By Patrick Downes Hawaii Catholic Herald A three-day on-site independent audit conducted in October found the Diocese of Honolulu’s safe environment policies and procedures in full compliance with the U.S. bishops’ “Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People.” The Charter is the set of procedures the bishops established in 2002 for addressing allegations […]
Church’s victim assistance coordinator is just a call away
Whether you are a recent victim of sexual abuse or were abused many years ago, the diocese offers help By Anna Weaver Hawaii Catholic Herald The calls are not frequent. They often involve cases from years ago. And many times the callers have rarely if ever shared their story before. When someone calls the Diocese […]
Pope to convene world meeting on abuse prevention
By Carol Glatz Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis is calling the presidents of every Catholic bishops’ conference in the world to Rome Feb. 21-24 to discuss the prevention of the abuse of minors and vulnerable adults. The Vatican made the announcement Sept. 12 after the pope and members of his international Council […]
Response to recent news about the scandal of sexual abuse in the Church
August 24, 2018 To the Clergy, Religious, and Parishioners of the Diocese of Honolulu Dear Brothers and Sisters, Peace be with you! Satan is dancing with great joy! A Cardinal of the Catholic Church is now a former Cardinal because of credible accusations of abuse of minors and using his power to gain sexual favors […]
Diocese committed to ‘compassionate resolution and justice’ for abuse victims
The Catholic Church in Hawaii is “committed to compassionate resolution and justice for those who were victims of abuse,” said Msgr. Gary Secor, vicar general for the Diocese of Honolulu, Aug. 14 in a statement responding to the release that day of a Pennsylvania grand jury report on clergy sexual abuse in six of the […]
Survivors say they felt hurt by fellow Catholics’ lack of compassion
By Zita Ballinger Fletcher Catholic News Service WASHINGTON — Sexual assault victims say they were hurt not only by individual priests, but by church officials and ordinary Catholics who treated them with intolerance and indifference. Four survivors of sexual assaults by priests shared their stories with Catholic News Service. They are: Jim VanSickle and Mike […]
Pope: Victims’ outcry more powerful than efforts to silence them
By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY — “No effort must be spared” to prevent future cases of clerical sexual abuse and “to prevent the possibility of their being covered up,” Pope Francis said in a letter addressed “to the people of God.” “I acknowledge once more the suffering endured by many minors due […]