You might consider Associated Press reporter Tom Breen to be the anti-William Lobdell. Breen recently told me he eventually became a weekly Mass attendee after educating himself on the Catholic abuse scandals for his journalism job. His story is quite the opposite from Lobdell, whose work on the religion beat at the Los Angeles Times Read more
It was a busy time for Pope Benedict in Germany. Although not without some criticism and protest, Pope Benedict has received an exuberant welcome from his fellow countrymen. In his opening address the Pope said, “I have not come here primarily to pursue particular political or economic goals, as other statesmen rightly do,” he said, Read more
Though Archbishop Hepworth complained to the Adelaide archdiocese of sexual abuse, the diocesan authorities claim that he did not authorise an official investigation until early this year. The Adelaide Archdiocese has provided a letter to The Advertiser that shows Archbishop Hepworth only signed a request for the investigation in February this year despite receiving a request from Read more
South Australian senator Nick Xenophon, on Tuesday evening, used parliamentary privilege to name and shame an Adelaide priest, Monsignor Ian Dempsey, accusing him of raping and sexually abusing Traditional Anglican Communion Archbishop, John Hepworth. Xenophon dismissed the presumption of innocence in Parliament, saying in his opinion the Adelaide Archdiocese had taken too long to resolve the Read more
A group representing victims of sexual abuse has lodged a formal declaration with the International Criminal Court (ICC) accusing Pope Benedict and three Vatican officials of crimes against humanity. Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP) allege that Vatican officials tolerated and enabled the systematic and widespread concealing of rape and child sex crimes. “If the Read more
The Irish Government toned-down its recent fury and in what has been described as an ‘uneasy peace’, welcomed the Vatican’s response to the Cloyne report. However despite the Vatican’s expression of shame and apology to victims of sexual abuse, the Irish Government has not backed away from its earlier harsh criticism of the Holy See. Read more
A lawsuit by a man claiming he was molested for years by the founder of conservative Catholic order, the Legionaries of Christ, will go ahead. The lawsuit by Jose Raul Gonzalez Lara claims Legionaries of Christ failed to protect him from their founder and known pedophile Fr Marcial Maciel. It also accuses Legionaries of Christ officials Read more
The Catholic Church in Adelaide denies it delayed investigating allegations of rape and sex abuse by a Traditional Anglican Communion Archbishop, John Hepworth. Over the weekend, the Australian revealed that Fr John Hepworth fled the Catholic priesthood in 1972 after enduring sexual abuse from two priests and a fellow seminarian for twelve years. After leaving, Read more
Ireland’s Prime Minister, Enda Kenny is standing by his comments that the Vatican hampered an enquiry into child sex abuse by Irish priests. Kenny’s original remarks have been widely applauded in Ireland but in its response late last week, the Vatican said Kenny’s accusations were “unfounded.” “Every organization, either faith or any other, will understand Read more
It is time to end the Ireland’s confessional wars, public debate about mandatory reporting of sexual abuse and focus on real issue, the protection of children says Gary O’Sullivan in the Irish Catholic. “A Church/State conflict over the confesional seal will not serve either party,” argues O’Sullivan. So far Cardinal Sean Brady and Ireland’s Minister for Children, Read more