While details regarding allegations of child sexual abuse by actor Stephen Collins are still emerging, his portrayal of a sexually abusive priest in the short film “Penance” eerily foreshadows the allegations he now faces off screen and also touches on a misconception still held by some. According to a report in the Los Angeles Times the film was made in 2013 before the secret audio recording obtained by his wife was released to the public. The secret audio recording allegedly includes admissions by Collins of sexual impropriety with minors. Some have alleged that Collins use…
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News of a string of child sexual abuse charges at Minnesota schools provides a shocking reminder of the importance of child protection measures in our schools. It also serves as a reminder to schools – especially now that kids are back in the classroom – that vigilance and existing child protection measures can always be improved.
Recently it has been reported by TMZ.com that Mr. Collins’ wife, actress Faye Grant who is currently involved with contentious divorce proceedings secretly recorded a joint therapy session during which two discussed Mr. Collins’ alleged sexual abuse of minors. Often the convoluted and inconsistent laws and rules of evidence regarding child sexual abuse are exploited by offenders who can abuse in one jurisdiction then flee to another jurisdiction to avoid detection and accountability..
Sexual Assault Prevention Programming. For the first time, Minnesota has approved state funding for Sexual Assault prevention programming. As part of the Public Safety budget, $300,000 will be allotted to address risks, policies and practices with the goal of reducing the likelihood of sexual abuse.
In what has become a tragically routine turn of events, another credibly accused priest has been sheltered from justice by Catholic hierarchs. Indeed, an accused priest, Father Carlos Urrutigoity, was promoted to vicar general of the Diocese of Eastern Paraguay’s Ciudad del Este following accusations of sex abuse in three other locations. One of these was the Diocese of Winona in Minnesota.Urrutigoity was ordained as a member of the rigidly traditionalist Society of St. Pius X in the Diocese of Winona in 1989. But far from having a promising start to his career as a priest…
The issue of clergy sexual abuse was addressed on an international scale last Friday when the United Nations Committee on the Convention Against Torture issued a seething review of the Holy See’s yearly report. The Committee found that Vatican officials failed to properly report child sex abuse charges, shuffled priests to different dioceses rather than disciplining them, and failed to pay adequate compensation to survivors of child sex abuse.As a party to the Convention Against Torture (CAT) since 2002, the Holy See has a legal obligation to take international responsibility for its…
The need for vigilance in protecting children from sexual abuse was again underscored by reports of abuse at Linwood Monroe Arts Plus school. St. Paul Public Schools…
Today, Vice News released the documentary Love Serve Surrender, a powerful film about the struggle of five boys in Hawaii to expose Jay Ram, the foster father who sexually abused them and more than two dozen more.If ever there were a case where moral value and public imperative are tantamount, this case is it.Throughout their adult lives, Jay’s adopted and foster sons climbed a mountain of adversity. They struggled with the shame and trauma of their abuse and their life with Jay on his Big Island farm. Then, when they were strong enough to try and protect other children, they were turned back …
Some have referred to it as “pass the trash”. Some have referred to it more diplomatically as the “geographic solution”. No matter what you call it, the practice is the same. When a cleric abuses a child, the cleric is simply relocated away from the problem to another location. In some cases the cleric is relocated to a neighboring parish and in some cases the cleric re-appears far away in another state or country.Recent information emerging from the Diocese of Scranton, Pennsylvania highlights the immense geographic barriers utilized by the Church worldwide to obscure …
Recent reports that a Twin Cities youth pastor was charged with trying to solicit nude photos from girls ages 13 to 15 via social media sites serve as a reminder that churches and other organizations that work with youth have a long way to go regarding protecting minors from adult predators.Matthew T. Boos, 24, of St. Louis Park, Minn., a youth pastor at River Valley Church in Savage, Minn., was charged Monday with two felonies related to soliciting sexual conduct with a minor via electronic communications. He allegedly posed as a 15-year-old girl on Facebook and other sites and solicited girls..