Growing up in the Catholic faith, several guiding principles were instilled in me, including the sanctity of human life and dignity, that our humanity is measured by the compassion we show the poor and our most vulnerable, and that regardless of our differences, we are all God’s children. And of course, and perhaps most fundamentally, […]
priest abuse
Posted inCrime and Courts, News
Colorado’s review of Catholic Church sex abuse named priests, but not those who covered up their crimes
Warning: This story contains explicit descriptions of sexual assault. A pair of explosive reports on decades of child sex abuse in Colorado’s three Catholic dioceses named 52 priests but kept confidential the identities of numerous church officials — from administrators to bishops — who covered up or ignored allegations of misconduct and transferred known child […]
Posted inCrime and Courts, News
A list of Colorado priests named in the supplemental Catholic church abuse report, where they worked and when
The Colorado Sun combed through the 93-page supplemental report on child sex abuse by priests in the state’s three Catholic dioceses and pulled out the names of 25 accused priests. From the report, we also compiled the parishes, schools and other locations they worked in Colorado during the period the abuse is alleged to have […]
Posted inNews
Colorado’s Catholic dioceses paid $6.68 million to 73 survivors of priest abuse
Colorado’s three Catholic dioceses have paid $6.68 million to 73 survivors of sexual abuse by priests. That’s according to an update Friday from the managers of the state’s Independent Reconciliation and Reparations Program, which fielded claims from survivors and determined their credibility and eligibility for compensation, and how much money each should be given by […]
Posted inOpinion, Opinion Columns
Opinion: Why lawmakers should reform law to help victims of childhood sexual abuse
I read with great disappointment the failure of Colorado state lawmakers to once again take action which would have granted access to our legal system for child victims of sexual abuse. It was right for victims and advocates to pull support from House Bill 1296, eliminating the statute of limitations for child sexual abuse only […]
Posted inCrime and Courts, News, Politics and Government
Effort to give Colorado child sex assault survivors unlimited time to sue abusers is rejected
In a stunning reversal on Friday, a lead sponsor on a bill that would have given future child sexual assault victims in Colorado unlimited time to sue their abusers and those who allowed their abuse to happen asked that the measure be rejected. Instead, state Sen. Julie Gonzales, a Denver Democrat, said she wants to […]
Posted inCrime and Courts, News
Colorado’s priest abuse reparations program has paid more than $3 million to 28 victims so far
The Catholic Church so far has paid more than $3 million to 28 victims of priest abuse in Colorado as part of a review of claims by an independent committee. The work of the oversight committee is ongoing, but its leaders announced Wednesday that they have received claims from 91 victims of abuse by priests […]
Posted inSun Investigation
A Denver priest — his dad’s best friend — raped him. The state’s Catholic Church abuse report revealed the secret.
Warning: This story contains explicit descriptions of sexual assault. GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass. — Neil Elms planned to carry his biggest secret to his grave. He thought no one would ever know what he’d kept hidden for 37 years. Elms never told his mother or father, or any of his six siblings. He concealed it through […]
Posted inCrime and Courts, News
Colorado’s Catholic priest abuse reparations program received 78 claims, has already paid out over $1M
Colorado’s reparations program for people abused by Catholic priests when they were children has already paid out more than $1 million to nine of the 78 people who submitted claims by Friday’s filing deadline. Another $500,000 in payments are due to four other victims and more than 60 cases still are being reviewed, said Camille […]
Posted inCrime and Courts, News, Politics and Government
Even if Colorado gives child sex assault victims unlimited time to sue, it may be too late for those already abused
Colorado lawmakers plan to bring legislation this year that would give child sexual assault victims unlimited time to sue their abusers and the institutions that protect the predators. But for people abused in the past — including the more than 150 victims of Catholic priests identified in a recently released report on sexual misconduct in […]