Last Monday lawmakers in Guam unanimously approved legislation to permanently remove the statute of limitations for all sexual abuse crimes, allowing victims to file civil cases against their alleged assailant. Sen. Frank Blas Jr., R-Barrigada, introduced Bill 326-33 a few months ago, following several public accusations by former altar boys who allege that Archbishop Anthony Apuron sexually abused them Read more
Anthony Apuron, the Archbishop of Agana (Guam), has categorically denied an allegation of sexual abuse that has been made against him. Last Tuesday Roy Quintanilla publicly accused Apuron of molesting him about 40 years ago, when he was a 12-year-old altar boy. This allegation is the latest in a series of complaints about various things Read more
A Marist brother has be found guilty of indecent assault The actions of Brother Patrick Bignell, 69, had a considerable “adverse impact” on each of his three teenaged male victims a judge said as she sentenced him on Friday to eight months’ home detention and ordered him to pay $8000 each to two of the victims Read more
Justice Cameron Mander has reserved his decision on an appeal by Kevin McGrath to the High Court in Christchurch. He has been fighting extradition to Australia for some years and was ordered by New Zealand’s Justice Minister to surrender to Australia in August. The judgement will be handed down in writing at a later date. Read more
An historic settlement of sex abuse cases will see clergy in two US dioceses required to testify that they don’t know of any unreported abuse in the Church. Clergy in St Paul-Minneapolis archdiocese and Winona diocese will also have to testify that they have committed no abuse themselves. An agreement was reached involving the two Read more
A Blenheim priest who has admitted an indecent assault has surprised the head of a sexual-abuse charity. In Blenheim, New Zealand, last Tuesday, Father Aidan Kay pleaded guilty to a charge of indecent assault on a male over 16. “It is very unusual, especially from a priest. I was very surprised,” says Male Survivors of Read more
Pope Francis has met victims of clergy sex abuse for the first time since being elected in March last year. On July 7, at his residence at the Domus Sanctae Marthae, the Pope met three women and three men and he asked for forgiveness. Two of the victims came from Ireland, two were from Great Read more
An initiative to give spiritual accompaniment to survivors of clerical sex abuse has been set up in Ireland. Towards Peace was launched on May 25 in Cork with a Mass of healing and reconciliation. The initiative seeks to help survivors re-engage with their faith. It is being rolled out regionally in Ireland over the next Read more
Pope Francis is to meet with a group of clergy sex abuse victims for the first time, possibly as early as next week. During an impromptu media session on his flight back from the Holy Land, the Pope said the meeting would take place in the first week in June. Six to eight victims would Read more
Bishops should be held accountable if they don’t report suspected sex abuse or protect children from paedophile priests, a pontifical commission says. The new Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors held its first meeting from May 1-3 at the Vatican. Commission head Cardinal Sean O’Malley says a person’s rank in the Church should lead Read more