In response to being pressured by a United Nations inquiry, the Vatican has released data -- for the first time -- on the number of priests it punished for child sexual abuse cases in the last decade, the Slate website reports today (May 7, 2014).
The Vatican revealed yesterday that over the past decade, it has defrocked 848 priests who raped or molested children and sanctioned another 2,572 with lesser penalties, thus providing the first ever breakdown of how it handled the more than 3,400 cases of abuse reported to the Holy See since 2004.
There are around 410,000 Catholic priests worldwide, which means about 0.83 percent -- or 1 in 120 -- priests were officially punished by the Vatican over the past 10 years. This covers only punishments handed down by the Vatican -- as opposed to local diocesan tribunals -- which means that the total number of sexually abusive priests is probably much higher.
The Catholic Church says that penalties short of defrocking are given to elderly or infirm priests who would otherwise be left destitute, and that they are kept away from contact with children.
Wednesday, May 7, 2014
Rev. Strongylis Is Elected Metropolitan of Sweden; Was Greek Orth.Pastor of Boston,Lowell Churches
The Holy and Sacred Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople elected unanimously on May 5, 2014 the Very Reverend Archimandrite Cleopas Strongylis as the Metropolitan of Sweden and All Scandinavia, the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese website reports. The Metropolitan-elect served as Dean of the Annunciation Cathedral in Boston since 2009, and before that served as pastor of the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church in Lowell, Massachusetts from 2004 to 2009.
On a personal note, I have been a life-long member of Lowell's Holy Trinity Church -- viewed as the most beautiful Greek Orthodox Church in the world by many church architects -- and I was friendly with Metropolitan-elect Cleopas while he was its pastor. Moreover, I attended church services at Boston's Cathedral a few times since 2009, and he still remembered my name.
His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios of America upon the announcement of the election stated: "We congratulate His Grace, Metropolitan-elect of Sweden and All Scandinavia, Cleopas Strongylis on his election and wish him strength and grace from above as he will shepherd parishes in Sweden, Denmark, Iceland and Norway. May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be always with the newly elected Metropolitan in his diakonia." (The Greek-derived word "diakonia" may be defined as "ministry" or "service.")
Metropolitan-elect Cleopas was born in Athens in 1966. In 1994 he graduated summa cum laude from Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology in Brookline, Massachusetts, with a Master's degree in Sacred Theology. In 1996 he was awarded a Doctorate of Theology from the Theological School of the Aristotelian University of Thessaloniki in Greece.
On a personal note, I have been a life-long member of Lowell's Holy Trinity Church -- viewed as the most beautiful Greek Orthodox Church in the world by many church architects -- and I was friendly with Metropolitan-elect Cleopas while he was its pastor. Moreover, I attended church services at Boston's Cathedral a few times since 2009, and he still remembered my name.
His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios of America upon the announcement of the election stated: "We congratulate His Grace, Metropolitan-elect of Sweden and All Scandinavia, Cleopas Strongylis on his election and wish him strength and grace from above as he will shepherd parishes in Sweden, Denmark, Iceland and Norway. May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be always with the newly elected Metropolitan in his diakonia." (The Greek-derived word "diakonia" may be defined as "ministry" or "service.")
Metropolitan-elect Cleopas was born in Athens in 1966. In 1994 he graduated summa cum laude from Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology in Brookline, Massachusetts, with a Master's degree in Sacred Theology. In 1996 he was awarded a Doctorate of Theology from the Theological School of the Aristotelian University of Thessaloniki in Greece.
Tuesday, May 6, 2014
US to Send Team to Nigeria to Free Abducted Girls; Islamic Militants Took Some 300 Girls from School
The White House announced today (May 6, 2014) that it is going to send a team to Nigeria to help assist its government in finding nearly 300 girls who were abducted from their school by Islamic extremists last month, the Washington Post website reports.
White House Press Secretary Jay Carney said that the United States will provide military personnel, intelligence, and hostage negotiators to help the government.
Carney said that Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan welcomed the U.S. offer. Secretary of State John Kerry spoke with President Jonathan this morning, according to Carney.
Carney added there is a "utility to having U.S. military personnel and experts on intelligence" on the ground in Nigeria, "and hostage negotiators to assist and advise the Nigerian government as they deal with this challenge."
White House Press Secretary Jay Carney said that the United States will provide military personnel, intelligence, and hostage negotiators to help the government.
Carney said that Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan welcomed the U.S. offer. Secretary of State John Kerry spoke with President Jonathan this morning, according to Carney.
Carney added there is a "utility to having U.S. military personnel and experts on intelligence" on the ground in Nigeria, "and hostage negotiators to assist and advise the Nigerian government as they deal with this challenge."
Sisi: Muslim Brotherhood "Finished" in Egypt; Says Egyptians Rioted Against It, Still Debar It
Egyptian presidential candidate Abdel Fatteh al-Sisi says the banned Muslim Brotherhood group will never return to Egypt. The former military chief was speaking in the first television interview of his election campaign, the Euro News website reports today (May 6, 2014).
Sisi -- who is favored to win the presidential election scheduled for the end of this month -- led the ouster of the Brotherhood's Mohamed Morsi from the presidency last year after mass protests against Morsi's rule.
When asked whether the Brotherhood would cease to exist during his presidency, the former military chief said: "Yes. That's right. It's not me that finished it -- the Egyptians have."
Sisi added: "The problem is not with me, it was with the Egyptian people. They have said 'No' twice [to the Brotherhood rule]. They have said 'No' on June 30th [2013, protests that led to the ousting of the former President Mohamed Morsi] and they are saying 'No' to the Brotherhood now."
Sisi -- who is favored to win the presidential election scheduled for the end of this month -- led the ouster of the Brotherhood's Mohamed Morsi from the presidency last year after mass protests against Morsi's rule.
When asked whether the Brotherhood would cease to exist during his presidency, the former military chief said: "Yes. That's right. It's not me that finished it -- the Egyptians have."
Sisi added: "The problem is not with me, it was with the Egyptian people. They have said 'No' twice [to the Brotherhood rule]. They have said 'No' on June 30th [2013, protests that led to the ousting of the former President Mohamed Morsi] and they are saying 'No' to the Brotherhood now."
Monday, May 5, 2014
Past US Amb. to Vatican to Leave Univ. of Dayton; Accused of Sexual Demands, to Teach at Loyola U.
A theology professor -- who is a former U.S. ambassador to the Vatican -- is moving from one Roman Catholic university to another after an investigation found it likely that he sexually harassed a married couple where he now works, the Inside Higher Ed website reports today (May 5, 2014).
Miguel Diaz -- who was President Obama's representative to the Holy See from 2009 to 2012 -- was found to have likely engaged in "unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature" toward a married couple who were his colleagues at the University of Dayton, according to a confidential letter written by Dayton's provost.
The married couple -- husband and wife professors who teach in the humanities -- accused Diaz of making various sexual requests and references to sexually explicit feelings. The suggestion that a Catholic theologian suggested an adulterous encounter involving both another man and another woman and that he made unwelcome requests of fellow academics could be problematic for Diaz, a Catholic theologian, who is a married father of four.
Diaz served as ambassador during the reign of Pope Benedict XVI and maintains a high profile. Diaz and his wife -- a fellow academic -- are both expected to soon leave Dayton for Loyola University in Chicago, also a Catholic institution of higher learning.
Miguel Diaz -- who was President Obama's representative to the Holy See from 2009 to 2012 -- was found to have likely engaged in "unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature" toward a married couple who were his colleagues at the University of Dayton, according to a confidential letter written by Dayton's provost.
The married couple -- husband and wife professors who teach in the humanities -- accused Diaz of making various sexual requests and references to sexually explicit feelings. The suggestion that a Catholic theologian suggested an adulterous encounter involving both another man and another woman and that he made unwelcome requests of fellow academics could be problematic for Diaz, a Catholic theologian, who is a married father of four.
Diaz served as ambassador during the reign of Pope Benedict XVI and maintains a high profile. Diaz and his wife -- a fellow academic -- are both expected to soon leave Dayton for Loyola University in Chicago, also a Catholic institution of higher learning.
High Court OKs Prayer at Town Council Meetings; Reverses Ruling That Ended Prayer in Greece, NY
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled today (May 5, 2014) prayers that open town council meetings do not violate the Constitution -- even if they routinely stress Christianity -- the One News Now website reports.
The court said in a critical and close 5-4 decision that the content of the prayers is not significant as long as officials make a good-faith effort at inclusion.
The ruling was a victory for the town of Greece, New York, outside of Rochester. A federal appeals court had ruled previously that Greece violated the Constitution by opening meetings with prayers that stressed Christianity.
Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy -- writing for the majority -- said the prayers are ceremonial and in keeping with the nation's traditions. "The inclusion of a brief, ceremonial prayer as part of a larger exercise in civic recognition suggests that its purpose and effect are to acknowledge religious leaders and the institutions they represent, rather than to exclude or coerce nonbelievers," Kennedy said.
The court said in a critical and close 5-4 decision that the content of the prayers is not significant as long as officials make a good-faith effort at inclusion.
The ruling was a victory for the town of Greece, New York, outside of Rochester. A federal appeals court had ruled previously that Greece violated the Constitution by opening meetings with prayers that stressed Christianity.
Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy -- writing for the majority -- said the prayers are ceremonial and in keeping with the nation's traditions. "The inclusion of a brief, ceremonial prayer as part of a larger exercise in civic recognition suggests that its purpose and effect are to acknowledge religious leaders and the institutions they represent, rather than to exclude or coerce nonbelievers," Kennedy said.
Sunday, May 4, 2014
Ex-Cop Paints Anti-Semitic Graffiti in Brooklyn; Arrested for Graffiti on School, 20 Homes, Cars
A former New York City policeman was arrested today (May 4, 2014) for allegedly spray-painting anti-Semitic graffiti in an Orthodox Jewish neighborhood of Brooklyn, the Forward (Jewish) website reports.
Michael Setiawan, 36, was arrested today for the vandalism spree the previous night throughout Borough Park. His graffiti includes swastikas and disgusting epithets against Jews.
The anti-Semitic graffiti was spray-painted in red on a school building and on 20 private residences and cars. A surveillance camera at the school showed Setiawan spray-painting on the school's door, where hate graffiti was found. Setiawan was charged with criminal mischief and aggravated harassment, both as hate crimes.
"It is unconscionable that someone would spray such hateful graffiti across our community -- the crime is only more appalling that it was done on the holiest day of our week," said Councilman David Greenfield, who represents the area.
Michael Setiawan, 36, was arrested today for the vandalism spree the previous night throughout Borough Park. His graffiti includes swastikas and disgusting epithets against Jews.
The anti-Semitic graffiti was spray-painted in red on a school building and on 20 private residences and cars. A surveillance camera at the school showed Setiawan spray-painting on the school's door, where hate graffiti was found. Setiawan was charged with criminal mischief and aggravated harassment, both as hate crimes.
"It is unconscionable that someone would spray such hateful graffiti across our community -- the crime is only more appalling that it was done on the holiest day of our week," said Councilman David Greenfield, who represents the area.
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