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Abuse crisis
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NZ abuse royal commission details abuse at hands of St John of God brothers
- . 3 August 2023
The nature and scale of abuse set out in a New Zealand abuse royal commission interim report is abhorrent and should never have happened, NZ Catholic Bishops Conference general secretary Archbishop Paul Martin SM said yesterday. Source: NZ Catholic.
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Jesuits confirm expulsion of priest
- . 25 July 2023
The Society of Jesus has confirmed that Fr Marko Rupnik is definitively expelled from the religious order for sexually, spiritually and psychologically abusing women, lamenting they couldn’t prosecute him more vigorously under the Vatican’s internal procedures. Source: NCR Online.
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Convicted paedophile pleads guilty to another offence
- . 23 June 2023
One of Australia’s worst paedophile priests, Gerald Ridsdale, has pleaded guilty to another historical sexual crime after a 72nd victim came forward. Source: The Australian.
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Pope expresses ‘shame and dismay’ over abuse of minors in Bolivia
- . 20 June 2023
Pope Francis has sent a letter to the president of Bolivia expressing “feelings of shame and dismay” and a firm promise to work with the government of the South American country to end clerical sexual abuse of minors. Source: CNA.
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Jesuits expel priest accused of abuse
- . 16 June 2023
The Superior General of the Jesuits has expelled Fr Marko Rupnik from the order, citing his “stubborn refusal” to obey measures imposed following credible accusations that he spiritually, psychologically or sexually abused some two dozen women and at least one man. Source: OSV News.
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Abuse survivors cycle from Germany to Rome meet Pope
- . 18 May 2023
Pope Francis yesterday met briefly with a group of abuse survivors who undertook a bicycle pilgrimage from Germany to Rome to ask him to do everything in his power to heal and prevent abuses in the Church. Source: CNA.
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Vatican abuse commission shifting to ‘impact-focused’ direction
- . 9 May 2023
The new projects and developments at the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors represent “a major shift toward a more impact-focused direction”, said its president, Cardinal Sean O’Malley OFM Cap. Source: NCR Online.
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Church insurer facing challenges due to abuse claims
- . 8 May 2023
Church leaders say they remain fully committed to engaging with survivors of abuse with justice and compassion, including in the payment of compensation, as changes at Catholic Church Insurance loom. Source: The Australian.
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Government removes redress scheme restrictions
- . 5 May 2023
Access to the National Redress Scheme for institutional child sexual abuse will be expanded to prisoners and a wider range of former child migrants. Source: Canberra Times.