National VOTF Mission Statement:
To provide a prayerful voice, attentive to the Spirit, through which the Faithful can actively participate in the governance and guidance of the Catholic Church.

Response to the Archdiocese stating they have no jurisdiction over high schools or parishes staffed by Orders:
This may be true regarding governance, but the Archdiocese bears some responsibility as well as a moral imperative to provide for the protection and well-being of children who are members of its parishes or attend Catholic institutions in the Archdiocese.  Catholics in our Archdiocese expect their leaders to

  • Deal firmly with abuse in all Catholic institutions operating in the Archdiocese
  • Reach out to victims of abuse in any Catholic institution
  • Reach out to any Catholic victim of abuse no matter where the abuse occurred

Sexual abuse claims trail teacher from DeLaSalle to Cretin

Glen Stubbe, Star Tribune

Activists Bob Schwiderski, left, and Suzanne Severson announced a lawsuit against Catholic Brother Charles Anthony (Raimond) Rose, who is accused of molesting a student from Cretin High School in 1970. Schwiderski held an enlarged yearbook photo of Rose, who also taught at DeLaSalle.

A Roman Catholic brother accused of sexual abuse at DeLaSalle in 1966 now faces a similar allegation that happened four years later at Cretin.

Irish Priests Who Have Worked in the United States and Are Accused of Sexual Misconduct

The Catholic sexual abuse crises in the United States and Ireland are deeply connected. Priests who were trained in the Irish seminary system were crucial to the growth of the U.S. church. Many Irish-born priests, including one bishop, are sadly among the priests accused of abuse in the United States. Some priests who offended in Ireland were transferred to the United States, and priests accused of abuse in the United States have sometimes found shelter in Ireland.

Because of the manifold connections between the two churches and the two abuse crises, the Irish government reports on abuse in the Diocese of Ferns, in residential institutions, and in the Archdiocese of Dublin, are of great significance for the situation in the United States. This webpage, a joint effort by BishopAccountability.org and Mr. Joe Rigert, author of An Irish Tragedy, continues our effort to understand the Irish-American connection that we launched with our database of abuse in U.S. residential institutions.

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St Paul abuse survivor donates kidney to Boston survivor

Saving a fellow survivor

Minn. woman to donate kidney after Roslindale man sought help from other victims of clergy abuse

Doctors at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center will transplant a kidney from Susan Pavlak (left) to Phil Saviano. Doctors at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center will transplant a kidney from Susan Pavlak (left) to Phil Saviano. (Essdras M Suarez/ Globe Staff) By Michael Paulson Globe Staff August 26, 2009

First, he asked his brothers.

Then he turned to extended family.

It was only after it became clear that no one in his family qualified to donate a kidney that Phil Saviano realized he might die.

And then he turned to the one larger community that he has embraced for nearly two decades: survivors of clergy sexual abuse.

Across the country, thousands of men and women who years ago were molested by priests opened their inboxes to find an e-mailed plea to help a fellow survivor.

Seven of them offered up a kidney to keep Saviano alive.

And today, at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, physicians will transplant a kidney from Susan Pavlak, a 55-year-old Minnesota woman who says that years ago she was molested by a former nun at a Catholic high school, to Saviano, a 57-year-old Roslindale man who says that as a boy in Central Massachusetts he was repeatedly abused by a priest who turned out to be a serial pedophile.

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Speakers at public forum share stories of childhood sexual abuse and search for healing

Survivors reach out to others who have been abused

During a public forum in Little Falls May 2, four men shared their stories. Stories of trust betrayed and pain and shame endured in silence.

Three of the men experienced their betrayal at the hands of their parish priest. The fourth, at the hands of a foster parent.

"For 35 years I wondered why God had forsaken me," said Bob Schwiderski of Wayzata. "It took a group of Christian men to convince me he hadn't."

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New Gallup Bishop Launches Probe of Priests

Backgrounds of all active, retired, former or deceased clergy being checked for sex abuse.

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Gallup is checking into the backgrounds of some 400 active, retired, former or deceased priests in the diocese to see whether there is any history of sexual abuse, KOAT-TV reported.

The diocese's newly installed Bishop James Wall called for the probe, saying all priests who are serving or who have served will undergo a thorough background check and if any wrongdoing is exposed, the priest will be removed and the public given a full explanation why, Action 7 News said.

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Central Minnesota Forum for sexual abuse recovery & prevention

WHAT
At a free public forum, survivors of clergy sex abuse and male victims of incest will discuss

-- the decades long history and understandings of the Catholic Crosier Religious Order sexual abuse of area boys and the negative impact of the abuse on area families.

-- the battles of stepping out of the shadows of silence of childhood rape and victimization, and

-- the long-term ramifications of the abuse on the men, their families and loved ones.

The forum includes
-- a written questions and answer session (written questions are to insure anonymity)
-- sharing of survivor stories
-- resources from area child advocacy centers and agencies
-- established area support groups

NATIONAL SEXUAL ASSAULT AWARENESS MONTH, APRIL 2009

UNITED STATES
The White House

BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 
A PROCLAMATION

Sexual assault scars the lives of millions in the United States. To increase awareness about this issue, prevent future crimes, and aid victims, this month we mark National Sexual Assault Awareness Month.

John V. Doe vs. Holy See

United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit

Video of press conference, March 4, 2009

Court Finds Priests Can Be Seen As 'Employees' Of The Vatican

PORTLAND (OR)OPB News
BY KRISTIAN FODEN-VENCIL
Portland, OR March 5, 2009 6:01 a.m.
LawCourt Finds Priests Can Be Seen As 'Employees' Of The Vaticanyers who've been suing churches over the sexual abuse of children, are buzzing with a new court ruling that the Vatican can be sued over the behavior of priests. Kristian Foden-Vencil reports.

NAPSAC Documentaries Airing on PBS This February

Twin Cities VOTF recommends viewing two NAPSAC documentaries which are airing on all 6 tptMN stations simultaneously Feb 27 and 28:

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