I do not believe in accidents when it comes to justice for survivors of child sexual abuse. So when I heard last week about the “mistake” made in the process of bringing an amendment that would extend the timeline retroactively for victims to file civil actions against the predators that abused and raped them, I… Continue reading Justice Denied by Clerical Error? I Think Not!
Category: Window Legislation
Abuse Survivors, the New Lepers
a person who is avoided or rejected by others for moral or social reasons. Let's just put this out there. Abuse survivors are the new lepers to the "Catholic faithful." Recently, a Facebook Post reply from the Pennsylvania Catholic Conference to a comment left by Carolyn Fortney showed that organization's disdain for the universe of… Continue reading Abuse Survivors, the New Lepers
Senator Scarnati’s Pastor Removed for Allegations of Sexual Abuse with a Minor
The Diocese of Eire has removed Monsignor Charles Kaza from St. Tobias Parish in Brockway, PA while an investigation is made into allegations that he sexually abused a minor at St. John The Baptist Parish in Erie in the 1980s. As of the time I was writing this on 19 May 2019, it is five… Continue reading Senator Scarnati’s Pastor Removed for Allegations of Sexual Abuse with a Minor
Filling out the ISCP application
I have been struggling with this for weeks. I am trying to make sense of this play by the Diocese of Scranton. They have set a window for survivors to apply for the Independent Survivor Compensation Program (ISCP) that terminates in July for those who have not previously reported their abuse or in September for… Continue reading Filling out the ISCP application
Diocese releases more information on the ISCP
If you are a survivor in the Diocese of Scranton, you will need to look at the Diocese website for the Independent Survivor's Compensation Program. The link is at the end of the news release and is not part of the main Diocesan site. The Bishop also released a video. There is not a lot… Continue reading Diocese releases more information on the ISCP
Awaiting Details of the Bishop’s Fund and End of the Year Reading
There are only a few days left until the Diocese of Scranton releases the information on the Bishop's Victims Compensation Fund. I am confident that Bishop Bambera will over-promise and under-deliver to victims and their families. If you plan to make a claim against the Diocese of Scranton, watch their news release page for information. … Continue reading Awaiting Details of the Bishop’s Fund and End of the Year Reading
A Letter to the President of The University of Scranton: Show Me Your Good Faith and Resolve
In a move that took me by surprise back in August, the incoming President of The University of Scranton, Scott R. Pilarz, S.J., directed that the names of bishops of the Diocese of Scranton involved in the Sexual Abuse Crisis would be removed from campus buildings and honorary degrees awarded to those individuals rescinded. This… Continue reading A Letter to the President of The University of Scranton: Show Me Your Good Faith and Resolve
St. Crispin’s Day
Today, 25 October, is the Feast of St Crispin. It is also the anniversary of the Battle of Agincourt (1415) during the Hundred Years War between France and England. It was an English victory despite the overwhelming numerical superiority of the French forces that engaged a tired English army. A turning point in the war,… Continue reading St. Crispin’s Day
This week’s required reading…
Here is the latest group of articles I am recommending as your reading for the week: How a Catholic sex abuse report in Pennsylvania echoed around the U.S. D.C. attorney general opens inquiry into sexual abuse by Catholic priests in Washington Bill White: PA Senate's inaction on child sex abuse bill was cowardly Want to… Continue reading This week’s required reading…
Pennsylvania Senate votes this week
The Republican Senators getting ready to vote against legislation, based on recommendations from the recent Pennsylvania Grand Jury Report, that would grant the the right for victims to seek redress in a civil court are reaffirming the culture of protecting pedophiles and support for the continued victimization of children and vulnerable adults in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
Off My Knees - A Blog by Michael Baumann 