Tag Archives: scandal

Montana’s Roman Catholic Diocese of Helena yesterday filed for bankruptcy protection as it settles molestation lawsuits filed on behalf of hundreds of children. “The settlement here will be as much help financially as we can offer to claimants,” the spokesman, Dan Bartleson, told NBCNews.com. “And the bankruptcy puts us in a place at the diocese where we can care for …

Via the New York Times:  The former Port Authority official who personally oversaw the lane closings on the George Washington Bridge in the scandal now swirling around Gov. Chris Christie of New Jersey said on Friday that “evidence exists” the governor knew about the lane closings when they were happening. In a letter released by his lawyer, the former official, …

Earlier today Rep. Michael Grimm (R-NY made positive news when he became the sixth Republican member of the House to co-sponsor ENDA. Grimm’s move won him accolades from openly gay Rep. Jared Polis (D-CO), the bill’s author. But tonight Grimm dominated the post-SOTU Twitterverse for threatening to assault a NY1 reporter who dared to ask him about his burgeoning campaign …

Freshman US House Rep. Trey Radel (R-FL), who billed himself as a “hip-hop conservative,” will resign today. Radel was busted for cocaine possession in November. Radel’s decision to step down was confirmed by his chief of staff, Dave Natonski. Radel, a freshman who represents a Fort Myers-based district, returned to work in Washington earlier this month after taking a leave …

Anti-gay GOP former Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell, who routinely opposed LGBT rights in his state, was today charged with accepting illegal gifts from a local businessman. McDonnell’s wife was also charged. Authorities alleged that for nearly two years, the McDonnells hit up executive Jonnie R. Williams Sr. again and again, lodging near constant requests for large loans, clothes, trips, golf …

According to Catholic Church documents obtained yesterday, near the end of his reign Pope Benedict defrocked almost 400 priests over two years for sexually molesting children. The statistics for 2011 and 2012 show a dramatic increase over the 171 priests removed in 2008 and 2009, when the Vatican first provided details on the number of priests who have been defrocked. …

Source.

Via the New York Times: Federal prosecutors in New Jersey will begin a preliminary inquiry into the lane closures in Fort Lee, according to a law enforcement source. A source with knowledge of the plans said that the United States attorney for New Jersey, Paul J. Fishman, would announce the investigation on Thursday morning. The decision to open an inquiry …

Kelly was Christie’s deputy chief of staff. (Graphic source)

Details.

“What I’ve seen today for the first time is unacceptable. I am outraged and deeply saddened to learn that not only was I misled by a member of my staff, but this completely inappropriate and unsanctioned conduct was made without my knowledge. One thing is clear: this type of behavior is unacceptable and I will not tolerate it because the …

Minneapolis Archbishop John Nienstedt, who has preached that parents will go to hell if they accept their gay children, has been accused of touching a young boy on his buttocks. A statement released Tuesday morning said, “An allegation has been brought by a mandated reporter within the Church to the St. Paul Police of inappropriate touching of a minor male …

Yet another lawsuit has been filed against the Archdiocese of St. Paul & Minneapolis. Via MPR News: The lawsuit filed Thursday morning by St. Paul attorney Jeff Anderson on behalf of a man in his 50s alleges Kern abused him starting when he was 12 years old while Kern was working at Our Lady of Grace in Edina during the …

The United States Conference On Catholic Bishops has issued a press release and sent a letter to members of the Senate in which they declare that it should remain legal to fire LGBT people. Peter Montgomery of People From The American Way has a excerpt: While the Church is opposed to unjust discrimination on any grounds, including those related to …

I told you about this guy two weeks ago. Now he’s been expelled by Pope Francis. The Vatican stressed that Francis took the decision based on “objective” information, suggesting that the Vatican wasn’t being swayed by the popular outcry. Francis has also made it clear he expects his bishops to live simply, setting as an example his own humble lifestyle. …

“Many of these cases of (sexual) molestation could be avoided given a healthy relationship between parents. We often hear that this inappropriate attitude (pedophilia), or abuse, manifests itself when a child is looking for love. It (the child) clings, it searches. It gets lost itself and then draws another person into this. How many wounds are their in children’s hearts, …