Boston College Not Christian Enough For S@xual Liberation Activists

“I’m hoping that during this next year, I’ll be able to build upon the vast amount of progress that the GLC has made in previous years,” Carolyn McCrosson said.

“I also want to make it a priority to introduce the GLC to the incoming freshmen. By letting them know what the expectations and standards of this school are, in terms of respect and equality, 

I’m hoping that I can open the eyes of these new students who have perhaps been swayed by information reporting that [Boston College] is not a diverse community.”…

Link (here) CNS

Snaping

Barbara Blaine

An advocacy group for people abused by priests today called on Cook County State’s Attorney Anita Alvarez to launch a grand jury investigation into the Chicago-based Jesuit province. 

Their plea comes after a scathing motion was filed in Cook County Circuit Court alleging that Jesuit leaders in Chicago knew that now-defrocked Catholic priest Donald McGuire was sexually abusing underage boys and that they sought to cover it up and mislead authorities.  

“We want the prosecutor of Cook County to investigate whether there is sufficient evidence of crimes committed by the Jesuit superiors,” said Barbara Blaine, president of The Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP.) “It seems as though there’s evidence of conspiracy (and) evidence of perjury.” 

Link (here) to the full story at WGN

Good Order And Discipline

The excommunicated founder and leader of annual protests against U.S. military training for Latin American soldiers—

protests in which Jesuit and other Catholic universities have played a major role—has been ordered by his Maryknoll superior to recant his vocal support of women’s ordination. In a letter dated March 18 but disclosed yesterday, Roy Bourgeois, who has been automatically excommunicated 

and then laicized following his participation in a 2008 ceremony to “ordain” a Catholic woman, was given 15 days to recant or he will be formally dismissed from the Maryknoll Fathers. 

Link (here) to CNS

Retreat Master

Donald McGuire, once a prominent Jesuit retreat master, is currently serving a 25-year prison term after conviction on federal sex-abuse charges. Previously convicted on separate charges, he was dismissed from the Jesuit order in 2007 and laicized in 2008. Victims’ lawyers are arguing that the Chicago Jesuit province should be held accountable for McGuire’s offenses, since superiors had received complaints for years before the first formal charges were filed. “I can’t think of another case I’ve studied that has so much notice,” said Terence McKiernan of the BishopAccountability.org. 

Link (here) to Catholic Culture

40 Years

The newly public documents date from the early 1960s, when a concerned Austrian priest, in imperfect English, first observed in a letter to Chicago Jesuits that Father McGuire, newly ordained and studying in Europe, had “much relations with several boys.” The reports extend into the last decade, when Father McGuire reportedly ignored admonitions to stop traveling with young assistants, m@lesting one as late as 2003, as law enforcement was closing in. The legal motion argues that Father McGuire’s superiors in Chicago turned “a blind eye to his criminal actions.”

Link (here) to to read the full post by Kevin Clarke at America Magazine's blog In All Things 
Link (here) to a 2007 Jesuit internal meeting notes on Fr. McGuire

Lefty National Catholic Reporter Unloads On The Jesuits "Oregon Problem"

Thank God. That’s all I can say about the news that the Oregon Province of the Society of Jesus will be paying $166.1 million to hundreds of now-adults who were abused as children by various Jesuit priests. I can’t say “Thank the Jesuits,” because, like their diocesan colleagues before them, the Jebbies fought paying this settlement and fought admitting that anyone in their ranks had done the reprehensible. I don’t know what the problem is with clerics admitting fault, but we sure seem to have an institutional problem with that. I actually heard a Jesuit a few months ago say he was concerned about his provinces finances because “of the Oregon problem.” That “problem” would be the crime of sexual abuse of minors, but you know how it is with the English language -- so many words can stand for the same thing, right?

Link (here) to the frank editorial by Renée Schafer Horton at The National Catholic Reporter

Obama Reduex At Georgetown, "IHS Or No IHS"

The covered IHS at Gaston Hall

President Barack Obama will outline a plan for America’s energy security on Wednesday, the White House said. The speech comes as oil markets have been roiled by the crisis in Libya, and Japan is struggling to contain radiation from its earthquake-damaged Fukushima nuclear plant and stabilize the complex’s nuclear reactors and its storage tanks for nuclear waste. Mr. Obama plans to deliver the speech at Georgetown University. On Friday, he will tour a UPS facility in suburban Landover, Md., where he’ll have an opportunity to kick the tires on “clean fleet” vehicles from UPS, AT&T, FedEx, PepsiCo and Verizon. He’s also delivering remarks to employees from those companies.

Link (here) to The Wall Street Journal. 
Flash back to President Obama's last visit (here) 

Georgetown University says it covered over the monogram “IHS”--symbolizing the name of Jesus Christ—because it was inscribed on a pediment on the stage where President Obama spoke at the university on Tuesday and the White House had asked Georgetown to cover up all signs and symbols there.

Felony Convictions And Prison Terms For Two Jesuits

Two Jesuit priests, a nun, a retired teacher and a social worker who cut through fences at Naval Base Kitsap-Bangor over a year ago to protest nuclear weapons were each sentenced to prison Monday. Jesuit priest Stephen Kelly, 61, of Oakland, Calif. and retired teacher Susan Crane, 67, of Baltimore, were given 15-month sentences, while social worker Lynne Greenwald, 61, of Tacoma, was given a 6-month prison sentence. The judge gave lighter sentences to the two protesters who were over 80 years old. Jesuit priest Bill Bichsel, 82, of Tacoma, was sentenced to three months in prison and three months of home monitoring, while sister Anne Montgomery, 84, of Redwood City, Calif, was sentenced to two months in prison and four months home electronic monitoring. U.S. District Court Judge Benjamin Settle ordered Father Kelly taken to prison immediately. Settle was going to allow the others to report to prison next month, but they told the judge they might not show up, so Settle ordered that they be taken to prison immediately, too.

Link (here) to read the full story at KOMONews.com

My Confreres In The Order

We’re seeing more opposition to the idea of social justice, this time not from Glenn Beck but from a Loyola University law professor and Jesuit. “I often hear my confreres in the order and my lay colleagues assert that ‘our’ schools have the niche of meeting the needs of ‘social justice,’ and it is ‘social justice’ that is the raison d’être of and for these law schools,” writes Father Robert John Araujo, S.J. at Mirror of Justice. 

Link (here) to The US Catholic

Jesuits Pay Out A Quarter Of A Billion Dollars For Oregon Province Legal Settlements

The payout, "one of the largest … in the Roman Catholic Church's sex-abuse crisis, and the largest by a religious order," came in the form of a bankruptcy settlement and was believed to be approximately $166.1 million, according to the Seattle Times. Insurance companies would provide about $118 million and the Jesuits would contribute $48.1 million. The Oregon province of the Rome-based Jesuit order covers Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington, according to Reuters, which reported that most victims were Alaska Natives or Native Americans. The victims were "sexually or psychologically abused as children by Jesuit missionaries in those states in the 1940s through the 1990s," according to the plaintiffs' attorneys. About 57 priests had been identified and removed, and 700 victims compensated nearly $250 million, including this week's settlement,

Link (here) to the full story at Alaska Dispatch

The Thorn

A thorn said to be part of Christ’s crown when he was crucified is to go on public display for the first time –

after spending 200 years in Lancashire. Jesuit priests at Stonyhurst College have allowed the relic to be exhibited at the British Museum from June 23. College curator Jan Graffus, said the thorn, 

once owned by Mary, Queen of Scots and still wrapped in her pearls, is a “priceless treasure”.

Link (here) The Mirror

450 Victims Divided By $166,100,000.00 Equals $370,000.00 Per Victim

 A Yakima law firm takes on the largest religious order settlement in history; resulting in Northwest Jesuits to pay $166.1 million to abuse victims. The settlement involves approximately 450 victims who were sexually abused as children by Jesuit Missionaries in Washington, Alaska, Idaho, Montana and Oregon between the 1940's and 1990's. This is the largest settlement between a religious order and sexual abuse victims in the history of the United States, paying $166.1 million. The settlement will also require the Jesuits to provide a written apology to the victims, and produce documents regarding their knowledge of the abuse that took place on their watch. Attorney Bryan Smith with Tamaki Law described the settlement Friday against the Oregon Province of the Society of Jesus, based in Portland, OR. The majority of the abuse took place in Jesuit operated mission schools, boarding schools, and on Indian reservations in the Pacific Northwest and Alaska. Some Jesuits abused children while stationed in dioceses throughout the Northwest.

Link (here) to read the rest of the story at KNDO

Read about the 40 Jesuits implicated in the lawsuit (here).

The Jesuit Stories Behind The Bankruptcy Of The Oregon Province

His Holiness Pope John Paul II

in an excerpt from his homily at

The World Youth Day 2002
Toronto, Downsview Park, Sunday July 28, 2002

Even a tiny flame lifts the heavy lid of night. How much more light will you make, all together, if you bond as one in the communion of the Church! If you love Jesus, love the Church! Do not be discouraged by the sins and failings of some of her members.

The harm done by some priests and religious to the young and vulnerable fills us all with a deep sense of sadness and shame.

But think of the vast majority of dedicated and generous priests and religious whose only wish is to serve and do good!

There are many priests, seminarians and consecrated persons here today; be close to them and support them! And if, in the depths of your hearts, you feel the same call to the priesthood or consecrated life, do not be afraid to follow Christ on the royal road of the Cross!

At difficult moments in the Church's life, the pursuit of holiness becomes even more urgent. And holiness is not a question of age; it is a matter of living in the Holy Spirit, just as Kateri Tekakwitha did here in America and so many other young people have done.

Link (here)


(Blogger note: Short bio's and most links are from Bishop'sAccountability.org).


Fr. Francis "Frank" Duffy, S.J.

Accused in 2002 Oregon suit of abuse of 6- and 7- yr old sisters in 1967 and 1968 at St. Luke's Catholic Church, Woodburn. Case settled 2003. Also settlement same year with another female claimant. Named in suit filed against Jesuit Order in 2007. Plaintiff alleges that he and Fr. James Poole abused her in mid-1960s when she was a child. Died 1992. Included in 11/07 settlement w/ Order. Woman alleged improper touching in late 1980s in 6/08 suit in Yakima WA settled 8/08.

(here), (here), (here), (here), (here), (here), (here), (here), (here), (here), (here), (here) and (here)

Fr. Bernard A. Harris, S.J.

Accused in 2006 civil suit of molesting four of eight siblings (3 girls and a boy) between 1968-1972. Brother of James M. Harris who has also been accused of molesting several of the children. Died 1972. Although Bernard Harris was apparently working out of Helena, MT Diocese, all of the abuse occurred in the Portland Archdiocese.

(here), (here) and (here)

Fr. John Schwartz, S.J.

Sued 2005. Accused of abuse of student in 1986-1987 in Oregon. Article says he is no longer a Jesuit but works as priest for Archdiocese of San Francisco and has taken a voluntary leave . Suit settled for $95,000 in Nov. 2005. Per 11/06 article, Schwartz is being returned to active duty because Archdiocese says accusations were not credible.

(here), (here), (here), (here), (here), (here), (here), (here) and (here)

Fr. John R.Thatcher, S.J.

Thatcher joined the Jesuit order in 1934 and worked in various cities including Spokane. After ordination, he continued to work in Spokane and then worked in Portland from 1957-1973 and 1981-1994. Thatcher is accused of showing a 6 yr old boy pornography and sexually abusing him in 1963. He died in 2003.

(here), (here) and (here)

Fr. Jules Convert, S.J.

Ordained in France. Served in Alaska from 1942-1978. Died 1995. 8 men filed civil suit in 2003 alleging abuse from 1955 to about 1977. Most have settled claims against Order but claims against diocese remain. Two settled completely and other plaintiffs have joined the case. Total of 16-18 plaintiffs have made accusations. Alaska Supreme Court ruled 8/06 that case can proceed while more evidence is gathered. Claims included in 11/07 settlement with Jesuits.

(here), (here), (here), (here), (here), (here),
(here), (here), (here), (here) and (here)

Fr. Norman E. Donohue, S.J.

Two men filed suit against Diocese and Jesuit Order in Sept. 2006 alleging abuse by Donohue between 1967 and 1973 in Nulato, Alaska. Donohue died in 1983. Also named in some of 43 civil suits filed 1/09 which alleged Jesuits knew of abuse over the years and did nothing.

(here), (here), (here), (here), (here), (here) , (here) and (here)

Fr. George S. Endal, S.J.

In 2005 suit, woman accused Endal of sexually abusing her over a 3-year period between 1966-1968 when she was 9 through 12 years old. Two men joined suit in 2/06. Endal was the supervisor of two other Jesuit accused abusers, Lundowski and Smario, and did not act when he received complaints against the two men. Endal died in 1996. Claims included in 11/07 settlement with the Jesuits. In 1/09 Plaintiffs filed 43 suits against Jesuits; many named Endal as abuser.

(here), (here), (here), (here), (here), (here),
(here), (here), (here) and (here)

Fr. Andrew (Andras) M. Eordogh, S.J.

Sued 2006. Accused of abuse of one boy, beginning at age 4, in late 1960s in village of Holy Cross. Eordough is retired and living in Hungary per one 2006 article. Claims included in 11/07 settlement with the Jesuits.

(here), (here), (here) and (here)

Fr. Francis "Frank" J. Fallert, S.J.

Plaintiffs filed 43 suits 1/09 against Jesuit Order and its former provincial alleging that Order knew of abusive priests in Alaska and did nothing to stop them. One woman in the suit alleged abuse by Fallert at St. Micheal's Church in 1956-1957. Died 6/90

(here), (here), (here) (here) and (here)

Fr. Henry G. Hargreaves, S.J.

Never sued but name is included in 11/07 settlement between Jesuit order and 110 plaintiffs. In 2003 Hargreaves was accused by a woman in her 60s of making improper advances to her. The bishop publicly apologized, both orally and in newspapers, and Hargreaves was removed from his parish and sent for evaluation. In 1/09 43 plaintiffs in Alaska sued Order & Seattle Univ. Pres. the Rev. Stephen Sundborg alleging Sundborg knew about abuse by Hargreaves & others and did nothing.

(here), (here), (here), (here), (here) (here), (here), (here) and (here)

Fr. Thomas Hatrel, S.J.

In Oct, 2007 Hatrel has just been added as a defendant in existing litigation in Fairbanks. The abuse is alleged to have occurred betweeb 1985-87 while Hatrel served at St. Ignatius parish in Alakanuk, Alaska. Hatrel is deceased. Claims included in 11/07 settlement with the Jesuits.

(here), (here) and (here)

Fr. James E. Jacobson, S.J.

Accused of raping two girls and fathering sons on both. One child was born 1966 and the other in 1975. One of the women and both adult children filed suit in 2005 against Order and Jacobson in an attempt to collect past child supprt. 2006 suit says he also raped a 16-year-old girl in another Western Alaska village. Order knew in 1967 of "very serious moral charges" against him. Suits settled 3/07 for $1.96 mil. Other claims settled 11/07 w/ Jesuits.

(here), (here), (here), (here), (here), (here), (here), (here), (here), (here) (here), (here), (here), (here), (here), (here) and (here)

Br. Ignatius J. Jakes, S.J.

3 women filed civil suit in Sept. 2006 against Diocese and Jesuit order claiming abuse by Jakes (an Inupiat Eskimo) in 1980s. He died in 1999. Claims included in 11/07 settlement with the Jesuit Order. He is referred to as a volunteer

(here), (here) and (here)

Fr. James R. Laudwein, S.J.

Accused in a 2005 lawsuit of molesting a 14-year-old Eskimo girl in 1980. Laudwein denies the accusations against him. He was working in Archdiocese of Portland in a ministry for the poor when the lawsuit was filed. At that time, he was placed on restriction leave. Claims included in 11/07 settlement with Jesuits.

(here), (here), (here), (here), (here), (here) and (here)

Fr. Segundo Llorente, S.J.

Sued 12/04. Accused of abuse between 1956-1957 by one plaintiff. Another plaintiff added to suit 8/05. Died. Claims included in 11/07 settlement with the Jesuits.

(here), (here), (here), (here) and (here)

Fr. Richard L. McCaffrey, S.J.

Accused of abuse of 2 girls approx. 1981. Sued and also placed on permanent leave in 2005. Died 5/06.

(here) (here) and (here)

Fr. Bernard Francis McMeel, S.J.

Known as "Father Barney." Worked in Alaska from 1955 - 1978. Accused in 2006 civil suit of abusing one child from 1967-1970 when he was aged 4-7. Suit claims he was transferred out of Alaska in 1978 after the order learned he had abused a child. He was assigned to the mission church on an Indian reservation in Great Falls, MT diocese from 1978 until his death in 1992 (or 1994). Claims included in 11/07 settlement with Jesuits.

(here), (here), (here), (here), (here) and (here)

Fr. Francis X. Nawn, S.J.

Sued 12/04 by one man. Accused of abuse in 1963-1964. 3 plaintiffs added 1/05, 2 more added 4/05 and last 3 added added 8/05 for a total of 9 plaintiffs (including 1 woman). Deceased. Claims included in 11/07 settlement with the Jesuits. No settlement with Diocese. Accused of abuse of 3 in 2009 civil suit against Jesuit order.

(here), (here), (here), (here), (here), (here), (here), (here) and (here)

Fr. James E. Poole, S.J.

Accused of abuse of girls in 1960s and 1970s, particularly at St. Mary's Mission Boarding School. One suit settled 2005. Admission. Several other pending in 2006. A sixth woman filed suit in Sept. 2006 alleging that Poole abused her for 6 years, beginning when she was age 6. Another suit filed 2/07 against the Jesuit order for transferring Poole (with knowledge of his behavior) to Portland, OR where he abused a young girl in 1960s. Settlement 11/07. Another settlement 8/08

(here), (here), (here), (here), (here), (here), (here), (here), (here), (here), (here), (here), (here), (here), (here), (here) and (here)

Fr. Bradley "Brad" R. Reynolds, S.J.

Suit filed 8/08 and acknowledged 1/09 alleges Reynolds abused two boys at Toksook Bay No date given. A renown photographer and writer, Reynolds has often been quoted as a spokesman for the Oregon Province. He was removed from duties 8/08 and has been residing under 24 hr supervision at a Jesuit residence. The Order is continuing to investigate the allegations.

(here), (here) and (here)

Fr. John J. Wood, S.J.

Wood was added as a defendant in existing litigation in Oct. 2007. He is accused of abuse in Chevak, Alaska. Wood is deceased. He served in rural Alaska for approximately 12 yrs. Claims included in 11/07 settlement with Jesuits.

(here), (here) and (here)

Fr. Englebert M. Axer, S.J.

2006 article says Axer is accused of abusing a minor in 1956. He was a professor at Seattle Univ. from 1956-1987. He died in 1989. At some point in the past, the Univ. removed his name from an endowed chair in the philosophy department because of the abuse. There has been at least one settlement as of 11/07.

(here) , (here) , (here) and (here)

Fr. John Coughlin, S.J.

Per statement released by Diocese of Spokane 11/07, Coughlin was named in accusation that was found to be credible or proven. No further information found. He died (in 1965?)

(here) and (here)

Fr. Dominic W. Doyle, S.J.

Sued 2002 by woman who alleged he began an improper relationship with her when she was 15 and he was nearly 60. She attended a horse camp he ran on Kalispel Indian Reservation and said his involvement progressed from innocuous physical contact to wrestling to overt sexual activity. Relationship continued into her adulthood. He died in 2005. Diocese said in 2007 that allegation was credible.

(here) and (here)

Br. James Gates, S.J.

15 women and 1 man have accused Gates & Fr. John Morse of abuse when they were students at St. Mary's Mission and School on the Colville Indian Reservation in late 1950-early 1960s. He was placed on leave and lives under supervision at a Jesuit residence . Jesuits announced $4.8M settlement with the 16 in 1/08.

(here) and (here)

Fr. John Hurley, S.J.

Per statement released by Diocese of Spokane 11/07, Hurley was named in accusation that was found to be admitted, credible or proven. No further information found as to abuse. He spent most of his career at Gonzaga Prep. He died in 1998.

(here) and (here)

Fr. David G. King, S.J.

Accused in 2004 (2006?) lawsuit of abuse of 13 yr old boy in early 1950s. King died in 2002. Civil Suit dismissed 7/06 due to "Lack of activity." At least 2 sets of counsel for the Plaintiff had withdrawn from the case.

(here) and (here)

Michael Kosak, nS.J.

Per statement released by Diocese of Spokane 11/07, Kosak, a seminary student, was named in accusation that was found to be admitted, credible or proven. He was dismisssed from seminary. No further information found.

(here) and (here)

Fr. John P. Leary, S.J.

First allegations in 1966. In 1969, Police ordered Leary, then President of Gonzaga Univ., to leave Spokane in 24 hours or be arrested for sexually abusing teenage boys. Jesuit Order approved and Leary left. He was reassigned to posts in Massachusetts, Utah, Nevada and California and died in 1993. Jesuit officials admit to 2 recent settlements with victims. There may have been as many as 12 victims.

(here) , (here), (here), (here), (here), (here),
(here), (here), (here), (here) and (here)

Fr. John McDonald, S.J.

Per statement released by Diocese of Spokane 11/07, McDonald was named in accusation that was found to be credible or proven. He died in 1985. No further information found.

(here) and (here)

Br. Fenton Melia, S.J.

Entered the Jesuit novitiate in Florissant, MO in 1957 and took final vows 2.2.68. Per statement released by Diocese of Spokane 11/07, Melia was named in accusation that was found to be admitted, credible or proven. He worked as cook at philosophate in Spokane as well as in AK and OR. Died 5/30/08. No further information found on accusations.

(here) , (here) and (here)

Fr. John J.Morse, S.J.

15 women and 1 man accused Morse and a religious brother of abuse when they were students at St. Mary's Mission and School on the Colville Indian Reservation in late 1950-early 1960s. He was placed on leave and currently lives under supervision at a Jesuit residence. He is also on list issued by Spokane Diocese11/07 of priests with admitted, proven or credible accusations. Jesuits announced $4.8M settlement with the 16 in 1/08.

(here) , (here), (here), (here), (here), (here) and (here)

Br. John O'Brien, S.J.

Per statement released by Diocese of Spokane 11/07, O'Brien was named in accusation that was found to be credible or proven. He died in 1989. No further information on alleged abuse found. This may possibly be the Br. John O'Brien who taught latin at Gonzaga Prep in Spokane

(here) and (here)

Fr. Peter O' Grady, S.J.

Woman filed suit 1/04 alleging that she was sexually abused by O'Grady at Jesuit House in Spokane when she was 12. O'Grady was providing "supply work" to parishes in Spokane at that time. O'Grady died in 1993. Suit names Portland Province of the Jesuit Order as well as Bishop Syklstad. Settled 12/04. Diocese said allegations were proven or credible.

(here), (here) and (here)

Fr. William Ryan, S.J.

Per statement released by Diocese of Spokane 11/07, Ryan was named in accusation that was found to be credible or proven. He died in 1967. No further information found.

(here) and (here)

Fr. Jerry Sullivan, S.J.

Per statement released by Diocese of Spokane 11/07, Sullivan was named in accusation that was found to be credible or proven. He was "dismissed." No further information found.

(here) and (here)

Fr. Michael Toulouse, S.J.

Toulouse, a former philosophy professor at Seattle University, was accused in 2005 suit of abusing a 12 yr old boy in 1968. He died in 1976. Investigation uncovered earlier accusations in 1947 in Spokane as well. Accusations made to church officials in 1965, and complaint made to Order in 1993 and to Archdiocese in 2004. Died 1976. Suit settled 11/06 for $350,000. 8 men filed new suit 7/07.10th man filed suit 10/08.

(here), (here), (here), (here), (here), (here), (here), (here), (here), (here), (here), (here), (here), (here), (here), (here) and (here)

Br. Benjamin Trautman, S.J.

Per statement released by Diocese of Spokane 11/07, Trautman was named in accusation that was found to be admitted, credible or proven. He died in 1999 at age 83. No further information found regarding the alleged abuse.

(here) and (here)

Fr. Carlton E. Whitten, S.J.

Placed on leave in Dec. 2007 and moved from his residence at Bellarmine College Preparatory (San Jose) to Sacred Heart, the Jesuit center in Los Gatos while his order investigates "an alleged recent incident of improper touching involving a 17 yr old youth while on a pastoral assignment" in White Salmon, Washington. Whitten is semi-retired and often filled in along the western coast states for priests on vacation or leave. Adult imagery was also found on computer that Whitten used.

(here), (here), (here), (here) and (here)

Fr. A. J. "Fr. Freddy" Ferreti, S.J

Woman filed suit 10/08 against Oregon Province of the Jesuit Order alleging that Ferreti sexually abused her on many occasions in 1970s, beginning when she was 8. He was assigned to the Lapwai Catholic Church in Nez Perce County at the time of the abuse. Ferreti died in 1982, Plaintiff's attorney dismissed the suit 1/09 and refiled it, adding Boise Diocese as defendant. Two other women have come forward with similar complaints.

(here), (here), (here), (here) , (here), (here) and (here)

His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI

made a historic full apology for child sex abuse
by priests and clergymen in Australia, on July 19, 2008.In Sydney's St. Mary's Cathedral.

Before a 3,400 congregation, he called for compensation and demanded punishment for those guilty of the "evil":

"Here I would like to pause to acknowledge the shame which we have all felt as a result of the sexual abuse of minors by some clergy and religious in this country. I am deeply sorry for the pain and suffering the victims have endured and I assure them that, as their pastor, I too share in their suffering."

The Pope added:

"Victims should receive compassion and care, and those responsible for these evils must be brought to justice. These misdeeds, which constitute so grave a betrayal of trust, deserve unequivocal condemnation. I ask all of you to support and assist your bishops, and to work together with them in combating this evil."

(Blogger note: Short bio's and most links are from Bishop'sAccountability.org)

Jesuit Says, "The Cock Has Crowed"

"I write from within the church and the society of Jesus. I am not outside looking on. 

These are my brothers, abusing priests, bishops and religious superiors who were unaware or unresponsive. 

I am not above but alongside. I know what it means to be a sinner redeemed by the grace of Christ."

He continued with a biblical reflection.

The image of Peter has been a source of consolation for me. He couldn't understand why Christ should suffer. He fell asleep in the Garden while Christ agonized, turned to violence when Christ was accused, denied his Lord three times during the Passion, and finally woke up when the cock crowed. 

Exactly when the cock crowed, Christ looked at Peter, and Peter went out and wept. Jesus' look was an accusation and a healing. Later Christ asked Peter three times if he loved him. 

Three times Peter affirmed that he did. Three times Christ confirmed Peter's role as shepherd. The cock has crowed for the church. Christ is looking at us, accusing and healing. No press report, no angry victim or parent can look more accusingly than Jesus. But his look heals, and his Spirit is at work in victims and in the church, healing. And he calls us to repentance and to healing.

Link (here) Fr. Patrick Howell SJ full op/ed Piece in the Seattle Times

Man Blames Broken Jesuits For His Disbelief In God

"I was leading this dual life: at daytime, I'm talking to sexual abuse victims, I'm talking to lying bishops, lying clergy members, and at nighttime, I'm learning about this great Catholic tradition," William Lobdell said.

Lobdell said when the stories first broke, he was considered more a novelty in the classes he was taking to become Catholic as both a faith reporter and a student of the faith. As time progressed and it became evident that the corruption was widespread, he said others in the class stopped talking about the stories he was reporting.

A week before Lobdell was to be baptized, he decided he couldn't go through with becoming Catholic. In fact, he lost all faith in an intervening, personal God, he said.

Toward the end of his tenure as a religion reporter, Lobdell covered a story about two villages in Alaska. He described the two remote villages as being without water or roads and ruled by the Jesuit missionaries.

Link (here) to the full story

"Losing My Religion" by William Lobdell Listen to Hugh Hewitt's interview podcast (here)

Blogger Note: I listened to his Hugh Hewitt interview on the radio, Lobdell doesn't sound like an atheist, he sounds like a believer who chooses to ignore God.

Fr. James Martin, S.J. On The Moral And Finacial Bankruptcy In Oregon

Several readers have noted that while we regularly cover bad news in other religious orders (e.g., the Legionaries) and crises in the larger church (SSPX), we only celebrate Jesuit accomplishments (a new superior general, exciting new initiatives, awards from the White House). It's a fair critique, though I am obviously extremely biased when it comes the Society of Jesus.

Read the full blog post (here) by Fr. James Martin, S.J.

Licentiousness Now Considered Academic Exploration By Jesuit Run Gonzaga University Vice President

Dr. Patricia Killen

Gonzaga University Academic Vice President Dr. Patricia Killen sent an email to students after approving the play? The V@gina Monologues, noting that the play “contains raw language and explicit descriptions of s@xual behavior” but will be “performed in the context of an interdisciplinary academic exploration.” The development was picked up by the Catholic watchdog group Cardinal Newman Society (CNS), which has tracked the popularity of the play among several Catholic institutions of higher learning. Last year, CNS notes, then-Interim President Thayne McCulloh rejected the play because he “could not ignore the historical context that informs review of the current proposal.” Gonzaga has become the fourteenth Catholic campus to welcome the Monologues, ten of which are Jesuit institutions. 

Link (here) to Lifesite

What is licentiousness? Go (here)

P@rnographic Play At Jesuit Gonzaga University Called, "Movements Toward Social Justice"

There will be a panel presentation and discussion on April 4 at 6:30 p.m. at the Foley Teleconference Center that will feature Dr. Patsy Fowler, Dr. Cate Siejk, Fr. Tim Clancy, and student Drew Pollom, entitled "Voices on ‘The V@gina Monologues,' Catholic Tradition, and Jesuit Identity." "Learning to Speak: the Power of Narratives" will be April 6 at 6:30 p.m. at Foley Teleconference Center, and is an "exploration of the power of storytelling and the place of stories in movements toward social justice." Dr. Linda Schearing and Dr. Ann Ciasullo will lead the discussion.

Link (here) The Gonzaga Bulletin 

Jesuit Father Timothy Clancy, professor of philosophy at Gonzaga, in his opinion column, "Embrace Identity":

The banning of the Monologues has been justified on the grounds that their performance would violate the Catholic mission of our school. I would like to place the 'V@gina Monologues' in a spiritual context and argue that their performance rather embodies precisely what it means for us to be a Catholic University".

He says that Eve Ensler's "rhetorical device" of having women's s@x organs "speak" enables women to embrace their own identity:

"And as they talk and audiences listen, people across the country and around the world have found shame turn to compassion, and rage turn to solidarity. Everyone involved comes to learn that we are not alone in our shame, and that together we can heal and liberate what we may have thought to lie in ruins beyond even God's saving reach".

Father Clancy explains (copiously using anatomical terms) that Freud "scandalized society" by giving male s@x organs a voice, but until now women had no comparable champion.

"Now what does any of this have to do with Catholicism? Catholicism has never understood itself as something separate from the rest of life", Father Clancy says. And this is life?

Jesus "heralded a new Kingdom of the impure" deliberately choosing as his disciples the sick, sinners, outcasts, prostitutes, the possessed, "even a terrorist", in order to "bear witness that this is where God calls holy people to be, for these are the ones most in need of God's saving word and healing touch".
Father Clancy concludes:

"V@ginas are not used to speaking in public, and so once given the chance to have their say, everything comes out at once, pride and shame, rage and fear, ridicule and relief. But above all I suspect that what comes out from these performances will be relief, relief at having finally received a hearing. What could be more Catholic?"

 Link (here) to the full 2002 article by Helene Hull Hitchcock at Women for Faith and Family

Wild Wrestling

Marquette University president Robert Wild today announced he has directed the Milwaukee school’s Department of Human Resources to include coverage for registered domestic partners in the university’s health insurance plans, beginning with the start of the new coverage year, Jan. 1, 2012. Wild said he had wrestled with issue over the past few years. “If we are truly pastoral in our application of the Jesuit principle of cura personalis, I asked myself if I could reconcile that with denying health benefits to a couple who have legally registered their commitment to each other,” Wild said. Wild noted that the State of Wisconsin gives legal recognition both to marriage for heterosexual couples and to a registered domestic partnership for same-sex couples.

Link (here) to Biztimes.com

Communist Rable Rousers

A crowd of 15 students and activists gathered at the Mortara Center on Wednesday evening to protest a speech by former Colombian President Alvaro Uribe Velez, rekindling the demonstrations that punctuated his arrival on campus and continued throughout the fall semester. Uribe's appointment as a Distinguished Scholar in the Practice of Global Leadership in the School of Foreign Service last year sparked ire from the Adios Uribe coalition, which claims that Uribe was responsible for large-scale human rights abuses during his presidency.

Hoisting signs that read "Desecrating Jesuit Values" and "Generating Bad Press for Georgetown," the protesters were forced to stay on the sidewalk across from the center, which is located at 36th and O Streets, by Department of Public Safety officers and members of the event staff.

Link (here) to read the full story.

Fr. Hermann Busembaum, S.J. And His "Medulla Theologiæ Moralis Facili Ac Perspicua Methodo Resolvens Causa Conscientiæ Ex Variis Probatisque Auctoribus Concinnata"

Pope Pius VIII

Hermann Busembaum, a German theologian, born at Nottelen, Westphalia, in 1600, died in Mtlnster, Jan. 31, 1668. He was rector of the Jesuit college at Munster,

and in his Medulla theologiæ moralis facili ac perspicua methodo resolvens causa conscientiæ ex variis probatisque auctoribus concinnata, which passed through 50 editions (new ed., 2 vols., Louvain, 1848), 

he carried the doctrine of the temporal supremacy of the popes to such a height, that the secular tribunals in almost every European state were unanimous in pronouncing condemnation on his work, and committing it to the flames.

Link (here)
What is Divine Right of Kings (here)  

A song for the Pope, for the Royal Pope,

Who rules from sea to sea;

Whose kingdom or sceptre never can fail! —

What a grand old king is he!

No Warrior hordes has he, with their swords,

His rock built throne to guard;

For against it the gates of hell shall war

In vain, as they ever have warred.

Oh, never did mightiest monarch yet,

In the days of his power and pride,

Rule as the good old Pontiff rules,

With his Cardinals by his side.

In terror and death is the conqueror’s march,

As the steel tides rise and roll:

But the bonds he binds with are faith and love,

Clasping the heart and soul.

Jesuit Publishes Holy Father's International Best Seller

Pope Benedict's new book on Jesus has entered the The New York Times bestseller list, at 10th place in the non-fiction category, said the Ignatius Insight Scoop website. Since its worldwide release on March 10, 1.2 million copies of the book have been published in eight languages - including German, Italian, English, Spanish, French, Portuguese and Polish. Jesuit Father Joseph Fessio, founder and editor of the publishing house, says that 300,000 copies were published in Italy, 200,000 in Germany, and 120,000 in France. The book has been published in English by Ignatius Press, The Catholic Truth Society (United Kingdom/Ireland), Paulines Publication (Africa), Freedom Publishing (Australia), and Asia Trading Corporation (Asia). "It's clear that what interests the Holy Father is helping people to know and love someone whom he knows and loves," says Father Fessio. "But he does this as a scholar. This book is a bright star in the constellation of books about Jesus."

Link (here) to Cath News