DEACON MASTURBATES IN FRONT OF GOVERNOR. William Keith Underwood, 29, a deacon of Sumiton Baptist Church, in an effort to protest educational reforms Governor Jim Folsom was promoting at a Christian school in Birmingham, dropped his pants, removed his shirt, and began publicly masturbating in front of the governor and his wife, saying that this is what will happen to our kids [if the schools are reformed]. An off-duty policeman forced him face-first into a brick wall until authorities could escort him into a nearby trailer. Underwood, quoting the _Bible_, told police he had 3 children of his own. He was released from jail on $500 bond. Folsom's educational reform measures include helping all children to learn. Opponents call his plan too expensive. Source: AP in _Mobile Press-Register_ 1/8/94

*** ARIZONA *** MAN SUES DIOCESE FOR MOLESTATION. While an altar boy in 1975 at Sacred Heart Church, Robert M. Delgado, now 30, says Brother Jorge Ortiz Lopez sexually assaulted him in the rectory. Delgado has filed suit against the Diocese of Phoenix and the Franciscan Fathers of Arizona. Though a police report indicated Delgado was intoxicated when he entered Lopez' room, Lopez takes full responsibility and punishment. The suit says the defendants promised to pay for Delgado's counseling but have reneged on the agreement. Source: _Arizona Republic_ 2/5/94.

SCOUT LEADER ACCUSED OF ABUSE. Glendale Boy Scout leader Jules Elden Berry, 57, was recently arrested for sexual misconduct with a minor and accused of 40 sex crimes. Following publicity, a 30-year-old man notified authorities that he too was sexually abused by Berry when he was a teenager in the 1970s. The man lived with Berry while his parents were divorcing. Berry acted as his father-figure; but also got him drunk, videotaped him naked and performed sex acts with him. Jim Dolberg, director of field services for the Boy Scouts, claims: "We're recognized nationally as a leader in helping to prevent these types of things." Jeffrey Harrison, Scottsdale psychologist, says pedophiles like Berry use "socially acceptable behavior as a cover for their deviant acts. They're the last people we ever expect." Source: _Arizona Republic_ 5/2/94. FEMALE COACH ACCUSED OF ABUSING TEEN. Former Catholic girls softball coach Sheryl Nobby admitted having sexual relations with a 15-year- old sophomore softball player from 1985-87 on school grounds and outings, who is now bringing a civil suit against her. Also named as defendants in this case are Xavier College Preparatory School, Sister Joan Fitzgerald, Elizabeth Moulder and the Catholic Diocese of Phoenix. Source: _Arizona Republic_ 5/21/94.

YOUTH DIRECTOR ARRESTED. A man who worked as the regional youth director of the United Church of Religious Science in Arizona and at Valley Church of Religious Science in Peoria, AZ has been arrested for the molestation of a 16-year-old boy in his apartment in Phoenix on May 28. Michael Arthur Beshears, 34, also admitted to molesting another boy during a church youth group outing near Prescott. He was jailed but later released on his own recognizance. Source: _Arizona Republic_ 6/11/94

*** CALIFORNIA *** WOMAN IMPRISONED FOR KILLING MOLESTER. The mother of a boy, now 12, who accused Daniel Mark Driver, 35, of sexually abusing him and 3 other boys at a church camp, has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for shooting Driver 5 times in a courtroom. Though Ellie Nesler, 41, has cancer and likely 5 years to live, the judge rejected her plea for a lighter sentence. The judge called the shooting an execution and tacked 4 years on to her 6 years in prison, for using a gun. Source: _Wisconsin State Journal_ 1/8/94.

ST. ANTHONY'S FRIARS REFUSE VICTIMS ACCESS TO CONVENTION. The Franciscans have refused to allow the sex-abuse victims of St. Anthony's Seminary into their annual gathering in Santa Barbara to address the friars. The victims said, "The higher-ups are covering up our pain and their responsibility to us." The friars have allowed one victim to speak to 20 regional leaders after the convention. The Franciscans still refuse to publicly name the accused. The victims are interested in doing a mass-mailing to all alumni of the seminary to find and help all victims. Source: _News-Press_ 1/13/94.

ASSAULT CASE SETTLED. A man, 28, who was recovering from epileptic seizures in his apartment when he was attacked, will receive $300,000 in damages from the Sierra Vista Baptist Church for the sexual assault by John Adams Marshall in April 1991. Marshall performed oral sex and fondled the weakened man while pinning him down. The jury found the church 40% liable for Marshall's assault and negligent in retaining him as minister. Marshall did not lose his ordination to be a minister elsewhere. Source: _Inland Valley Daily Bulletin_ 1/15/94.

CHURCH PAPER OMITS PRIEST ABUSE AD. A national meeting for victims of sexual abuse by priests was held in Marina del Rey in late January. The group attempted for 3 weeks to publish an ad for the meeting in _Tidings_, the newspaper of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. The church claims the ad was lost from the computer due to the earthquake on Jan. 17. This is the second time the paper has failed to run an ad relating to sexual abuse by priests. Barbara Blaine, founder of the survivors network, said, "I don't believe that their excuses are the real reasons that the ad did not run." Source: _Los Angeles Times_ 1/28/94.

COURT OVERTURNS CONVICTION. Even though the jury gave guilty verdicts against Jon L. Walker, 45, pastor of Springfield Baptist Church in San Luis Obispo, the court overturned the 1992 conviction of child sexual molestation and abuse of his female cousin because one of the jurors may have concealed that he knew Walker and the woman. Both the defense and the prosecution urged the judge to investigate the juror, but he refused with no reason. The woman, now 19, testified that Walker began molesting her when she was 11 and began intercourse when she was in 9th grade until she was 15. She now doubts whether she can go through another trial. The defense requested bail and release of Walker, who is serving a 12-year 8- month prison sentence. Walker will remain imprisoned. Source: _Telegram Tribune_ 2/15,24/94.

YOUTH LEADER ACCUSED OF CHILD MOLESTING. Fullerton's First Evangelical Free Church has a second associate accused of pedophilia. Michael Webb Blinkhorn, 29, was the youth leader and is now facing 18 felony counts for sexually assaulting 4 boys, aged 12- 15, in his apartment over a 3-year period. He could receive up to 30 years in prison if convicted of all counts. Blinkhorn was very well liked in the church until now. Source: _Orange County Register_ 3/10/94.

TRADING CARDS SPORT CLERGY PERVERTS. A California trading card company, Mother Productions of Anaheim, has come out with their latest set, which features 36 religious leaders who have fallen from grace. Each cleric's card has a computer-generated likeness and a recount of his or her sexual misdeeds. A set is available for about $10. Source: _York Daily Record_ 3/15/94.

TV TALK SHOW HOST JAILED FOR RAPE. The former talk show host who equates himself with Jesus and MLK was sentenced to 14 years in prison for the rape of a girl, 13. Tito David Valdez, Jr., 23, said [in an 8-page handwritten letter to the judge] he is innocent because he would not have raped the girl because he thinks she is ugly. Psychological counseling was ordered. Source: AP 3/94.

MORMON DOCTOR'S EXCESSIVE EXAMS. A Mormon Church leader and physician is under a court order to examine only male patients pending his Medical Board hearing. Dr. John Parkinson, 62, was accused of subjecting 17 female patients to unnecessary and frequent (sometimes daily) pelvic exams as far back as the 1980s. He may lose his medical license. He is also accused of overdosing a woman on vitamins. The witnesses say Parkinson and other Mormon church leaders have been pressuring them not to testify against the doctor. Source: _San Francisco Chronicle_ 3/3/94.

ARCHBISHOP SUPPORTS ACCUSED MONSIGNOR. Archbishop John R. Quinn recently preached all masses at the parish of Monsignor Patrick J. O'Shea, 62, who is accused of providing alcohol to minors and sexually molesting 11 boys, now in their 30s. Quinn publicly called the allegations scandalous and praised O'Shea for doing his work quietly and effectively. Quinn refused to disclose more information about sex abuse cases in his archdiocese. He professed deep sadness for victims and encouraged anyone abused by church employees to come forward. O'Shea was put on leave from St. Cecilia's by Quinn after the police began their investigation. O'Shea has been the head of the Holy Childhood Association for the archdiocese for over 2 decades. Police fear the statute of limitations has run out for the victims (a couple of whom work in law enforcement) who have come forward. A new sex crimes law says a victim, under 18 when abused, can press charges up to 1 year after notifying police of the crime. It is being debated how that law affects cases that have already passed the 6-year statute of limitations. (See next story) Sources: _San Francisco Independent_ 3/29/94; _San Francisco Chronicle_ 3/26,28,29,30/94, 4/28/94, 5/11,28/94; _San Francisco Examiner_ 5/10,20/94.

SUIT CHARGES SAN FRANCISCO COVER-UP. Nine men have filed suit in San Francisco against priests claiming they were sexually abused at church camps, in diocesan vehicles and rectories about 25 years ago. The lawsuit claims that higher church officials, including Archbishop John R. Quinn, knew of the pedophilia and covered it up. The priests involved include: Rev. Gary Timmons of Santa Rosa, Rev. Austin Keegan of Santa Rosa and San Francisco, and Monsignor Patrick J. O'Shea of San Francisco.Two of these 3 priests may face criminal charges. Keegan is accused of forcibly throwing one boy to the ground, stripping and fondling him. One of Keegan's victims not involved in this suit, Terence McAteer, 37, son of the late state Senator J. Eugene McAteer, says: "Here is our family priest, who said the funeral for my father two months earlier. I was kept up all night being anally raped and orally copulated. You name it, it was performed on me. I was 10 at the time." He reported the rape in 1976 to his family and Santa Rosa and San Francisco church officials. Three years later Keegan apparently molested another boy repeatedly. Don Hoard, one of the 9 plaintiffs, told the _San Francisco Chronicle_ about what Father Gary Timmons did to him at Camp St. Michael: "To everyone there, he was God. Kids were competing for his attention. When you are 11 years old, this guy is Jesus Christ. It's hard to tell someone that Jesus Christ molested you ... l was terrified beyond belief." Sources: _San Francisco Chronicle_ 5/24,25/94; _Long Beach Press-Telegram_ 5/28/94 (staff & wire reports); _Los Angeles Times_ (AP) 5/25/94.

CHURCH STANDS BEHIND PASTOR ACCUSED OF LEWDNESS. The senior pastor of Upland Church of Christ is being held on $20,000 bail for sexual lewdness. A boy, 15, who was taking singing lessons from Alan Wilson, 34, was lured into Wilson's bedroom and molested. The boy bolted from the house and informed his parents and authorities. In a police-tapped phone call the boy contacted Wilson, who suggested performing sexual acts on the boy. The church is standing behind Wilson. Source: _Inland Valley Daily Bulletin_ 3/18/94.

YOUTH LEADER FIRED FOR "AFFAIR" WITH TEEN. A Goleta Christian High School math teacher was fired for the sexual assault of a female student, 16. Dale Swanson, married and 27, was her math teacher and youth group leader. The teenager says the two had sex over 100 times and now feels very betrayed by Swanson, who promised to leave his wife for her. Source: _Santa Barbara News-Press_ 4/7/94.

PRIEST/CHOIR LEADER CONVICTED OF ONE OF MANY CRIMES. The former rector of St. Anthony's Seminary and founder of the Santa Barbara Boys Choir, Rev. Robert Van Handel, 47, pleaded guilty in criminal court in May to sexually molesting a former student, age 8, in the 1980s. Van Handel is the second convicted priest of 11 priests from the seminary accused of child molestation spanning 23 years. Most of the crimes occurred before 1987, meaning the criminal statute of limitations has expired in most cases. But Van Handel and 4 others still face civil charges by 2 former seminary students. At least 10 other civil suits are in the works as attorneys await clarification of a law limiting filing time for molestation cases. The Rev. Virgil Cordero of the Santa Barbara Mission complained, "While we offer compassion to the ones (Van Handel) offended, this fellow is trying to rehabilitate himself. He's very repentant. In fact, coming down to prison here has interrupted his therapy" for previously admitted student sexual abuses. Van Handel had made this confession after the crimes statute of limitations had lapsed. Sources: _Santa Barbara News-Press_ 3/23,24/94; _Los Angeles Times_ 5/11/94; _Inland Valley Daily Bulletin_ (Ontario, CA) 5/11/94; _Santa Barbara News-Press_ 5/11/94.

BROTHER SAL'S VICTIM COMMITTED SUICIDE. Seven years after being sexually molested at a church camp and on a trip to Disneyland by Catholic Salesian Brother Salvatore Dominic Billante, an unnamed 17- year-old boy committed suicide in November. Billante, a youth ministry advisor at Corpus Christi Church in San Francisco for 25 years, was convicted and sentenced to prison for 8 years for the molestation of another child. After 4 years he was released from San Quentin on parole. Billante is known to have molested 24 children. The suicide victim had severe emotional trouble after the abuse, yet the church refused to pay for his institutionalization. The Archdiocese of San Francisco did pay $6,855 for counseling fees over a 2-year period for the boy. Sgt. Bruce Frediani, who knew the boy, said the suicide "speaks volumes of what happens to children who are molested. It's not something kids get over". The archdiocese denies knowing Billante is a pedophile. Sources: _San Francisco Examiner_ 4/24/94; _San Francisco Chronicle_ 4/28/94.

GOOD SHEPHERD MOLESTS FLOCK? The former pastor of Good Shepherd Assemblies of God Worship Center in Carlsbad has been accused of sexually molesting 5 males on hundreds of occasions between 1976 and 1984. Rev. Dalton Webber, Sr., now 65 and living in Arkansas, declined comment, but the 5 men say Webber performed sex acts against them in their homes, his home, his car, and at overnight church youth activities and church conventions. One of the boys was abused from 3rd grade until he left for college. An out-of-court settlement was reached for $1.75 million, and Webber Sr. finally admitted guilt and stated he had been forgiven, but it is not known by whom. These five men witnessed Webber Sr. molesting many other children, who have not come forward yet. Source: _Blade-Citizen_ 4/29/93; _Los Angeles Times_ 5/14/94; _News On The March_ (Edward Lozzi & Associates, Beverly Hills, CA) 5/20/94.

ADMITTED PRIEST/MOLESTER ACCUSED BY SECOND MALE. After admitting in 1990 that he sexually abused an altar boy, Father Eluceterio Ramos of the Orange Diocese has been accused by a second altar boy at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Placentia of sexual abuse. James Rogan, now 29, of Riverside, has accused Ramos in a civil suit of 7 years of abuse, including offering alcohol, taking nude photos, showing porn films, and oral sex. Ramos is an admitted alcoholic, and claims to be a victim of sexual abuse himself He also admitted Rogan was not the only boy he molested. Source: _Los Angeles Times_ 5/11/94; _Tribune Democrat_ (Johnstown, PA) (no date).

BISHOP TRIES TO STRAIGHTEN UP CHURCH. San Francisco Bishop H. L. Anderson, a gay cleric with AIDS, has criticized the church and is making efforts to reform it. "There are two sins in the church: secrecy and control. The cardinal sin, however, is hypocrisy." He cited sexual abuse, homosexuality, and financial irregularities as examples of these sins. He said that celibacy as the church practices it does not imply sexual abstinence, only not marrying. Source: _San Francisco Independent_ 5/10/94.

SCOUT CHAPLAIN CONVICTED OF ABUSE. A graduate of St. John's Seminary College in Camarillo, Khamh Van Nguyen, 24, who admitted to sexually abusing over 50 Boy Scouts, was sentenced in Long Beach to 5 years in prison for the molestation of 2 youths, 11 and 12, at Cherry Valley Camp. He had passed Boy Scout background screening and a week-long training program in order to be camp chaplain. Source: _Los Angeles Times_ 6/8,9/94.

*** CONNECTICUT *** MANSPEAKER SENTENCED. For sexually molesting and showing pornographic material to 2 boys, aged 14 and 17, Terry Manspeaker, 37, former deacon of St. Lucy's church, was sentenced to 5 years probation and must continue sexual offender therapy. Manspeaker was charged with a third boy's molestation, but the case was dropped to secure the guilty plea for the first 2. Manspeaker had attended seminary but was denied entry into priesthood because of allegations of sexual misconduct. Source: _Sunday Republican_ 1/30/94.

PRIEST ON TRIAL. Accused of sexually assaulting 15 children from 1966 to 1982, Rev. Raymond Pcolka will stand trial in Superior Court. Details of the case were not released for public use. Source: _Union-News_ 3/19/94.

PASTOR "SENTENCED" TO THERAPY. For the sexual molestation and abuse of 3 brothers, 7, 9, and 12, Boardman (Barney) Kathan, former minister at First Congregational-United Church of Christ, was sentenced to probation with a suspended prison sentence of 30 years. Terms include sexual offender counseling, medication, and no unsupervised contact with children. He also must pay for the therapy for his victims, one of whom has post-traumatic stress disorder. Source: _Hartford Courant_ 4/1/94.

COURT RULES PASTOR NEEDN'T REPORT ABUSE. A judge dismissed child- neglect charges against Rev. Bim Rowley, of Truth Baptist Church, for waiting 6 months before notifying authorities about a male parishioner who was sexually abusing his daughter. This case prompted the legislature's Judiciary Committee to approve a bill that would exempt clergy from the mandatory child abuse reporting law in cases where they learn of the abuse in confidence, such as confession. The bill before the Senate does not address the issue of immunity. Rowley found out about the girl's abuse through a church worker. Rowley said he is not likely to go to the police again if a similar situation arises. Source: _Hartford Courant_ 4/13/94.

TWINS ACCUSE PRIEST OF MOLESTING. Twin brothers, 28, now of Bangor, Maine, have filed a civil suit against Rev. Thomas J. Doyle, now of New York, former pastor of Sacred Heart Church in Vernon, alleging he began sexually molesting them separately when they were 14. The church and the Diocese of Norwich are also defendants. The brothers notified Bishop Daniel P. Reilly in 1992. Doyle was removed as pastor; the religious order suspended him from active ministry shortly thereafter. The brothers say officials did not prevent or stop the abuse, which they knew about since 1983. One brother says a church official made a sexual advance toward him after he had complained of being molested by Doyle. Parishioners of Sacred Heart attended an open forum to discuss the situation. Some expressed loss of faith in God, others lack of trust in authority figures. Source: _Hartford Courant_ 5/14,17,18/94.

WOMAN SUES MINISTER. Janet Walker, 35, of Westport, has filed a $2 million lawsuit in federal court against Massachusetts resident Rev. David L. Dickerman, pastor of Immanuel Congregational Church in Hartford, for sexual abuse. She alleges the abuse began in the early 1970s when she was 13 or 14 years old and a member of his church. She and her husband also filed suit against the church for failing to properly supervise Dickerman. Source: _Hartford Courant_ 5/5/94.

CHURCH CHANGES ABUSE POLICY. Due to the large number of complaints filed about the way sexual abuse charges against priests are reported, the Catholic Diocese of Norwich is revising its policy. 75 priests gathered to discuss how charges of sex abuse by priests would be reported to secular authorities. Apparently it is the only policy on abuse in the East Coast that connects the church with social service and police agencies. Source: _Springfield Union-News_ 5/20/94.

*** FLORIDA *** GRANDMOTHER SUES OVER CHILD'S ABUSE. The Diocese of Venice, Rev. Charles M. Cikovic, and Bishop John J. Nevins of St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Fort Myers are defendants in a civil suit involving sexual abuse. Cikovic has admitted to having sexual contact with a girl, 14. He was sentenced in September to 6 months in jail and 20 years of probation, and is prohibited from contact with minors. The grandmother of the child has filed suit for an undisclosed sum. The grandmother had been taking the girl for counseling with the priest because her parents had divorced. A parish employee stated that Cikovic had taken girls on trips, and bought them gifts. They said the priest made them feel "yucky". Source: _Sarasota Herald-Tribune_ 2/10/94.

PRIEST RESIGNS AMID ALLEGATIONS. Though he denied any wrongdoing, Rev. Gary Timmons, 53, resigned from St. Bernard's Church as pastor and dean of students. He is accused of sexually molesting 2 Santa Rosa boys at summer camp over a decade ago. Timmons has served in Santa Rosa, Rohnert Park, and Eureka the past 3 decades No lawsuits are pending, though the two men are considering suing. Source: _Blade-Citizen_ 2/5/94.

CHURCH TO PAY MILLIONS FOR MINISTER'S ABUSES. Wayside Baptist Church in Miami received a $6.7 million judgment for negligence in hiring and retaining Keith Geren as youth minister. The church did not do background or reference checks, nor did Geren even fill out a job application, though Geren did admit urges to molest boys. He sexually molested nearly a dozen teenage boys. Church officials say they had no idea Geren was a pedophile. All of the money is going to one victim, Daniel Artis, for emotional pain, treatment, and punitive damages. Source: _Sarasota Herald-Tribune_ 2/6/94.

*** GEORGIA *** BAPTIST MINISTER ACCUSED. For being accused of sexually molesting several male teens between Sept. 1992-93 while serving as youth minister at Western Hills Baptist Church in Cobb County, Kevin DeRosa, 33, of New Jersey is being held at the Paulding County jail on similar charges in that county. Source: _Atlanta Journal_ 3/94

*** ILLINOIS *** ANOTHER BELLEVILLE PRIEST LEAVES. The 8th Belleville diocese priest to go on leave for sex-abuse accusations is Rev. Louis Peterson. He denied the allegations of abusing a male teen over 10 years ago. No criminal charges were filed. The diocese has set up a telephone hotline for victims to report priests. Source: _Post-Dispatch_ 1/25/94.

MAN ASKS DIOCESE TO PAY. Kevin Mohr, 31, says he was sexually abused, fondled, harassed, and forced to entice gay men to a group of homosexual priests when he was 13. He spent nearly a year trying to get the Diocese of Belleville to pay for this therapy. Mohr has hired an attorney but does not plan to sue the church. Source: _Post-Dispatch_ 2/7/94.

L.R. DAVIS LOSES APPEAL. The Illinois Appellate Court upheld the conviction and 31-year prison term of Rev. L.R. Davis. His conviction for child pornography was reversed, but his 15-count conviction for child sexual abuse of 2 boys was upheld. The Illinois Supreme Court will review the dismissal of Davis' perjury charges in a related civil suit. Source: _News-Sun_ 3/29/94, 4/9/94.

RELIGIONIST MOLESTS GIRL, 6, IN CHURCH NURSERY. A church member of the Christian Fellowship Church, founded by L.R. Davis (see above) has pleaded a stipulated guilty plea to the charges of sexually molesting a girl, 6, in the church nursery. Michael Larson, 27, awaits sentencing. Source: _News-Sun_ (no date).

PASTOR UNDER BERNARDIN ACCUSED. The pastor of Holy Angels Church has been put on leave while authorities investigate the claim by two men that Rev. John W. Calicott, 46, sexually molested them 18 years ago while he was associate pastor of St. Ailbe's. A long-time friend of Calicott, Rev. Michael Pfleger, says of the allegations "We're going from one extreme to the other Ñ from complete cover-up for years to you're automatically guilty and picked up and moved out." Cardinal Joseph Bernardin accepted the recommendation by the Professional Fitness Review Board that Calicott be put on leave. Source: _Chicago Sun-Times_ 4/12/94.

COOK COUNTY HONORS BERNARDIN. For responding to accusations of sexual abuse with "understanding and grace", Cardinal Bernardin was honored as a great asset to Cook County in a resolution passed at the end of March by the County Board. Bernardin recently denied being involved in a state Senate proposal to limit the time in which a sexual abuse victim can bring legal action. The proposal was passed by the Senate, and states that people over 30 may not file civil suits against people who sexually abused them as children. Source: _Chicago Sun-Times_ 3/30/94, 4/9/94, 4/21/94.

THEOLOGY PROFESSOR ACCUSED OF SEXUAL HARASSMENT. A Chicago Theological Seminary professor has been accused of sexual harassment by a female student for using an off-color story from the Talmud to "explain the difference" between Christianity and Judaism. He recounted a story about a roofer falling off a roof onto a woman and accidentally having sex with her. Graydon Snyder, 63, was put on probation and ordered to get therapy and not be alone with students or staff members. He also wrote an apology to the woman, though he denied any wrongdoing. Gray claimed, "It never occurred to me I could have a grievance lodged against me." Source: _Kenosha News_ (Wl)/AP 3/27/94.

BOBO SENTENCED. A Baptist deacon accused of fondling several girls has been sentenced to 3 years in prison for the molestation of a female student. Wallace Bobo, Jr., 57, was a high school teacher and coach at Meridian High in Mound City. The father of one victim, who shot Bobo 5 times, awaits trial, while Bobo is out on bail pending an appeal. Source: _Philadelphia Inquirer_ 4/9/94.

MAN MOLESTED BY NUNS? John Lasek of Chicago filed suit in Cook County against the Archdiocese of Chicago and two nuns, who he says sexually abused him 27 years ago while he was a student at St. Joseph and St. Anne's School. Source: _Chicago Sun-Times_ 4/27/94.

LUTHERAN MINISTER ADMITS PAST MOLESTATIONS. Criminally charged with sexually abusing 2 boys, aged 12, Rev. Daniel Seedorf, 36, admitted being accused of fondling another boy while a pastor in southern Illinois. Seedorf, now part-time pastor of Bethlehem Lutheran Church, was restricted from acting as pastor by the Lutheran Church's Missouri Synod. Sources: _Chicago Sun-Times_ 4/27/94, _Chicago Tribune 4/27/94.

NINTH PRIEST OUT OF BELLEVILLE. Yellow ribbons decorated St. Teresa Church in Belleville to support the Rev. Louis Peterson, who was accused of sexually abusing a boy. He is the 9th priest in the Belleville diocese to be involved in sexual abuse accusations The other 8 have been removed. Peterson stepped down voluntarily but denies the allegations. Allegations against the 9 priests began flooding in after the diocese implemented a hotline for those abused by priests. The Belleville clerics ousted include Rev. Jerome Ratermann, Rev. Robert Chlopeckl, Rev. Robert Vonnahmen, Rev. James Calhoun, Rev. Walter MacPherson, Rev. David Crook, Rev. Eugene Linnemann, Rev. Edwin Kastner, Rev. Louis Peterson, and one deacon, Francis Theis. Kastner, 73, is accused of having sexual contact with a teen male 2 decades ago. Vonnahmen is involved in 3 civil suits relating to child sexual abuse The most recent suit filed against him involves the abuse of a boy, aged 14 in 1976, over a 6-year period at Camp Ondessonk. Some victims of these 9 priests are now priests themselves. Sources: _St. Louis Post-Dispatch_ 5/1,22/94, 6/8/94.

PRIEST & SISTER GO TO TRIAL. A priest and former "Sister of Mercy" are accused of sexually abusing a boy, now 13, when he was 7, while he was in the second grade. St. Norbert Parish's Rev. Robert J. Lutz 69, and St Norbert's elementary school former principal, Alice Halpin, 49, face charges in civil court of forced voyeurism, physical and sexual abuse. A $7 million lawsuit filed by his parents five years ago has finally gone to court. His mother testified she overheard her son tell the family dog, if it ever saw a man in black with a white square on his collar, "to bite him in his privates". The church has retained Lutz as their priest, and has paid his defense bills. Lutz and Halpin countersued, claiming defamation, invasion of privacy, and intentional infliction of emotional distress. Source: _Chicago Sun-Times_ 6/6,9,10,15,21,25/94.

*** INDIANA *** YOUTH MINISTER FONDLES COP. Police reports say that a man solicited oral sex from and fondled an undercover police officer in a Fall Creek Park restroom. The man was identified as Timothy J. Wall, 30, a youth minister at East 91st Street Christian Church. Reportedly Wall exclaimed, "You can't arrest me. I'm a minister," when the officer identified himself. He was released on his own recognizance. Wall is married and has two children. Source: _Indianapolis Star_ 2/?/94.

PRIEST-FLASHER BARRED FROM PARKS. Holy Trinity Anglican Catholic Church priest, Rev. Thomas B. Wirth, 37, pleaded guilty to public indecency for exposing himself to an undercover Indiana Conservation officer in Peru. He was given a suspended jail sentence, placed on probation for 1 year, forced to donate $500 to Peru city parks, and is prohibited from Dept. of Natural Resources areas. His church has imposed restrictions on him, and he is "under a doctor's care." Sources: _Wabash Plain Dealer_ 6/11/94, _The Republic_ (Columbus, IN) 6/1/94.

LUTHERAN PASTOR IMPREGNATES VICTIM. Lutheran pastor, Russell Tessman, 40, was sentenced to 2 years probation for the sexual exploitation and impregnation of Carla Vetters while he counseled her between Dec. 1990 and July 1993. He faced a maximum of 2 years in prison. Following his jury conviction he was ordered to pay $500 fines plus a 30% surcharge and court costs. Source: _Des Moines Register_ 3/23/94, 4/10/94.

PRIEST GUILTY BUT FORGETFUL. Former pastor of Lexington's Mary Queen of the Holy Rosary Church from 1960-79, Rev. Leonard Nienaber, 87, pleaded guilty to sexually abusing children. He also said he had no memory of the incidents but admitted they could have happened. In exchange for his guilty plea, 26 other sex crime counts were dropped, leaving 10. The crimes occurred in the church, school, rectory and confessional between 1964 and 1977 when the children, male and female, were aged 4 to 17. One victim, now 30, was asked to pray for Nienaber, to which he responded, "If they want to pray for him, that's their business, I'm not going to." He also spoke of his experience, "When you see it in your mind, you relive the same feelings. You're living with childhood feelings, which are a lot stronger than adult feelings. A lot of this is hard to deal with, Nienaber being who he was. As far as the Catholic Church looks at it, he was God's representative on Earth." Source: _Lexington Herald-Leader_ 5/5/94.

*** IOWA *** GRINDSTAFF ADMITS AFFAIR. On Jan. 10, 1995 a jury will hear the case involving Edward Grindstaff, Storm Lake Faith United Assembly of God minister, and Lori Johnson. She says that she and Grindstaff had a sexual affair for 5 years, producing a child, while she was in marital counseling. Grindstaff confessed in August but now claims he was the victim of sexual abuse and that he was threatened by Mrs. Johnson if they broke up. Source: _Pilot Tribune_ 3/8/94.

*** MARYLAND *** PEDOPHILES USUALLY "EXCELLENT MINISTERS". The 32-bed mental health hospital known as St. Luke Institute, opened 13 years ago to help alcoholic priests, is now mostly occupied by pedophiles. At $285 per day most priests stay 9 months. Few actually seek such treatment for themselves, according to Rev. John Geaney, spokesperson for the institute. He added, "One of the things people have difficulty believing is that (pedophile priests) are usually excellent ministers, with the exception of that problem." Source: _San Francisco Examiner_ 4/25/94.

WOMAN SUES MINISTER FOR MILLIONS. A 35-year-old woman has filed a $140 million lawsuit against a Baltimore youth minister for raping her when she was 14. Daniel Robinson Sr., now of Chicago, was youth minister at Brooklyn Church of God in Baltimore and pastor of the Church of God in Cleveland, TN. The defendant seeks $140 million in compensatory and punitive damages. She was babysitting his children in exchange for piano lessons when he began molesting her and later raped her in the manse, according to the lawsuit. He apologized, she said, but later exposed himself to her again and threatened to hurt her if she told. Source: _Baltimore Sun_ 4/9/94.

*** MASSACHUSETTS *** DIOCESE PAYS LAVIGNE'S VICTIMS. The Diocese of Springfield has agreed to pay more than $1 million to 17 victims of Rev. Richard R. Lavigne with the help of an insurance company. However the victims are not permitted to discuss the specifics of the settlement lest they lose part of the money. Lavigne pleaded guilty to child molestation but has served no prison time. The diocese has assured its parishioners that the money for the case did not come from their contributions, but from insurance and investments. Source: _Union- News_ 1/28,2/18/94; _Providence Journal_ 3/19/94.

PRIEST ACQUITTED. A Catholic priest of St. Pius X Church in Middleton met a boy, 16, on a ski trip, then plied him with Scotch and fondled him in his car and motel room. The boy was a runaway from a school for emotionally-troubled youths. Thomas K. Ahearn, 56, was acquitted of molesting the boy, but convicted of contributing to the delinquency of a minor. He was sentenced to 2 years' probation. The church relieved Ahearn of his duties immediately. His future with the church is uncertain. The mother felt the sentence was far too light and says, "I'm a devout Catholic, and every time I go to church, I just want to throw up." Source: AP, _Hartford Courant_ 3/8/94; _Berkshire Eagle_ 3/5,9/94.

NUNS ATTEND ABUSE SEMINAR. Though the March 5 workshop at Regis College entitled "Sexual Abuse and the Church: Assisting in a Pastoral Response" was open to the public, no priests attended. About 100 Boston nuns did show up for the seminar on sexual abuse in the church, its history, prevention, detection, and treatment. Source: AP, _Sunday Republican_ 3/6/94.

PASTOR DELAYS REPORTING ABUSE. After a church volunteer received letters from a girl, 15, that she was being sexually abused by her stepfather, Truth Baptist Church's Rev. Jim Rowley and another pastor began counseling the father, who admitted abusing the girl. Rowley waited 6 months before reporting the abuse to authorities. He was arrested and charged with a misdemeanor mandatory-reporting violation and felony count of a risk of injury to a minor. Clergy claim the law that is designed to help and protect children violates their right to freely practice religion. The stepfather was charged with over 30 counts of sexual assault of the girl. He is now free on bond. Source: _Union-News_ 2/28/94.

HANLON GUILTY. Despite the Support of 50 character witnesses, the former pastor of St. Paul's Church in Hingham was convicted of rape and assault of William Wood, now 27, when he was an altar boy 14 years ago. This is the second trial; the first trial, involving testimony from 2 other men, was deadlocked. Rev. John R. Hanlon, 65, will be sentenced after 40 days of observation for pedophilia at Bridgewater State Hospital. Woods' 2 brothers also testified at both trials that they were molested by Hanlon. Hanlon's attorney plans to appeal. Hanlon could face life in prison. His family continues to support his innocence. Source: _Boston Globe_ 3/15,16/94; _Providence Journal_ 3/16/94, _Springfield Union-News_ 3/16/94.

PRIEST ACCUSED OF RAPING BOYS. A priest now living in New Brunswick was arrested in January for the rape of 2 boys in Worcester. One man, now 36, claims Rev. Joseph A. Fredette, 60, had raped him in New Hampshire on a trip in 1972, by getting him drunk. Source: _Springfield Union-News_/AP, 1/17/94.

HANLON GETS 4 LIFE SENTENCES. For raping and sodomizing an altar boy at a summer cottage in 1980-81, the Rev. John R. Hanlon, 65, was sentenced to 4 life prison sentences. Hanlon, a retired priest formerly of St. Mary's Church in Plymouth and St. Paul's in Hingham, will be eligible for parole when he is 80. His attorney will appeal the conviction. Geline Williams, Plymouth Asst. DA, called Hanlon an "utterly unrepentant man who continued to belittle his victims". She added that since 1975 Hanlon has never been not molesting boys in his care. The victim is still a devout Catholic, but said he wishes Hanlon dead. Hanlon may also go on trial for the rape of the victim's brother in Vermont. Sources: _Wisconsin State Journal_ 4/26/94; _USA Today_ 3/16/94; _Gloucester County Times_ 4/26/94; _Chicago Tribune_ 4/26/94; _Boston Globe_ 4/26/94; _Patriot Ledger_ 4/25/94; _Springfield Union-News_ 4/26/94; _Tribune-Democrat_ (Johnstown, PA) (no date).

DA: PRIEST HAD MOTIVE IN ALTAR BOY MURDER. According to Asst. DA Elizabeth D. Farris, Rev. Richard R. Lavigne, 53, had a well- documented motive and opportunity to kill altar boy Danny Croteau, 13, on April 14, 1972. At a recent hearing to determine the legality of using Lavigne's blood sample in the murder case, it was decided that the assailant was injured and bled at the scene. Lavigne is a convicted child molester serving 10 years' probation. He is currently facing another child rape charge, and is contesting an additional suit involving the molestation of Croteau's older brother 20 years ago. He is barred from serving as a priest but receives a salary from the Catholic Church, which has paid over $1 million to 17 men who say Lavigne abused them. Source: _Springfield Union-News_ 4/29/94.

PRIEST PAYS VICTIM. A Roman Catholic priest, 61, paid at least $20,000 to a young man in an effort to settle a sexual abuse charge against him. Rev. Edward M. Kennedy resigned as pastor of Blessed Sacrament Church in Northampton in 1991 and was given a 6-month sick leave, but is scheduled to be reassigned. In 1980 Kennedy was knighted by the Pope in Jerusalem in the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre. He is the 4th priest in 3 years In the Springfield Diocese to be charged with sexual abuse. Source: _Springfield Union- News_ 5/10/94.

*** MICHIGAN *** MAN SUES ORDER FOR ABUSE. Paul Isely of Massachusetts has sued the Catholic Capuchin Order in Detroit for more than $10,000. Isely says seven friars sexually abused him while he was a student of the order in Detroit and at the St. Lawrence Seminary in Wisconsin in the late 1970s. He recently began to have flashbacks and proceeded to file suit. Eight other men had made similar charges against the Capuchins in 1992. Source: _Detroit Free Press_ 1/4/94.

PRIEST BLAMES HUMANISM, MEDIA FOR SEX ABUSE BY PRIESTS. A priest publicly blamed the media for giving more attention to clergy pedophile cases than other professions, and for persecuting the Catholic Church. He also blamed secular humanism for the tendency of humans to seek their own pleasure and needs. At the biennial convention of Lansing Diocesan Council of Catholic Women, the Rev. Charles Irvin, pastor of St. Francis of Assisi in Ann Arbor, did admit that abuse of women and boys by priests is unacceptable and too widespread. Source: _The Flint Journal_ 3/17/94.

*** MINNESOTA *** ABUSE SETTLEMENT A CONCERN. Mark Smith of Minnesota was 9 when Rev. James Porter first sexually abused him. Now he is being compensated by the unlicensed Catholic Servants of the ParacIete Treatment Center in Jemez Springs, NM. The Center's insurers may have to pay the $5.26 million to 21 people Porter abused after leaving it. The Center agreed to pay an additional $400,000 total to the victims. While maintaining for years their high success rate with pedophiles, therapists at the Catholic clinic now protest they are not responsible for the priest-pedophiles they released. Source: _Wisconsin State Journal_ 1/17/94, _New York Times_ 1/17/94.

PRIEST ACCUSES 13-YEAR-OLD BOY OF "SEDUCTION". A jury found in favor of plaintiff David Samarzia, 40, who filed a lawsuit against Rev. Daniel Reeb, 58, for sexually abusing him from 1965-68. Also named was the Lutheran Church, Missouri Synod. Although Reeb admitted the abuse to an attorney, other defendants in the case denied any abuse and claimed that if it had occurred, it was Samarzia's fault. Reeb claimed the sexual relations were not molestation and that Samarzia, then 13, seduced him, then 32. Other testimony accused Reeb of masturbating in front of a confirmation class. The jury ruled that the church was partially responsible for Reeb's misconduct and must pay $643,800 to Samarzia. Three other men have filed suit against Reeb for sexual abuse spanning 11 of Reeb's 18 years at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Duluth. Sources: _Duluth News-Tribune_ 3/29/94, 4/10,13,14/94; AP/_Leader-Telegram_ 4/13/94.

*** MISSISSIPPI *** PENTECOSTAL MINISTER JAILED FOR FONDLING TOT. Convicted of molesting a boy, 4, a former local TV minister was sentenced to 5 years in prison. Earl Bishop, 69, assaulted the child in Feb. 1993. The daycare center operated by Bishop's wife was ordered closed. Source: _Clarion-Ledger_ 4/9/94.

CHAPLAIN'S SUSPENSION FOR CHILD PORN UPHELD. Arrested for videotaping 2 girls in bondage scenes in 1985 and 1991, Rev. Donald G. Phillips, 55, was suspended without pay from his job as chaplain at the John J. Pershing VA Medical Center. His challenge of the suspension was denied. He was earning $4,000 per year, paid by taxpayers, and could be paid lost wages if found innocent. If convicted he would no longer work for the VA. Source: _Daily American Republic_ 1/27/94.

CHRISTIAN TEACHER FONDLES GIRLS? Two students of St. Joseph Christian School have told police that a teacher had fondled them and told them to keep it a secret. One girl, 10, described how the male teacher would single out a child "to be really good friends with". The other girl told how he lifted up her shirt while she was reaching into a closet. The teacher resigned. Source: _St. Joseph, MO News-Press_ 5/4/94. *** MISSOURI *** PRIEST REMOVED. After being accused of sexually molesting a male minor 20 years ago, Rev. Walter MacPherson, 70, of St. Martin of Tours parish near East St. Louis has been removed from his parish pending an investigation. Many parishioners refused to believe the accusations and asked how to help the priest. Source: _Chicago Sun- Times_ 2/5/94; _Post-Dispatch_ 2/5/94.

CHURCH PAYS HUSH MONEY TO ACCUSER. The Catholic Diocese of Kansas City paid Richard Durocher $150,000 to silence his accusations that he was sexually abused by Rev. John R. Tulipana, 47, when he was 16, over a decade ago. Durocher says officials have failed to remove Tulipana from contact with minors, as he is still actively serving in the diocese. For this Durocher decided to break his secrecy agreement. Tulipana has subsequently resigned because he felt he could no longer be effective. Bishop Raymond Boland said a diocesan board will investigate the allegations. Source: _Sunday Republican_ 1/30/94, _Columbia Daily Tribune_ 1/30/94, _News-Press_ 1/30/94, AP 2/2/94.

MINISTER GETS 189 YEARS. For the sexual assault of 2 boys, both 15, the minister of the now-defunct Family Life Church in Park Hills has been sentenced to serve at least 28 years in prison before he is eligible for parole. Rev. Richard L. Jones, 30, was sentenced to 189 years for sexually assaulting the boys in his home and car in 1990- 91. He told them it was sanctioned in the _Bible_. In court Jones claimed the boys were trying to seek revenge when he confronted their drinking and sexual activities. Source: _News-Leader_ 3/16/94, AP 2/8/94.

BAPTIST DEACON ON TRIAL. A former basketball coach, high school teacher, and Baptist deacon who was shot 5 times by the father of a girl who accuses him of sexually abusing her, is standing trial. A dozen girls have accused Wallace Bobo, 57, of fondling them. He is charged with one count of sexual abuse. Source: _Post-Dispatch_ 2/15/94.

MAN SUES PRIEST. Nicholas Gray has sued the Kansas City-St. Joseph Catholic diocese and Rev. Thomas J. Ward, accusing him of sexually abusing him at the church rectory when he was 14. Ward denies the accusations and is on paid leave. The lawsuit claims the diocese operated to cover up the abuse. Source: _Kirksville Daily Express & News_ 2/6/94, _Examiner_ 2/4/94.

KANSAS CITY SUPPORT GROUP FORMS. The national organization Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, SNAP, has formed a chapter in Kansas City following recent local accusations of sex-abuse by priests. Most in attendance have been abused, others were family of victims. The chapter will be meeting on a regular basis. Source: _Kansas City Star_ 3/5/94. *** MONTANA *** FORMER PRIEST ADMITS ABUSING 30 BOYS. In 1993 a civil suit involving the Rev. Wilson Smart, 63, and plaintiff, "W.T.M.", now 38, was settled for $1.7 million. In his deposition Smart admitted sexually abusing and sometimes photographing 30 boys, as young as 12, between 1957 and 1978, including W.T.M. for 8 years. He blames his abusiveness on alcohol abuse, and spent 5 months at the Servants of the Paraclete center in New Mexico. He said he met the boys in Scouting troops, in parishes, or while teaching, and often molested them as they slept. He told no one of the abuse, except in the protected privacy of confession. He says he took no vow of chastity, though he knew it was morally wrong. Smart resigned from the priesthood in May 1990. Case documents indicate that the church knew of the abuse since 1960, but did not remove Smart. W.T.M.'s lawyer asked the judge to open court documents to counter information the church was distributing about the case. Source: _Missoulian_ 2/4/94, _Billings Gazette_ 2/6/94, _Independent Record_ 2/4/94.

*** NEW HAMPSHIRE *** PRIEST PLEADS GUILTY TO ABUSE. After admitting to forcing a boy, 14, to perform oral sex on him at the rectory of the Immaculate Conception Church in Troy in the early 1980s, Rev. Leo Shea, 67, has been sentenced to 3-6 years in state prison and agreed to participate in a sexual offender program at the prison for at least a year. Shea also faces charges in Massachusetts for sexually assaulting 8 teen boys almost 2 decades ago. Source: _Boston Globe_ 3/1/94, AP 3/3/94.

*** NEW JERSEY *** DIOCESE PAYS VICTIMS. The Diocese of Camden has secretly paid parishioners who have accused parish priests of sexually abusing them an undisclosed sum of money. The money was given "to care for" the victims, and the secrecy is to protect the victims, according to the diocese, though anyone breaking the silence must return the money. The diocese denies "buying silence". Since 1990 the diocese has paid $3.2 million to 19 victims of clergy sexual abuse (a figure reported by a newspaper but denied by the diocese). Source: _Courier-Post_ 1/12/94, _Philadelphia Inquirer_ 1/11,12/94, _San Francisco Chronicle_ 1/12/94, _Clearfield Progress_ 1/11/94, _Courier-News_ 1/12/94.

PARISHIONER IMPRISONED FOR INCEST. A churchgoing former Scout leader has been sentenced to 10 years, the maximum, at the Adult Diagnostic & Treatment Center, state prison for sexually abusing his own daughter for over 5 years. Walter Noonan, 48, committed hundreds of sex acts against his daughter, now 26 and married. His attorney said, "There is a goodness in this man that's worth bringing out; ten years will destroy him." His daughter said, "He took away from me my childhood, my pride, and my self-respect." Noonan's wife plans to appeal. Source: _Philadelphia Inquirer_ 1/15/94.

MAN SUES CLERGY, DIOCESE FOR EX-PRIEST'S ABUSE. John Crowe, 26, has filed suit against Francis D. Bruno, the Trenton Diocese, 11 clerics and their parishes, and a retreat house for his sexual assault and its cover-up. Crowe says he was abused by Bruno for 3 years, starting in 1978 when he was 11, as an altar boy at St James Church in Woodbridge. Crowe claims other priests called Bruno "chicken hawk" for his sexual exploitation of young boys. Bruno left the priesthood, married, and now is employed by the state Department of Corrections. Crowe had suppressed the memories until college, at which time he was still in contact with Bruno. He phoned Bruno to confront him with his memories, and Bruno verified them. Crowe sought counseling after recalling the memories. Crowe has suffered seizures and post-traumatic stress disorder. Source: _Newark Star- Ledger_ 1/14/94, _Courier Post_ (AP) 1/15/94, _Courier-News_ 1/18/94.

PRIEST MOLESTS BOYS. In June 1992 Rev. John C. Pisarcik, now 49, pleaded guilty to sexually molesting 2 parish boys. He was sentenced to 5 years at the state's Adult Diagnostic & Treatment Center for compulsive sex offenders in Avenel. Now Pisarcik, the Diocese of Paterson, and Bishop Frank Rodimer are being sued by the family of one of the boys, who says Pisarcik sexually abused him between August 1989 and October 1991. The boy was under age 18. Also Pisarcik was questioned and accused of psychological maladjustment prior to being assigned to his Rockaway parish in 1986. Therefore the diocese and bishop are being sued for negligence, breach of contract, and fraud in hiring him. The mother of the boy called him "a child molester posing as a priest". Source: _Newark Star-Ledger_ 1/19/94, _Courier-News_ 1/20/94.

MOREL ACCUSED BY SECOND MAN. Last August a man, 18, accused Msgr. Robert Morel, 50, of fondling him after a party celebrating Morel's promotion at the St. Peter the Apostle church in River Edge, to which Morel pled innocent. Now Joseph McColgan of Massachusetts has filed suit against Morel for repeatedly sexually abusing him while at Blessed Sacrament Church in Roseland, starting when he was 9, from 1973-1981. The suit also accuses the Newark Archbishops Peter Gerety and Theodore McCarrick of covering up the abuse in order to protect the church, though McCarrik was not installed until 1986. It is also alleged that there were other accusations of molestations before Morel was transferred to Blessed Sacrament in 1975, his assignment before River Edge. A third alleged victim is being interviewed by investigators in an effort to collect more evidence. The defense attorney says there is no chance Morel will plead guilty. Source: _Star-Ledger_ 1/14,26/94.

LAFORGE SPARED. The pastor accused of aiding a fugitive who was charged with sexual abuse has been approved for the Pre-Trial Intervention Program because it was a first-time offense and he has health problems. Rev. Joseph M. LaForge, 56, has severe diabetes and now resides in North Carolina. He was charged with covertly giving Rev. Fiorencia Tumang a $5,000 church check, with which Tumang fled the country. LaForge's charges will be dismissed upon completion of PTI. Source: _Courier-Post_ 1/21/94.

WOMAN SAYS DEACON ASSAULTED HER. Englewood deacon David I. Thomas was arrested after a woman, 20, told authorities he sexually assaulted her in his basement repeatedly when she was a 12-year-old member of his congregation. Source: _Today's Sunbeam_/AP 4/11/94.

RELIGIOUS MAN KIDNAPS GIRL. A religious pizza worker was charged with sexual assault and custody interference for kidnapping a 13- year-old girl and assaulted her in a motel room. Donald Booth, 30, of Hammonton, described as recently "turned to religion" and "saving" people, kidnapped his employer's daughter, 13, with whom he was said to be having a "relationship". The girl disappeared from a parochial school auditorium while attending a function with her family. The girl and Booth were found in a Strasburg, PA motel room together. A second man is being questioned about driving the getaway car for Booth, who does not drive. Source: _Philadelphia Inquirer_ 5/20,21/94.

*** NEW MEXICO *** SANTA FE DIOCESE SETTLED 46 CASES. In the past 2 months the Diocese of Santa Fe has settled 46 sexual abuse cases and is being helped by its insurers, who still maintain they have no liability in the cases. About 300,000 parishioners have contributed $1.5 million to the settlements. But if the insurance companies are not found liable to pay, the diocese will have to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. Two insurance carriers have sued the diocese, saying they are not liable because the church knew of the abuses and did not stop it or report it. Archbishop Michael Sheehan implies knowledge of the abuse by saying, "No archbishop realized fully the terrible harm of pedophilia. There was no intention of harm." Source: _Dallas Morning News_ 2/14/94.

18 SIGLER CIVIL SUITS SETTLED. Money from insurance companies and parishioners paid for the settlements of 16 cases of sexual abuse by former priest Jason Sigler. So far 45 cases against Sigler have been resolved. He was convicted of abusing altar boys in the 1970s and 1980s, after being treated 3 times for pedophilia. He pleaded guilty in 1983 to sex with a minor in exchange for a deferred sentence. Source: AP/_Centre Daily Times_ 2/8/94.

*** NEW YORK *** EX-PRIEST SUES CHURCH, POPE. A man who spent 25 years as a Roman Catholic priest resigned in 1989 and is now attempting to sue the Church, Pope John Paul ll, and Cardinal John O'Connor of New York. Terence German, 51, says he knew of clergy theft and pedophilia in every state he worked, though he never reported it. He also claims that although the pope points a finger at the U.S., there is clergy pedophilia in Rome that the pope is ignoring. Now German is unemployed and soon to be homeless. He says the church has blackballed him and ruined his reputation as an employee. He says he resigned as priest because the church was not following its own rules. The New York Archdiocese lawyers call the suit ludicrous. Sources: _St. Petersburg Times_ 2/12/94, _Chicago Sun Times_ 2/12/94.

RABBI INDICTED FOR SEXUAL ASSAULT. Rabbi and best-selling author, Frederick Werbell, 52, was indicted for the sexual assault of 2 females, his housecleaner, 39, and a job applicant, 24, in his apartment. He is being held on $50,000 bail. He could face 7 years in prison. Source: _New York Post_ 3/11/94.

FORMER CATHOLIC DEACON/PRINCIPAL ACCUSED. A former deacon at Precious Blood Church in Long Island City and popular Queens school principal of P.S. 71 has been accused of giving a male student, 13, cleaner fumes to inhale and performing oral sex on him 15 years ago. Edward Huckemeyer admitted the offense and implied it was his only transgression of that nature. At the time of the incident, Huckemeyer was a creative writing teacher at J.H.S. 226 in Ozone Park. The victim began to recall the incident in nightmares at the time he was making plans for his wedding. Source: _New York Newsday_ 3/12/94.

PIPALA SENTENCED TO 8 YEARS. The Rev. Edward A. Pipala, 55, pleaded guilty to the sexual abuse of dozens of boys, as young as 12, in his parish from 1983-1991. A federal judge sentenced Pipala to the maximum, 8 years in prison, saying Pipala exhibited willful and "evil" behavior with numerous boys in numerous locations, including transporting 11 minors over state borders and providing alcohol to minors. He claims to have been a sex addict for two decades and now, "with God's help", has overcome his affliction. Pipala will be under psychiatric care in prison. The Archdiocese of New York is said to have known about Pipala's pedophilia and therapy for it, which the church's insurance company was paying for, but still assigned him as a pastor in Goshen, where he continued to molest boys. The archdiocese is a defendant in civil lawsuits. Sources: _New York Times_ 4/15/94; _Pittsburgh Post-Gazette_ 4/15/94; _Times Herald- Record_ 4/15/94, 6/11/94; _Jackson Citizen Patriot_ 4/15/94.

YOUTH DIRECTOR SUED FOR ABUSE. A former state legislator from Maine and director of Catholic youth programs has been accused of sexual abuse of a boy from 1985-91 in a $24 million lawsuit. Stephen Tom Hughes is accused of plying Alex Ventura with drugs and alcohol, and sexually abusing him over 90 times. The suit says the church should have known Hughes was a threat because he was removed from an Ohio church for pedophilia in the early 1980s. The church claims not to have known about Hughes' record until 1992, a year after he ceased assaults on Ventura. Hughes was asked to resign from his position at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in Manhattan. Source: _New York Newsday_ 6/8/94.

*** OHIO *** PRIEST'S FILE ORDERED OPEN. A state appellate court ordered the Archdiocese of Cincinnati to open the files on Rev. George Cooley. Cooley was convicted of molesting 4 boys in 1983-4. Parents of one of the boys, who has since died, are suing Cooley and the archdiocese. To be turned over are records of Cooley's conversation with a psychologist after an earlier sexual contact with a boy, and a secret archdiocesan archive on Cooley. State law does not exempt clergy from reporting suspected child abuse. Source: _Cincinnati Enquirer_ 1/27/94.

BERNARDIN DROPPED FROM CASE. Facing possible sanctions for filing a frivolous lawsuit and advice from Bernardin's attorneys "to do the right thing", Steven J Cook, 34, dropped Cardinal Joseph Bernardin from a civil suit charging sexual abuse. Although Cook says he remembered some of the abuse in 1970, there is no evidence to prove that the memories were not introduced during hypnosis, according to court documents. The A.M.A. recognized hypnosis as valid, as early as 1958, but there is no consensus on its use in recalling repressed memories. Rev. Ellis Harsham remains a defendant in the case, which goes to trial May 9. Bernardin has no plans to countersue Cook. Sources: _Wisconsin State Journal_ 3/1/94; _Washington Post_ 2/12/94, 3/1/94; _Los Angeles Times_ 3/1/94; _Chicago Sun-Times_ 3/1/94; _Indianapolis Star_ 3/5/94.

COOK'S LAWSUIT SETTLED. Steven Cook, 34, who accused Archbishop Bernardin of Chicago and Rev. Ellis Harsham, 52, of sexually abusing him, has accepted a settlement from the Cincinnati archdiocese for an undisclosed sum, withdrew his accusations against Bernardin but not Harsham, and the lawsuit was dismissed. Cook is dying of AIDS and does not want to spend the rest of his life in litigation. Harsham, who is accused by others of sexual abuse, remains an active priest. Sources: _Washington Post_ 419/94; AP (_Centre Daily Times_) 4/22/94, _Hartford Courant_ 4/19/94, _Pittsburgh Post Gazette_ 4/19/94, _Berkshire Eagle_ 4/19/94, _St. Louis Post-Dispatch_ 4/19/94, _News-Sun_ 4/18/94.

DIOCESE TO DO BACKGROUND CHECKS. In a hopefully trend-setting move, the Catholic Diocese of Youngstown has decided to require police background checks for all new clergy, volunteers, and other staff. The existing 1,600 employees and 2,500 regular volunteers will sign an affidavit stating they have never participated in child abuse. Source: _Arizona Republic_ 3/12/94.

TELEVANGELIST VIDEOTAPED CRIMES; SENTENCED TO PRISON. Columbus TV preacher William M. Wasmus, 38, was found guilty after pleading no contest to 17 counts of sex with minors and producing child porn. He was sentenced to 104 to 269 years in prison but will be eligible for parole in less than 10 years. Videotapes he made of the assaults using video equipment at the Church of the Living Savior in Franklin County were used as evidence against him. He is married with 3 children. Source: _Columbus Dispatch_ 6/14/94.

*** OKLAHOMA *** MOLESTING MINISTER STABBED TO DEATH BY INMATES. Robert Bruce Brigden, former pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Alva, was stabbed to death by 2 fellow inmates of the Oklahoma State Reformatory while serving a 40-year prison sentence. He was convicted of rape by instrument, lewd molestation, and fondling of 11 girls, aged 4 to 14. Source: _Dallas Morning News_ 6/14/94.

*** OREGON *** YOUTH PASTOR AND GIRL RUN AWAY. Youth pastor and _Bible_ study teacher of Hope Christian Church in Central Point, Brett Aaron Rossback, 25, is being held on $80,000 bail, on charges of rape, sodomy, and sex abuse of church member Stacie Webber, 13. The family of the girl had known Rossback for 3 years when he abducted her. The child, now with her mother in Oregon, was gone for 6 weeks. The child's stepfather said, "We don't want the church getting a bad name." Source: _Daily Barometer_ 2/3/94, _Register-Guard_ 3/9/94, _Mail Tribune_ 3/16/94.

*** PENNSYLVANIA *** PRIEST'S HABIT WAS TOUCHING BOYS. The Rev. Francis E. Luddy, accused of molesting at least 4 boys, is being sued for unspecified damages by his godson, Michael Hutchinson, Jr., 26, who also names St. Therese's parish in Altoona and the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown. He says he was molested over a decade ago. Luddy admits to molesting boys, including Hutchinson's stepbrother, as far back as 1968, and said it grew into a habit. Hutchinson testified that he received money from Luddy for sexual favors in the early 1980s. Hutchinson has testified that the abuse began both when he was 8 and when he was 11. This discrepancy led the defense to challenge the plaintiff's credibility. Now-retired Bishop James Hogan testified that 3 priests (Rev. William Kovach, Dennis Coleman, and Joseph Gaborick) confessed to him that they sexually abused children, but he only told them to keep their mouths shut and "cool it" with the boys because the "danger flags are up" that the diocese could be legally liable for their actions. He admits never contacting the parents of the children, nor warning the officials of parishes he relocated the priests into of the priests' past behavior. Msgr. Philip Saylor testified that he informed Hogan that Rev. Thomas Carroll had sexually molested a boy, and that Hogan only told Saylor to find a psychiatrist for Carroll. Source: _Centre Daily Times_ 2/4,17/94, 3/4,10/94; _Pittsburgh Post Gazette_ 2/18/94, 3/8/94; _Tribune-Democrat_ 2/94, 3/19/94; _Clearfield Progress_ 3/8/94.

SALVATION ARMY VERDICT CONTROVERSIAL. For being sexually abused by Salvation Army _Bible_ teacher Gary Hallock, 4 boys and their parents were awarded over $500,000 in compensatory damages for the years of therapy needed, but only $1 each for punitive damages. Although an officer of the Army knew of Hallock's pedophilia years ago, the Army was not held responsible for the abuse. Hallock is serving a 36-72 year jail term, and has admitted to abusing 30 children. The plaintiffs' lawyer was seeking $4 million in the case, and accused jurors of wanting child abuse to continue because they did not award high punitive damages. Source: _Tribune_ 2/18,22/94; _Tribune-Democrat_ 2/94.

CIPOLLA RETURNS. The Pittsburgh Catholic priest who was banned from ministry in 1989 for accusations of child molestation said Mass on national television on February 17. Rev. Anthony Cipolla, 50, said the Mass with 3 other priests on Eternal Word Television Network, locally carried on TCI. The diocese now has no power over Cipolla, and can only warn bishops not to allow him to minister in their parishes. Though forbidden to even wear clerical garb, he donned a purple chasuble and alb. A network spokesperson said he was unaware of the ban, and Cipolla's attorney said the ban is no longer valid. Cipolla maintains his innocence. Bishop Donald W. Wuerl had appealed the Vatican's decision to reinstate Cipolla. Source: _Pittsburgh Post-Gazette_ 2/18/94.

PASTOR MOLESTS. Former associate pastor of Cornerstone Baptist Church and parent representative at Pittsburgh's Margaret Milliones Middle School, Rev. Rudolph B. Walls, 43, was a defendant in a lawsuit filed in May 1992 by a male teen and his mother. Walls was accused of sexually molesting the teen, now 18. Also involved in the suit were the principal, school board, and Pittsburgh Public Schools. They settled for $425,000. In August 1991 Walls was sentenced to 1-5 years in prison for indecent assault. Walls was on probation for a North Carolina molestation at the time he began assaulting the teen in this lawsuit. Source: _Pittsburgh Post- Gazette_ 2/24/94.

JUDGE REFUSES TO DISMISS CASE. Altoona-Johnstown priest Joseph Strittmatter is accused in a civil suit by Belinda Miller, 38, of sexually molesting her from the time she was 6 until she was 14. She has had a history of depression and psychological problems. The abuse happened 24 years ago and has passed the statute of limitations, but the judge denied the initial request for dismissal. Her lawsuit contends church officials knew of the abuse and ignored it. Source: _Tribune-Democrat_ (Johnstown, PA) (no date).

PRIEST IN THE KNOW KEPT SILENT. The Altoona-Johnstown diocese was ordered to pay $1.57 million to Michael Hutchison, 26, for molestation endured when he was a boy during 1978-1984, inflicted by Rev. Francis Luddy. His mother testified that she approached the Rev. Gabriel Zeis about the abuse, and was told he would inform the bishop and stop Luddy from abusing other boys. Zeis testified against the mother, claiming she told him not to inform the bishop or anyone else. Luddy admitted molesting Michael's brother Mark, but denied molesting Michael. Luddy's lawyer, L. Robert Glass, 47, has been charged with cocaine distribution in Pittsburgh. Sources: _Tribune-Democrat_ (Johnstown, PA) (no date) 4/22/94, AP (no date), _Clearfield Progress_ (Clearfield, PA) 4/22/94, _Pittsburgh Post Gazette_ 6/2/94.

PASTOR/WIFE MOLESTING CASE DROPPED. The pastor of Corner Stone Ministries of Lilly, Juan Mark Lopez, 36, and his wife, Tesa A. Lopez, 33, had been scheduled to stand trial for the sexual molestation of a girl, 4, in their home. The child's therapist and parents felt testifying in court would be too traumatic for her, and the case was dropped. The child allegedly was touched while the Lopez' and another child were naked in their bed. The Lopez' claim innocence. Lopez has lost his job as pastor of the church and as a truck driver. The D.A. could refile the charges within the year, before the statute of limitations expires. Source: _Tribune- Democrat_ (Johnstown, PA) (no date).

CHURCHES, ABUSE AND MONEY. Due to the number of clergy sexual abuse cases in the news and the high settlements involved, church insurance companies are changing their policies. In the Episcopal Diocese of PA, a 2-part workshop on child abuse is required of its employees and volunteers so that their insurance company will provide coverage for sexual misconduct. Premiums have escalated since the 1980s, and terms have changed. It therefore behooves churches to do extensive background checks to protect themselves from lawsuits and to protect potential victims. One discussion group held by the Episcopal Church questioned why the church hadn't initiated ways to protect children decades ago, instead of being forced to do so for monetary reasons by insurance companies. One representative stated that the appearance of women in church leadership brought the abuse issue to light, but that it would not have made an impact if it didn't involve money. Source: _Philadelphia Inquirer_ 5/30/94.

*** RHODE ISLAND *** PRIEST PLEADS INNOCENT TO ASSAULT. A priest accused of sexual assault and indecent exposure in a park has pleaded "not guilty" at his arraignment. Rev. Joseph A. Abruzzese, 34, was accused by a boy, 16, of attacking him in a park. The boy fled, and police traced the perpetrator's car to the priest. Source: _Providence Journal_ 1/14/94.

PRIEST ACCUSED OF RAPE. In a civil suit Cynthia M. Lewis is suing Rev. Alfred R. Desrosiers, 58, as well as the Diocese of Providence, Bishop Louis Gelineau, Rev. Roger Marot, Rev. Edward Cardente, and St. Joan of Arc Parish for negligence in hiring and retaining Desrosiers, whom she accused of statutory rape, which began in 1972 when she was 15 and lasted almost 2 years. She says Desrosiers, as often as 4 times a week, would invite her to his apartment, give her alcohol, and rape her, while he claimed it was his responsibility to teach her about sex and that he could only continue serving the people of God because she was in his life. The suit seeks unspecified damages. Memories of the abuse surfaced when Lewis' dying mother requested to see the priest, a long-time friend of the family. Source: _Providence Journal-Bulletin_ 3/9/94.

BISHOP COVERUP? Five Rhode Island residents are suing Most Rev. Louis Gelineau, Bishop Kenneth Angell, and Bishop Daniel Reilly for ignoring evidence of their sexual abuse by 4 priests (Rev. James Silva, Rev. William O'Connell, Rev. Robert Marcantonio, and Rev. Alfred Desrosiers Ñ all of whom have previously been accused of sexual abuse) and negligence in hiring and maintaining the priests. The bishops deny the charges. Source: AP, _Boston Globe_ 3/18/94; _Providence Journal_ 3/18/94, _Union-News_ 3/18/94, _Hartford Courant_ 3/22/94.

NAVY CHAPLAIN ASSAULTED MARINES. A Roman Catholic priest and Naval chaplain was dismissed from the Navy and will serve 5 years in military prison after pleading guilty to the sexual assault of two male Marines. Lt.Cmdr. Neal Destefano, 45, spiked their drinks, took photographs of one in his underwear, and sexually molested the other one in his hotel room. Source: AP 3/24/94, _Centre Daily Times_ 3/25/94.

*** SOUTH CAROLINA *** Episcopal Priest on Church Trial. Rev. Antoine Campbell of Charleston was relieved of his duties during a second church trial on charges of misconduct. He was cleared of charges of sexual misconduct in a previous church trial. Source: _San Antonio Express- News_ 3/30/94.

MINISTER PLAYING DOCTOR? An assistant minister and youth choir director at First Church of God has been charged with practicing medicine without a license and criminal sexual conduct for the rectal exam of a male and pelvic exams on women involving penile catheters. Dean Willoughby, 29, was apparently practicing medicine from his apartment on homeless people, including children. HIV+ blood samples were found there, also apparently drawn from "patients". Willoughby's attorney says, "All he's ever done is do community work ... with street people, with the homeless, with AIDS patients. He has not a blemish in his background. He's very highly respected in his church." Source: _Lexington Herald-Leader_ 4/8/94.

*** SOUTH DAKOTA *** DIOCESE DROPPED. The diocese of Rapid City has been dropped from the lawsuit involving a priest accused of molesting an altar boy, beginning when he was 12. Robert Koenig, now an adult, filed suit in 1992 against the diocese and Rev. William Lambert, alleging Lambert sexually abused him from 1958-1975 while in Fairfax. The suit said that Lambert also forced Koenig to confess his abuse to 17 other priests, who did nothing to stop it. Lambert is now retired. Lambert's attorney argues that the case should be dismissed altogether because the statute of limitations has expired. Since the diocese is financially off the hook, it is now planning on building a $3.5 million high school. Source: _Rapid City Journal_ 1/27/94.

*** TEXAS *** PRIEST INVESTIGATED FOR MISCONDUCT. Sacred Heart Parish in Uvalde is investigating Rev. Johnny Davila for sexual misconduct with a young parishioner, in her teens. Archdiocesan officials say they knew of no other allegations from the other churches Davila has served. Davila was placed on administrative leave on Dec. 24. No charges have been filed, but there is a police investigation in progress. Source: _San Antonio Express-News_ 1/4/94.

SEMINARY TEACHER INDICTED FOR SEX ABUSE. A Catholic priest and dean of men at St. Anthony's High School Seminary has been indicted on charges of sexual assault and indecency. Rev. Carlos Lozano, 37, of Kingsville could face 2-20 years in prison and fines of $20,000. He was placed on administrative leave on Dec. 17. Lozano was receiving treatment at a retreat center, and has been released on bond. The high school had a meeting for parents and an assembly for the students, informing them of the allegations, which resulted in 4 more students coming forward with allegations. Patrick Flores, the Archbishop of San Antonio, in a letter to priests, suggested some priests may have known about the abuse and not reported it. "We all cherish the priestly brotherhood that binds us together, but there is a greater loyalty to be served," said Flores. Source: _San Antonio Express-News_ 2/3,4,6/94.

PRIEST INDICTED ON INDECENCY. The Rev. Johnny Davila, who was being investigated by Sacred Heart Parish for indecency with a girl, was indicted by a grand jury in Uvalde County, and a warrant for his arrest has been issued. San Antonio Archdiocese spokesperson Monsignor Lawrence Stuebben said the Lozano [see previous] and Davila cases are not connected. He also said, "I wish that these things would go away in our society." Source: _San Antonio Express- News_ 2/5/94.

BAPTIST MINISTER SENTENCED. For sexually abusing 2 boys who were members of his Community Baptist Church near Lake Lavon, Gene Allen McDonald, 55, of Nevada will serve a minimum of 2 years in Collin County Jail before parole. He was sentenced to 2 concurrent 5-year sentences. Source: _Dallas Morning News_ 2/8/94.

SAN ANTONIO ARCHDIOCESE SUED. In district court 2 lawsuits have been filed by 2 families against Rev. Xavier Ortiz Deitz and the Catholic Archdiocese of San Antonio for the abuse of an adult male and 3 minors, one of whom is the victim in the criminal case against Deitz to be tried April 25. In the first case Deitz is said to have sabotaged a wedding and sexually harassed the husband and sexually molested his minor brother. In the second case Deitz allegedly sexually molested a boy and abused his minor sister. Source: _San Antonio Express-News_ 3/25/94.

GIRL ASSAULTED AT DAYCARE? A civil suit has been filed against the officials of the Valley Hi First Baptist Church and its day-care center by the parents of a girl, who said she was sexually molested at age 7 by William Robert Smith, 41. He is accused of regularly abusing her in the parking lot of the center. The lawsuit accuses the church and center of not having policies to prevent child molestation and for ignoring Smith's behavior. The suit seeks counseling costs and punitive damages. Smith also faces criminal charges. Source. _San Antonio Express-News_ 4/7/94.

YMCA WORKER MOLESTED 50? The East Dallas YMCA is defendant in 6 civil suits for hiring and maintaining a child molester, David Wayne Jones, who was convicted of sexually abusing 50 children (mostly 7, 8, or 9) and is serving sixteen 15-year sentences in prison. Jones was a child-care counselor at the Y. One jury already awarded $400,000 to the family of 2 boys, to be paid by the YMCA. The attorney for the Y stated, "The instance of this guy getting by the Y people happens at every church organization ... throughout the world." Source: _San Antonio Express-News_ 4/11/94, _Inland Valley Daily Bulletin_ (Ontario, CA) 6/94.

TV EVANGELIST WITH PROSTITUTE. Former Robert Tilton television production assistant and televangelist Dan Moroso, 38, has pleaded guilty to public lewdness for picking up a known prostitute last fall. Moroso says he did not know she was a prostitute and no money was exchanged. He was fined and sentenced to 6 months probation for oral copulation with a prostitute. Source: _Dallas Observer_ 3/24,30/94.

VICTIM SETTLES OUT OF COURT. An undisclosed out-of-court settlement was reached in a civil suit by a former altar boy against Rev. Jaime Madrid, pastor of St. Joseph's Catholic Church, for sexual molestation in the early 1970s. Source: _San Antonio Express-News_ 4/12/94.

EPISCOPAL TEACHER CHARGED WITH MOLESTATIONS. A Sunday school teacher and church elder at St. Cuthbert's Episcopal Church in Harris County has been charged with the sexual molestation of 2 male teens. A third boy, 15, may be a victim also. Assaults began in May 1992 and ended this February after a boy, 16, told his mother that Richard Dick Gray, 59, had molested him. Gray admitted having sex with another boy, 14. Gray was released on $20,000 bond. The 16-year-old is under psychiatric care and cannot testify. One mother invited Gray into her home to be an adult male role-model for her son. While she was away, Gray molested the youth. Gray was also accused of molesting a family member 20 years ago, for which his relatives have severed ties with him. Gray was also arrested 10 months ago for exposing himself to an undercover officer in an adult book store. Source: _Houston Chronicle_ 4/27/94.

ASSEMBLIES OF GOD CHURCH CAMP IMPLICATED. An Assembly of God church camp boys counselor, Matt Thrasher, 17, of Belton, pleaded not guilty to felony indecency with a child. He was released on $10,000 bond. The North Texas District Council for the Assemblies of God is a defendant in a civil lawsuit filed in Rusk, which claims church officials ignored the physical and sexual abuses occurring at the Mountain View Camp near Jacksonville. Source: _Lufkin Daily News_ 5/29/94.

CHRISTIAN RADIO HOST EMBROILED IN CONTROVERSY. A Christian radio host convicted of soliciting sex from a female undercover police officer in Dallas in 1993 is beset by controversy. Bob George, 61, head of Discipleship Counseling Services, and the Farmers Branch congregation, and host of the national TV show _People to People_, had his record cleared after serving 6 months probation. Although he had pleaded "no contest" to the charges, he tearfully compared his arrest to Judas' betrayal of Jesus in a spring sermon to his congregation. George's ministry is suing a former employee, Larry Pinkerton, for calling George a hypocrite. Harvest House Publishers, who produced 2 of George's books, supports George, saying he is guilty of no conduct that is "contrary to Christian standards". Bott Broadcasting did drop his radio program, saying, "If the church does not scrupulously care about truth, integrity and morality, then what is its message?" Source: _Dallas Morning News_ 6/12,13/94.

PRIEST CAUGHT IN THE ACT. A Catholic priest has been accused of propositioning sex from and grabbing the genitals of a male undercover police officer in a park in Fort Worth. Rev. David Jerome Paul, 56, was a principal at an Omaha Catholic high school, assistant dean of Creighton University's law school, and president of St. Mary's University in San Antonio. He resigned as head of Fort Worth's only Catholic high school after the incident. Public lewdness is punishable by up to 1 year in jail and a fine. St. Mary's trustees chairman called Paul someone who was sensitive to the public and to the ideals of Catholic education. Source: _Lincoln Star_ (Lincoln, NE) 6/13/94, _Dallas Morning News_ 6/3/94, _San Antonio Express-News_ 6/4/94.

*** UTAH *** NAVAHO MORMON TRIED FOR MOLESTING GIRL. In August 1989 George P. Lee was charged with the sexual abuse of a girl, 12, his daughter's friend. He surrendered to police but was released with orders not to have contact with anyone under 18. He appeared in court in September and asked for more time before his preliminary hearing. He is accused of fondling the girl, now 16, in her home and on trips. Lee contends he is innocent and the charges are part of a big plot by the church to excommunicate him, which they did in 1989 for polygamy and immorality and later apostasy, before the current charges were brought forward. Lee was also dismissed as high school principal in Tuba City for insubordination. If convicted, Lee could be sentenced to life in prison. Source: _Sunstone_ 12/93.

*** VIRGINIA *** PRIEST INITIATES SEX WITH TEEN. When she was 13 and a student at St. Ann's Church, a woman, now 30, says Rev. Stephen Roszel, 42, escalated their friendship into a sexual relationship that lasted until she was through college. She is suing Roszel and the Diocese of Arlington for more than $12 million. Roszel vowed to wage a vigorous defense against the allegations. He is now working at Blessed Sacrament, where he is on personal leave, though his parishioners were not told why. The woman said Roszel told her the relationship would bring them closer to God, and led prayers with her after sex. He also wrote dozens of letters to her telling her she was "soft, tender and pretty ... and sexy". The lawsuit alleges other priests knew of the affair and did not report it. Source: _Washington Post_ 6/94.

*** WASHINGTON (STATE) *** MINSTER ACCUSED OF RAPING GRANDDAUGHTER. A tattooed minister, who used to be in a motorcycle gang called the "Outlaws" but began his own orthodox Catholic church from his home, kidnapped his granddaughter, 9, recently and planned to vacation in Hawaii and move to India with her. Rev. Frederick Robert Aylward, 51, staged a car wreck with the assistance of Angela Marie Blees, 19, who later turned herself in but pleaded innocent to custodial interference; and stayed in a hotel 2 nights in Portland, where he is alleged to have raped his granddaughter. The aunt of the girl, Aylward's daughter, says he raped her when she was a girl, and was concerned that he was molesting the 9-year-old. The girl eventually said her grandfather had been sexually abusing her for 2 years. Aylward was charged with kidnapping his stepdaughter, 12, in 1978 and was also arrested for insurance fraud of Arizona senior citizens, for which he served 7 years in prison. He is also being investigated for forging state documents and using his wife's credit card. She has just filed for divorce. One of his former wives says he battered her and molested her daughter. He is a former Marine Corps sergeant, having served for 8 years and earning medals for good conduct. The Kitsap County Sheriff's Guild has started a $2,000 fund to send his granddaughter and her family to Disneyland, as she was promised by Aylward. Source: _Peninsula Daily News_ 1/4/94, _Seattle Post- lntelligencer_ 1/5,7,10,18/94, _Register-Guard_ 1/7/94.

PASTOR PLEADS INNOCENT TO SEXUALLY ABUSING 2 GIRLS. Assistant pastor Edwin Huff, 58, has been charged with sexually molesting a girl, starting when she was 3 or 4 until she was 11. She is now 17. Then he began molesting another girl, now 5. He was in the Pierce county jail but was released on his own recognizance. He has pleaded innocent. He calls the allegations a scandal. Source: _News Tribune_ 1/5/94.

CUB SCOUT LEADER JAILED. Admitting to sexually molesting about 20 young boys, including ones he met at Cub Scouts, church groups and Big Brothers, Garth David Snively, 43, of Everett, was sentenced to 11 years in prison. A boy, 12, said Snively fondled him, made him wear adult diapers, forced him to rub baby powder on Snively, and change diapers Snively was wearing. Source: _Spokesman Review_ 1/27/94.

MINISTER ADMITS SEXUAL MISCONDUCT. A Baptist minister and social activist, Rev. Donovan Cook, has been under investigation for sexual misconduct involving 3 women. It has been recommended that his ordination be suspended. Cook is popular for his work helping Central American refugees, and allowing homosexuals to be church members. One member said, "If we can't get justice for the women, how are we going to ask for justice in Central America?" Supporters of Cook say the American Baptist Church's political conflicts with Cook's work make their judgments "hardly impartial". Source: _Seattle Post-lntelligencer_ 1/31/94.

DIOCESE DENIES CULPABILITY. The Seattle Archdiocese claims to have acted immediately upon learning that Rev. Paul Conn, 41, was accused of sexually molesting 2 brothers. The victims and their family have filed a civil suit, against the archdiocese and the Catholic University of America, where Conn underwent counseling. Conn was convicted of indecent liberties with 6 altar boys in 1988. Conn was assigned to 2 different posts, and allegedly molested children at both following his counseling. Reportedly officials at several facilities knew of his pedophilia, and the archdiocese is accused of a cover-up. The victims have suffered from chemical abuse and depression Sources: _Spokesman-Review_ 2/25/94, _Seattle Post- lntelligencer_ 2/25/94.

CHURCH FOUNDER IMPRISONED FOR KIDNAP, RAPE OF GRANDDAUGHTER. A judge sentenced a church leader to the maximum 20-1/2 years in prison for kidnapping, molesting, and raping his granddaughter, 9. The court said no punishment could ever compensate for his crimes. Former biker gang member and founder of St. Margaret of Castello Orthodox Catholic Church in Port Orchard, Frederick Aylward, 51, had pleaded guilty to charges. Apparently this was not the first time he had molested his granddaughter. Aylward also had sexually abused a girl in Florida 16 years ago. Sources: _Peninsula Daily News_ 4/5/94, _Statesmen Journal_ 4/6/94, _Seattle Post-lntelligencer_ 4/5,8/94.

BACKERS OF REV. COOK LOSE. An American Baptist Church committee exonerated a female assistant pastor of charges of professional misconduct for making allegations of sexual misconduct against Rev. Donovan Cook. Cook was forced to resign Jan. 30 after 20 years in the pulpit when Rev. Anne Hall made her charges. Cook, known for his liberal views and support for gays and lesbians, admitted improper sexual relations with two female church members between 1982 and 1984, taking a two-year suspension. His supporters brought charges against Hall, assistant minister of University Baptist Church. Source: _Seattle Post-Intelligencer_ 5/23/94.

*** WEST VIRGINIA *** MINISTER INITIATES SEX WITH INCEST VICTIM. A girl, 14, who sought help from a Baptist minister because her father was sexually abusing her was then sexually abused by the trusted pastor during counseling sessions. Gary Hackler Kendall, 40, pastor of North Hills Baptist Church, pleaded guilty. The victim's father also pleaded guilty and received a 5-15 year prison term. Source: _Charleston Gazette_ 6/1/94.

CHURCH BUS DRIVER FONDLES GIRLS. A Monroe County church bus driver has been sentenced to 1 year of home confinement for the sexual molestation of 3 girls, aged 11 through 13. Willis D. Baldwin, 69, of Peterstown, was originally charged with 10 counts of sexual abuse, but pleaded "no contest" to 2 counts of battery. He was also fined $1,000. Source: _Charleston Gazette_ 6/1/94. *** WISCONSIN *** ARCHDIOCESE ADDS $2 MILLION TO THE POT. The Milwaukee Catholic Archdiocese has added $2 million to its financial resources intended to handle potential clergy sexual-abuse cases. Though the church has liability insurance, Archbishop Rembert Weakland said the move would help the church emerge stronger from its current cases. He insisted the money does not come from annual fundraisers. Source: _Wisconsin State Journal_ 1/8/94, _Milwaukee Journal_ 1/7/94.

MADISON PRIEST ACCUSED OF 1982 ASSAULT. An Eau Claire man, 26, has brought suit against Rev. Michael Trainer, St. Thomas Aquinas Church, and the Diocese of Madison, claiming Trainer sexually assaulted him numerous times in 1982. The lawsuit also says the church knew of Trainer's pedophilia before the assaults on the man, and should have removed him. It also says Trainer used "holy condemnation to prevent" the man from reporting the assaults. Trainer is no longer a priest in Madison. Source: _Wisconsin State Journal_ 2/18/94.

GUILTY PRIEST'S RELATIVES BLAME VICTIM. In his second conviction of child molestation; Dennis A. Pecore, admitted he was in denial about the harm he was causing his victim. Pecore was sentenced to 12 years in prison for abusing a boy, who was 8 when it began. He was on probation for his first offense when he met the boy. The second boy's parents knew of Pecore's previous offense, but trusted him anyway. Relatives of the priest sent letters to the court calling the boy a liar. Source: _Milwaukee Journal_ 3/3/94.

EPISCOPAL SEMINARY ABUSES. At least 6 boys as young as 13 say they were sexually abused by their fathers' seminary colleagues from 1987-90 at Nashotah House Episcopal seminary. One indigent priest, Eugene Maxey, 40, has been arrested so far for abuse of 3 youths. Four of the five suspects are practicing priests. The Nashotah House denies knowledge of Maxey's abuses until recently, although Rev. Jack Knight, rector of the House from 1985-1992, said he had his suspicions and confronted Maxey, who denied molesting boys. Knight merely told him to change his behavior. Another seminarian, Charles R. McCray, 39, now of Long Beach, CA, was named in a civil suit for sexual assault. Source: _Wisconsin State Journal_ 4/13/94, _Milwaukee Journal_ 4/14/94, _Leader-Telegram_ 4/13/94, _Capital Times_ (Madison, Wl) 5/5/94.

ILLINOIS PRIEST CONVICTED IN WISCONSIN. Rev. Norbert J. Maday, 56, former pastor of Our Lady of the Ridge parish in Illinois, was sentenced to 20 years in prison, followed by 5 years probation. His sentence has been temporarily stayed, prompting the parent of a victim to warn, "Watch out for your children." Maday was tried for the sexual assault of 2 boys, then 12 and 14, while on an outing in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, in 1986. One of the boys testified that he wore 2 pairs of pants to protect himself and stayed close by a friend to ward off Maday's molestations. He testified the priest told him the abuse was his fault. One man, now 20, says he was offered money to not accuse Maday, although an archdiocese spokesperson denied ever offering an out-of-court settlement in his civil suit. Maday was also convicted of intimidating a witness by threatening to kill one of the victim's younger brothers if the victim told about the abuse. Three other men testified that Maday molested them, although not in Wisconsin. Maday was involved in sex-related allegations in a separate 1992 case, but insufficient evidence was found. One parent said of the Catholic Church, "They back their priests above and beyond their children. It's a big boy's club, the priesthood." Maday may also face 2 more related civil suits. D.A. Joseph Paulus called Maday a fixated pedophile who had preyed upon young boys since the 1970s, satisfying himself while scarring them forever. Sources: _Milwaukee Journal_ 4/11/94; _Wisconsin State Journal_ 4/16/94; _Chicago Sun-Times_ 3/8/94, 4/10,13,14,15/94; _Appleton Post- Crescent_ 6/9/94; _Milwaukee Sentinel_ 6/9/94.

PRIEST SUED BY 4 MEN. A Green Bay Catholic priest is being accused of sexually assaulting 4 boys between 1963 and 1967 after giving them alcohol, witnessed and encouraged by another priest. The suit filed by the men seeks a jury trial to determine damages. The boys felt the priests' actions were sanctioned by the Catholic Church. Their resulting psychological distress kept them from realizing the cause of their distress and injury until recently. The priests were not named. Source: _Milwaukee Journal_ 5/5/94.

*** *** CANADA *** *** FEMALE JUDGE CREDITS SODOMITE FOR "SPARING DAUGHTER'S VIRGINITY". A Muslim man convicted of sodomizing his stepdaughter for 2-1/2 years, starting when she was 9, was given only a 23-month jail term by a female judge who credits the unnamed man for sparing his daughter's virginity, which is of prime importance to unwed Muslim girls, saying the girl had not been raped vaginally and would suffer no permanent effects. The Crown is appealing the sentence, asking for 4 years. Source: _Toronto Sun_ 1/15/94.

CASTRATED PRIEST JAILED. A Catholic priest who underwent voluntary surgical castration and therapy in 1990 is now being jailed for 15 months and has 3 years' probation. Rev. Richard Racine, 46, abused a male, who was 11 in 1983, through 1987. Source: _London Free Press_ (CP) 1/11/94.

PRIEST CHARGED WITH ASSAULT. A 70-year-old Catholic priest has been charged with indecent assault of girls, aged 5-11, between 1957- 1964. Eleven charges were laid, but 3 more women have come forward with more allegations, totaling 15. Rev. Eldon McGrath was suspended as parish priest in Sedley in 1992. His trial will be heard by Queen's Bench judge alone. He did not plea. The preliminary hearing will begin April 25. Source: _Star Phoenix_ 1/13/94.

DIOCESE PAYS VICTIM AND STOPS INVESTIGATION. An investigation into the sexual abuse by a prominent Catholic priest of an altar boy, now 35, will be re-opened. The victim received $32,000 from the Diocese of Alexandria-Cornwall (Ontario) in a settlement which contained a clause that prevented the man from further pressing charges. The diocese denied but later admitted knowledge that the agreement would prevent the man from pressing charges. The priest is now at a treatment center where he was tested for pedophilia. The test indicated he is not attracted to children. There will be an investigation as to whether there was a conspiracy between the church and police to effect the settlement. The police dropped the investigation after the complainant withdrew, and they did not report the case to the Children's Aid Society until 10 months later. The former police chief was so incensed by the church that he visited the Papal Nuncio archbishop in October and complained. He also protested that the church waited 10 months without removing the accused priest, which finally occurred after the meeting with the former police chief. Source: _London Free Press_ 2/94; _Citizen_ 1/12,14,15,25/94.

PRIEST CHARGED WITH SEXUAL ASSAULT. Gerard Lambert, a St. Paul University student, is charged with sexually molesting 6 boys, aged 9-13 in the early 1970s and early 1990s. The assaults occurred while Lambert was a priest in Notre-Dame-de-Fourvieres in MontLaurier and in Christ King Church in Maniwaki. Source: _Citizen_ 1/12,25,26/94.

CHURCH INSURERS FEAR CLAIMS. Canadian insurance companies who serve churches are increasingly concerned about the number of sexual abuse cases. Many companies are considering riders in their policies that exclude coverage of criminal behavior. What they would cover is negligence that leads to or does not stop criminal abuse. Source: _Globe & Mail_ 1/24/94.

ST. ANN'S ABUSES REVEALED. Though the St. Ann's school was closed in 1972, its legacy lives on. Once a Cree Indian Residential School run by the Oblates of Marie Immaculate and Sisters of Charity, it is now an elementary school, police station, and apartment building. For nearly 70 years Cree children attended the school to be indoctrinated into Christianity and white culture. In August 1992 about 30 alumni attended a reunion, at which they discussed their horror stories of physical and sexual abuse. Since then police have interviewed over 450 people regarding abuse between 1960-1972. The Cree community is trying to get the church and government to address the issue. Source: _Ottawa Citizen_ 1/24/94.

ST. JOSEPH'S SAGA CLOSES. For the sexual and physical abuse of numerous boys over a decade, Andre Charbonneau, 62, was sentenced to 6 years in prison, thus ending the final case of the Brothers of the St. Joseph's Training School for Boys. 20 former staff members were involved in criminal cases. Nine received convictions. A compensation deal was struck for 300 victims, paid for by Ontario, Ottawa, and Toronto archdioceses and the French Christian Brothers of Ottawa. Many of the victims are still suffering psychological damage from the abuse 30 years ago. Source: _Ottawa Citizen_ 2/12/94.

BISHOP DENIES ASSAULTING WOMEN. Two female staff members of a Vancouver Native residential school (closed in 1982) say Bishop Hubert O'Connor sexually assaulted them, and 2 more women say the priest raped them while they were students at the school in the 1960s. After the defense argued that it was denied access to Crown information, the charges were stayed and a new trial was ordered. The Appeal Court overturned the stay. O'Connor denies abusing the women but admits having consensual sex with them and fathering a child, which was given up for adoption. Source: _Star Phoenix_ 3/31/94.

ABUSED FIRST NATION SEEK DISCUSSION. Several generations of Canadian First Nation peoples (representing 900 former students at St. Ann's Residential School in Ontario) have formed a group called Petabek Keywaywin, as survivors of physical and sexual abuse by clergy while at the school. The group is trying to negotiate with the Catholic church about alternatives to lawsuits to seek justice over abuse. Source: _The Oregonian_/Religious News Service 2/19/94.

CBC PUTS SCANDAL ON FILM. A Canadian made-for-TV movie paralleling the sexual abuse case at Newfoundland's Mount Cash orphanage opened at the Film Forum in New York on June 1. Directed by John N. Smith, _The Boys of St. Vincent_, a 2-part fictional film, was originally censored at the last minute by lawyers defending 4 Christian Brothers. The archbishop who denied the film director access to Catholic facilities for shooting was later indicted for covering up sexual abuse committed by his subordinates. After it did air, a hotline in Toronto was flooded with calls from abuse victims. Source: _New York Newsday_ 6/1/94, _New York Times_ 6/1/94, _New York Press_ 6/1-7/94.

BAPTIST MINISTER CONVICTED OF SEXUAL ABUSE. A married minister, who worked at Tiverton-Freeport United Baptist Church from 1976-1981, was convicted of 21 charges of indecent and sexual assault involving 13 boys in Digby County between those years. Floyd Delano Gale, 46, had written a letter of apology to the family of one of his victims. According to the family's testimony, he sat in their living room and admitted he was a pedophile, and had sexual relationships with boys, including their son, then 12, but claimed they were of legal age and consented. Gale claims to be a victim of childhood sexual abuse himself. Gale's assaults included oral sex and fondling of the boys, some in their own home while their parents slept. During the trial one of his victims punched Gale in the head outside the courthouse. When the judge denied a request for Gale to be set free until sentencing, the courtroom applauded In 1988 Gale resigned from the Church of Christ in Garnet Settlement, New Brunswick, amidst rumors of his sexual misconduct. Source: _The Chronicle-Herald_ (Nova Scotia) 5/17,18,19,20,26/94, 6/7/94.

PRIEST IMPRISONED FOR ASSAULTING BOYS. A Roman Catholic priest, Rev. Claude J. Richard, 58, of Montastery, Antigonish County, was sentenced to 2 years in prison to be followed by 2 years probation for the sexual assault of 3 boys, then 10 through 13, while he was priest at St. John the Baptist Church in New Glasgow from 1965-1973. Assaults usually occurred in or near his car. One victim said he was fondled 50 times in 2 years. Richard has 3 previous convictions for indecent assault and was just released from jail this year. He is still a priest, but not permitted to perform priestly duties. Source: _The Chronicle-Herald_ (Nova Scotia) 6/8/94.

MOUNT CASHEL CASE. The defense of one Christian Brother accused of sexual abuse has cost more than $819,000, over half of which was paid by the Congregation of Irish Christian Brothers, which ran the former Mount Cashel orphanage. That Brother, Douglas Kenny, 53, was sentenced to 5 years in prison for the abuse of boys at St. John's orphanage in the early 1970s. Source: _The Chronicle-Herald_ (Nova Scotia) 6/2/94.

MINISTER CHARGED WITH RAPING MAN. A Prince Edward Island United Church minister has been charged for forcing anal intercourse with a male in 1972 in Halifax. The Crown prosecutor requested that the courtroom be emptied so that the alleged victim could discuss the incident without further trauma. Rev. Roland Hutchlnson, of Alberton, P.E.I., is accused of buggery and gross indecency. Source: _Chronicle-Herald_ (Nova Scotia) 6/1/94.