In Spirit and Truth Reading Roundup: April 2024 Edition
Welcome to the In Spirit and Truth Reading Roundup, a a monthly collection of the latest news and commentary on abuse and institutional betrayal in the Catholic Church.
The April edition is coming to you a few days late because we’ve been busy getting ready to close on a new condo, which happend yesterday. We’re moving from an apartment in Milwaukee to a condo in West Bend, a smaller city about 30 minutes north, near my husband’s job. I’m excited, but also a bit overwhelmed with everything we have to do to get ready to move. So, I’m going to take May off from this blog, and I’ll be back to you in June!
One thing I want to mention: You’ll notice that most of my links go directly to articles on the news organization’s website. However, for articles on sites with paywalls or really distracting advertising, I typically link to the archived version on the Bishop Accountability website. This version always lists the original news source. While I definitely encourage offering your financial support to valuable journalism, if there’s an article about sexual abuse in the Catholic Church that you can’t access because of a paywall, chances are that you can find it by googling the title of the article along with the words“bishop accountability.” Huge thanks for BishopAccountability.org for the public service they provide in creating this imporant archive.
Bankruptcy Proceedings and Legal Developments
Alabama: Senate passes bill making sex with teens by clergy a felony
California: Sacramento latest California diocese to file for bankruptcy
Maryland: Abuse survivors question bankruptcy move by Baltimore archdiocese + Clergy abuse survivors testify about torment in Baltimore archdiocese bankruptcy case, with Archbishop Lori in attendance
New York: Court ruling for insurer a devastating loss for N.Y. archdiocese
New York: Diocese of Rockville Centre to end bankruptcy without sex abuse deal
Other U.S. News
Alabama: Charges against Mobile priest reportedly involve accusations of unwanted fondling, kissing
Florida: Priest continued in active ministry for three years after sex abuse lawsuit filed
Minnesota: Duluth Catholic Priest Acquitted of Sexual Abuse Allegations, Restored as Pastor
North Carolina: Franciscan friar barred from ministry after sexual misconduct investigation
Ohio: Deceased priest accused of allegedly abusing high school student in 2012
Tennessee: Months later, former Knoxville Bishop Richard Stika is threatening priests
Texas: Brownsville Diocese removes priest after sexual misconduct allegations
International News
Australia: Bishop’s former secretary claims ‘hush money’ payments made to alleged victims
Germany: Members of abuse commission in German diocese resign, citing lack of transparency
Peru: Pope accepts resignation of Peru bishop linked to scandal-plagued group
Portugal: Bishops Announce Financial Compensation Fund for Church Abuse Victims
Spain: Spain approves plan to compensate victims of Catholic Church sex abuse. Church will be asked to pay. + Bishops: Catholic Church unjustly singled out in plan to address sexual abuse
Vatican: Pontifical commission publishes universal safeguarding framework + Complete document here
Going Deeper
At 50, I had a flashback to a priest abusing me as a child. Then I decided to confront him
LOUDfence at Wheeling Cathedral Offers Support for Victim-Survivors
After 20 years, New Jersey memorial to clergy abuse victims still stirs strong emotions
If you find these monthly reading roundups helpful, please consider forwarding this post or sharing on your social media. Let’s stay informed and engaged. It matters.
I’ll be back again in June with your next Survivors’ Voices post.
~ Sara