Sentencing of ex-priest who abused women delayed

The sentencing of a former priest convicted of abusing members of a "cult-like" church group has been delayed until next year.

Chris Brain, who ran the influential Nine O'Clock Service (NOS) in Sheffield in the 1980s and 1990s, was found guilty of 17 indecent assaults on nine women and cleared of 15 further counts earlier this year.

The jury could not reach a verdict on four counts of indecent assault and one count of rape, meaning Brain, who is 68 and now lives in Cheshire, is due to face a retrial in September next year.

A judge at Inner London Crown Court ruled in a case management hearing on Thursday morning that he would not be sentenced until after his retrial.

Judge Freya Newbury said Brain, who had been on bail, would be remanded in custody until next year's trial.

NOS began in Sheffield in 1986 and was initially celebrated by Church of England leaders for its nightclub-style services, which attracted hundreds of young people.

The Church fast-tracked Brain's ordination as a priest in 1991 due to the success of the NOS and the NOS moved to the city's Ponds Forge leisure centre to accommodate the growing congregation.

But prosecutors told the jury NOS "became a cult" in which Brain abused his position to sexually assault "a staggering number" of women from his congregation.

The group was dissolved in 1995 when concerns about Brain's behaviour were first raised.

At the end of Brain's trial, the Bishop of Sheffield offered an "unreserved apology" to victims for "an appalling abuse of power and leadership which should never have occurred".

‘Most prolific pedophile priest.’ New lawsuit resurfaces notorious Miami sex abuse case

A new lawsuit against the Archdiocese of Miami has revived a notorious case involving a former Catholic priest convicted of a string of sex offenses more than a decade ago. 

The most recent lawsuit, filed in Miami-Dade Circuit Court in June, is only the latest accusing the Catholic Church of failing to protect multiple underage boys from ex-priest Father Neil Doherty, a serial sexual abuser who was employed by the Archdiocese as a priest from 1969 until 2002 when he was removed. 

“He is probably the most prolific pedophile priest in U.S. history. He sexually abused, we think, thousands of kids over the course of about 40 years,” said Daniel Ellis, senior lead attorney at Herman Law, the firm representing a victim identified only as John Doe 8 to protect his privacy. 

According to the lawsuit, Doherty groomed and raped the victim around 1995 when he was around 16 years old. The alleged abuse happened multiple times in Doherty’s residence in the mid-1990s. 

The lawsuit comes decades after the abuse took place and after Doherty was convicted and sentenced to 15 years in Florida prison in 2013. 

At least four other civil lawsuits naming seven plaintiffs (John Doe 1-7) have been filed against the Archdiocese in the past five years naming Doherty as the primary abuser and seeking “compensatory damages” for the years of inflicted “emotional distress.” 

The more recent cases against Doherty appear to have been settled, though the law firm would not discuss details of those settlements. 

In 2006, The Miami Herald reported that the church settled six civil suits involving, including two against Doherty, for $750,000. 

In a statement to the Miami Herald, the Archdiocese said it is “in the process of responding to a lawsuit involving allegations of sexual abuse of a minor by a former priest that occurred over twenty-nine years ago.” 

“As always, the Catholic Church’s concerns are for the victims and a prevailing sense of justice and healing,” the statement said. 

The Archdiocese said that Doherty was “permanently removed from active ministry within the Archdiocese and the universal Catholic Church in April 2002,” and since the disgraced and defrocked priest has been named in multiple lawsuits. 

“As is the Archdiocese’s practice, any allegation of sexual abuse of a minor by a priest is immediately reported to the appropriate State Attorney’s Office in Monroe, Miami-Dade, or Broward County,” the statement said. 

How Florida handles old cases of sexual abuse 

The lawsuit alleges that church leadership — under Archbishop Edward McCarthy at the time — knew about the accusations against Doherty, but “took no action against him” and kept him in his position as pastor at St. Vincent’s Catholic Church in Margate for years after allegations were made. 

Doherty, according to the lawsuit, was given a psychological evaluation in the 1990s that indicated that he should not have any access to children. 

Other allegations were made against Doherty decades earlier, as well as reports from other clergy about his “inability” to live the lifestyle of a priest that were made prior to his ordination. 

“The Archdiocese of Miami knew as early as 1958 that he was unsafe to be around children, and it’s really all documented,” Ellis said. Lawsuits against Doherty came pouring in the early 2000s along with a 17-month Broward state attorney’s investigation against the ex-priest, following the nationwide clergy sex-abuse scandal that rocked the Catholic Church in 2002. 

Doherty is one of at least 44 other priests that have been accused of sexual abuse in the Archdiocese of Miami, according to bishopAccountability.org, a digital database that tracks clergy sexual abuse claims. 

The Herald and other outlets wrote extensively about Doherty’s allegations until he was sentenced to 15 years behind bars in 2013 after pleading no contest to six counts of lewd and lascivious acts upon a child. Doherty served 10 of the 15 years and was released in 2023, according to Florida inmate records. He is now required to register as a sexual offender in the state of Florida and lives in Orlando as of 2023 according to the state’s sexual offender registry. 

In 2010, Florida eliminated the statute of limitations for the criminal prosecution of sexual assault cases involving victims under the age of 16, but the statute is not retroactive. For civil claims, underage victims of abuse have until they are 25 years old, four years after they leave the abuser or four years from the time they make the connection between their abuse and the inflicted injuries (mental or physical) to take action. 

The lawsuit argues the latter, that the victim, John Doe 8, did not discover the injuries from the abuse until four years from the time of the filing. “My client finally had the courage to come to terms with what happened to him and the impact it’s had on his life,” Ellis said. “A lot of survivors deal with certain injuries like depression and anxiety, and they haven’t ever figured out what was the cause of it. It doesn’t happen until much, much later in life.” 

Doherty, according to Ellis, had an acute interest in psychology and worked for a number of years as a youth counselor in Miami. 

Under the guise of mental health counseling, Doherty would alleged “hypnotize” children, then drug them before the abuse took place. He preyed on children in the neighborhood, even when, as in John Doe 8’s case, they weren’t members of his own parish. 

Doherty allegedly invited John Doe 8 along with other children to play on the parish’s playground at their leisure. “He started sort of acting like a mentor as well. He would give them money whenever they ask. They would get little odd jobs to do around the church, things like that,” Ellis said. 

Catholic Church reckoning 

More than two decades after the clergy sex abuse scandal shook the foundation of the Catholic Church in 2002, many Catholics are still concerned about clergy misconduct. 

A 2025 Pew Research survey shows that 62 percent of U.S. Catholics believe that clergy sex abuse is an ongoing problem compared to 31 percent that say it’s something that happened in the past and mostly doesn’t happen anymore. 

The vast majority, according to the same survey, have heard at least a little about sexual abuse and misconduct by Catholic priests and bishops. 

In the years since the scandal and subsequent cover-ups, the Catholic Church has taken steps towards reform to crack down on abuse, including a range of “zero tolerance” policies to help remove abusive priests. 

In 2019, the late Pope Francis vowed to confront abusive clergy with “the wrath of God.” 

He passed a new law requiring all abuse to be reported in-house and mapped out ways to investigate bishops who abuse or protect priests accused of abuse. Still, despite the reforms, some victims say the in-house process can re-traumatize them or make them feel like a whistle-blower, leading to more problems, according to the National Catholic Reporter. 

Following the landmark meeting of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops in Dallas in 2002 to address the growing scandal of clergy sexual abuse, the Archdiocese of Miami said it had implemented measures to protect children and vulnerable adults. 

For example, clergy, teachers, and any employees with access to children now require a Level 2 background screenings - conducted by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. 

Additionally, all clergy, employees and teachers must complete trainings and receive monthly continuing education. Children attending Catholic schools or CCD programs within the Archdiocese are also given instruction on safe interactions between children and adults. 

Anyone who has been a victim of abuse by Church personnel is encouraged to report it - either by contacting law enforcement, the Archdiocese of Miami’s hotline at 1-866-802-2873, or the Florida Department of Children and Families’ abuse hotline at 1-800-962-2873.

Pro-Beijing Hong Kong Priest Cancels Vatican Trip After Media Leak

A pro-Beijing priest who was about to travel to Rome as part of an effort to have him installed as an auxiliary bishop of Hong Kong has canceled his trip after news of his visit was leaked to the media.

Father Peter Choi Wai-man, 66, a vicar general of Hong Kong with close links to the communist authorities in China, was due to visit the Vatican with Cardinal John Tong Hon, an emeritus bishop of Hong Kong, and meet Pope Leo XIV on Saturday.

Father Choi and Cardinal Tong were to be part of a party of 12. A source for the Church in Hong Kong told the Register on Saturday that the tickets had been bought and that they were “coming with an agenda.”

However, the same source told the Register Oct. 2 that the visit had been canceled at the last minute after news of their visit was leaked to the press.

The Italian Catholic online daily La Nuova Bussola Quotidiana reported Sept. 27 that Cardinal Stephen Chow Sau-yan of Hong Kong had been lobbying Pope Leo XIV to have Father Choi appointed.

The report speculated that during a Sept. 2 private audience with Leo XIV, Cardinal Chow had advocated for Father Peter Choi to be appointed as a new auxiliary. Although Hong Kong already has one, in Auxiliary Bishop Joseph Ha Chi-shing, Beijing and Hong Kong’s rulers view him as too critical of the regime.

News of the cardinal’s latest lobbying efforts was part of a concerted effort to have him installed, led by Cardinal Chow, who last week was criticized for boldly defending China’s relationship with the Church in Hong Kong, and downplaying religious freedom restrictions in the territory at a time when observers said those controls were in fact intensifying.

The Diocese of Hong Kong is currently not under the jurisdiction of the Church in China, but Beijing has shown its desire to control it as part of a broader political push. “Sinicization” projects in Hong Kong are increasing and attempts are being made to integrate government-mandated patriotic education into religious schools amid other signs of encroaching Chinese control over the Church in the region.

The Register had asked Cardinal Tong and Father Choi Sept. 29 to comment on their reported travel plans and the purpose of their Rome visit, but the cardinal did not respond by press time, and the Diocese of Hong Kong replied on Father Choi’s behalf to say that they did “not comment on personal itineraries.”

Cardinal Tong, who has been criticized in the past for his appeasing position toward Beijing, is reportedly understood to have backed Father Choi in 2019 as his successor as Bishop of Hong Kong after the sudden and unexpected death of Bishop Michael Yeung Ming-cheung, who had succeeded Cardinal Tong in 2017.

The cardinal and other pro-Beijing officials in the Vatican and Hong Kong saw Father Choi as a potentially effective interlocutor between the Church and China and preferred him to auxiliary Bishop Joseph Ha Chi-shing, who had defended pro-democracy protests in 2019. But Cardinal Chow was instead appointed over Father Choi and Bishop Ha.

Father Choi has led ongoing formation initiatives for clergy and laity in the diocese. In 2022, then-Bishop Chow appointed him to head an ad-hoc working group to strengthen lay leadership in the diocese. He is also known for his work in ecumenical and inter-religious dialogue.

But the priest’s critics contend that rather than a bridge builder, he would be a promoter of Beijing’s interests. Young clergy and lay faithful in particular view Father Choi as too sympathetic and friendly toward the Chinese Communist Party, and allegedly supplies information to Beijing on internal Church issues.

Cardinal Joseph Zen Ze-kiun, who was bishop of Hong Kong from 2001 to 2009, once called Father Choi a “pro-Beijing hawk” and an enemy of those opposing China’s influence. The cardinal, known for his outspoken criticisms of Chinese rule, said that to have Father Choi appointed bishop of Hong Kong “would be a catastrophe” for the Church in Hong Kong and “spell disaster for decades to come.”

The Register asked Father Choi to respond to these accusations, but he had not responded by press time.

Meanwhile, further limits in Hong Kong on religious freedom are also emerging. The latest sign is that political prisoners, including the Catholic pro-democracy activist and media tycoon Jimmy Lai, are having to deal with slated new restrictions barring pastoral visits.

The restrictions are being proposed at a time when Lai, who has been in custody since 2020, has experienced several health issues. Most significantly, the new rules will give the authorities powers to prohibit specific prisoners from meeting specific religious personnel and lawyers.

“The law is clearly aimed at lawyers who are not only handling the case but also helping deal with personal matters,” the Hong Kong Church source said.

He added, “In addition, the rules grant the authorities the power to ban social visits, although this does not seem to have been put into effect so far.”

French Court Seeks Morocco’s Help in Investigation of Priest Accused of Sexual Abuse

Judges in France handling the case of Father Yves Grosjean, a priest jailed for sexual assault on minors, have asked Moroccan authorities to assist in their investigation, the Dijon Court of Appeal said Wednesday, the French outlet La Croix reported.

The court rejected Grosjean’s request for release on October 1. It also issued an international judicial request, known as a commission rogatoire, to Morocco, where Grosjean served as a priest for seven years in Rabat. Dominique Braul, president of the court’s Chamber of Instruction, did not specify which investigative actions France requested.

Grosjean, 68, was charged and jailed in May following a complaint from a man alleging sexual abuse in France in 2010, when he was 12. Since then, Grosjean admitted to three other assaults in France. A victims’ collective has identified 17 potential victims in France from 57 men who had contact with him as minors.

These figures do not include the seven years Grosjean spent in Rabat after being moved there in 2017 following a prior French complaint, which was later dismissed. He returned to France in 2024 after facing new accusations in Morocco.

At Wednesday’s hearing, Grosjean firmly denied any sexual misconduct in Morocco.

The victims’ collective published an open letter on Monday criticizing the dioceses of Dijon and Rabat for staying silent about Grosjean’s repeated behavior.

Archbishop Cristobal Lopez Romero of Rabat said he received no official reports about Grosjean. “I personally observed behaviors I considered inappropriate and dangerous for a priest,” he said, adding that the actions did not meet legal criteria for criminal proceedings.

The Dijon diocese noted in a statement that Grosjean was barred from any ministry involving minors in 2024, following the complaint that led to his imprisonment.

Knanaya Catholics protest over sacramental access in Britain

On 4 October, Knanaya Catholics across the UK will protest outside an event hosted by the Catholic Syro-Malabar Eparchy of Great Britain, accusing the Eparchy of denying sacraments and erasing their heritage.

For over two decades, around 2,000 Knanaya families in the UK have lived harmoniously within their local Latin Catholic parishes, where their children serve as altar servers, readers, and ministers. Sacramental documents issued by these Latin parishes have been recognised by their home Archdiocese of Kottayam in Kerala, India, safeguarding ties to their heritage.

Since the establishment of the Syro-Malabar Eparchy of Great Britain, however, this practice has been disrupted. Families report being compelled to register with Syro-Malabar “missions” to access sacraments, with Latin documentation increasingly rejected. Couples have been told their marriages will be considered invalid unless they “join” the Eparchy.

“This is spiritual coercion,” said one organiser. “Sacraments are being used as leverage. Canon law guarantees the faithful access to marriage and the sacraments without unlawful obstacles, yet here we are being forced into structures that erase our Knanaya identity.”

The Knanaya are a distinct ethnoreligious community of St Thomas Christians, who trace their heritage to St Thomas the Apostle, believed to have arrived in India in AD 52 and preached the Gospel in Kerala and Tamil Nadu.

They trace their origins to a group of Judeo-Christian migrants from the Middle East who, according to tradition, arrived in Malabar (Kerala) in AD 345 under the leadership of a merchant named Knai Thoma (also known as Thomas of Cana). From there, they developed a distinct liturgical and linguistic tradition, particularly the practice of strict endogamy, which has preserved their identity to this day.

They differ from other St Thomas Christians in Kerala, who are broadly divided into two groups: the Northists (non-Knanaya) and the Southists (Knanaya). While both share the same East Syriac liturgical heritage, Knanaya Christians have preserved their ethnic distinction, often through separate churches, cemeteries, and schools.

In 1599, the Synod of Diamper brought the Church in India more closely under Latin control, and Knanaya Catholics came to be formally recognised as part of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church — a Church in full communion with Rome, primarily based in Kerala, and one of the 23 Eastern Catholic Churches.

In 1911, to ease regional tensions, Pope Pius X created the Archdiocese of Kottayam exclusively for Knanaya Catholics. A personal (non-territorial) diocese, it is not defined by geography but by ethnicity. This means that any Knanaya Catholic, wherever they live, is canonically part of this archdiocese.

The Knanaya community, protected since 1911 by a papal decree establishing the Archdiocese of Kottayam ex pro gente suddistica (“for the Knanaya people”), argues that the so-called “Knanaya missions” in Britain are Knanaya in name only, with no canonical ability to preserve their identity.

Protestors are demanding that Latin parish documentation once again be accepted, that privacy and data rights be respected, and that Rome work with Kottayam to establish authentic structures for Knanaya Catholics in the diaspora.

“This is not about division,” said another planning to attend the protest. “It is about protecting both our sacramental rights and our heritage.”

Church knew about abuse claims against former bishop and vicar

Church leaders were made aware of a sexual misconduct allegation against a priest years before his abuse of a child came to light, the Church in Wales has confirmed.

A report made against Anthony Pierce by a university student in the 1980s reached the desk of his bishop, but the Church has found no record of him being disciplined.

Pierce went on to become a bishop himself - but in March admitted five charges of indecent assault against a boy under the age of 16 between 1985 and 1990.

A Church in Wales spokesperson said clergy who informed the bishop acted "in accordance with appropriate practice at the time" but a similar allegation would be handled differently now.

This is the latest incident the Church has had to contend with in recent months after Andrew John, the former Archbishop of Wales, retired following two critical reports into the culture at Bangor Cathedral.

This new detail follows a BBC investigation into the Church in Wales which heard from victims of abuse who said their safeguarding cases were mishandled.

It demonstrates allegations against Pierce were reported to a person high up in the Church as early as the mid-1980s.

Pierce served as bishop from 1999 to 2008 and has since been jailed for sexually abusing a boy while he was still a parish priest.

The former university student who reported Pierce's behaviour in the 1980s, Alisdair Adams, said he was "furious" when he saw Pierce had been sentenced in court because "he could have been stopped but he wasn't".

Mr Adams said he was 18 when Pierce invited him over for dinner, but claims the priest gave him "lots of white wine and no food" and touched him inappropriately when the lights went out.

He said: "[The Church] had information and they didn't investigate it. They just pushed it to one side.

"It still makes me livid that they knew about this 40 years ago."

Mr Adams, now 59, added: "It's made me think don't just dismiss it and say it was 40 years ago and safeguarding is much better today. Of course it is... but why were the students' claims not investigated?"

Mr Adams was one of two students who told the BBC that Pierce had acted inappropriately towards them when he was the local priest to Swansea University, then University College Swansea.

Both said they reported their concerns to the Anglican chaplain and Mr Adams said he remembered a third student being spoken to.

The Church is also looking into claims "senior figures" were aware of a separate allegation of abuse made against Pierce in 1993 which was not passed to police until 2010.

A report on this is due for publication in October. The Church confirmed to the BBC that reference to Mr Adams' allegation should be made in the final report.

Now, 40 years later, Mr Adams has been told by the Church that the Bishop of Swansea and Brecon, Benjamin Vaughan, was made aware of his complaint after the chaplain passed it on.

Mr Vaughan died in 2003 but the BBC understands a clergyman told the Church that the bishop "immediately confronted" Pierce, who is said to have denied the allegation.

But, Mr Adams was told, the Church "have not found any evidence of action taken" by Mr Vaughan after this, such as disciplinary steps or a referral to police.

Pierce continued in his post as Vicar of Llwynderw in Swansea.

Mr Adams said: "[The chaplain] did the right thing... and pushed it up the chain. I thought he would.

I'm so glad... because I got the sense I was being treated very seriously when I spoke to him. But the more experienced clergy up the chain stopped it."

A Church in Wales spokesperson said safeguarding officers had concluded an "internal investigation" into the allegation that Anthony Pierce assaulted an adult male student at Swansea University in the mid-1980s and that "two clergy" informed Benjamin Vaughan of the matter.

The spokesperson added: "The investigation has concluded that, at the time in question, this was in accordance with appropriate practice. In the 40 years since this case practice and policies have changed, and such an allegation would now be required to be reported to the safeguarding professionals in the Church in Wales team, to consider appropriate further action independently of the Bishop and Diocese."

They added that the Church safeguarding officers remained in contact with the survivor in this case and encouraged anyone with any safeguarding concerns relating to the Church in Wales to contact them.

Madrid auxiliary bishop dies suddenly aged 50

Auxiliary Bishop José Antonio Álvarez Sánchez of Madrid has died suddenly of a heart attack at the age of 50.

The bishop, who had served in the role for little more than a year, passed away in the early hours of 1 October, leaving one of Europe’s largest dioceses in shock.

Born in the Spanish capital in August 1975, Álvarez devoted his entire priestly ministry to the Archdiocese of Madrid. 

After studies at the San Dámaso Ecclesiastical University, he was ordained priest in 2000 and undertook pastoral work in parishes and schools before moving into the formation of seminarians. 

For nearly a decade, he served as a formator at the diocesan seminary, and in 2015 he was appointed rector, a role he held until 2024.

His reputation as a thoughtful teacher and guide to men preparing for the priesthood made him widely respected within the diocesan clergy. 

He also held posts as chaplain to religious sisters, university chaplain, and secretary to Bishop César Franco when the latter served as an auxiliary of Madrid. 

His pastoral ministry extended across education, spiritual direction, and diocesan governance, and he became a familiar figure among both clergy and laity.

On 23 April 2024, Pope Francis appointed him auxiliary bishop of Madrid, alongside Vicente Martín Muñoz, naming him titular bishop of Berja. 

He was consecrated on 6 July in the Cathedral of Santa María la Real de la Almudena by Cardinal José Cobo Cano, the archbishop of Madrid. 

Soon afterwards he was entrusted with further responsibilities, becoming vice-grand chancellor of San Dámaso Ecclesiastical University in August, and vicar general of the archdiocese in February 2025. He also served as a member of the Spanish Bishops’ Conference commission for the Laity, Family and Life.

Álvarez’s unexpected death marks a sudden end to a ministry closely linked to priestly formation and the governance of his home diocese. 

He was the youngest of Madrid’s auxiliary bishops and was considered a leading figure in the archdiocesan curia, supporting Cardinal Cobo in pastoral and administrative duties.

The Archdiocese of Madrid is preparing a requiem Mass for a bishop who had been a priest for a quarter of a century and a bishop for just over a year.

His life spanned parish work, academic formation, and episcopal governance, but at its heart remained a consistent commitment to the service of the local Church in Madrid.

Requiescat in pace.

Rapid expansion of Peter McVerry Trust was 'reckless', chairman tells Oireachtas committee

There was a degree of “recklessness” about the rapid expansion of the Peter McVerry Trust, the organisation’s chair has said.

Chairman of the board of directors Tony O’Brien has acknowledged and apologised for the “serious financial and governance issues” within the Peter McVerry Trust in recent years.

Priest later accused of child sex abuse was instructor at pope's seminary high school

The Rev. Nelson Daniel Rupp merited a chapter in the Michigan attorney general’s report on Catholic priests accused of child sexual abuse from the Diocese of Marquette, saying that, among other ugly behavior years ago, Rupp allegedly took boys to a cottage, “supplied them with liquor, and then sexually abused them.”

On a “sleepover” with children, he “was walking around with only a t-shirt on, with his genitals exposed,” the report stated, also noting a housekeeper for Rupp found children’s underwear in his residence, including a pair “heavily soiled.”

When sent to a medical center that assesses troubled priests, Rupp wouldn’t follow the treatment recommendations, the report said, drawing a rebuke from his bishop in the northern part of Michigan.

Rupp was one of 44 accused priests in the 2022 report. And Rupp is one of thousands of Catholic priests across the country accused of abusing kids.

But he appears to hold a distinction among them: He might be the only cleric publicly accused of molesting children, and who’s still living, to have worked at the seminary while the future Pope Leo XIV, then known as Robert Prevost, was a student there.

“I had him in class,” Rupp, now 84, told the Chicago Sun-Times, referring to Prevost’s time at St. Augustine high school seminary near Holland, Michigan, in or around 1973. “He was a teenager.”

“I only taught him for a few months. ... I think I was teaching Latin at that time. ... He struck me” as “just a delightful, wonderful young man,” Rupp said.

It’s widely known that as an adult, a bishop and a longtime leader in his religious order, the Augustinians, Prevost worked with, and had to deal with the ramifications of, alleged predator priests. Unknown probably to most is that while Prevost was a teen, he had proximity to a cleric who’s since been accused of sexually abusing and grooming children.

It’s unclear whether Rupp was engaged in sexual misconduct at the time and whether and when Prevost knew of any accusations. Neither the pope nor his press office responded to questions. Rupp denied molesting anyone and said he was wrongfully accused. The Augustinians refuse to confirm whether Rupp was one of Prevost’s instructors.

But Rupp’s involvement in teaching at Prevost’s seminary illustrates the pervasiveness of the abuse crisis — not just for the victims whose minds and bodies were preyed on, and not just for the parishioners whose donations have had to shore up subsequent legal settlements. But for well-meaning clerics who perhaps unwittingly studied and ministered with alleged abusers.

Rupp isn’t on any offender lists put out by Catholic dioceses or religious orders.

A spokesperson for the Augustinians said there were no known allegations from the time Rupp was an Augustinian.

A spokesman for the Diocese of Marquette, which Rupp later joined while leaving his religious order, said: “Based on the information the diocese has, the allegations are inconclusive as to whether further action would be pursued.” Diocesan officials wouldn’t say whether there were legal settlements over Rupp’s alleged misconduct or how many accusers they’re aware of.

Asked about Rupp, a spokesman for Michigan’s attorney general said: “Our office has not and does not issue declarations as to the credibility of any allegations within the reports.”

The attorney report states that in 2007, the Marquette diocese “received a report of sexual abuse that occurred sometime between 1985 and 1987” and “the sexual abuser was Fr. Rupp, and the alleged abuse occurred” at his cottage “in Alger or Marquette County.”

The “complainant was an altar server at Holy Family Parish.”

Rupp said he’s aware of accusations he molested children but chalked it up to a “misunderstanding” and denied he’s abused anyone.

Eventually, Rupp said, “I gave up on the defense” and decided to retire.

He confirmed he was sent to the St. Luke Institute that deals with troubled clergy, and that he rejected treatment recommendations.

The Marquette diocese spokesperson said of Rupp: “From 1967 to 1980 he was with the Augustinians. However, he served as an Augustinian priest in the Diocese of Marquette from 1973 to 1974. He returned in 1977 for a period of discernment as whether to remain a religious order priest or to become a diocesan priest.”

“This lasted until 1980. In 1980 he was incardinated into the Diocese of Marquette making him a diocesan priest. In 1996 he took a leave of absence and has not been in active ministry since.”

The Official Catholic Directory indicates Rupp was at the St. Augustine seminary in 1973, the year Prevost graduated. Others confirm Rupp taught at the school, which was later closed amid dwindling enrollment.

Rupp said that while still an Augustinian, he also served in the Chicago region — Kenosha, Wisconsin, and on the South Side.

Priest pleads not guilty in attempted child enticement case involving undercover officer

A Waupaca County judge entered a not guilty plea Tuesday for a priest who believed he was meeting a 14-year-old girl for sex – but who was actually a police officer.

Fr. Andrew Showers, 37, is charged with attempted sexual assault of a child, attempted child enticement and attempted use of a computer for a sex crime. 

Showers, who was assigned to Madison parish, was removed from active ministry by the Catholic Diocese of Madison.

Showers appeared by video for the court hearing Tuesday. He was wearing a dress shirt and suit coat, not a traditional clerical collar.

He waived his preliminary hearing. Then, his attorney, Christopher Wagner, said Showers would ‘stand mute’ for the arraignment. Judge Vicki Clussman then entered the not guilty on Showers’ behalf.

No trial date was set. Showers returns to court Dec. 3 for a status hearing.

Showers is free after posting a $10,000 cash bond.

According to the criminal complaint, Clintonville police created a fake online profile for a 14-year-old girl named Abby, seeking male companionship.

Showers responded, with details of the sex acts he would like to perform with the girl, and allegedly sent explicit photos to her.

Showers made arrangements for the two to meet at a Clintonville park, noting he had reserved a hotel room. When he got there, police arrested him.

"After being properly Mirandized Andrew drafted a letter addressed to 'Abby' wherein he apologized for his actions stating that he had put his 'own desires, wants, and brokenness before [her] wellbeing... and I am sorry that you were the recipient and victim of my poor decisions and selfish pursuits,'" the complaint states.

Since becoming a priest in 2017, Showers served at two churches in Northeast Wisconsin. He was at All Saints in Berlin and Our Lady of the Lake in Green Lake in 2022 and 2023.

Showers also served at parishes in Madison, Waunakee, Clinton and Wisconsin Dells.

Senator Durbin rejects cardinal's award after outcry from US Church

Illinois Senator Richard Durbin has declined a lifetime achievement award from the Archdiocese of Chicago after an outcry among senior Catholic leaders in the United States.

Cardinal Blase Cupich, who leads the Chicago archdiocese, announced on 30 September that Senator Durbin had informed him he would not accept the award, which had been due to be presented at the archdiocese's “Keep Hope Alive” celebration due to occur in November.

The honour was intended to recognise the senator’s work on immigration reform and his longstanding support for migrants, causes the cardinal described as urgently needed in today’s society.

Cardinal Cupich said he respected the senator’s decision but emphasised that the proposed award was strictly for his record on immigration.

“While I am saddened by this news, I respect his decision,” the cardinal wrote. “But I want to make clear that the decision to present him an award was specifically in recognition of his singular contribution to immigration reform and his unwavering support of immigrants, which is so needed in our day.”

The decision followed nearly two weeks of escalating controversy. Opposition began almost immediately after news of the award was made public, with Bishop Thomas Paprocki of Springfield, Illinois, saying he was “shocked” by the plan for the award.

Senator Durbin, who resides in Springfield, has been barred from receiving Holy Communion in the diocese for many years because of his consistent backing for legal abortion.

Bishop Paprocki warned that the award contradicted both the policies of the Chicago archdiocese and those of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

He added that the senator’s record, which includes opposition to measures aimed at protecting children who survive failed abortions, clearly fell into a category at odds with the US Church.

Since then, at least eight other bishops have joined him. They include Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone of San Francisco, Bishop James Conley of Lincoln, Bishop James Wall of Gallup, Bishop David Ricken of Green Bay, Bishop Carl Kemme of Wichita, Bishop James Johnston of Kansas City–St Joseph, Bishop Michael Olson of Fort Worth and Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann, the retired Archbishop of Kansas City, Kansas.

Cardinal Cupich initially defended the decision to proceed with the award, stressing that it was not related to the senator’s position on abortion, rather it was related to his record on immigration. He pointed to Vatican guidance urging bishops to maintain dialogue with Catholic politicians, even those who diverge from Church teaching on key issues.

In a statement issued on 22 September, he argued that constructive engagement was the way forward and that recognition of Senator Durbin’s immigration work did not imply approval of his stance on abortion.

But criticism grew steadily in the days that followed. According to The Pillar, several bishops expressed concern privately to the leadership of the USCCB, urging a public clarification of Church policy. Senator Durbin’s decision to withdraw came just as a statement by the bishops' conference was being drafted.

The dispute has once again drawn attention to divisions among US bishops on how to respond to Catholic politicians who support legal abortion while advancing policies aligned with other areas of Catholic social teaching.

In 2004, the US bishops approved a statement declaring that Catholic institutions should not honour individuals who act in defiance of fundamental moral principles, a policy intended to provide clarity during that year’s presidential election. More than two decades later, the same policy remains at the centre of debate.

Senator Durbin’s withdrawal has brought the immediate controversy to a close, but commentators note that the US bishops’ conference remains divided while it increasingly has to face the difficulties of how best to address the political activity of Catholic legislators.

Pope refuses to take sides in Senator Durbin award controversy

Pope Leo XIV has declined to take a position in the growing controversy over a decision by the Archdiocese of Chicago to present a lifetime achievement award to a pro-abortion US senator.

Speaking to journalists outside the papal villa at Castel Gandolfo, where the pontiff has been spending Tuesdays before returning to the Vatican, His Holiness said he was aware of the matter but admitted he was “not terribly familiar with the particular case” involving Senator Richard Durbin.

Instead, the Pope offered a broad defence of what is known as the “seamless garment” approach to Catholic moral teaching, stressing that the Church’s pro-life witness must extend beyond the abortion debate.

“Someone who says I’m against abortion but is in favour of the death penalty is not really pro-life,” he said. “Someone who says I’m against abortion but I’m in agreement with the inhuman treatment of immigrants in the United States, I don’t know if that’s pro-life.”

He urged Catholics to respect one another, adding that “the Church teaching on each one of those issues is very clear”.  

He did not endorse either the position of Cardinal Blase Cupich of Chicago, who has defended the award being given to Durbin – who has subsequently turned it down – or the position of the American bishops who have objected to the award.

“I understand the difficulty and the tensions,” the Pope said. “It’s important to look at many issues that are related to the teachings of the Church.”

The award has drawn strong criticism from a number of senior prelates. Bishop Thomas Paprocki of Springfield, Illinois, led calls for Cardinal Cupich to withdraw the accolade, supported by seven other bishops including Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone of San Francisco, Bishop James Conley of Lincoln, Nebraska, Bishop James Wall of Gallup, New Mexico, Bishop David Ricken of Green Bay, Wisconsin, Bishop Carl Kemme of Wichita, Kansas, Bishop James Johnston of Kansas City-St Joseph, Missouri, and Bishop Michael Olson of Fort Worth, Texas.

Cardinal Cupich has defended the decision to give the award by citing a 2022 instruction from the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, which urged bishops to engage with Catholic politicians.

The dispute comes against a backdrop of long-running tensions in the United States over the public witness of Catholic politicians. Senator Durbin has been at the centre of this debate for years because of his consistent support for abortion rights, a stance at odds with Church teaching.

The Democrat senator is a practising Catholic who has discussed how his faith plays a significant role in his life and values.

Archdiocese renews partnership with Girl Scouts after year-long split over gender policies

The Archdiocese of Cincinnati has restored its long-standing partnership with the Girl Scouts of the USA after a year-long rupture over the latter’s approach to sexuality and gender.

Archbishop Robert Casey announced at a press conference that Catholic parishes may once again host Girl Scout troops, following the signing of a memorandum of understanding with the Girl Scouts of Western Ohio.

The agreement was reached after months of dialogue aimed at finding a way forward that respected the Catholic Church’s moral teaching and preserving the traditions of scouting.

Under the new terms, troops wishing to meet in parish facilities must seek the approval of their parish priest and sign an agreement to ensure their activities remain in line with Catholic teaching.

The document makes clear that the archdiocese will be the sole judge of whether any programme or material breaches Church policy. It also clarifies that the use of Catholic buildings by Girl Scouts does not imply endorsement of the organisation’s wider policies, nor does it imply that scouting endorses all Catholic teaching and practices.

The resolution represents a change in approach from that taken by Archbishop Casey’s predecessor, Archbishop Dennis Schnurr. In 2024, Archbishop Schnurr ordered the removal of all Girl Scout troops from Catholic premises, citing what he described as the organisation’s promotion of “an impoverished worldview regarding gender and sexuality”.  

Among the specific concerns were scouting patches linked to LGBTQ themes and promotional material viewed by Church officials as contrary to Catholic teaching on the human person.

That decision ended more than a century of collaboration between the archdiocese and the scouting movement, prompting protests from Catholic families who valued the role of scouting in the lives of their daughters. Girl Scout leaders at the time insisted that local troops were not required to adopt any of the contested patches or resources.

The new memorandum, which runs for three years, includes provisions for ongoing communication between the Church and the Girl Scouts and a commitment to resolve disputes in good faith. It also gives the archdiocese authority to dismiss any troop or leader found to be in violation of the agreement.

Archbishop Casey said he was satisfied that the safeguards now in place would allow Catholic teaching to be upheld while ensuring that young girls continued to benefit from scouting.

Aimee Sproles, president and chief executive of the Girl Scouts of Western Ohio, welcomed the renewed partnership, saying that it would provide Catholic families with the support of their parish communities as their daughters pursued scouting activities.

The reconciliation restores one of the oldest links between the Church and the scouting movement in the United States. The Archdiocese of Cincinnati first welcomed Girl Scout troops more than a century ago, part of a wider embrace of scouting across America as a means of forming youth in character, responsibility and service.

The agreement in Cincinnati will be watched closely elsewhere in the United States, where other dioceses have also faced tensions over similar issues with other closely affiliated secular groups and organisations.

A lost chance for Ireland: the cynical scuppering of Maria Steen’s candidacy (Opinion)

This publication does not presume to tell our readers how they should vote. 

But we can deplore the absence of choice from one particular ballot, that for the Irish presidential election which takes place on 24 October.

One  presidential hopeful, Maria Steen, failed to obtain sufficient nominations for the quota needed to secure a place on the ballot. That is a telling reflection on the condition of Irish democracy.

Maria Steen is not just a Catholic – formerly this observation would have been entirely unremarkable in respect of a presidential candidate – but one of the most prominent Catholic laypeople in the country. She is a formidable public speaker, a lawyer, an authoritative voice in debates on social and moral issues and a woman of substance.

She played a decisive role in the public rejection of the government’s proposed constitutional changes, which would have removed the references in the Irish constitution to the place of women in the home.

She was widely acknowledged to have had the better of the present prime minister, Micheál Martin, in debate. She also was considered to have had the better of the formidable leader of Sinn Fein, Mary Lou McDonald, in the run-up to the debate on the removal of protection for the unborn child in the constitution to the extent that she was kept out of the latter stages of the debate.

She took a prominent role in the debate on the constitutional change that led to same-sex marriage. She presented the Christian and Catholic viewpoint in these significant developments eloquently and rationally, but there is no question that she would have sought to represent the whole nation had she been elected president.

But she never had the chance. 

The party system ensured she failed to obtain the modest quota of votes necessary to be on the ballot; the people will not have the opportunity to elect or reject her, and the contest for the presidency will be diminished by her absence. She put the outcome best herself: “the verdict on my candidacy should be rendered, not by an elite clique, but by the people,” she said. “The response from the public confirms that the hunger for an alternative candidate is real. Sadly, that hunger will now go unsatisfied. Rarely has the political consensus seemed more oppressive or detached from the wishes and desires of the public.”

The presidency in Ireland is, unlike that of, say, France, a ceremonial and dignified role rather than a political or partisan one. But it does say something about the way the country sees itself; Had Maria Steen been a candidate, it would have been an opportunity for social conservatives, Catholics and Christians to vote to see themselves and their outlook reflected in the presidency. It is hard to escape the conclusion that the established parties, and some of the independents, kept Maria Steen off the ballot paper, not because she was an unworthy candidate, but because she was all too credible.

Thus, those who hold to the original values underlying the Constitution, who are proud of their faith, who resent the exclusion of the Church from public debate, will now feel more marginalised, if that were possible, than before.

The secularisation of Irish society has been led by the usual elites – the media, the political class, the lanyard class, the non-governmental bodies – and it has left many people feeling that their priorities and identity count for little. Maria Steen’s candidacy would have been a chance for those voices to have been heard.

It won’t now happen, and the electorate will have a diminished choice. That cannot be in the interests of democracy.

Absence of a priest’s blessing at opening of new Mayo housing developments draws criticism

Three new developments in the Westport Municipal District did not receive a blessing from the local priest, a break from tradition that has caught the attention of local councillors and community members alike.

Councillors have warned that failing to follow the longstanding practice of having the local priest bless new developments could have broader societal implications.

They expressed surprise and concern that no blessings were carried out at the openings.

Pointing out that religion is valued and respected in Ireland, councillors suggested that in the future, representatives of all faiths should be invited to bless new developments for the benefit of their communities.

Last Friday, two new housing developments were officially opened by Minister for Housing James Browne, one at Bog Gate Demesne in Westport and another at Murrevagh Close in Mulranny.

On Sunday, September 21, Westport Athletic Club opened its new track at Horkan’s Hill, marking a significant upgrade for local sports facilities.

Cllr John O’Malley said that members of the local community had approached him to express their disappointment that Father Kenny, the local priest, did not bless the track and the housing development in Westport.

He emphasised that, although he was not an overly religious man himself, he recognised the importance of the tradition of new developments receiving blessings.

Cllr O’Malley explained that it is traditional for the local priest to bless new developments, and that usually, all community projects receive such blessings.

By not following this step, he warned, society might be moving away from some of its long-established traditions.

“I think we are creating a very bad society for ourselves,” he said. “In future, we want to make sure that developments get the blessing of a priest when it is a public project like that.”

Cllr O’Malley told the meeting that there had been an objection to the track being blessed, so it wasn’t done.

Fellow councillor, Brendan Mulroy, shared Cllr O’Malley’s concerns, admitting he was taken aback when he realised no blessing had been carried out.

He said Fr Kenny deserved more respect and highlighted the importance of including religious representatives in such ceremonies.

“People should be asked to do their own blessings; we should have no fear of that,” he said,

“All religions in Westport should be invited. Whatever community we have there, we bring all religious groups to bless a house or any [development] that opens up,

“We as a council should not be taking part in making sure the priest does not give a blessing, or the Church of Ireland or other communities. As a council, we need to be more proactive on that. Who are we answering to?”

He added: “Normally we are dealing with potholes or chasing officials looking for jobs to be done, but this week it has been holy water we’ve been dealing with.”

The new housing development at Murrevagh Close in Mulranny was officially opened Friday 26th September.

Cathaoirleach of the Westport-Belmullet Municipal District, Cllr Peter Flynn, agreed that it was unusual for Fr Kenny not to be invited to perform a blessing at the official openings.

“As Father Ted said, I think, that is an ‘ecumenical matter’ rather than a council matter to a degree,” he said. However, he added that if a local priest or reverend attends an event, they should have a formal role in the official opening.

Councillors emphasised that ensuring blessings are carried out and that all religious groups are included in the future, can help to strengthen the community and uphold tradition, while acknowledging Ireland’s diverse religious landscape.

Priest (80s) rescues elderly woman after attack by man who injured several people in violent spree

A priest aged in his late 80s came to the rescue of an elderly woman who had been targeted by a man brandishing what has been described as a “sharp implement” in Dublin on Wednesday.

The 73-year-old woman was just one of a number of people who were assaulted during the course of the terrifying incident on the capital’s southside on Wednesday afternoon.

It can be revealed that the suspect was attempting to stab people and was threatening anyone who he came across at Kimmage Road Lower at around 4pm.

Among his targets was a young woman who was pushing a baby in a pram, who it is alleged the man attempted to stab in the hand as she walked in the Harold’s Cross area. 

While this woman did not require hospital treatment, a male jogger suffered a facial injury after he was swiped in the face with a small blade when he was attacked by the suspect.

Gardaí tonight could not confirm what type of weapon was used and it is understood that the implement has not yet been recovered.

“Among the people that this individual targeted was a 73-year-old woman who was walking near a church when he grabbed her,” a source said.

“However, while this exchange was happening, a very elderly priest came to her rescue and further harm to her was thankfully prevented but she was later brought to hospital,” the source added.

It is understood the priest was coming out of the church when he saw the commotion and bravely intervened.

“Anyone who was passing by was threatened by this individual,” a source said.

Gardaí were notified and rushed to the scene where the suspect was arrested.

The suspect is understood to be suffering from significant health issues.

Gardaí are appealing for witnesses to the bizarre events which unfolded in broad daylight.

A spokesman said in a statement: “Gardaí were alerted to an incident on Kimmage Road Lower, Dublin 12, shortly after 4pm on Tuesday, 1st October 2025, following reports that a number of individuals had been approached and assaulted by a lone male on foot.

“Gardaí responded and arrested a man in his late 20s at the scene.

“Two of the individuals assaulted —a woman in her 70s and a man in his 30s—were taken from the scene to hospital for assessment.

“The arrested man is currently in Garda custody. Investigations are ongoing.

“Anyone who may have witnessed the incident is asked to contact Crumlin Garda Station on (01) 666 6200 or the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111.”