“Overall, 86 percent of all alleged perpetrators were identified as ‘deceased, already removed from ministry, already laicized, or missing,’ not surprising as about seven-tenths (72 percent) of the alleged abuses occurred in 1979 or earlier," according to a new report from the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate (CARA). Over $5 billion has been paid in costs due to the abuse crisis in the U.S. Catholic Church. CARA said over the past 20 years, dioceses and religious communities have deemed a total of 16,276 allegations of abuse of minors by priests, deacons, and religious brothers as “credible.”
Parishes paid a total of $53 million toward the settlement, and every one of the 136 parishes belonging to the diocese filed for bankruptcy and contributed, whether or not they were being sued. The move was greeted with dismay at most parishes. It's one piece of a bankruptcy settlement that took four years to reach, following claims that scores of priests and other adults who worked for the diocese from the 1950s onward abused children in their care. About 30 parishes that were not facing litigation were included in the bankruptcy and thus contributed to the diocese's payout.
Shortly after his election as pope, he recalls in his book, he visited Benedict at Castel Gandolfo, the papal summer residence south of Rome. “He gave me a large white box,” Francis writes. “‘Everything is in here’, he told me. ‘Documents relating to the most difficult and painful situations. Cases of abuse, corruption, dark dealings, wrongdoings.’” Benedict then told him: “I have arrived this far, taken these actions, removed these people. Now it’s your turn.” In Hope, Pope Francis says: “I have continued along his path.”
Gay men will be allowed into Roman Catholic seminaries to train to be priests but they must observe celibacy according to Catholic doctrine that holds that non-practising homosexuals are not sinners, the Italian Bishops Conference (CEI) said in new guidelines. To be admitted to the seminary, one must show from the beginning "an orientation towards celibate life". In this perspective, there will not be a barrier to homosexuals as such but to those who "practise" homosexual acts. "The Church, while deeply respecting the people in question, cannot admit to the Seminary and to Holy Orders those who practise homosexuality".
Compared to how most bishops handle cases of falsely accused priests, the Cardinal's actions are exemplary. Justice and truth demand that obviously wrongly accused priests be immediately sent back to their calling – not years later – and the Cardinal is showing strong leadership and a care for his fellow priests by taking swift action where it is warranted. We hope other bishops find some courage and take note.
The Archbishop refuses to release a list of Archdiocesan priests who have been “credibly accused” of abuse. It did, however, release a new list of priests “approved for ministry” by the Archdiocese. In a statement, the Archdiocese said releasing a list of all priests accused of sexual abuse would be “unjust” for those who are falsely accused. Out of a dozen Catholic dioceses in the state, it is the only one that has not released a list of priests hit with abuse allegations deemed credible by church review boards.
Reddy said the court “cannot dismiss the matter” under state law, but the court “will not set any further reviews on this matter and it will remain in suspended status until the defendant passes away,” court records say. Prosecutors told the court they were “not ready to dismiss this matter” and asked that the trial remain “in suspended status.” McCarrick’s attorney Jerome Buting countered that McCarrick’s “extreme deterioration” should lead the court to dismiss the case outright.