Redacted Names Lead to Frustration with Baltimore Archdiocese

The Maryland Attorney General’s Office released its long-awaited report into clergy sexual abuse of children within the Archdiocese of Baltimore in early April. The report details 80 years of clergy sexual abuse of more than 600 children within the archdiocese. It also describes the archdiocese’s knowledge concerning clergy abuse and its attempts to cover-up what […]

Read more

Priest Believes Church Still Needs to Apologize for Sexual Abuse Scandal

It’s been 20 years since the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops adopted the “Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People”, which called for zero tolerance for priests who sexually abuse children. Jesuit Father Jerry McGlone is concerned about the psychological effects the anniversary could have on survivors. McGlone has a keen insight into […]

Read more

Buffalo Diocese Sued By New York Attorney General Following Two-Year Investigation

After a two-year investigation, New York Attorney General Letitia James sued the Diocese of Buffalo, alleging it covered up allegations of child sexual abuse and misused charitable assets by supporting predatory priests instead of following protocol and reporting them to authorities. Former Bishop Richard Malone and former Auxiliary Bishop Edward Grosz were also named as defendants in the lawsuit.

Read more

West Virginia Supreme Court Rules Religious Institutions Exempt from Consumer Protection Law

In an opinion issued in late 2020, the West Virginia Supreme Court rejected Attorney General Patrick Morrisey’s claim that the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston violated the state’s Consumer Credit and Protection Act (CCPA) when it hired “admitted and credibly-accused sexual abusers” to work in schools and camps without warning prospective consumers.” The majority opinion stated that the CCPA does not apply to services offered by religious institutions.

Read more

Catholic Church Parishioners Seek Financial Transparency from Dioceses

A survey done by Voice of the Faithful (VOTF) concludes that only five U.S. dioceses are financially transparent. According to its website, VOTF is “a lay organization of faithful Catholics. . .whose mission is to provide a prayerful voice, attentive to the Spirit, through which the faithful can actively participate in the governance and guidance of the Catholic Church.”

Read more

Clergy Sex Abuse Cover-up Sparks Lawsuit Against Diocese of Erie

A lawsuit was filed in early July of this year against the Diocese of Erie, alleging fraudulent concealment. A woman, who has chosen to remain anonymous, referred to here as ‘Jane Doe’, has alleged that she was molested by Rev. Michael G. Barletta in the 1970s. At the center of the lawsuit is her claim that the Erie Diocese not only covered-up previous allegations against Rev. Barletta, but, more disturbingly, let him remain in active ministry which allowed him the access to later molest her. Her lawsuit explains that she had no idea of the Erie Diocese’s history of protecting child predators until the statewide grand jury report was released in 2018

Read more

Truth and Reconciliation Commission Proposed to Archdiocese of Seattle

A group of “concerned Catholics, abuse survivors and current and former clergy” are calling for a lay-led Truth and Reconciliation Commission to investigate the sexual abuse crisis in the church. Even though the group has acknowledged that the investigation may re-open the wounds of those who have been personally affected, the group’s goal is to rebuild the trust that has been lost throughout the decades of abuse.

Read more

Bishops Cover Up in the Diocese of Scranton

A lawsuit has been brought against Bishop James Timlin and Bishop Joseph Bambera for their part in covering up years of alleged sexual abuse by priests in the Diocese of Scranton. After years of thinking it was “too late” to do anything about their abuse, four men have come forward and accused Father Michael Pulicare, the former assistant pastor of St Joseph’s Parish, of sexual abuse. Pulicare died in 1999 and the church was renamed Divine Mercy of St Joseph, which is located on Davis St in Scranton, Pennsylvania. Each man filed their own separate lawsuit.

Read more

top