Catholic sex abuse cases
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'''Clerical sexual deviancy allegations''' have been made against a variety of religious groups including but not exclusively [[Roman Catholic]] priests, monks, and nuns. An estimated 0.2% of Roman Catholic priests have been proven to be abusers.<ref>Philip Jenkins, ''Pedophiles and Priests: Anatomy of a Contemporary Crisis'' (Oxford University Press, 2001). ISBN 0-19-514597-6</ref>
Some incidents involved diocesan priests and members of the various [[Roman Catholic religious order]]s, with reports coming from the [[United States]] and [[Ireland]]. Cases involved [[seminaries]], [[school]]s, [[orphanages]] and other institutions (such as the Irish [[industrial school]]s) where children were in the care of clergy. Criticism of the Church and its leadership focused on the failure to act upon information, and often to move priests who had received complaints from church to church in order to protect them. Some allegations have led to successful prosecutions of the accused, as well as civil cases settling for millions of dollars. Hamilton says that the Roman Catholic Church is one of the most vocal adversaries to legislative reform that would protect children. <ref name=Doyle>{{cite article |url=http://writ.news.findlaw.com/books/reviews/20080625_doyle.html |title=A Review of Marci Hamilton's Justice Denied: What America Must Do To Protect Its Children |author=Doyle, T. P. |quote=one of the two most vociferous and determined adversaries to any legislative reform that would protect children and strike fear into the hearts of predators is the Roman Catholic Church |date=2008-06-24}}</ref>
The [[John Jay Report]],<ref>[http://www.bishop-accountability.org/reports/2004_02_27_JohnJay/index.html A Report on the Crisis in the Catholic Church in the United States, National Review Board, February 27, 2004]</ref> commissioned by the [[U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops]], found accusations against 4,392 priests in the USA, equalling about 4% of all U.S. priests between 1950 and 2002. Hamilton, a Catholic critic, states that 4% of all sexual abuse in the United States was caused by Catholic priests.<ref>[http://writ.news.findlaw.com/books/reviews/20080625_doyle.html Review of Marci Hamilton's book] retrieved July 10, 2008</ref> Figures supplied by the [[Catholic League (U.S.)|Catholic League]] promote the view that abuse statistics in the Catholic Church are similar to abuse in other institutions such as the preliminary estimate of education abuse statistics compiled by the U. S. Department of Education.<ref>[http://www.catholicleague.org/research/abuse_in_social_context.htm Sexual Abuse in Social Context: Catholic Clergy and Other Professionals<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref><ref>[http://www.ed.gov/rschstat/research/pubs/misconductreview/report.pdf Educator Sexual Misconduct: A Synthesis of Existing Literature (PDF)<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref><ref>http://bul.sagepub.com/cgi/reprint/90/4/343.pdf Charol Shakeshaft, "Educator Sexual Misconduct: A Synthesis of Existing Literature," U.S. Department of Education, 2004-JUN</ref>
During a recent visit to the United States [[Pope Benedict XVI|Pope Benedict]] admitted that he is "deeply ashamed" of the clergy sex abuse scandal that has devastated the American church. The [[Roman Catholicism in the United States|American Catholic Church]] has paid out $2 billion in abuse costs since 1950.
Benedict pledged that [[Pedophilia|paedophiles]] would not be priests in the Catholic Church.<ref>[http://www.news24.com/News24/World/News/0,,2-10-1462_2306589,00.html News24 - Pope apologises for sex abuse]</ref>
==Sexual abuse==
{{Unreferencedsection|date=January 2008}}
Apart from direct family connections, many Catholic families sent their children to Catholic schools, where priests taught as teachers or visited regularly as the local parish priest or curate. Participation in the Catholic faith involved a close association with, and proximity to, priests. While the vast majority of priests are thought never to have abused any children (99.8%),<ref>Philip Jenkins, ''Pedophiles and Priests: Anatomy of a Contemporary Crisis'' (Oxford University Press, 2001). ISBN 0-19-514597-6</ref> the small minority of priests who are known to have committed offenses had easy access to children.
One of the most startling examples of sex abuse occurred in [[Ireland]], where [[Brendan Smyth (priest)|Father Brendan Smyth]] systematically raped and sexually abused hundreds of boys between 1945 and 1989. The investigation of the Smyth case was [[obstruction of justice|obstructed]] by the [[Norbertine]] Order. This was also seen in other cases, such as that of Fr. Jim Grennan, a parish priest, who abused children as they prepared for [[Eucharist|First Communion]], and [[Fr. Sean Fortune]], who committed [[suicide]] before his trial for the rape of children. The abuse by Grennan and others in the [[Diocese of Ferns]] in south-east Ireland led to the resignation of the local bishop, [[Brendan Comiskey]].
In [[Canada]] the [[Mount Cashel Orphanage]] sex abuse cases in the province of [[Newfoundland and Labrador]] and the [[Duplessis Orphans]] in the province of [[Quebec]] were of great public concern.
===Ferns Report===
{{main|Ferns Report}}
The Ferns Inquiry (2005) was an official Irish government inquiry into the allegations of clerical sexual abuse in the Irish Catholic Diocese of Ferns. The Inquiry recorded its revulsion at the extent, severity and duration of the child sexual abuse perpetrated on children by priests acting under the aegis of the Diocese of Ferns. The investigation was established in the wake of the broadcast of a BBC Television documentary "Suing the Pope", which highlighted the case of Fr Seán Fortune, one of the most notorious clerical sexual offenders. The film followed Colm O'Gorman as he investigated the story of how Fortune was allowed to abuse him and countless other teenage boys.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/correspondent/1879407.stm Suing the Pope] ''BBC News''</ref> O'Gorman, through One in Four, the organisation he founded to support women and men who have experienced sexual violence, successfully campaigned for the Ferns Inquiry.
===John Jay Report===
{{main|John Jay Report}}
The [[John Jay Report]] was commissioned by the [[U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops]] and was based on surveys completed by the Catholic dioceses in the United States. The surveys provided information from diocesan files on each priest accused of sexual abuse and on each of the priest's victims. That information was filtered, so that the research team did not have access to the names of the accused priests or the dioceses where they worked. The report presents aggregate findings. The dioceses were encouraged to issue reports of their own based on the surveys that they had completed. The Report found accusations against 4,392 priests in the USA, about 4% of all priests.<ref>[http://www.bishop-accountability.org/reports/2004_02_27_JohnJay/index.html A Report on the Crisis in the Catholic Church in the United States, National Review Board, February 27, 2004<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
==Policies==
===Abusers moved to different locations===
Some bishops have been heavily criticized for moving offending priests from parish to parish, where they still had personal contact with children, rather than seeking to have them permanently removed from the priesthood. Instead of reporting the incidents to [[police]], many dioceses simply submitted the offending priests for psychological treatment and assessment. The priests resumed their previous duties with children only when the bishop was advised by the treating psychologists or psychiatrists that it was safe for them to resume their duties.
<Gallery>
Image:Reassignment.jpg|Fr Ramos Reassignment letter
Image:Telephonenotes.jpg|Notes demonstrating knowledge of reoccurrence of abuse
</Gallery>
An example of the policy of shifting offenders from place to place is demonstrated in the case of Fr Ramos. Typical of these examples he was reassigned to another parish after treatment. An unknown Church official in 1985 took telephone notes that indicate an awareness of his continuing child molestation by Church officials well after his initial psychological treatment in the late 1970s. In spite of this knowledge that he re-offended, he continued to molest for a further two years and accumulated 25 allegations of abuse in total.
In response to questions, defenders of the Church's actions have suggested that in re-assigning priests after treatment, Bishops were acting on the best medical advice then available. Critics have questioned whether bishops are necessarily able to form accurate judgments on a priest's recovery.
===Failure to report criminal acts to police===
From a legal perspective, the most serious offense, aside from the incidents of [[child sexual abuse]] themselves, was the active institutional cover-up by the Roman Catholic Church's most senior Church leaders for failing to report these felonies to the police.
In response to the failure to report abuse to the police, lawmakers have changed the law to make reporting of abuse to police compulsory. An example of this can be found in Massachusetts, USA.<ref>[http://www.mass.gov/legis/laws/seslaw02/sl020107.htm Chapter 107 of the Acts of 2002: AN ACT REQUIRING CERTAIN RELIGIOUS OFFICIALS TO REPORT ABUSE OF CHILDREN.] Accessed [[21 April]] [[2008]].</ref>
<!---this is already above without Ratzinger. Do we need it twice or more? Also ancient document (from an earlier Benedict) describes a method of investigating and prosecuting cases, much as a judge today tells everyone not to discuss the case. POV here in describing it as unusual secrecy--->
===Allegations of systematic plots to conceal evidence===
Reviewers of the Smyth case differ as to whether it was a deliberate plot to conceal his behaviour, incompetence by his superiors at Kilnacrott Abbey, an institution presuming that what happened to its members was its own business, a failure to grasp the human and legal consequences, or some combination of factors. [[Cahal Cardinal Daly|Cardinal Daly]], both as [[Bishop of Down and Connor]], a diocese where some of the abuse took place, and later as Cardinal [[Archbishop of Armagh (Roman Catholic)|Archbishop of Armagh]], is recorded as having been privately scathing at the Norbertine "incompetence".{{Fact|date=January 2007}}
William McMurry, a [[Louisville, Kentucky]] lawyer, filed suit against the [[Holy See|Vatican]]<ref>[http://www.courtroomlaw.com/news_vatican.shtml Lawyers Louisville Kentucky, News on Clergy Sexual Abuse Case against Archdiocese of Louisville Kentucky, William McMurry Lawyers<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> in June 2004 on behalf of three men alleging abuse as far back as 1928, accusing Church leaders of organising a cover-up of cases of sexual abuse of children. Legal experts predict an unsuccessful outcome to this case, given the sovereignty of the [[Holy See]] and the lack of evidence of Vatican complicity. Sovereign immunity however, was recently denied upon appeal in a separate (WW II/ Vatican Bank/Ustazhe Genocide) United States federal lawsuit.
===Payments to victims ===
Some have alleged that Church members paid off victims of child abuse, either in settlement of compensation claims, or in order to prevent them reporting to the police.{{Fact|date=January 2008}} In the mid-1990s, Archbishop (later Cardinal) Connell of Dublin lent money to a priest, [[Ivan Payne]], who had abused altar boy Andrew Madden; this money was used to pay compensation to Madden and to prevent him from reporting the abuse to the police. Connell later claimed never to have paid money to a victim, insisting that he had simply lent money to a priest who independently used the money to pay off his victim.<ref>[http://archives.tcm.ie/businesspost/2003/10/12/story661255632.asp 2003 report on Madden case]</ref>
Roman Catholics [http://www.dhadm.com/content/catholic-church-spent-615-million-on-sexual-abuse-cases-in-2007/ spent $615 million dollars] on sex abuse cases in 2007.
==Implications of the accusations==
===Seminary training===
Clergy themselves have suggested their [[seminary]] training offered little to prepare them for a lifetime of celibate sexuality. A report submitted to the [[Synod of Bishops]] in [[Rome]] in 1971, called ''[[The Role of the Church in the Causation, Treatment and Prevention of the Crisis in the Priesthood]]'' by Dr. [[Conrad Baars]], a Catholic psychiatrist, and based on a study of 1500 priests, suggested that some clergy had "psychosexual" problems.
Rome's [[Congregation for Catholic Education]] issued an official document, the ''[[Instruction Concerning the Criteria for the Discernment of Vocations with regard to Persons with Homosexual Tendencies in view of their Admission to the Seminary and to Holy Orders]]'' (2005). Drawing a parallel between [[homosexuality]] and [[paedophilia]], the document states that the Church "cannot admit to the seminary or to Holy Orders those who practice homosexuality, present deep-seated homosexual tendencies or support the so-called 'gay culture'".
===Declining standards explanation===
In the book, ''The Courage To Be Catholic: Crisis, Reform, and the Future of the Church'', [[George Weigel]] holds that it was the infidelity to orthodox Catholic teaching, the "culture of dissent", which was mainly responsible for this problem. By "culture of dissent" he meant priests, women religious, bishops, theologians, catechists, Church bureaucrats, and activists who "believed that what the Church proposed as true was actually false."<ref>[http://www.catholiceducation.org/articles/religion/re0568.html George Weigel on the Church Crisis in U.S]</ref>
Also, traditional Catholics have made the charge that the [[Second Vatican Council]] itself (1962–1965) fostered a climate that encouraged priests to abuse children. The council essentially directed an opening of the doors to meet the world. This was considered an appropriate way of going forth and spreading the Good News. However traditional Catholics believe that this led to a conversion of Catholics to secularism rather than vice versa. In the [[January 27]], [[2003]] edition of ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'' magazine, [[actor]] and traditional Catholic [[Mel Gibson]] charged that "...Vatican II corrupted the institution of the church. Look at the main fruits: dwindling numbers and pedophilia." However it is important to note that abuse by priests was occurring long before the start of Vatican II and that many of the Roman Catholic sex abuse cases did not, strictly speaking, involve pedophilia. For instance the [[apostolic constitution]] [[Sacramentum Poenitentiae]] which established general notice of the problem of sexual abuse amongst the clergy was published by [[Pope Benedict XIV]] in 1741.
Cardinal Theodore E. McCarrick, a retired Archbishop of Washington, blamed the declining morals of the 1960s as a cause of the high number of sexually abusive priests. <ref>[http://wpherald.com/articles/4350/1/1960s-moral-decline-blamed-for-Catholic-sex-abuse-scandals/Retired-archbishop-of-Washington-cites-Woodstock.html Down For Maintenance<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> However it must be realised that the increased reporting of abuse in child-care institutions during this time was concomitant with rising police interest, investigation and prosecution of such crimes. As such it is not certain that a sudden "crisis of abuse" ever existed, instead the dramatic increase in reported abuse cases may simply have heralded the end of a long-term endemic problem found throughout a number of institutions, both secular and religious, prior to the introduction of quality control measures specifically aimed at preventing such abuses from occurring.
===Supply and demand explanation===
[[Priest shortage|Catholic clergy are in short supply]] in North America, Europe, Australia and New Zealand.<ref>http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1141/is_n15_v34/ai_20324598 retrieved on July 6, 2007</ref><ref>http://www.voanews.com/english/archive/2004-06/a-2004-06-11-24-1.cfm</ref>
Catholic doctrines and this understaffing combine, it has been claimed, to make Catholic clergy extraordinarily valuable. It is alleged that the Catholic hierarchy acted to preserve the number of clergy and ensure that they were still available to supply priestly services, in the face of serious allegations that these priests were unfit for duty.
Others disagree and believe that the Church's mishandling of the sex abuse cases merely reflected prevailing attitudes of the time towards such activity, in which the tendency was to suppress the information lest it cause scandal and a loss of trust in the institution. Evidence for this view includes the manner in which the media and secular organisations hid damaging information or ignored it, from the sexual promiscuity of leading politicians to domestic violence. They see the Church as having made horrendous but genuine mistakes resulting from their leaders being out of touch with society's increasing demand for accountability.
===Celibacy explanation===
It has been said that there is no indication of a higher level of child-oriented sexual activity among the unmarried Catholic clergy than that of the married clergy of other denominations<ref>Indeed an estimate in Protestant clergy of 2 to 3 percent was made Lloyd Rediger, Ministry and Sexuality '' (Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 1990). p55</ref> and of schoolteachers.<ref>Philip Jenkins, ''Pedophiles and Priests: Anatomy of a Contemporary Crisis'' (Oxford University Press, 2001). p50</ref>
Molestation of pre-pubescent children was rare in the Roman Catholic sex abuse cases and opinion is very divided on whether there is any connection between the Catholic institution of celibacy and the incidence of child abuse. Factual analysis is difficult for a number of reasons, including that there are relatively few statistical studies on the issue of sexual abuse among the clergy and that sexual abuse rates among the general population are almost impossible to determine, since not all of the instances are reported. {{fact}}
In 2005 the [[Western People]], a conservative [[Republic of Ireland|Irish]] newspaper, commented that celibacy itself had contributed to the abuse problem in another way, as it created a "morally superior" status that was then misapplied by abusing priests. "''The Irish Church’s prospect of a recovery is zero for as long as bishops continue blindly to toe the Vatican line of Pope Benedict XVI that a male celibate priesthood is morally superior to other sections of society.''"<ref>[http://archives.tcm.ie/westernpeople/2005/11/02/story27811.asp Western People, 2 Nov. 2005]</ref>
==== Advocacy for mandatory celibacy ====
[[Philip Jenkins]], a [[Conservative]]{{Fact|date=April 2008}} [[Episcopalian]] and Professor of [[History]] and [[Religious Studies]] at [[Penn State University]], published the book ''Pedophiles and Priests: Anatomy of a Contemporary Crisis'' in 1996. In it, he calculated that approximately 0.2 percent of Catholic priests are child molesters.<ref>Philip Jenkins, ''Pedophiles and Priests: Anatomy of a Contemporary Crisis'' (Oxford University Press, 2001). p81.</ref> His 2002 article "The myth of the 'pedophile priest'"<ref>[http://www.post-gazette.com/forum/comm/20020303edjenk03p6.asp Forum: The myth of the 'pedophile priest'<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> expresses his views. In contrast to Louise Haggett's statement, Professor Jenkins states:
:"My research of cases over the past 20 years indicates no evidence whatever that Catholic or other celibate clergy are any more likely to be involved in misconduct or abuse than clergy of any other denomination—or indeed, than nonclergy. However determined news media may be to see this affair as a crisis of celibacy, the charge is just unsupported."
Supporters of celibacy claim that Catholic priests suffering sexual temptations are not likely to turn immediately to a teenage boy simply because Church discipline does not permit clergy to marry. Supporters of clerical celibacy suggest, then, that there is some other factor at work.
===Crimen solicitationis===
{{main|Crimen sollicitationis}}
[[Crimen sollicitationis]] (translated from [[Latin]] as '''The crime of solicitation''' or '''The crime of harassment''') is a document issued by the Holy Office of the [[Holy See|Vatican]] (now named the [[Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith]]) in 1962, instructing [[bishop]]s about how to deal with cases in which priests were accused of abusing the sacrament of penance to sexually proposition penitents, thus its title. The same legal procedure, but with some adjustment, is also extended to clerics accused of [[homosexuality]], [[child sexual abuse]] and [[zoophilia]]. The document calls for all cases to be handled in secret but did not require the silence to extend to criminal investigations.<ref>Crimen sollicitationis, paragraph 15.</ref> In 2006 the ''[[Panorama (TV series)|Panorama]]'' documentary television series did an episode on Crimen sollicitationis named "[[Panorama (TV series)#Sex Crimes and the Vatican|Sex Crimes and the Vatican]]" which investigated how the document was used to cover up sexual abuse by priests. Crimen Solicitationis was preceded by the [[apostolic constitution]] [[Sacramentum Poenitentiae]], which established general notice of the problem of sexual abuse amongst the clergy was published by [[Pope Benedict XIV]] in 1741.
===Media hype explanation===
Philip Jenkins claims that the Catholic Church is being unfairly singled out by a secular media which he claims fails to highlight similar sexual accusations in other religious groups, such as the [[Anglican Communion]], various [[Protestant]] churches, and the [[Judaism|Jewish]] and [[Islam]]ic communities. He also claims that the Catholic Church may have a lower incidence of molesting priests than Churches that allow married clergy because statistically child molestation generally occurs within families but Catholic priests do not have families. He also claims that the term "pedophile priests" widely used in the media, implies a distinctly higher rate of child molesters within the Roman Catholic priesthood when in reality the incidence is lower than most other segments of society".<ref>Philip Jenkins, ''Pedophiles and Priests: Anatomy of a Contemporary Crisis'' (Oxford University Press, 2001). ISBN 0-19-514597-6</ref>
Jenkins later authored the book [[The New Anti-Catholicism: The Last Acceptable Prejudice]] in 2003, touching on some of the same issues.<ref>
{{cite book
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| first = Philip
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| title = The New Anti-Catholicism: The Last Acceptable Prejudice
| publisher = Oxford University Press
| date= 2003
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| isbn = 0195154800 }}</ref>
===Other Catholic teachings, practices===
The Catholic Church clearly teaches the sexual abuse of children to be gravely sinful. In the [[Catechism of the Catholic Church]]'s list of moral offences, one finds:
:"...any sexual abuse perpetrated by adults on children or adolescents entrusted to their care. The offense is compounded by the scandalous harm done to the physical and moral integrity of the young, who will remain scarred by it, all their lives; and the violation of responsibility for their upbringing." (CCC 2389).<ref>[http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/para/2389.htm CCC Search Result - Paragraph # 2389<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
In the [[Bible]]'s [[New Testament]], [[Jesus]] tells his disciples, "Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him if a great millstone were put around his neck and he were thrown into the sea." (see [[Gospel of Matthew|Matthew]] 18:6; [[Gospel of Mark|Mark]] 9:42; and [[Gospel of Luke|Luke]] 17:2)
The Apostle Paul in his 1st and 2nd letter towards Timothy notes that, if they are to marry at all, "Bishops, Presbyters, and Deacons, should be the husband of one wife...". This tradition can be seen practiced in the Eastern Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Churches, although no bishop of any church may be married, and bishops are therefore either widowers or lifelong monastics.
Despite these teachings, some critics have charged that specific [[doctrine]]s or traditional practices in Catholicism contributed to the problem. Catholic teaching affirms that so long as the officiant has been validly [[Holy Orders|ordained]], his personal sins have no effect on the validity of the [[Mass (liturgy)|Masses]], [[penance|absolutions]], [[baptism]]s, and other sacraments he has administered. The doctrine of [[apostolic succession]] makes valid ordinations and institutional affiliation the chief consideration in clerical status.
== Abuse by priests in Catholic Orders ==
As distinct from abuse by some parish priests, under diocesan control, there have also been sexual abuse cases concerning those in Catholic orders, which often care for the sick or teach school.<ref>[http://www.snapnetwork.org/news/international/hundreds_priests_shuffled.htm Hundreds of priests shuffled worldwide, despite abuse allegations]</ref><ref> [http://www.sfweekly.com/2006-01-04/news/house-of-the-accused House of the Accused. When priests within the Salesian order based in San Francisco were accused of sex abuse, the leaders chose to keep quiet] </ref><ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/low/americas/1910136.stm Vatican sued in sex abuse cases]</ref> In the [[United States]], Salesian High in [[Richmond, California]] lost a sexual abuse case,<ref> [http://www.sfweekly.com/2006-10-04/news/troubled-order Troubled Order] </ref> whilst in [[Australia]] there are allegations that the Salesians moved a priest convicted of abuse in Melbourne to Samoa in order to avoid further police investigation and charges.<ref> [http://www.cathnews.com/news/406/120.php Abuse. International investigation implicates Salesians/Australia] </ref><ref>[http://www.dallasnews.com/s/dws/spe/2004/runawaypriests Runaway Priests<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
* The [[Congregation of Christian Brothers|Christian Brothers]] in [[Canada]] more than 300 former pupils were physically and sexually abused at the [[Mount Cashel orphanage]] in [[Newfoundland and Labrador|Newfoundland]]. When allegations of physical and sexual abuse started to surface in the late 1980s, the government, police and church conspired in an unsuccessful cover-up. In [[Ontario]] in January 1993 the Christian Brothers reached a financial settlement totaling $23 million with 700 former students who alleged abuse.<ref>http://www.religioustolerance.org/clergy_sex3.htm</ref> In Ireland in March 1998, the Congregation of the Christian Brothers published full-page advertisements in newspapers apologizing to former pupils who had been ill-treated whilst in their care. The unprecedented advertising campaign expressed "deep regret" on behalf of the Christian Brothers and listed telephone lines which former pupils could ring if they needed help.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/71094.stm BBC News story]</ref> In Australia the Christian Brothers protected Brothers accused of sex offenses.<ref>[http://www.multiline.com.au/~johnm/ethics/exceptional.htm Quite exceptional depravity - Christian Brothers: Senate Committee, Aug 2001<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref><ref>[http://brokenrites.alphalink.com.au/nletter/page122-dowlan.html Christian Brothers defend child-abuser Brother Edward Dowlan<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
* In July 2007 in the United States a lawsuit was filed against the [[Brothers of the Sacred Heart]] which alleged that they moved around a Brother who was accused of sexual misconduct with an adolescent.<ref>[http://208.62.60.4/40/article_1371.shtml Sex abuse allegation rocks St. Stanislaus<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref><ref>[http://208.62.60.4/40/article_1383.shtml Stanislaus responds to abuse allegations<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
* A eight-year (1999–2007) enquiry and report by Dr Elizabeth Healy and Dr Kevin McCoy into the [[Brothers of Charity]] Order's "[[Holy Family]] School" in [[Galway]], [[Ireland]], and two other locations, was made public in December 2007. Eleven brothers and seven other staff members were alleged to have abused 21 intellectually-disabled children in residential care in the period 1965–1998. By 2007, two members of staff were convicted of abuse, eight had died and the rest had retired. It emerged that the Order had attempted to transfer at least one accused brother to another place.
:[[Jimmy Devins|Dr Jimmy Devins]], a junior government minister, regretted that "''some of the most vulnerable people in society were let down in the past''". Brother Noel Corcoran, head of the Order's services in Ireland, apologized sincerely. However the report was criticized by Dr Margaret Kennedy for not naming the sex offenders who were convicted or dead, and for interviewing just 21 out of 135 complainants.<ref>''[[Irish Times]]'', [[12 December]] [[2007]], p.6.</ref>
* On [[19 December]] [[2007]] a Fr Patrick McDonagh of the [[Salvatorian|Salvatorian Order]] admitted eight counts of sexual and indecent assault on four girls (aged 6 to 10) in the period 1965–1990 in [[Ireland]]. He was sentenced to four years in prison, with the last 30 months suspended. He gave the police the names of three girls, but also admitted to assaulting six other victims whom he has refused to identify. The judge described this as "remorse" and suspended most of the sentence for his guilty plea. Aged 78 in 2007, he had joined the Salvatorians in 1955 and retired in 2004.<ref>''[[Irish Times]]'', [[20 December]] [[2007]], p.4.</ref>
* In [[Sligo]] [[County Sligo]], St. John's School had five teachers who have faced abused charges, of which three were [[Marist Brothers]]. In January 2008 "''Brother Gregory''" (real name Martin Meaney) admitted to abusing a boy 20 or 30 times in a four-month period in 1972, apologized unreservedly and was sentenced on five sample charges to two years imprisonment. He described the boy as "a weak little lad", and told police he had "picked on children who were not getting love at home". Meaney had previously served 12 years of an original 18 year jail sentence imposed in November 1992 where he admitted eight sample charges of buggery, rape and indecent assault on other boys, out of 109 charges. These charges arose when he was teaching at [[Castlerea]], [[County Roscommon]].<ref>''[[Irish Times]]'', [[19 January]] [[2008]], p.3.</ref>
* In the 1990s, abuse by a Father Eugene Kennan (baptismal name John Joseph), a priest of the [[Passionist|Passionist Order]], originally from [[Liverpool]], came to light. An extremely powerful man who had held high positions in the order, he had given retreats and counselled vulnerable girls over many decades, including those in care and approved schools in the 1960s. A man of great charisma, he was able to abuse girls in whom he inspired devotion. It was, however, the sexual abuse of a former novice nun that first brought the abuse to light, after which many women came forward with their own testimonies of his sexual abuse. One story he would tell the girls was that he had trained as a gynaecologist, which led to intimate physical examinations. In the late 1990s Father Eugene was relieved of his official duties and was investigated by the police, however his age and failing health saved him from prison. He died in 2002. The scandal was largely covered up by the superior of the Passionist Order, Father Nicholas Postlethwaite, who managed to keep it out of the English newspapers, though it was mentioned in the Irish press. In 2003 another Passionist priest in [[Chicago]], Father John Ormechea, faced his sixth accusation for allegedly abusing young boys. As in other cases, it was alleged that the local diocese knew of similar allegations, but did nothing.<ref>[http://www.poynter.org/dg.lts/id.46/aid.55667/column.htm Ormechea Press report 2003]</ref>
*The [[Norbertine|Norbertine Order]] (or White Canons) neglected to inform the police about the abuse by [[Brendan Smyth (priest)|Brendan Smyth]] from the 1950s. He was eventually charged in 1994.
*Father Jeremiah McGrath of the [[St Patrick's Missionary Society|Kiltegan Fathers]] was convicted in [[Liverpool]] in May 2007 for facilitating abuse by Billy Adams. McGrath had given Adams £20,000 in 2005 and Adams had used the money to impress a 12-year-old girl who he then raped over a six-month period. McGrath denied knowing about the abuse but admitted having a brief sexual relationship with Adams. His [[Court of Criminal Appeal|appeal]] in January 2008 was dismissed.<ref>''[[Irish Independent]]'', [[24 January]] [[2008]], p.8</ref>
==Episcopal resignations==
* [[Bernard Francis Law]], Cardinal and [[Archbishop]] of [[Boston]], [[Massachusetts]], [[United States]] resigned after Church documents were revealed which suggested he had covered up sexual abuse committed by priests in his archdiocese.<ref>[http://www.bostonphoenix.com/boston/news_features/top/features/documents/00882888.htm News/Features |<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> For example, Father [[John Geoghan]] was shifted from one parish to another although Cardinal Law had often been informed of his abuse. In December 1984 auxiliary Bishop John M. D’Arcy wrote to Cardinal Law complaining about the reassignment of Geoghan to another Boston-area parish because of his “history of homosexual involvement with young boys."<ref>[http://www.beliefnet.com/story/108/story_10824_1.html America's Worst Bishops - Beliefnet.com<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> In 1987, after at least 23 years of child molesting by Father Joseph Birmingham during which time he was shuffled to various parishes, the mother of an altar boy at St. Anns wrote to Law asking if Birmingham had a history of molesting children. Cardinal Law wrote back "I contacted Father Birmingham. ... He assured me there is absolutely no factual basis to your concern regarding your son and him. From my knowledge of Father Birmingham and my relationship with him, I feel he would tell me the truth and I believe he is speaking the truth in this matter." <ref>[http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/handofgod/etc/cron.html Hand of God - PBS.org]</ref> The [[Holy See|Vatican]] announced on [[December 13]], [[2002]] that [[Pope John Paul II]] had accepted Law's resignation as Archbishop and reassigned him to an administrative position in the [[Roman Curia]] and named him archpriest of the [[Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore]]. Cardinal Law later presided at one of the Pope's funeral masses. Bishop [[Sean O'Malley|Séan P. O'Malley]], the [[Capuchin friar]] who replaced Law as archbishop, was forced to sell a good deal of valuable real estate and to close a number of churches in order to pay $120,000,000 in claims against the archdiocese.
* Bishop [[Brendan Comiskey]], [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Ferns|Bishop of Ferns]], resigned when similar facts were revealed. His senior associate [[Monsignor]] [[Micheal Ledwith]] also resigned in 1994 and paid money to a boy who alleged abuse.<ref>[http://www.rte.ie/news/2002/0531/maynooth.html News story of Ledwith compensation in 2002]</ref>
* Cardinal [[Hans Hermann Groer|Hans Hermann Groër]] resigned from his post as [[Archbishop of Vienna]] over allegations of sexual abuse in 1995.
* Two Bishops of [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Palm Beach|Palm Beach, Florida]] resigned due to child abuse allegations. The first was Joseph Keith Symons, who was replaced by [[Anthony O'Connell]], who later also resigned.
==Compensation payouts==
*[[January 15]], [[2007]] [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Charleston|Diocese of Charleston]] [[Robert Joseph Baker|Bishop Robert J. Baker]] agreed to pay $12 million to settle numerous cases concerning abuse by priests.<ref>http://www.catholic.org/diocese/diocese_story.phpid=22894</ref>
*In December 2006 the [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles|Archdiocese of Los Angeles]] (its archbishop was [[Roger Cardinal Mahony]]) agreed to a payout of $60 million to settle 45 of the over 500 pending cases concerning abuse by priests.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/6200882.stm BBC NEWS | World | Americas | LA diocese settles abuse claims<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> In July 2007 the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles agreed to pay a $660 million settlement to hundreds of people who claimed to have been abused by clergy. <ref>http://www.pr-inside.com/parishioners-react-to-los-angeles-archdiocese-s-r172959.htm</ref>
*In September 2003 the [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston|Archdiocese of Boston]] agreed to pay out $85 million to 552 victims.<ref>[http://www.usnews.com/usnews/news/articles/030922/22church.htm Boston archdiocese agrees to pay a record $85 million to victims of abuse - US News and World Report<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
*In 1997 the [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Dallas|Diocese of Dallas]] negotiated a $31 million settlement with victims.<ref>[http://www.bishop-accountability.org/tx-dallas/Dallas-2002-04.htm Bishop Accountability<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
*In June 2003 the [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Louisville|Archdiocese of Louisville]] made a $25.7 million settlement involving 240 victims of sexual abuse.<ref>[http://www.courtroomlaw.com/news_arch.shtml Lawyers Louisville Kentucky, News on Clergy Sexual Abuse Case against Archdiocese of Louisville Kentucky, William McMurry Lawyers<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
*On [[January 3]], [[2005]] [[Bishop]] [[Tod Brown]] of the [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Orange|Diocese of Orange]] apologized to 87 alleged victims of sexual abuse and announced a settlement of $100 million following two years of mediation.<ref>http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/11/23/national/main657155.shtml California Diocese Settles Abuse Cases</ref>
*In December 2006 the [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Phoenix|Diocese of Phoenix]] agreed to pay $100,000 to William Cesolini, who claimed he was sexually assaulted as a teenager by a priest.<ref>[http://www.bishop-accountability.org/news2006/11_12/2006_12_27_AP_CatholicDiocese.htm Catholic Diocese of Phoenix Settles Sex-Abuse Claim, Associated Press, carried in Arizona Daily Star, December 27, 2006<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
*In Canada the [[Congregation of Christian Brothers|Christian Brothers]] have paid out approximately $35 million (Canadian) in compensation.<ref>http://www.religioustolerance.org/clergy_sex3.htm</ref>
*In May 1994 the Diocese of Lincoln (Nebraska) agreed to pay Rob Butler, FKA Adam Butler, $40,000 after he claimed he was abused weekly for two years.
===Bankruptcy===
<!---This seems to be all repeated below, rather than be a lead-in. Is it really necessary to say the same thing over and over again?--->
*Citing monetary concerns arising from impending trials on sex abuse claims, the [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Portland|Archdiocese of Portland]] (Oregon) filed for Chapter 11 [[bankruptcy]] on [[July 6]], 2004, hours before two abuse trials were set to begin, becoming the first Catholic diocese to file for bankruptcy. If granted, bankruptcy would mean pending and future lawsuits would be settled in federal bankruptcy court. The archdiocese had settled more than one hundred previous claims for a sum of over $53 million. The filing seeks to protect parish assets, school money and trust funds from abuse victims: the archdiocese's contention is that parish assets are not the archdiocese's assets. Plaintiffs in the cases against the archdiocese have argued that the Catholic church is a single entity, and that the [[Holy See|Vatican]] should be [[liable]] for any damages awarded in judgment of pending sexual abuse cases.
*The [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Spokane|Diocese of Spokane]] in December 2004. The diocese of Spokane in Washington as part of its bankruptcy has agreed to pay at least 48 million dollars as compensation to people abused by priests. This payout has to be agreed with by the victims and another Judge before it will be made.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/6232947.stm BBC NEWS | World | Americas | US Church offers abuse settlement<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
*The [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Tucson|Diocese of Tucson]] filed for bankruptcy in September, 2004. The Diocese of Tucson reached an agreement with its victims, which the bankruptcy judge approved [[June 11]], [[2005]], specifying terms that included allowing the diocese reorganization to continue in return for a $22.2 million settlement.<ref>[http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/local/articles/0921diocese21.html Tucson Diocese emerges from Chapter 11 protection<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
*On [[October 10]] [[2006]], the [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Davenport]] also filed for [[Chapter 11]] protection. <ref>[http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/10/10/national/main2079538.shtml?source=RSSattr=U.S._2079538 Iowa Diocese Files For Bankruptcy , Davenport Bishop Says Settlements For 24+ Sex Abuse Claims Left It No Choice - CBS News<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> The decision to file for bankruptcy was being driven by many claims which focus on [[Lawrence Donald Soens|Bishop Lawrence Soens]], who has been accused of fondling as many as 15 students during his tenure as priest and principal at [[Regina High School (Iowa)|Regina Catholic High School]] in Iowa City during the 1960s. Soens denies the allegations. A judge discharged one suit in October 2006.<ref>[http://www.radioiowa.com/gestalt/go.cfm?objectid=EBFBFD11-0458-42B8-A37CA7389CCE932A Radio Iowa: Judge throws out Iowa City Regina priest suit<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
*On [[February 27]] [[2007]], the [[Roman Catholic Diocese of San Diego]] also filed for [[Chapter 11]] protection, hours before the first of about 150 lawsuits was due to be heard. San Diego became the largest diocese to postpone its legal problems in this way.<ref>[http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/metro/20070228-9999-7n28diocese.html SignOnSanDiego.com > News > Metro - S.D. Catholic diocese files for bankruptcy<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
===Government solution in Ireland===
In May 1999 the Irish [[Taoiseach]] [[Bertie Ahern]] apologized for an overall lack of supervision and funding by past Irish governments. Despite the eminent position of the church in Irish society, suing it (as in the case of [[Sean Fortune]]) was found to be equivalent to suing any club or social group. In 2002 his government agreed to take on €128 million in church property and investments and in return it would pay compensation to all church abuse victims, so that bankruptcy could be avoided. This deal was estimated to cost over €1 billion to Irish taxpayers of all religions, and the relevant minister, [[Michael Woods (politician)|Michael Woods]], was criticized by some for undue leniency to the church.<ref>[http://archives.tcm.ie/businesspost/2002/10/27/story656528.asp Business Post article October 2002]</ref> Criminal actions could still be brought separately against alleged abusers.
The compensation arose because many of the victims had been placed in the care of church Orders by the Irish government, with inadequate supervision. Victims could claim for a range of other wrongs as well as sexual abuse, including mistreatment, to the [[Residential Institutions Redress Board]].<ref>[http://www.rirb.ie/ Irish Redress Board]</ref> This included cases of alleged starvation and cruelty between 1920 and 1970, but claims had to be made by 2005. This was later extended, and over 14,500 have applied to the Board by 2007.<ref>[http://www.irishabroad.com/news/irishinamerica/news/victims-abuse-dec0705.asp 2005 press comment]</ref> Most of these were not cases of sex abuse but indicated a general lack of compassion by some church officials in the past.<ref>[http://www.rirb.ie/updates_article.asp?NID=87 Board Report July 2007</ref> However, some families of claimants have publicly disagreed that there was abuse; see "Kathy's Real Story" below.
The main [[Dáil]] debate on the [[Ferns Report]] was in two parts on 9 November 2005.<ref>[http://www.oireachtas-debates.gov.ie:80/D/0609/D.0609.200511090009.html Ferns Report online debate 2005]</ref> The [[Seanad|Irish Senate]] debate started on 10 November.<ref>[http://historical-debates.oireachtas.ie/S/0181/S.0181.200511100006.html Senate debates online, 10 Nov 2005]</ref>
== Continued Allegations ==
While the church in the United States claims to have addressed the issue, others maintain the only change is the church has hardened its defences while allowing abuse to continue. The [[United States Conference of Catholic Bishops]] convened a meeting in Dallas on June 12, 2002 to address the sex abuse scandal. However a ''Dallas Morning News'' article revealed nearly two-thirds of the bishops attending had themselves at one point covered for sexually abusive priests.<ref>[http://www.dallasnews.com/cgi-bin/bi/dallas/2002/priests.cgi Dallas Morning News | News for Dallas, Texas | Catholic Bishops and Sex Abuse<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
==Abuse in literature==
The [[Magdalene laundry|Magdalene laundries]] caught the public's attention in the late 1990s as revelations of widespread abuse from former inmates gathered momentum and were made the subject an award-winning film called ''[[The Magdalene Sisters]]'' (2002). In 2006, a documentary called ''[[Deliver Us from Evil (2006 film)|Deliver Us From Evil]]'' was made about the sex abuse cases and one priest's confession of abuse.
A number of books have been written, see [[List of books portraying paedophilia or sexual abuse of minors]], about the abuse suffered from priests and nuns including Andrew Madden in ''[[Altar Boy: A Story of Life After Abuse]]'', Carolyn Lehman's ''[[Strong at the Heart: How it feels to heal from sexual abuse]]'' and the bestselling ''[[Kathy's Story]]'' by Kathy O'Beirne which details physical and sexual abuse suffered in a [[Magdalene laundry]] in Ireland. However grave doubts have been expressed about the authenticity of the latter book. A new book 'Kathy's Real Story' published by Prefect Press, Ireland in October 2007 (Title: Kathy’s Real Story by author Hermann Kelly ISBN 978-1-906351-00-7)
In it 'Kathy O’Beirne’s family tell the story behind her bestselling book, casting light on a destructive culture of false allegations hurting innocent people in Ireland, all fueled by the government compensation scheme.' (cf. www.prefectpress.com)
==Abuse in film==
There were numerous movies made about sex abuse within the catholic church, some are included here:
* [http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/handofgod/ Hand of God] (2006)
* [[Deliver Us from Evil (2006 film)|Deliver Us from Evil]] (2006), [[documentary film]] directed by [[Amy Berg]] which tells the true story of the [[sex offender]] Catholic priest [[Oliver O'Grady]], who [[sexual abuse|sexually abused]] potentially hundreds of children between the late 1970s and early 1990s. The film won the Best Documentary Award at the 2006 [[Los Angeles Film Festival]].
* [[Sex Crimes and the Vatican (film)|Sex Crimes and the Vatican]] (2006), documentary filmed for the BBC [[Panorama (TV series)|Panorama Documentary Series]] which details how the [[Roman Curia|Vatican]] has used [[Crimen sollicitationis]] secret document to silence allegations of sexual abuse by priests and how Crimen sollicitationis was enforced for 20 years by Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger before he became the Pope. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/panorama/5389684.stm]
* [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0421108/ Our Fathers] (2005)
* [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0436857/ Twist of Faith] (2004)
* [[Bad Education]] (2004) (Spanish: La mala educación) a film by Spanish director [[Pedro Almodóvar]] that deals with Clerical Sex Abuse
* [[Song for a Raggy Boy]] (2003)
* [[The Magdalene Sisters]] (2002)
* [[Primal Fear (film)|Primal Fear]] (1996)
* [[The Boys of St. Vincent|The Boys of St. Vincent: 15 Years Later]] (1993)
* [[The Boys of St. Vincent]] (1992)
==Roman Catholic sex abuse cases by country==
{{main|Roman Catholic sex abuse cases by country}}
== See also ==
*[[John Jay College of Criminal Justice Study commissioned by USCCB]] http://www.usccb.org/nrb/johnjaystudy/index.htm
*[[Office of Child and Youth Protection, USCCB]] http://www.usccb.org/ocyp/
*[[Child sexual abuse]]
*[[Sexual harassment in education]]
*[[Sexual harassment in education#Sexual harassment and abuse of students by teachers|Sexual harassment and abuse by teachers]]
*[[Jehovah's Witnesses and child sex abuse]]
*[[Scouting sex abuse cases]]
*[[Crimen sollicitationis]]
*[[Ferns Report]], on sexual abuse in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Ferns, Ireland
*[[Brendan Comiskey]], the bishop who resigned from the Roman Catholic Diocese of Ferns
*[[Pontifical Secret]]
*[[Virtus (program)]]
*[[Deliver Us from Evil (2006 film)]], a landmark documentary
*[[Panorama (TV series)#Sex Crimes and the Vatican|Sex Crimes and the Vatican]] (Panorama Documentary Episode)
*[[Desmond Cardinal Connell]]
*[[Bernard Cardinal Law]]
*[[Roger Cardinal Mahony]]
*[[Thomas Vose Daily]]
*[[Barbara Blaine]] founder of SNAP (Survivors Network for those Abused by Priests)
*[[Bad Education]] (Spanish: La mala educación) a 2004 film by Spanish director Pedro Almodóvar that deals with Clerical Sex Abuse
*[[Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests]]
*[[Magdalene Asylum]]
*[[Twist of Faith]], a Academy Award-nominated documentary film about the struggle of a man to have his boyhood abuser admit guilt.
*[[Sinner (the movie)|Sinner]], a dramatic film about priests dealing with the aftermath of scandal
==References==
{{reflist|2}}
==Additional reading==
* Groeschel, F. Benedict, ''From Scandal to Hope'' (OSV, 2002)
* Jenkins, Philip, ''Pedophiles and Priests: Anatomy of a Contemporary Crisis'' (Oxford University Press, 2001). ISBN 0-19-514597-6.
* Lobdell, William, ''Missionary's Dark Legacy; Two remote Alaska villages are still reeling from a Catholic volunteer's sojourn three decades ago, when he allegedly molested nearly every Eskimo boy in the parishes. The accusers, now men, are scarred emotionally and struggle to cope. They are seeking justice.'', '''Los Angeles Times''', Nov 19, 2005, p. A.1
* Ranan, David, ''Double Cross: The Code of the Catholic Church'', Theo Press Ltd. 2007. ISBN 978-0-95541-330-8.[http://www.doublecross-theopress.co.uk]
==External links==
=== General ===
* [http://www.votf.org/ Voice Of The Faithful- Keep the Faith, Change the Church]
* [http://www.catholicleague.org/research/abuse_in_social_context.htm Sexual Abuse in Social Context - a Catholic League report]
* [http://www.snapnetwork.org/ Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP)]
* [http://www.bishop-accountability.org/ Bishop Accountability]
* [http://www.catholicity.com/commentary/hudson/tenmyths.html CatholiCity - 10 Myths About Priestly Pedophilia]
* [http://www.bishop-accountability.org/news2007/03_04/2007_04_17_Sipe_InternationalTraffic.htm "International Traffic in Catholic Priests Who Abuse"] by Richard Sipe and K.K. Murray, SNAP [United States], [[April 17]], [[2007]].
=== Ireland ===
* [http://www.rte.ie/news/2002/0401/comiskey01.html Bishop Brendan Comiskey's resignation]
=== United States ===
* [http://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/3872499.stm BBC Timeline: US Church sex abuse casesl]
* [http://www.wearethechurch.org/kos/ 3000 pages from 9000 page transcript of the 1997 liability trial against the Dallas Diocese]
* [http://www.rcab.org/News/sexualAbuseStatement.html Cardinal Law's statement on child sex abuse in the Church]
* [http://www.usccb.org/comm/remarksanorm.htm Vatican-U.S. Mixed Commission on Charter and Norms for Protection of Children]
* [http://us.cnn.com/2002/WORLD/europe/03/21/vatican.sex.abuse/ "Pope responds to sex abuse cases"], CNN, [[22 March]] [[2002]].
* [http://www.usccb.org/nrb/ National Review Board, John Jay, and Audit Reports]
* [http://kvoa.com/Global/story.asp?S=3592405 Experts: Tucson diocese settlement a bankruptcy model]
* [http://nytimes.com/2005/10/12/national/12priests.html?ei=5094&en=28d6f26f3cb2ed49&hp=&ex=1129176000&partner=homepage&pagewanted=print "Los Angeles Files Recount Decades of Priests' Abuse"], ''[[The New York Times]]'', [[October 12]], [[2005]].
* [http://www.thememoryhole.org/religion/philly_pedo-priests/ Philadelphia Grand Jury Report on Pedophile Priests] archived at The Memory Hole
*[http://tcrnews.blogspot.com/2007/09/sexuality-modern-world-and-catholic.html Sexuality, the Modern World, and the Catholic Church]
*[http://www.chicagotriallaw.com/CM/Custom/klest.wmv A Chicago trial lawyer discusses Chicago priest sex abuse cases]
*[http://www.mass.gov/legis/laws/seslaw02/sl020107.htm Change of law to make reporting sex abuse mandatory]
*[http://www.usccb.org/bishops/frawley.shtml ''"The Experience of the Victim of Sexual Abuse:" A Reflection'' by Mary Gail Frawley-O'Dea, Ph.D., U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops June 14, 2002]
*[http://www.abc15.com/news/index.asp?did=33030 "Priest wanted for attempted murder of showgirl arrested"]
*[http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/handofgod/view/ "Hand of God"]—''[[Frontline (US TV series)|Frontline]]'' episode about one family's tale of clerical abuse
[[Category:Roman Catholic Church sex abuse scandal| ]]
[[Category:Pedophilia]]
[[Category:Christianity-related controversies]]
[[cs:Sexuální skandály katolických duchovních]]
[[es:Casos de pederastia por miembros de la Iglesia católica]]
[[fr:Affaires de pédophilie de prêtres catholiques]]
[[it:Casi di pedofilia all'interno della Chiesa cattolica]]
[[ja:カトリック教会の性的虐待事件]]
[[pl:Skandale seksualne w Kościele katolickim]]
[[fi:Seksuaalisen hyväksikäytön tapaukset katolisessa kirkossa]]