News & Issues
'Some have violated rights of children' - Monday, February 08, 2010
2-8-10 "The Church over the centuries, following the example of Christ, has promoted the dignity and rights of children," Pope Benedict XVI said. "Unfortunately, in various cases some of her members, acting against this commitment, have violated these rights; actions which the Church does not and will not fail to deplore and condemn," Benedict added. (full story) |
Irish bishops will meet with victims - Monday, February 08, 2010
2-8-10 Senior Catholic clergy are to meet survivors of clerical abuse today ahead of their visit to Rome to discuss the fallout of the institutional child abuse scandal with the Pope. The Irish Bishop's Conference has refused to comment on the meeting except to say that it is confidential. However, it is understood to be taking place this morning in Maynooth and various survivors' representatives will be in attendance. (full story) |
Defiant Martin shrugs off his critics in clergy - Monday, February 08, 2010
2-8-10 A defiant Archbishop of Dublin has shrugged off mounting criticism from priests of him being "a divisive" figure for fully accepting the Murphy report's damning findings of cover-ups of paedophile priests. "I believe my reaction was to recognise something terrible happened on our watch," Dr Martin said in an exclusive interview with the Irish Independent yesterday. "We got it spectacularly wrong," he added. "We have to admit that, and admit it unconditionally." (full story) |
New legal issue: Payments for child porn victims - Monday, February 08, 2010
2-8-10 The issue of criminal restitution in child pornography possession cases emerged last February in Connecticut when a federal judge said he would order a man convicted of possessing and distributing child pornography to pay about $200,000 to Amy. The judge said it was the first criminal case in which someone convicted of possessing illegal images - but not creating them - would be required to pay restitution. (The case settled for $130,000 before the judge issued his final order.) Since then, requests for restitution have picked up as more victims are identified - and as a couple of victims, including Amy, have hired attorneys. (full story) |
Irish priest: 'I'm only attracted to altar boys' - Sunday, February 07, 2010
2-2-10 Patrick Hughes, an 82-year-old priest, is upset that anyone should call him a paedophile. I’m only attracted to altar boys, he told the police. I’m not a paedophile. Hughes was jailed yesterday by the Circuit Criminal Court for abusing a child and the police gave evidence that when they sought the help of the Church authorities in locating the abuser, they were given the run-around. (full story) |
$250K bail for teacher accused in sex assault - Sunday, February 07, 2010
2-6-10 A former Catholic high school teacher was ordered held in lieu of $250,000 bail Friday for the alleged sexual assault of a female student. Police said Wesley Cherniak, 32, attacked the then-16-year-old girl last year at St. Benedict High School, 3900 N. Leavitt, where he had been teaching. (full story) |
A 'mea culpa' from Germany - Sunday, February 07, 2010
2-7-10 Rev. Martin Tenge said the whole church is responsible for the sexual abuse of minors by priests because of the "let's not talk about it" mentality. He told the packed church that he knew priests who were perpetrators and he knew a lot of casualties. He said the victims are owed a deep apology. Catholics attending Mass Sunday at churches in the Hildesheim diocese heard the priest read a letter from Bishop Norbert Trelle. He said response to allegations of abuse by church authorities is a shame and outrage. He is asking victims to come foward. (full story) |
SNAP letter to Archbishop Schnurr - Sunday, February 07, 2010
2-4-10 We are writing today about the Cincinnati area priest, Rev. Robert F. Poandl, who was criminally indicted in West Virginia recently for sexually abusing a child. According to news reports and a statement issued Tuesday by the president of the Glenmary order, Rev. Dan Dorsey, the abuse was reported in June 2009, at which time he notified law enforcement officials in Ohio and West Virginia as well as the leadership of three Catholic dioceses - Cincinnati OH, Wheeling-Charleston WV, and Savannah, GA. Sadly, officials with the Glemary order and your Archdiocese of Cincinnati kept silent about the accusations until now. (full story) |
Toledo diocese combines schools - Sunday, February 07, 2010
2-7-10 Three Catholic parish schools and the Catholic high school will be combined next academic year into one school to be named after the late Bishop James Hoffman, a native of this city, the Catholic Diocese of Toledo announced yesterday. The consolidation is being referred to as a new model for Catholic education in Fremont. It was picked from six potential organizational models by a committee of Catholic school professionals and volunteers with representatives of all local parishes and known as the Holy Family Formation Team. (full story) |
Report: 94 Catholic sex abusers in Germany - Saturday, February 06, 2010
2-6-10 According to a poll by Der Spiegel, answered by 27 Catholic dioceses in Germany, more than 94 clerics and laymen have been suspected of sexual abuse since 1995. Only 30 have been prosecuted, due to the statute of limitations. Ten employees of the Catholic church are currently accused of sexual abuse in Germany. Germany has been shocked by revelations of serial sex abuse by Catholic priests in recent weeks. (full story) |
News & Issues Archive
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Voice of the Faithful-Atlanta
is the Atlanta affiliate of National Voice of
the Faithful, founded in Boston
in January, 2002 in response to the sex abuse scandal. VOTF is working to
prevent further abuse, scandal and cover-up. VOTF-Atlanta was formed in April,
2003 to promote the mission and goals of VOTF in the Archdiocese of Atlanta.
The Mission of VOTF is:
To provide a prayerful voice, attentive to the Spirit, through which the
Faithful (who comprise more than 99% of the Church) can actively participate in
governance and guidance of the Catholic Church.
The Goals of VOTF are:
- To support those who have been abused.
- To support priests of integrity.
- To help shape structural or cultural change within the Church, in order
to help prevent further abuses and scandals.
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VOTF takes no position on other issues of dogma, doctrine and discipline that
face the Church today. A mainstream, centrist organization of concerned,
faithful Catholics who acknowledge the teaching Magisterium and spiritual
direction of the hierarchy, VOTF has nearly 40,000 registered members in 207
affiliates in 50 states and 39 countries. Please
join us in our efforts to heal and restore our beloved Church.
Pray Each Day at Noon
Jesus, Lord and Brother, help us with our faithfulness. Please hear our voice
and let our voice be heard. Amen.
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Prayer for Priests
Heavenly Father, grant that our priests be strengthened and healed by the power
of the Eucharist they celebrate. May the Word they proclaim give them
courage and wisdom. We pray that all those whom they seek to serve may see
in them the love and care of Jesus, our Eternal High Priest, who is Lord for
ever and ever. Amen.
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