Texas becomes seventh state to implement age verification for accessing online pornography June 15, 2023By Gina Christian OSV News Filed Under: Child & Youth Protection, News, World News Texas has become the seventh state to enact a law requiring age verification for viewing pornography online.
Bishops to Congress, faithful: Fight increasing online child exploitation June 12, 2023By OSV News OSV News Filed Under: Bishops, Child & Youth Protection, Feature, News, U.S. Congress, World News The U.S. bishops are encouraging Catholics to join them in asking Congress to protect children online, both from viewing pornography and from becoming victims of child pornography and exploitation.
Nearly 2,000 children abused by Catholic clergy over decades, says Illinois AG report May 24, 2023By Gina Christian OSV News Filed Under: Child & Youth Protection, News, World News Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul released a May 23 report revealing decades of abuse by Catholic clergy against almost 2,000 children.
Abuse survivor reflects on John Merzbacher’s death May 15, 2023By George P. Matysek Jr. Catholic Review Filed Under: 2023 Attorney General's Report, Child & Youth Protection, Feature, Local News, News “And I get no pleasure from his death because I wish none of it had happened,” Elizabeth Ann Murphy said. “It still doesn’t restore my childhood.”
Archbishop Lori affirms support for transparency in addressing sexual abuse May 12, 2023By Christopher Gunty Catholic Review Filed Under: 2023 Attorney General's Report, Child & Youth Protection, Feature, Local News, News Archbishop William E. Lori confirmed that no one who has been credibly accused of sexual abuse of a minor is currently in ministry in the archdiocese, and that he has confidence that all clergy and employees are committed to protecting children and enforcing the archdiocese’s child protection policies.
Pope to safeguarding commission: Be kind, bring hope, heal broken lives May 5, 2023By Carol Glatz Catholic News Service Filed Under: Child & Youth Protection, Feature, News, Vatican, World News Safeguarding minors and vulnerable persons must be a priority for everyone in the church, Pope Francis said.
Believe us: Survivors express anger, hope following release of attorney general’s report May 1, 2023By George P. Matysek Jr. Catholic Review Filed Under: 2023 Attorney General's Report, Child & Youth Protection, Feature, Local News, News Murphy said there is a “simple” answer as to how the church found itself enmeshed in the abuse crisis. “It’s because church leadership put power, prestige and possessions above the lives of the children entrusted to their care,” she said.
Parents are the best online gaming partner kids can have in the fight against predators, say experts April 21, 2023By Gina Christian OSV News Filed Under: Child & Youth Protection, Feature, News, World News Online gaming presents unprecedented risks to kids’ safety, but parents remain the best defense against child exploitation — even if they’re not tech savvy, experts told OSV News.
Maryland attorney general acknowledges that church has changed response April 7, 2023By Christopher Gunty Catholic Review Filed Under: 2023 Attorney General's Report, Child & Youth Protection, Feature, Local News, News “(I)t is accurate to say that the abuse that we discovered and uncovered pre-dates the current leadership in the Archdiocese and they are offenses that occurred in the ’40s, ’50s, ’60s and through the ’80s, some maybe as recently as the ’90s,” Brown said.
Archbishop Lori saddened, shamed and sickened by abuse in the church April 5, 2023By Christopher Gunty Catholic Review Filed Under: 2023 Attorney General's Report, Child & Youth Protection, Feature, Local News, News Archbishop Lori said that as he read the report, “just as a pastor of souls and as a Catholic, I felt deep sadness. I felt shame. I felt sickened by the report, and I had to ask myself how could this have happened in the life of the church and how could it have gone on so long?”
Attorney General Brown hopes abuse report ‘exposes’ transgressions ‘to the fullest extent possible’ April 5, 2023By George P. Matysek Jr. Catholic Review Filed Under: 2023 Attorney General's Report, Child & Youth Protection, Feature, Local News, News Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown said more than 300 people contacted the attorney general’s office since its investigation began five years ago, with his office interviewing hundreds of survivors and witnesses.
Attorney General report: ‘a heartbreaking and new reminder of a tragic and shameful time’ April 5, 2023By Christopher Gunty Catholic Review Filed Under: 2023 Attorney General's Report, Child & Youth Protection, Feature, Local News, News In a pastoral letter in response to the release of a redacted version of the Maryland Attorney General’s report “Clergy Abuse in Maryland: Report on the Investigation of the Archdiocese of Baltimore,” Archbishop William E. Lori said it serves “as a heartbreaking and new reminder of a tragic and shameful time.”