Voice of the Faithful Focus, Jul. 10, 2020


TOP STORIES

Annual audit shows more than 4,400 allegations of clergy abuse reported
“More than 4,400 allegations of sexual abuse of minors by Catholic clergy were reported during the year ending June 30, 2019, a significant jump from the previous auditing period, according to a report on diocesan and eparchial compliance with the U.S. bishops’ ‘Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People.’ Released June 25, the 17th annual report from the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Secretariat of Child and Youth Protection states that 4,220 child sexual abuse survivors filed 4,434 allegations. In the 2017-2018 audit period, 1,381 survivors filed 1,451 allegations.” By Catholic News Service

Pope moves against Polish bishop accused of hiding predators
“Pope Francis has ordered a Polish bishop to leave his central diocese and let someone else run it while he is under investigation for covering up cases of sexual abuse that were featured in a second clergy abuse documentary that has rocked Poland’s Catholic Church. Francis on Thursday (Jun. 25) named the archbishop of Lodz, Grzegorz Rys, to temporarily take over as head of the Kalisz diocese.” By Nicole Winfield and Monika Scislowska, Associated Press

Abuse allegations against former Springfield Bishop Christopher Weldon ‘unequivocally credible,’ investigation finds
“A retired superior court judge’s review of sexual abuse allegations against former Bishop Christopher J. Weldon, who led the Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield for more than 25 years, found the accusations to be ‘unequivocally credible. Meanwhile, mandatory reporters in the diocese who first heard the alleged victim’s account failed to report the matter to law enforcement officials, according to the executive summary for a 350-plus page report released Wednesday (Jun. 24) by the diocese. The report is the product of an investigation by retired Superior Court Judge Peter A. Velis, who was hired a year ago to investigate the matter.” By Anne-Gerard Flynn, The Springfield Republican

Money for trauma
“The surreal pink and orange hues of New Norcia shoot up out of the sparse Western Australian landscape, just shy of two hours north of Perth. A self-styled quirky stop-off for tourists, it is home to Australia’s only monastic town. New Norcia is also home to one of Australia’s worst records of alleged historical abuse of any institution in the country.” By Jeremy Story Carter, ABC Australia

Report on sexual abuse allegations against late Springfield Bishop Christopher Weldon could prove pivotal
“A soon-to-be-released report nearly a year in the making could shed light on decades of sexual abuse by clergy in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield and forever change how one of its most influential bishops is viewed. Last July, retired Superior Court Judge Peter A. Velis was asked by Bishop Mitchell T. Rozanski to investigate allegations of sexual misconduct made against the late Bishop Christopher J. Weldon dating back to the early 1960s. The report is expected to be released before Rozanski is installed as Archbishop of St. Louis on Aug. 25.” By Anne-Gerard Flynn, Springfield Republican on MassLive.com

ACCOUNTABILITY

Big differences in diocesan financial accountability says priests’ report on transparency
“‘Good governance demands that the prevailing clericalist culture of secrecy must end,’ says Soline Humbert … According to a ‘Transparency Table’ published this week (Jun. 21) on the Association of Catholic Priests’ website, the diocese of Ossory is the best in Ireland for publishing information about diocesan finances, with the Diocese of Cork and Ross listed in second place … The Transparency Table uses scores based on ten criteria developed by the Voice of the Faithful group in the United States, including the availability of diocesan financial accounts on diocesan websites, publication of Diocesan Finance Committee Membership and the ease of access that a diocese provides about financial information and their operations.” By Cian Mollow, CatholicIreland.net

CARDINALS

Spanish cardinals offer their red hats to women, calling the zucchetto an ‘illusion’
“Three Spanish-born cardinals on Wednesday (Jun. 24) offered up their ‘red hats and cardinal rings’ to any woman who wants to be a member of the Catholic Church’s most exclusive club. Yet, there’s a catch: they argue that there’s a need to rediscover the priesthood as Jesus perceived it, saying ‘it’s about service, not power.’ ‘Women, like men, have to rediscover baptism and the dignity of being children of God that the baptism gives us,’ said Cardinal Cristobal Lopez, archbishop of Rabat. ‘Our joy is not in being bishops or cardinals, ordained or not. Our joy must come from being children of God.’” By Inés San Martín, Cruxnow.com

CARDINAL PELL

Cardinal Pell to publish prison diary
“Cardinal George Pell is set to publish his prison diary musing on life in solitary confinement, the Church, politics and sport. Catholic publisher Ignatius Press says the first instalment of the 1000-page diary would likely be published in 2021. Ignatius’ editor Fr Joseph Fessio sent a letter to email subscribers asking for donations, saying Ignatius wanted to give Cardinal Pell ‘appropriate advances’ for the diary to help offset his legal debts. The publisher envisages putting out three to four volumes and the diary becoming a ‘spiritual classic.’” By CathNews.com

PRIESTS

Despite Vatican’s ruling, Virginia priest who blogs about clergy sex abuse remains defiant
“A Catholic Diocese of Richmond priest who frequently blogs criticism over the church’s handling of clergy sexual abuse had his petition to remain the pastor of two southwest Virginia parishes rejected by the Vatican. Rev. Mark D. White was suspended from the ministry by Richmond Bishop Barry Knestout last month after being ordered in April to leave two parishes, St. Joseph’s in Martinsville and St. Francis of Assisi in Rocky Mount, and relocate to a retreat center in Abingdon, Virginia.” By Dean Mirshahi, WRIC-TV8 News

WOMEN DEACONS

On women deacons, U.S. expert says Pope waiting for more forceful demand from faithful
“On the women deacons issue, a US expert has said that the Pope is waiting for a more forceful demand for that ministry to come from the faithful. On the question of women’s ordination, ‘I think the Holy Father is waiting for the voice of the Holy Spirit to speak more loudly in the Church, and I think it’s up to the People of God [to decide they want female deacons] and to explain that to their bishops, because the bishops seem to all be waiting for someone else to tell them that it’s ok to ordain a woman as a deacon,” Phyllis Zagano, a professor at Hofstra University in New York, told America in an interview July 1.” By Mada Jurado, NovenaNews.com

VATICAN

Vatican removes Foxhoven, convicted sex offender, from priesthood
“The Vatican has removed a man serving 12 years in prison for sexual battery from the priesthood. Henry Christopher Foxhoven pled guilty to three counts of sexual battery in November 2018 in Athens County. The Vatican dismissed him from the priesthood in March and informed Bishop Jeffrey Monforton officially June 2 and Foxhoven on June 19.” By WTOV-TV9

CHURCH FINANCES

Diocese sees 54% increase in financial transparency rating.
“‘As the recipient of your generosity, the Diocese takes the responsibility of carefully managing your gifts very seriously. We are committed to the highest standards of good stewardship, accountability and transparency.’ These words from Bishop Ronald Gainer were reaffirmed at the end of 2019 when the Voice of the Faithful Annual Diocesan Online Financial Transparency Study was released. This study, annually conducted by the independent VOTF organization, reports on the financial transparency of dioceses and archdioceses throughout the United States. In 2019, the Diocese of Harrisburg received a total score of 86% out of 100%, which is a 54% increase over the Diocese’s score in 2018. The report analyzed the 2018 financial report posted to the Diocesan website.” By Diocese of Harrisburg

Ex-Priest Accused of Using Parish Money to Buy TV, Furniture
“A former Roman Catholic priest in Rhode Island is accused of using parish money to make $40,000 in purchases before leaving the priesthood in 2019. Steven Matthew Glover, 42, of Coventry, has been charged with larceny, obtaining money under false pretenses and fraudulent use of a credit card, Rhode Island State Police announced Wednesday.” By Associated Press in U.S. News & World Report

Former Comptroller of Catholic Diocese of Steubenville pleads guilty to tax crimes, embezzlement
“The former comptroller of the Catholic Diocese of Steubenville pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court to failing to pay the Internal Revenue Service payroll taxes withheld from the paychecks of diocesan employees, to filing false tax returns and also embezzling $299,500 in diocesan funds between 2008 and 2017. David A. Franklin, 67, pleaded guilty today to one count of willful failure to account for and pay over employment tax, one count of making a false income tax return and one count of wire fraud.” By U.S. Attorney’s Office, Southern District of Ohio

FUTURE OF THE CHURCH

Survey shows who may be leaving the Catholic Church
“A Pew survey earlier this year found that 10 percent of Americans claim to be former Catholics. While Catholics remain at 25 percent of the U.S. population, it is immigration that is keeping the numbers up. Who are the Catholics who are leaving? Are they the critical and disloyal? The data point to a more complex picture. To pursue this question, let’s begin by a look at Albert Hirschman’s classic book, Exit, Voice, and Loyalty, which analyzes customer behavior and categorizes it according to two dimensions: critical or noncritical, and loyal or nonloyal.” By Anthony J. Pogorelc, William D’Antonio (from a 2008 article in National Catholic Reporter)

VOICES

Unrepentant
“Despite revelations of clergy sex abuse and promises of transparency, a prominent Jesuit university is doing little to punish priests who cross the line. In this follow-up investigation about the Jesuit order in the Pacific Northwest, reporter Emily Schwing has two stories about Gonzaga University, which among Jesuit schools has the highest number of predatory priests who worked as staff and faculty. The first story takes us to a remote Alaska Native village where a prominent priest was accused of sex abuse by four young men.” By RevealNews.org

Expert warns child protection took ‘severe blow’ during pandemic
“In a webinar on child protection, a top Catholic expert warned that the risks of online child sexual abuse or exploitation has increased significantly during the coronavirus pandemic, yet attention to the issue has faded. “I believe honestly that safeguarding and safeguarding minors in the Church, in the States, in the (other) countries, has suffered a severe blow in terms of public attention and in terms of public funding and other funding,” German Jesuit Father Hans Zollner said June 18.” By Elise Ann Allen, Cruxnow.com

STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS

Opinion: Why lawmakers should reform law to help victims of childhood sexual abuse
“I read with great disappointment the failure of Colorado state lawmakers to once again take action which would have granted access to our legal system for child victims of sexual abuse. It was right for victims and advocates to pull support from House Bill 1296, eliminating the statute of limitations for child sexual abuse only going forward. The bill as proposed, failed to address the needs of past child sexual abuse victims.” By Mark Crawford, The Colorado Sun

CLERGY SEXUAL ABUSE

List of Marianist members found to have sexually abused a minor
“Marianist Provincial Father Oscar Vasquez along with Assistant Provincial Brother Bernard Ploeger announce the publication of a list of names of Province members found to have sexually abused a minor.” By The Marianists, Province of the United States

Book is among scant print resources for Catholic sex abuse victims
“Given the sexual crimes by Catholic clergy that have come to light from 2002 onward, as well as increased societal awareness of the problem of child abuse in general, the paucity of officially approved Catholic literature for abuse survivors is shameful. Among the tiny handful of print resources that do exist for Catholics who were sexually victimized as children, “Veronica’s Veil,” published in 2014 with an imprimatur from Bishop Paul S. Loverde, then head of the Diocese of Arlington, Virginia, is by far the most ambitious.” By Dawn Eden Goldstein, Catholic News Service, on CatholicPhilly.com

FLORIDA

Sarasota County man sues priest, alleging sexual abuse
“A 33-year-old man has filed a lawsuit against a retired Catholic priest who lives in Ormond Beach, accusing the priest of sexually molesting him two decades ago when the man was a teenager being held in a juvenile detention facility. Louis Reed’s suit is filed in Polk County Circuit Court against the Rev. Fred Ruse. An attorney for the former priest said his client did not want to discuss the lawsuit and denied the allegations in a phone interview, citing Reed’s criminal history to question his credibility.” By Frank Fernandez, Sarasota Herald-Tribune

IDAHO

Priest accused of abuse leading mass at Catholic church in McCall, popular podcast says
“The Roman Catholic Diocese of Boise responded Wednesday (Jun. 24) after an investigation done by Reveal, a national public radio show and podcast, outlined past abuse allegations made against a current Idaho priest. The podcast, ‘Unrepentant,’ was posted online June 20 and outlines the story of two priests accused of abuse and their victims’ attempts to report it. One of those priests, the Rev. Bruno Segatta, is currently assigned to McCall’s Our Lady of the Lake Parish, Cascade’s St. Katharine Drexel Station and Riggins’ St. Jerome’s Chapel.” By Ruth Brown, Idaho Statesman

LOUISIANA

Victims’ group seeks dismissal of New Orleans archdiocese bankruptcy
“An organization of victims of sexual abuse by Catholic clergy is seeking dismissal of a bankruptcy filing by the Archdiocese of New Orleans. The Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests said in a Monday news release that its filing, submitted Friday in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in New Orleans, claims the archdiocese filed the petition for Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization in ‘bad faith.’” By Associated Press on Cruxnow.com

In archdiocese bankruptcy case, creditors committee wants clergy abuse documents to be made public
“James Adams had helped run the Archdiocese of New Orleans’ fundraising arm for years, even serving as president of its board of directors, when his lawsuit alleging sexual abuse at the hands of a Metairie priest compelled him to step down nearly two months ago. Now, Adams leads a different board: one formed after the archdiocese filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protections May 1, tasked with representing the interests of those who say they are owed money by the church, including fellow clergy abuse claimants.” By Ramon Antonio Vargas, Nola.com

MASSACHUSETTS

Springfield Diocese will institute series of reforms after sexual abuse claims against the late Bishop Christopher Weldon deemed credible
“Bishop Christopher Weldon’s name will be removed from Mercy Medical Center’s rehabilitation center, all honorable references, memorials and photographs of him will be removed from Catholic properties and his remains buried at the entrance of the Gate of Heaven Cemetery will be exhumed and moved to a less prominent location in the cemetery and his grave marked with an ordinary size stone.” By Jeanette DeForge, Springfield Republican

MISSOURI

Catholic order names alleged child sexual abusers who worked at St. Louis area high schools
A St. Louis-based Catholic order that staffs Catholic high schools across the country on Wednesday (Jun. 24) named former members who church officials say sexually abused children. The alleged abusers include 18 men who worked at several area schools. The disclosure by the Marianist Province of the United States follows a review of more than 2,500 personnel files, including allegations dating as far back as 1950, Provincial Fr. Oscar Vasquez said.” By Nassim Benchaabane, St. Louis Post-Dispatch

About-face: Wyoming prosecutor to re-examine ex-KC priest’s sex abuse case, police say
“A bizarre twist surfaced Friday (Jun. 19) in what was thought to be the closed criminal sexual abuse case of a former Kansas City priest who later became a Wyoming bishop. The prosecutor, whose office last week informed one of the alleged victims that no charges would be filed against retired Bishop Joseph Hart, is now going to re-examine the case, according to Cheyenne police, who conducted the investigation.” By Judy L. Thomas, The Kansas City Star

NEW JERSEY

Prestigious N.J. Catholic school hit with more lawsuits alleging students were sexually abused
“Six lawsuits alleging former employees at a prestigious Morris County Catholic school sexually abused minors were filed Tuesday (Jul. 7) and more than a dozen additional lawsuits will be added in the coming weeks, an attorney representing the victims said. The lawsuits, filed against Delbarton School, an all-boys school in Morristown, St. Mary’s Abbey and the order that runs the school, St. Benedicts of New Jersey, allege that minors dating back to the 1960s were sexually abused by former employees of the school. The suits were filed in state Superior Court in Morris County.” By Joe Atmonavage, NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

Allegation of sexual abuse that led to U. Catholic Chaplain Father Gabriel Zeis’s resignation found ‘not credible’
“Former University Chaplain Father Gabriel Zeis, who resigned in September 2019 amid a sexual abuse allegation dating back to 1975, was cleared of the charge on June 16 by an independent investigation, which found the allegation ‘not credible,’ the Diocese of Trenton has announced. According to a Sept. 11 email sent to student members of the Aquinas Institute, the University’s on-campus Catholic ministry, Zeis denied the allegation at the time but resigned immediately, both from his position as the ministry’s director and chaplain and as Diosecan Vicar for Catholic Education in the Diocese of Trenton.” By Marie-Rose Sheinerman, The Daily Princetonian

NEW YORK

Former Rochester Bishop Admits Allowing Priests Accused of Abuse to Continue Working
“Former Rochester Catholic Bishop Matthew Clark has admitted in a sworn deposition that he allowed priests accused of sexually abusing children to continue working. The Bishop was questioned in March as part of a bankruptcy hearing for the Diocese of Rochester and his deposition was made public on Monday (Jul. 6).Clark said there were a few occasions he was made aware of priests being sexually inappropriate with minors. He said in those cases, the priests were sent away for treatment and reassigned when they returned. According to Clark, in 1985 he came to the understanding that it was not wise to reassign priests who admitted to abusing minors.” By Spectrum News Staff

Former Binghamton priest and a former Catholic school teacher accused in new Child Victims Act lawsuit
“Former priest of St. Catherine of Siena in Binghamton, Father Edward C. Madore, has five cases against him, accusing him of years-worth of sexual abuse. He was ordained back in 1970 and stayed until 1987 when he left priesthood and disappeared from church records. Madore is believed to be somewhere in Upstate New York, but his specific whereabouts are unknown.” By WBNG-TV12 News

Syracuse Catholic Diocese’s move shifts sex abuse claims against priests to bankruptcy court
“More than 100 alleged victims of priest sex abuse in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Syracuse will no longer get their day in state court. Instead, their cases will end up as part of the diocese’s bankruptcy case. The diocese filed for bankruptcy Friday (Jun. 19) after 38 more victims, including a grandmother, came forward with allegations of priest sex abuse under the Child Victims Act this week.” By Marnie Eisenstadt, Syracuse.com

NORTH CAROLINA

Bishop: North Carolina priest kept on leave on abuse claims
“A Catholic priest in North Carolina will remain on administrative leave after allegations of sexual abuse against him were revealed last year, the Charlotte diocese’s bishop said. Bishop Peter Jugis made the announcement to St. Matthew parishioners in a letter Wednesday (Jul. 8), writing that he had accepted the recommendation of the diocese’s Lay Review Board to keep the Rev. Patrick Hoare out of ministry, The Charlotte Observer reported.” By Associated Press

OHIO

Cleveland priest faces multiple federal child pornography charges
“A grand jury indicted a Catholic priest on federal charges involving child pornography and the sexual exploitation of children. The July 2 indictment charged Fr. Robert McWilliams, 40, a priest of the Diocese of Cleveland, with two counts of sex trafficking of a minor, three counts of pornography-related charges involving children and three counts of sexual exploitation of children.” By Catholic News Service in National Catholic Reporter

Religious order releases list of members who allegedly abused kids, many with Dayton ties
“Leaders of the Marianists — a Catholic religious order with a 170-year history in Dayton — released a list Wednesday (Jun. 24) of 46 priests and brothers they say were found to have sexually abused children since 1950 in the United States. The list includes 19 men with ties to the Dayton area and Marianist institutions such as the University of Dayton and Chaminade Julienne Catholic High School. Sixteen Marianists on the list served in the Province of Cincinnati, which was headquartered in Dayton until it merged with the other Marianist provinces in 2002.” By Josh Sweigert, Dayton Daily News

Columbus Diocese finds allegation of sex abuse of child by longtime priest to be credible
“An allegation of sexual abuse of a minor by Rev. Kevin Lutz, a priest in Columbus and central Ohio for four decades who retired last year from St. Mary parish in German Village, has been found credible, the Diocese of Columbus announced Wednesday (Jun. 24). Bishop Robert J. Brennan has accepted a June 17 recommendation by the Diocesan Board of Review for the Protection of Children that Lutz’s name should be added to the published Diocesan list of clergy credibly accused of sexual abuse of a minor.” By Jim Wilhelm, By Dayton Dispatch

PENNSYLVANIA

Former Bucks County Priest Francis Trauger Behind Bars After Pleading Guilty To Molesting Two Altar Boys
“A former Catholic priest from Bucks County is now behind bars after pleading guilty Wednesday (Jul. 8) to child sex abuse charges. After his guilty plea, Francis Trauger, a former Archdiocese of Philadelphia priest, was ordered to spend one-and-a-half to three years in jail. The 74-year-old wore a mask, suit and tie and had nothing to say walking into the Bucks County Courthouse Wednesday afternoon.” By Matt Petrillo, CBS-TV3 News

Former Hellertown School Named in Sex Abuse Lawsuit
“A former St. Theresa School student is suing the school as well as the Roman Catholic Diocese of Allentown for sexual abuse he says he suffered at the hands of a teacher in the mid-1970s. Mark Beaky, 59, of York, Pa., attended the now-defunct Hellertown school from 1971 to 1975. In a lawsuit filed in Lehigh County Court, he claims that beginning in 1974 he suffered sexual and other forms of abuse by his homeroom teacher at the time, Lawrence Haftle.” By Chris Haring, SauconSource.com

Suit against Scranton Diocese alleges abuse, cover-up by repeat-offender priest
“A Berks County man filed a lawsuit against the Diocese of Scranton on Tuesday Jul. 7), claiming the diocese conspired to cover up evidence of abuse in order to protect the alleged abuser. The Times Leader does not identify the victims of sexual abuse, but the suit was filed through the man’s attorney, Daniel F. Monahan. According to the suit, the man was abused by the late Rev. Robert Caparelli while the plaintiff was between the ages of 10 and 13.” By Patrick Kernan, Times Leader

Archdiocese pays $50 million, so far, to abuse survivors
“The Archdiocese of Philadelphia has paid out or approved more than $50 million so far to 222 clergy sex abuse survivors, according to a new report from the Independent Reconciliation and Reparations Program. The program was launched in November 2018 as a means of providing settlements to claimants alleging abuse by archdiocesan clergy. IRRP administrators, acting independently of the archdiocese, assess claims and offer compensation with no monetary cap, either individually or in total. Claims are considered regardless of how long ago the events in question occurred, or whether the statute of limitations had expired.” By Gina Christian, CatholicPhilly.com

TEXAS

Two Catholic priests who worked in Fort Worth were accused of molesting kids elsewhere
“Two Marianist religious order priests accused of molesting children in the United States worked in the Diocese of Fort Worth. But they aren’t on a list of clergy accused of sexual abuse of minors in the Fort Worth area because the alleged abuse didn’t occur here, according to a statement from the diocese. The Roman Catholic religious order based in St. Louis recently released the names of its members found to have sexually abused a minor since 1950 in the United States.” By Domingo Ramirez, Jr., Fort Worth Star-Telegram

VIRGINIA

Richmond diocese investigates abuse allegations against 4 more priests, including 1 who served in Roanoke
“The Catholic Diocese of Richmond announced Monday (Jul. 6) it was reviewing allegations of sexual abuse made against four former priests, including one who spent part of his career in Roanoke. William Dinga Jr., who retired from the priesthood in 1990, was the subject of recent allegations of child sexual abuse connected to his time at Christ the King Catholic Church in Norfolk in 1986, according to a diocese statement.” By Alicia Petska, The Roanoke Times

WISCONSIN

Viroqua Catholic priest accused of sexual assault of a child appears in court
“A Viroqua Catholic priest accused of sexual assault of a child appeared in Chippewa County Court today. 30-year-old Father Charles Richmond’s signature bond is set at $10,000. He’s facing Felony C charges for at least three violations of first or second-degree sexual assault of a 15-year-old girl while he was a faculty member at a Chippewa Falls High school.” By Molly Ringberg, WKBT-TV8 News

WYOMING

‘How do you say no to a bishop?’: Hart accusers say they survived years of trauma and institutional failures
“Joseph Hart became a priest in 1955, and over his 46-year career in Kansas City and Wyoming, he developed a reputation for ingratiating himself with families in his flock, especially brothers … Hart, the men say, groomed each of them and their families. They say he sexually abused them or their brothers on trips, during the sacrament of confession and in the church buildings where the boys did Hart’s housework. He gave some of them alcohol, asked about their sex lives or showed them pornography, they recalled. He told them no one would believe them. He told John he wouldn’t see his father in Heaven if he told anyone.” By Seth Klamann, Caspar Star Tribune

AUSTRALIA

Documents reveal church stayed quiet on sexual misconduct allegations against Broome Bishop for almost a year
“The Catholic Church was told of sexual misconduct allegations against a Western Australian bishop nearly a year before it took action, according to new documents obtained by the ABC. Bishop Christopher Saunders, who has overseen the vast Diocese of Broome for 25 years, remains voluntarily stood aside amidst an ongoing WA Police investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct.” By Erin Parke, ABC Kimberley

CANADA

Five retired priests arrested after allegations they sexually assaulted minors
“Five Catholic priests were arrested at a retirement home in Joliette Tuesday morning on allegations they sexually abused students between 1961 and 1989. The men, former members of the Clercs de St. Viateur du Canada, are Jean Pilon, 78; Gérard Whissell, 81; Laurent Madore, 83; Raoul Jomphe, 86; and Roger Larue, 88. They face several charges, including gross indecency, sexual assault and molestation, the Sûreté du Québec says.” By Katherine Wilton, Montreal Gazette

Notice posted for class action suit alleging sexual abuse by priests in Halifax-Yarmouth
“Hundreds of Nova Scotians who say they were sexuallly abused by Roman Catholic priests dating back to 1960 are likely to be part of a lawsuit launched against the Halifax-Yarmouth Archdiocese and its archbishop. A notice appeared recently on the websites of both the archdiocese and the McKiggan-Hebert law firm in Halifax, who filed the class action with the Nova Scotia Supreme Court in August 2018 on behalf of Douglas Champagne and other sexual abuse survivors.” By Francis Campbell, The Chronicle Herald

PHILIPPINES

In Philippines, a child alleges abuse by a Catholic priest – and tests Vatican promise of a global reckoning
“The girl, her long hair in a ponytail, stepped into the cramped, dimly lit courtroom, her first time in such a place. Clinging to her mother, she scanned the dozens of faces assembled before her. The girl, then 5 years old, eventually pointed to a bald man in a striped shirt, his spectacles resting on his head. She appeared nervous and did not speak his name. Her slight gesture in September – identifying the Rev. Aron Buenacosa as the man who sexually assaulted her – began the rare trial in the Philippines of a priest of the Roman Catholic Church. Her case, in this quiet village on a central Philippine island, will also test Pope Francis’s pledge of an ‘all-out battle’ to confront sexual abuse in all corners of the Catholic world.” By The Nation/Thailand

POLAND

Polish Church faces reckoning over sex abuse
“Jakub Pankowiak’s story of sexual abuse by a local priest is shaking up Poland’s Catholic hierarchy, amplifying calls for full transparency after decades of cover-ups in the former communist country. Pankowiak, an organist’s son and a young boy at the time, recalls that Father Arkadiusz Hajdasz was ‘friendly, open, smiley’ when he arrived in the town of Pleszew.” By Agence France-Presse