For those of you who didn't study Latin, annus horribilis means horrible year.  That's probably understating it a bit when it comes to the Catholic Church.  In a year when church officials must be scratching their heads wondering what else can go wrong? something worse happens. Just before the Pope's much publicized summit on clerical sexual abuse, the Governor of New York signed the Child Victims Act giving abuse survivors a year to sue the Catholic Church regardless of when the abuse took … [Read more...]

The Catholic bishops met this past week in Washington DC.  They had one item on their agenda that was sure to monopolize the press coverage.  How were they going to handle the new wave of sex abuse, especially now that it has evolved into a story more about themselves than the priests?  This time it's different.  Back in 2002 when the bishops met in Dallas just as the Boston scandal was breaking, they voted on a plan and implemented it.  Agree with the relative merits or not, they acted and they … [Read more...]

Buffalo my hometown.  Thanks to the Catholic Church and its history of sexually abusing children, my city is now the subject of an FBI investigation and the credible accusations of a whistle blower who happened to be the bishop's former secretary. Siobhan O’Connor chose to do the right and courageous thing when it became obvious to her the Catholic Church and her own bishop would not.  O’Connor served for three years as Buffalo Bishop Richard J. Malone’s personal secretary. She's deeply … [Read more...]

Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi announced last Thursday a statewide investigation into the Catholic Church in Florida concerning the sexual abuse of children.  Her office will coordinate with local prosecutors in the effort. A month ago, I sent a letter to Pam Bondi urging her to launch just such an investigation of the Catholic Church.  She never responded. I wonder if she realizes the massive task ahead of her.  There are six dioceses and one archdiocese (Miami) situated in the state … [Read more...]

Many people, including myself, have asked the question, "How could this happen in the Catholic Church?" The sexual abuse of children is not isolated to one diocese or geographic area of the church.  It's worldwide and doesn't seem to be abating any time soon.  So, the logical question to ask is, "Why did this happen?"  Some will blame celibacy, others immature clergy, etc.  But a fairly new website has published an interesting conspiracy theory that's worth considering, especially if you like … [Read more...]