Voice of the Faithful Focus, Sept. 27, 2019


TOP STORIES

A Rhode Island church was told it hired an accused child molester: It kept him on for two decades
“When the Rev. Barry Gamache arrived at St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church in early 1997, it had been a dozen years since a former longtime parish priest was hauled away for sexually abusing teenage boys … And when the new priest needed someone to handle the church’s finances, he found a parishioner who was eager to help: David E. Barboza. A Globe investigation this summer revealed that Barboza had been accused of sexual misconduct with three boys in the 1970s and 1980s. Gamache said he was ‘surprised and hurt’ by those revelations. Two other men have subsequently reported to the State Police that they were also victims, and still others have made similar allegations to the Globe.” By Amanda Milkovits, The Boston Globe

Revealed: How pedophile priests in Victoria worked together to share vicitms
“Some of the Catholic church’s worst pedophile priests shared victims, passed on details of vulnerable children considered easy targets and worked together to conceal their crimes as part of informal networks of sexual abuse hidden in Australian seminaries, schools and parishes. An investigation by The Age has identified for the first time that many priests involved in historical sexual abuse of children did not simply act as individuals but formed clusters, or pedophile rings, throughout Victoria, from the western district to the Gippsland region and in suburban Melbourne.” By Farrah Tomazin, Chris VedeLago and Debbie Cuthertson

Safeguarding must be imbedded into Church life across the globe
“The 11th Ordinary Plenary Assembly of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors concludes in Rome … According to a press release issued at the conclusion of the Assembly, there is a continuing need for the culture and mission of Safeguarding to be systemically embedded into the life of the Church across the globe. In this regard, the Pontifical Commission is engaged in three specific Working Groups: Working with Survivors, Formation and Education, and Safeguarding Guidelines and Norms.” By Vatican News

Cardinal George Pell to appeal to high court over child sexual abuse conviction
“Lawyers for Cardinal George Pell have lodged a special leave application with the high court to try to appeal his historical sex abuse convictions, which will be his final avenue to have his conviction overturn. The high court on Tuesday (Sept. 17) confirmed it had received the application through its Melbourne registry. The lodging of the appeal does not mean the high court will agree to hear the case.” By Melissa Davey, The Guardian

Abuse crisis, leadership failure having impact on church giving
“The Catholic Church in the United States has spent a staggering amount of money – close to $4 billion in the past 20 years – to investigate, adjudicate and prevent clergy sex abuse, and to compensate victims for the harm they’ve suffered. And as those expenses have prompted dioceses to lay off staff, sell property and liquidate some assets, there is growing evidence that more Catholics across the country are deciding not to contribute to their bishops’ diocesan appeals because of the scandals.” By Brian Fraga, Catholic News Service, Cruxnow.com

Bishop’s secret list of accused priests leaves him besieged
“Bishop Richard J. Malone kept a secret black binder in a closet with a list of Catholic priests accused of sexual abuse. He was recorded in a conversation expressing more concern about his own reputation than about removing a priest whom he called dangerous and a ‘sick puppy.’ And some of the bishop’s own clergy are circulating a letter of no-confidence in him.” By Sharon Otterman, The New York Times

‘Seduction’ of children did little harm, said Catholic gatekeeper
“The psychologist who worked with the Catholic church for three decades to screen candidates for the priesthood once characterized child abuse as ‘seduction’ that would do little lasting harm to its victims. Ronald Conway, the Melbourne Archdiocese’s “consulting psychologist for religious vocations” tested applicants to the Corpus Christi seminary from 1969 to at least 2001, during which time 16 child abusers graduated as priests. Mr Conway himself was later accused of historical sexual misconduct by former patients of his private practice, though never charged or convicted.” By Chris Vedelago, Farrah Tomazin and Debbie Cuthertson

ACCOUNTABILITY

Cincinnati bishop ‘anticipating’ Vatican investigation into handling of abuse cases
“Archbishop Dennis Schnurr of Cincinnati has submitted a report to Rome, following criticism of the archdiocese’s handling of allegations of sexual abuse against a local priest. Archdiocesan officials told CNA Sept. 17 that a complete file on the case of Fr. Geoff Drew has been sent to the apostolic nuncio in Washington, DC, for transmission to the relevant curial departments, expected to include the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.” By Ed Condon, Catholic News Agency

Jurors deadlocked in trial of priest accused of molestation
“A Kansas jury was unable to reach a verdict in the trial of a Kansas priest who was suspended from the ministry after he was accused of inappropriately touching a young girl on two occasions. A Wyandotte County jury announced Monday (Sept. 16) evening that it could not determine the guilt or innocence of the Rev. Scott Kallal, 37, who was charged with two felony counts of aggravated indecent liberties with a child. He was accused of inappropriately touching a 10-year-old girl in 2015 at a Kansas City, Kansas, church gymnasium and again at a graduation party in Bonner Springs.” By The Associated Press in National Catholic Reporter

Vatican prosecutors request indictment of Italian priest on charges of sexual abuse
“Vatican prosecutors have requested the indictment of an Italian priest on charges of sexual abuse that occurred at least seven years ago at a minor seminary located within the Vatican walls. The prosecutors also requested the indictment of the rector of the seminary at the time of the alleged crime, on charges of aiding and abetting abuse, the Vatican press office announced Sept. 17. The requested indictments appear to be the first of their kind for sexual abuse committed on Vatican territory.” By Joshua J. McElwee, National Catholic Reporter

Missouri AG issues report regarding clergy abuse in the Roman Catholic Church; identifies 12 cases for potential criminal prosecution, more than any other state attorney general
“Today (Sept. 13), Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt held a press conference to announce the findings of the investigation into allegations of sexual abuse by clergy members in the Roman Catholic Church. After an extensive review of the records of thousands of clergy members and conducting interviews with victims, the Attorney General’s Office will refer 12 former clergy members for potential criminal prosecution, the most of any state attorney general probe, and laid out suggested guidelines for the Catholic Church moving forward.” By Office of the Missouri Attorney General

POPE FRANCIS

Attacks against Pope Francis are aimed at influencing the next conclave
“‘The attacks against Pope Francis in the church today’ are ‘a fight between those who want the church dreamed of by the Second Vatican Council and those who do not want this,’ Arturo Sosa, the Superior General of the Jesuits, stated at the Foreign Press Association in Rome on Sept. 16. Speaking to the press in Italian, he said … ‘I am convinced that it is not only an attack against this pope. Francis is convinced of what he is doing, ever since he was elected pope. He will not change.’ And his critics ‘know he will not change,’ said Father Sosa, adding, ‘In reality, these [attacks] are a way to influence the election of the next pope.’” By Gerard O’Connell, America: The Jesuit Review

CARDINALS

What 10 new cardinal tell us about Pope Francis’ priorities
“In announcing the appointment of 10 new cardinal electors, Pope Francis has improved the possibility that the next pope will continue his policies, but their appointments have also sent a message to the church about what should be the priorities of its leaders. Cardinals do not just elect popes. They also help guide the church through committees, called congregations, that supervise the work of Vatican offices. Who serves on these congregations can influence the direction and priorities of these offices.” By Thomas J. Reese, America: The Jesuit Review

CARDINAL PELL

Cardinal Pell lodges high court appeal
“Cardinal George Pell’s lawyers have lodged a High Court challenge to his conviction, saying he was asked to prove the impossible by two appeal court judges. His lawyers argue that Victoria’s Court of Appeal mistakenly reversed the onus of proof when hearing his case, forcing him to prove it was impossible for him to sexually assault two choirboys in a cathedral.” By CathNews.com

BISHOPS

Bishop Malone accused of mishandling sex abuse in Maine, before he came to western New York
“At a news conference two weeks ago, Buffalo Bishop Richard J. Malone said he had a good record on dealing with sexually abusive priests. ‘You call it cover-up, we call it confidentiality,’ he told reporters. Malone pointed to his time in the Diocese of Portland, Maine, where he served for eight years before coming to Buffalo. But on the ground in the bishop’s old diocese, advocates for victims of sexual abuse and new documents obtained by the 7 Eyewitness News I-Team paint a much different picture of the bishop’s past — especially when it comes to dealing with sexual abuse.” By Charlie Specht, WKBW-TV7 News

Former Albany bishop denies second abuse claim
“Former Catholic Bishop Howard J. Hubbard has been accused of sexual abuse in a second civil complaint — this one alleging he and two other Albany priests sexually assaulted a teenage girl repeatedly in the rectory of Immaculate Conception Church in Schenectady in the late 1970s. In a statement released Monday (Sept. 16), Hubbard denied the new claim and reiterated his earlier assertion that he has never sexually abused anyone.” By Cayla Harris and Steve Hughes, Albany Times Union

Bishop Bransfield’s life of luxury
“New details have emerged about the lavish lifestyle enjoyed by disgraced Bishop Michael Bransfield. Bransfield spent nearly one million dollars on private jets and over $660,000 on airfare and hotels during his 13 years as bishop of his former diocese of Wheeling-Charleston.

A new investigation by the Washington Post, published on September 12, reported that during his last year in active ministry, Bransfield took at least 19 trips in what was described as a chartered luxury jet. Those trips cost the diocese more than $142,000.” By Catholic News Agency in Catholic Herald

  • Bishop of West Virginia, one of the poorest states, lived a life of luxury, By David Gew

WOMEN IN THE CHURCH

Women walking together, away from the church
“The Vatican released the participants’ list for the upcoming Synod for the Pan-Amazon Region the other day. All 185 synod votes belong to men. There is one voting lay person: Ecuadorian Holy Family Br. Miguel Angel González Antolín, one of 15 named by the men’s Union of Superiors General. The 10 women religious nominated by the women’s International Union of Superiors General (UISG) are in the back rows, with 45 other auditors.” By Phyllis Zagano, National Catholic Reporter

‘It’s our church, too’: Conference to focus on need for women’s leadership
“Women’s inroads as leaders in the church and society is to be celebrated, but there is still much work to do so that churches, businesses and governments can benefit from the gifts and talents of half the human race. So say speakers tapped to share their wisdom on the topic of women’s leadership at the second Women of the Church conference, scheduled for Oct. 18-20 at St. Mary’s College in Notre Dame, Indiana.” By Heidi Schlumpf, National Catholic Reporter

CHILD PROTECTION

Revised archdiocesan child protection policy also emphasizes safe environments for adults
“The Archdiocese of Washington’s Child Protection Policy was instituted in 1986 as one of the first such policies in the nation and has been used as a model for dioceses nationwide. The policy – which covers healing, reporting and prevention of abuse – was updated in 1993, 1999, 2003, 2007 and 2013 to incorporate enhancements in child protection mandates and oversight. And in July 2019, the policy was again revised, with a new title that reflects its expanded scope, as the archdiocese’s Child Protection and Safe Environment Policy, to emphasize the importance of ensuring safe environments for people of all ages, protecting children from sexual abuse and adults from sexual harassment or abuses of power.” By Mark Zimmermann, Catholic Standard, Archdiocese of Washington

CHURCH FINANCES

A New York diocese filed for bankruptcy. Why more may follow.
“The Roman Catholic Diocese of Rochester was the first in New York to seek bankruptcy protection under the financial weight of new sexual misconduct lawsuits, but lawyers and church leaders say it may not be the last. The state’s eight Roman Catholic dioceses are facing financial pressures as a result of the state’s new Child Victims Act … More than 400 cases have been brought against the dioceses since Aug. 14, when the law’s one-year “look back” period for such suits began.” By CBS-TV News

Bishop says bankruptcy could be best balance of justice for sex abuse victims
“Bishop Malone says he’s close to making a decision on whether the Buffalo Diocese will file for bankruptcy but he says he’s not there yet. Today (Sept. 19) on WBEN Radio, the bishop spoke about the decision to either litigate cases filed under the Child Victims Act or file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. The bishop says there have been 138 cases filed against the diocese so far. He expects for there to be around 250 to 275 cases filed under the Child Victims Act.” By WIVB-TV4, Buffalo, N.Y.

CELIBACY& MARRIED PRIESTS

Amazon archbishop backs ordination of married priests
“According to a Spanish missionary archbishop who’s been in Ecuador since 1998, ‘We must thank God that there are still prophets like Pope Francis’ who think about the future. Specifically, the bishop backed the ordination of married men as priests in the Amazon, supporting the idea of calling viri probati, or tested married men, into the priesthood to serve isolated rural communities.” By Inés San Martin, Cruxnow.com

FUTURE OF THE CHURCH

Germany’s Catholic Church struggles with women and power
“Catholic women are demanding change in the church and giving Germany’s bishops an earful as they meet in Fulda. The bishops are under pressure — from the progressive grassroots at home and from a reluctant Vatican. They won’t let up. Catholic women protested in the central city of Fulda ahead of the plenary assembly of Germany’s Catholic bishops on Monday (Sept. 23) afternoon. ‘We want to be visible and audible. And I believe that we owe it to the women and men of the Catholic Church that we are heard more,’ said Mechthild Heil, head of the Catholic Women’s Community of Germany (kfd).” By Deutsche-Welle

VOICES

A place for the Church’s thinking
“University President Emeritus Fr. Theodore Hesburgh once called Notre Dame ‘a place where the Church does its thinking.’ Although the origin of Hesburgh’s words have been lost to time, their meaning remains clear: Notre Dame could be a sanctuary for Catholic reflection – a meeting ground for the Church to convene and bring about concrete change … As the face of Catholic scholarship in the U.S., perhaps Notre Dame is a fitting venue for this discussion by merit of its reputation alone. But there is a far greater reason we need this conference: Many in the tri-campus community feel the wounds of the crisis deeply.” By The Observer Editorial Board

Latest Pew survey a case of good-news, bad-news for American religious leaders
“Results from the latest Pew Research survey on how much trust Americans have in those holding positions of power and responsibility offer both good and bad news for religious leaders, particularly those of the Christian faith. First, the bad news: According to the survey results, published Sept. 19, religious leaders in America fall behind journalists, police officers and military officers in terms of public confidence in their ethical behavior.” By Elise Harris, Cruxnow.com

CHURCH FINANCES

Financial toll of priest sex abuse on Chicago Archdiocese? $220 million and climbing
“Underscoring how the Chicago Archdiocese continues to pay millions of dollars for clergy sex abuse of children that occurred decades ago, a prominent attorney announced Tuesday (Sept. 17) that he has newly settled cases for the long-ago misdeeds of five former Catholic priests. The archdiocese has paid more than $80 million since 2001 to 160 people represented by Jeff Anderson’s firm, the attorney said. That’s a large chunk of the estimated $220 million that the archdiocese had spent in total to settle such claims, the church confirmed.” By Madeline Buckley and Elyssa Cherney

STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS

Predator priests: When will Missouri scrap statute of limitations for sex crimes
“Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt has referred the cases of a dozen former Catholic priests accused of sexually abusing minors to prosecutors after a year-long investigation. That potential for justice for any of those so long denied is appreciated, though it’s impossible to say how many of the dozen men will be charged, much less convicted. But charges can’t even be pursued against 46 other ex-clergy because the statute of limitations on the allegations against them has expired.” By The Kansas City Star Editorial Board

CLERGY CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE

Notre Dame study: 6 percent of seminarians report sexual misconduct; 90 percent report none
“According to new research from the University of Notre Dame’s McGrath Institute for Church Life, 6 percent of Catholic seminarians across the country say they have experienced some form of sexual harassment, abuse or misconduct, while 90 percent report none. Another 4 percent said they might have experienced misconduct but were not sure, and 84 percent of seminarians believe their administration and faculty take reports of such misconduct very seriously. ‘Sexual Harassment and Catholic Seminary Culture’ is a laity-led, first-of-its-kind survey that was carried out in a collaboration between the McGrath Institute and the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate.” By Amanda Skofstad, Notre Dame News

Six California Catholic dioceses announce launch of victim compensation program
“Six Catholic dioceses in California, including San Bernardino, Orange and Los Angeles, on Monday (Sept. 16) announced the launch of a victim compensation program allowing them to settle claims of clergy sexual abuse outside of court. The California Catholic Conference announced in May that the six dioceses were forming the Independent Compensation Program (ICP) for Victim-Survivors of Sexual Abuse of Minors by Priests. Registration opened Monday for victims who want to file claims. The other participating dioceses include San Diego, Fresno and Sacramento.” By Joe Nelson and Scott Schwebke, The San Bernardino Sun

Catholic priest files defamation lawsuit after being outed as alleged predator
“A lawsuit by a former priest is seeking punitive damages for ‘severe humiliation, mental anguish, and emotional and physical distress’ after being outed as an accused child molester by the Roman Catholic Diocese of San Diego. J. Patrick Foley of Sacramento, California, claims that the Diocese promoted a ‘reckless disregard for the truth’ in a September 12 filing with San Diego Superior Court. In 2018, Foley was one of eight men added to a list of Catholic clergy believed by the Diocese to be responsible for sexually abusing children. Foley’s lawsuit alleges that his inclusion on the list amounts to publishing ‘false and defamatory material.’” By Aila Slisco, Newsweek

CALIFORNIA

Compensation process opens for clergy sex-abuse victims
“Childhood victims of clergy sex-abuse in San Diego and five other Roman Catholic dioceses in California can file for compensation under a program that started accepting claims this week. The Independent Compensation Program, announced in May, is being run by lawyers Kenneth Feinberg and Camille Biros, two experienced adjudicators who handled the 9/11 victims fund, among others. They are also administering claims programs for abuse victims in New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Colorado.” By John Wilkens, The San Diego Union-Tribune

COLORADO

Some question if Colorado probe of Catholic Church will uncover full scope of priests’ abuse
“As investigations in other states produce arrests and unearth abuse allegations within the Catholic Church, some people in Colorado are questioning if negotiations before the state’s review began will protect the church’s reputation and prevent the disclosure of decades worth of closely held secrets.” By Tony Kovaleski, ABC-TV7 News

ILLINOIS

Illinois opens 24 Catholic Church sexual abuse cases that were never investigated
“The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) is opening 24 cases of alleged priest misconduct that were never investigated. Now, there are concerns that over 1,000 reports of possible sexual misconduct by clergy within the Catholic church were not reviewed properly. In 2006, the DCFS entered an agreement with the Archdiocese of Chicago. Under the requirements of said agreement, the church was supposed to report any allegation of abuse they became aware of to the DCFS, regardless of the alleged victim’s age. Under state law, these cases do not have to be reported to DCFS if the victim is no longer a minor.” By Jeffery Martin, Newsweek

KANSAS

Wichita diocese names 15 priests accused of child sexual abuse
“The Catholic Diocese of Wichita has released the names of 15 priests who have been accused of child sexual abuse. The diocese said in a release on Thursday that claims against diocesan clergy on the list have been substantiated. Nine of the priests are with the Catholic Diocese of Wichita, and six who, though not priests of the diocese, served in the diocese for a period of time.” By KAKE-TV News

LOUISIANA

Madonna Manor, Catholic home for troubled youth in Marrero, at center of new abuse lawsuit
“A 61-year-old man has filed a lawsuit alleging he was repeatedly abused during the 1960s and 1970s by a high-ranking Catholic priest, three nuns and a lay employee with ties to a church-run home for troubled youth in Marrero. Eric Reynolds’ lawsuit, filed Thursday (Sept. 19) at Orleans Parish Civil District Court, accuses priest Raymond Hebert, civilian staffer Charlie Earhart and nuns Martin Marie, Alvin Marie and Gertrude Marie of either molesting or beating him over 10 years after his arrival at Madonna Manor in about 1965.” By Ramon Antonio Vargas, Nola.com (The Times-Picayune and The New Orleans Advocate)

MICHIGAN

Former Diocese of Lansing priest faces additional sexual assault charge
“A Catholic priest who once served parishes in three counties within the Catholic Diocese of Lansing faces an additional sexual assault charge. Rev. Vincent DeLorenzo was among the first five priests Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel’s office charged in late May. DeLorenzo, now 80, was charged with three counts each of first-degree criminal sexual conduct and second-degree criminal sexual conduct based on allegations he fondled and assaulted a young boy for five years while he was pastor at Holy Redeemer Church near Flint.” By Megan Banta, Lansing State Journal

MISSOURI

Missouri’s stilted probe of clergy abuse must not be the last word on the issue
“With the Catholic Church’s sordid history of enabling and covering up the sexual abuse of children by priests, and the long failure of government to confront those crimes, it’s tempting to cheer any progress toward justice. That’s why, at first blush, last week’s news might have appeared promising: Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt forwarded the names of 12 former priests to local authorities for possible prosecution after an investigation that dredged up scores of previously unreported allegations against clergy in the state. But a closer look suggests this progress toward justice is at best minimal.” By The St. Louis Post-Dispatch Editorial Board

NEW JERSEY

Former Howell priest charged with sexual abuse of a minor
“ A former pastor at St. Veronica Catholic Church in Howell has been charged with sexually assaulting a minor in incidents back in the late 1990s, announced Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal and Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni. Father Brendan Williams, 78, of Lawrence, NJ was arrested and charged with second-degree sexual assault—criminal sexual contact on a victim under the age of 13. Williams was pastor at St. Veronica at the time the alleged criminal acts occurred, between 1997 and 1999.” By Kimberly Bosco, JerseyShoreOnline.com

NEW MEXICO

Former priest likely to spend the rest of his life in prison for abusing an altar boy in New Mexico
“A former Roman Catholic priest who spent decades on the run was sentenced to 30 years in federal prison for sexually abusing an altar boy in New Mexico. At a sentencing hearing Friday (Sept. 13), US District Judge Martha Vazquez described the case involving Arthur Perrault, 81, as the ‘worst case that I have ever handled and ever seen.’ Perrault was convicted in April of seven federal counts for the early 1990s sexual assault of a 10-year-old boy, who was an altar boy at St. Bernadette’s parish in Albuquerque.” By CNN on Pix11.com

NEW YORK

He sued over a priest’s abuse. Then the diocese filed for bankruptcu.
“Last month, at 67 years old, Mr. (Peter) Saracino filed a lawsuit against the Roman Catholic Diocese of Rochester under a new law in New York that allows victims to seek justice over sexual abuse from long ago. He expected revelations. Instead, he said, came another betrayal. His lawsuit and dozens of others against the diocese were supposed to play out in civil court, with the expectation that victims would learn what church leaders knew and did. But the diocese sidestepped all of that by declaring bankruptcy.” By Corina Knoll, The New York Times

Erie County DA opens criminal investigation based on allegations from former seminarian
“’2 On Your Side’ has learned a criminal investigation has been opened to examine allegations made by a former student at Christ the King seminary. Kait Munro, spokesperson for Erie County District Attorney John Flynn says the office ‘has opened a file.’ That’s the term used to indicate a criminal investigation has been initiated.” By Steve Brown, WGRZ-TV2 News

Despite what bishop says, poll finds most area Catholics want him to resign
“An overwhelming majority of area Catholics or lapsed Catholics want Bishop Richard J. Malone to resign as leader of the Catholic Diocese of Buffalo, a recent poll by The Buffalo News has found. Nearly 86% of the 473 Erie and Niagara county residents surveyed this weekend said they feel Malone should step down from the post he has held since 2012. Fewer than 3% of those surveyed said Malone should stay on as bishop. About 12% were undecided.” By Jay Tokasz, The Buffalo News

OHIO

Fairfield-based priest not indicted by grand jury over conduct with teens
“A priest will face a review from his missionary home in Fairfield after a Kentucky grand jury declined to indict him in connection with allegations he acted inappropriately with teens. According to a statement issued by John Stegeman, spokesman for the Glenmary Home Missioners in Fairfield, ‘a grand jury in Lewis County, Kentucky has declined to indict Glenmary Father Dave Glockner on allegations he touched two teens inappropriately in early August.’” By Michael Clark, Journal-News

Columbus diocese creates task force to review handling of priest sex abuse allegations

“In the six months since the Roman Catholic Diocese of Columbus released a list of priests whom it deemed had been ‘credibly accused’ of sexually abusing minors, it has added 14 more names and started a task force to study its policies and make recommendations to the bishop. The task force, which was formed in May and still is being established, will have 12 to 15 members, including a parish priest and people in the fields of law enforcement, civil law, canon law and mental health.” By Danae King, The Columbus Dispatch

PENNSYLVANIA

Philadelphia priest removed from ministry over sexual assault allegations from decades ago, Archdiocese says
“A Philadelphia priest has been removed from ministry over sexual assault allegations from decades ago, the Archdiocese says. Rev. Christopher Lucas worked at many places across the Archdiocese but was most recently at St. John the Baptist parish and Hallahan Catholic Girls High School. The Archdiocese says the 63-year-old was accused of sexually assaulting a minor in the 1970s before he was 18 years old. Lucas has not been criminally charged.” By CBS-TV3 Philadelphia

RHODE ISLAND

Providence man urges diocese to release information about his abuser
“A Providence man who says he was sexually abused as a child by the Rev. Normand J. Demers, a former priest in the Diocese of Providence who died last year, spoke about his experience in front of the Cathedral of SS Peter and Paul on Monday (Sept. 23). Robert Houllahan, 50, said Demers sexually abused him at St. Joseph Catholic Church, in Providence, when Houllahan was 7 or 8 years old.” By Madeleine List, Providence Journal

Watchdog Team: Providence diocese adds another name to list of credibly accused priests
“The Roman Catholic Diocese of Providence added a new name to its list of clergy that it says have been credibly accused of sexually abusing a minor. Paul Desrosiers, a priest who died from injuries he suffered in a bus crash in 1984, was added to the list of names sometime after it was originally released, on July 1. His inclusion on the list brings it to 51 in total, including priests and deacons.” By Brian Amaral, Providence Journal

WISCONSIN

Former Wisconsin priest, with 11 men saying he abused them as boys, faces sentencing Thursday
“A former Wisconsin priest will be sentenced on Thursday (Sept. 25), nine years after victims first told police he molested them. Thomas Ericksen, 72, will face Ashland County Circuit Court Judge Kelly McKnight at 1 p.m. Thursday at the Sawyer County Courthouse in Hayward. Ericksen faces up to 30 years in prison for two charges of sexual assault from incidents dating to the early 1980s, when he was stationed at St. Peter’s Catholic Church in Winter.” By Laura Schutte, Wisconsin Daily Herald

Clergy abuse: Activist asks Wausau church-goers to lobby La Crosse Diocese for openness
“Dozens of flyers fluttered under windshield wipers in the late morning breeze Sunday (Sep. 15) as parishioners left St. Michael Catholic Church in Wausau. The flyers were neatly tucked there by David Clohessy, a member of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, or SNAP. As parishioners began leaving the church, he handed them out, asking people to take them home and read them. His goal, he said, was to bring awareness to the fact that the La Crosse Diocese still hasn’t released a list of credibly accused abusers.” By Laura Schutte, Wausau Daily Herald

AUSTRALIA

Retired Victorian priest Peter Waters jailed for abuse of five boys
“A retired Victorian priest will spend the next 14 months behind bars for molesting five boys decades ago in what has been branded a ‘monumental breach of trust.’ Peter Waters, 74, abused the boys in the 1970s and ’80s, sometimes after climbing into their beds. Waters began grooming one boy after he entered the confessional booth to reveal the Catholic sin of masturbation. When the boy stayed overnight with the priest during the 1980s, Waters molested him as he pretended to sleep. The victim’s brother suffered similar abuse, waking to Waters entering his bed after socializing together, consuming alcohol and cigarettes.” By Marnie Banger, 7News.com.au

Ground zero: How the Ballarat diocese exported pedophiles to the world
“(Darren) is just one of at least 140 people who have made claims of child abuse against the Catholic church in the Ballarat diocese – an extensive region covering 41 parishes in the western third of the state. It’s one of the epicentres of the Catholic child abuse scandal in Victoria. While St Alipius Boys School and St Patrick’s College in Ballarat are often viewed as ‘ground zero’ for the crisis, less is known about how the pedophiles at the center of these two hubs spread their abuse across the Western District, intersecting with other known sex offenders along the way.” By Debbie Cuthbertson, Andrew Thomson, Farrah Tomazin and Chris Vedelago, The Age

How a Melbourne seminary became the breeding ground for pedophile rings
“The altar boy sat firmly on the back of the motorbike, his skinny arms gripping the waist of the young priest as they weaved through the suburban streets leading to Victoria’s most prestigious Catholic seminary … According to a civil lawsuit due to be filed in court this week, Father Russell Vears guided the 14-year-old boy, John Fells*, into the building, down a corridor with rooms on both sides, and to a communal area where four or five other boys were already sitting, waiting on a couch. Then the St Peter’s altar boy says he was picked out by a newly ordained priest, Paul David Ryan, and taken into a bedroom where he was abused.” By Farrah Tomazin, Chris Vedelago and Debbie Cuthbertson, The Age

New admission by diocese could cost Australian church millions in claims
“The Australian Catholic Church could face tens of millions dollars in compensation claims after the Diocese of Ballarat in Victoria state admitted, for the first time, it knew of the behavior of a pedophile priest yet continued to move him around from parish to parish. The church’s admission was made in the case of JCB v. Bishop Paul Bird for the Diocese of Ballarat, in which a defendant with a pseudonym is suing the diocese for his rape, at age 9, by Ridsdale (former priest Gerald Ridsdale, one of Australia’s most notorious pedophiles) at the tiny country town of Mortlake in 1982.” By Michael Sainsbury, Catholic News Service, in San Francisco Catholic

CANADA

Group calls for Catholic bishops to release names of clergy accused of abuse
“A group of survivors of sexual abuse in the Catholic Church has called for Canadian bishops to follow in the footsteps of some American counterparts and release the names of clergy facing credible misconduct allegations. The survivors — connected by their shared experience rather than an umbrella organization — have travelled to the site of this week’s annual meeting of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops in Cornwall, Ont., to ask church officials to publicize the names. Thus far, the bishops have pushed back.” By Nicole Thompson, The Canadian Press, on 660CityNews.com

The walking wounded: In Canada, survivors of Catholic Church Sex abuse await a reckoning
“Rob Bowden, a goldsmith in Sydney, Cape Breton, is plagued by nightmares from the sexual abuse he suffered as a child. Evelyn Korkmaz in Ottawa has recurring flashbacks of the mental, physical and sexual abuse she experienced in the early 1970s at the notorious St. Anne’s residential school in northern Ontario, and sometimes stutters when she tries to speak. Across the country in Tsawwassen, B.C., Nicholas Harrison still bears a scar that snakes across his chin from when he says he was thrown down the stairs at school as an eight-year-old. All three are survivors of clergy abuse.” By Tavia Grant, The Globe & Mail

FRANCE

France’s Catholic child abuse probe flooded with messages
“A commission set up by the French Catholic Church to investigate allegations of child sex abuse by clerics received about 2,000 messages in its first three months, chairman Jean-Marc Sauve said today (Sept. 20). The independent body, looking into abuse claims dating back to the 1950s, was set up last year in response to a number of scandals that shook the Church in France and worldwide.” By MalayMail.com

INDIA

Kerala priest booked for sexual assault on minor
“The Kerala police on Friday (Sept. 20) booked a Catholic priest in Erankulam district for allegedly sexually assaulting three minor girls when they went to his chapel for blessings after the Sunday mass last month. Police said Father George Padayathil, 68, the vicar of the Holy Church in Chendamangalam, is absconding after they registered a case against him under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Pocso) Act and other sections. They said the incident happened when the children, all class 5 students, went to his room in the church to get his personal blessings after the Sunday mass.” By Hindustan Times

PANAMA

New sex scandal hits Panama’s Catholic Church – three priests spared from duties
“Three Catholic priests were removed from their religious functions in Panama Friday for ‘inappropriate’ and ‘scandalous’ behaviors, after a digital news outlet revealed sexual encounters of priests with men, including a minor. ‘The Archdiocese of Panama feels deeply hurt and ashamed to receive information about the inappropriate and scandalous behaviors of priests Rogelio Topin, Orlando Rivera and Karl Madrid,’ the Church said in a statement.” By MercoPress, South Atlantic News Agency