Alleged victims of Mexico-based church leader ask for maximum sentence
Mexico City, Mexico Reuters Several of the alleged victims of the leader of a Mexico-based church are speaking out ahead of his sentencing, asking for him to receive maximum prison time. Naason Joaquin, head of the evangelical La Luz del Mundo group, pleaded guilty on Friday to felony counts of sexually abusing three children. He […]
In Canada, Bruxy Cavey investigation widens to include two more alleged victims
RNS Bruxy Cavey, the disgraced former pastor of one of Canada’s largest churches, may have sexually abused more than one woman, the church told its members on Saturday. In an email, Maggie John, chair of The Meeting House board, wrote that the church has received two more allegations of sexual misconduct against Cavey, who was […]
Brooklyn bishop retires after Vatican clears him of abuse
Rome, ItalyAP Pope Francis on Wednesday accepted the resignation of the Catholic Bishop of Brooklyn, Nicholas DiMarzio, weeks after a Vatican investigation cleared him of sexual abuse allegations, and appointed a native New Yorker to replace him. DiMarzio is 77, two years beyond the normal retirement age for bishops. Francis accepted his resignation and appointed […]
Top Southern Baptist committee funds sex abuse probe
Nashville, Tennessee, USAP A top Southern Baptist Convention committee agreed Tuesday to fund a third-party investigation into its handling of sexual abuse allegations but held off on waiving its attorney-client privilege for the probe, delaying for the future a decision seen as a key demand of the thousands of Southern Baptists who set the review […]
German cleric defends Pope’s decision to keep Archbishop
Berlin, GermanyAP The head of the German Bishops’ Conference on Monday defended the Pope’s decision to allow the Archbishop of Hamburg to stay on at this post, despite being faulted for his handling of sexual abuse allegations. Limburg Bishop Georg Baetzing said that he understands how people feel about the decision, but that Pope Francis […]
In the US, New Hampshire bishop denies allegations of past sexual abuse
Manchester, New HampshireAP The head of the Roman Catholic Church in New Hampshire “categorically denies” recent allegations that he committed sexual abuse while serving as a priest in New York in the 1980s, according to a statement issued by his lawyer on Saturday. A lawsuit filed on 14th July in a New York state court accuses […]
SBC president Ed Litton announces taskforce to oversee executive committee abuse review
RNS Southern Baptist Convention president Ed Litton has appointed a seven member taskforce to look into accusations the denomination’s executive committee mishandled allegations of abuse. The taskforce includes four Southern Baptist pastors, a lawyer, a social worker and the head of a Mississippi social service agency that works with children. Abuse advocate and attorney Rachael […]
Southern Baptist executive committee hires Guidepost Solutions to review Moore allegations
RNS Responding to allegations that it has mishandled allegations of abuse in the past, the Southern Baptist Convention’s executive committee announced Friday that it had retained a firm to “conduct an independent review of its processes,” according to a statement from Ronnie Floyd, president of the executive committee. The review by Guidepost Solutions comes in […]
Ahead of US meeting, pressure mounts for an independent investigation of SBC executive committee handling of abuse
RNS The chairman of the Southern Baptist Convention’s executive committee plans to call for an independent investigation into the committee’s handling of sexual abuse claims when it meets next week in Nashville, Tennessee. Rolland Slade, pastor of Meridian Baptist Church in El Cajon, California, said he would also support a proposal from two Southern Baptist pastors […]
In the US, cleared Chicago priest holds first Mass since reinstatement
Chicago, USAP An activist Roman Catholic priest cleared by an Archdiocese of Chicago investigation into claims that he sexually abused several boys decades ago returned to the pulpit of his longtime church on Sunday for the first time in five months. “It’s good to be home,” Rev Michael Pfleger repeatedly told congregants of the Faith […]