Questions remain about Christ Church Cathedral after Lawrence decides against appealing

From Australia-

THE abuse vortex.

That's the term the Anglican Dean of St John's Cathedral in Brisbane, Peter Catt, used in October last year to describe the whirlwind of anger, confusion and often disbelief that swirls through church communities dealing with revelations of clerical child sexual abuse.

Reverend Catt was writing in the Newcastle Herald soon after the defrocked former Anglican dean of Newcastle, Graeme Lawrence, was sentenced to eight years jail for sexually assaulting a 15-year-old boy in 1991. 

A few weeks later, the High Court of Australia would accept a second appeal from Cardinal George Pell after his original conviction in the so-called "Cathedral trial" was upheld the first time. 

Lawrence lodged his own appeal at the end of October, and was no doubt buoyed when he learned that Cardinal Pell's appeal would be heard, and then succeed. 

More here-

https://www.bendigoadvertiser.com.au/story/6735734/former-anglican-dean-graeme-lawrence-and-the-vortex-of-clerical-child-sexual-abuse/?cs=7

Child sex abuse victim says Anglican Church fobbed her off, then offered payout in exchange for silence

From Australia-

Anglican Church officials wrongly told a woman who was sexually abused more than 60 years ago they had to hold off resolving her complaint, then offered a payout and an apology if she agreed to a gag clause.

The church's Brisbane diocese has admitted to again failing Beth Heinrich over her 1995 complaint, which culminated in then-governor-general Peter Hollingworth publicly blaming her for a priest sexually exploiting her as a 15-year-old.

Its apology for causing her "additional trauma and distress" through "unacceptable delays" came a day after the ABC questioned its latest missteps in the case, which led to Dr Hollingworth's public downfall but still fuels calls for him to be stripped of millions of dollars of public benefits.

More here-

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-03-10/abuse-survivor-beth-heinrich-anglican-church-qld/12039190

Man seeks damages for alleged sexual, physical abuse in 1980s at Anglican school in Selkirk, Man.

From Canada-


A Manitoba man who says he was sexually and physically assaulted by a teacher at an Anglican boarding school nearly four decades ago is now seeking damages from the teacher and the organizations he says supervised the school.

In a statement of claim filed in Manitoba's Court of Queen's Bench on Jan. 14, the man says he has suffered from suicidal thoughts, depression and alcoholism, following abuse he alleges was perpetrated decades ago by Kenneth Mackinnon Mealey, then a teacher at St. John's Cathedral Boys' School in Selkirk, Man.

The school closed in 1990 because of declining enrolment.

The statement of claim says the man, who now works as a labourer in northern Manitoba, was a student at the boarding school for grades 9 and 10.

More here-

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/lawsuit-sexual-abuse-anglican-boarding-school-selkirk-1.5437595

Australia‘s Anglican Church ‘ashamed‘ about child abuse

From Australia-

The head of Australia‘s Anglican Church said he was ‘deeply ashamed‘ after a government report found nearly 1,100 people had filed child sexual assault claims against the church over a 35-year period.

The interim report, published on Friday by the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, said 1,082 people lodged complaints between 1980 and 2015 that identified 569 Anglican clergy, teachers and volunteers as alleged abusers. There were an additional 133 alleged abuses reported by people whose roles within the church were unknown.

The report also found that most children were approximately 11 years old at the time of the first alleged incident of child abuse, and on average it took 29 years for each incident to be reported.

‘Deeply ashamed‘

Archbishop Philip Freier, the church‘s primate, said Anglicans have been “shocked and dismayed” at the findings of the report.

More here-

https://stockdailydish.com/australias-anglican-church-ashamed-about-child-abuse/

Trials adjourned for Anglican priest accused of multiple sexual offences

From Canada-


Trials for an Anglican priest accused of sexual offences against several teen boys will not go ahead in the new year.

Gordon William Dominey, 67, faces a slew of charges related to alleged abuses against boys aged 14 to 16 who were inmates at an Edmonton youth jail in the 1980s. 

But on Tuesday his lawyer brought an adjournment application, citing his client's poor health.

"Mr. Dominey will not be in a position to travel in 2020," defence lawyer Kent Teskey told Court of Queen's Bench Justice Paul Belzil during a brief hearing.

Dominey, who lives in British Columbia, was not in attendance. In 2018, court heard he was undergoing treatment for cancer.

More here-

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/dominey-anglican-priest-sex-offences-court-alberta-1.5340354

Questions linger about church's knowledge of abuse

From Western North Carolina-

Former Episcopal priest Howard White has finally been brought to justice for sexual abuse crimes he admitted to committing in Haywood, but with civil litigation still pending, the story isn’t yet over.

Last week in Haywood County Superior Court, White, 78, pleaded guilty to the sexual abuse of three youths in the mid-1980s and one more in 2004 and was sentenced to 12 years in prison.

The emotional hearing featured not only District Attorney Ashley Welch reading the facts of the cases into record, but also one victim’s powerful statement. Between the two, the details that emerged — details which White agreed were factual — confirmed just how monstrous the crimes committed by the once-respected former rector of Grace Church in the Mountains really were.

More here-

https://www.themountaineer.com/news/questions-linger-about-church-s-knowledge-of-abuse/article_706f45a4-f8bb-11e9-b72f-a302783ba874.html

Former Haywood County priest enters guilty plea to multiple child sexual abuse charges

From Western North Carolina-

A former Haywood County Episcopal Priest, charged with multiple counts of child sexual abuse, entered a guilty plea Monday morning.

Howard Willard White, Jr., 78, pleaded guilty to three counts of second-degree forcible rape, eight counts of second-degree forcible sex offense and seven counts of indecent liberties with a child.
White was charged over a year ago in Haywood County with multiple felonies connected to the sexual abuse of multiple children over two decades.

In June 2017, White pleaded guilty to child sex charges in Massachusetts. Prosecutors said White assaulted a child during two overnight trips to Boston when the boy was 15 and 16. At the time, White worked at St. George's School in Middletown, Rhode Island. White, who was stripped of his priesthood by the Episcopal Church, received an 18-month sentence in that case.

More here-

https://wlos.com/news/local/former-haywood-county-priest-enters-guilty-plea-to-multiple-child-sexual-abuse-charges

Village outraged by diocese's plan to sell heritage-listed church to pay compensation to child sex abuse victims

From Australia-

Judgement day has come for the sins of the fathers.

Tough decisions are being made by religious hierarchies around the country on how they pay restitution to victims of pedophile priests - and for all those lawyers they've engaged.

The Royal Commission into Child Sexual Abuse went on for many years and uncovered a disturbingly high number of cases of abuse of vulnerable children by some members of the clergy.

Now it is time to pay - financially.

So we might be seeing a lot more of what's happening in Carcoar, a village in the central west of New South Wales.

Carcoar is a pretty little place. So much so, the entire village has a heritage order on it because of the number of intact 19th-century buildings that line its streets. 

More here-

https://www.9news.com.au/national/a-current-affair-anglican-church-carcoar-to-be-sold-pay-restitution-victims-child-sex-abuse/6724c386-d8f7-45e1-841d-6ca83d03eab6

Raped vicar reveals tragic tale of sex abuse in the church

From England-

The Dewsbury born vicar at the centre of the Anglican Church's sexual abuse scandal has told how the alleged abuse of schoolchildren in his Rotherham parish sparked his battle to get justice for himself and others.

Staincliffe's Matthew Ineson has hit the headlines in recent weeks after he lashed out at Church of England (CofE) leaders during an independent inquiry into sexual abuse.

He has waived his right to anonymity in order to share his story.

Mr Ineson was raped by a Bradford priest in 1984 - and told the inquiry senior Church of England clerics ignored his claims. He has strongly criticised the church's lack of action at his multiple disclosures.

He said senior bishops and the archbishops of York and Canterbury all sat on their hands in a bid to cover up the historical abuse report.

More here-

 https://www.examinerlive.co.uk/news/west-yorkshire-news/raped-vicar-reveals-tragic-tale-16614921

Former Anglican Dean of Newcastle Graeme Lawrence convicted over sex assault of 15yo boy

From Australia-

Former Dean of Newcastle Graeme Lawrence has been convicted over the aggravated sexual assault of a 15-year-old boy at his private home in 1991.

Key points:

• Lawrence was found guilty of aggravated sexual assault and aggravated indecent assault
• The judge found the assault took place in Lawrence's private home
• He dismissed Lawrence's claim that he had never met the complainant

In handing down his verdict today, District Court Judge Tim Gartelmann said he was satisfied beyond a reasonable doubt that Lawrence took the teen into a room, forced him to the ground and had sexual intercourse without the boy's consent.

The assault took place after a youth band performance at Newcastle's Christchurch Cathedral.
Judge Gartelmann found Lawrence guilty of a total of two charges — one of the aggravated sexual assault and another of aggravated indecent assault.

More here-

 https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-07-26/graeme-lawrence-anglican-court-sex-offences/11349086

and here-

https://www.smh.com.au/politics/nsw/former-newcastle-anglican-dean-found-guilty-of-sexual-assault-20190726-p52b5o.html

A Priest in Tucson Abused Him When He Was 12. At 60, He's Finally Able to Sue

From Arizona-

When Charles Taylor was 12 years old and growing up in Tucson in the early 1970s, a priest at the local Episcopal church began sexually abusing him. Although Taylor told the rector, and a church secretary knew about the abuse, the church did nothing.

All of that is according to a new lawsuit that Taylor, who is nearly 61, has filed against Grace St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Tucson and the Episcopal Diocese of Arizona for the two years of sexual abuse he says he suffered as a child at the hands of Father Richard Babcock. 

The suit could be the first of its kind after Arizona changed its law in May to give survivors of childhood sexual abuse more time to sue perpetrators or organizations that knew of the abuse. 

Survivors previously had until the age of 20. The new law gives them until the age of 30 and gives older survivors, who previously were time-barred from suing, until December 31, 2020, to file claims. 

More here-

https://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/news/new-law-gives-church-sex-abuse-survivor-fresh-shot-at-justice-11332013 

and here-

https://www.azfamily.com/news/arizona-man-says-he-was-abused-by-tucson-priest-in/article_2b0315c4-adcd-11e9-8184-8b90a90aa14a.html

Episcopal Diocese Concerned by Palm Springs Clergy Abuse Allegations

From San Diego-

The Episcopal Diocese of San Diego issued a statement of regret and concern Tuesday regarding allegations against a Palm Springs priest who is the subject of a lawsuit filed by a woman who alleges that he sexually abused her in New York nearly 50 years ago, when she was 19.

The lawsuit alleges that the Rev. Paul Kowalewski — who currently serves as a substitute priest at the Church of St. Paul in the Desert — molested the plaintiff in Buffalo in 1971. He was an ordained Roman Catholic priest at the time, according to the complaint filed Monday against the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles, where Kowalewski was affiliated from 2005 to 2013.

The plaintiff, Patricia Harner, alleges that Kowalewski abused her, along with several children and at least one other adult, and that the Los Angeles diocese knew of his alleged history when he joined the diocese.

More here-

https://mynewsla.com/uncategorized/2019/07/23/episcopal-diocese-concerned-by-palm-springs-clergy-abuse-allegations/

Man sues Tucson church, Episcopal diocese over abuse allegations

From Arizona-

In May, a big change in Arizona law was made for reporting sexual assault. And less than two months later, a man filed a lawsuit against the Episcopal Diocese of Arizona and a Tucson church. 

Charles Taylor filed the civil complaint in Pima County Superior Court on July 12. 

The complaint states Grace St. Paul's church staff ignored reports of sexual misconduct by an Episcopalian priest in the 1970's. 

Taylor says he filed a complaint in 1991, but it was tossed out, because it didn't meet the statute of limitations. 

At the end of May, a new law went into effect that expands the window for sexual abuse victims.

More here-

https://www.kgun9.com/news/local-news/man-sues-tucson-church-episcopal-diocese-over-abuse-allegations

Church sex abuse victim says Archbishop of Canterbury has never apologised

From England-

A former vicar who was sexually abused by a Bradford priest as a boy has said the church has never said sorry - despite the Archbishop of Canterbury claiming it has.

Matthew Ineson from Staincliffe, Dewsbury, has waived his right to anonymity to try and expose sexual abuse within the Anglican church.

Mr Ineson was raped by Bradford priest Trevor Devamanikkam in 1984 but he never saw justice after the accused killed himself rather than facing trial in 2017.

Last week Mr Ineson strongly criticised the archbishops of Canterbury and York while giving evidence at the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse in the Anglican Church.

And following the completion of the public hearings in London he has revealed his fury at comments made by the Most Rev, Justin Welby.

More here-

https://www.examinerlive.co.uk/news/west-yorkshire-news/church-sex-abuse-victim-says-16598045

So Long, Cardinal Wuerl

From First Things-

As bishop of Pittsburgh, Wuerl was years ahead of his peers in responding to what would become the sexual abuse crisis. From the moment he arrived as bishop in 1988, Wuerl was meeting personally with victims at a time when many bishops would not even consider doing so. Within a year, Wuerl had established a diocesan committee to evaluate policies for responding to abuse allegations, a committee that grew to become the current Diocesan Review Board, nearly a decade before the Dallas Charter called for every diocese to have such a body. Wuerl also imposed a personal policy of “zero-tolerance” which stands comparison to any other diocesan policy today.   

Despite the grand jury report’s frequent mentions of Wuerl, that document cannot dent the core statistic: During Wuerl’s nineteen years as bishop of Pittsburgh, nineteen new allegations were brought forward against diocesan priests, and eighteen of these priests were immediately and permanently removed from ministry. And curial officials have not forgotten the time Wuerl flew to Rome to personally resist an order to reinstate an accused cleric, a contest of wills he eventually won.

More here-

https://www.firstthings.com/web-exclusives/2019/05/so-long-cardinal-wuerl

Child abuse inquiry criticises Prince Charles' 'misguided' intervention to shield Anglican bishop

From Common Space-

AN INDEPENDENT INQUIRY will scrutinise the internal procedures of the Church of England regarding allegations of abuse, following its criticism of Prince Charles for misusing his influence to shield his friend, the former Anglican bishop Peter Ball, from scrutiny after Ball confessed to sexually abusing a novice.

The Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) concluded that Ball was “able to sexually abuse vulnerable teenagers and young men for decades”, and stated in its report that the Prince of Wales’ actions in support of the former bishop were “misguided”.

The inquiry’s report found that Ball “sought to use his relationship with the Prince of Wales” in his campaign to return to his position within the church.

While Prince Charles told the inquiry that he was not aware of the significance or impact of the caution that Ball had already been given, and was uncertain whether he even knew Ball had been cautioned at the time, the inquiry nevertheless decided that his actions and those of his staff “could have been interpreted as expressions of support for Peter Ball and, as a result of the Prince of Wales’ future role within the Church, had the potential to influence the actions of the Church of England”.

More here-

https://www.commonspace.scot/articles/14230/child-abuse-inquiry-criticises-prince-charles-misguided-intervention-shield-anglican

Justin Welby: Men in #MeToo scandals need to express genuine repentance

From Christian Today-

Justin Welby has said the #MeToo movement must lead to genuine repentance from those revealed to have exploited and abused women.

Speaking to Elizabeth Oldfield, director of the Theos thinktank, in a new edition of The Sacred Podcast, the  Archbishop of Canterbury said: "Sin has consequences. Wrong has consequences. Injustice has consequences. And people must face those consequences.

"We don't have 'cheap grace' – there is a cost, there is a genuine need for repentance and a journey of repentance and redemption, both for groups and individuals.

"If you take #MeToo as an example, we cannot put the issues that have quite rightly been raised behind us until we have concepts and understandings of social behaviour, particularly between men and women, that mean it is utterly accepted that the kind of behaviour that has been exposed is simply wrong, and that there are consequences to indulging in that kind of behaviour. Cause and effect have to be discovered before you can find redemption."

More here-

https://www.christiantoday.com/article/justin-welby-men-in-metoo-scandals-need-to-express-genuine-repentance/132246.htm

Tasmanian Anglican Church broadens redress scheme for sexual assault victims.

From Tasmania-

The Anglican Church in Tasmania has sold seven of its 73 properties ear-marked for sale to help fund redress for survivors of sexual abuse.

The church has announced it will broaden its redress including doubling the cap on payments to $150,000 and including a payment for counselling, assessed on the ongoing impact of the sexual abuse.

It will also offer a separate payment, capped at $2,500, for legal expenses.

The redress is expected to cost the church about $8 million.

Anglican Bishop of Tasmania, the Right Reverend Dr Richard Condie, said he did not expect a significant increase in funds would be needed to meet the church's redress obligations.

More here-

https://www.examiner.com.au/story/5979634/anglican-church-in-tasmania-sells-seven-properties-to-help-fund-redress-scheme/?cs=12

Former priest with Anglican church arrested for sex crimes, police say

From San Joaquin (ACNA)-

A former priest with the Anglican church is now facing charges of sexual abuse. 

Fresno Police Chief Jerry Dyer held a joint news conference with Fresno County District Attorney Lisa Smittcamp on Monday, to discuss the charges against Jesus Antonio Castañeda-Serna.

Serna was arrested on Sunday, February 24th after complaints were filed with the Fresno Police Department.

Police say four accusers have come forward, but they are certain there are many more.
"Serna has preyed on undocumented males, and perhaps an undocumented female, knowing they'd be reluctant to go to police," Dyer said.

More here-

https://kmph.com/news/local/police-announce-arrest-of-former-anglican-diocese-of-san-joaquin-priest 

and here-

https://abc30.com/fresno-police-arrest-anglican-church-priest-for-series-of-sex-crimes/5156232/

and here-

https://lompocrecord.com/news/state-and-regional/anglican-priest-arrested-in-fresno-for-alleged-sex-abuse/article_2e40f5a2-ed86-566d-98f7-6b2ffc892e4c.html

and here-

https://www.fresnobee.com/latest-news/article226782514.html

Anglican church recommends former assistant bishop Richard Appleby be defrocked

From Australia-

An Anglican church professional standards board has recommended a senior bishop be defrocked for failing to act on allegations of child sexual abuse within the Newcastle diocese.

Richard Appleby was assistant bishop in the Newcastle Anglican diocese from 1983 to 1992.
In December 2018 he fronted a professional standards hearing that was convened to determine if he was fit to continue to be employed by the church and remain in Holy Orders.

Bishop Appleby was referred to the board in the wake of his evidence before the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Abuse.

More here-

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-02-19/anglican-church-recommends-former-bishop-be-defrocked/10825962

and here-

https://www.foxnews.com/world/australian-anglican-set-to-be-defrocked-over-abuse-inaction

and here-

https://www.theherald.com.au/story/5912167/cover-up-culture-bishop-appleby-deemed-unfit-to-hold-office/v