DIOCESE/State Watch
Los, Angeles, CA/Mexico: The furor over Cardinal Mahony’s alleged protection
of a fugitive priest has not abated (see the Sept. 21 Vineyard). The Chicago
Tribune reported on Oct. 8: “When the scandal over pedophile priests
rocked the Roman Catholic Church in the United States in 2002, the shock waves
barely registered in Mexico. Now, just four years later, the Catholic Church
in Mexico is facing unprecedented scrutiny.” Read
more.
Interest in Cardinal Mahony has also been revived with the release of the
film “Deliver Us From Evil” in which “an extraordinarily
candid interview with a former priest convicted of molesting children has heightened
interest among law enforcement officials here in considering a criminal case
against Cardinal Roger M. Mahony.” Subscribers can access the NYT article. A
movie review is available here.
Also note Chicago Sun-Times coverage.
The St. Paul Pioneer Press reports: “The government of Mexico
has banned an American lawyer from entering their country after the lawyer
sued the country's Roman Catholic Archbishop, claiming he conspired to protect
pedophile priests.” Read
more.
The film director, Amy Berg, speaks for herself in a 10/12 commentary. Read
more.
For information about the film and its schedule of showings around the US,
please the movie's website.
Also, see additional information in the Sept. 21 Vineyard.
Delray Beach, FL: The Palm Beach Post reported: “Two
priests accused of misappropriating millions from a Delray Beach Catholic church
formed a for-profit company with a third priest whose personal life also was
troubled.” Read
more
.
Palm Beach, FL: The Capitol Hill Blue website reported, “The
Catholic diocese in south Florida, where former Rep. Mark Foley lived nearly
40 years ago when he said a clergyman sexually abused him, has one of the nation's
worst records of sexual misconduct by priests and bishops.”
St. Paul, MN: PR Newswire reports, “178 Catholic Bishops
have been named as defendants in an unprecedented civil child sex abuse lawsuit
brought by the family of a murdered Wisconsin man. The lawsuit, which seeks
no monetary damages, was filed in August in St. Croix County Circuit Court,
Wisconsin (Court File No.06CV581). The lawsuit asks a state judge to force
all of America's Catholic bishops and the US Conference of Catholic Bishops
to disclose the names of roughly 5,000 proven, admitted and credibly accused
abusive priests in the US. The suit is being brought by the family of Dan O'Connell
of Wisconsin, who, along with a co- worker, was shot and killed in February
2002 by a suspected pedophile priest who also owned guns and pornography.” Read
more.
The details of the O’Connell family’s experience and efforts
to stop clergy sexual abuse are the subject of a website dedicated to all victims
of clergy sexual abuse. Click
here.
Philadelphia, PA: The Philadelphia Inquirer notes “D.A.
to promote sex-abuse bill” and quotes District Attorney Lynne Abraham: "The
problem in Harrisburg is that powerful lobbies want to make it look like this
is a plan or a program against one institution," Abraham told a conference
at Temple University's Beasley School of Law. "But this is about children." Read
more.
Davenport, IO: According to Associated
Press coverage in the Washington Post: “After paying out
more than $10.5 million to resolve dozens of sex abuse claims and now facing
a new set of lawsuits, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Davenport has filed
for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.” Also, note New York Times coverage.
The Davenport diocesan bishop William Franklin submitted his resignation
recently, as required by the Church at the age of 75. The resignation was accepted
and his replacement named – he is Bishop Martin Amos, former auxiliary
bishop of Cleveland. The Des Moines Register noted: “The Vatican's
announcement came two days after Franklin asked a federal bankruptcy court
for Chapter 11 protection for the diocese. The move freezes a recent $1.5 million
jury award in a child sexual abuse lawsuit against the diocese and puts all
future abuse claims in limbo.” Read
more.
Chicago, IL: The Chicago Sun-Times reported: “The
former comptroller of Chicago's St. Joseph College Seminary pleaded guilty
to stealing $96,000 from the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago.” Read the
full story.
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