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DIOCESE/State Watch
Santa Rosa, CA: “State law requires priests to
immediately report any suspected case of child abuse” in
California. But that didn’t happen in one diocese. As June
22 Vineyard readers know, Bishop Walsh of Santa
Rosa, CA let enough time pass on an admitted abuse situation
that the priest in question was able to flee the state.
For an update on this story, click
here or go to the SNAP website.
- VOTF North Bay, CA joined VOTF national leaders in
a statement that reads in part, “It [an end to the sexual
abuse crisis] also requires a commitment to reform a
clerical structure so deeply entrenched in secrecy and
denial that a bishop could justify in his own mind protecting
a predator instead of a child.” VOTF North Bay, CA is
continuing to amass signatures to the letter. Read the full
letter. Sign on to this letter – contact Cindy Vrooman
at votfnorthbay@sbcglobal.net.
- VOTF NH’s Carolyn Disco comments briefly on “Understanding ‘Accountability’ in
Santa Rosa, CA” in Commentary.
Bridgeport, CT: The New
York Times of
July 9 portrays Fr. Fay (Darien, CT – story covered
in previous Vineyards) as a problem well before
the FBI investigation now under way. Also keep up to
date on this story at the VOTF Bridgeport website.
Boston, MA: The Boston
Herald reports, “The
Legislature’s Joint Committee on Judiciary has at last
reached a reasonable compromise on the issue of extending
the statute of limitations on crimes involving the
sexual abuse of children – one that should be passed
before lawmakers adjourn later this month. The bill
reported out Friday extends that deadline another 10
years, allowing for a total of 25 years after the victim
reaches age 16.” VOTF in Massachusetts is not taking
this lightly. Read “What Commitment Looks Like” and
note the Sunday, July 16 gathering at the seats of
four dioceses – Boston, Worcester, Springfield and
Fall River.
Burlington, VT: The Burlington
Free Press notes, “The diocese – facing 21
claims filed by people who say they were victims of
abuse and having settled one case for nearly $1 million – asked
in May that Superior Court Judge Ben Joseph step down
from presiding over the pending cases. Diocesan attorneys
argued in court papers that Joseph has issued a spate
of biased rulings against the church that necessitated
the settlement and made it nearly impossible for future
trials to be fair. Plaintiffs countered that Joseph’s
decisions have been impartial and proper, and they
accused the diocese of ‘judge shopping’ and trying
to intimidate the judiciary.”
New York: This update from Joseph Byrnes, VOTF
Brooklyn, NY: “All is not in vain re our May 17 trip to
Albany to pass legislation that would protect our children.
The New York State legislature passed a bill that would
require background checks and fingerprinting of all future
employees in yeshivas, Catholic schools and private schools.” The
coalition that went to Albany to work on legislative reforms
included the following: SNAP, VOTF, Rescue and Recovery,
New York Alliance against Sexual Assault, Sexual Assault & Violence
Intervention Program at Mount Sinai Medical Center, the
Awareness Center–Abuse group in Jewish community; Orthodox
Union–Yeshiva Parents Group, and Silent Lambs–Support group
in Jehova Witness community.
St. Petersburg, FL: The Florida
Catholic reports: “Sex
offenders and violent criminals should have a tougher
time accessing victims through church ministries. Sweeping
changes have come to the diocese’s Safe Environment
Program designed to protect the vulnerable. New policies
implement technology that will allow the diocese access
to criminal records nationwide, provide more consistent
and specific safe environment training and incorporate
new mandates from the revised U.S. bishops’ Charter
for the Protection of Children and Adults and new direction
from the Miami Archdiocese.”
Toledo, OH: Parishioners are suing their diocese
for control of parish assets. Read
more.
From VOTF Greater Cincinnati, OH, Dick Okenfuss
writes:
“Two of our Greater Cincinnati Coordinating Committee
members will meet next Wednesday, July 19, with Archbishop
Daniel Pilarczyk of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati. We asked
for this meeting in a Pentecost letter to the Archbishop
where we asked what we could do to help him with his parishes
and pastors.
We are hopeful that this will lead to continuing dialogue
with both the Archbishop and his staff, and that he will
agree with a pilot project with one or more parishes where
we will attempt to assist the pastor, and staff, with projects
of most importance to them.
We are testing a survey where we attempt to identify
skills and experience that we can utilize in this project.
If successful, we will re-energize our membership, and
provide a useful service to out parishes.”
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