Latest news with #priest
National Post
2 hours ago
- General
- National Post
NFL veteran booted from church over porn accusation against priest
A two-time NFL Pro Bowler was removed from a Cincinnati-area church on the weekend after a heated confrontation over accusations against a priest involving pornography. Article content Jack McQuaide, a 14-year NFL veteran, was escorted from Our Lady of the Visitation in Green Township by police on Saturday. Article content Article content The long snapper reportedly was involved in a contentious scene as parishioners sought answers about accusations against priest Martin Bachman, who allegedly viewed pornography on a church computer. Article content McQuaide had been demanding answers from Archdiocese of Cincinnati Chancellor Jason Williams, who was addressing the allegations. Article content Local ABC affiliate WCPO reported that Todd Zureick, a fellow member of the church, said they saw images from a laptop containing 'thumbnails to pornography sites and links to multiple virtual reality role-playing sites involving pornography, sexual assault, group sex, rape and occult themes.' Article content The Cincinnati Enquirer reported that Zureick had filed a complaint with the archdiocese earlier this year regarding the accusations. Article content On Saturday, Williams read a letter from Archbishop Robert Casey that dismissed the allegations against Bachman. 'These have been investigated, and no wrongdoing — either criminally or ecclesiastically — has been substantiated … consequently, like gossip, the spreading of rumours is sinful, and we should all work to overcome this tendency of our fallen human nature,' the letter said. Article content McQuaide – who said that he had seen the images — then stepped in, demanding answers. Article content Article content 'Please take a second. We want to put these rumours to rest. Can you answer this for me … fact or fiction,' McQuaide said, according to WCPO. Article content After someone at the altar tried to tell McQuaide that it wasn't the proper time for this interaction, the NFLer reportedly replied: 'I'm sorry, sir, this is the time and the place. I will stand up … Did the priest use our parish computer to look at pornography? … True or false … I am not trespassing. Article content 'You can look at pornography at your house, but you cannot do it here.' Article content McQuaide was then escorted out of the building by Green Township police officers, who had been asked to be at the church in case of disruptions. Article content The long snapper currently is a free agent after spending time last season with the Minnesota Vikings and Miami Dolphins. He played the first 10 seasons of his career with the Rams organization, making the Pro Bowl in 2016 and 2017. Article content
CBC
5 days ago
- General
- CBC
Retired P.E.I. Catholic priest facing historical sex-related charges
Social Sharing A retired Roman Catholic priest on Prince Edward Island is facing sex-related charges that go back to the late 1980s. RCMP began an investigation that led to charges being laid against Rev. Brendon Earl Gallant, 79, after the alleged victim came forward two years ago. He made his first appearance in provincial court in Georgetown on May 22. Proceedings were adjourned to give him time to get a lawyer. None of the allegations have been proven in court and Gallant has not yet entered any pleas. The charges filed in Kings County include sexual interference and invitation to sexual touching, and cite a single victim who was under the age of 14 at the time of the alleged offences. The location cited in the documents was St. Margaret's, one of the many communities Gallant served over his time in the priesthood. Diocese posts statement "The Diocese of Charlottetown has learned that a retired priest made an appearance in court recently where he faced charges related to sexual offences involving a minor," the diocese wrote in a statement posted to its website. "We can confirm the priest is not in active ministry. We invite prayers for all affected by this news. We are committed to ensuring our churches are safe environments." Gallant also served as a priest at Catholic churches in Cardigan, Little Pond, St. Georges, Georgetown, Souris, Charlottetown, Glenwood, Brae, Alberton, Bloomfield, Foxley River, St. Charles and Burton before retiring after his last posting in Tignish in 2018. The list is long because some Catholic priests on P.E.I. are responsible for multiple smaller communities at the same time, driving among them for weekend Mass and other services. In an email correspondence with CBC News, the chancellor of the Diocese of Charlottetown, Fr. Chris Sherren, said they learned about the charges the day before Gallant's first appearance. However, he said the diocese had been aware Gallant might be under investigation. "We knew it involved potential sexual misconduct, so we immediately removed him from active ministry as a precaution while we waited to see what would happen with the investigation," Sherren wrote. Sherren also confirmed Gallant was a priest in Kings County during the time frame covered by the allegations. The chancellor said the specific allegations were a surprise to him. In the statement posted to the diocese website, officials said the organization has a safe environment policy and anyone who wishes to report misconduct by a member of the clergy, lay staff or volunteer should call the diocese office or report directly to police. No other known victims In response to a request from CBC News, the P.E.I. RCMP issued a news release late Friday afternoon. "Any time there is a crime of this nature, there is always the concern that there are other victims. At this stage, we have no information showing other incidents," Cpl. Gavin Moore said in the release. "A sexual assault complaint can be made at any time, and there is no statute of limitations as to how far back the assault happened."
Washington Post
19-05-2025
- Washington Post
Massachusetts priest returns to public ministry after child rape charges dropped against him
BOSTON — A Roman Catholic priest from Massachusetts will return to public ministry after charges that he sexually assaulted a child more than two decades ago were dropped. In 2022, Monsignor Francis Strahan was indicted on forcible child rape and indecent assault and battery charges. Strahan was accused of assaulting an altar boy when he was a priest at St. Bridget Parish in Framingham, a Boston suburb, on two occasions from 2004 until 2008 when the boy was between the ages of 11 and 13.
ABC News
15-05-2025
- Politics
- ABC News
Outrage over Timor pardon proposal for paedophile former priest
A woman who survived sexual abuse at the hands of a convicted paedophile former priest fears he will hurt her again if the Timor-Leste government succeeds in having him pardoned. Defrocked priest Richard Daschbach, a United States citizen, was convicted by a Timor-Leste court in December 2021 after being found guilty of sexually abusing orphaned and disadvantaged young girls under his care. The high-profile trial and conviction were the first of their kind in the staunchly religious nation, where about 97 per cent of the population identifies as Catholic. Daschbach, now 88 years old, has had the strong support of Timor-Leste's Prime Minister Xanana Gusmão, who attended his 2021 trial and controversially celebrated Daschbach's birthday at the time.
CBS News
06-05-2025
- General
- CBS News
The role of women in the Catholic Church remains a divisive issue
The role of women in the Catholic Church is a big issue The role of women in the Catholic Church is a big issue The role of women in the Catholic Church is a big issue With the conclave to select a new Pope beginning on May 7, many are wondering in what direction a new pope will take the Catholic Church. The role of women in the Church is a big issue, and there are Catholics in the Pittsburgh region hoping women will be able to take bigger roles in the near future. In an intimate church service, Reverend Gerry Lococo celebrates mass as an ordained Roman Catholic priest in the basement of an Episcopal church in Brighton Heights. The community is called "Sunday's Bread." Lococo and a few hundred other women have been ordained outside the official church structure, and because the Catholic Church forbids women from becoming priests, Lococo is excommunicated. Yet she describes herself as a "cradle Catholic." "I love the sacramental church that we have. We have all these sacraments, yet I cannot receive all of them. Holy Orders is a sacrament. Doesn't that seem a little bit odd for members of a church to not be able to receive all of the sacraments?" Lococo says. A Pew Research survey in February found 59% of U.S. Catholics say the Church should allow women to become priests; however, the Catholic Church believes only men can be priests, in part because Jesus was a man. Lococo is married and says she was called to be a priest after decades as a social worker, but the inspiration started as a child. "I used to play mass with my brothers. We would have the little vanilla wafers or something like that, and I would actually (act out the mass)," Lococo says. Support for women becoming deacons is even higher than for priests. Sixty-eight percent of U.S. Catholics say women should be allowed to become deacons. Catholic deacons can give sermons and perform some services, like baptisms and funerals. Since the 1960s, married men have been allowed to be deacons. Dr. Phyllis Zagano is recognized globally as an expert on the diaconate for women. She says there's only one person in scripture with the job title of deacon – Saint Phoebe, and that women were ordained as deacons in the Catholic Church up to the middle of the 12th century. She says it's time to allow women to be deacons again. "The church, by ordaining women, would say to the world that half the planet is worthy of respect, is made in the image and likeness of God," Zagano says. In 2016, Pope Francis appointed Zagano to a papal commission that met at the Vatican to discuss whether women should be allowed to be deacons. Pope Francis and Vatican leaders did not make any changes to the current practice. Zagano says many people are hopeful the new pope will allow women to take more leadership in the Church, including as deacons. "I think if we don't, it will be a problem for the Church and the world because women are pretty much fed up with the Catholic Church. They're leaving, and they're leaving with their husbands and their children and with their checkbooks." Lococo says she will continue to serve as she feels called and hopes a new pope will recognize her ministry. "We always have hope. We always have hope. In this season of Easter, I am hopeful. Who knows what the conclave will result in?" American Catholics are sometimes more open to change and considered more "liberal" than Catholics in other countries. Only 7% of Catholics around the world are from the United States.
