Vatican Recalls Ireland Envoy, Ritual Abuse Conference Scotland, Caylee's Law

Vatican Recalls Ireland Envoy Amid Abuse Uproar
By VICTOR L. SIMPSON 07/25/11

VATICAN CITY -- Chafing under extraordinary criticism, the Vatican made the rare move of recalling its ambassador to Ireland on Monday following accusations that the Holy See sabotaged efforts by Catholic bishops to report clerical sex abuse cases to police.

A Vatican spokesman said Archbishop Giuseppe Leanza was recalled to help prepare an official response to Irish complaints, but that the decision "does not exclude some degree of surprise and disappointment at certain excessive reactions."

The spokesman, the Rev. Ciro Benedettini, acknowledged the recall of an ambassador was a measure rarely used by the Holy See, underlining "the seriousness of the situation."

The deepening crisis follows a July 13 report that the Irish diocese of Cloyne failed to act on complaints against 19 priests from 1996 to 2009. It further alleged the Vatican encouraged bishops to ignore child-protection guidelines including the requirement that abuse claims be reported to civil authorities....

Prime Minister Enda Kenny denounced to lawmakers last week what he called "the dysfunction, disconnection, elitism – and the narcissism – that dominate the culture of the Vatican to this day."

It was the first time in the past 17 years of pedophile-priest scandals in Ireland that parliamentarians have taken on the Vatican rather than local church leaders. Revelations of widespread abuse have eroded Catholic authority in a nation where the church still owns most schools and several hospitals, and state broadcasters still toll a twice-daily call to Catholic prayer....

A confidential 1997 Vatican letter – originally published by The Associated Press in January – instructed Irish bishops to handle child-abuse cases strictly under terms of canon law. It warned bishops that their 1996 child-protection policy, particularly its emphasis on the need to start reporting all suspected crimes to police, violated canon law.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/07/25/vatican-recalls-ireland-envoy_n_908462.html


10TH ANNIVERSARY CONFERENCE ON RITUAL ABUSE
Host organisation IZZY’S PROMISE
Location DUNDEE, Scotland
November 3, 2011 09:30 AM

Izzy’s Promise is hosting a conference for survivors, support workers and organisations on the subject of RITUAL ABUSE IN THE UK 10 YEARS ON. Izzy’s Promise formerly (Tayside Ritual Abuse Support and Helpline Project TRASH) has been up and running for 10 years. It was started in 2001 by volunteers and service users out of a direct demand for services by survivors of ritual/organised abuse.

The main speaker will Laurie Matthew, who has 30 years of experience working with ritual abuse survivors. The charges are £50 for statutory/funded organisations, £25 smaller charities and £10 for survivors.

Website http://www.izzyspromise.org.uk
Enquiries josephlumbasi@aol.com
http://www.thirdforcenews.org.uk/2011/07/10th-anniversary-conference-on-ritual-abuse/


Lawmakers will study Wyoming 'Caylee's Law'
By JOSHUA WOLFSON Star-Tribune staff writer Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Public outcry following Casey Anthony’s acquittal has prompted Wyoming lawmakers to explore legislation that would punish parents who fail to report missing children within a certain time frame.

The Legislature’s Joint Judiciary Interim Committee will study the need for a “Caylee’s Law” when it meets next month in Sundance, a committee chairman said.

More than 20 states are considering versions of Caylee’s Law, which would make it a felony for parents or guardians to wait more than 24 hours to notify authorities of missing children. Other states are also contemplating making it a felony to wait more than an hour to report a child’s death.

An Oklahoma woman proposed the legislation in an online petition created after a jury acquitted Anthony of murdering her daughter, Caylee. Anthony waited a month before reporting her daughter missing.

The online petition has collected more than 1.25 million signatures. Many state lawmakers have also received emails from constituents urging passage of a Caylee’s Law in Wyoming, said judiciary co-chairman Sen. Drew Perkins. Instead of individual lawmakers pursuing a bill, the Legislature’s Management Council assigned the judiciary committee to study the issue.

http://trib.com/news/state-and-regional/article_8c07f961-0e6b-5af0-995d-b83bd396333f.html