I-TEAM: The men who helped cover up Catholic Church abuse

The recent revelations of Catholic priests who have been accused of sexual abuse show cases that date back decades. But why did it take this long for the information to be made public? Below are key figures in the Buffalo diocese dating back to the 1970s. Our I-Team has what they knew and when and the steps they took to keep the abuse out of the public eye. Click on the people below to learn more about their role in covering up sexual abuse in the Catholic Church

https://www.wkbw.com/longform/i-team-the-men-who-helped-cover-up-catholic-church-abuse 

Pope Cannot Claim He Was Misinformed': Chilean Abuse Survivor After Vatican Meeting

In January, Pope Francis traveled to South America to spread peace and hope. Many cheered him on, but he also wound up causing emotional pain when he dismissed accusations that Chilean clergy had covered up sexual abuse. In the weeks that followed, the Vatican's leading sex crimes investigator looked into the allegations, and the pope did an about-face: He acknowledged making mistakes. Now, Francis has been apologizing and listening to some of those he offended most.

https://www.npr.org/sections/parallels/2018/05/10/609182908/pope-cannot-claim-he-was-misinformed-chilean-abuse-survivor-after-vatican-meetin 

Chilean cardinal at center of abuse scandal won’t travel to Rome

Even though he’s considered to be at the center of the current sexual abuse crisis in the Chilean Church, Cardinal Francisco Javier Errázuriz, who sits on the “C9” council of cardinals that advises Pope Francis, won’t be coming to Rome next week when the rest of the country’s bishops meet with the pontiff. Citing “personal reasons,” Errázuriz, 86, will not travel, even though Francis asked that every bishop in the country come to the Vatican to address the crisis created by well-documented cases of clerical sexual abuse and accusations of its cover-up.

https://cruxnow.com/global-church/2018/05/10/chilean-cardinal-at-center-of-abuse-scandal-wont-travel-to-rome/ 

Priest Accused of Abusing 2 Boys, Making 1 Confess Afterward

A Roman Catholic priest was arrested and charged Tuesday with sexually abusing at least two boys during his four decades in the Erie, Pennsylvania, diocese, and making one of them say confession after the alleged assaults. State Attorney General Josh Shapiro announced the arrest of the 64-year-old Rev. David Poulson, of Oil City, as part of a statewide grand jury investigation. According to court records, Poulson is facing at least eight charges, including indecent assault and child endangerment for incidents dating to 2002.

https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/national-international/Erie-Priest-Confession-Child-Abuse-482074671.html 

'Ellis defence' scrapped as Victorian law change opens church up to abuse legal action

It was only years later, long after he had been admitted to practise as a lawyer, that John Ellis decided to exercise his legal right to sue the Catholic Church. As a altar boy, he'd been abused by a paedophile priest. Now an adult, he sought damages. But Mr Ellis ultimately failed because the church successfully argued it did not legally exist as its assets were held in a trust, and that was protected from legal action. And in a galling circumstance of fate, Mr Ellis's name was unwittingly shackled to the method the church had used to avoid the legal action. Since then it's been known as "the Ellis defence". But last night, more than 16 years after the fact, the Victorian Government passed a law closing the legal loophole.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-05-25/legal-loophole-ellis-defence-catholic-church-close-damages/9800142 

Vicar-General Philip Marshall takes over from Philip Wilson as head of Catholic Church in Adelaide

VICAR-General Philip Marshall will take responsibility for the Catholic Archdiocese of Adelaide from Archbishop Philip Wilson after his conviction for covering up historic child sex abuse. Wilson officially stood down from his duties on Friday after asking the Catholic faithful to “pray for me” in a letter distributed on Wednesday. The church said Fr Marshall will work closely with the clergy and the laity to “keep the life and renewal of the archdiocese moving forward”.

http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/vicargeneral-philip-marshall-takes-over-from-philip-wilson-as-head-of-catholic-church-in-adelaide/news-story/d0c39ca62644bde7e6b5a9e77a5ce435 

Editorial: Senate must protect sex victims

Even church is looking into old cases, showing need for one-year lookback window on Child Victims Act Two separate articles that appeared on the same day in the Buffalo News earlier this month illustrate clearly why state lawmakers have run out of excuses for not passing the Child Victims Act. The first article reported that the Diocese of Buffalo had placed a 77-year-old priest on administrative leave over allegations he had sexual contact with a teenage girl back in the mid-1980s.

https://dailygazette.com/article/2018/05/25/editorial-senate-must-protect-sex-victims 

The shameful foster-care war between DHS and Catholic Social Services | Ronnie Polaneczky

The city’s Department of Human Services and Catholic Social Services, one of the child-welfare agencies DHS works with, are locked into positions guaranteed to further harm already hurting kids. That’s not hyperbole, either. It’s the truth. Philadelphia does not have enough foster homes for kids in dire need of a safe, stable place to live while the chaos of their lives gets sorted out. In March, DHS had to put out an urgent call for 300 more foster homes, its first major recruitment move in a decade.

http://www.philly.com/philly/columnists/ronnie_polaneczky/dhs-catholic-social-serfices-gay-lgbtq-foster-parents-philadelphia-lawsuit-becket-ronnie-polaneczky-20180525.html 

Archbishop Philip Wilson found guilty of concealing child sex abuse

Adelaide Archbishop Philip Wilson has been put on notice that he could expect a jail term after he was found guilty on Tuesday of concealing historical child abuse allegations against another priest. In a landmark decision that could have wide-reaching implications for other high-ranking clergy members, Magistrate Robert Stone found Archbishop Wilson had been told by a 15-year-old boy in 1976 that he had been indecently assaulted by notorious Hunter paedophile priest Father James Fletcher, but chose not to go to the authorities despite believing the allegations were true.

https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/archbishop-philip-wilson-found-guilty-of-concealing-child-sex-abuse-20180522-p4zgpc.html 

Are Some (of Paige Patterson’s) Sins More Heinous than Others?

In the land of Presbyterianism, we profess, with the Westminster Shorter Catechism, that “some sins in themselves and by reason of several aggravations are more heinous in the sight of God than others.” That’s a line that comes to mind in the discussion so far about Paige Patterson who has stepped down as president of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary after allegations that he gave bad counsel and used sermon illustrations offensive to women. The way some are reacting to the news about Patterson’s words, which began about a month ago, would make you think Patterson himself was guilty of sexual misconduct.

http://www.patheos.com/blogs/protestprotest/2018/05/are-some-of-paige-pattersons-sins-more-heinous-than-others/ 

Chilean cardinal at center of abuse scandal won’t travel to Rome

Even though he’s considered to be at the center of the current sexual abuse crisis in the Chilean Church, Cardinal Francisco Javier Errázuriz, who sits on the “C9” council of cardinals that advises Pope Francis, won’t be coming to Rome next week when the rest of the country’s bishops meet with the pontiff. Citing “personal reasons,” Errázuriz, 86, will not travel, even though Francis asked that every bishop in the country come to the Vatican to address the crisis created by well-documented cases of clerical sexual abuse and accusations of its cover-up.

https://cruxnow.com/global-church/2018/05/10/chilean-cardinal-at-center-of-abuse-scandal-wont-travel-to-rome/ 

Boy Scouts lobby in states to stem the flow of child abuse lawsuits

The Boy Scouts of America, which acknowledged last year that it has taken a financial hit from settlements in child abuse cases, has lobbied against proposals in multiple states that would expose the organization to more lawsuits, according to victim advocates and proponents of the legislation. The group retained lobbyists in Georgia and New York, where lawmakers say such action helped stall proposals that included ‘‘lookback’’ windows allowing adults to take legal action over decades-old claims. It has hired lobbyists in Michigan, where similar proposals are being debated. The bills would give adults who were abused as children a second chance to file suit if they missed their first opportunity under state law.

https://www.bostonglobe.com/news/nation/2018/05/09/boy-scouts-lobby-states-stem-flow-child-abuse-lawsuits/cVa090MxHWig3tHKulykbJ/story.html 

Bishop denies knowledge of abuse charges against ‘Archangel’ and followers

ROME - In the ongoing case involving the leader of a lay Catholic association in Sicily charged with the sexual abuse of at least six underage girls, a former bishop of the local diocese in the 1980s has denied having any knowledge of the accusations and said the issue “had been buried.” “No one came to tell me clearly how things stood,” said Monsignor Giuseppe Malandrino, who was Bishop of Acireale for over 18 years (1979-1998), in an early May interview with local media. “What can I control if there’s nothing? Now everyone speaks, but at the time…”

https://cruxnow.com/global-church/2018/05/15/bishop-denies-knowledge-of-abuse-charges-against-archangel-and-followers/ 

They Found God: These Are Some of the Openly Religious Rock Stars The other face of rock music.

Over the years, rock music has often been associated with anti-religious or even satanic views. But it may come as a surprise to some that there are many rock and metal musicians who are actually really open about their beliefs. Sure, being religious has certainly been the less "cool" for rock musicians but, nonetheless, some of them became really famous despite that. So today we will be covering some of the most popular rock stars who are – or were – openly religious.

https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/articles/features/they_found_god_these_are_some_of_the_openly_religious_rock_stars-75181 

'Pope Cannot Claim He Was Misinformed': Chilean Abuse Survivor After Vatican Meeting

In January, Pope Francis traveled to South America to spread peace and hope. Many cheered him on, but he also wound up causing emotional pain when he dismissed accusations that Chilean clergy had covered up sexual abuse. In the weeks that followed, the Vatican's leading sex crimes investigator looked into the allegations, and the pope did an about-face: He acknowledged making mistakes. Now, Francis has been apologizing and listening to some of those he offended most.

http://www.wbur.org/npr/609182908/pope-cannot-claim-he-was-misinformed-chilean-abuse-survivor-after-vatican-meetin 

Abuse Victim: Buffalo Bishop Not Being Transparent

BUFFALO, New York (ChurchMilitant.com) - A sex abuse victim is calling out the diocese of Buffalo, New York for failing to be transparent in its handling of clerical misconduct. "My abuser was simply moved to a nearby parish two months after I complained," Stephanie McIntyre told Church Militant. "This has been a living hell for us." Father Fabian Maryanski allegedly began sexually abusing and grooming McIntyre when she was 15. She said he got her drunk and had intercourse with her on her 18th birthday. Maryanski was 45 at the time.

https://www.churchmilitant.com/news/article/buffalos-abuse-victims-call-for-bishops-resignation 

Catholics advertise for contributions to Cardinal George Pell’s legal fees

Cardinal George Pell recently had the most serious sexual offence charges against him dropped, but is now due to face court over other, less serious, charges. And as his legal fees continue to mount up, the Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney has posted an article asking his supporters to contribute to his funds. The Archdiocese’ news journal, the Catholic Weekly, posted an article recently with bank details for people to transfer money directly through to his legal team. They insist the Catholic Church is not subsidising Pell’s legal fees, and confirmed they did not set up the fund themselves.

https://startsat60.com/news/crime/catholics-advertise-for-contributions-to-cardinal-george-pells-legal-fees 

A Deeper Reckoning

When Pope Francis appointed Juan Barros Madrid bishop of Osorno, Chile, in 2015, violent protests broke out in the streets and in the cathedral at his installation Mass. Barros was a protégé of the notorious priest Fernando Karadima, a charismatic and influential figure in the church of Santiago who had engaged in the sexual abuse of minors over the course of three decades. Karadima was sentenced by an ecclesiastical court in 2011 to a life of prayer and penitence. Yet four of Karadima’s favorites, who had turned a blind eye to his abusive behavior and defended him when he was initially accused, were later made bishops; Barros was one of those four. When Pope Francis proclaimed Barros’s innocence and expressed belief in his side of the story over the victims’, it immediately became an international scandal.

https://www.commonwealmagazine.org/deeper-reckoning 

Victims of clergy abuse across Pa. brace for 'very bad stories' in huge grand jury report

After nearly two years of investigating sexual abuse of children within six Catholic dioceses across Pennsylvania, a grand jury is getting close to issuing its report. State Rep. Mark Rozzi, a survivor of clergy abuse and an advocate for statute of limitations reform, has told The Morning Call and PennLive that the grand jury investigation would be wrapping up this month or next. Rozzi’s office did not respond to a request for comment on this matter.

https://www.ydr.com/story/news/2018/05/10/priest-sex-abuse-clergy-catholic-bishop-pedophile-pennsylvania-grand-jury-report-diocese-vatican/596878002/ 

Former Erie Diocese Bishop Donald Trautman Releases Statement on Arrest of Ex-Priest

First, I wish to express my prayerful support for all victims of sexual abuse. I abhor the evil of sexual abuse. Secondly, in relation to the arrest of David Poulson, I wish to emphasize there was no cover-up of sexual abuse. In 2010, I received a fourth-hand allegation about Poulson’s contact with a young adult man. There was no allegation of physical abuse or of contact with a minor. I contacted diocesan counsel. I then immediately tried to contact the young man.

What can Catholics moms do if they want their children to remain Catholic? Let go.

When you have children, everyone tells you that your life is going to change. They mean this in both the best and the worst possible ways: There are the predictable losses (lost sleep, lost money, lost time) as well as the wholly unexpected gains of loving a child beyond reason, beyond yourself. What people do not tell you is that your children are bound to make unexpected and sometimes bewildering choices—and those choices have the power to change you. Children will shake your sense of identity, challenge your beliefs and fundamentally alter who you are.

https://www.americamagazine.org/faith/2018/05/04/what-can-catholics-moms-do-if-they-want-their-children-remain-catholic-let-go 

Catholic Moms: What is your experience of raising your children in the faith?

Over 500 respondents took part in our informal survey on Catholic motherhood, conducted via America’s email newsletter and social media platforms. Twenty-five percent told America that one or more of their children had left the church, and only 1 percent said that one of their children had entered the priesthood or a religious order. The quarter of respondents whose children left the church provided some clear reasons for their departure. The sexual abuse crisis, instances of bullying at Catholic schools, disagreement with church teaching and objections to the treatment of L.G.B.T. people by Catholics were all cited by mothers as factors in their children’s decision to leave.

https://www.americamagazine.org/faith/2018/05/04/catholic-moms-what-your-experience-raising-your-children-faith 

Garda called in over images of gay sex act on Irish church altar

The Catholic Church has urged the Garda to investigate images apparently showing a man in priest's vestments performing a sex act on the altar of an Irish church. It is understood that several senior clerics, including bishops, have been made aware of the shocking images over recent days. A Catholic diocese has reported the matter to police and a full investigation is expected to follow. The diocese declined to comment further for legal reasons in view of "the criminal nature of the alleged incident". A source who obtained the images, and who wants to remain anonymous, described what is depicted as happening in the church as "an abomination".

https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/republic-of-ireland/garda-called-in-over-images-of-gay-sex-act-on-irish-church-altar-36871700.html 

In a Town of 2,000, Three Consecutive Priests Abused Children for 30 Years

When the Catholic Diocese of Buffalo, New York recently released a list of priests credibly accused of child sex abuse, parishioners in Angola, 20 miles to the south, were in disbelief. Because on that list were four priests who had served their town of just over 2,000 people. What … set Most Precious Blood [the parish church] apart from other parishes was the span in which one accused priest after another worked in the parish for nearly 30 consecutive years.

http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2018/04/30/in-a-town-of-2000-three-consecutive-priests-abused-children-for-30-years/ 

The evil of silence

It’s also teachers, Scout leaders, Little League coaches and more. Pedophiles know their prey: who the most vulnerable are; where to find them; how to approach them and, critically, how to silence them. Too often, they move from place to place, finding new targets while the public is left in an ignorance that, in some instances, has been deliberately imposed by institutional leaders. It needs to change. The point, already well enough known, was made plain in stories appearing in the weekend’s editions of The Buffalo News. On Saturday, leaders of the Park School announced that four former educators may have engaged inappropriately and sexually with students there in the 1970s and 80s.

http://buffalonews.com/2018/05/01/editorial-the-evil-of-silence/ 

Who is Cardinal George Pell? All you need to know about the Catholic church sex abuse claims

Cardinal George Pell, Australia’s highest-ranking Catholic, will stand trial over historical sex offence charges after Melbourne magistrate Belinda Wallington found substantial evidence. Pell’s lawyers argued that accusations he sexually abused multiple people in his home state of Victoria are untrue and should be dismissed. Pope Francis’s former finance minister denies all charges and it was decided that the former Vatican treasurer would face trial after a four-week long hearing in the County Court. Here’s everything you need to know about who George Pell is, the allegations, the trial and the charges made against the former Vatican treasurer.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5678899/Who-Cardinal-George-Pell-need-know-Catholic-church-sex-abuse-claims.html 

I thought I had failed my kids spiritually—then I went to my daughter’s parish

Accustomed as I am to attending Mass alone, it was with great joy that I recently went to Mass at my daughter’s parish. Let me pause and note: I have waited a long time to say anything like the phrase “my daughter’s parish.” Although my four daughters were raised in the Catholic Church—and in fact sometimes felt like they lived in the local parish office during the years their mother was the director of religious education—they have not embraced their Catholicism as adults. Catholic parents know the tiny knife to the heart when, even though their adult children have turned out to be kind and thoughtful people, they reject the institutional church. The stab is not fatal, but it hurts.

https://www.americamagazine.org/faith/2018/05/01/i-thought-i-had-failed-my-kids-spiritually-then-i-went-my-daughters-parish 

NYS Exposed: Who’s opposed to giving child sex abuse victims more time to file lawsuits?

Should victims of child sex abuse be able to sue their abusers decades later? The New York State Legislature is considering extending the statute of limitations on child sex crimes but there are some big organizations spending thousands of dollars to fight it. Currently, someone who is sexually abused as a child has until the age of 23 to press criminal charges against his or her abuser. Under the proposed legislation, a victim would have until his 28th birthday to file criminal charges and his 50th birthday to file civil charges.

http://www.whec.com/news/ny-child-abuse-act/4889124/ 

Rundown Of Sex Abuse Within The Catholic Church

atican finance chief Cardinal George Pell on Tuesday became the highest-ranked Catholic ever to be sent to trial for sex offences, adding to a series scandals facing the church globally. Here is a rundown of notable cases: Australia Cardinal George Pell, the third highest member of the Vatican hierarchy, has been ordered to stand trial on “multiple” historical sex charges, which he denies. His case coincided with a public enquiry that found that seven percent of priests were presumed to have committed paedophilic acts in Australia between 1950 and 2010.

https://www.channelstv.com/2018/05/01/rundown-of-sex-abuse-within-the-catholic-church/ 

Cardinal George Pell back in court over historical abuse charges

Vatican Treasurer Cardinal George Pell faced his first appearance at a higher court Wednesday, one day after a Melbourne magistrate ordered him to stand trial on multiple charges of historical abuse. Pell is the most senior figure in the Catholic Church to face criminal charges for alleged assault. He is on leave from the Vatican while he contests the claims. On Tuesday he entered a formal plea of not guilty to all charges at the County Court of Victoria. Magistrate Belinda Wallington dropped around half the charges on Tuesday but found enough evidence was presented during pre-trial hearings to take the case to trial.

https://edition.cnn.com/2018/05/01/asia/cardinal-george-pell-trial-may-intl/index.html 

Top aide to Pope Francis Cardinal George Pell pleades 'not guilty' to multiple sex abuse charges ahead of trial

Melbourne: Vatican finance chief Cardinal George Pell became the highest-ranked Catholic ever to be sent to trial over historic sex offences on Tuesday, with the elderly priest vowing to fight the charges. The 76-year-old was impassive throughout the hearing in Melbourne that ordered him to face a jury on "multiple" charges, although half of the allegations against him, including some of the most serious, were thrown out. "Not guilty", the top aide to Pope Francis said loudly and without hesitation when asked his plea, a stance he has taken since first being charged last year.

https://www.firstpost.com/world/top-aide-to-pope-francis-cardinal-george-pell-pleades-not-guilty-to-multiple-sex-abuse-charges-ahead-of-trial-4452019.html 

Sean Kirst: In priest abuse fallout, two survivors find themselves outside the lines

Jonpaul Okal and Robert Swierat have never met. They grew up in separate parts of Western New York, and their lives took different turns. But they share the same wounds. Both say they were sexually abused as children by Catholic priests in their communities, accounts supported by their families. One says he was assaulted in the basement recreation room in his home, the other in a bedroom and shower while staying at a residence for priests who taught in a Lancaster high school. In both situations, the accused priests have been identified as abusive in unrelated cases.

http://buffalonews.com/2018/03/28/sean-kirst-in-priest-abuse-fallout-two-survivors-find-themselves-outside-the-lines/ 

Crying out

There was such a powerful, and youthful, confluence of events the last few days that speak well of the future. The event that caught the most media attention was the “March for Our Lives” rallies last Saturday that involved hundreds of thousands of Americans, mostly young, in major cities of the United States, as well as in other countries. The mobilizations were organized to demand tighter gun laws, following the Feb. 14 mass shooting at a high school in Florida, where a lone gunman killed 17. The next day, Pope Francis delivered a homily for Palm Sunday that was also well covered by international media, with the homily addressing young people. The most quoted passage from the homily, used for headlines, was the Pope’s call to young people: “You have it in you to shout.”

http://opinion.inquirer.net/112059/crying-out