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DIOCESE/State Watch
The statewide diocese of Burlington VT is still not up to
speed on compliance with the U.S. bishops’ "Charter for the Protection
of Children and Young People" adopted by U.S. bishops five years ago.
See the Rutland
Herald
and the Burlington Free Press.
Bridgeport CT: From the Stamford Advocate: “The
Roman Catholic Church is fighting a proposal that would give alleged victims
of sexual abuse 10 more
years to come forward to prosecute or sue offenders. The bill would increase
the statute of limitations for child sex crimes to 40 years after a victim
turns 18, up from 30 years under current law.” Read
more.
Alaska: Senate Bill 112 creates a one-year period in which
civil action may be brought against felony sexual assault and sex abuse cases
that are currently
time barred by Alaska’s statute of limitations laws. Alaska Senator Hollis
French notes: “Alaska law was amended in 2001 to remove the statute of
limitations for all felony sexual assault and sex abuse cases. Unfortunately,
with this change, one class of victims remains left out: those who were assaulted
while the old statute of limitations was in effect. SB 112 cures this injustice
by allowing victims with legitimate claims the opportunity to have their day
in court.” Read more.
VOTF New York: With thanks to VOTF Francis Piderit for the following update:
Sunday Demonstration at St. Patrick's Cathedral by parishioners of Our Lady
Queen of Angels outside St. Patrick's Cathedral beginning at 1:30PM to protest
the closing of their parish. OLQA is asking for our support. Cardinal Egan
will celebrate a Mass at 2PM to commence the Bicentennial 200th Anniversary
Celebration of
the Archdiocese of New York. We want to have good numbers of VOTF members in
prayerful protest outside the cathedral, witnessing in support of Our Lady
Queen of Angels, aparish that refuses to close quietly.
Tuesday Leadership Meeting with Mary Pat Fox to which all are invited.
Save the Date: Dr. Mary Gail Frawley-O'Dea at St. Ignatius, Monday, May 7
Dr. Mary Gail Frawley-O'Dea speak about her newly published book, Perversion
of Power, at St. Ignatius Loyola on Monday, May 7, in a joint meeting of Voice
of the Faithful New York and Voice of the Faithful affiliates in Brooklyn.
All Voice of the Faithful members from the tri-state area are welcome to hear
this eminent psychoanalyst and clinical psychologist talk about her latest work,
which for the first time links the sexual abuse crisis to underlying issues
of clerical narcissism and hierarchical power. Frawley-O'Dea has worked with
survivors for many years, and the explosive insights revealed in her book
give Voice of the Faithful a detailed agenda for changing theCatholic mindset.
[Also in New York, Archdiocese of Rockville Center, see the page 1 story on
the abuse trial about to begin.]
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