If a bishop, priest or deacon is convicted of a criminal offence against children and is sentenced to serve a term of imprisonment of 12 months or more, then it would normally be right to initiate the process of laicisation. Failure to do so would need to be justified. Initiation of the process of laicisation may also be appropriate in other circumstances.
(Nolan, 2001, 3.5.32, p44).

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Friday, November 14, 2014

Canon Mortimer Stanley charged with 17 charges of indecent assault on a girl under 14

See http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/priest-charged-after-historic-sexual-8103605

Canon Mortimer Stanley returned from his home in Ireland to face the allegations at Bury Magistrates court on 13 November 2014
.
"The Crown Prosecution Service authorised Greater Manchester Police to charge Canon Stanley, 82, after numerous complaints by former pupils at a Rochdale school.
He is accused of 17 charges of indecent assault on a girl under 14 between 1977 and 1988.
The clergyman, who is now living in Ireland after retiring from St Vincent de Paul RC Church in Norden, was first quizzed by police last year.
The allegations involve ten victims. All the alleged victims were pupils at St Vincent’s Primary School, which has been historically linked to the parish.
Canon Stanley, who lives in Ballybunion, Kerry, had twice travelled to Greater Manchester to answer police questions before returning a third time to be charged.
The priest was originally interviewed in November last year, and he returned in May this year to be further interviewed under caution about the historic allegations.
Canon Stanley, who joined the church as a parish priest in 1972, retired to his native Ireland in 2002.”

Wednesday, October 8, 2014

Canon Mortimer Stanley due to face 17 charges of indecent assault on girls

Canon Mortimer Stanley, former parish priest of St Vincent's, Rochdale may have to be extradited to face a string of sex charges involving schoolgirls. 

The Manchester Evening News reports (see http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/priest-facing-rochdale-school-sex-7892055 ):

"The Crown Prosecution Service has authorised Greater Manchester Police to charge Canon Mortimer Stanley, 82, after numerous complaints by former pupils at a Rochdale school.
The clergyman, who is now living in Ireland after retiring from St Vincent de Paul RC Church in Norden, was first quizzed by police last year.
He is now due to face 17 charges of indecent assault on girls under 14.
The allegations involved ten victims and are said to have taken place between 1977 and 2002. All the victims were pupils at St Vincent’s Primary School, which has been historically linked to the parish.
Canon Stanley, who lives in Ballybunion, Kerry, has twice travelled to Greater Manchester to answer police questions.
But the MEN understands that police are now considering extradition proceedings in order to press charges.
One source close to the investigation said Canon Stanley was being given legal advice NOT to return to Rochdale again. The source added: "Because he is not in the UK a summons may not compel him to attend. Police are now taking legal advice.”...................................

........The CPS confirmed authorisation had been given for Canon Stanley to be charged"

Friday, May 16, 2014

Canon Mortimer Stanley interviewed for the second time regarding historic sexual abuse.

See http://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/87152/catholic-priest-quizzed-for-second-time-over-sexual-abuse-allegations

Canon Mortimer Stanley, 82, former priest at St Vincent de Paul RC Church in Norden, Rochdale, has been interviewed for the second time regarding historic sexual abuse.

Canon Stanley, who retired from St Vincent de Paul RC Church, Norden, Rochdale in 2002, was first interviewed last year.

Originally three women claimed that they had been indecently assaulted and sexually abused while pupils at St Vincent’s Primary School.

The women were under the age of 11 when it is alleged the offences happened. It is claimed that the incidents took place in a presbytery next to the school.

It is understood that since original reports, another six women have come forward with information.

A spokesperson for Greater Manchester Police said: “Detectives investigating reports of historic sexual abuse have further interviewed an 82-year-old man under caution.

“The investigation relates to the indecent assault and sexual abuse of women during their time as schoolgirls at St Vincent's Primary School in Norden, Rochdale.

“An 82-year-old man was interviewed under caution in November 2013 in relation to allegations from three women.

“Following an appeal for information a number of other women contacted police and the man has been further interviewed under caution in relation to these matters.

“A full file of evidence will now be compiled for consideration by the CPS.”

Monday, March 31, 2014

William Green - some news of laicisation (finally!)

William Green told a court last week that he had been laicised.  Green is the former parish priest of Holy Family, Wigan. He was convicted in 2008 for 26 offences of indecent assault committed mainly against students at St Bede's, Manchester (see http://caads.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/safeguarding-commission-refuses-to-say.html )

Green did not say when he had been laicised, although it is known that in December 2010 he had not yet been dismissed from the clerical status (see http://caads.blogspot.co.uk/2010/12/wigan-today-paedo-priest-anger-17.html )

The court, last week, was considering civil actions against St Bede's by former pupils
.

Thursday, February 13, 2014

Analysis of the Criticism By the United Nations of the Vatican Over Child Abuse - And the Vatican's Reaction to It

For an interesting Analysis of the Criticism By the United Nations of the Vatican Over Child Abuse - And the Vatican's Reaction to It, see http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/keith-porteous-wood/vatican-child-abuse_b_4774147.html

Saturday, February 8, 2014

The English Catholic Church and the Sex Abuse Crisis

The English Catholic Church and the Sex Abuse Crisis

BETRAYED
The English Catholic Church and the Sex Abuse Crisis
RICHARD SCORER
PUBLICATION DATE: 11th MARCH 2014
PRICE: £16.99
Since the late 1980s, the Catholic Church has been embroiled in a profound crisis of clerical sexual abuse. In many Western countries, paedophile priests have been exposed and convicted, and the Church’s moral and social standing has suffered deeply.  Scandals in Ireland and America have been extensively documented and much debated. The English Catholic Church has also been shaken to its roots by allegations of abuse; but until now the situation in England has not been properly examined, and nor have its causes and possible solutions been fully considered.  
The author, one of the UK’s leading lawyers in the field, considers the prevalence and causes of abuse, the influence of wider society upon the Church’s response, allegations of cover-ups, campaigns led by victims, battles within the Church, the legal dimensions and the debate around the laicisation (“defrocking”) of individual priests. He attempts to answer the following questions: How serious has the problem been in the English Catholic Church? How effectively has the Church responded? Can it hope to recover from this scandal, and deal credibly and effectively with allegations of abuse that may be directed at it in the future?
The shocking true story of the extent of sexual abuse in the Catholic Church in England is exposed here for the first time.
AUTHOR
Richard Scorer is a lawyer who is widely reputed for his work on child abuse and human rights issues. He was described by the Independent on Sunday as ‘one of Britain’s leading specialists in child abuse litigation’ and is rated as a Band 1 ‘Leader in the Field’ in serious injury law by Chambers Legal Guide. Since 1996 Richard has represented hundreds of child abuse victims including the cases involving Father Michael Hill which, in 2001, led directly to sweeping reforms of child protection policy in the Catholic Church.
Richard Scorer is available for interview
For more information please contact