Vatican condemns Canadian ex-bishop over child porn
The Vatican has condemned former Canadian Bishop Raymond Lahey after he pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography and said it planned to take disciplinary action against him. Lahey, former Bishop of Antigonish in the eastern Canadian province of Nova Scotia, was charged with possession and importation of child pornography in 2009. He pleaded guilty on Wednesday and his sentence is due to be handed down later.
“The Catholic Church condemns sexual exploitation in all its forms, especially when perpetrated against minors,” the Vatican press office said in a statement on Wednesday. “Although the civil process has run its course, the Holy See will continue to follow the canonical procedures in effect for such cases, which will result in the imposition of the appropriate disciplinary or penal measures,” it added.
The case has rocked the Roman Catholic Church in Canada, particularly because Lahey oversaw the settlement of long-standing sex abuse allegations against several priests shortly before he was charged in 2009.
The Vatican has toughened up its laws on sexual abuse to tackle the scandal in the ranks of the Church, which entered a new chapter last year as increasing numbers of victims came forward in several countries.
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Guestview: “Trifecta” of bad news launched Catholics4Change blog
The following is a guest contribution. Reuters is not responsible for the content and the views expressed are the authors’ alone. Elizabeth E. Evans is a freelance writer, columnist and priest-in-charge at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, Honey Brook, Pennsylvania.
By Elizabeth E. Evans
Three seemingly unrelated events – and Susan Matthews found herself at a crossroads.
Reading a letter to the editor assailing the “apathy” of local Catholics… Recollecting an essay she had written when the first grand jury report dealt her family a personal blow… Overhearing a conversation between two older women critical of the victims of an accused priest.
It was, as Matthews wryly recalls now, this ‘trifecta” that impelled her to act. Outraged at the predator priest scandal that has overtaken the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, the Huntingdon Valley resident and mother of two started a blog, Catholics4Change.com.
In February, a grand jury report alleged that as many as 37 local Catholic priests were left in parishes in spite of “credible” abuse allegations. Since then 26 priests have been suspended for allegations or abuse or other boundary violations, two as recently as last week.
In the little more than a month, Catholics4Change (which has close to 25,000 hits within the past two weeks) has become a rallying point for local believers. And Matthews (a former editor of the archdiocesan paper currently a freelance writer and QVC guest host) and another aspiring reformer, Kathy Kane, have become the center of a lively and impassioned debate that goes beyond protecting children but to holding church hierarchs accountable.
i would like to comment just briefly as there is really much too much to say about this that will eventually come out. the movement that you mention has very few followers. the number of hits is not indicative of support. myself, have looked at least 100 times to just check what people are posting-most of the time it is too specious to comment on. even if there are 25 people like me, that sure isn’t a lot of people if you compare with the number of catholics in philadelphia. there are not many who comment-and it is the same people anyway. a lot of the commenters do not make sense. people are upset, but susan mathews and company are NOT the face of philadelphia catholics. that is a fact.
German abuse victims humiliated by compensation sums
German victims of abuse in foster homes say the 120 million euros proposed as compensation was “humiliatingly” small compared with damages awarded in other countries, and vowed to fight for more. After a two-year inquiry, a government-appointed panel on Monday recommended 120 million euros be set aside for an estimated 30,000 victims expected to file abuse claims.
“It’s a poor start to the compensation process and another humiliation of victims,” the VEH victims’ group leader Monika Tschapek-Güntner said. “Roughly 30,000 victims are expected to apply for damages which will leave individuals between 2,000 and 4,000 euros.”
Tschapek-Güntner said that a deal struck between abuse victims and the Catholic Church in Ireland resulted in payments averaging 76,000 euros per victim. Irish compensation claims are expected to top 1 billion euros.
Between 1949 and 1975 up to 800,000 children and youths lived in foster care in West Germany where claimants have alleged rampant physical, emotional and sexual abuse. Roughly two-thirds of those in foster care lived in church-run homes. Both Protestant and Roman Catholic churches in Germany applauded the panel’s recommendations.
Read the full story by Eric Kelsey here. A PDF of the full report is here in German.
According to even conservative estipulations we have produced a GDP for Germany of billions of Euros. With our small bodies and to the cost of our own health, wellbeing, education and own prosperity, as the vast majority of us never was allowed to go to good schools and accordingly could not study or even learn a remunerative profession.
And today that we are old, ill, worn out they want to fob us off with that ludicrously low sum of 120 millions of Euros. This means if really only 30,000 of the estimated 500,000 to 800,000 survivors would apply to the funds for some sort of compensation, each one would receive only 4,000 Euros! Not having been considered yet the pension top-up fund nor the rental allowances for victims that otherwise would have to live in a home for the old!
4,000 Euros for years of physical, psychological and sexual abuse, for slave labor, forced religion, for incarceration, lack of education and the total absence of love and joy in our young lives? For shattered lives and broken bones, for torn flesh and utmost humiliation, for nights standing in unheated hallways or even outside in the snow? For decades of haunting fear and terrible dreams, for the impossibility of lasting partnerships and the frustrations of sexual relationships?
NO! We can and will not accept this new humiliation!
We do not ask reparation for the damages we have suffered bause we know: No one can return our youth, nothing will bring back our sexual, physical and psychological integrety! But we do expect a sum that will relieve the bitterness and hardness some! Germany as one of the richest countries on Earth does owe us at least as much!
The now negotiated sum at best is a spoof of us, the survivors. And it is a shame and a scandal for Germany!
A German Survivor of church education
Inquiry cites almost 2,000 Dutch Catholic sex abuse reports
Almost 2,000 people have declared themselves this year victims of sexual and physical abuse while they were minors in the care of the Roman Catholic Church in the Netherlands, an independent commission said on Thursday.
The investigation into abuses dating back to 1945 shows that the Netherlands ranks second worst behind Ireland for known cases in scandals that have rocked the Catholic Church in Europe and the United States. The church-appointed commission’s findings were requested by the Dutch bishops’ conference after cases surfaced involving paedophile priests in the Netherlands, Belgium, Ireland, Germany and other countries.
“I am very respectful of the people who came forward because declaring yourself a victim is a big step,” said Wim Deetman, a Protestant former education minister and former mayor of The Hague who heads the commission, of the 1,975 reported cases.
Asked whether the report could lead to pressure for a shake-up in the church hierarchy, Deetman said: “It is too soon to say that. We will see that at the end of next year after discussions with a lot of people. But the bishops conference has asked us to look at managerial responsibilities.”
Deetman said the Church had waited too long to come up with a professional approach to complaints about abuse and urged it to set up an effective system of financial compensation for the victims, a special organisation to assist them and Church disciplinary action if needed.
Read the full story here and a factbox on sex abuse cases shaking the Catholic Church in Europe this year.
The full report (in Dutch) is in PDF here.
London marchers confront Pope Benedict in biggest protest of any of his trips
Pope Benedict faced the biggest protest of his 17 trips abroad on Saturday when more than 10,000 people marched in London attacking his treatment of the abuse scandal in the Church, women priests and homosexuality. Some of the demonstrators were dressed in costumes, including black leather nuns’ habits and red cardinals’ robes. Posters bore the message: “Pope Go Home.”
The pope has faced protests throughout his four-day visit to England and Scotland, often competing for attention with the faithful who are solidly supportive of the trip, only the second by a pope in history.
The loudest and most colourful was on Saturday when secularists, atheists, pro-gay groups and human rights campaigners joined forces in a Protest the Pope march from Hyde Park Corner to Downing Street, the prime minister’s residence.
It was the biggest demonstration the pope has faced during the 17 overseas trips in his five-year papacy. Organisers had expected 2,000 people. Many opposed the Vatican’s stance on abortion, gay rights and resistance to the use of condoms in the fight against HIV-AIDS. “Keep your rosaries off our ovaries” one group chanted, with some wearing condoms on their heads. Placards read: “Abstinence Makes the Church Grow Fondlers” and “Protect the Children, not the Priests”.
Benedict’s apology during a Mass on Saturday in which he said paedophile priests had brought “shame and humiliation” failed to appease the protesters. “Apologies will not solve the problem,” said Alice Holding, a 40-year-old protester. “He is subject to the law just like everybody else. If I did this (cover up a scandal) I would have to go to jail.”
Papal envoy to run scandal-plagued Legion of Christ Catholic order
Pope Benedict will appoint a special envoy to run and reform an influential conservative Roman Catholic priestly order whose late founder was discovered to have been a sexual molester and to have fathered at least one child.
A Vatican statement on Saturday (here in Italian original and English translation) said the pope would also name a commission to review the constitution, or founding principles, of The Legionaries of Christ, whose founder Father Marcial Maciel, led a double life for decades.
The statement said that while Maciel was guilty of “grave and objectively immoral behavior” and had managed to hoodwink many people, most members today were filled with “sincere zeal” and had been oblivious to what it called his “real crimes.”
Maciel, who founded the order in 1941 and who died in 2008 at the age of 87, was a cult figure within the order and for years had the ear of the late Pope John Paul II despite allegations that he had abused young male seminarians and fathered at least one child in his native Mexico and perhaps two other children by another woman.
Chile RC bishops sorry for abuse, Brazilian priests scandal
The Roman Catholic Church in Chile on Tuesday said there had been 20 confirmed or alleged cases of child abuse by priests, and asked for forgiveness from the victims.
Monsignor Alejandro Goic, head of Chile’s bishops’ conference, said that in five of the cases sentences had been imposed, in another five trials were still under way, and in 10 others priests had been absolved or results were pending.
“There is no place in the priesthood for those who abuse minors, and there is nothing that can justify this crime,” Goic said, reading a statement after an assembly of Chile’s Episcopal Conference. Read the full story here.
In northeastern Brazil, three Roman Catholic priests are suspected of sexually abusing children in a scandal that arose after a video showed one of the priests in a sex act with a young man.
Luiz Marques Barbosa, a Catholic monsignor in the city of Arapiraca in Alagaos state, was arrested late on Sunday after a congressional commission examined the video and heard witness statements from alleged victims.
Local police chief Barbara Arraes told Reuters that Barbosa, who media said was between 82 and 84 years old, and two other priests were suspected of abusing children and that prosecutors are now deciding whether to file charges. Read the full story here.
Undaunted cardinal says John Paul backed his praise for hiding abuser
A former Vatican cardinal who congratulated a French bishop for hiding a sexually abusive priest has said he acted with the approval of the late Pope John Paul, a Spanish newspaper reported on Saturday.
Cardinal Dario Castrillon Hoyos, the Vatican official in charge of priests around the world when he praised the French bishop in 2001, dragged the Polish pope into the controversy during a conference in the Spanish city of Murcia. His comment came after a Vatican spokesman indirectly confirmed that a 2001 letter to the bishop posted on a French website on Thursday was authentic and was proof the Vatican was right to tighten up its procedures on sex abuse cases that year.
By invoking John Paul, Castrillon Hoyos appeared to up the ante in a subtle Vatican power struggle over who was to blame for past failures to deal effectively with the abuse cases whose revelations in recent months have shaken the Church. Vatican officials had no official reaction on Saturday.
“After consulting the pope … I wrote a letter to the bishop congratulating him as a model of a father who does not hand over his sons,” the daily La Verdad (here in Spanisn) quoted Castrillon Hoyos as telling the conference on Friday, to a round of applause from the assembled prelates, priests and lay people.”The Holy Father authorized me to send this letter to all bishops in the world and publish it on the internet.”
Castrillon Hoyos, a Colombian who retired from Vatican service last year, argued on CNN’s Spanish-language television last week that temporarily suspending abusive priests and then quietly reassigning them elsewhere was not a cover-up. Austen Ivereigh at America magazine has English quotes in this excellent analysis.
The retired cardinal seems to be in complete denial about the problem. What do you think about his statements?
Here is the CNN interview in Spanish:
Sad to say it looks like the worlds lay catholics will just have to wait for our illustrious Vatican prelates to stop their whinning, finger pointing, media-blaming games. Then, maybe, we can all work together as Church to figure out a solution to this self-inficted nightmare.
Vatican puts abuse rules online to quell critics
The Vatican published an online guide on Monday to rules for handling sex abuse charges against priests and defended the pope’s handling of the media storm, saying he was a “great communicator in his own way”.
Just over a year after Pope Benedict acknowledged the Holy See had been slow to embrace the Internet, after mishandling the case of a Holocaust-denying bishop, the Vatican posted an “idiot’s guide” to its rules on how to deal with abuse charges.
Although the rules are not new, their publication in a short, simple format reflects the Roman Catholic Church’s determination to deflect criticism that its response to the sex abuse scandal has been bureaucratic, secretive and defensive.
The official Vatican website called it an “introductory guide which may be helpful to lay persons and non-canonists (referring to ‘canon’ or internal church law)” to rules for local churches on how to respond to sex abuse allegations.
It made clear high up that bishops must report crimes to the police, saying “civil law concerning reporting of crimes to the appropriate authorities should always be followed”.
Pope did not impede defrocking of abusive priest: Vatican
The Vatican has defended Pope Benedict from accusations that, in a previous post as a senior Church official, he tried to impede the defrocking of a California priest who had sexually abused children. In a statement, a California-based Vatican lawyer accused the media of a “rush to judgment” and said the case had never been referred to the Vatican as an abuse case but as one of a man who wanted to leave the priesthood.
In a 1985 letter from the Vatican, typed in Latin and translated for The Associated Press, then-Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger told the bishop of Oakland he needed more time “to consider the good of the Universal Church” as he reviewed a request by the man to leave the priesthood.
Vatican lawyer Jeffrey Lena said he could not confirm the authenticity of the letter but indicated that it appeared to be “a form letter typically sent out initially with respect to laicization cases,” when men ask to leave the priesthood.
Lena “denied that the letter reflected then-Cardinal Ratzinger resisting pleas from the bishop to defrock the priest,” the statement said. “There may be some overstep and rush to judgment going on here,” Lena said on Saturday.
“During the entire course of the proceeding the priest remained under the control, authority and care of the local bishop who was responsible to make sure he did no harm, as the canon (Church) law provides. The abuse case wasn’t transferred to the Vatican at all,” he said.
If Rome can survive inquisitors, conquistadors, and endorsing fascist dictators, it can survive this too!
In my opinion, the RC church is capable of great acts of beauty and goodness as well as great evil. Some people call that humanity!! But it must be held accountable, something we are not seeing much of it seems.
I have blogged about this on my website if anyone is interested? http://www.sacredpolitics.com Let me know what you think as it is a new venture.
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Resident FaithWorld Expert
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