Charges reinstated against Philadelphia priest in landmark sex-abuse case | lehighvalleylive.com

 

The state's highest court on Monday reinstated the landmark child-endangerment conviction of a Roman Catholic monsignor who was the first U.S. church official ever prosecuted over his handling of sex abuse complaints.

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court upheld the 2012 felony conviction of Monsignor William Lynn for endangering an altar boy abused by a priest who had been transferred to his parish despite earlier complaints.

Lynn's lawyers have long argued that Lynn, as secretary for clergy, was not responsible for the welfare of the victim under existing Pennsylvania law. However, the state Supreme Court in a 4-1 ruling disagreed, potentially sending the 64-year-old Lynn back to prison.

"(Lynn) was a person supervising the welfare of many children because, as a high-ranking official in the archdiocese of Philadelphia, he was specifically responsible for protecting children from sexually abusive priests," Justice Max Baer wrote.

Lynn had served half of a three-to-six-year sentence when a Superior Court opinion in late 2013 threw out his conviction and led to his release. He has remained on house arrest, in a northeast Philadelphia rectory, while prosecutors appealed.

Defense lawyer Thomas Bergstrom said Lynn may appeal the novel legal issues in the case to the U.S. Supreme Court.

"They're equating Lynn with being in charge of all of the children of the archdiocese, whether they were abused or not," Bergstrom said. "It's troubling to me that this broad approach would be approved by the court."

"He, Lynn, never even knew about this abuse until 2009 and never even knew the child existed, let alone that he was being abused by (the Rev. Edward) Avery," Bergstrom said.

Avery pleaded guilty to abusing the boy but later recanted his apparent admission during Lynn's trial. He was— sentenced to 2 1/2 to five years in prison.

Avery was one of several priests reassigned to unsuspecting parishes despite complaints that Lynn reviewed at the archdiocese, where he held the high-ranking post under two cardinals from 1992 to 2004.

"I did not intend any harm to come to (the boy). The fact is, my best was not good enough to stop that harm," Lynn said at his July 2012 sentencing. "I am a parish priest. I should have stayed (one)."

The same boy also accused another priest and a teacher at the same parish of abusing him. Both were convicted.

Philadelphia Common Pleas Judge M. Teresa Sarmina told Lynn that he should have stood up to his bishops. Instead, she said, he enabled "monsters in clerical garb . to destroy the souls of children."

Lynn has 14 days to decide whether to appeal Monday's ruling.

"I don't think it's fair to assume anybody's going to pick him up tonight," Bergstrom said.

The Philadelphia district attorney's office, which prosecuted him, praised the Supreme Court's ruling.

"Today's announcement sends the clear message that if anyone - priest, layperson, citizen, police officer or elected official - knowingly puts children at risk of being sexually molested, they will be held accountable," District Attorney Seth Williams

Charges reinstated against Philadelphia priest in landmark sex-abuse case | lehighvalleylive.com

First Two Phila. Clergy Abuse Lawsuits Settle | The Legal Intelligencer

 

Two plaintiffs in civil cases alleging they had been abused by priests from the Archdiocese of Philadelphia have settled their lawsuits against the church for an undisclosed amount, according to their attorney.

The settlements concluded the cases of John Doe 10 and John Doe 187, who claimed they were the victims of sexual abuse perpetrated by archdiocese clerics. Malvern-based attorney Daniel Monahan represents the plaintiffs and said the terms of the settlement remain confidential at the wishes of his clients.

According to the complaints, Doe 187, a former altar boy at the Incarnation of Our Lord Parish, alleged that Father William Ayres abused him in different areas of the church, while Doe 10 claimed he was sexually abused in the bathroom of the St. Aloysius Academy in Bryn Mawr as a student by former priest Martin Satchell. Both incidents were alleged to have occurred in the 1990s, while the plaintiffs were minors.

The plaintiffs alleged that the archdiocese knew about patterns of abuse committed by priests, but did nothing to safeguard those children who were at risk. According to Monahan, the settlement itself is between the plaintiffs and the archdiocese, as all other defendants, including Ayres and Satchell, had been dismissed.

Conrad O’Brien attorney Nicholas M. Centrella represents the archdiocese and did not return a call seeking comment. The archdiocese’s communications office did not immediately respond to a request seeking comment.

Monahan said the settlements were significant for the plaintiffs.

“One of the important things for these clients is a sense of empowerment, taking back some of the power they lost when they were children,” Monahan said.

According to Monahan, roughly 15 clergy abuse cases handled by his firm have been dismissed on statute of limitations issues, while an additional two are on appeal before the state Superior Court for similar issues. Doe 10 and Doe 187 are the first two to reach settlement.

First Two Phila. Clergy Abuse Lawsuits Settle | The Legal Intelligencer

Weekly Collection for week ending April 26, 2015

 

Three additional pledges. $1,789 less pledged.

Weekly Collection for the week ending April 19,2015

 

Six additional pledges.  $4,868 ADDITIONAL PLEDGED—Note decrease in April 26 collection.

Pope Francis Names Rabbi Arthur Schneier Papal Knight Cardinal Dolan Confers the Papal Knight of Saint Sylvester to Founder and President of The Appeal of Conscience Foundation and Senior Rabbi of Park East Synagogue

 

Rabbi Arthur Schneier has been conferred the title of Papal Knight of Saint Sylvester by Cardinal Timothy Dolan in the presence of top religious leaders and elected officials.

According to Archbishop Bernardito C. Auza, the Apostolic Nuncio, and Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations, who hosted the ceremony, “Pope Francis is bestowing the honor on Rabbi Arthur Schneier who has worked unceasingly to promote peace and mutual understanding, in the firm conviction that respect for fundamental human rights, including religious freedom, are indispensable values for all peoples of the world to enjoy peace, security and shared prosperity. A Holocaust survivor, Rabbi Schneier has always held this conviction in his heart and made it a principle of life.”

Born in Vienna in 1930, Rabbi Schneier survived the Holocaust in Budapest, Hungary in 1945 and arrived in the United States in 1947.  Rabbi Arthur Schneier has been the Senior Rabbi of the 125-year old Park East Synagogue, one of New York City’s historic landmark houses of worship since 1962; he founded the Appeal of Conscience Foundation in 1965.

“The rare honor bestowed upon me by Pope Francis as Knight of Saint Sylvester marks the 50th anniversary of my meetings in the Vatican and the beginning of the cooperation between the Holy See and the Appeal of Conscience Foundation in helping advance religious freedom and human rights,” said Rabbi Arthur Schneier. “It is also the year that we celebrate the 50^th anniversary of Nostra Aetate, a turning point in Catholic Jewish relations.”

According to Rabbi Schneier, “The visit of Saint Pope Paul John Paul II to the Rome synagogue, Pope Benedict XVI’s visit to synagogues in Europe as well as Park East Synagogue, the first papal visit to a synagogue in the United States, are historic events that have contributed to the evolving relationship between Catholic Church and the Jewish people. With great joy I helped welcome Pope Francis at the Wall in Jerusalem. I am greatly honored to be recognized by His Holiness, a voice of conscience who has embraced humanity with his outreach, compassion, love and mercy to all of God’s children.”

Rabbi Schneier also stated that, “As we remember the 70^th anniversary of the end of WWII in Europe, sadly, the hope for a new world order of peace has not materialized. We face once again a volatile world in conflict with radical extremist having hijacked religion to legitimize their barbarism inflicted on religious minorities particularly, Christian minorities who are in the front line of persecution being oppressed, uprooted and decapitated.”

Rabbi Arthur Schneier renewed his plea to stop those who abuse their role as religious leaders, “We clearly must rebut the preachers of hate who incite violence, demonize other faiths and help spread anti-Semitism, Christianophobia, Islamophobia. ‘A crime perpetrated in the name of religion, is the greatest crime against religion.’ Join me in awakening a public in the slumber of indifference and apathy to these heinous crimes. May God protect and shield us and help our joint efforts in pursuit of peace and security.”

Rabbi Arthur Schneier was awarded the U.S. Presidential Citizens Medal for “his service as an international envoy for four administrations, devoting a lifetime to overcoming the forces of hatred and intolerance by encouraging interfaith dialogue and intercultural understanding and promoting the cause of religious freedom around the world.” Rabbi Schneier has also received the U.S. Department of State Special Recognition Award and has been nominated for the Congressional Gold Medal.

Rabbi Arthur Schneier was named as one of the 100 most trustworthy people in the U.S. by the Readers’ Digest magazine poll and listed as one the most influential rabbis in the U.S. by Newsweek Magazine. He is the recipient of eleven honorary doctorates from U.S. and European universities and was awarded the Legion of Honor, high awards from Germany, Austria, Russia, Hungary, Croatia, Italy, Poland and Spain .

The ceremony was attended by former United States Secretary of State, Dr. Henry Kissinger. Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney (D- NY). Former New York City Mayor, David Dinkins. Former New York City Police Commissioner, Ray Kelly. Archbishop Demetrios of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America. Archbishop Barsamian, of the Armenian Church of America. The Reverend Dr. Fred R. Anderson, of the Madison Avenue Presbyterian Church-Trustees of the Appeal of Conscience Foundation-Rabbi Joseph Potasnik, The Executive Vice President of the New York Board of Rabbis and Imam al-Hajj Talib Abdur-Rashid, The Mosque of Islamic Brotherhood, Abraham Foxman, The National Director of the Anti-Defamation League and Rabbi Michael Miller, The Executive VP & CEO of The Jewish Community Relations Council of New York.

Pope Francis Names Rabbi Arthur Schneier Papal Knight Cardinal Dolan Confers the Papal Knight of Saint Sylvester to Founder and President of The Appeal of Conscience Foundation and Senior Rabbi of Park East Synagogue

Woman excommunicated because she was ordained | Local News - WISN Home

 

Milwaukee native is looking forward to seeing the leader of the Catholic church in September, despite being excommunicated by that same church.

• Janice Sevre-Duszynska left Milwaukee in 1985 and headed to Lexington, Kentucky. It was there that she begged for ordination to become a priest.

She told church officials, "Why don't you just let me go to the seminary? You can send me to Mexico, I'll brush up on my Spanish. Put me wherever you want me."

She was told that she could not become a priest because she isn't a man.

WISN 12 News anchor Joyce Garbaciak asked her why she didn't become a priest in a religion that accepts women priests.

"That just doesn't make sense to me at all," she answered. "I'm a daughter of the church, and I won't abandon my family."

Undeterred, she received ordination through the Association of Roman Catholic Women Priests in 2008. To learn more, visit its website here.

A spokeswoman for the Archdiocese of Milwaukee reiterated the church's stance that only a baptized man can validly receive sacred ordination.

Sevre-Duszynska has continued her activism for the cause. She invited Milwaukee Jesuit Bill Brennan to celebrate Mass with her in 2012.

He did, and he was stripped of many of his priestly duties because of it.

Brennan died in 2014 and never spoke publicly about the topic of woman ordination until a series of videos he had recorded on his deathbed were released after he died.

Sevre-Duszynska also suffered consequences advocating for women's ordination. She recently received a decree of ex-communication from the church.

She rejects the idea.

"We don't accept excommunication because you're part of a church community when you're baptized," she said. "You can't rescind your baptism."

Julie Wolf, of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, said the choice belonged to Sevre-Duszynska.

"It's sad when people deliberately separate themselves from their church," she said.

Sevre-Duszynska said her group will be in Philadelphia ordaining bishops at the same time Pope Francis is scheduled to visit. She is nominated to be one of many female priests elevated to bishop.

She hopes that the pope and other leaders of the church will someday be open to the idea of women priests.

"God has created us equally," she said. "We need these men to open up their hearts and take up the example of the gospels." 

 

Woman excommunicated because she was ordained | Local News - WISN Home

The paradoxes of Bishop Finn | USCatholic.org

 

Rejoicing over the recent resignation of Bishop Robert Finn as the bishop of Kansas City-St. Joseph is unseemly. I take no joy in another person’s distress, and I wonder what the church will do with a bishop who is only 62 years old and has 13 years of active episcopal ministry left. What does the church do with a bishop without a diocese? 

Bernard Law, when he first stepped down from the See of Boston, was supposed to live a quiet life of prayer as chaplain for the Alma Mercy Sisters, but we all know how that worked out. A similar call to Finn for a cushy Roman job is out of the question. There is a different pope now.

This is but one of the paradoxes in Finn’s case. Another is: Why did he choose to ignore the Dallas Charter, the compact that he had with his fellow bishops, not to allow sexually abusive priests to remain in ministry? That was a promise that the entire body of American bishops made to the faithful in the United States. How could Finn think that he knew better than his fellow bishops? Did he ever consider the effects of his breach on the rest of the American church, namely the persistence of the doubt that if one bishop was breaking the Charter, others probably were as well, but were just better at not getting caught?

And another paradox: Why did his fellow bishops not call him out publicly for his dishonor? After all, it was their joint promise that he broke. Where was the fraternal correction from the American bishops?In Germany, when the Bishop of Bling, Franz-Peter Tebartz-van Elst of the diocese of Limburg, spent $43 million dollars to renovate his palace, the outcry from the German bishops was public and immediate. Within four months, Tebartz-van Elst was gone.

In contrast, there was no public outcry by the American bishops when Finn was found to have harbored a sexually abusive priest. If there had been, the period between when Finn pleaded guilty to child endangerment and when he actually stepped down would certainly have been shorter than two years and seven months. It is no accident that, within a few months of Cardinal Sean O’Malley saying that Finn’s case had to be “urgently” addressed in his 60 Minutes interview, Finn was gone. And it is unfortunate that no other American bishop spoke up publicly sooner, or Finn might have been gone sooner. Why do our bishops lack the moral fortitude of the German bishops when it comes to criticizing one of their own?

And speaking of our bishops and their collective treatment of Bishop Finn, this recalls yet another paradox. In the news over Finn’s resignation after his conviction for failing to report suspected child abuse in Jackson County, Missouri, it has been forgotten that, in order to avoid prosecution on similar charges in Clay County, Missouri, Finn handed significant power over his diocese to the public prosecutor there. Pursuant to that agreement, Finn had to meet with the Clay County prosecutor once a month for five years to personally report to any charges of child sexual abuse involving diocesan clergy or staff. He also had to report what the diocese was doing to deal with these charges. In addition, Finn, together with the diocesan ombudsman and director of child protection, had to make presentations on child abuse to each of the nine parishes in Clay County.

At the same time Finn was avoiding prosecution in Clay County through this agreement, giving the public prosecutor unprecedented power over an American diocese, the rest of our bishops were gearing up their campaign to defend religious liberty, which they said was under attack in our country. Every diocese was to hold a “Fortnight for Freedom” prior to July 4, for Catholics “to study, pray and take public action to fight what they see as the government’s attempts to curtail religious freedom.”

Does anyone see an obvious contradiction here? Not one bishop mentioned, in their discussion of the assaults on religious freedom, the fact that one of their own had committed one of the greatest assaults on religious freedom in order to avoid his own criminal prosecution.

Right now, in Finn’s case, there are still more questions than answers. One thing is certain, however: We can never allow this situation to repeat itself. The safety of our children in the hands of our church can never again be placed in doubt. And no diocesan bishop who ignores this should remain in office for an extra minute.

Nicholas Cafardi, dean emeritus and professor of law at Duquesne University, is a former chair of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' National Review Board for the Protection of Children and Young People.

The paradoxes of Bishop Finn | USCatholic.org