The Worthy Adversary

Author: Joelle Casteix

Legal Examiner Review of THE WELL-ARMORED CHILD

This book should be required reading for every parent, teacher, and youth athletic coach. The information in this book can protect children from childhood sexual abuse.

Read the whole review.

October 28, 2015
My Op-Ed in the LA TIMES: Don’t let time shield sex predators

Whether it’s Cosby or the Catholic Church, statutes of limitations do one thing: protect sex predators.

Read my whole Oct 19 op-ed here.

October 28, 2015
The math: Pope Francis’ meeting with survivors

$Love-Math$

Since yesterday’s announcement, I have been hearing a lot of this:

But Pope Francis met with survivors. He’s promised to hold bishops accountable. That’s good, right?

Um … not really. But first, let’s boil down the figures concerning the actual meeting.

Here is some math on Pope Francis’ meeting yesterday with abuse survivors.

The meeting was 30 minutes long, total.

There were five survivors present. Some were victims of predators employed, harbored, and protected by the Vatican. The others were not, and had very different histories to talk share with the Pope.

Each survivor brought a loved one

Francis talked for a few minutes at the beginning.

He prayed with each one at the end.

Some Catholic news outlets report that “The pope listened to each survivors’ story.”

At most, simple division tells us that each survivor had about four minutes (or less) to share his or her experience of abuse and betrayal with Francis. For those not abused in the church, they may have not even been able to get to the meat of their stories.

So my question is:

Does anyone really think that a 78-year-old never-married man who has been a priest for six decades really learned anything from this event?

And don’t forget: Francis refused to meet with survivors while bishop, archbishop, and cardinal in Argentina.

My conclusion:

Meetings and prayers may have been very healing for these survivors, but do absolutely nothing to keep kids safe now. Plus, the meeting was terribly hurtful for the thousands of survivors who have written the Vatican asking for help and received NOTHING. Or those who had to resort to the civil courts for justice, and watched as bishops paid millions of dollars to lawyers to keep criminal secrets hidden (that’s a math class for another day).

This meeting was nothing but PR.

But Francis can prove that he means action.

Pope Francis’s easy, free, and no-brainer first step would be to publicly admonish and strip all titles, honors, and wealth from disgraced Los Angeles Cardinal Roger Mahony, equally disgraced Archbishop of St. Paul/Minneapolis John Nienstedt and convicted Kansas City-St. Joseph Bishop Robert Finn.

Making these three men live lives of prayer and penance would do a lot … and wouldn’t cost a thing.

And then, for #2 (the not-so-free-and-easy step): he must make public the sex abuse files in the Vatican and every diocese HQ worldwide. When that happens, there will be a lot more bishops who will need public admonishing. And a lot of child predators will go to jail.

Maybe then, we can hope that children are safer in the church.

September 28, 2015
Talking to KABC Radio about the Papal vist

You can listen to our discussion about sex abuse and cover-up, Roger Mahony, and protecting whistle-blowers here.

September 25, 2015

Street closures in NYC for Papal visit

From the NYPD:

NEW YORK CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCES STREET CLOSURES AND EXPECTED TRAFFIC DELAYS RELATING TO THE VISIT OF POPE FRANCIS

The New York City Police Department today announced street closures and anticipated traffic delays relating to the visit of Pope Francis. The use of public transportation for the duration of the visit is highly encouraged.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24^th, 2015

Beginning at approximately midnight the following streets in the vicinity of the St. Patrick’s Cathedral will be closed to vehicular traffic until approximately 9 p.m.:

• 50^th Street from Madison Ave. to 5^th Avenue
• 51^st Street from Madison Ave. to 5^th Avenue

Beginning at approximately 3 a.m. the following streets in the vicinity of the St. Patrick’s Cathedral will be closed to vehicular traffic until 6 a.m.:

• 5^th Avenue from 47^th Street to 55th Street.
• 48^th Street from Madison Ave. to 6^th Avenue
• 49^th Street from Madison Ave. to 6^th Avenue
• 50^th Street from 5^th Ave. to 6^th Avenue (will remained closed until approx. 9 p.m.)
• 51^st Street from 5^th Ave. to 6^th Avenue (will remained closed until approx. 9 p.m.)
• 52^nd Street from Madison Ave. to 6^th Avenue
• 53^rd Street from Madison Ave. to 6^th Avenue
• 54^th Street from Madison Ave. to 6^th Avenue
• 55^th Street from Madison Ave. to 6^th Avenue

Beginning at approximately 6 a.m. the following streets in the vicinity of the St. Patrick’s Cathedral will be re-opened to vehicular traffic until 10 a.m.:

• 5^th Avenue from 47^th Street to 55th Street.
• 48^th Street from Madison Ave. to 6^th Avenue
• 49^th Street from Madison Ave. to 6^th Avenue
• 52^nd Street from Madison Ave. to 6^th Avenue
• 53^rd Street from Madison Ave. to 6^th Avenue
• 54^th Street from Madison Ave. to 6^th Avenue
• 55^th Street from Madison Ave. to 6^th Avenue

Please note: Crosstown traffic will be reduced to one lane of traffic

Beginning at approximately 10 a.m. the following streets in the vicinity of the St. Patrick’s Cathedral will be closed to vehicular traffic until approximately 9 p.m.:

• 5^th Avenue from 47^th Street to 55th Street.
• 48^th Street from Madison Ave. to 6^th Avenue
• 49^th Street from Madison Ave. to 6^th Avenue
• 50^th Street from Madison Ave. to 6^th Avenue
• 51st Street from Madison Ave. to 6^th Avenue
• 52^nd Street from Madison Ave. to 6^th Avenue
• 53^rd Street from Madison Ave. to 6^th Avenue
• 54^th Street from Madison Ave. to 6^th Avenue
• 55^th Street from Madison Ave. to 6^th Avenue

Beginning at approximately 2 p.m. the following streets in the vicinity of the St. Patrick’s Cathedral will be closed to vehicular traffic until approximately 9 p.m.:

• Madison Avenue from 47^th Street to 57^th Street

On Thursday the FDR DRIVE will be subject to intermittent closures:

• Southbound at 63rd Street

• Northbound at South Ferry

Beginning at approximately 8 a.m. the following street in the vicinity of the Papal Nuncio’s Residence will be closed to vehicular traffic until Saturday, September 26^th at approximately

10 a.m.:

• 72^nd Street from Madison Ave. to 5^th Avenue

Beginning at approximately 3 p.m. the following street in the vicinity of the Papal Nuncio’s Residence will be closed to vehicular traffic until Saturday, September 26^th at approximately

10 a.m.:

• 71^st Street from Madison Ave. to 5^th Avenue

Please note: Trucks and other large vehicles will not be able to access:

• Madison Ave. from 69^th Street to 74^th Street while Pope Francis is in residence

Additional intermittent closures/managed access to vehicular traffic in the vicinity of the Papal Nuncio’s Residence include:

• 5^th Avenue to from 74^th Street to 71^st Street
• 70^th Street from Park Avenue to 5^th Avenue
• 71^st Street from Park Avenue to Madison Avenue
• 72^nd Street from Park Avenue to Madison Avenue
• 73^rd Street from Madison Avenue to 5^th Avenue
• Madison Ave. from 69^th Street to 73^rd Street -two western lanes closed

Beginning at approximately 10 p.m. the following streets in the vicinity of the Papal Nuncio’s Residence will be closed to vehicular traffic until approximately 6 a.m.:

• 71^st Street from Park Ave. to 5^th Avenue
• 72nd Street from Park Ave. to 5^th Avenue
• 73^rd Street from Park Ave. to 5^th Avenue
• Madison Ave. from 70^th Street to 73^rd Street

Please note: Trucks and other large vehicles will not be able to access:

• 5^th Ave. from 74^th Street to 71^st Street
• Madison Ave. from 69^th Street to 74^th Street

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25^th, 2015

The following streets in the vicinity of the United Nations will continued to be closed for the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) to vehicular traffic:

• 1st Avenue from 42nd Street to 48th Street. The tunnel underpass from 41^st Street to 48^th Street will remain open for passenger cars. Trucks and other large vehicles will not be able to access until the end of the day’s session.

• 43^rd Street from 1st Avenue to 2nd Avenue

• 44^th Street from 1st Avenue to 2nd Avenue

• 45^th Street from 1st Avenue to 2nd Avenue

• 46^th Street from 1st Avenue to 2nd Avenue

The following will be closed to vehicular traffic beginning at approximately 5:00 a.m.:

• 42nd Street from the FDR Drive to 2nd Avenue

• 42nd Street Exit and Entrance Ramps of the FDR Drive

Please note: These areas will reopen each evening after the day’s session.

Beginning at approximately midnight the following streets in the vicinity of the 9-11 Memorial will be closed to vehicular traffic until approximately 1 p.m.:

• Liberty Street from Trinity Place to Greenwich Street

• Cedar Street from Trinity Place to Greenwich Street

Beginning at approximately 11 a.m. the following streets in the vicinity of the 9-11 Memorial will be closed to vehicular traffic until approximately 1 p.m.:

• North bound on West Street from Battery Place to Murray Street

Additional intermittent closures/managed access to vehicular traffic in the vicinity of the 9-11 Memorial includes:

• South bound on West Street from Chambers Street to Albany Street

Please note: Trucks and other large vehicles will not be able to access:

• South bound on West Street from Chambers Street to Albany Street

Beginning at approximately midnight the following streets in the vicinity of the Our Lady Queen of Angels School will be closed to vehicular traffic until approximately 6 p.m.:

• 112^th Street from 2^nd Avenue to 3^rdAvenue
• 113^th Street Cul-de-sac

Please note: Starting at approximately 3 p.m. trucks and other large vehicles will not be able to access:

• 2^nd Avenue between 106^th Street to 116^th Street
• 3^rd Avenue between 106^th Street to 116^th Street

Beginning at approximately midnight the following streets in the vicinity of Central Park will be closed to vehicular traffic until approximately 7 p.m.:

• Central Park West between Columbus Circle and West 81^st Street

• W 61^st Street between Central Park West and Broadway

• W 62^nd Street between Central Park West and Broadway

• W 63^rd Street between Central Park West and Broadway

• W 64^th Street between Central Park West and Broadway

• W 65^th Street between Central Park West and Broadway

• W 66^th Street between Central Park West and Broadway

• W 67th Street between Central Park West and Columbus Avenue

• W 68th Street between Central Park West and Columbus Avenue

• W 69th Street between Central Park West and Columbus Avenue

• W 70th Street between Central Park West and Columbus Avenue

• W 71st Street between Central Park West and Columbus Avenue

• W 72^nd Street between Central Park West and Columbus Avenue

• W 73^rdStreet between Central Park West and Columbus Avenue

• W 74^th Street between Central Park West and Columbus Avenue

• W 75^th Street between Central Park West and Columbus Avenue

• W 76^th Street between Central Park West and Columbus Avenue

• W 77th Street between Central Park West and Columbus Avenue

Beginning at approximately midnight the following streets in the vicinity of Madison Square Garden will be closed to vehicular traffic until approximately midnight:

• 31^st Street from 7^th Avenue to 9^th Avenue

• 33^rd Street from 7^th Avenue to 9^th Avenue

Beginning at approximately noon the following streets in the vicinity of Madison Square Garden will have intermittent closures/managed access to vehicular traffic

• 31^st Street from 6^th Avenue to 7^th Avenue – managed access

• 32^nd Street from 6^th Avenue to 7^th Avenue- managed access

• 33^rd Street from 6^th Avenue to 7^th Avenue- managed access

• 7^th Avenue from 30^thStreet to 34^th Street – two western lanes closed

• 8^th Avenue from 31^st Street to 33^rd Street – one lane only/intermittent closures

Please note: Starting at approximately noon trucks and other large vehicles will not be able to access:

• 7^th Avenue from 30^thStreet to 34^th Street

• 8^th Avenue from 30^th Street to 34^th Street

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 26^th, 2015

The FDR DRIVE will be subject to intermittent closures:

• Southbound at 63rd Street
• Northbound at South Ferry

Please note: For all days additional closings may occur at the discretion of the police department.

September 20, 2015