Search Results for: ircp

Class Action Sex Abuse Lawsuits Part 4: Class Actions vs. IRCPs

Joelle Casteixclass action lawsuits

Part Four in a multi-part series ~ Previous post The enemy of sex abuse and cover-up is the light of truth: Statute of Limitation Reform. Why? Because civil justice—properly executed—demands that such behavior be uncovered and made public. Predators AND the institutional cover-up that enables predators to flourish are EXPOSED. Law enforcement can put bad…Continue reading Class Action Sex Abuse Lawsuits Part 4: Class Actions vs. IRCPs

The Ins and Outs of the IRCP Part 4: Hamlet’s Dilemma

Joelle CasteixClergy Abuse Crisis

To register, or not to register? That is the question. For those of you just catching up, the IRCPs, or the Independent Reconciliation and Compensation Programs, are programs for certain survivors of sexual abuse in the Archdiocese of New York and the Diocese of Brooklyn. If victims qualify, they may get financial compensation. But the…Continue reading The Ins and Outs of the IRCP Part 4: Hamlet’s Dilemma

The Ins and Outs of the IRCP Part 3: Who is Kenneth Feinberg?

Joelle CasteixClergy Abuse Crisis

Sorry for the gap since Part 2. I was on vacation. Then I ended up on the news.    He’s been called The Master of Disasters, a brand unto himself, and the Compensation Czar. Kenneth Feinberg (pictured above), the man who, with his assistant Camille Biros (read this recent New York Times article about her),…Continue reading The Ins and Outs of the IRCP Part 3: Who is Kenneth Feinberg?

The Ins and Outs of the IRCP Part 2: Phases and Deadlines

Joelle CasteixClergy Abuse Crisis

Part two of this series was originally going to be a little about IRCP plan administrator Ken Feinberg, but since the Diocese of Brooklyn has posted its official IRCP website (full of legalese), I thought I would go over some of the details here. *   Brooklyn IRCP Bishop DiMarzio and the Diocese of Brooklyn…Continue reading The Ins and Outs of the IRCP Part 2: Phases and Deadlines

The Ins and Outs of the IRCP: Is it a Hoax? Why Brooklyn?

Joelle CasteixClergy Abuse Crisis

~PART ONE OF A MULTI-PART SERIES ON THE IRCP~ I had planned on talking about the Archdiocese of New York’s Independent Reconciliation and Compensation Program (IRCP) in this blog, but I wanted to wait until after the end of the current New York legislative session. My hope was that the plan would be rendered redundant—that…Continue reading The Ins and Outs of the IRCP: Is it a Hoax? Why Brooklyn?

Diocese of Fresno promised us a list of accused priests. Where is it?

Joelle CasteixAB 218

Fresno Bishop Joseph V. Brennan promised a list. Did he think we forgot? Now that my white paper on the sexual abuse of women in the Catholic Church is complete—and getting a great response—I am beginning work on a complete analysis of California’s Catholic dioceses, sexual abuse, and cover-up. I thought I would start with…Continue reading Diocese of Fresno promised us a list of accused priests. Where is it?

Re-opening of NY courts exposes 11 newly accused clerics

Joelle CasteixClergy Abuse Crisis

Eleven priests who have not appeared on any lists of accused clerics—either court documents, diocese lists, or press reports—have been named as alleged predators in new lawsuits filed against the Catholic Archdiocese of New York this week. The 11 were named in a press release today, which also announced 59 new lawsuits. The priests publicly…Continue reading Re-opening of NY courts exposes 11 newly accused clerics

Orange Bishop Kevin Vann needs a History Lesson, or

Joelle CasteixClergy Abuse Crisis

Why Independent Compensation Programs are a Sham, Reason 3,298 It was a throwaway quote by Orange Bishop Kevin Vann that gave him away. Yesterday, six dioceses across the state of California launched what they are calling the Independent Compensation Program (ICP) for Victim-Survivors of Sexual Abuse of Minors by Priests. The programs, modeled after similar…Continue reading Orange Bishop Kevin Vann needs a History Lesson, or

California Bishops to Start Passing Out Cash to Victims: Why Now?

Joelle CasteixIRCP

In September, a representative for bishops in six California dioceses will begin mailing out information packages to survivors of clergy sex abuse. These packets will discuss a church-run compensation program for years of shame, suffering and cover-up perpetrated by priests and bishops across the state. I am not a fan of these programs at all.…Continue reading California Bishops to Start Passing Out Cash to Victims: Why Now?

Independent compensation programs hit California

Joelle CasteixClergy Abuse Crisis

Yesterday, six of California’s Catholic bishops announced an independent compensation program for survivors of clergy sexual abuse. I wrote an extensive series on these programs a while back. While the some of the details are different, the facts about these programs remain the same: This plan is not about helping survivors. This is about the…Continue reading Independent compensation programs hit California

The New York Child Victims Act: How will you change the world today?

Joelle Casteixclass action lawsuits

It’s been a crazy couple of weeks in the child sex abuse survivors’ movement. It’s easy to get overwhelmed with the news and the emotions involved (Heck, even I’m overwhelmed). After years of little action, it seems as if survivors and advocates have been thrown into a hurricane of news, reaction and emotion—lots and lots…Continue reading The New York Child Victims Act: How will you change the world today?

Class Action Sex Abuse Lawsuits Part 3: The Evil Opt-Out

Joelle Casteixclass action lawsuits

~Part three in a multi-part series~previous post Settlement Class Actions Lawsuits are BAD for victims, BAD for justice, and a PUBLIC SAFETY HAZARD. And the opt-out? It’s every bishop’s dream. I talked about the opt-out a little in my last post. But in this post, I will talk about why settlement class action lawsuits in…Continue reading Class Action Sex Abuse Lawsuits Part 3: The Evil Opt-Out

Class Action Sex Abuse Lawsuits Part 2: Lessons from Covington

Joelle Casteixclass action lawsuits

~Part two in a multi-part series~previous post Settlement Class Actions Lawsuits are BAD for victims and BAD for transparency. But they are mighty good for bishops. Here is what we know about victims of child sexual abuse: It can take decades for victims to come forward, because child sexual abuse is a crime of shame…Continue reading Class Action Sex Abuse Lawsuits Part 2: Lessons from Covington

Victims Deadline – Archdiocese of New York – November 1, 2017

Joelle CasteixClergy Abuse Crisis

The Independent Reconciliation and Compensation Plan is not perfect. But because of it, last week, victims were able to expose two, decades-long hidden priest perpetrators. One of the predators—Casper Wolf—taught in a Bronx high school for 27 years. The Archdiocese knew about allegations entire time. And said NOTHING. If you were sexually abused by a…Continue reading Victims Deadline – Archdiocese of New York – November 1, 2017

The next domino falls: Rockville Center NY

Joelle CasteixChild safety

The Catholic Diocese of Rockville Center, NY has announced an Independent Reconciliation and Compensation Plan. These plans, administered by Ken Feinberg and funded by the individual dioceses, aim to compensate victims for abuse.  You can read more about them in my four-part series here. Victims of sexual abuse in the Long Island Catholic diocese of…Continue reading The next domino falls: Rockville Center NY

Breaking: Diocese of Brooklyn announces Dolan-esque compensation plan

Joelle CasteixClergy Abuse Crisis

And the corpse of the New York Child Victims Act isn’t even cool yet. Brooklyn Bishop DiMarzio (pictured above) has issued a written statement announcing an Independent Reconciliation and Compensation Plan mirroring that of Cardinal Dolan’s IRCP across the river. These plans compensate victims for the child sex abuse they suffered, while keeping documents, evidence, and…Continue reading Breaking: Diocese of Brooklyn announces Dolan-esque compensation plan

Cardinal Dolan and his Belief in Sex Abuse Reform Bills

Joelle CasteixClergy Abuse Crisis

It’s true: New York’s Archbishop Cardinal Timothy Dolan believes in Window Legislation and Statute of Limitation Reform for victims of child sexual abuse. He knows they both work to help victims heal. He’s showing us right now. Just look at his actions, not his words. In fact, since last fall, he’s shown that archaic Statutes of…Continue reading Cardinal Dolan and his Belief in Sex Abuse Reform Bills