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DIOCESE/State Watch
News Alert: Orange County CA – Associated Press reports, “A
judge began criminal contempt-of-court proceedings Tuesday against the Roman
Catholic
bishop of Orange County in a highly unusual hearing that marks the
first time a U.S. bishop could face jail time in the church sex abuse scandal.
Bishop Tod D. Brown waived his arraignment for allegedly violating a court
order when he sent Msgr. John Urell, a high-ranking church official, out
of the country
before he could complete his testimony in a lawsuit. He could face a range
of punishments from a verbal reprimand to jail time if found in contempt.” Read
the AP story.
A 21st Century “Nun’s Story” is playing out in Los Angeles.
The Sisters of Bethany were told in September they would be evicted from their
residence after 40 years of service in that community and, in addition, might
have to leave Santa Barbara. The property is to be sold to offset the clergy
abuse settlement costs of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. The ensuing public
outcry didn’t reverse the planned sale of the property but apparently
the Sisters will be able to stay in Santa Barbara. Supporters of the sisters
are
organizing a fund-raising effort to purchase a permanent home for them.
For an earlier story, see the Los
Angeles Times .
San Diego CA: The “trickle down” effect of settlement
costs has unsettled parishioners in the Archdiocese of San Diego, which asked
its congregations
and its priests to contribute toward the payments. Several parishioners echoed
the sentiments of one man who said “the answer to the sexual abuse scandal
lies in jail sentences, not a monetary settlement. ‘Why aren't they putting
some people in jail over this?’” See the Los
Angeles Times.
The financial shenanigans of the Archdiocese of Cleveland OH have
resulted so far in one guilty-on-all-counts judgment against the former diocesan
accountant.
His attorney will appeal saying, “the diocese fought us tooth and nail
on every request for evidence…. the jury did not have access to the totality
of evidence … the diocese encouraged this type of activity …." The
Cleveland Plain Dealer has the story.
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