Deadline Looming for Victims of Irish Christian Brothers

There is little time left: Victims of the Irish Christian Brothers or victims abused at Irish Christian Brothers schools only have until August 1, 2012 to come forward and get justice in the courts. Last year, the Irish Christian Brothers (ICB), a Catholic religious order based in New Rochelle, New York, sought bankruptcy protection after…Continue reading Deadline Looming for Victims of Irish Christian Brothers

BREAKING: Former Hawaii bishop accused of molesting boy

For immediate release: Wednesday, June 13, 2012 Hawaii bishop accused of molesting boy New sex abuse and cover-up lawsuit is filed This is the 2nd victim to name Ferrario as offender Diocese knew and covered up allegations, lawsuit says New state law lets victims expose abusers & protect kids In a new civil lawsuit using…Continue reading BREAKING: Former Hawaii bishop accused of molesting boy

Call me crazy, but priests who admit to sexually assaulting ANYONE need to find a new job …

I mean, c’mon. Fr. Davila pled GUILTY. He wouldn’t pass the diocese background check, yet he’s in a parish: Bishops Robert Brom and Cirillo Flores say that they have addressed all of the pastoral concerns. Really? How about the concerns of the victim? ************************************ For immediate release: Tuesday, June 12 For more information: David Clohessy…Continue reading Call me crazy, but priests who admit to sexually assaulting ANYONE need to find a new job …

Cue Angry Mob

Victims? We don’t care about no stinkin’ victims!   San Diego, California: Fr. Jose Alexis Davila was arrested in January 2012 and pled guilty in April for battery and “unlawful touching of an intimate part of a victim’s body.” He is serving three years’ probation. Parishioners tried to accost the victim’s mother at prayer group in an…Continue reading Cue Angry Mob

Plead guilty to sexual assault? No worries! Brom has got your back!

**Updated with correction and Diocese Reponse** File this under: “What the hell are they thinking?” Diocese of San Diego priest Fr. Jose Alexis Davila, who in April pled guilty to to battery and “engaging in an unlawful touching of an intimate part of the victim’s body,” is back at work at his old parish. You know, the one…Continue reading Plead guilty to sexual assault? No worries! Brom has got your back!

Altarcations debuts at the Hollywood Fringe Festival

“A bishop. A priest. A woman. A boy.” My friend Steve Julian‘s play Altarcations will debut in June at the 2012 Hollywood Fringe Festival. I met Steve (whom some of you may recognize as the morning host of KPCC‘s Morning Edition) after I “outed” one of his former high school teachers as an admitted perpetrator…Continue reading Altarcations debuts at the Hollywood Fringe Festival

More Trouble for Stockton: Oliver O’Grady Re-emerges

 Oliver O’Grady is like a cockroach: He will never, never, ever go away. A new Oliver O’Grady victim has come forward and filed a lawsuit against the notorious predator and the Diocese of Stockton. SNAP will have a press conference tomorrow to release details. On the heels of the Michael Kelly verdict, this is very,…Continue reading More Trouble for Stockton: Oliver O’Grady Re-emerges

Putting the “Bully” in the religious Bully Pulpit

  Woe unto you that are rich! for ye have received your consolation (Luke 6:24–26)   The Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, one of the main organizations for whom I volunteer my advocacy efforts (and to whom I donate), has recently been under siege in Missouri. Catholic bishops there (under the direction of…Continue reading Putting the “Bully” in the religious Bully Pulpit

Ignore the Man Behind the Curtain: Joe Paterno and the Catholic Sex Abuse Crisis

Joe Paterno’s death last weekend came as a bit of a shock and a huge disappointment. I knew he was sick, but my disappointment did not come from grief. My upset was quite different: The man at the center of the biggest child sex abuse scandal of 2011 is gone, and we will never know…Continue reading Ignore the Man Behind the Curtain: Joe Paterno and the Catholic Sex Abuse Crisis