(Q7137449)
Statements
2015
1 reference
RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil — The Catholic Church has allowed priests accused of sexually abusing children in the United States and Europe to relocate to poor parishes in South America, a yearlong GlobalPost investigation has found.Reporters confronted five accused priests in as many countries: Paraguay, Ecuador, Colombia, Brazil and Peru. One priest who relocated to a poor parish in Peru admitted on camera to molesting a 13-year-old boy while working in the Jackson, Miss., diocese. Another is currently under investigation in Brazil after allegations arose that he abused disadvantaged children living in an orphanage he founded there.All five were able to continue working as priests, despite criminal investigations or cash payouts to alleged victims. All enjoyed the privilege, respect and unfettered access to young people that comes with being clergy members. (English)
2 references
The number of dioceses facing grand jury inquiries appears to have doubled since the American bishops met last month in Dallas, where they adopted a policy of zero tolerance against abusive priests but took no steps to punish bishops and cardinals who have transferred sexual predators from parish to parish. (English)
The Altoona-Johnstown report said Hogan covered up abuse allegations by transferring offending priests, including by sending one accused clergyman to a school for boys. The church’s own records show that the priest “would have been prosecuted and convicted except that the bishop intervened and he was sent to Michigan for treatment and then placed in another parish upon his return”, the grand jury found. (English)
1 reference
Federal investigators are now considering whether to seek access to thousands of secret church documents produced by lawsuits and shielded by a sweeping confidentiality order in the bankruptcy, according to those familiar with the investigation who weren’t authorized to discuss it and spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity. Those records are said to document years of abuse claims, interviews with accused clergy and a pattern of church leaders transferring problem priests without reporting their crimes to law enforcement. (English)