The Millstone
This Week in The Millstone
Twenty cases were reported this week, with BishopAccountability contributing fourteen, SNAP four, and The Humanist two. The dominant pattern was the settlement of longstanding claims, particularly in dioceses with financial or legal pressure to resolve multiple claims at once. The Diocese of Winona-Rochester reached a $30 million settlement with its insurer, compensating 145 survivors, while the Buffalo Diocese finalized a $362 million settlement for nearly 900 survivors. Similarly, the Maine Catholic diocese settled 100 child sexual abuse claims only after dozens agreed to drop their lawsuits, following a 2025 state supreme court ruling. These cases illustrate a pattern where institutional resolution depends on mutual agreement to limit claims, often after legal rulings or financial assessments.
Institutional responses reveal a consistent effort to limit financial and legal exposure, with dioceses and insurers acting to settle claims in bulk. The Diocese of Winona-Rochester’s $30 million settlement with its insurer, followed by an additional $30 million payout, reflects a strategy of covering multiple claims efficiently. The Buffalo Diocese’s settlement, finalized by Bankruptcy Judge Carl Bucki, reflects the role of judicial processes in shaping outcomes. The Diocese of Providence removed Monsignor Anthony DeAngelis’s name from a housing complex, demonstrating a public retraction of honor. The Diocese of Portland, despite a settlement, continues to be challenged by survivors demanding an apology, indicating a lingering tension between legal resolution and moral accountability.
Several cases stand out for their timing and impact. In the Diocese of Portland, more than 100 survivors came forward after a settlement, suggesting that financial resolution often triggers a wave of new claims. The Edmonton woman’s account of being ‘unpersoned’ by her church after reporting a clergyman’s abuse from 2004 highlights the personal cost of speaking out. In the United Kingdom, a 30-year-old teacher from Southampton faces trial over an alleged relationship with a 16-year-old student, illustrating ongoing scrutiny of educator-student relationships. The Polish court’s ruling ordering a Catholic diocese to pay 550,000 zloty and requiring a priest to apologize underscores a growing judicial insistence on individual accountability, even in long-past cases.
Cases
Maine’s Catholic diocese settled older claims only when others agreed not to sue, lawyers say
Maine's Catholic diocese settled 100 child sexual abuse claims only after dozens who could sue agreed to drop their cases, following a 2025 state supreme court ruling. (BishopAccountability, September 6)
Local abuse survivor leads National Healing Garden effort
A survivor of clerical sexual abuse leads the effort to establish a National Healing Garden at the Catholic University of America, inspired by Chicago's healing garden. (BishopAccountability, September 6)
Clergy abuse survivors in Buffalo Diocese finally to vote on settlement
Nearly 900 survivors of clergy abuse in the Buffalo Diocese will vote on a $362 million settlement finalized by Bankruptcy Judge Carl Bucki. (BishopAccountability, September 6)
Northshore elementary school principal, assistant principal plead guilty to failing to report child abuse
Two Covington school administrators pleaded guilty to failing to report child abuse at E.E. Lyon Elementary School. (BishopAccountability, September 6)
Abuse prevention, liturgy central to Vatican courses for new bishops
The Vatican hosted its annual formation course for newly appointed bishops, focusing on liturgy and abuse prevention as part of episcopal ministry training. (BishopAccountability, September 5)
Diocese of Winona-Rochester insurer to pay $30 Million to survivors of clergy sexual abuse
The Diocese of Winona-Rochester reached a $30 million settlement with its insurer to compensate 145 survivors of clergy sexual abuse. (BishopAccountability, September 5)
Insurers Will Pay Out Extra $30 Million in Winona-Rochester Diocese Abuse Settlement
Insurers for the Diocese of Winona-Rochester will pay an additional $30 million to clergy-abuse victims, following a 2021 diocesan settlement. (BishopAccountability, September 5)
Accused sex abuser’s name removed from West Warwick housing complex
The name of Monsignor Anthony DeAngelis, accused of child sexual abuse, was removed from a West Warwick housing complex following a report on clergy abuse in the Diocese of Providence. (BishopAccountability, September 5)
Ex-Surrey teacher banned for life after ‘sexualised’ chat with child on dating app
Ian Cornish, a former Surrey teacher, was banned for life after being convicted of child sex offences involving a 13-year-old boy he met through a dating app. (BishopAccountability, September 5)
UK Teacher Faces Trial Over Alleged Relationship With Student
A 30-year-old physical education teacher from Southampton, England, is on trial for four counts of sexual activity with a 16-year-old student, which she denies. (BishopAccountability, September 5)
August Newsletter
SNAP's 2026 tracker for clergy sexual abuse arrests reached 161, continuing its documentation of abuse and cover-up across denominations. (SNAP, September 5)
A Catholic AG is challenging bishops over vaccines. He may not like the precedent.
Florida's Catholic attorney general challenged the state's bishops over school vaccination exemptions, citing a state law and a disputed interpretation of Catholic teaching. (RNS, September 4)
If Gen Z is coming back to church, the real work is just beginning
Gen Z is showing increased interest in church attendance and Bible reading, according to recent research from Lifeway, Barna, and Gallup. (RNS, September 4)
Why so many women are converting to Catholicism
Protestant women are increasingly converting to Catholicism, with dioceses reporting 70% to 90% rises in converts over the past year. (RNS, September 4)
Church trial of Anglican Archbishop Steve Wood, accused of sexual misconduct, begins Monday
The Anglican Church in North America begins a trial of Archbishop Steve Wood on charges including sexual immorality. (RNS, September 3)
Edmonton woman says she was ‘unpersoned’ by church after Orthodox clergyman charged with sexual assault
A woman alleges she was ostracized by St. Olga of Alaska Orthodox Church in Edmonton after reporting a clergyman's sexual assault from 2004. (SNAP, September 2)
Polish court orders Catholic diocese to compensate child sex abuse victim and priest to apologise
A Polish court ordered a Catholic diocese to pay 550,000 zloty in compensation to a woman abused as a child by a priest, and ruled the priest must apologize. (SNAP, September 2)
Staircase Conscience
The phrase 'l'esprit de l'escalier' describes the phenomenon of thinking of the perfect reply after the fact, as Denis Diderot recounted when he had a retort while descending the stairs. (The Humanist, September 2)
“We demand an apology”; More survivors of Portland Diocese’s sexual abuse come forward after settlement
More than 100 survivors of sexual abuse by priests in the Diocese of Portland reached a multimillion-dollar settlement and continue to demand an apology from the church. (SNAP, September 2)
Longtime Kansas pastor arrested on multiple felony sex abuse charges
A longtime Kansas pastor, Wade Booth, was arrested on multiple felony sex abuse charges, according to jail records. (SNAP, September 1)
Terre Haute pastor arrested on child porn charges
A Terre Haute pastor was arrested on child pornography charges, with evidence found during a search of his home and workplace. (SNAP, September 1)
Third former Miss Hall’s staff member appears in court — Matthew Johnson, a former Miss Hall’s School science teacher, pleaded not guilty to charges of assault with intent to rape and indecent assault and battery over age 14 in Berkshire County Superior Court.
Matthew Johnson, a former Miss Hall’s School science teacher, pleaded not guilty to charges of assault with intent to rape and indecent assault and battery over age 14 in Berkshire County Superior Court. (BishopAccountability, September 6)
El Arzobispado de Barcelona exculpa a Omella de inacción por los avisos sobre un cura: “No se observa daño causado”
The Archdiocese of Barcelona rejected a victim's claim that Cardinal Omella failed to act on abuse warnings about a priest, stating no harm was caused. (BishopAccountability, September 6)
Monsignor Roger Landry Steps Back From Ministry Amid Allegations of Code-of-Conduct Violations
Monsignor Roger Landry stepped back from ministry amid allegations of code-of-conduct violations, with no claims of sexual misconduct. (BishopAccountability, September 6)
87-Year-Old Local Pastor Facing Child Sexual Assault Investigation
An 87-year-old Texarkana pastor is facing a child sexual assault charge following an investigation by the Texarkana Texas Police Department. (BishopAccountability, September 6)
Motion to dismiss delays trial of English bishop accused of rape of a minor
Bishop David Oakley of Northampton faces a motion to dismiss charges of raping a minor, delaying his trial until January. (BishopAccountability, September 6)
Bishop of Northampton David Oakley at Old Bailey on 10 September facing two charges of rape.
Bishop David Oakley of Northampton appeared at the Old Bailey facing two charges of rape and indecent assault. (BishopAccountability, September 6)
Former staff member at Saskatoon school charged with sexual assault
A 41-year-old former staff member at St. Mary’s Wellness and Education Centre in Saskatoon, Canada, faces five charges of sexual assault and five of assault involving five victims aged about 10. (BishopAccountability, September 6)
Palm Beach Diocese says Boynton Beach priest engaged in sexual misconduct, abuse of power
The Diocese of Palm Beach found substantiated allegations of sexual misconduct and abuse of power against Rev. Alex J. Vargas. (BishopAccountability, September 6)
New Details Emerge in Case of Texas Pastor Accused of Child Sex Crimes
Jorge Gonzalez Martinez, a Texas pastor, was charged with three counts of indecency with a child after a child reported inappropriate touching at his church. (BishopAccountability, September 6)
7th suspect indicted in prostitution sting involving former Amarillo pastor
A seventh man, Jerry Mac Rottenberry, was indicted on a charge of solicitation of prostitution in a sting involving a former Amarillo pastor. (BishopAccountability, September 6)
Chicago Archdiocese reaches 9 new settlements totaling more than $5M in priest child sex abuse cases
The Archdiocese of Chicago reached nine settlements totaling over $5 million in priest child sexual abuse cases, involving eight deceased priests and multiple parishes and schools. (SNAP, September 5)
Former Ohio missionary pleads guilty to molesting 2 boys in Haiti
Jeriah Mast, a former Ohio missionary, pleaded guilty to federal charges of sexually abusing two boys in Haiti, with a potential sentence of 25 to 33 years. (SNAP, September 5)
Moral Courage in Schools and Society: Four Thoughts Holding Us Back
Two students of different races and genders walk down a hallway, one crying, as an administrator observes the moment of potential empathy and cognitive effort. (The Humanist, September 6)
When Depression Changes the Future, Who Gets to Decide?
A psychiatrist places a patient on involuntary psychiatric hold despite the patient's clear refusal of treatment, highlighting the tension between patient autonomy and clinical responsibility. (The Humanist, September 6)
