Under Construction

The Response of the Catholic Church to Sexual Abuse Scandals
 

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Catholic Perspectives on the Response of the Church to the Sex Abuse Scandals: This three-session seminar will focus on the steps taken by the Catholic church in the U.S. in response to the sex abuse scandals. The focus will be on the background of the crisis; the June, 2002, meeting of the U.S. Catholic bishops, and the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People adopted by the bishops at that meeting; the work of the National Review Board established by the bishops in 2002; and the study of the John Jay College of Criminal Justice commissioned by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The seminar leaders will be Prof. Jim Bolner, Sr., and Prof. Greg Hussey. The seminar sessions, to which every adult is invited, will be held from 9-11 a.m. June 7, 14, and 21 [all Mondays], in the parish library. Contact person: jimbolnersr at cox.net; phone: 766.5987.

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Tentative Outline

Response of the Church to the Sex Abuse Scandals
 

    I. Introduction and background

        Secrecy and settlements

        Bursting the Boil: the Boston cases

  II. The June, 2002, Dallas Meeting of the Catholic Bishops

            The Meeting
            The Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People
            Essential Norms for Diocesan/Eparchial Policies
            Dealing with Allegations of Sexual Abuse of Minors by Priests or Deacons

III. The Reports of 2004

            The Report of the National Review Board
            The Audit Reports
            The Report of the John Jay School of Criminal Justice
 

 

Internet Resources: 

Avery Dulles, "Rights of Accused Priests: Toward a revision of the Dallas charter and the ‘Essential Norms’," America, June 21-28, 2004 

"Articles & Editorals on Catholic Politicians and Bishops in America Magazine Bishops in America Magazine"
 

The 1985 Report by Peterson, Mouton, and Doyle 

Abuse Tracker: A Digest of Media Coverage of Clergy Abuse 

Google Search for "Clergy Sexual Abuse" 

U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops - National Review Board, John Jay, and Audit Reports 

U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops [Documents on the Problem]

Report on the Crisis in the Catholic Church in the United States. The National Review Board for the Protection of Children and Young People Established by the USCCB [PDF format]

The John Jay College of Criminal Justice: Report on Sexual Abuse 

National Catholic Reporter: The Catholic Church and Sexual Abuse by Priests

National Federation of Priests' Councils 

St. Anthony Messenger (Special Issue) - Crisis in the Church 

Thomas J. Reese, "Facts and Myths, and Questions,"  America, March 22, 2004

Thomas G. Plante, "Another Aftershock,"  America, March 22, 2004

Andrew M. Greely, "A Bad Day for the Bishops,"  America, March 22, 2004

Katarina M. Schuth, "Seminaries and the Sex Abuse Crisis,"   America, March 22, 2004

"Editorial: Beyond the Numbers," Commonweal, March 2, 2004

"Editorial: Back to Square One as Bishops Duck Audits," National Catholic Reporter, April 16, 2004

Mary Gail Frawley-O'Dea, "The Experience of the Victim
of Sexual Abuse:" A Reflection
(2002) 

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Linkup

Voice of the Faithul 

Abuse Tracker 

SNAP

Americancatholic.org

How the Clergy Sexual Abuse Affects Evangelical Churches  [Christianity Today]

 

                    jimbolnersr at cox.net  

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