Archbishop William E. Lori told Catholics Sept. 5 that the Archdiocese of Baltimore is considering Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization as one option to deal with lawsuits expected to be filed when the state’s Child Victims Act takes effect Oct. 1.
Sex Abuse
Sex Abuse Charges Against McCarrick Dismissed, Ex-Cardinal Still Faces Charges in Wisconsin
A Massachusetts judge ruled Aug. 30 that Theodore McCarrick, a 93-year-old former cardinal, was not competent enough, due to advanced dementia, to stand trial on state charges of sexual abuse.
BREAKING: Massachusetts Sex Abuse Charges Against McCarrick Dismissed; He’s Ruled Incompetent to Stand Trial
A Massachusetts judge ruled Aug. 30 that Theodore McCarrick, a 93-year-old former U.S. Cardinal, was not competent enough, due to advanced dementia, to stand trial on charges of sexual abuse in that state.
New Orleans Archdiocese Pushes Back as Investigative Report Alleges Mishandled Abuse Cases
The Archdiocese of New Orleans and Archbishop Gregory M. Aymond are pushing back against a newspaper’s investigative report claiming they mishandled several claims of clerical abuse.
Pope Francis Meets Sexual Abuse Survivors in Portugal
On the first day of an Aug. 2-6 trip to Portugal, a country that recently has been embroiled in a clerical sexual abuse crisis, Pope Francis met with a group of abuse survivors.
Sex Abuse Lawsuits Force Upstate NY Diocese To File For Bankruptcy
The Diocese of Ogdensburg, New York, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy July 17, as it faces more than 100 lawsuits alleging clergy sexual abuse from decades ago.
Rooting Out Sexual Abuse From Our Society Needs to Be a Top Priority
Sexual Assault Awareness Month, observed each April, is a campaign that aims to increase awareness about the causes and risk factors for sexual assault, empower individuals to take steps to prevent it in their communities, and especially to inform minors of ways to be aware of sexual abuse and how they can protect themselves.
Not Quite Breaking News
The New York Post’s headline on Jan. 18, “Vatican Orders Cardinal Dolan to Probe Bishop DiMarzio Sex Abuse Allegation,” immediately caught my attention.
California Dioceses Start Pay Program for Abuse Victims
Six of California’s Catholic dioceses – including the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, the nation’s largest – announced on May 14 that it was launching an Independent Compensation Program for survivors of clergy sex abuse.
Abuse Conference Seeks Honest Exchange Between Bishops and Victims
A conference at the Catholic University of America (CUA) last week brought together clerical sex abuse survivors and over a dozen Catholic bishops for a daylong discussion on “healing a wounded family,” rather than on institutional reform.
