News

The highly anticipated 2018 Pennsylvania Grand Jury Report was released Tuesday naming over 300 predator priests who were credibly accused of sexually abusing more than 1,000 children over the course of 70 years across six Pennsylvania dioceses. The information contained in this report substantiates what we have known for years: the Vatican and those in positions of power in the Catholic Church have continued to deceive the public and its parishioners through present day. As explained in the Pennsylvania Grand Jury Report, this problem is not happening “somewhere else,” but it’s happening every…

Attorneys Mike Reck and Jeff Anderson, along with survivor Matthew Golden, demand that the Bishop, Review Board and top officials of the Buffalo Diocese give a transparent and open explanation of Fr. Riter’s return to ministry  (Buffalo, New York) – Last Thursday, without explanation or notification to survivors, Matthew Golden opened up the newspaper to read that the man who sexually abused him as a child, Father Dennis Riter, was being returned to ministry after the Diocese of Buffalo, Bishop Richard Malone, Investigator Scott Riordan and the Diocesan Review Board determined that the…

“Unfortunately, the Bishop has chosen to support a priest accused of abusing multiple children.” – Attorney Mike Reck(Buffalo, New York) – The Diocese of Buffalo made a startling and dangerous decision yesterday when it reinstated Fr. Dennis G. Riter who is accused of sexually abusing multiple children. The survivor who reported Fr. Riter says that he is “morally compelled to not walk away,” said Mike Reck, an attorney for the survivor, who added that the diocese needs to acknowledge that Riter is a public safety threat and reverse its decision immediately.“As long as the Diocese of Buffalo…

(Minneapolis, MN) – Today in United States Bankruptcy Court, a joint reorganization plan between sexual abuse survivors and the Archdiocese of Saint Paul & Minneapolis was filed. “This is an important day for sexual abuse survivors,” said Attorney Mike Finnegan. “The filing of the joint reorganization plan is another step toward resolution. Thank you to all of the survivors who stood up and spoke their truths. Your voices were heard.” A hearing date to approve the disclosure statement has been scheduled for August 9th.  Disclosure Statement for Joint Plan 6-28-18Joint Plan of…

“His purported reasoning for choosing to keep the identities of the credibly accused abusers secret is deceptive, duplicative and dishonest.” – Attorney Mike Reck (Ogdensburg, New York) – Diocese of Ogdensburg Bishop Terry LaValley’s statements to North Country Public Radio are archaic and abominable and showcase a culture of cover-up and lack of understanding. His purported reasoning for choosing to keep the identities of the credibly accused abusers secret is deceptive, duplicative and dishonest. Of course the identities of the survivors of these crimes against children are to be protected. …

(Minneapolis, MN) – Today, sexual abuse survivors, attorneys, and members of the Crosier order appeared before Judge Robert J. Kressel in United States Bankruptcy Court in Minneapolis seeking approval of a consensual bankruptcy plan between sexual abuse survivors and the Crosiers. Judge Kressel approved the proposed plan, but what made this hearing notable is the never-before-seen tenor between the Crosiers and survivors. After the bankruptcy plan was approved, Fr. Thomas Enneking, the Crosier Prior Provincial, offered a sincere and heartfelt apology to all of the sexual abuse survivors. “The …

(Minneapolis, MN) – Today, sexual abuse survivors, attorneys, and members of the Crosier order appeared before Judge Robert J. Kressel in United States Bankruptcy Court in Minneapolis seeking approval of a consensual bankruptcy plan between sexual abuse survivors and the Crosiers. Judge Kressel approved the proposed plan, but what made this hearing notable is the never-before-seen tenor between the Crosiers and survivors. After the bankruptcy plan was approved, Fr. Thomas Enneking, the Crosier Prior Provincial, offered a sincere and heartfelt apology to all of the sexual abuse survivors. “The …

The time to tell the full truth is now. In analyzing the Diocese of
Buffalo’s disclosure of 42 names of priests with allegations of child
sexual abuse, several questions remain unanswered

Today, the Diocese of Buffalo released the names of 42 priests “who were removed from ministry, were retired, or left ministry after allegations of sexual abuse of a minor.” Congratulations to the brave survivors who caused this vital disclosure. With today’s actions, Bishop Malone has taken the first step moving the Diocese of Buffalo away from secrecy and shame and towards transparency and accountability. It is now imperative that the Diocese of Buffalo disclose the full histories and whereabouts of these 42 alleged off…

The survivors, Crosiers and lawyers have been working for years in
mediation to avoid litigation and construct a plan to give survivors
closure and a measure of justice. The objection filed by the Archdiocese
of Saint Paul & Minneapolis is unnecessary and disruptive.