Abusive priests often end up in St. Louis -- By Tim Townsend -- St. Louis Post-Dispatch -- March 19, 2005 -- The Rev. James McGreal of Seattle has admitted to sexually abusing hundreds of children between the 1960s and 1980s. The Seattle archdiocese has so far agreed to pay almost $10 million to 26 of those victims, but because of Washington's statute of limitations, McGreal has never been convicted of a crime. Because McGreal can't be sent to jail and has never been laicized (or defrocked) he is the responsibility of Seattle's archbishops.

For the last 20 years McGreal, now 81, has been living at the Vianney Renewal Center, near Dittmer in Jefferson County. Vianney and a nearby facility

called RECON are the only two places in the country where bishops can permanently send dangerous pedophile priests. "For those who need to be in a completely supervised environment there are two centers, which as providence would have it, are both in this archdiocese in the United States," said St. Louis Archbishop Raymond Burke in a recent interview.

Three years after the Roman Catholic clergy sexual abuse crisis broke in Boston, U.S. bishops are struggling to figure out what to do with priests who have been removed from ministry for sexual abuse of minors. "This is a significant issue," said Sheila Kelly, deputy executive director of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops's Office of Child and Youth Protection. "The basic concern is - are these people living and working in circumstances where they cannot continue to abuse children?"

The church reports that about 300 priests have been temporarily removed from ministry; the number permanently removed is unknown. What is certain is that the number is far greater than the roughly 40 priests the two Missouri facilities can handle, so dioceses have to be creative. That might mean, as it does in St. Louis, housing a handful of pedophile priests in the local archdiocesan retirement home. Or, as in the Chicago archdiocese, designating a facility just for priests with sexual disorders - a model several dioceses might be looking to emulate. Still others, like the Belleville priests removed from ministry in that diocese's mid-1990s sexual abuse scandal, simply live on their own in private residences.

"Probably there are a number of dioceses who have yet to find an appropriate way in which to take care of these individuals," said Kathleen McChesney who, last month, left her position as executive director of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops's Office of Child and Youth Protection. "There isn't a lot of guidance, not a lot of good models yet, as the best way to do this."

McChesney said efforts to confront the problem "are under way" within the U.S. bishops' conference. Burke said he would welcome the idea of guidelines. But victims of clergy sexual abuse and those concerned about the welfare of children are not likely to have much patience with U.S. bishops. They are asking plenty of questions now about who is ultimately responsible for these men when the state is not. How much responsibility does a pedophile priest's own bishop have for the protection of children thousands of miles away? Should Seattle's archbishop, Alexander J. Brunett, be responsible for keeping daily tabs on McGreal in Missouri, for instance? Are the religious orders or men who run the facilities responsible if one of the residents walks away? Although the judicial system says such men are free, they are not innocent.

"Thank God that a number of these men, notwithstanding the horrible crimes they've committed, have the virtue to know that they need this help and will remain in such an institution," said Burke. "But I don't know what we can do with those men who are refusing to be in a protective environment." Bishops trying to take responsibility for their problem priests are left with few options, said Greg Magnoni, a spokesman for Seattle's archdiocese. More often than not, they turn to the Missouri facilities for help.

"What would people suggest a diocese do with men who have admitted their offense and who want to be watched over and protected?" Magnoni asks. Often judges, not bishops, make the decision to send pedophile priests to Missouri. In 1996 two priests, the Rev. Thomas S. Schaefer, now 79, and the Rev. Alphonsus Smith, now 80, were sentenced to 16-year prison terms in Maryland for abusing boys in the 1970s and 1980s. Four months later, Circuit Judge William B. Spellbring Jr. reduced their sentences to five years of supervised probation, and sent them to be treated in Missouri. They completed probation in 2001 at the Vianney Renewal Center in Dittmer, but remain at the facility.

In a recent interview Spellbring said he decided to take the men out of jail because their crimes had taken place long ago. Spellbring said he was told the priests would not have access to children, but he must rely on others to enforce that. He said his decision to let the priests out of jail might be different today. "It was never my intent to let these men die in jail ... but I'm not sure I would have let them out so soon had I known (the clergy sexual abuse crisis) was going to explode the way it did," he said. "At that point you have to take a stand and let the victims know you are behind them."

Critics say judges around the country are asked by bishops to send pedophile priests here instead of to jail, arguing that private, church-run centers save tax dollars. But David Clohessy, executive director of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, said "recent history shows the church has failed at this duty. Priests don't reform other priests."

VIANNEY

A religious order called the Servants of the Paraclete runs the Vianney Renewal Center in Ditmer in Jefferson County and until recently a flagship retreat center in Jemez Springs, New Mexico. The order does not have a sterling record. In 2002 the order was forced to close the treatment wing of its New Mexico center. Troubled priests from other states were sent to the center in the 1960s and 1970s. After treatment, an unknown number of pedophiles were dispatched to serve in New Mexico parishes.

The Archdiocese of Santa Fe was subsequently the target of 187 sexual abuse cases. Archbishop Michael J. Sheehan expelled 20 priests after he took over the archdiocese in 1993. Late that year, the Servants of the Paraclete agreed to pay $5.6 million to settle cases of childhood sexual abuse that occurred after a priest had left their treatment center. When the entire center closed for good in May, five priests were moved to the order's Missouri facility in rural Jefferson County.

The Servants of the Paraclete are an order of priests founded in 1947 in New Mexico. According to its Web site the order is "dedicated to ministry to priests and brothers with personal difficulties." The Servants' treatment consists of "holistic therapeutic programs . . . (combining) the best in spirituality, psychiatry, psychology, theology, medicine, sexuality, social awareness and physiology."

The order opened Vianney Renewal Center in 1990. The Servants also run St. Michael's Community in Sunset Hills, which treats priests who suffer from depression, alcoholism or other ills but are considered likely to return to their duties. Last spring the Servants tried to expand their 10-acre Vianney facility to 226 acres off Wade Road in far northwestern Jefferson County. But county residents protested, and the priests scrapped the project.

The Rev. Peter Lechner, a priest and clinical psychologist who runs Vianney and is the Servants' leader, has said that priests who live there can leave only with permission from Vianney officials and that if priests don't agree to the rules, they must leave. At least seven of the priests who live in the two Missouri facilities are registered sex offenders, but most have never been convicted of a crime. Those who live at the facilities in lieu of jail are usually under stricter monitoring than those sent there by their bishop and who go voluntarily. But problems occur when a priest living at Vianney walks away.

"One of the problems - and we have a couple of cases in this archdiocese – is that a priest can take off on you and there isn't anything you can do," said Burke. The church doesn't have a police force, he added. One of those who left Vianney was the Rev. William Wiebler, 72, who admitted to sexually abusing boys in Davenport, Iowa. Last spring, Wiebler moved to an apartment in University City near an elementary school and preschool.

Officials at Vianney informed the Davenport bishop immediately of Wiebler's flight, and the Davenport diocese's attorneys soon told St. Louis County

Prosecutor Robert McCulloch. McCulloch's office quickly told University City police, but the Davenport diocese did not tell Burke for at least four

months, and only then after Post-Dispatch reported on Wiebler's whereabouts. In January, the Davenport diocese said 12 more people had come forward to

accuse Wiebler of abuse. Burke said Davenport's bishop is "using every form of moral persuasion to get him to come back."

RECON

RECON, also called the Wounded Brothers Project, has been operating since 1993 on a 280-acre wooded tract between Robertsville and Dittmer in eastern

Franklin County, about six miles from Vianney. It also has a mixed record. Last month, a Wisconsin priest, the Rev. David J. Malsch, 66, admitted sending and receiving child pornography from his residence at RECON.

U.S. Attorney Jim Martin said the facility "failed at preventing this priest from committing crimes and deplorable conduct." RECON is a private nonprofit facility run by a Franciscan priest and a social worker. Though the facility is not affiliated with the Franciscan religious order, another Franciscan priest, the Rev. Dismas Bonner, serves on RECON's board.

Neither of the facility's directors, the Rev. Bertin Miller or Mark Matousek, returned a reporter's calls. But Bonner said the facility was not a treatment center. He described it as "a home that's a kind of safe haven for these people to protect both them and society." Bonner said about 20 men live at RECON, but not all of them are there for sexual disorders.

As a nonprofit, RECON is required to file tax documents with the Internal Revenue Service, and does so under three names: RECON, Evergreen Hills Homes

Inc. and Il Ritiro (which means "little retreat" in Italian). The last time documents were filed for Il Ritiro was for the fiscal year 2003, but according to fiscal year 2004 tax documents, RECON and Evergreen Hills together had assets totaling over $3 million. Gross receipts for "services performed" at RECON jumped from $234,000 in

1999 to almost $600,000 in 2002, enabling Miller to nearly double his salary to $71,500 in 2003 from $36,000 in 2000. Matousek's salary jumped to $61,500

from $45,000 in the same period. Such increases reflect the severity of the clergy sexual abuse crisis. In recent years, and the desperate need the Catholic church has for places like Vianney and RECON.

The Diocese of Jefferson City recently said one of its priests, the Rev. John Degnan, who lives at RECON, has at least 17 allegations of child sexual abuse

against him. Sister Ethel-Marie Biri, the chancellor of the diocese, said Degnan was sent to RECON in 2002 "because we felt he needed to be supervised for a long time. ... Our plan is that that's where he's going to stay." She said that because Degnan has not been convicted of a crime, he is living at RECON voluntarily, and that the diocese pays his way. If he decides to walk away, "our only lever is financial," said Biri. That means that if the priest left RECON, the diocese would stop supporting him.

Experts in sexual disorders involving children say the only way to make sure an offender's behavior is not repeated is to keep him away from children. Bonner said the men at RECON are "supervised when they go out - if they go out shopping, they have people who drive them and stay with them all the time. They are not roaming around the countryside."

But Brenda Pavlik said her brother-in-law, the Rev. James Pavlik, a St. Louis priest who was removed from ministry in November 2000 and lives at RECON, has plenty of access to children. "He has a car and goes to visit his mother twice a week alone," she said. "He goes to movies, out to dinner and lunch. He comes to family gatherings at Easter and Christmas and there are plenty of his nephews and nieces around."

Another RECON resident, the Rev. Mark Roberts, was sent by a judge to Missouri from Nevada, despite the judge's knowledge that one of Roberts' victims

lives 20 minutes from the facility. Burke met with Miller and Matousek of RECON in February to discuss Roberts' case, but said last week that he did not ask them about the general security of the facility. He said he would not interfere with the way RECON is run. "That meeting was out of concern for a particular young man whose admitted or confessed abuser is at that facility, and I was meeting with them about that," said Burke. "I did not express to them concerns about their oversight or

about their security. I feel badly about this. These people are carrying out a very difficult service and a very important one and I don't want to be taking whacks

at them - that's just not my intention at all. It's not our facility."

The Associated Press contributed to this report. Reporter Tim Townsend writes about religious issues for the Post-Dispatch. http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/stories.nsf/stlouiscitycounty/story/86F997F279972DE386256FC90037A924?OpenDocument

Reporter Tim Townsend, E-mail: ttownsend@post-dispatch.com, Phone: 314-340-8221

Abuse compensation fund almost depleted, say bishops -- March 18, 2005 -- The Irish Times -- Irish bishops have launched a review of a central clerical abuse compensation fund that is almost depleted following a steep rise in the cost of claims that have reached € 5 million in the last two years alone, write Patsy McGarry and Liam Reid Following a three-day meeting in Maynooth, the bishops released national figures on abuse payments for the first time. The figures show that since 1996 the Stewardship Trust has contributed to compensation settlements for 143 people in relation to abuse by 36 priests, amounting to € 8.77 million. That figure includes € 2.53 million in legal costs. These figures relate only to diocesan priests and do not include religious orders. The figures show that the majority of payments had been made in the last two years - € 1.9 million in 2003 and €2.9 million last year. They also show that in the last two years, Ireland's 26 dioceses have contributed € 6.3 million to the central fund, although it is believed that dioceses will have to raise up to € 25 million over the next five years to meet the expected central compensation costs. The figures were released in a statement at the end of the spring meeting of the Irish Episcopal Conference. The statement disclosed that €6.24 million was paid to abuse victims, while related legal costs amounted to an additional € 2.53 million. In their statement the bishops said they had decided to begin a process of consultation in their dioceses on the future of the fund. The consultation followed a major controversy involving the Bishop of Derry, Dr Séamus Hegarty, who was forced to withdraw a 3 per cent levy on parishes to finance his diocese's contribution to the fund. The Stewardship Trust was established in 1996 using the total € 10.6 million settlement with the Church and General insurance firm.Between 1987 and 1990 most of the 26 dioceses had insured themselves with Church and General against such claims. The trustees of the Stewardship Trust are the four archbishops. To date €10.8 million has been spent by the fund, including almost € 600,000 on the bishops' child protection office and a further € 597,592 on legal advice to the bishops. The accounts from the bishops show that a Royal College of Surgeons' report on abuse in 2003 cost € 228,473, while € 38,000 was spent on a research grant. The Lynott Working Group, which drew up child protection guidelines for the church, cost approximately € 242,889. The Hussey Commission, defunct since November 2002, cost € 306,000, while legal advice to the episcopal conference cost € 597,592. Last night, victims' representatives welcomed the statement. "This type of transparent disclosure is a good departure," said Colm O'Gorman of One in Four. "But I think they need to go further. I would like to know what happened to all of the cases, and were they referred by each diocese to the gardaí." He also questioned the financing of child protection measures, which he believed should be financed from central funds, from the same source used to pay abuse compensation.

Nudistenpriester zegent gelovigen in zijn blootje – 18 maart 2005 -- Robert Wright in volle glorie (zie foto onder bovenstaande link). Een eerwaarde priester uit Brisbane roept gelijkdenkende christenen op om samen naakt hun geloof te belijden. De 51-jarige pastoor Robert Wright, die zelf al 16 jaar overtuigd naturist is, houdt wekelijkse geloofsontmoetingen in een nudistenkamp. “Het is niet mijn bedoeling om christenen tot nudisten om te vormen. Waar ik wel op uit ben, is om op deze manier nudisten tot het christendom te bekeren”, aldus de kranige eerwaarde. Wright, die zijn heilige roeping drie jaar geleden gekregen heeft, staat ook op het punt om een naakt muziekfestival op te richten en daar kerkdiensten te organiseren. Zelfs veiligheidsagenten zullen naakt op Raw Cabarita, zoals het evenement intussen al gedoopt werd, hun opwachting maken. “Het wordt een schitterend feest dat drie dagen zal duren en waar kleren niet nodig zijn. Er is niets verkeerd met naaktheid. Er lopen veel meer christenen in hun blootje rond dan je denkt.” Op de vraag of dit concept niet op een orgie zal uitdraaien, antwoordt hij heel droog: “Geen kans toe, we zijn welopgevoede mensen.”

Sekteleider Schaefer uitgeleverd aan Chili – 14 maart 2005 – Spits – BUENOS AIRES – De Argentijnse autoriteiten hebben gisteren de Duitse ex-nazi en sekteleider Paul Schaefer uitgeleverd aan Chili, waar hij bij verstek is veroordeeld wegens seksueel misbruik van 26 kinderen. Dat hebben regeringsfunctionarissen gezegd. De 83-jarige Schaefer werd donderdag door agenten van Interpol gearresteerd bij Buenos Aires. De Duitser wordt er door de Chileense autoriteiten ook van beschuldigd tijdens het regime van dictator Augusto Pinochet te hebben meegewerkt aan het martelen van oppositieleden. Schaefer vluchtte na de Tweede Wereldoorlog naar Chili, waar hij in het afgelegen bergachtig gebied een sekte oprichtte. Van de sekteleden die eveneens waren aangeklaagd, kregen 22 straffen tot vijf jaar cel, omdat ze het misbruik verborgen hadden gehouden en de rechtsgang hebben gehinderd.

Bishop Apologizes to Abuse Victims in Ohio -- March 14, 2005 -- THE ASSOCIATED PRESS -- TOLEDO, Ohio (AP) -- A bishop apologized to clergy sexual abuse victims during a Mass at a church where one alleged abuser once worked. Bishop Leonard Blair of the Toledo Roman Catholic Diocese read a seven-minute statement Sunday before the congregation at St. Pius X Church in the northern Ohio city. Part of Blair's statement was required under a court settlement between the diocese and Teresa Bombrys, who has said she was abused as a child by Chet Warren, a former priest at St. Pius. Blair apologized directly to Bombrys. He also acknowledged all victims' suffering, praised their courage and encouraged others to come forward. ``By exposing an evil that festered for decades, they make it possible for the healing to begin,'' Blair said. ``And my apology goes to anyone who has been abused whether at this parish or anywhere in the diocese of Toledo.'' Warren has been banned from ministry. Allegations against him stretched from the early 1960s to at least 1974. He was last known to live in Toledo, but there was no telephone listing for him and he could not be reached for comment.

Priest to speak on how church can prevent future sex scandals – March 7, 2005 -- Naples News -- By JANINE A. ZEITLIN -- Warding off sexual abuse in the Catholic Church will take breaking down the mystique of the power of priests and making celibacy a choice, says a priest who predicted the scandal 20 years ago. Father Thomas Doyle, 60, a priest for nearly 35 years, was an expert witness in more 150 clergy abuse cases and consulted on at least 500, he said. On Tuesday, local Catholics will host Doyle — profiled in "Vows of Silence," a book chronicling the scandal — in a 7 p.m. speech and question-and-answer session at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church in North Naples. The Southwest Florida chapter of Voice of the Faithful — a group with 40,000 members nationwide formed by lay people in response to the unraveling scandals — organized the visit for its third annual speaker's forum. Mandatory celibacy was one factor fueling the crisis, says Doyle, because priests didn't fully fathom the scars abuse left on victims, an understanding that might deepen through parenthood. "Men should be allowed to choose it freely and not have it imposed on them. It supports the mystique that clergy are somehow above, somehow better and removed," he said. "The church should not be about power but about compassion and caring." In the mid-1980s, he and two other men delivered a report warning of a sex abuse crisis of "monstrous proportions" with hundreds of accusers coming forward at a national bishops conference, he said. They suggested a plan for a crisis intervention team that was generally panned. "I felt very sad that it had taken that long for the situation to blow to the surface ... that so many people had to be harmed so deeply and their lives ruined to force the leadership to admit that they could no longer cover up," Doyle said. He calls the sexual abuse devastation the worst crisis in the Catholic Church history since the 14th century Inquisition. Maryland-based Doyle, a canon lawyer with master's degrees in five fields, also counsels victims. Many leave the Catholic Church, he said. Some turn to New Age groups or become Jewish. "They have no faith in bishops and clergy. They're angry at the lay people that are still in denial," he said, noting others refuse to give up their Catholic faith. The crisis forced the church to start listening to lay people and to shoulder accountability. "It's coming painfully, but it is," he said. Peg Clark, head of the local chapter, said she hopes Doyle will acquaint listeners with the other side of the scandal — the priests fighting for the victims and change. William Romero, a former priest and teacher at St. Ann Catholic Parish in Naples during the mid-1970s, was accused of abuse. "People need to hear that the good priests, the very good priests are suffering. ... You can see both ends of the spectrum," Clark said. "The mishandling of the pedophilia scandal has made it obvious to the laity we have to get involved." The group will collect a free-will offering at Tuesday's speech at St. John the Evangelist Parish Life Center at 625 111th Ave. N. For more information, call 417-3077.

The Monitor: Stories of 62 Priests – March 3, 2005 -- Paul Baier -- BishopAccountability.org

In this Monitor:

 Illustrated List of 62 Accused NH Priests

 Dioceses Stop Paying for Victims' Therapy

New today: The most comprehensive list ever published of accused NH priests. Includes photos and links to once-confidential church files. Click here.

No more therapy: Diocese says it has 'fulfilled its obligation' to victim: The diocese of Ogdensburg, NY sent this letter to a survivor's therapist stopping payment after two years. Click here.

Is the church ending therapy payments nationwide? We've heard reports of survivors' therapy also being cut in the Rockville Centre, NY diocese. Do you have an article or letter that supports or contradicts this trend? Email it to us at staff@bishop-accountability.org.

Please invite others to subscribe to this newsletter. It's easy -- they just go to BishopAccountability.org and submit their email address.

Rabbi to serve 7 years for sex abuse of girls – March 3, 2005 -- Asbury Park Press -- A rabbi who once was principal of a local religious school is in prison, resentenced to serve the same seven-year term ordered in 2002 when he was convicted of child endangerment. A Superior Court judge resentenced Rabbi Baruch Lanner to the term after the Appellate Division of Superior Court dismissed one of the two child-endangerment charges against Lanner. Lanner, the former principal of Hillel High School in Ocean Township, surrendered to authorities on Feb. 23. Superior Court Judge Paul F. Chaiet resentenced him that day, Assistant Monmouth County Prosecutor Peter Boser said this week. Lanner is now in South Woods State Prison in Bridgeton, Cumberland County. He will be eligible for parole on Dec. 9, 2006, according to the state Department of Corrections. Lanner will have to register as a sex offender under Megan's Law. Officials at Hillel, where Lanner worked from 1982 to 1997, did not return calls asking for comment. In 2002, Lanner was convicted by a jury of aggravated criminal sexual contact and criminal sexual contact in a case involving two teenage girls who attended Hillel High School between 1992 and 1996. The jury convicted Lanner of the sex abuse charges with one of the girls but acquitted him of sexually abusing the second. But the jury found him guilty of two counts of child endangerment, the most serious charges, which carried a possible 10-year prison term. In October 2002, Chaiet sentenced Lanner to seven years on the endangerment charges and four years on the sexual contact charges, which were to run concurrently. Lanner served only six days before a court decision allowed him to remain free on bail while his attorneys appealed the conviction. The appellate court last month ruled that Lanner, now 55, who was living in Fair Lawn in Bergen County, should not have been convicted of the second child endangerment charge because he was acquitted of criminal sexual contact with the second student. The other conviction was upheld. After that decision, Lanner's attorneys asked the appellate court to allow him to remain free on bail while other appeals were considered. The appellate judges denied the request, and Lanner was forced to surrender. Lanner's attorneys are expected to petition the state Supreme Court to hear an appeal. Lanner was indicted in March 2001 on the criminal sexual contact charges involving the two teens, who were younger than 16 at the time.

Beyond Betrayal: Men Cope With Being the Victims 1 maart 2005

Lees dit artikel op onze nieuwspagina NIEUWS GEZONDHEIDSZORG NEDERLAND 2005.

'Forgive and forget' doesn't work: Sexual abusers find ways to justify their actions -- By Jacqui Theobald -- Dayton Daily News -- February 25, 2005 -- As a professional counselor and art therapist, I have treated and worked with both sexual abusers and the victims/survivors of sexual abuse for 20 years. The recent media attention to abusive priests and other child molesters — and subsequent pro and con comments — have the sound, to me, of a very old scenario. Even though open discussion has become more common through the years, there are still myths and mindsets that seem never to progress. “Forgive and forget," they say. Offenders are champions. They are champions of denial and rationalization and minimization and intellectualization, all used to make themselves feel better. First and most used is denial. They simply convince themselves that whatever they did wasn't abusive. It was loving or kind (in their own minds). They were paying attention to someone who had been ignored or mistreated by others. Soon, they are able to feel quite noble about the progressive intrusion into someone else's life and space. Over time they edge right in, getting closer, being a good listener, being a resource or a refuge. There's a name for that. It's called grooming, and it happens in various ways, but it always happens. They want to remove any sense of danger the target person may feel. After all, they aren't "abusive," certainly not violent; they're just a "good guy." Offenders, when confronted by a name for their own activities, usually respond with wounded innocent denial. They like to proclaim they're being misunderstood or misinterpreted. "That's not what I was doing." It can be ice cream or trips to the store, or rides home or free beer or "innocent" games or a "just-us" friendship. Those "friendships" are never equal relationships. How can they be when one "friend" is an adult and the other isn't? How can they be when one "friend" has a self-serving purpose in mind? Offenders are very good at blaming. They blame drinking. "I'm an alcoholic," as if that makes it all right. That's an excuse that seems rational, to someone who doesn't want to know himself. It could be drugs. It could be "my wife doesn't understand me," "love me," "sleep with me." Fill in the blank. They blame circumstances or people, needing to be believed — by others and mostly by themselves. The saddest part of their rationalizing is that innocents take on the blame the offender isn't brave enough to own. How many survivors think, "It was really my fault. If only I had ..." The emotional burden the offender imposes on the survivor is just one of the long-lasting effects, the pain, of the abuse. The responsibility lies with the offender, alone. I've been involved in the treatment of several hundred convicted child molesters. Many of them voice similar justification. "She or he (the object of his attentions) wanted it," they tell themselves. That story can be applied to a 4-year-old or a 14-year-old. The age doesn't seem to matter. It is what the offender needs to tell himself. And then comes the champion's trump card of intellectual accomplishment. "I was educating her or him. I was just trying to help." This is garnished with, "The good I've done far, far outweighs anything else." It doesn't seem to matter if the offender is well educated or barely schooled. It doesn't seem to matter if the offender has a great job or no job at all. It doesn't seem to matter if the offender lives in a fine house, is virtually homeless, or lives in a rectory. The methods and the thinking they use to tell themselves it is all right to cross the boundaries, to disrespect those who trusted them to be a safe person, are quite universal. Offenders of all walks of life say the same thing. And they say these things because they cannot allow themselves to believe they have caused pain to others. When the public and letters to newspaper editors and other institutions mouth those very same platitudes, they do the ultimate abusive disservice to those survivors who can only ask, "Why me?" There is no answer to that question, but it takes years of work in treatment to puzzle through all the wounds. It is only through honest acceptance of responsibility, honest acknowledgement of the vast emotional harm done to the survivors, and an honest effort to learn how to manage the urges, which may never go away, that offenders can become safe in society. That means years of specialized professional treatment and a lot of hard work. The offender has to want to change. Some do. They work hard to break the cycles of abuse. What will it take for protectorate institutions and those who believe the offender has done no damage, to understand these very complex actions? Where is their honest effort not to minimize, but to see the need for change? Until offenders are held accountable — until cliché apologies are not good enough, abuse will continue to be tolerated. It is always easier to advocate "forgive and forget." Except for the survivors.
Jacqui Theobald, formerly of Oakwood, now lives in a loft in downtown Dayton. She's an art therapist and part-time Sinclair instructor.

For more information on offenders go to: http://www.theawarenesscenter.org/offenders.html

Children 'abused in exorcism rites' -- February 25, 2005 – Guardian -- The Metropolitan police force is investigating allegations that children have been abused in exorcisms at African churches across London, it emerged today. Children from African communities have been assaulted and made to endure exorcism rites because their parents believe they are demonically possessed, according to social workers and other child protection experts. The news comes on the fifth anniversary of the death of Victoria Climbié, the eight-year-old who was tortured to death by her great aunt, Marie-Thérèse Kouao, and her lover, Carl Manning. A church minister told the inquiry into her death that he had prayed and fasted for Victoria because Kouao claimed that the girl was possessed by evil spirits. Debbie Ariyo, director of Africans Unite Against Child Abuse, said the practice was "very, very prevalent" in black African churches in London. "It's happening a lot and needs to be seriously curtailed," she said. "There needs to be a special police investigation." Ms Ariyo said her organisation had received dozens of reports of this type of abuse, mainly from social workers seeking advice on how to deal with such cases. She called for child protection agencies to help educate African faith communities about the dangers of exorcism, adding that most parents thought the ritual would help their children rather than harm them. The Met today said it had launched an investigation into allegations of abuse at African churches. The force has also been working with London social services and community groups to improve the understanding of child abuse within religious organisations. Superintendent Chris Bourlet, of the Met's child abuse investigation command, told The Times: "We had a couple of investigations specifically linked to places of worship which has increased our awareness. "We've come across beliefs that children are possessed by evil spirits or sorcery, and their family have had bad luck as a result. It's very hard to generalise, but this is generally linked to African countries like the Congo and Angola." He said the police did not wish to attack cultural beliefs but rather wanted to protect children. The Met has two community partnership officers dedicated to dealing with child abuse in ethnic minority and faith communities. In a statement, the Met said: "Through constant contact with the local communities of London and religious groups, the officers have already ascertained a broader picture of certain beliefs systems relating to 'witchcraft' and associated child abuse to raise awareness of this issue further. "The Met will continue to liaise with representatives of various faith groups and are also planning to stage a conference with our partner agencies about child abuse within faith communities in the near future." A spokesman for the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, said: "Any belief system that leads to the abuse of children is not acceptable." He said the organisation had been working with the African community and the relevant faith groups to address these problems.

Bisdommen VS melden aanklachten -- 21 februari 2005– Telegraaf -- WASHINGTON - Bij de Amerikaanse bisdommen zijn in 2004 meer dan duizend beschuldigingen van seksueel misbruik door priesters en diakens binnengekomen. Dat heeft de Amerikaanse rooms-katholieke bisschoppenconferentie zaterdag op haar website laten weten. 1092 mensen lieten weten dat een priester of diaken hen als kind heeft misbruikt. De meeste zaken gaan over de periode tussen 1965 en 1974. Van de 756 geestelijken die in 2004 werden beschuldigd, is de helft al eerder van seksueel misbruik beticht. Meer dan 70 procent van hen is niet meer in leven of is niet meer als priester werkzaam. Van de 1092 personen die zich meldden, was ongeveer 78 procent man. De meesten waren tussen tien en veertien jaar toen de priester zich aan hen vergreep.

Catholic Group Receives 1,092 New Sex Abuse Reports

By NEELA BANERJEE

February 19, 2005

ASHINGTON - Roman Catholic bishops reported on Friday that they had received 1,092 new accusations of sexual abuse by priests as they released the second annual survey of the church's procedures for handling and preventing such abuse by clergy and employees. Kathleen McChesney, executive director of the Office of Child and Youth Protection of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, said the overwhelming majority of the accusations, which were made against 756 priests, concerned incidents that took place about 30 years ago. Twenty-two accusations of abuse were made by children in 2004, and they were all turned over to the police, Dr. McChesney said. The findings were released on Friday by the national conference, which has hired independent auditors to assess the church's response to the sex abuse scandals that exploded in 2002. Dr. McChesney said the costs to the church had exceeded $800 million since 1950. Last year alone the costs from settlements, therapy for victims and offenders, and lawyers' fees came to about $139.6 million, according to the report. The 1,092 new accusations of abuse were made by 1,083 people, mostly men. Last year the bishops released an analysis conducted by the John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York, based on figures from bishops and religious orders, that found 10,667 minors had allegedly been abused from 1950 to 2002. The actual number of victims will probably remain unknown because many people never come forward, Dr. McChesney said. "We weren't surprised by the numbers because many people are still finding the courage to come forward," Dr. McChesney said, "and the church is in a better place to accept those allegations." Of the 756 priests implicated, about half already faced previous accusations of abuse, the report said. Most of them are now dead or out of the ministry, the auditors found. The scope of the auditors' work so far is to determine if the American church's 195 dioceses have programs and processes to help victims and educate employees and parishioners. A greater percentage of dioceses last year moved to put programs into place, auditors found, 96 percent compared with 90 percent in 2003. Seven dioceses and eparchies, which are dioceses of the Eastern Catholic Churches, were not in compliance by year's end. The report noted that it does not evaluate the actual efficacy of the programs themselves. David Clohessy, executive director of Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests, said he was heartened that more people were stepping forward to report abuse. But he and other critics of the auditing effort argued that it did not address one of the crucial issues: the power of the bishops, many of whom, critics said, hid or played down reports of molesting, allowing the sexual abuse to continue. "True reform would be bishops opening their files and punishing bishops who covered up the crimes," said Anne Doyle, co-director of bishopaccountability.org, an online clearinghouse of information about the sex abuse scandals. "If they truly want Catholics to trust them, they have to expose themselves." The audits were conducted by the Gavin Group Inc. of Boston, headed by William Gavin, a former official of the F.B.I. The areas where the auditors found dioceses most lagging were in putting in place a system of background checks and in training priests, laity and children to identify and avoid sexual abuse.Fifty-six auditors from the Gavin Group conducted audits of the 194 dioceses that participated in the process. The auditors first mailed paperwork the dioceses needed to fill out and return, and then followed up with a visit. For a midsized diocese, like the one in Peoria, Ill., for example, two auditors would go for about five days, Mr. Gavin said. Critics of the audits charge that the auditors spoke to very few victims. Mr. Gavin said that auditors had spoken to 135 adult survivors of abuse, or fewer than one per diocese. Mr. Gavin said that in the third audit, which will cover 2005, he planned to send more auditors out. But auditors will not visit about 100 dioceses that instead will forward reports on their compliance. Auditors will visit dioceses that were not in compliance this year or that fell short on some programs, a few that volunteered for a full audit and others, like the Archdiocese of New York, that are far too large to avoid visiting, for a total of about 91 dioceses, Mr. Gavin said. Those that are not visited this year will go through an on-site visit within two or three years, Dr. McChesney said. Anne M. Burke, a justice of the Illinois appellate court and the former acting chairwoman of the church's National Review Board, a group of laypeople monitoring the church's response to the sexual abuse crisis, said she feared it was too soon for the church to rely on self-reporting. "I'm afraid of backsliding," Ms. Burke said.

Greek Church Proposes Urgent Reforms

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

February 18, 2005

ATHENS, Greece (AP) -- Greece's embattled Orthodox Church leader begged the nation for forgiveness Friday after a blitz of allegations ranging from trial-fixing to purported sex escapades battered the church's reputation as guardian of Greek culture and honor. The apology by Archbishop Christodoulos -- made as senior clerics opened an emergency conclave to impose reforms -- showed the depth of the crisis for the church and its attempts to regain its footing even as the embarrassing scandals continue to unfold. Public outrage has reached such a level that some lawmakers and commentators have suggested stripping the Orthodox Church of its status as the official state religion -- a once almost unthinkable proposal in a nation where church and political history are often intertwined. ``I humbly ask for forgiveness from the people and the clerics who, in their majority, honor ... the cassock they wear,'' Christodoulos said in his opening statement to the church's governing Holy Synod. He called the crisis ``particularly grave.'' One bishop, Spyridon, described the scandals as a religious ``tsunami.'' The crisis began early this month when a priest was charged with antiquity smuggling and placed under investigation in connection with an alleged trial-fixing ring that aided drug trafficking suspects and others. Accusations then started coming at a dizzying pace: a senior cleric suspended for suspected embezzlement and the broadcast by private TV stations of wiretaps of sexually explicit telephone conversations allegedly involving senior clergy. The church is also investigating possible trysts by bishops, including a 91-year-old cleric, after a photo published in an Athens daily allegedly showed him nude in bed with a young woman. Orthodox priests can marry, but bishops and other senior clergy take vows of celibacy. ``Everyone is asking where it will end,'' said theologian Giorgos Moustakis. ``It's a monster.'' The intrigue only deepened last week with allegations of possible church links to a convicted drug smuggler who later served as an informant for Greek authorities. The man, whose aliases included Apostolos Pavlos, or Apostle Paul, is also accused of helping influence the 2001 election of the patriarch of Jerusalem. He also reportedly sold armored cars and other equipment to Greek law enforcement. The suspect, identified as Apostolos Vavilis, has dropped from sight. Greek authorities say they don't know his whereabouts. ``We are witnessing a crisis in the church,'' Culture Minister Fani Palli-Petralia said Thursday after a meeting with the premier. ``I believe the church will come out of this crisis stronger. This is a demand by all of us.'' The church is paying heed. On Saturday, the 102-member Holy Synod is expected to approve a series of measures proposed by the archbishop, including greater involvement of civil overseers in the church's financial dealings and ``ethical misconduct.'' Seminary students may also lose their exemption from military service -- an obligation for nearly every Greek man. ``There is a lot that must be done to put our house in order,'' said Christodoulos, who easily defeated a no-confidence motion Friday 67-1. But the church does not seem ready for sweeping leadership changes, which many in the public demand. The scandals are still limited compared with the Roman Catholic abuse scandals, but the sense of betrayal in Greece may cut even deeper. The Orthodox Church held a rarified position as the perceived caretakers of Greek identity during four centuries of Muslim Ottoman rule that ended in the early 19th century. More recently, opinion polls often placed it among the must trusted institutions and Christodoulos was as popular as a celebrity. That's changed. Greece's conservative government, supported by the church before winning general elections last March, has distanced itself from the archbishop, who has taken the brunt of public criticism. A poll published last week in Athens newspapers showed Christodoulos' popularity has plummeted from 68 percent in May to 43 percent this month. The nationwide telephone poll by the VPRC company of 941 Greek adults did not include a margin of error. More than 97 percent of the Greece's 11 million people are baptized Orthodox. ``The current crisis the church is going through is probably the most serious in its modern history,'' wrote VPRC managing director, Yiannis Mavris, in the Kathimerini newspaper. The scandals also have renewed calls for a separation of church and state, which would require a constitutional change. Almost 65 percent of the public support such a reform, according to a poll published Sunday by Kappa Research, which also gave no margin of error. Opposition leader George Papandreou, a former foreign minister, and others have backed calls for a nationwide referendum on the status of the church.

On the Net: The Greek Orthodox Church: http://www.ecclesia.gr & http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/international/AP-Greece-Church-Scandal.html

Pa. Priest Sues Own Diocese, Alleges Abuse

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

February 18, 2005

PITTSBURGH (AP) -- A Roman Catholic priest is suing his own diocese, saying he was sexually abused as a teen by a now-deceased priest who taught at his high school. The Rev. John Nesbella was placed on a leave of absence Friday after filing the lawsuit this week, alleging he was abused more than 25 years ago at a rectory operated by the Altoona-Johnstown diocese, the diocese said in a statement. Nesbella alleges he was abused by the Rev. Martin Brady, his teacher at Bishop Carroll High School in Ebensburg. His attorney, Richard Serbin, declined to elaborate on his client's claims. ``At this point, I'm just going to allow the diocese to put those facts out there,'' Serbin said. ``What is in there (the statement) is accurate.'' Nesbella was 16 at the time of the alleged abuse. The lawsuit names as defendants the diocese, Bishop Joseph Adamec and former Bishop James Hogan. Brady died March 19, 2003. ``Having one of our priests be a litigant against his own diocesan church and diocesan bishop presents us with a number of difficulties,'' Adamec said in the statement. He said it could be difficult for the diocese to conduct a thorough investigation and for Nesbella to be an effective minister. ``The fact that the accused is deceased makes it next to impossible to confirm the allegation,'' Adamec said. Clergy abuse claims by active or former priests are unusual but not unprecedented, according to David Clohessy, executive director of the Chicago-based Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests. SNAP knows of several dozen priests who say they were sexually abused by priests as children, but it is rare for those victims to sue, Clohessy said. ``It takes a lot of courage for an abuse victim to come forward, and I think that's even harder to do when you're a priest,'' Serbin said.

New Britain (CT) Priest sentenced

The Hartford Courant
February 17, 2005
NEW BRITAIN -- Standing in a crowded New Britain Superior Court room, his accuser seated in the front row, the Rev. Roman Kramek was sentenced to nine months in prison this morning for sexually assaulting a teenage girl who sought his counseling more than two years ago. Kramek, a priest who had been visiting from Poland on temporary assignment at a city church, chose not to make a statement during the court appearance. Before formally handing down the sentence, which the priest accepted in December as part of a plea agreement, Judge Susan B. Handy reminded Kramek of the vows he took upon entering the priesthood. "Instead of …upholding those vows, you took advantage of a young, troubled woman for your own sexual gratification," Handy said. The girl, now 19, told police that she had sought Kramek's spiritual counseling after being sexually assaulted in a taxi in New Britain in November 2002. The priest came to the girl's home, where she lives with her grandmother. She told police that he began touching her and then forced sexual intercourse on her. He later explained to a Polish-speaking officer that he meant to show the girl that sex with a man could be a pleasurable experience. Kramek, 42, was taken to a holding cell immediately after sentencing. He will be deported after serving the nine-month prison sentence. Kramek's supporters were in court as they have been since his Christmas Eve arrest in 2002. They have insisted on the priest's innocence, calling the girl's reputation into question. They say Kramek was an easy target because he doesn't speak English and the accusations were made at a time when allegations of abuse by priests were making national headlines. Also in court were about 15 members of the Survivor's Network for those Abused by Priests (SNAP). They criticized the sentence as too lenient, but said they were glad to see the case resolved and hope the girl can now move forward.

Court accepts priest's touching of girl's breasts as 'religious activity' -- February 17, 2005 – JAPAN, Mainichi Shimbun - SATSUMASENDAI, Kagoshima -- A Shinto priest accused of indecent assault for massaging the breasts of a 15-year-old girl was found not guilty after a court here ruled that his act was a "religious activity." "There is room to accept that his act was a religious activity, and reasonable doubt in saying he possessed sexual intent," Judge Atsushi Tomita said in handing down the ruling at the Sendai branch of the Kagoshima District Court on Wednesday. Prosecutors had demanded that the 36-year-old priest, Ryoichi akamoto, be jailed for two years over his actions. Sakamoto was arrested and charged with indecent assault after he touched the breasts and other body parts of the junior high school girl at a religious facility adjoining his home in October 2002 and December that year. During the trial, Sakamoto admitted that he touched the body of the girl, but said it was "a religious activity in order to help her," and maintained that he was not guilty. In giving the ruling, Tomita acknowledged that Sakamoto had touched the breasts of the girl, but said of his actions, "(In the sect to which the defendant belongs) there are some cases in which the skin is touched directly, and one cannot say that this did not constitute a religious activity." Sakamoto has relieved at the ruling. "I feel greatly relieved at the not-guilty ruling," he said. "I would have liked the investigators to have taken a bit more care." Prosecutors said they would consider what response to take after examining the ruling.

Twaalf jaar cel voor Amerikaanse ex-priester – 15 februari 2005 – Telegraaf -- CAMBRIDGE - Een rechter in Cambridge (Massachusetts) heeft dinsdag de Amerikaanse ex-priester Paul Shanley veroordeeld tot twaalf jaar cel wegens verkrachting van een minderjarige. Shanley (74) was een van de centrale figuren in het schandaal rond kindermisbruik in de rooms-katholieke kerk in de Verenigde Staten. De verkrachting had plaats in de jaren tachtig. Hoewel Shanley wordt verdacht van aanranding van meer dan twintig jongens, ging de rechtszaak over slechts een van zijn slachtoffers, een nu 27-jarige man. Die zegt dat hij het misbruik was vergeten, totdat het pedofilieschandaal dat het aartsbisdom Boston in 2002 op zijn kop zette, de herinneringen weer naar boven bracht. De rechter bepaalde ook dat Shanley na zijn vrijlating nog eens tien jaar cel kan krijgen als hij zich weer vergrijpt aan minderjarigen.

Boekrecensie literatuur GOG binnen de kerk: ‘Good Catholic Girls’ -- February 14, 2005 -- U.S. Newswire -- NEW YORK - The following was released today by Harper Collins Publishers on Angela Bonavoglia's new book "Good Catholic Girls": "I am no innocent bystander. I am a woman with a history, a woman scarred, a woman at her wit's end. I abide the women in this book. I echo their words. I applaud their patience. And I remind this Church how fortunate it is to have such brilliant and devoted women clamoring for the Catholic hierarchy to open its doors, bring the wizard out of the sacristy, rethink the sacred with women in mind, and make a new Catholic Church." -- Angela Bonavoglia. So says journalist and author Angela Bonavoglia in the introduction to her explosive new book GOOD CATHOLIC GIRLS. The recently exposed transgressions of priests within the Catholic Church stunned the faithful, implicated the hierarchy, and sent a new surge of energy through the progressive Church reform movement. Despite the movement's growing profile, only recently has the world learned that Catholic women are the driving force behind reform. GOOD CATHOLIC GIRLS is a lively account of these amazing and courageous women, as seen through Bonavoglia's eyes. They include Joan Chittister, the Benedictine nun who refused to obey a Vatican order not to speak at the first international conference of women's ordination groups worldwide; Mary Ramerman, ordained a Catholic priest before 3,000 jubilant supporters in a packed theater in Rochester, New York; Frances Kissling, whose fight for women's reproductive rights has shaken the Church at its highest levels; priest abuse survivor Barbara Blaine, who created the most powerful voice for victims, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests; and Sister Jeannine Gramick, who built a pioneering ministry to gays and lesbians, despite Vatican orders to ban her work. Backed by legions of supporters worldwide, these and other Catholic women are rethinking Catholic theology, changing the face of ministry, and resurrecting the lost lives of female Church leaders. They are working to open ordination to all, challenging the Church's sexual repression, and calling the Church to openness and accountability. Their work is brave, provocative and vital, for what becomes of women in the Catholic Church will determine what becomes of the Church itself. As Bonavoglia shows in this compelling book, the hierarchy ignores them at its peril.
About the Author: Angela Bonavoglia is an award-winning journalist and author, nationally recognized for her writing about women's issues and Catholic Church reform.
Verdere publicaties van Angela Bonavoglia over GOG binnen de kerk:

• 1992: The sacred secret: Sexual abuse by the clergy. Ms., 2 (5, Mar.-Apr.): 40-45.
• 2003: New battleground for survivors of priest child sex abuse. Ms., 12 (4, Dec./Jan.): 39-40.

Meer informatie over beide artikelen zult u binnenkort op onze pagina LITERATUUR 2005 aantreffen die u vanuit onze voorpagina kunt bereiken.

Ex-priest Porter, jailed for sexual abuse, dies

Associated Press

February 12, 2005

BOSTON -- Former priest James Porter, whose widespread molestation of dozens of children from Massachusetts to Minnesota and beyond foreshadowed the clergy sex abuse scandal that swept the Roman Catholic Church, died Friday. Porter, 70, died at New England Medical Center in Boston, where he had been treated since being transferred from a Department of Correction medical facility last month, department spokeswoman Diane Wiffin said. A cause of death was not immediately available, but Porter's attorney had said the former priest had cancer. Porter's case was the first high-profile one involving allegations that a priest had molested children in his parish -- and that the church had simply moved him from parish to parish to try to avoid scandal. Porter pleaded guilty in 1993 to molesting 28 children. Porter was sued by 21 men who said he had abused them when he worked in Bemidji as a priest at St. Philip's Catholic Church in 1969-70. Porter left the priesthood in 1974, and resettled in Oakdale, Minn., married and became a father of four children. He was convicted of molesting his children's teenage baby sitter in 1987 and was released from a Minnesota jail after serving four months. The Minnesota Supreme Court overturned that conviction in 1995, citing prosecutorial misconduct.

Watch a videoclip on clergy sexual abuse dealing with adult women victims – February 11, 2005 – Red. MdH

A case of sexual exploitation of adult women by a Baptist pastor:

Local church leaders accused of sexual abuse -- February 11, 2005 -- Watch the video op wkyc.com

Appeals panel dismisses 1 charge against rabbi -- By A. SCOTT FERGUSON - STAFF WRITER -- Asbury Park Press – February 11, 2005 --

For more information on this case go to: http://www.theawarenesscenter.org/Lanner_Baruch.html -- The former principal of an Ocean Township religious school should not have been convicted of endangering the welfare of one of his students, but the rest of his conviction on criminal sexual contact charges can stand, the state's Appellate Court ruled Thursday. Rabbi Baruch Lanner, now 55, was convicted in 2002 of two charges of endangering the welfare of a child, as well as one count each of aggravated criminal sexual contact and criminal sexual contact. He was facing six counts involving two teenage girls who attended Hillel High School between 1992 and 1996. While the three Appellate Court judges unanimously upheld three of the charges, they ruled that the one endangerment charge should be thrown out because the jury did not convict Lanner of having criminal sexual contact with one of the two students he was accused of assaulting. The court's decision will not affect how much time Lanner will eventually have to spend in prison because the trial judge sentenced him to a concurrent seven-year term. He will also have to register as a sex offender under Megan's Law. Barring additional legal appeals by his attorneys, Lanner, who lives in Fair Lawn and has been free on bail during the appeal of his sentence, must return to court on Feb. 23 for sentencing, the state Attorney General's Office said. Each side claimed that the ruling was a victory for their case. "We're very satisfied with the results," Monmouth County Prosecutor John A. Kaye said. Because Lanner still faces seven years in state prison, Kaye said, the court's decision to drop one charge did not affect the core of the case against Lanner. One of Lanner's attorneys, Victoria Eiger of New York City, issued a prepared statement that said the decision vindicated her client. "Rabbi Lanner is pleased that he was vindicated by the appellate court on the one charge brought against him by one of the complainants," Eiger said in the statement. "He will continue until he is vindicated on the charges brought by the second complainant." While Eiger declined to discuss whether any more appeals were being considered, Kaye said he expected Lanner's attorneys to appeal to the state Supreme Court. Deputy Attorney General Leslie Justus, who argued the case for the state, said that her office disagreed with the court's ruling to overturn the one endangerment conviction and that her office would review the decision. Officials with the Hillel school could not be reached for comment on Thursday. In March 2001, Lanner, who was then principal of the high school, was indicted on charges of criminal sexual contact with two female students, who were younger than 16 at the time. The two are now in their 20s. The charges came after one of the girl's stories appeared in a New York Jewish Week article that looked into allegations that Lanner abused students before he came to Hillel in 1982. Lanner left Hillel in 1997. During his trial in Monmouth County, Lanner's attorneys told jurors that the two girls were doing poorly in school at the time and they blamed Lanner for their failures. The jury later convicted Lanner of having criminal sexual contact with one of the girls but acquitted him of sexually abusing the second student. The jury found him guilty on the two counts of child endangerment, the most serious charges that carried a possible 10-year prison term. In October 2002, Judge Paul F. Chaiet sentenced Lanner to seven years in prison on the endangerment charges and four years on the sexual contact charges. The sentences were to run concurrently. In part of their appeal, Lanner's attorneys argued that because the jury did not convict Lanner of sexually abusing the one student, the child endangerment charges could not stand. The Appellate Court agreed. "We recognize that M.C. did testify that defendant called her repeatedly at home, telling her that he loved her and that she would be his wife," the justices wrote in their decision. "That alleged contact, however, was not included in the court's charges as "sexual conduct which would impair or debauch' her morals. The court's instructions confined the claimed endangerment solely to the asserted physical contact." The state argued that since Lanner was found guilty of harassment, the endangerment charges should stand because the harassment involved "offensive touching."

Suspect in nun's killing may get 30 years -- February 10, 2005 -- Miami Herald -- A former monk trainee is expected to be offered a deal today that would send him to prison for 30 years for the 2001 killing of a Holy Cross Academy nun. One of South Florida's most sensational murder cases could be resolved today with a plea deal that would send a former Ukrainian monk-in-training to prison for 30 years for the slaying of a nun at a West Kendall school in 2001. Attorneys have worked for months to come up with a deal that would adequately punish Mykhaylo Kofel for the stabbing and beating death of Michelle Lewis, 39, while making allowances for prosecutors' belief that he was abused by priests at Holy Cross Academy. Kofel has repeatedly claimed since the March 25, 2001, killing that two priests at Holy Cross had molested him for the four years he lived at the school. The priests deny the accusations. Lead prosecutor Gail Levine said Wednesday that the state believes Kofel was abused and that created ''significant mitigation'' in the case. She can't prove that, however, and is not bringing charges against any priests. She said the investigation into the abuse allegations is ``ongoing.'' ''This is an extremely complicated situation,'' Levine said. ``This wasn't a case of a bad man killing someone. This was the case of a victim who turned around and victimized an innocent person. ''That does not make Kofel's acts tolerable,'' she said. ``They are intolerable acts. But given the circumstances, a plea of this nature is quite balanced.'' MAKING EXCUSES: Mel Black, an attorney who represents priests at the school, said his clients ''absolutely and categorically'' maintain they did not abuse Kofel. He said Levine was making excuses for pleading the case out. ''This man murdered someone,'' Black said. ``It was premediated; he stole the knife to do it . . . and tried to cover it up. He accused his own father of abusing him. . . . You're going to give any credibility to what he says?'' Edith Georgi, the assistant public defender who is Kofel's lead attorney, declined to comment. Levine said prosecutors will recommend the 30-year sentence in exchange for Kofel's plea of guilty to second-degree murder. Under the agreement, he would be deported after serving his sentence. HEARING TODAY: Kofel, 22, is expected to formally accept or reject the deal during a 9 a.m. hearing before Circuit Judge Manny Crespo. ''We won't be sure until it happens, but we believe this is the best resolution to the case and we believe the defense can accept it,'' Levine said. Kofel had been charged with first-degree murder and could have faced the death penalty or life in prison if convicted. Georgi was planning to pursue an insanity defense. Lewis' death was a violent one. An autopsy showed she had been stabbed 92 times. She had also been severely beaten and her body showed signs of ''six bloody, shoe-imprint-like marks,'' the autopsy said. Kofel was 14 years old when he arrived at Holy Cross in 1996. His parents sent him to the United States after the parish priest in their small Carpathian Mountains village told them about the academy's scholarship program. In 1990, Lewis set upon the path that would eventually lead to her intersection with Kofel, according to friends. She was working as an accountant but felt unfulfilled. She had been divorced five years earlier. Friends say she approached leaders at Holy Cross, saying she wanted to start a religious life at the private school under the jurisdiction of the Byzantine rite of the Catholic Church. Lewis worked as an accountant at the school and was a nun-in-training. CONFESSION MADE: Investigators said that hours after Lewis' body was discovered, Kofel confessed to getting drunk and killing her in her living quarters on the academy grounds, 12425 SW 72nd St. He told detectives Lewis had been mean to him and belittled him. But he offered no other motive for targeting her. He also told investigators that the priests at the school -- which closed in April 2004 because of dwindling enrollment -- had abused him. Levine said prosecution experts who had worked on the case had not given her an ''opinion that contradicted'' Kofel's assertions. The priests at the academy invoked their right to remain silent in pretrial interviews by defense attorney Georgi. ''They refused to answer the most basic questions -- things like what year they became priests,'' Levine said. ``They stymied and hindered this prosecution. Their refusal to cooperate weighed heavily on the experts we dealt with.'' CLIENTS' RIGHTS: Black called that absurd. ''Someone is invoking their Fifth Amendment rights and that makes them a criminal?'' he said. ``Her position has always been that there is an open investigation into these two priests, and I continue to advise my clients to invoke their rights.'' Milt Hirsch, an expert in criminal trial procedure, said he didn't find it unusual that Levine considered what she believes to be mitigating factors in her decision to allow Kofel to plead to second-degree murder. ''She may just simply believe that this is the right thing to do,'' he said. ``Prosecutors have a duty to seek justice, not merely go after convictions. And she has a duty to the public to explain what moves her to resolve this very notorious case with a plea deal. ''What's definitely unusual is that she seems to be at least implying the criminal misconduct of uncharged third parties,'' he said. You can read more newsarticles on this case on the website pokrov.org. The site offers information about sexual boundary crossing by orthodox clergy. Among others you’ll find a selection of interesting books about clergy abuse. Predominantly the site is intended to offer information and support to victims of clergy abuse within the orthodox church.

Gewezen priester Shanley veroordeeld wegens misbruik – 7 februari 2005 – Telegraaf -- CAMBRIDGE - Een rechtbank in de Amerikaanse staat Massachusetts heeft maandag de gewezen priester Paul Shanley veroordeeld wegens verkrachting van een jongen. Het misbruik had plaats in de jaren tachtig van de vorige eeuw. Justitie klaagde de nu 74-jarige ex-geestelijke in 2002 aan. Shanley werd beschuldigd van de verkrachting van vier minderjarige jongens. Het Openbaar Ministerie moest echter veel punten in zijn aanklacht laten vallen, omdat drie van de vier slachtoffers uiteindelijk niet konden of wilden getuigen in het proces. Een nu 27-jarige brandweerman was het enige slachtoffer van de oud-priester die doorzette. De zaak tegen priester Shanley stond centraal in het omvangrijke schandaal rond de Amerikaanse Katholieke kerk over kindermisbruik. De strafmaat tegen de gewezen geestelijke moet nog worden bepaald. In afwachting daarvan heeft de rechter hem in verzekerde bewaring laten stellen.

Catholic hero now faces Vatican inquiry: Mexican founder of secret order at centre of child abuse allegations
Jo Tuckman in Mexico City
February 6, 2005
The Observer
It was nearly 50 years ago, but Josi Barba winces as he remembers Father Marcial Maciel, founder and icon of the Legion of Christ, the secretive Roman Catholic order said to be second only in papal influence to Opus Dei. 'Oh, I felt so very unhappy,' he said, after describing one incident just before the priest said Mass one Easter Sunday. 'I wanted to run, but he was everything to us. He was Our Father and we thought he was a saint. I went to my room and I cried and cried, and then I went to Mass.' The fear, pain, humiliation and resentment that Barba says once tormented him have faded over the years, but for the Catholic church the abuse he and others claim to have suffered threatens to erupt into a child abuse scandal that reaches the highest Vatican ranks. Barba wants the church to recognise publicly the crimes he and many others claim Maciel committed. 'We want people to know that the founder of an institution so close to the Pope and who has written so much about chastity is in fact a pederast.' Along with seven other former seminarians - all now in their sixties - this mild-mannered university lecturer has been trying to get the Vatican to investigate Maciel for years. Several of the eight plaintiffs approached bishops as early as the 1960s, only to be told to leave it all in God's hands. One of the group, Juan Josi Vaca, sent several complaints to the Vatican and got no response. The group lodged formal charges at the Vatican in 1998. A year later they were informed the case had been shelved with the extra-official justification that their suffering could not compare to the risk of disillusioning thousands of Catholics. In December, however, the group was told that a prosecutor at the Vatican's Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith is to head a formal probe that could lead to a trial. If it goes ahead, this could take the scandal over paedophilia in the church to a whole new level. 'This is a very delicate case,' says Josi Luis Gonzalez, a Mexico-based expert on the Catholic hierarchy. 'None of the other scandals has involved someone so close to the Pope.' Maciel, now 84, formed the ultra-conservative Legion of Christ in Mexico in 1941 in the wake of religious wars that pitted Catholics against the anti-clerical revolutionary regime and ended with an uneasy mutual tolerance. The order grew quickly, fed by deeply religious families happy to put their boys under the protection of its charismatic young leader. The recruits, too, were enthused by the prospect of a life fighting for God. 'At the time the idea of missionaries conjured up images of hunters and explorers and it sounded adventurous to us boys,' recalled Barba, who was 12 when he joined the Legion in 1949. 'We were told we were going to save the world from the communists, and that gave us a sense of importance.' Maciel picked out his favourite pupils and took them to study, first in Franco's Spain and then in Rome. They lived in tightly controlled isolation, instilled with the belief that their leader was the epitome of holiness. But at the same time as preaching the strictest moral code for others, Maciel allegedly indulged an addiction to morphine and a warped sexuality. Initiation typically began, the plaintiffs claim, with Maciel saying he had an illness in his groin. 'He would say he had received special dispensation from the Pope to have nuns massage out the pain, but that his total commitment to his chastity vows obliged him to ask us for help instead,' recalled Vaca, in a telephone interview from New York, where he teaches psychology in Mercy College. Vaca claims he was abused from the age of 12 until he was 24. He became a priest and stayed in the legion for a further 15 years. The defining moment came, he says, when he was promoted to be head of the Legion in the US as a reward for successfully covering up a case of abuse involving one of his colleagues. Vaca left in 1976, throwing himself into psychological research in part to try to understand Maciel. Meanwhile, the Legion was cementing its influence. Maciel had cultivated close ties with some of the richest families in Mexico, setting up schools for the elite across Latin America. Today it boasts a presence in 20 countries with 500 priests and 2,500 seminarians, and has become one of the few orders that is expanding in a time of crisis for the church. 'The Legion of Christ is a closed, secretive organisation with lots of money that offers the Pope unconditional service,' says Gonzalez. In power and influence, he says, it is second only to Opus Dei, whose founder was canonised last year. Legionnaires vigorously deny the sexual abuse charges, presenting Maciel as a martyr suffering in silence the calumnies of bitter ex-students in search of financial rewards. Last November Maciel received a series of elaborate tributes in Rome for the 60th anniversary of his ordination. John Paul II congratulated him on his 'intense, generous and fruitful priestly ministry' and 'integral promotion of the person'. A week later the group received a letter from their lawyer in Rome telling them the case had been reopened and 'is now being taken seriously'. The Vatican, however, will not even confirm the existence of an investigation. In January, Maciel stepped down as head of the Legion, citing his advanced age. How far any investigation will go is still far from clear and Maciel's accusers are reluctant to get their hopes up. 'I have absolutely no confidence in the bureaucracy of the Vatican,' said Vaca. 'Even now they are trying to cover up the fact that the Pope is dying,' Vaca said. But for all his scepticism, Vaca cannot help but savour the idea that he may one day be called to give his testimony in the Holy See. 'I have put the past in its place now, but the wounds will be there for the rest of my life,' he said. 'I would love to come face to face with Maciel again to see if he had the nerve to tell me that what I say happened isn't true.'

Priesters in VS bestraft wegens seksueel misbruik – February 4, 2005 – oneway.nl / Reformatorisch Dagblad -- NEW YORK - De Rooms-Katholieke Kerk heeft zeventien priesters van het bisdom van Rockville Centre op Long Island in New York gestraft wegens seksueel misbruik. Dat staat in een vorige week vrijgegeven brief van het bisdom. Van de 23 priesters naar wie het Vaticaan een onderzoek was begonnen, zijn er 8 uit hun ambt gezet en 9 permanent geschorst. Drie priesters wachten nog op hun kerkelijk proces en twee zijn er vrijgesproken. De zaak tegen één geestelijke is opgeschort. Organisaties van slachtoffers van seksueel misbruik door priesters hebben kritiek geuit op de brief van het bisdom, omdat daarin de identiteit van de gestrafte priesters niet wordt onthuld. Woordvoerder Sean Dolan van het bisdom zegt in een reactie dat de namen van de gestraften wel zijn onthuld, maar dat de identiteit van de geschorste priesters geheim wordt gehouden. Volgens de kerk hebben de geschorste geestelijken recht op privacy, omdat zij niet schuldig zijn bevonden.

Jury Gets Case in Rape Trial of Priest

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

February 4, 2005

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. (AP) -- The fate of defrocked priest Paul Shanley, who is charged with raping a boy at his church outside Boston in the 1980s, now rests with a jury. The panel got the case Thursday after lawyers clashed over the validity of the repressed memories Shanley's accuser said came to him three years ago, when the Boston church abuse scandal broke. The jury was set to resume deliberations Friday on child rape and indecent assault charges. Shanley's lawyer said the alleged victim's 20-year-old memories of being raped by Shanley were planted by a friend, who also had accused Shanley of abuse, and then were exploited by attorneys who filed a lawsuit. ``The core facts in this case are just not true,'' attorney Frank Mondano said. The man, now a 27-year-old firefighter in a Boston suburb, testified that Shanley began raping him while he was in the second grade, taking him out of religious education classes for discipline and raping him in the confessional. Mondano said the man contacted personal injury lawyers soon after he recovered his memories in February 2002. The attorneys filed a suit on his behalf three months later. The man received $500,000 in a settlement with the Boston Archdiocese in May 2004. But prosecutor Lynn Rooney said the man received his civil settlement almost a year ago and had no reason to lie. ``Is this all a lie -- for what?'' Rooney said. She said the emotion the man displayed when he testified about the abuse showed he wasn't fabricating his claims. The man spent more than 10 hours on the witness stand and broke down and sobbed several times as he described the alleged abuse. ``The emotions were raw. They were real. They were reflective of the pain he experienced,'' she said. Shanley's defense rested after putting just one witness on the stand. Dr. Elizabeth Loftus, a psychologist from the University of California at Irvine, testified that her research shows people can wind up convinced that implanted ideas or suggestions are real. ``Many people who have false memories have a lot of confidence and have a lot of detail about their memories,'' Loftus said. ``False memories can be held with a lot of emotion.'' The trial is one of a handful of criminal cases that prosecutors have been able to bring against priests accused of molesting young parishioners decades ago. Most of the priests accused in lawsuits avoided criminal prosecution because the alleged crimes were committed long ago, so charges were barred by the statute of limitations. But Shanley moved away from Massachusetts, stopping the clock and allowing authorities to arrest him in California in May 2002. Archdiocese personnel records showed that church officials knew Shanley advocated sex between men and boys, yet continued to transfer him from parish to parish. He was defrocked by the Vatican last year. He faces life in prison if convicted.

2 Sides Finish at the Trial of Ex-Priest in Abuse Case – February 3, 2005 – New York Times --

AMBRIDGE, Mass.- The lawyer for Paul R. Shanley, a defrocked priest accused of sexual abuse, told a jury in closing arguments on Thursday that the accuser, now a 27-year-old firefighter, either had false memories of fictitious abuse or invented the accusations to win a suit. "There isn't reasonable doubt in this case," the lawyer, Frank Mondano, said. "There is massive doubt in this case." The prosecutor countered in her closing that the lack of specificity lent the accusations veracity. "If it was all a lie, it would have been a better one," the prosecutor, Lynn Rooney, said. "If it was all made up, wouldn't it have been better scripted? Wouldn't there have been more detail?" The jury began deliberating and went home after half an hour. Earlier, Judge Stephen A. Neel of Middlesex Superior Court, had instructed the seven men and five women on the jury that there was no direct evidence to support one of the accuser's main contentions, that as a boy he was sent out of his Christian doctrine class when he misbehaved. Each incident that the accuser said he recollected involved being sent to the priest or being taken out of class by the priest for some reason. The accuser has said that he was orally and digitally raped from age 6 to 9, when he was sent to see Mr. Shanley or when Mr. Shanley would take him from class at St. Jean's Parish in Newton, a church that has closed. From ages 9 to 12, the accuser said, Mr. Shanley groped him in the church hallways. The accuser has said he repressed molesting memories until the sexual abuse scandal in the Roman Catholic Church broke in 2002. He was an Air Force police officer in Colorado, and he has said that memories flooded back and that he had a wrenching emotional and physical reaction after his girlfriend read him a news article about a childhood friend who said he had also repressed memories of Mr. Shanley's abuse. Mr. Mondano contends that the accuser tailored his account to echo the contentions of his friend and two other young men and cited documents that suggest that the accuser obtained a lawyer and planned a civil lawsuit within hours after he says he remembered being abused. "He's in the depths of a great emotional upheaval, and this fellow finds a lawyer, finds a specialist, makes financial arrangement to return to Boston," Mr. Mondano said. By the next morning, when the accuser saw an Air Force psychologist and requested a leave to go to Boston, he already had "a turnkey plan to go home and consult with his lawyer," Mr. Mondano said. The accusations of the friend and two other classmates were originally part of the case. Before the trial, the prosecutors dropped the charges related to those three. All four men received financial settlements from the Archdiocese of Boston last year in their civil suits. The accuser received $500,000. Ms. Rooney told the jury that because the accuser had received his payment, he had no motive to lie or even testify in the criminal case. "He got that money over nine months ago, no strings attached," Ms. Rooney said. "What did he get from coming in here, the opportunity to get on the stand? He sustained long painful questions, and what did he get from it?" Mr. Shanley, 74, once an outspoken long-haired priest known for his street ministry, listened quietly. This week, the judge threw out a rape charge, one of the five charges against him. He faces up to life in prison if convicted. The judge told jurors that they could not consider anything they might have heard about Mr. Shanley, who became a lightning rod in the scandal, prompting reports by 24 people. The accuser, who has spoken publicly about his accusations several times but asked news organizations not to identify him by name during the trial, sat in the front row during closing arguments. Ms. Rooney repeated the central accusations, that Mr. Shanley molested the accuser in the church bathroom, the pews, the confessional and the rectory. Mr. Mondano tried to spell out the flaws in the evidence, reminding them that testimony by two Christian doctrine teachers and four classmates did not establish that the accuser ever left class with Mr. Shanley and that the accuser's statements that he was abused in the confessional in second grade could not have been true because children did not go to confession until fourth grade. Katie Zezima contributed reporting for this article.

Church says former bishop accused of child sexual abuse
Associated Press

January 27, 2005
DAVENPORT, Iowa Church officials say a former bishop of the Sioux City
Roman Catholic diocese was accused of child sex abuse when he was a priest in
the Davenport diocese, and the Davenport diocese reached a settlement with one
of the accusers. A report issued yesterday (Tuesday) by Davenport Bishop
William Franklin said that there were three allegations against retired Sioux City
Bishop Lawrence Soens and the diocese settled one of those allegations for
20-thousand dollars in October. Soens was the Sioux City diocese's fifth
bishop, serving from 1983 to 1998. Sioux City diocese spokesman Jim
Wharton defended Soens and said news of the allegations "shocks and saddens all of
us."

Accuser Testifies at Trial of Ex-Priest in Abuse Case

New York Times

January 27, 2005

AMBRIDGE, Mass. - A 27-year-old who has accused a defrocked Boston priest of molesting him 20 years ago took the witness stand on Wednesday and testified that the defendant, Paul R. Shanley, sexually abused him in the church bathroom, the pews, a confession room and the rectory. In the bathroom, the accuser testified, Mr. Shanley "unzipped my pants," and, "if I had to go to the bathroom, he'd watch me go to bathroom." Then, he said, Mr. Shanley would touch him, and "sometimes he would kneel down and try to teach me how to perform oral sex." The testimony from the sometimes-teary accuser, a barrel-chested firefighter in a Boston suburb, came on the second day of the trial of Mr. Shanley, who became a lightning rod when the sexual abuse scandal erupted three years ago in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston. In cross-examination, Mr. Shanley's lawyer, Frank Mondano, tried to discredit the accuser by pointing out inconsistencies in his statements and memory and by suggesting that his history of other troubles, including problems with his parents and his behavior in high school, raised questions about his credibility. "The point is, there were times when you had memories of things and other times when you have no memories of those same things," Mr. Mondano said. The accuser, who several times became testy and argumentative with Mr. Mondano, answered that his memory "comes and goes." About 24 people have accused Mr. Shanley, 74, of molesting them since the 1960's, most of them coming forward after the scandal broke. This is the sole time Mr. Shanley has faced a criminal trial. The accuser was originally one of four men who made accusations in the case. Prosecutors recently dropped the charges of the other three. Mr. Mondano suggested that the accuser created his account after having talked with the others. The prosecution case has not included witnesses who seem able to verify the accusations that Mr. Shanley pulled the accuser out of Sunday morning classes to molest him when he was 6 to 9 years old and groped him in the halls for three years after that. A prosecution witness on Wednesday, a woman who taught the accuser in a second-grade doctrine class at the church, St. Jean the Evangelist Parish in Newton, seemed to lend support to the defendant's case. The teacher, Ann Mari Rousseau, testified in cross-examination that on Sunday mornings the church, which closed a few years ago, bustled with people. People attended Masses at 8, 10 and 11:30 a.m., she said. Priests prepared for the Masses and chatted with parishioners. Lay leaders and choir members milled around, and parents dropped off children for the 8:50 doctrine classes and picked them up at 9:50. "Sunday mornings were very hectic," Ms. Rousseau, now a minister in the United Church of Christ, said in testimony that seemed to raise doubts about whether a priest had time and opportunity to abuse a child. "Would you say that there was a big pile of leisure time?" Mr. Mondano asked. "No," Ms. Rousseau replied, "I would not say that there was any leisure time." Ms. Rousseau also testified that Mr. Shanley never called children out of her class, that she never requested his help in dealing with children who needed discipline and that she never saw him alone with a child. Mr. Shanley is charged with three counts of child rape and two counts of indecent assault and battery, accused of orally and digitally assaulting the boy. He faces a maximum sentence of life in prison. His lawyer has said the accuser was motivated by a civil suit he filed against the archdiocese, for which he received a $500,000 settlement last year. The accuser has spoken publicly about his accusations several times in the last three years, but has asked news organizations not to identify him by name during the trial. The accuser has said he recalled his years of abuse in 2002, after his girlfriend called him in Colorado, where he was an Air Force police officer, to tell him about a newspaper article on the abuse and Mr. Shanley. The accusations were first made by a childhood friend of the accuser who became one of the three people later dropped from the case. The accuser said on Wednesday that he was so traumatized by his memories that "I felt like my world was coming to an end" and was unable to function in the Air Force. In relatively short testimony about the accusations, he sniffled, teared up and covered his eyes with a hand. Consistently referring to the priest as "Shanley," not "Father Paul," the name most parishioners seemed to use, the accuser said the abuse took several forms. Sometimes, he said, Mr. Shanley asked him to put pamphlets in the church pews and took him to a pew in the front and "put his right arm around me and start touching my penis." Other times, he said, he was summoned to a confession room, where Mr. Shanley "used to undress me and he himself would get undressed and stand in front of the mirror and put his arm around me." Still other times, he said, Mr. Shanley took him to rectory to play a card game called war. "Every time I lost a hand he'd tell me take off a piece of my clothes," the accuser said, adding, "I always lost." Asked by the prosecutor, Lynn Rooney, what happened when his clothes were off, he said, "I'd somehow get on a winning streak, and he would take his clothes off." Mr. Shanley, once a popular priest known in part for looking like a hippie in the 70's, when he ministered to street youths and spoke out against church restrictions on homosexuality, looked calmly at the accuser as he testified. On a lunch break, Mr. Shanley, wearing work boots with his suit and tie as a defense against a snow storm, walked around part of the courtroom, chatting on a cellphone. Ms. Rooney's questions elicited troubled aspects of the accuser's background, including that he rarely saw his mother after his parents separated when he was 3 and that as a teenager he was kicked out of the house by his father because of steroid use. He testified that he slept in a park, a parking lot and a friend's basement. Mr. Mondano brought out that the accuser had been repeatedly suspended from high school and that he had told a therapist that his mother had hit him with a wood spoon and that his father had slapped him or kicked him, discipline that he described as "physical abuse." Ms. Rooney's questions also revealed what were apparently memory lapses. When she asked whether he remembered any other type of touching between him and Mr. Shanley, the accuser said he did not. Ms. Rooney showed him a page of a journal he kept, and asked, "Does that help you to remember whether there was any other type of touching?" The man replied, "I see that I wrote it down, but I don't remember it right now."

Catholic order head quits as abuse probe opens
Reuters
January 25, 2005
MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - The Mexican founder of an ultra-conservative Roman
Catholic order has resigned after 63 years as its leader just as the
Vatican is opening an investigation into allegations he sexually abused former
members. Marcial Maciel, 84, who was warmly praised by Pope John Paul II
on the 60th anniversary of his ordination in November, stepped down as leader
of the Rome-based Legion of Christ last week, citing his age, according to
the group's web site on Monday. He will be replaced by another Mexican priest,
47-year-old Alvaro Corcuera, rector of the Legion Seminary in Rome and a
consultant to the Vatican's Congregation for Bishops.

Hindu priest is found guilty of rapes

January 25, 2005

IC Croydon

A HINDU priest has been found guilty of raping a devotee after telling her that she was his wife in a previous existence. The jury at Croydon Crown Court last Thursday took five hours to decide that Ramanathan Somanathan, 41, the aya of the temple in Thornton Road, Thornton Heath, was guilty of forcing himself on his victim when he went to her new home to say prayers for it in July 2002. The next year, in November 2003, he went to her house again and raped her a second time. After the verdict Judge Simon Pratt said: "I ask for the advice of a report targeted towards looking at the future danger or possible future danger this man poses. "The report may affect the length of what is already necessarily a lengthy sentence." Somanathan, of Colvin Road, Thornton Heath, will appear in court again on Friday February 18 when he will be sentenced.

Lawyers deliver opening statements in Shanley abuse trial
Boston Globe
January 25, 2005
Former priest Paul Shanley told a 6-year-old boy, "If you tell, no one
will believe you," before molesting him at a Newton parish in the early 1980s,
a prosecutor said Tuesday. The boy didn't tell anyone for nearly 20 years,
recovering his memories of the alleged abuse only after hearing of media
reports about the sex scandal in the Boston Archdiocese, Assistant
District Attorney Lynn Rooney said. "Those memories were buried deep inside,"
Rooney said during opening statements in Shanley's child rape trial in Middlesex
Superior Court. Shanley's lawyer, Frank Mondano, said the accuser made up
the allegations to get in on the multimillion-dollar settlements for victims
in the scandal.

Testimony story:
http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2005/01/26/former_ccd_teacher_testifies_at_shanleys_child_rape_trial/

Vatican disciplines 17 priests in NY
Associated Press
January 25, 2005
ROCKVILLE CENTRE, N.Y. (AP) - The Roman Catholic Church has disciplined 17
priests of a New York diocese for sexual abuse allegations. The Diocese of
Rockville Centre on Long Island informed parishioners of the actions in a
three-page letter listing the status of sex abuse cases against 23
priests. Bishop William F. Murphy reported that eight priests were defrocked by the
Vatican, nine were permanently suspended, three await canonical trials and
two have been cleared. Proceedings against another have been deferred. Several
victims' rights groups criticized the bishop, saying the identities of the
disciplined priests should be made public.

Sundance crowd embraces Toledoan's claim of abuse
Toledo Blade
January 25, 2005
Tony Comes saw the poster and cringed. Behind the makeshift box office at
the Prospector Square Inn, a movie poster was stapled to a bulletin board, and
the picture was Mr. Comes himself, hands jammed in his pockets, staring
sullenly forward. The tagline on the poster? "Sometimes hell is right here on
earth." Here, meaning Toledo. The poster was for Twist of Faith, a new documentary
that veteran filmmaker Kirby Dick made for HBO about Mr. Comes and his
lawsuit against the Toledo Catholic Diocese.

A State Supreme Court Opinion Allows a Clergy Child Sex Abuse Case to Go
Forward, But Makes a Mess of Tort Law in the Process
FindLaw
January 24, 2005
Last week, the Supreme Court of Tennessee reinstated a clergy child sex
abuse lawsuit against the Roman Catholic Diocese of Nashville. In the lawsuit,
the plaintiffs claim that the Diocese should be held liable for injuries
caused by a former priest, even though who was not in the employ of the church when
he molested two young boys. The suit - entitled John Doe 1 ex. rel., Jane Doe
1, et. al. v. Roman Catholic Diocese of Nashville, et al. - will now go
forward in state trial court unless, of course, a settlement is reached. Given the
facts of the case, it is easy to see what the court wanted to give the
plaintiffs a chance to go before a jury. The Tennessee Supreme Court's
decision might have been motivated by sympathy, but along the way it made
a mess of the tort law.

Shanley trial underscores complexities of sex-abuse cases
Christian Science Monitor

January 24, 2005
Opening statements in the trial of Paul Shanley are set to begin Monday -
advancing an epic in which a popular long-haired priest of the 1960s has
become one of the biggest pariahs in today's clergy sexual-abuse scandal.
Defrocked by the Vatican last year, Mr. Shanley is one of few clergy
accused of molestation to actually face prosecution. He is charged with child rape
and indecent assault and battery while a priest at a nearby Newton parish in
the 1980s. If convicted, he could face life in prison. Yet despite his
notoriety among victims' advocates - child-abuse accusations date back to at least
1967 - a conviction is far from certain. Though four men originally accused him
of molestation, prosecutors dropped two of them from the case in July, and a
third was dropped last week after failing to appear for scheduled
meetings. Now, the trial is based on the allegations of a lone accuser.

Cardinal's deposition closely watched
Associated Press
January 21, 2005
New York Cardinal Edward Egan typically answers to the pope, but will soon
face questions from a lawyer who says the prominent prelate ignored
disturbing psychological reports on a priest later accused of molesting an altar boy.
Egan's deposition on Jan. 27 in a civil lawsuit is a groundbreaking
development in the sex scandal that has rocked the Roman Catholic Church,
activists say. Egan, facing his first deposition as a cardinal, joins the
other two major cardinals in Boston and Los Angeles as he faces questions
under oath for his handling of priest abuse cases.

Priest in sex case told to continue duties: Five-figure sum settles incident out of court

By Brian Hutton, newsdesk@belfasttelegraph.co.uk

21 January 2005

A Catholic priest accused of sexual assault is to be allowed to continue his parish duties by the Bishop of Derry Most Rev Dr Seamus Hegarty, it was revealed today. The priest at the centre of the claims last month handed over a cheque for a five-figure sum to the alleged victim following an out of court settlement. The incident is alleged to have taken place at a parochial house, in October of 1992, where a young man was attending counselling for sexual abuse for nine months. The man, who was 18-years-old at the time, claimed he was subjected to a sexual advance by a priest. He confided in another priest who brought the matter to the attention of other members of the clergy, including Bishop Francis Lagan, who later met with the young man, it is claimed. In a statement to the Derry Journal, the Most Rev Dr Seamus Hegarty said: "The issue concerned two adults who were fully represented. It was settled without court proceedings between the priest and the adult through their legal representatives. "I considered the matter thoroughly with my legal and other advisors and taking fully into account all the circumstances and the priest's character, I decided he could continue in parish ministry and in the wider Diocesan activities in those in which he has particular expertise." A spokesperson for Dr Hegarty today said that the Bishop was "aware of the sexual assault allegation". Police today said they had received no criminal complaint regarding the incident.

Exodus uit kerk na seksschandaal – 18 januari 2005 – Het Parool – WENEN – De katholieke kerk in Oostenrijk heeft het afgelopen jaar een recordaantal opzeggingen gekregen na het seksschandaal rond de priesteropleiding in St. Pölten. In totaal hebben zich vorig jaar meer dan 44 000 leden officieel afgemeld. Het totale aantal katholieken in Oostenrijk is de afgelopen vijftien jaar gedaald van 6,4 tot 5,7 miljoen.

Hindu priest 'told victim she was former-life wife'

January 14, 2005

IC Croydon

By Jen Bishop

A HINDU priest accused of rape claimed that his victim had been his wife in a past life and God had brought them back together again, a court heard. Ramanathan Somanathan, the aya of the Hindu temple in Thornton Road, Thornton Heath, is denying two counts of rape. Gillian Etherton, prosecuting Somanathan at Croydon Crown Court this week, said the 29-year-old Tamil woman decided to buy a new flat for herself and her son, and went to married Somanathan to get her chart read - a common practice in the Hindu religion. It involved the stars and planets and predictions for her future. Miss Etherton said: "The aya asked her some personal questions and she felt uncomfortable and cried. "The defendant told her she had had a bad childhood and he said to her: 'Don't worry. Everything will be all right now.' "He said she had beautiful eyes and it was good that she had left her husband." The woman wanted the priest to organise a prayer meeting at her new home. Miss Etherton said: "He said they had had a past life together. She had married him and that they had loved each other. She had committed suicide in the past life but God had sent her to him. "She put the conversation out of her mind and arrangements were made for the aya to go to her flat for prayers." He arrived on July 11 2002. The court heard that he made her sit next to him and tried to hug and kiss her, but she made it clear that she was not interested. Miss Etherton added: "He held her by the arms and told her he had a right over her because she was still his wife and he loved her. He threatened her with the consequences of upsetting their God." It is then alleged that he raped her, despite her begging him to stop. Miss Etherton said: "Afterwards, he got up and sat on the sofa as if nothing had happened, and he told her: 'You are going to be lucky in your life'." The court heard there was a second alleged incident at her home, as a result of which she became pregnant and had an abortion in November 2002. The case continues.

Shocking facts about Kabbalah revealed! – January 14, 2004 – ANI, worldnews -- LONDON - The much hyped cult of Kabbalah, followed by starlets like Madonna and Demi Moore, is not what it is being promoted as, reveals an investigative documentary made by staff at BBC2's Sweeney Investigates and raises serious questions about the Kabbalah Centre movement and its leaders. According to This is London, the documentary, to be screened on BBC2 has dug up some shocking facts about the kabbalah centre. It reveals that the "Healing" spring water sold to followers for nearly 4 pounds a bottle comes from a Canadian bottling plant. The Kabbalah Centre insists that its water is sourced from springs and treated by an exclusive Kabbalistic process, using blessings and meditations. It also found that the cash raised by donors for the Asian tsunami victims is being spent on distributing Kabbalah Centre products in the devastated region. Though the Kabbalah Centre led by former New York rabbi and insurance salesman Philip Berg, claims to be a not-for-profit organisation but its leaders are said to live millionaire lifestyles and there have been claims of a visit to a gambling venue and expensive plastic surgery. The programme team interviewed senior figures in the Jewish community who denounced the Centre as a "nefarious bunch of charlatans". The 3.65 million centre is also under investigation by Westminster council after the documentary found evidence of devotees sleeping in windowless "cells" in a basement.

Victim files suit against priest
Post-Tribune (NW Indiana)
January 13, 2005
A Florida man filed a lawsuit Wednesday claiming he was the victim of
sexual abuse by a Catholic priest from the Gary Diocese. The suit lists the
plaintiff as John Doe, a now 29-year-old man who alleges he was sexually assaulted
between 1986 and 1991 by the Rev. Richard Emerson, now 52. The alleged
sexual abuse occurred when the victim was between ages 11 and 18. Barbara Blaine
of Chicago, president of Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, said
of the lawsuit. We applaud this brave man for seeking to expose the truth
and warn others about a dangerous priest. The overwhelming majority of clergy
sex abuse victims don’t take legal action.

New approach to curb abuse and aid victims

January 13, 2005

Catholic World News 7/1/05

An American non-profit group, It Works, has unveiled a new web site, VictimPower, which will open a confidential channel of communication between

abuse victims and authorities. The group has harnessed the power of modern technology in a radical new effort to curb child abuse. The VictimPower initiative is designed to encourage victims to report abuse, by protecting their anonymity unless or until they are ready to come forward. At the same time, the web site will provide a way to hold authorities accountable for their response to complaints, and construct a thorough data base that could guide investigators in tracing abusers. According to Catholic World News, the VictimPower site was designed and will be operated by a team of students from universities scattered across the US. Although the site was originally conceived as a response to the sex-abuse crisis within the Catholic Church, the technology can be used to respond to any sort of abuse.

The VictimPower web site assists an abuse victim in registering his complaint, guiding him through a series of questions that help to identify the authorities in the Church, in law-enforcement, or elsewhere who should take an interest in his report. The web site allows the victim to check back and see what response these authorities have made; it also allows the authorities to ask him further questions, without compromising his anonymity.

"VictimPower is new hope for victims," said Diane Galebach, the director of It Works and leader in developing the site. She explained that many abuse

victims are reluctant to come forward. The new web site allows them to report abuse without divulging their identity.

The Monitor / From Paul Baier

January 12, 2005

The first Monitor of 2005 from www.BishopAccountability.org.

• What the Bishops Knew about Paul Shanley
• Settlement in Orange County: Too Good to Be True?

The Bishops and Paul Shanley: The criminal trial of defrocked Boston priest Paul Shanley, scheduled to begin next week, may now rest on the testimony of one alleged victim. Once renowned as the "street priest," Shanley reportedly was abusing minors for decades.

What did the bishops know? Take a look at this amazing sample of documents from the church's secret Shanley file. (Available on the Internet only here.)

Remarkable Settlement in Orange County: Not only has the Diocese of Orange, California agreed to pay 90 plaintiffs $100 million ... but they've promised to release the secret diocesan files.

But get real, critics say -- no truly damaging church files will ever see the light of day. You and I will know better after January 31. That's when the diocese is scheduled to turn over its archive to the judge. He'll then decide which records get released. Let's hope he respects the public's right to know the truth.

Read provocative analyses and news about the Orange County settlement.

On a personal note: I'm writing because I imagine you share my commitment to exposing the truth of the Catholic clergy sex abuse crisis.

BishopAccountability.org is the largest document collection about the crisis on the Internet. Our mission is to provide online all the facts (articles, church documents, law enforcement reports) about the crisis and its cover-up.

Along with my fellow directors, Terry McKiernan and Anne Barrett Doyle, I plan to send you the Monitor periodically. Each time, we'll call your attention to at least one incredible church document or court record from our Web site.

Finally, thank you to everyone who gave us moral and financial support in 2004. We really appreciate all the kind messages. This is an immense crisis, and the truth of it must be known and remembered. Your support makes all of this possible.

If you have documents for us to post, I'd love to hear from you. Or just drop me a line to tell us how we can make the Web site more useful.

Paul Baier

BishopAccountability.org, Inc.

email: staff@bishop-accountability.org

phone: 781 910 5467

web: http://www.bishopaccountability.org

One man's burden
Boston Globe
January 12, 2005
Even though Paul Shanley would walk, his accuser should feel free to walk
away. It is a terrible burden to expect one man to do what so many other,
more powerful men would not do, but that is just what the criminal justice
system is asking of the last man standing in the criminal case against the
notorious former Roman Catholic priest. All of those PowerPoint presentations of
Shanley's career trajectory, those 800 pages of secret church files
enumerating the long-ignored complaints against him, even the money paid
by the church to settle the civil claims against him, will not yield a
criminal conviction against the defrocked priest. For that, prosecutors need one
young man to testify about his memories of the popular and charismatic priest
allegedy pulling him out of religious education classes years ago in order
to rape him. Yesterday, he was willing to go forward with the trial that is
scheduled to begin next week. Tomorrow? No one is placing any bets.

Tucson's diocese passes audit on sex abuse prevention
Associated Press
January 11, 2005
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Tucson reports successfully passing an audit
on compliance with policies to prevent sexual abuse. In a memo sent to
parishioners, Bishop Gerald Kicanas said the December audit found the
diocese followed the norms established by the U-S Conference of Catholic Bishops.
The audit examined record-keeping on programs and protocol for victim
outreach, how allegations of abuse were reported and the creation of safe
environments at schools and parishes for children. Tucson's diocese filed for federal
Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in September under the pressure of 22
lawsuits that alleged sexual abuse of children by priests. The diocese had
earlier reached a $14 million settlement with 10 men who said they were
abused as children by clergy members.

Cardinal untruths
LA Weekly
Confidential documents and sworn statements by Cardinal Roger Mahony were
released last week, ending two years of legal maneuvers to shield "his
eminence" from examination in the Catholic clergy sex abuse scandal. The
cardinal's testimony, memos and letters offer a rare glimpse into Mahony's
formative years as a priest and young bishop in Fresno and Stockton from
1962 to 1985, and reflect on his moral standing as shepherd of 5 million
Catholics in Los Angeles and ranking prelate in the United States. Mahony emerges as
a man of contradictions and memory problems. A man who claims never to have
known a priest to have sex before 1968, who struggles to remember steps he
took or did not take to address a pedophilia crisis of epic
proportions. A man whose fitness to lead must now be examined in light of whether he is
telling the truth or not.

Judge to rule on validity of church abuse agreement
Nashua Telegraph
January 11, 2005
Two years ago, on a cold and sunny December morning, the national and
local media swept through Concord to record a historic agreement between church
and state. The attorney generalÍs office had agreed not to prosecute leaders
of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Manchester for keeping sexually abusive
priests in ministry. No charges would come as long as the diocese created a
transparent system to protect children from abuse, and annually submitted
to state audits to measure compliance. But the process hasn’t left the
ground; an audit has not been performed. What was once considered historic may become
history. A Hillsborough County Superior Court judge will soon determine if
the accord is valid - if there was a true meeting of the minds.On Monday,
exactly 25 months after the agreement was signed, the diocese and state filed
court motions previewing their arguments for a hearing Jan. 20 at the Manchester
court.

Bishop's administrative role hit in old sexual abuse allegations
Saginaw News
January 8, 2005
Time and the legal system have not healed the wounds of a Minnesota family
grappling with 28-year-old allegations of child sexual abuse by a Catholic
priest. Newly appointed Catholic Diocese of Saginaw Bishop Robert J.
Carlson helped investigate their claims. Victim advocates say that Carlson's
recommendations, as well as broken promises by other church leaders,
prevented justice for the family. Earlier this week, a three-judge panel of the
Minnesota Court of Appeals ruled -- for the second time -- that Theodore
J. Krammer Jr., 38, of Stillwater, Minn., came forward too late with his
civil child molestation suit against the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis
and former priest Lee D. Krautkremer.

Portland archdiocese urges victims to join settlement
NPR
January 7, 2005
The Archdiocese of Portland begins an ad campaign to find new victims of
clergy sexual abuse. Victims are urged to come forward and file a claim
for financial settlement with the church before the end of April. From Oregon
Public Broadcasting, Colin Fogarty reports.

Warren woman exposes Church cover-up on film

January 6, 2005

Barrington Times

WARREN - After refinancing her house to free up funds, and spending five years conducting research and interviews, Warren resident Mary Healey-Conlon has at long last completed her documentary, "Holy Water-Gate: Abuse Cover-Up in the Catholic Church." The hour-long film will debut for the general public at the Coolidge Corner Movie Theater in Brookline, Mass., on Monday, Jan. 10, at 7:30 p.m. Because she is a Roman Catholic, her work is not finished, said Ms. Healey-Conlon. She is only just beginning the painful process of reconciling her discoveries with past assumptions about faith and the Church. Years before investigative journalists at The Boston Globe propelled the problem of sexual abuse by priests into the national spotlight, Ms. Healey-Conlon was working with a team of Rhode Island attorneys who believed the Diocese of Providence had knowingly moved priests who had committed acts of sexual abuse against minors from parish to parish. As a legal assistant, she met abuse victims who had been pursuing cases against the Catholic church for years. She even learned she knew one of the accused priests whom her grandfather had served alongside as a deacon years before. Fearing lawyers for the church might stall forever, she resolved to document victims' stories. In 1999, she picked up a video camera and began filming. "It's not like I started out with a specific vision of what the film would be," said Ms. Healey-Conlon, who has a master's degree in television production from Emerson College. "I started out wanting to document the stories of some Rhode Island survivors."

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