Crozier priest Father Jerry Funcheon, who is the subject of the first lawsuit filed under Hawaii’s civil window, is back in the news – this time because Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis church officials “forgot” to put him on a website that lists abusive clerics. Church documents show that Funcheon may have abused up…Continue reading Gerald Funcheon is back in the news
It’s like having a public swimming pool without a life preserver … A story out of St. Paul, MN, is a latest example of why so-called “Safe Environment” programs create a false sense of security and may even protect child predators. The predator in this case was Rev. Curtis Wehmeyer, a now-convicted child offender who is…Continue reading Safe environment programs: Safe for predators, not so much for kids
One brother is Obama’s chief of staff. The other is an embattled former top deputy to St. Paul’s Archbishop, charged with covering up sex abuse and refusing to cooperate with the police. Put together, the McDonough brothers show how bad timing and bad moral decisions may push two former “superstars” into very public and very…Continue reading The Politician and the Priest: Two brothers and a fall from grace
I try to steer clear of commenting on the actions of William Donohue, the president of the Catholic League. I would tell you why, but that’s another post in itself. But I can’t stay silent on this: Today, Donohue issued a press release called St. Paul & Minneapolis Archbishop Nienstedt Deserves Justice. I have no disagreement…Continue reading Donohue goes too far … and he’s DEAD WRONG
On October 5, the Archdiocese of St. Paul & Minneapolis, which has been mired in a sex abuse and cover-up crisis, announced that an “independent” task force will convene to investigate how archdiocese officials handled abuse allegations, as well as review policies and procedures in place. The official announcement stated that “The Vicar [Fr. Reginald…Continue reading Nienstedt throws “PR ploy” task force under the bus
I have never had any kind of tolerance for institutional malfeasance. Shocker, I know. But what really intrigues me is this: Why are the vast majority of America’s Catholic priests silent when it comes to child sex abuse and cover-up in the church? In Los Angeles, a document release in January showed that high-ranking church officials…Continue reading A challenge for the good priests
First, let’s talk about compliance. Since 2002, Catholics and the public have been “assured” time and time again that dioceses across the United States are “in compliance” with the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People, a set of rules created by the US Conference of Catholic Bishops after the scandals in Boston…Continue reading Compliance, public nuisance, and some angry priests in MN
Why would a vowed celibate man have pictures of naked or semi-naked children on his computer? Why, when given the evidence of these photos, would this man’s supervisors do little or nothing, even when the crime is federal and one of the easiest to report? Since, in this case, the supervisor is a Catholic bishop and…Continue reading Child porn is a window into the soul of the church
California Governor Jerry Brown has until Sunday, October 13 to sign or veto SB 131, The California Child Victims’ Act. If he does nothing, the bill will be enacted as written. In the meantime, victims wait. Here is why the bill’s opponents are scared: Minnesota enacted a THREE-YEAR civil window earlier this year and the revelations…Continue reading Jerry Brown should look to MN to see import of Child Victims Act
The Archdiocese of LA paid for a victim’s counseling in 2003—but neglected (or refused) to inform her that she had civil rights— even though they had known for years that Fr. Michael Steven Nocita was a predator. Now, he can use the court system to expose former priest and the church officials who covered up…Continue reading First Sex Abuse and Coverup Lawsuit Filed Under CA Appeal Ruling
Documents recently exposed in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee showed that NY Cardinal Timothy Dolan paid predator priests $20,000 to quietly leave the priesthood. Yeah, really. The response from Dolan? Cue the crickets. But that doesn’t mean that Dolan’s apologists have also clammed up. In fact, they have been very loud in defending Dolan, saying,…Continue reading Dissecting Dolan’s Apologists
California is inundated with civil and criminal clergy sex abuse cases. I realized it was time for an update: Inland Empire Last week in Ontario, Fr. Alex Castillo was sentenced to a year in jail for lewd acts on a child. Although he was only prosecuted for his crimes against one victim, the sentencing report outlined…Continue reading The California Clergy Sex Abuse Powder Keg, Part 2
Today the Diocese of San Diego released a list of eight credibly accused priests who have worked in the diocese. The names are: Fr. Jose Chavarin Fr. Raymond Etienne SVD Fr. James P. Foley Fr. Michael French Fr. Richard Houck Fr. George Lally O.A.R. Fr. Mark Medaer Fr. Paolino Montagna This list is dangerously incomplete.…Continue reading San Diego Diocese holds back on abusive priests, public list tops 103
But where is he now? That’s an important question … From NewsOK: Tuesday, in a prepared statement, Archbishop Paul S. Coakley, archbishop of the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City, said the Rev. Jose Alexis Davila was removed from his pastoral work in the archdiocese after more investigation was conducted into the priest’s past. Considering the archbishop…Continue reading Convicted priest booted from OKC
Last week, the Vatican announced that Mother Teresa will be made a saint sometime in May 2016. The Macedonian nun founded the Order of the Missionaries of Charity, a religious order whose mission is to help the poor. When the sainthood announcement was made, critics denounced the decision, citing the fact that she…Continue reading Mother Teresa: Sainthood and the Almighty Dollar
Jerry Brown could have been a hero. He could have helped expose a cache of child pornography in the basement of the local archdiocese. He could have forced bishops to release the names of adults credibly accused of abuse in the past ten years, but whose identities were kept secret from parishioners, communities, and the…Continue reading Jerry Brown COULD have made a difference
From today’s Honolulu Star Advertiser: Victims of church sexual abuse need criminal lawyers, not therapy By Marilyn Wong The Roman Catholic Diocese of Hawaii, via a newspaper ad that ran Monday, is offering therapy treatment and reconciliation for the victims of sex abuse. Directing victims to go to the diocese for help is like sending…Continue reading Honolulu Star Advertiser: Victims of church sexual abuse need criminal lawyers, not therapy
Fr. Jose Alexis Davila, the Venezuelan national, San Diego priest, and misdemeanor sex offender, has vanished. There has been no comment or statement from Diocese of San Diego, who just a few months ago, said that the “sex-probation priest” was “fit for ministry.” This past New Year’s Eve, Davila, the associate pastor of St. Jude Shrine…Continue reading BREAKING: Sex Offending San Diego Priest Vanishes