My op-ed in today’s Lafayette Advertiser: Releasing priests’ names a matter of public safety
Category: Clergy Abuse Crisis
Thomas Stitts and the 40-year Minnesota “memory loss”
A couple of things struck me about the recently released clergy file of St. Paul and Minneapolis Archdiocese priest Thomas Stitts. I saved the best for last, so be sure to read to the end. There is the 1985 “mystery letter.” The letter, which became known around the time of Stitts’ death, allegedly “named names” of scandalous…Continue reading Thomas Stitts and the 40-year Minnesota “memory loss”
Indiegogo campaign helps survivors expand support groups
Even $5 can make a huge difference. I have often mentioned my volunteer work with SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests. They are the nation’s largest and oldest support group for adult survivors who were sexually abused as children in religious and institutional settings. In the past few years, their mission has…Continue reading Indiegogo campaign helps survivors expand support groups
Wandering Wadeson: A banned priest is exposed
I know it’s been a little quiet here at The Worthy Adversary. I have been pounding away at the manuscript for The Well-Armored Child, and it’s summer, so there’s not a lot of quiet time around the house. But things have not been quiet in the Archdiocese of Hagatna, Guam. And every time I think that things…Continue reading Wandering Wadeson: A banned priest is exposed
Pope Francis, Eric Swearingen and another failure of “Zero Tolerance”
If Pope Francis were truly sorry for the sexual abuse of children in the Catholic church, he’s take a gander at a little Catholic diocese is California, where a cleric found guilty of abuse in a civil trial is still a powerful priest. Here’s the situation: Fresno priest Eric Swearingen was recently appointed the pastor of a Visalia,…Continue reading Pope Francis, Eric Swearingen and another failure of “Zero Tolerance”
Big News: Hawaii Civil Window for child sex abuse victims EXTENDED; Includes public schools
Hawaii Governor Neil Abercrombie just signed a law that extends Hawaii’s two-year civil window for sex abuse victims. But there’s more: victims in public schools are NOW eligible for accountability under the new law. For the first time, sex offenders in public schools and the people who covered up for them—including powerful unions and other gov’t…Continue reading Big News: Hawaii Civil Window for child sex abuse victims EXTENDED; Includes public schools
A bishop’s “epic fail” is a lesson to all of us: How to report abuse
St. Louis Archbishop Robert Carlson has a lesson for all of us, and I don’t think it’s the lesson he intended. The situation: When asked by victims’ attorney Jeff Anderson in a recent deposition if he knew in the 1984 that child sex abuse was a crime, Carlson responded, “I’m not sure if I did or…Continue reading A bishop’s “epic fail” is a lesson to all of us: How to report abuse
Carlson plays the memory card … and loses
Yesterday, attorneys for victims of child sexual abuse in Minnesota and Missouri released a recent sworn deposition of St. Louis Archbishop Robert Carlson. In the deposition, which can be read here and viewed in excerpts below, Carlson states 193 times that he “does not remember” various incidents regarding the sexual abuse of children. But…Continue reading Carlson plays the memory card … and loses
Vetting and the board of the Vatican Bank
Last week, Pope Francis sacked his entire Vatican “watchdog” board, replacing them with an international “who’s who” list of financial reform and investigation gurus. One of the names on the list surprised me: Juan Zarate. Zarate shot to prominence as the member of George Bush’s Treasury Department. He was a tenacious investigator who went after…Continue reading Vetting and the board of the Vatican Bank
Friday Round-up: Aldana, Adrian, Arizona, and the AG
It’s been an interesting week: Ricardo “Richard” Aldana is goin’ to the pokey Former JSerra High School teacher Richard Aldana was convicted on three felony counts of lewd acts upon a child. The victim was a 14-year-old student. Aldana faces up to eight years in jail. JSerra is an independent (not owned by the Diocese…Continue reading Friday Round-up: Aldana, Adrian, Arizona, and the AG
It all started with a support group
This past Sunday, I had a bit of an epiphany. I was getting ready to receive an award for my work on behalf of SNAP for creating awareness for support groups. The organization honoring us—SHARE! The Self Help and Recovery Exchange—is an awesome non-profit that provides more than 140 support groups a week, helps people in crisis…Continue reading It all started with a support group
Think that parents don’t want a “toolkit” book to prevent abuse? Think again
Last month, I received a very lovely rejection letter from a well-respected New York agent who had asked to review the entire proposal for THE WELL-ARMORED CHILD. She liked the book, loved the writing, but told me that she just didn’t think the market for the book was “robust” enough. A story yesterday on CNN.com…Continue reading Think that parents don’t want a “toolkit” book to prevent abuse? Think again
An honor I am overwhelmed to receive …
I am so flattered and overwhelmed to be honored with the Susan Laufer Award for Outstanding Contribution to Support Group Awareness for “tireless work in spreading the word about support groups for those abused by priests.” If you would like to come, PLEASE let me know. We want you there to join us. You can also…Continue reading An honor I am overwhelmed to receive …
We can’t waste this teachable moment: How the teaching of one commandment silenced generations of sex abuse victims and what we can do to change it
Part One: Young Children and the Sixth Commandment It’s the juicy one: Thou shall not commit adultery. How do you teach the term adultery to young children? There are two ways: There is a guilt and sin-laden method that shames child victims of abuse into a lifetime of silence and self-loathing. It also silences witnesses and whistleblowers…Continue reading We can’t waste this teachable moment: How the teaching of one commandment silenced generations of sex abuse victims and what we can do to change it
More proof that Jerry Brown got it all wrong: Love Serve Surrender
When California Governor Jerry Brown vetoed SB 131 —an extension to California’s 2003 civil window that would have allowed victims of child sex abuse to come forward, no matter when they were abused—he cited an age-old (and VERY STALE) argument that we hear often from Catholic bishops: “window laws are unfair.” Tell that to the…Continue reading More proof that Jerry Brown got it all wrong: Love Serve Surrender
Trailer: Documentary exposes Big Island abuser
Vice News has released a trailer for their upcoming documentary LOVE SERVE SURRENDER. The film tells the story of Jay Ram, a former Hilo-area farmer who fostered and adopted boys in California and Hawaii … and then sexually abused them. Because of Hawaii’s civil window, these boys—now men— have been able to expose Jay and…Continue reading Trailer: Documentary exposes Big Island abuser
Gallup judge sets bar date for victims
The bankruptcy judge presiding over the Diocese of Gallup bankruptcy has set an August 11 deadline for victims of abuse in the diocese to come forward and file claims. The Diocese of Gallup filed for bankruptcy protection last year. Why? Well, there were some pretty embarrassing and ugly civil child sex abuse trials coming…Continue reading Gallup judge sets bar date for victims
“It saves them a fortune”
Bankruptcy, that is. Diocesan bankruptcy is back in the news—this time, it’s the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis. According to victims’ attorneys, yesterday’s four-hour deposition of St. Paul Archbishop John Nienstedt ended “abruptly and heatedly,” and Nienstedt refused to turn over some court-ordered documents and answer many questions about the cover-up of sex abuse in…Continue reading “It saves them a fortune”
Where would Jesus live?
Relax, Archbishop Gregory. You need to stop apologizing for that cherry $2.2 million house you just built in Atlanta. Sure, Georgia’s Catholics are rightfully angry. Of course it’s an ostentatious show of wealth that goes against the spirit and the words of the New Testament and the teachings of Jesus Christ. We understand: You had to…Continue reading Where would Jesus live?