Voice of the Faithful Focus, May 7, 2021


TOP STORIES

A historic resignation
“When Msgr. Roger Grundhaus wanted to baptize his niece’s baby in the cathedral of a nearby diocese, there was the simple matter of getting a letter from his bishop affirming that he was a priest in good standing. Bishop Michael J. Hoeppner of Crookston (who recently resigned at Pope Francis’ request) obliged the retired priest, a former vicar general of his diocese. ‘He is a person of good moral character and reputation,’ he wrote in 2012. ‘I am unaware of anything in his background which would render him unsuitable to work with minor children.’ But contrary to that blanket statement, Hoeppner had already heard allegations directly from a diaconate candidate, Ron Vasek, that Grundhaus had molested him in the early 1970s. And so, attorney Jeff Anderson confronted the bishop with the letter during a deposition: ‘That’s a lie, isn’t it?’” By Paul Moses, Commonweal

Podcast: Inside the secret process of appointing a Catholic bishop
“When Father John Wester received a call just before 8 a.m. Mass, he had no idea it would be the nuncio, the pope’s ambassador, phoning to tell him he would be the next auxiliary bishop of San Francisco. ‘I think my knees were knocking,’ now-Archbishop Wester of Santa Fe, N.M., told America’s ‘Inside the Vatican’ podcast. The bishop said his parishioners told him, ‘You don’t look very good, Father!’ and I said, ‘Well, I don’t feel very good right now!’ It was kind of a shockeroo.’ Archbishop Wester’s story is not unusual. Most bishops are appointed without ever knowing they were being considered for the job and are caught by surprise when chosen. The bishop selection process is perhaps the most secretive hiring process in the world, shielded from both the candidate and the priests and people he will serve.” Inside the Vatican, by Colleen Dulle and Gerard O’Connell, America: The Jesuit Review

Parishes cannot obstruct sex abuse investigations
“The Catholic Church’s struggle to eradicate the cancer of clergy sex abuse is on trial today. The community at St. Sabina church in Chicago is trying to obstruct the investigation of their much-beloved pastor Fr. Michael Pfleger on charges he sexually molested minors, according to a report in the Chicago Sun-Times. ‘Once again this week, there was an organized effort through the St. Sabina website to employ inappropriate and intimidating tactics to put pressure on the Archdiocese of Chicago and the Independent Review Board (IRB) as the case of Father Michael Pfleger is being processed,’ Chicago Cardinal Blase Cupich wrote in a letter to the administrators of the parish.” By Michael Sean Winters, National Catholic Reporter

Panel: Racism compounds the clergy sex abuse crisis for Black Catholics
“As a kid, Fr. Bryan Massingale was an altar server at his predominantly-Black Catholic school. When he served at Masses with one priest in particular, nuns who worked at the school kept a close watch on Massingale and the other boys, never leaving them unattended. Years later, Massingale saw that priest’s name on a list of clergy credibly accused of sexual abuse. It dawned on him that the sisters were trying their best to protect him and other children. ‘If not for the efforts of those sisters, I could have been one of that man’s victims,’ said Massingale, a professor of theological and social ethics at Fordham University, in a panel on clergy sexual abuse in Black Catholic communities.” By Madeleine Davison, National Catholic Reporter

Synods will make the difference
“Over the years, we have begun to discover some differences between Jesus and the church: Jesus has credibility. The reputation of the church, on the other hand, teeters … Until finally, the renewal of the church has been swamped in regalia, clericalism and wealth … The church is again in need of reform and repentance, of growth and grace. It is being called in this era to embrace the whole church rather than simply a segment of it. The implication of that is that the church, too, as well as society, must move beyond clericalism, sexism and institutionalism, not to mention the emphasis on organization often at the expense of the people who identify and depend on it.” By Joan Chittister, National Catholic Reporter

ACCOUNTABILITY

Wisconsin to launch statewide investigation of clergy sex abuse, attorney general document reveals
“Wisconsin authorities will launch an investigation into the state’s Catholic dioceses and religious orders to determine how many clergy members have sexually assaulted children over the years. Attorney General Josh Kaul notified the state’s five dioceses as well as separate orders of Catholic priests that his office will review sexual abuse allegations against clergy and other faith leaders, according to a letter obtained by USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin. Wisconsin is home to the Archdiocese of Milwaukee and dioceses in Madison, Green Bay, La Crosse and Superior.” By Haley BeMiller, Laura Schulte and Patrick Marley, Green Bay Press Gazette

POPE FRANCIS

Pope facilitates Vatican prosecutions for cardinals, bishops
“Pope Francis has sent another message to Vatican-based cardinals and bishops about his intent to hold them accountable for criminal misconduct: He removed the procedural obstacles that had spared them from being prosecuted by the Vatican’s criminal tribunal. A new law published April 30 makes clear that Vatican city-state prosecutors have jurisdiction over Holy See cardinals and bishops and need only the pope’s consent to proceed with investigations against them. The law abrogated a regulation, upheld as recently as last year, that said only the tribunal’s highest appeals court, which is composed of three cardinal judges, could assess the actions of cardinals and bishops accused of criminal offenses.” By Nicole Winfield, The Associated Press, in National Catholic Reporter

Pope ousts leadership of Ecuadorian diocese amid complaints
“Pope Francis responded Wednesday (Apr. 28) to reports of poor governance, financial mismanagement and moral failings in the Ecuadorian diocese of Riobamba by not only accepting the resignation of the retiring bishop but that of his heir apparent as well. Francis on Wednesday accepted the resignations of Bishop Julio Parrilla Diaz, who turned 75 last month, and his deputy, Monsignor Gerardo Miguel Nieves Loja, 53. Nieves had been named ‘coadjutor bishop’ for Riobamba last year and was due to be consecrated bishop in February, to take over when Parrilla retired at 75, the normal retirement age for bishops. But Nieves offered his resignation to Francis a week before the ceremony.” By Nicole Winfield, Associated Press, on USNews.com

BISHOPS

German Catholic cardinal abandons medal over church abuse legacy
“Groups for survivors of sexual abuse at the hands of Catholic clergy in the Cologne and Trier dioceses welcomed Cardinal Reinhard Marx’s decision not to receive one of Germany’s top awards for public service — akin to an Anglo-Saxon knighthood. ‘It shows that churchly princes also are finally glancing at the people harmed,’ said Peter Bringmann-Henselder of a Cologne diocese advisory group, referring to the many children abused in the past by priests. Herman Schell of a Trier abuse victims group, calling itself Missbits, said Marx’s renunciation showed earnest candor, but irritation lingered over the cardinal’s reticence to explain his role in protecting perpetrators and trivializing abuse during his term as Trier bishop between 2002 and 2008.” By Deutsche-Welle

Stika facing likely ‘Vos estis’ Vatican investigation
“The Vatican has received multiple allegations of administrative misconduct against Bishop Richard Stika of Knoxville, and is expected to authorize an investigation under the terms of Vos estis lux mundi, The Pillar has learned. Complaints filed against the bishop allege that Stika impeded or restricted investigations into accusations of serial sexual misconduct by a seminarian who was living in his home, according to multiple sources in both the United States and Rome.” By PillarCatholic.com

PRIESTS

Pray, be poor, be close to the people, pope tells new priests
“The priesthood ‘is not a career, it is a service,’ Pope Francis told nine men just before ordaining them to the priesthood for the Diocese of Rome. The service to which priests are called must reflect the way God has cared and continues to care for his people, a ‘style of closeness, a style of compassion and a style of tenderness,’ the pope told the men April 25 during his homily at the ordination Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica.” By Cindy Wooden, Catholic News Service, in National Catholic Reporter

RELIGIOUS WOMEN

Bringing attention to exploited obedience, spiritual abuse in religious communities
“There has been much written recently about rising incidents of abuse and violence against women, including an important meeting of the U.N. Commission on Women. Through conversations about this, I also learned of another kind of abuse: spiritual/religious abuse. Although the term was new to me, the stories from women who have experienced it are not new. It was — and is — experienced in the context of obedience to church leaders, church teachings and projected images of women that tend to shame them.” By Joyce Meyer, Global Sisters Report, National Catholic Reporter

WOMEN’S VOICES

Barring women as leaders in church may be bad for their health, new study finds
“Going to church is generally touted as good for the soul. But there is also evidence church attendance can be good for your health — unless, that is, you are a woman at a church that bars women from preaching or other leadership roles. A new study published in the American Sociological Review has found that women who attend churches with such restrictions report worse health than those who attend churches with women in leadership roles. The study suggests sexism can counter some of the health benefits associated with religion, said co-author Patricia Homan, an associate professor of sociology at Florida State University.” By Bob Smietana, Religion News Service

LAITY & THE CHURCH

Catholic laypeople in Cologne Archdiocese demand local synod
“Catholic laypeople in the Archdiocese of Cologne have called for a local synod to address the ongoing crisis in Germany’s most populous diocese. ‘We must make every effort to reestablish a genuine dialogue between the cardinal, senior members of the diocesan leadership and the grassroots of the church,’ said Tim-O. Kurzbach, president of the Cologne archdiocesan council of Catholics. On March 18, the law firm Gercke Wollschläger released a report on how clergy sexual abuse was handled in the archdiocese.” By Catholic News Service on CatholicPhilly.com

CHILD PROTECTION

Papal safeguarding commission continues work online and in Rome
“Even as the COVID-19 pandemic continued, members of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors remained active in promoting outreach and providing new educational opportunities. As they met online and in Rome for their plenary assembly April 19-22, the members also welcomed a new member, Juan Carlos Cruz, a survivors’ advocate, who was participating in his first meeting since Pope Francis appointed him March 24.’ By Carl Glatz, Catholic News Service, on Cruxnow.com

Vatican approves strengthening safeguarding studies, research in Rome
“The Centre for Child Protection at Rome’s Pontifical Gregorian University has been transformed into a Vatican-approved academic institute with its own faculty and ability to award advanced academic degrees. Starting Sept. 1, 2021, the university’s center will become the Institute of Anthropology, offering interdisciplinary studies on human dignity and care and expanding its scope in research, the university said in a press release April 27. The Vatican Congregation for Catholic Education approved the change April 15, allowing the center to broaden its work, develop its own academic faculty and award a licentiate in safeguarding and a doctorate in anthropology, in addition to the current diploma in safeguarding.” By Catholic News Service in The Pilot

Annual reports detail training, outreach in archdiocesan child protection efforts
“The Archdiocese of Baltimore and the Independent Review Board that assists with child protection efforts released the fourth annual reports from the archdiocesan Office of Child and Youth Protection and the review board. Archbishop William E. Lori initiated the reports in 2019, with reports from fiscal/reporting years 2017 and 2018 released within months of each other. Since then, the reports have been issued annually. The latest report, which covers the reporting year from July 1, 2019, to June 30, 2020, notes that the archdiocese was again, as every year, found by outside auditors to be in full compliance with standards set by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops in the 2002 Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People and its accompanying norms, as well as updates to those policies.” By Christopher Gunty, Catholic Review of the Archdiocese of Baltimore

CHURCH FINANCES

Parishes enlisted to help pay clergy abuse victims
“St. Therese Catholic Parish in Albuquerque’s North Valley was once the largest in the Archdiocese of Santa Fe, with a holy shrine and tiled-roof church considered one of the finest ecclesiastical buildings in New Mexico.These days, the parish on North Fourth is one of the smallest and struggles to make ends meet. It is behind on its property insurance and in debt to the Archdiocese of Santa Fe … The financial press on parishes over the past several months comes as attorneys for the archdiocese, the state’s largest, and victims have tentatively settled on a yet-to-be-disclosed amount to be distributed to survivors.” By Colleen Heild, Albuquerque Journal

Vatican reforms at a crossroad, Part 1: the financial scandals
“More than eight years have passed (2,966 days, to be exact) since Pope Francis was elected to Peter’s throne, with a clear mandate from the College of Cardinals to reform the Roman Curia and clean up the Vatican’s financial scandals. More than eight years have passed (2,932 days) since the Pope formed the Council of Cardinals, to advise him on the process of curial reform. That Council has now held 33 meetings, but the long-awaited document that will reorganize the offices of the Vatican—which was supposedly in final form last June, given a title (Praedicate Evangelium), signed by the Pontiff, waiting only for official translations—has not yet appeared.” By Phil Lawler, CatholicCulture.org

Vatican reforms at a crossroad: the financial scandals
“Yesterday, in Part I of this analysis, I showed how the Vatican’s quest for financial credibility has been damaged by the highly questionable financial deals originating with the Secretariat of State. But the problem with the Secretariat of State goes beyond the realm of financial affairs. Americans tend to assume that the Vatican Secretariat of State is equivalent to the US Department of State: an agency that deals with foreign affairs. But the Vatican’s ‘superdicastery’ has far more sweeping influence. One section of the Secretariat, the Office for Relations with States, is indeed the counterpart of the State Department, concerned with diplomatic relations. But another section, the Office for General Affairs, supervises all of the work of the Roman Curia.” By Phil Lawler, CatholicCulture.org

VOICES

Synodality and papal primacy: questions regarding the Catholic Church today and the next pope
“‘There’s a short path that is long, and a long path that is short.’ In the third seasons of the Netflix series ‘Shtisel,’ an eminent ultra-Orthodox rabbi who heads a yeshiva in Jerusalem offers that bit of sage advice to a star student who is dealing with a life-and-death decision. Short paths tend to become shortcuts leading nowhere, while wisdom suggests taking time to make a decision. ‘A long path that is short’ is indeed a good way to explain the virtue of synodality, the biggest wager Pope Francis has made for the Catholic Church today.” By Massimo Faggioli, La Croix International, in National Catholic Reporter

This is the true ‘gold standard’ for child protection in Pennsylvania
“Across the 32 Catholic archdioceses in the United States, there are limited policies that exist to protect children from clergy sex abuse. In fact, according to CHILD USA’s recent study of the written child protection policies of the 32 U.S. Roman Catholic Archdioceses, there is no uniformity in policies across the country, and the content and quality of these policies vary significantly. The same research additionally found that the average overall score for all 32 archdioceses, based on an objective system determining whether practices and procedures to safeguard abuse victims are described in the archdiocese’s policies, was 100.9 out of 250 points, or just 40 percent of the total possible score.” By Marci Hamilton, Capital-Star Guest Contributor

The lists of ‘credibly accused priests’ are all over the map
“Think back a couple of decades. Remember how survivors and advocates deplored the stunning disparity that characterized how both the accusers and the accused were treated based solely on where the reported abuse happened? A case in Chicago, for instance, was handled very differently from a case across the state line in Milwaukee or across another state line in Gary, Indiana. These disparities were supposed to end in 2002. That year, gathered in Dallas, all of the United States bishops adopted a first-ever allegedly binding nationwide church abuse policy mandating ‘openness’ and ‘transparency’ in this scandal. But for the most part, consistency just isn’t happening. Each bishop continues to act as he sees fit, despite the nationwide policy.” By AdamHorowitzLaw.com

Abuse survivor believes now is a great evangelical moment for Church
“Teresa Pitt Green, who as a child was sexually abused by Catholic priests, said she is convinced ‘there’s a lot more hope than people dare to feel.’ ‘If I can turn all the suffering and darkness of my life into a testimony that even in that place, Jesus was there and Jesus heals me, then that’s not such a bad way to use having been abused,’ she said. Pitt Green is co-founder of Spirit Fire, a Christian restorative justice initiative and fellowship of survivors of abuse in the Church.” By Catholic Standard

Editorial: Pennsylvania Senate must stand up for victims of abuse
“Getting just about any piece of substantial legislation passed in Pennsylvania’s General Assembly is likely to be a roller coaster ride for the lawmakers and activists who support it. That’s just the nature of the institution. But it’s hard to imagine anyone having a rougher ride than state Rep. Mark Rozzi and his allies trying to expand legal rights for survivors of childhood sexual abuse. Rozzi, a Muhlenberg Township Democrat, has been working on this issue ever since entering the Legislature eight years ago. His passion for addressing the issue is motivated by his own childhood experience being raped by a priest and further fueled by so many other harrowing stories shared by fellow abuse survivors.” By Daily Times Editorial Board

STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS

Vermont bill would end time limit for civil physical abuse
“The Vermont Senate on Tuesday (Arp. 20) passed a proposal to eliminate the statute of limitations in civil cases of childhood physical abuse. The bill, approved by a vote of 29-0, builds on legislation passed two years ago that ended the statute of limitations for civil cases of past childhood sexual abuse. The proposal that passed Tuesday was pushed by a group of now-aging people who say they suffered physical abuse while living at the St. Joseph’s Orphanage in Burlington, which closed in 1974.” By Wilson Ring, Associated Press

New Colorado law ends statute of limitations for civil sex abuse cases
“Gov. Jared Polis signed a bill into law Thursday (Apr. 15) ending the statute of limitations for civil sex abuse cases. The bill removes the current six-year limitation on bringing a civil claim based on sexual misconduct. It applies to any incidents that happen on or after January 1, 2022. The legislation defines sexual misconduct and removes restrictions that limit victims’ ability to file a civil action or recover damages. The bipartisan bill was signed as survivors of sexual assault spoke out about how this bill will change lives.” By Angela Case, FOX-TV21 News

With return of lawmakers, victims of child sex crimes implore Pennsylvania Senate to advance reform bill
“Those were the gut-wrenching stories shared on Monday (Apr. 19) as dozens of victims and advocates urged the Pennsylvania Senate to advance legislation that would provide a temporary period of time for victims – all of them now adults and out of legal recourse – to seek justice. The state Senate this week is poised to consider a bill that would pave the way for victims timed-out of the legal system to get a two-year reprieve to file civil claims – facing predators in court, or at the very least, the institutions that turned a blind eye to their abuse. The state House of Representatives has already approved the bill.” By Ivey DeJesus, PennLive.com

CLERGY SEXUAL ABUSE

INVESTIGATION: What is the real reason the Archdiocese of New Orleans declared bankruptcy
Russ Hebron, the SNAP (Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests) Leader of Louisiana, emphasized this. ‘They have multiple insurance claims of policies that cover exactly this. Sex abuse. That’s what it’s for. They’re gonna pay for most of this. Not all of it, but most of this. It’s crazy. It’s a losing battle,’ he explained. ‘… This is a matter of secrecy, a matter of silencing. The church thinks in centuries, not in weeks or years, but in centuries, literally. That’s how quickly they change. So that’s what we’re up against here.’ (Archbishop Gregory) Aymond confirmed in a WWL-TV interview that insurance will pay for the sex abuse claims … When the reporter interviewing him asked why the archdiocese needs bankruptcy protection then if insurance pays for abuse claims, one of his advisors interrupted and said that the archbishop had already answered that question.” By Helen Lewis, Big Easy Magazine

Why ABC’s (Australian Broadcasting Company) deep dive into Catholic Church abuse is groundbreaking
“‘Revelation’ (now streaming on DocPlay) is a three-part, Australian-produced documentary series, shot across a couple of years in multiple locations. It’s nothing short of a revelation itself – and a must-watch for anyone who has been following the allegations of abuse against the Catholic Church both across the ditch – and here. ABC journalist and director Sarah Ferguson was given unprecedented access – by, yes, the church – to a few of the perpetrators, court sessions and archival material. The film-makers also travelled to New Zealand in pursuit of stories here.” By Stuff.co.nz

In New Mexico, shadows of a former haven for troubled priests
“What remains of the Servants of the Paraclete here is a wisp of the Catholic order that thrived in this mountain town a few decades ago. The ministry that drew hundreds of priests to Jemez Springs for nearly 50 years, treating them for problems ranging from alcoholism to pedophilia, shows hints of its old self. But its history is inescapable as the Archdiocese of Santa Fe continues to raise money to settle lawsuits filed by dozens of people who say they were sexually abused by priests.” By Rick Ruggles, Santa Fe New Mexican

COLORADO

Settlement helping victim of Colorado Catholic priest abuse to start a new life
“A state-led investigation into child sex abuse by Catholic priests in Colorado in 2019 discovered 52 priests were responsible for sexually assaulting 212 children between the 1950s and 1999. Now, one of the victims is telling a story of healing after he reached a settlement with the church. ‘I never thought I would come out of the darkness,’ said Troy Gallegos, a Denver man who kept his story a secret or more than four decades. ‘I’m still trying to climb out of there.’” By Tony Kovaleski, ABC-TV7 News

CONNECTICUT

Lawsuits make new sex abuse claims against Legion of Christ
“The Legion of Christ, a Roman Catholic order disgraced by sexual abuse committed by its founder and other clergy, is facing new allegations of molestation of children in lawsuits filed this month in Connecticut, where it is based. Five men and a woman sued the order in federal court on April 14 and 15, saying they were victims of sexual crimes when they attended schools run by the Legion of Christ in New Hampshire and Rhode Island in the 1990s when they were children.” By Dave Collins, Associated Press

FLORIDA

New York man shares story of his alleged sexual abuse by a Florida priest in the 1970s
“The state’s two-year investigation into allegations Catholic priests sexually abused Florida children resulted in a blistering report, naming 97 Catholic priests meeting the state’s criteria for prosecution. Not a single one will stand trial. The priests were dead, had already been prosecuted, or in most cases — too many years had passed. But the story doesn’t end there.” By Kylie McGivern, WFTS-TV News Tampa Bay

ILLINOIS

SNAP encourages Paprocki to add five names to diocese’s ‘credibly accused’ list
“Holding signs like ‘Split hairs or protect kids’ outside of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, members and supporters of a group of clergy sexual abuse survivors urged Springfield Catholic Bishop Thomas John Paprocki Wednesday (Apr. 21) to include five more names on the diocese’s list of ‘credibly accused’ priests. All five of the accused served at parishes or studied in the Springfield diocese, which includes 28 counties in central Illinois.” By Steven Spearie, State Journal Register

Chicago priest asked to step away following report of minor sex abuse decades ago
“A Chicago priest has been asked to step away from ministry following a report of minor sex abuse from over 35 years ago. In a letter to members of the Christ the King parish and school, Cardinal Blase Cupich said the archdiocese received a minor sex abuse allegation involving Rev. Lawrence Sullivan. Sullivan has agreed to cooperate with the request and will live away from the parish, the archdiocese said.” By WGN-TV9 News

Father Christopher Ciomek, pastor of St. Peter Damian Parish in Bartlett, removed amid 30-year-old child sex abuse claims
“Father Christopher Ciomek, pastor of St. Peter Damian Parish in northwest suburban Bartlett, has been removed from ministry as the Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago investigations allegations of child sex abuse dating back 30 years. ‘It is with great difficulty that I write to share news about your pastor, Father Christopher Ciomek. In keeping with our child protection policies, I have asked Father Ciomek to step aside from ministry following receipt by the Archdiocese of allegations of sexual abuse of a minor approximately 30 years ago. Allegations are claims that have not been proven as true or false. Therefore, guilt or innocence should not be assumed,’ Cardinal Blase Cupich said in a letter to the parish.” By CBS-TV2 News

INDIANA

Fr. Bradley ‘rejoiced’ after Vatican reinstates him following sexual abuse allegations
“Fr. Joseph Edward Bradley, a priest of the Diocese of Owensboro, has been reinstated by the Vatican. ‘I am so happy I can hardly talk,’ Father Bradley shared. ‘I’ve been on cloud nine.’ On March 1, 2019, Fr. Bradley was temporarily suspended from public ministry by Bishop William F. Medley following a recommendation by the Diocesan Review Board that an allegation of the sexual abuse of a minor had been found credible.” By Jill Lyman and Evan Gorman, NBC-TV14 News

LOUISIANA

Rape allegations surface for Jesuit priest accused of inappropriate conduct at Loyola, Boston College
“A Jesuit priest who founded a Catholic service group resembling the Peace Corps before facing complaints of inappropriate conduct at Boston College and Loyola University is now accused of raping a subordinate on a volunteer mission. Tim Ballard’s allegations against the Rev. Ted Dziak triggered Dziak’s removal last fall as chaplain at Le Moyne College in upstate New York, where he had landed after leaving Loyola only weeks earlier. It’s unclear whether Dziak faces other consequences.’ By Ramon Antonio Vargas, NOLA.com

MARYLAND

Baltimore priest Fr. Martin H. Demek removed from ministry after allegations of child sex abuse emerge
“Fr. Martin H. Demek, the pastor at Corpus Christi Catholic Church in Baltimore, was suspended from his ministry pending the results of an investigation into allegations he sexually abused a minor more than 30 years ago. The Archdiocese of Baltimore is now investigating those allegations and have suspended Demek from the ministry pending the results of the investigation. Demek denied the allegation, the archdiocese said in a press release Sunday, and he is cooperating with the investigation.” By WJZ-TV13 News

MASSACHUSETTS

Lawyers of man abused by late bishop want judge from outside area, citing diocese’s legal influence
“Flagging ‘novel questions of law’ that will require at least a month-long trial, lawyers for a Chicopee man abused by a former Catholic bishop want the state’s chief justice to assign the case to a single judge, one from outside Western Massachusetts to avoid undue influence. In a recent filing in Hampden Superior Court, the lawyers say the man, identified in court documents as John Doe, faces the risk of being further traumatized by the legal process as he seeks to prove not only his sexual abuse by the late Christopher J. Weldon in the early 1960s, but that employees of the Springfield Diocese, including former Bishop Mitchell T. Rozanski, blocked his attempts to bring the molestation to light.” By Larry Parnass, The Berkshire Eagle

Complaints about Boston College priest sent to Leahy and Jesuit provincial years prior to rape allegation
“Members of the Boston College community sent complaints beginning in the 1997-98 academic year to University President Rev. William P. Leahy, S.J., accusing Rev. Ted Dziak, S.J., a Jesuit at BC from 1990 to 1998, of inappropriate conduct with students. Dziak—who went on to work at Jesuit schools in Jamaica, New Orleans, and New York—was accused last week of raping a postgraduate volunteer in Belize in 2004, according to nola.com.” By Julie Kiersznowski, Victor Stefanescu, Amy Palmer and Megan Kelly, The Heights

MICHIGAN

Former U.P. priest pleads guilty to sex abuse, to serve minimum of eight years in prison
“A former Upper Peninsula priest pleaded guilty today to four counts of criminal sexual conduct, which will result in the harshest prison sentence thus far in the Michigan Attorney General’s clergy abuse investigation. Gary Jacobs, 75, pleaded guilty in Ontonagon County on Thursday, April 22, to three counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct and one count of second-degree criminal sexual conduct, the attorney general’s office announced. He was facing four separate sexual abuse cases and his plea agreement required that he plead guilty to the highest charge in each case.” By Justine Lofton, MLive.com Michigan

MISSOURI

Guarding faith: St. Louis Archdiocese adds another priest’s name to its list of abusers, but won’t talk about it
“To this day, Our Lady of Providence is still active. But it’s faced with a conundrum. In 2019, the archdiocese released a list of dozens of clergy deemed to have substantiated claims of sexual abuse of minors against them. Last month, (Rev. Vincent J.) Duggan’s name was added to the existing list, which victim advocates say is among the least informative in the country. Apart from his name, the list merely says Duggan was ordained in 1940 and died in 1984. It doesn’t say where Duggan, or the other disgraced archdiocesan priests and deacons, served. Nor are there mug shots.” By Jess Bogan St. Louis Post-Dispatch

NEW JERSEY

‘You think you’re the only one’: N.J. abuse survivor featured in Discovery+ documentary
“At first, Keith Rennar Brennan felt flattered by the attention lavished on him by the director of his church choral group. ‘After only a few weeks of being in the group, he started calling me every night and we’d meet every week,’ Brennan said of the music director at St. Paul the Apostle Roman Catholic Church in Jersey City, where he grew up. But starting at age 14, the yearlong friendship evolved into sexual abuse.” By Deena Yellin, NorthJersey.com

N.J. Catholic priest accused of sexually abusing a boy 30 years ago
“A Catholic priest in Atlantic Highlands stands accused of sexual assault in a lawsuit filed by a man who claims the priest repeatedly molested him decades ago when he was 13 or 14 years old. Rev. Joseph Farrell, now a pastor at St. Isidore the Farmer Parish in New Egypt, was put on leave by the Diocese of Trenton after the 44-year-old man filed suit. NJ Advance Media is not disclosing the plaintiff’s name since his lawsuit involves claims of sexual abuse.” By Rebecca Panico, NJ Advance Media on NJ.com

NEW MEXICO

St. Therese no stranger to clergy sexual abuse
“St. Therese Catholic parish in Albuquerque knows too well the scourge of clergy sexual abuse. Eight of the 79 priests and other clergy members on the archdiocese list of those ‘credibly accused’ of molesting children worked at the North Valley parish over a 32-year period. The first priest was assigned in 1959, five years after the current church was built.” By Colleen Heild, Albuquerque Journal

10th Circuit upholds sex abuse convictions of former Catholic priest
“The 10th Circuit upheld a federal grand jury’s conviction of a former priest on seven counts of sexual abuse against a 10-year-old boy dating back to the 90s. Arthur Perrault, a former Roman Catholic priest who served at several parishes in Albuquerque, New Mexico, fled the country in 1992 to Canada and then Morocco after learning of a local reporter’s investigation into allegations that Perrault sexually abused young boys.” By Jon Parton, Courthouse News Service

St. Michael’s High School sued over alleged abuse decades ago
“Seven men filed a lawsuit last week against St. Michael’s High School in Santa Fe, alleging school officials failed to prevent three staff members – all Christian Brothers – from sexually abusing them while they were students decades ago. The lawsuit filed in 1st Judicial District Court alleges Brothers Andrew Abdon, Louis Brousseau and Tom McConnell abused students while working for the school as teachers and athletics coaches between 1953 and 1980. All three had already been listed on the Archdiocese of Santa Fe’s credibly accused list.” By Kyle Land, Albuquerque Journal

NEW YORK.

For first time, diocese releases list of ‘credibly accused’ clergy
“As part of its bankruptcy court filings, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Rockville Centre, which oversees parishes across Long Island, has released a list of over 100 clergy accused of sexual abuse while serving in the diocese, including some who had not previously been identified. Eleven of the clergy on the list served on the South Fork from the late-1950s through as recently as 2000.” By Carissa Katz, The East Hampton Star

Rochester’s Catholic diocese barred from shielding identities of accused priests
“A federal judge has blocked an effort by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Rochester to shield the identity of priests accused of sexual abuse during its bankruptcy procedure, after the Democrat and Chronicle objected to the practice. Gannett Co. Inc., the parent corporation of the Rochester newspaper, filed a motion to intervene in the diocese’s bankruptcy proceeding ‘in order to enforce the public’s right of access.’ The diocese filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in September 2019, saying it could not afford to pay the compensation being demanded in a flood of new civil suits alleging sexual abuse by its priests in past decades. Hundreds of claims have been filed against the diocese as part of the bankruptcy process.” By Sean Lahman, Rochester Democrat & Chronicle

OHIO

Trial delayed for Cincinnati priest accused of rape
“The trial for Geoff Drew, the Catholic priest accused of raping an altar boy decades ago, has been delayed again, the Hamilton County Prosecutor’s office confirmed Friday (Apr. 23). Nearly 21 months after Cincinnati police arrested Drew, his jury trial was set to begin Monday before Judge Leslie Ghiz. Now, Hamilton County court records show a ‘plea or trial setting’ scheduled for Monday at 10 a.m.” By Craig Cheatham, WCPO-TV9 News

For true healing, abuse survivors urge church to hear their stories
“A trio of survivors of sexual abuse are inviting the Catholic Church — from parishioners in the pews to the bishops who lead dioceses — to join them on their journey toward healing and reconciliation. The invitation from Mike Hoffman, who chairs the Archdiocese of Chicago’s Hope and Healing Committee, Mark Williams, a special adviser to Cardinal Joseph W. Tobin of Newark, New Jersey, and a deacon in the Diocese of Joliet, Illinois who asked to remain anonymous is meant to help the wider church heal as well.” By Dennis Sadowski, Catholic News Service, on Cruxnow.com

VERMONT

Former Vermonter files sexual abuse lawsuit against Weston Priory
“A former Vermont resident has filed a civil lawsuit in Windsor County Superior Court, alleging the Weston Priory and the Jesuits religious order were negligent in allowing him to be sexually abused as a teenager in about 1970. Michael Veitch, 66, of New York said he was 15 when priest James Talbot molested him during a visit to the priory, according to claims first reported in 2018. Talbot, convicted three years ago of sexually abusing a boy in Maine, recently was released from prison. The registered sex offender, now in his 80s, was jailed earlier on another conviction and has settled lawsuits with more than a dozen other plaintiffs, according to media reports.” By VTDigger.com

WASHINGTON

When sin runs deep: one Puyallup church, two priests, one awful legacy of child abuse
“Twice in the past two years, a Catholic parish in Pierce County has found itself on a list of sin, scandal and modest compensation for great pain. It’s a list that no church wants to show up on. Credible allegations of sexual abuse against two former priests led to financial settlements between abuse survivors and the Archdiocese of Seattle. The two served at All Saints Parish in Puyallup within a decade of each other. Both were accused of violating their sacred trust while assigned to the parish on 3rd Street Southwest.” By The News Tribune

WISCONSIN

Advocates for sexual abuse survivors applaud DOJ investigation into Catholic Church
“Advocacy groups representing survivors of sexual abuse are applauding the news that the Wisconsin Department of Justice plans to open an investigation into abuse by clergy members and other leaders in the Catholic church. USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin reported Thursday (Apr. 22) that Attorney General Josh Kaul sent a letter this week to the state’s five Catholic dioceses and several religious orders to inform them of the investigation. Melanie Sakoda, survivor support coordinator for Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, said she hopes the investigation will lead to a more complete list of abusers across the state. Sakoda said many of the lists released by dioceses are incomplete, leaving off visiting priests or those with abuse allegations reported in other dioceses.” By Hope Kirwan, Wisconsin Public Radio

ARGENTINA

Plaintiffs in second Provolo sex abuse trial demand ‘end to delays’
“More than a decade after pleading guilty in 1988 to sexually abusing a young boy in Louisville, Kentucky, Deacon James Griffith was moved by his religious order to a monastery next to Immaculate Conception School in Norwood Park. The Passionists — the Catholic religious order that at the time was overseeing the church and school just north of the Kennedy Expressway on the Northwest Side — say he was assigned there in 2002 ‘to work in the provincial office’ on the third floor.” By Robert Herguth, Chicago Sun-times

CANADA

Ottawa Catholic board launching review after longtime teacher charged with sex offences
“The Ottawa Catholic School Board is launching a review of how it handled previous allegations brought forward to school administrators concerning a longtime teacher at St. Matthew High School in Orleans. Last Tuesday, Ottawa police charged Rick Watkins, 57, of Ottawa with three counts of sexual assault, three counts of sexual interference and three counts of sexual exploitation of a young person. Watkins is also known as Rick Despatie. None of the allegations have been tested in court.” By Josh Pringle, CTV News

St. Boniface priest loses ordination years after sex abuse claims
“A Roman Catholic priest from St. Boniface has been stripped of his ordination by the Pope, six years after allegations surfaced that he sexually abused young men he was counselling. Archbishop Albert LeGatt of the Archdiocese of St. Boniface announced in a letter to clergy dated April 19 that Fred Olds, former priest at St. Timothy and St. Bernadette parishes, was dismissed from the clerical state by Pope Francis and also removed from all priestly obligations, including celibacy.” By Brenda Suderman, Winnipeg Free Press

GUIANA

Bishop to the rescue as Cayenne torn over sex abuse
“Bishop Michel Dubost, after running Lyon archdiocese between the resignation of Cardinal Philippe Barbarin and the appointment of new Archbishop Olivier de Germay, will take on another clerical sexual abuse controversy as the new apostolic administrator of Cayenne diocese in French Guiana. Dubost, 78, will temporarily lead the diocese while a canonical inquiry investigates a dispute between retired Bishop Emmanuel Lafont and an illegal Haitian immigrant who accuses him of sexual abuse. The bishop flatly denied the charge and accused the immigrant of robbery.” By Tom Heneghan, The Tablet

IRELAND & NORTHERN IRELAND

Dublin Archdiocese ‘committed to protecting children’ despite halving staff at safeguarding service
“The Dublin Catholic Archdiocese has begun restructuring the support services it provides to parishes after halving the number of staff working in the Child Safeguarding and Protection Service (CSPS). The number of staff working in the CSPS has been reduced from 10 to five people in recent months as part of a wider redundancy programm in the Archdiocese.” By TheJournal.ie

Bishop of Raphoe confirms diocese cooperating with retired priest investigation
“The Bishop of Raphoe has confirmed that a retired priest of the diocese has been charged with assaulting two minors between 1972 and 1975. It is understood the 85-year-old retired priest has been released on bail after he was charged with 26 counts of indecent assault. In a statement, Bishop Alan McGuckian says the diocese has been cooperating fully with Gardai and Tusla regarding the case. He added that they are committed to assisting and supporting anyone who has been a victim of clerical abuse in seeking justice.” By Highland News Radio

SPAIN

Catholic leaders put numbers to sex abuse claims
“In a first public attempt to put numbers to instances of child sex abuse by the country’s Catholic clergy, Spain’s Episcopal Conference revealed Friday (Apr. 23) that 220 cases were officially reported to the Vatican over the past two decades. The conference, which is the top governing body of Spain’s Catholic Church, said Spanish bishops submitted 76 allegations against regular priests and 144 against members of specific religious orders to the Vatican’s office that handles sex abuse cases since 2001.” By Aritz Parra, Associated Press