Posts Tagged The Boston Globe
Pope Francis names two Americans to key posts on sex abuse reform / the Boston Globe
Posted by Voice of the Faithful in Clergy Sexual Abuse, Pope Francis, Vatican, Voice of the Faithful on September 10, 2014
Two priests from the United States, one with ties to Chicago and the other a veteran of the Boston archdiocese, have been named to key Vatican roles by Pope Francis in his clean-up effort with regard to the Church’s child sexual abuse scandals.
“At the same time, Cardinal Sean P. O’Malley of Boston has also been confirmed as president of a new anti-abuse commission created by the pontiff in December 2013.
“Prior to this point the Vatican officially had described O’Malley only as a member of the commission, though behind the scenes he played the key role in its activities, including organizing a July 7 meeting for Francis with victims of abuse.”
By John L. Allen, Jr., The Boston Globe — Click here to read the rest of this story.
Getting to the crux of why Catholicism matters / The Boston Globe
Posted by Voice of the Faithful in Pope Francis, Vatican, Voice of the Faithful on September 2, 2014
Among the things New York’s Cardinal Timothy Dolan would like to see Pope Francis do: “Providing ‘more precision … about putting some teeth’ into accountability for bishops who drop the ball on abuse allegations, beyond simply ‘spiritual and fraternal solutions,'” quoted from column linked below.
Getting to the crux of why Catholicism matters
The Boston Globe’s John L. Allen, Jr., associate editor for Catholic news, rounds up his notes on all things Catholic over the past week, including commentary on what Pope Francis’ recent bishop appointments might mean and a preview of an interview with New York’s Cardinal Timothy Dolan, to be published at length later, on fighting sexual abuse in the Catholic Church.
Click here to read Allen’s column.
On sex and money, Pope Francis sets his course / The Boston Globe
Posted by Voice of the Faithful in church reform, Future of the Church, Pope Francis, Voice of the Faithful on July 14, 2014
As anyone who paid attention in history class knows, when Spanish explorer Hernán Cortés landed in what’s now Mexico in 1519, he promptly scuttled his ships, thereby leaving his men no choice but to press on in conquest of the Aztec empire. For centuries, that rash act has loomed as an object lesson in total commitment.
“This week (week of July 7) Pope Francis scuttled some ships of his own, on two fronts which have been sources of scandal and heartache for the Catholic Church: sex and money.
“On Monday (July 7), Francis held his first meeting with victims of clerical sexual abuse. Two days later, the Vatican announced a sweeping financial overhaul, including new leadership and a sharply limited role for the troubled Vatican bank.”
By John L. Allen, Jr., The Boston Globe — Click here to read the rest of this article.
Massachusetts on Verge of Extending Statute of Limitations an Additional 32 Years
Posted by Voice of the Faithful in Clergy Sexual Abuse, Voice of the Faithful on June 20, 2014
Bill Extends Time Limit on Sexual Abuse Lawsuits
The Massachusetts Legislature is on the verge of finalizing a bill that will give alleged child sexual abuse victims an additional 32 years to file civil lawsuits, a move one specialist said will open the door to thousands of new cases.
“The bill would extend the statute of limitations for filing suits against alleged perpetrators and, in future cases, the people or institution supervising them. Under the legislation, the victims would be able to file suits up to age 53, instead of the current limit of age 21.”
By Travis Anderson, Derek J. Anderson and Jennifer Smith, The Boston Globe — Click here to read the rest of this story
On June 19, 2014, CORSAL (Coalition to Reform Sex Abuse Laws) issued this press release: Statue of Limitations Bill Passes Unanimously in House and Senate, Advocates and Church Leaders Arrive at Compromise
Pope Francis Shakes Up Vatican’s Finance Panel / The Boston Globe
Posted by Voice of the Faithful in Catholic Church Finances, Pope Francis, Vatican, Voice of the Faithful on June 5, 2014
Pope Francis today pressed his campaign to internationalize the Vatican’s financial management, replacing an all-Italian panel overseeing his anti-money laundering agency with a new group drawn from four different nations, including a Harvard professor and former official in the George W. Bush administration.
“The appointments came a day after the announcement that a Catholic business manager from Australia will hold a senior position in the pope’s new Secretariat of the Economy, designed to force fiscal transparency and discipline on all Vatican departments.”
By John L. Allen, Jr., The Boston Globe — Click here to read the rest of this story.
Click here to read related news about the Vatican bank, “Francis Monitors Vatican Bank Personally,” by ANSA.it.
Second UN Panel Criticizes Vatican on Sex Abuse / The Boston Globe
Posted by Voice of the Faithful in Clergy Sexual Abuse, Vatican, Voice of the Faithful on May 23, 2014
For the second time, a United Nations panel has criticized the Vatican for its response to the child sexual abuse scandals in the Catholic Church, charging it with failing to mandate that abuse charges be reported to police, moving clergy to evade discipline, and failing to see that victims obtain adequate compensation.
“‘Clergy … were transferred to other dioceses and institutions where they remained in contact with minors and others who are vulnerable,’ the United Nations Committee against Torture charged in a new report, ‘and in some cases committed abuse in their subsequent placements.’
“The report follows a similar indictment from the Committee on the Rights of the Child that appeared in February, which asserted that the Vatican had fostered ‘impunity’ for abusers.”
By John L. Allen, Jr., The Boston Globe — Click here to read the rest of this story.
Pope Abuse Panel Will Address Accountability / Associated Press
Posted by Voice of the Faithful in church reform, Clergy Sexual Abuse, Pope Francis, Vatican, Voice of the Faithful on May 4, 2014
Cardinal Sean O’Malley of Boston said Saturday that Pope Francis’ sexual abuse advisory board will develop ‘clear and effective’ protocols to hold bishops and other church authorities accountable if they fail to report suspected abuse or protect children from pedophile priests.
“Victims groups have long criticized the Vatican for refusing to sanction any bishop or superior who covered up for priests who raped and molested children. They have listed accountability as one of the key issues facing Francis and a key test for his new advisory board.
“Francis announced the creation of the commission last December and named its members in March after coming under initial criticism for having ignored the sex abuse issue. The commission’s eight members — four of whom are women — met for the first time last week at the pope’s Vatican hotel to discuss the scope of their work and future members.”
By Nicole Winfield, Associated Press, in The Boston Globe — Click here to read the rest of this story.
Vatican Pendulum Swings from Theater to Substance / The Boston Globe
Posted by Voice of the Faithful in Future of the Church, Pope Francis, Vatican, Voice of the Faithful on April 29, 2014
In Rome the pendulum is swinging from public theater to behind-the-scenes substance this week, as two closed-door meetings tackle two of the most serious challenges facing Pope Francis: Vatican reform and the child sexual abuse scandals.
“Following Sunday’s (Apr. 27) massive canonization ceremony for Popes John XXIII and John Paul II, the pope’s “G8” council of cardinal advisors from around the world is meeting April 28-30 to ponder a reorganization of the Roman Curia, the Vatican’s central administrative bureaucracy.”
By John L. Allen, Jr., The Boston Globe — Click here to read the rest of this story.
Francis Names O’Malley to Vatican Antiabuse Panel / The Boston Globe
Posted by Voice of the Faithful in church reform, Clergy Sexual Abuse, Pope Francis, Vatican, Voice of the Faithful on March 24, 2014
Pope Francis on Saturday named Cardinal Sean P. O’Malley of Boston and seven other figures with reputations as reformers to guide a new Vatican antiabuse commission, a move intended to demonstrate resolve about confronting the child sexual abuse scandals that have rocked Catholicism. O’Malley, already the lone American on the pope’s “G8” council of cardinal advisers, is also the lone American among the commission members announced Saturday. O’Malley’s new responsibility is not a full-time position, meaning he will not move to Rome and will continue to serve as the archbishop of Boston.”
By John L. Allen, Jr., The Boston Globe — Click here to read the rest of this story.
Also of interest — “O’Malley, Abuse Survivor Named Members of New Vatican Clergy Abuse Commission” and “25 Years into Fight Against Clergy Sex Abuse SNAP Soldiers On”
Many Points of Praise for Pope’s First Year / The Boston Globe
Posted by Voice of the Faithful in Pope Francis, Vatican, Voice of the Faithful on March 12, 2014
One year ago Thursday (Mar. 13), a relatively obscure prelate from Argentina made his debut as the new leader of the world’s oldest Christian church, stepping out onto the fabled balcony overlooking St. Peter’s Square and joking that his brother cardinals had gone to “the end of the earth” to find a pope.
“For an institution legendary for taking itself rather seriously, that flash of humor alone communicated that this wasn’t going to be your grandfather’s kind of pontiff.
“By taking the name Francis, the new pope awakened images of St. Francis, the beloved poor man of Assisi. He then knelt to ask the crowd to pray for him before imparting his official blessing, seemingly inaugurating a new era of papal humility.
“It was, as we know now, only the beginning.”
By John L. Allen, Jr., The Boston Globe — Click here to read the rest of this article. John Allen will be a guest speaker, “Perspectives on Pope Francis & A Climate of Change,” at the Voice of the Faithful® 2014 Assembly in Hartford, Connecticut, April 5. Click here for information and to register.
Voice of the Faithful
A lay movement for governance reform in the Roman Catholic Church, responding to the clergy sexual abuse scandal and supporting survivors.
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