Epiphany fills need left by city cutback in addiction treatment

San Francisco’s Epiphany Center, a legacy of the Daughters of Charity’s ministry to distressed women and children dating to the roots of post-Gold Rush San Francisco, is providing extra help to one group most in need today: Those addicted to drugs and alcohol.

https://www.catholic-sf.org/news/epiphany-fills-need-left-by-city-cutback-in-addiction-treatment 

Lawsuit seeks release of Boy Scout sexual abuse files

A retired Atlantic City police officer says he was abused at the age of 11 by his troop leader. A man who said he was abused by a Boy Scouts troop leader in the 1980s announced a lawsuit against the organization Tuesday, joining others nationwide who are pushing to open long-secret files containing the names of scout volunteers who were banned or considered risks for child sexual abuse.

https://www.buckscountycouriertimes.com/nationworld/20190501/lawsuit-seeks-release-of-boy-scout-sexual-abuse-files 

Sentencing of 'Father Bob' follows year of scandal for Catholic Church and Saginaw Diocese

A longtime Catholic Diocese of Saginaw priest who pleaded no contest to sex crimes faced sentencing on Thursday, April 25. The Rev. Robert J. “Father Bob” DeLand in March pleaded no contest to second-degree criminal sexual conduct, gross indecency between two males, and manufacturing or distributing an imitation controlled substance. The most serious charge is second-degree criminal sexual conduct, a 15-year felony.

https://expo.mlive.com/news/g66l-2019/04/644461eacc6446/sentencing-of-father-bob-follows-year-of-scandal-for-catholic-church-and-saginaw-diocese.html 

Archdiocese Of New York Names 120 Clergy 'Credibly Accused' Of Child Sex Abuse

St. Patrick's Cathedral is the seat of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York, which has released a list of 120 clergy members "credibly accused" of child sexual abuse. The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York released the names on Friday of 115 priests and five deacons who have been "credibly accused" of sexually abusing children.

https://www.wbur.org/npr/717798215/archdiocese-of-new-york-names-120-clergy-credibly-accused-of-child-sex-abuse 

East Timor: police arrest ex-priest for sexually abusing girls in his orphanage

The police in Timor-Leste have arrested a former priest who has been accused of sexually abusing young girls in his orphanage in the country’s enclave Oecusse. "R.D." was brought before the judge on Friday, April 26, and is now in custody, sources confirmed. Meanwhile the director of the shelter was arrested too on Sunday, April 28, after she organized an attack against a former resident of the orphanage whom she suspected of having given a statement against the priest.

https://www.rappler.com/world/regions/asia-pacific/229195-east-timor-police-arrest-ex-priest-for-sexually-abusing-girls-in-his-orphanage 

Annals of Religion What Do the Church’s Victims Deserve?

Some time before Brooklyn was incorporated into New York City, in 1898, it was dubbed the City of Churches. Houses of worship remain thick on the ground in the borough. In the part of Brooklyn where I live, churches outnumber grocery stores, pet shops, and nail salons together. There’s the Institutional Church of God in Christ (red brick, stained glass) and the Revelation Church of God in Christ (a converted movie theatre);

https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2019/04/15/what-do-the-churchs-victims-deserve

Hundreds of former Boy Scouts reveal new sexual abuse claims, exposing 150 alleged pedophiles

More than 200 individuals have come forward with new allegations of sexual abuse by members of the Boy Scouts of America in recent weeks as a trio of law firms seek to uncover unidentified child abusers. A few of the victims are young, still underage or in their 20s, but many have held their secrets close for decades.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/investigations/2019/04/24/boy-scouts-face-hundreds-new-sexual-abuse-claims/3547991002/ 

Survivors of church abuse speak out about mafia-style intimidation tactics

Real estate agent Peter Creigh was alone and finishing an open home inspection in Lake Macquarie, New South Wales, when a stranger in dark wraparound sunglasses approached him. Two victims of church sexual abuse say they were intimidated in an effort to stop them giving evidence Peter Creigh, who was abused by a Catholic priest, says he was followed and threatened by two anonymous men Steven Smith, who was abused by an Anglican priest, received threats that his children and grandchildren would be killed Mr Creigh introduced himself and offered a handshake. But the handshake was not returned. "He just said, 'I know who you are Mr Creigh. You're involved in the court case against Archbishop Wilson,'" Mr Creigh told 7.30.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-04-24/survivors-of-church-abuse-speak-out-about-intimidation-tactics/11041506 

Cosby claims elder abuse

A fee dispute between actor Bill Cosby and one in a string of law firms hired to address his legal problems shows the firm was billing Cosby $1 million a month in the run-up to his first sex assault trial. The imprisoned Cosby is challenging a California arbitration award that trims the $9 million bill from Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan to below $7 million.

https://www.castanet.net/edition/news-story-254513-5-.htm 

East Timor: police arrest ex-priest for sexually abusing girls in his orphanage

BEFORE THE ARREST. A child plays in the playground of the Topu Honis Shelter Home in February 2019, when the suspected abuser R.D. was still walking free. He is arrested on April 26, 2019. The police in Timor-Leste have arrested a former priest who has been accused of sexually abusing young girls in his orphanage in the country’s enclave Oecusse.

https://www.rappler.com/world/regions/asia-pacific/229195-east-timor-police-arrest-ex-priest-for-sexually-abusing-girls-in-his-orphanage

Church of England officials 'turned blind eye' to child abuse claims

Clergy and staff from a Church of England Diocese were referred to police in 2015 after church leaders had allegedly "turned a blind eye" to claims of child abuse, an investigation has revealed. Lincolnshire Police and Lincoln Diocese investigated 25 people over alleged abuse, from a list of 53 names which were passed to officers, with three cases leading to convictions.

https://www.premier.org.uk/News/UK/Church-of-England-officials-turned-blind-eye-to-child-abuse-claims 

Search the list of 44 Sacramento priests accused of sexual abuse

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Sacramento will release a list this week with names of priests and deacons determined to have been credibly accused of sexual abuse of minors, Bishop Jaime Soto said in a letter. By Marcos Bretón | Akira Olivia Kumamoto More than 40 priests in the Catholic Diocese of Sacramento were credibly accused of sexually abusing roughly 130 victims in the past 70 years, according to records kept by the church and obtained by The Sacramento Bee.

https://www.sacbee.com/news/local/article229826199.html