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DIOCESE/State Watch
(and a note on Vatican finances)
Rome, Italy: According to Associated Press, “The Vatican
released its best financial report in eight years, saying it had a surplus
of 9.7 million euros ($12.4 million) in 2005 despite extraordinary costs of
7 million euros ($8.9 million) for the funeral of Pope John Paul II and the
election of his successor.” Read more in the Boston
Globe.
Bridgeport, CT: The Stamford Advocate reports: “Money
goes missing from an affluent Catholic church in Fairfield County. Parish insiders
suspect the pastor. They take the matter to the Diocese of Bridgeport. The
scenario describes an ongoing case at St. John's in Darien -- and one at St.
Mary's in Greenwich a decade ago. The cases are similar in that large sums
of money disappeared over several years. The cases are different because, in
Darien, the parish insiders went outside the diocese for help. In Greenwich,
they did not.” For more on this story, click
here.
- VOTF Bridgeport, CT has new leadership. Read
more.
Santa Rosa, CA: VOTF’s Cindy Vrooman updates the Santa
Rosa letter daily and sends it to Bishop Walsh as well as the chair of the
Diocesan Pastoral Council. If you would like your name added, click
here.
- According to the San
Diego Union Tribune, “Prosecutors launched an investigation
into whether Roman Catholic church officials committed a crime by waiting
several days to alert authorities of sex abuse allegations against a
priest who may have fled to Mexico.”
Spokane, WA: The Seattle Post Intelligencer reports, “The
Catholic Diocese of Spokane can raise at least $35 million to divide among
victims of sex abuse by priests and may have to ask parishioners to contribute
if more money is needed, Bishop William Skylstad said in his latest letter
to church members.” Bishop Skylstad originally offered $45 million
to 75 victims, but the offer was rejected by a federal bankruptcy judge because
it did not deal with all the identified victims. According to the news account, “There
may be 60 to 70 additional victims.” For more details, click
here.
Boston, MA: Hope for critical Statutes of Limitation Reform
legislation before the MA session ends on July 31st. The Judiciary Committee
bill, H 5131, is presently in the House Steering Committee waiting to move
to the House floor for a debate and vote. The hope is that representatives
will be offering amendments on the House floor to strengthen the legislation
so it reflects a “zero-tolerance” policy and not just a “less
tolerance” policy for these crimes. This means that it would include
Repeal of the SOL for civil actions which are needed so that 95% of victims
can seek justice and make known the names of sexual predators. Stay tuned!
- The Archdiocese of Boston was honored with an inaugural Best Practice recognition
by the Leadership Roundtable,
which is comprised of 225 senior executives from the worlds of business,
finance, law, academia, philanthropy, nonprofits and Church ministry, working
together with over forty bishops to offer Church Leaders the resources, skills
and talents of the laity for the good of the Church.” To read more
about the Boston award, go the archdiocesan
website.
Springfield, MA: According to the Republican, Bishop Dupre
is “still in treatment.”
The Springfield newspaper reported on July 22: “Dupre was accused of
sexually abusing two minors when he was a parish priest more than 10 years
before he was installed as the diocese's bishop in 1995. Dupre was indicted
by a Hampden County grand jury in September 2004 on two rape charges stemming
from the abuse accusations. Hampden County District Attorney William M. Bennett
chose not to pursue the charges because the criminal statute of limitations
had expired.” For the full story, click
here.
Toledo, OH: Parishioners spoke out against so many parish
closings without any parishioner involvement. “Protesters urge more
openness by diocese” appeared at Toledoblade.com.
Portland, OR: Associated Press reported on Katu.com News: “A
federal bankruptcy judge has ruled that the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Portland
cannot be forced to liquidate a $36 million trust fund to pay any claims resulting
from sexual abuse lawsuits against priests. The decision Thursday by U.S. Bankruptcy
Judge Elizabeth Perris was considered a victory for the archdiocese, who two
years ago became the first Catholic diocese in the United States to seek bankruptcy
protection from priest abuse lawsuits.” For full story, click
here.
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