Abuse survivor Tim Lennon says the Vatican should have been decisive after George Pell was convicted and immediately defrocked him. However following the Victoria Supreme Court’s 2-1 ruling against Pell (78) last week, his legal team says it is considering a further appeal to Australia’s High Court. The Vatican says it is waiting for Pell Read more
Sir Anand Satyanand’s sudden resignation from the The Abuse in Care Royal Commission of Inquiry is being seen as a sign of the commission’s dysfunctionality, say survivors. The say they’re losing faith that the Inquiry will uncover the extent of what happened to children in state and church care. Some of them hope Sir Anand Read more
The Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP) has established a chapter in Aotearoa New Zealand. The Aotearoa New Zealand chapter, was founded by Dr Christopher Longhurst (pictured), a lecturer in theology at the Catholic Institute of Aotearoa New Zealand and survivor of sexual abuse by Catholic priests and brothers. The New Zealand chapter Read more
SNAP founder and director Barbara Blaine has resigned amid claims of collusion and a lawsuit by a former employee. Blaine has not given any reason for her resignation from SNAP – the Survivors’ Network of those Abused by Priests. She founded SNAP three decades ago. In January, Blaine, David Clohessy, the executive director of SNAP, Read more
Pope Francis has hailed the “courage” shown by United States bishops in facing up to the clergy sex abuse crisis. Speaking to about 400 bishops in Washington, DC, on September 23, the Pope said the bishops had regained the authority and trust which was demanded of them. He also praised the bishops for being ready Read more
A Guam priest who was stripped of his public duties last year, after a decades-old clergy sex abuse allegation resurfaced, has been cleared. Fr John Wadeson “has been reinstated fully to public ministry”, the Archdiocese of Agana stated. Fr Wadeson left the Redemptoris Mater Seminary on Guam in July last year, after serving in Agana Read more
Chicago archdiocese has released about 15,000 pages of previously secret files on clerical sex abuse in order to provide greater transparency. The documents detail interpersonal communications between victims, the priests and archdiocese officials. Making this information public comes after other documents were released in January as part of a settlement with victims. The archdiocese says Read more
An American Catholic priest removed from ministry in Guam over historic sex abuse allegations in California has left the Pacific territory. Fr John Howard Wadeson left Guam last week saying he had been falsely accused. The priest said he decided to leave because he didn’t want false accusations against him to tarnish Archbishop Anthony Apuron. Read more
An Italian cardinal has defended national guidelines exempting Italian bishops from having to report claims of abuse by clergy to police. Cardinal Angelo Bagnasco, president of the Italian bishops’ conference, said Italian law does not require it and victims may not want it. The guidelines, published in revised form in late March, were called for Read more
The director of SNAP, Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, has admitted the organisation has published false information and is unsure whether the group employs licensed counselors. David Clohessy was answering questions in court, amid accusation the group had printed restricted information in a press release. Asked by lawyers, “Has SNAP to your knowledge Read more