Abuse: a pastor asks forgiveness for priests – congregation turns against him

frustration, indignation and bewilderment: After a controversial sermon in Münster to sexual abuse and forgiveness have been many Church-members against the criticized the pastor. These have drawn Parallels between failed marriages and the pastors exerted sexual violence, criticised a speaker who had participated in the scandal-worship at the end of June.

https://www.ccdiscovery.com/abuse-a-pastor-asks-forgiveness-for-priests-congregation-turns-against-him

A Response to Bishop Robert Barron’s ‘Letter to a Suffering Church’

"Why stay Catholic with so much scandals?" asks Bp. Robert Barron in his book Letter to a Suffering Church. The main thesis of the small book is that Catholics, scandalized by the sex abuse scandal, should not abandon the Church which historically has gone through equally trying times.

https://www.churchmilitant.com/news/article/a-response-to-bishop-robert-barrons-letter-to-a-suffering-church

‘This is just the tip of the iceberg’: Six Michigan priests charged with sex abuse — and more victims are calling police ‘daily’

.In what prosecutors are calling “just the tip of the iceberg,” the pastor of a Catholic church in Waterford Township has been taken into custody and charged with criminal sexual conduct involving a minor. According to the Oakland Press, Father Joseph Baker, a pastor at St. Perpetua Parish since 2008, was arrested Monday morning by investigators from the attorney general’s office — making him the sixth priest apprehended in a far-reaching investigation.

https://www.rawstory.com/2019/07/this-is-just-the-tip-of-the-iceberg-six-michigan-priests-charged-with-sex-abuse-and-more-victims-are-calling-police-daily/ 

Confidence in Organized Religion at All-time Low in the U.S.

The data comes from a Gallup poll conducted from June 3rd to the 16th. The intent of the poll was to find out about the level of Americans confidence in “the church or organized religion” as well as 14 different institutions. Read more at World Religion News: "Confidence in Organized Religion at All-time Low in the U.S." https://www.worldreligionnews.com/?p=62628

https://www.worldreligionnews.com/religion-news/confidence-organized-religion-time-low-u-s 

German Church can’t transform through quick ‘fixes’, Pope says

No quick “fixes” or organisational change will renew the Catholic Church in Germany, Pope Francis has said, maintaining that what is needed is a spiritual renewal and Gospel transparency. In a letter to “the pilgrim people of God in Germany”, published by the Vatican, the Pope said efforts to eliminate tension solely by “being in order and in harmony” would ultimately “numb and domesticate the heart of our people and diminish and even silence the vital and evangelical strength the Spirit wants to give us”.

https://www.irishcatholic.com/german-church-cant-transform-through-quick-fixes-pope-says/ 

featured Yakima Diocese names 21 known sex abusers within clergy

The Catholic Diocese of Yakima on Wednesday released what it says is a complete list of priests and clergymembers who committed sexual abuse while in the church. The list includes victimizers both living and dead, who served in parishes throughout the eastern Washington diocese. None are any longer serving in the ministry, but during their tenure priests named on the list attended the faithful in Ephrata, Moses Lake, Quincy, the Wenatchee Valley, Waterville, Chelan, Ellensburg and elsewhere.

http://www.ifiberone.com/columbia_basin/yakima-diocese-names-known-sex-abusers-within-clergy/article_b4d4bbea-a364-11e9-ba47-130dae13557c.html 

First Female Pastor Of Renowned Riverside Church Is Out After Making Harassment Allegation

Even in a progressive bastion like New York's Riverside Church — which touts LGBTQ equity, supports immigrants and focuses on environmental justice — one high-ranking woman seems to have been ousted in the aftermath of sexual harassment allegations. The church has been at the forefront of progressive Christian leadership since its inception in 1930.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/nataliesachmechi/2019/07/12/first-female-pastor-of-renowned-riverside-church-is-out-after-making-harassment-allegation/#22c8f99c121f 

Suit alleges ‘Father Gerry’ sexually abused boys in his care

Gerald R. Miller, once known as “Father Gerry” to Altamont and Hilltown residents, has been accused of sexually assaulting two boys who had lived in his group home in Knox in the 1980s. Attorneys Martin Smalline and JoAnn Harri filed a complaint in May on behalf of their clients; a narrative attached to the complaint describes how the men were drugged and raped as teenagers by Miller.

https://altamontenterprise.com/07112019/suit-alleges-father-gerry-sexually-abused-boys-his-care 

Feminist theologian Dr. Mary E. Hunt kicks off DignityUSA conference

Hunt told the 325 attendees how happy she is that Dignity is celebrating 50 years as an organization, especially because each LGBTQ member continues to live their truth. She spoke about what Dignity's history means, looked at how things have changed over the past 10 years and remarked on what her dreams are for the centenary of the organization.

http://www.windycitymediagroup.com/lgbt/Feminist-theologian-Dr-Mary-E-Hunt-kicks-off-DignityUSA-conference/66553.html 

Priest Sexual Abuse Survivor John 'Tim' McGuire Pickets Churches

John Timothy 'Tim' McGuire told The Day what hurts most is being accused by Catholic congregants of looking for a payday. The 60-year-old New London man who says he was sexually abused when he was an 8-year-old altar boy by a Noank priest has taken to the street to open a dialogue he told the paper, and that conversation begins with picket signs he holds outside of local Roman Catholic churches.

https://patch.com/connecticut/stonington/priest-sexual-abuse-survivor-john-tim-mcguire-pickets-churches