Catholic clergy in Illinois sexually abused more than 1,900 minors, state attorney general says in report

 Catholic clergy in Illinois sexually abused more than 1,900 minors, state attorney general says in report BY CARA TABACHNICK MAY 23, 2023

"In many instances, allegations were reported and not acted upon, the report found"

An investigation has substantiated child abuse claims against Catholic clergy in Illinois by more than 1,900 victims, state Attorney General Kwame Raoul said in a news conference detailing the findings of the office's five-year investigation that uncovered hundreds more cases than first reported by the dioceses in 2018.

More than 100,000 pages of diocesan documents and 600 confidential contacts with survivors of child sex abuse helped the state's office piece together the 696-page report released Tuesday on clergy sexual abuse in all six Catholic dioceses in Illinois, the office said....

Raoul's predecessor, former Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan, began investigating the scope of state clergy sexual abuse in 2018 after a Pennsylvania grand jury report documented the abuse of 1,000 minors in six dioceses in that state, the office said. The revelations in that report shocked dioceses around the country and numerous state attorneys general pledged to investigate clergy within their own states – Illinois included. 

At that time, the Catholic dioceses of Illinois publicly listed only 103 substantiated child sex abusers, the office said.

The investigation covered all six Illinois dioceses — Chicago, Belleville, Joliet, Peoria, Rockford and Springfield — which serve the state's 3.5 million Catholics. Investigators substantiated child sex abuse allegations against 451 clerics and religious brothers. The largest number was in Chicago, where there were 150 reported abusers, and Joliet, with 52 reported abusers, the report found. Since some reported abusers were registered in two dioceses, there were a total of 494 substantiated abusers reported, the report said.

The depth and breadth of the sexual abuse varied – as did the punishments they received, the report states. In many instances, allegations were reported and not acted upon, the report found. In 1993, two survivors accused one priest at the Chicago Diocese of abuse, but the review board did not recommend that the priest be punished, the report said. Instead, the clergy had him monitored and he was still allowed to meet with teenage girls, the report found. The abuse continued and at least three more survivors reported abuse at the hands of the priest until in 2002 - almost a decade later – he was removed from the clergy, the report said.  

One priest accused of abusing numerous young boys was known by the parish children as "Happy Hands," the report said, but he evaded punishment for years. Prosecutors often declined to move the case forward — an assistant state's attorney told Our Lady of the Snows parishioners, "It was our decision not to put the children through any court process, because we feel that our goal can be achieved without doing that," the report said. The priest moved from parish to parish after accusations against him started in 1990 but he didn't leave the Catholic church until 2008, the report said. He was never punished for his alleged abuses, the report said, and instead, he resides at "his cottage—the same residence where he had been accused so many times of abusing young boys."

At least 1,997 survivors reported being abused by Illinois clergy, the report said. Sexual abuse survivors shared their narratives – which were essential to the report's investigation said the Illinois Attorney General – and many spoke frankly about the struggles they've faced since their abuse. 

Nearly every survivor struggled with mental health issues, the report found, with some turning to alcohol, addiction and others having anxiety, and feelings of unworthiness.... Some survivors struggled with suicidal thoughts, while others dealt with physical health and financial issues. 

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/illinois-catholic-clergy-sexually-abused-over-1900-minors/

Illinois clergy sex abuse investigation uncovers hundreds more cases in Catholic church BY BRAD EDWARDS, MEGAN HICKEY MAY 23, 2023

CHICAGO (CBS) -- A nearly five-year investigation by Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul's office has uncovered hundreds more cases of child sex abuse by Catholic clergy members than first reported by church officials.

A nearly 700-page report released Tuesday features detailed narrative accounts of child sex abuse committed by Catholic clerics. 

https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/illinois-attorney-general-clergy-sex-abuse-report/

Survivorship Celebrates Its 34th Year Helping Survivors at its Eleventh Annual Conference

  
Survivorship Celebrates Its 34th Year Helping Survivors at its Eleventh Annual Conference
 

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https://survivorship.org/the-survivorship-ritual-abuse-and-mind-control-2022-conference-presentations/

 

https://www.prnews
wire.com/news-releases/survivorship-celebrates-its-34th-year-helping-survivors-at-its-eleventh-annual-conference-301830451.html 
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PACIFIC PALISADES, Calif., May 22, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Survivorship of Extreme or Ritualistic Abuse 2023 Online Conference 

https://survivorship.org/the-survivorship-ritual-abuse-and-mind-control-2023-online-conference/

At the conference, participants reported they received a lot of information. They appreciated having a chance to get support and ideas to help them heal from their traumas.
 
In her discussion on Researching Ritual Abuse and Mind Control in Art and Literature: One Art Historian's Journey, Lynn Brunet PhD talked about the connections between a person's art and their past trauma memories. She discussed her book Answer to Jung: Making Sense of 'The Red Book' and Freemasonry. https://independent.academia.edu/LynnBrunet1
 
Neil Brick discussed The Effects of Social Movements on Survivor Support Systems and Survivor Recovery. He explained how those that attack trauma victim's stories use techniques like DARVO (Deny, Attack, and Reverse Victim and Offender) and how they may suffer from the Dunning-Kruger effect (overestimating their knowledge). https://ritualabuse.us http://neilbrick.com

Rainer Kurz talked about the Enmeshment of the British False Memory Society and the British Psychological Society and his efforts to correct their views to reflect the actual memory research in the field. https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Rainer_Kurz2

Evidence-Based Practice Guidelines and Standards Relevant to the Psychological Care of Extreme Abuse Survivors was discussed by Dr. Randall Noblitt. He discussed the research supporting survivor stories and different types of evidence-based standards. https://ritualabuse.us/smart/randy-noblitt/

Ellen Lacter Ph.D. talked about Systematic and Organic Psychological Mechanisms that Perpetuate the Cycle of Extreme Abuse. She covered the topics of ritualistic abuse, production of sadistic child abuse materials, and sex-trafficking of young children to multiple perpetrators. https://endritualabuse.org

Shelby Rising Eagle's topic How to Create a Successful Recovery Path for Disassociated Survival Skills and DID discussed how to create a successful path of recovery for survivors of severe abuse. She talked about her own abuse story as well.

Patricia Quinn in her presentation on Creating Calm talked about ways art can help survivors of child abuse heal. 
Since 1989, Survivorship has been helping survivors of severe abuse. Through advocacy, education, publications and support groups, Survivorship has provided research and important knowledge to help survivors and their helpers. https://survivorship.org

Resources for Survivors of Extreme Abuse

Ritual Abuse Evidence https://survivorship.org/ritual-abuse-evidence/

Child Abuse Wiki - Ritual Abuse http://childabusewiki.org/index.php?title=Ritual_Abuse

The Survivorship Ritual Abuse and Mind Control 2022 Conference Presentations

The Survivorship Ritual Abuse and Mind Control 2021 Conference Presentations  https://survivorship.org/the-survivorship-ritual-abuse-and-mind-control-2021-conference-presentations/

Ritual Abuse Survivors’ Perspectives on Research Participation: An Exploratory Mixed Methods Online Study

Ritual Abuse Survivors’ Perspectives on Research Participation: An Exploratory Mixed Methods Online Study
Laurie Matthew & Ian Barron - Journal of Child Sexual Abuse
09 May 2023

 

ABSTRACT

This exploratory study sought a deeper understanding of the perspectives of self-defined ritual abuse (RA) survivors, who had experienced sexual victimization, on participation in research. A mixed-methods qualitative design involving online survey and follow-up virtual interviews included 68 adults across eight countries. Content and thematic analysis of responses indicated that RA survivors were keen to be involved in a range of research activities to share their experience, knowledge, and support for other survivors. Having a voice, gaining knowledge, and feeling empowered were reported as advantages of participation, while concerns included exploitation, researcher ignorance, and emotional dysregulation caused by content discussed. To enable their engagement in the future research, RA survivors identified participative research designs, anonymity, and increased opportunities for inclusion in decision-making.

https://www.tandfonline.com/eprint/VIVGQKKJ4MPFPUMCH9D5/full?target=10.1080/10538712.2023.2211578 

 

Matthew, L. & Barron, I. (2015). Participatory Action research on help-seeking behaviors of self-defined ritual abuse survivors: a brief report. Journal of Child Sexual Abuse, 24(4):429-43.

 

The existence of ritual abuse is the subject of much debate. Ritual abuse survivor perceptions of seeking help have not been explored, and studies have yet to utilize self-defined survivors as collaborative researchers. This study addresses both issues. Participatory action research was utilized to design a survey and semistructured interview to investigate ritual abuse survivor experience of seeking help.

Sixty-eight participants completed the survey, and 22 were interviewed. A group approach to thematic analysis aided validity and reliability. Participants reported experiencing disbelief and a lack of ritual abuse awareness and help from support services. In contrast, participatory action research was reported by participants as educative and emancipatory. Future research should explore the benefits of participatory action research for survivors of different forms of oppression.

 

In the 1990s, a modest number of research articles (Faller, 1994) and clinical guides were published on ritual abuse. Moreover, a considerable number of clinicians reported encountering ritual abuse (RA) cases in their practices, about 10% in a study of members of the American Psychological Association (Bottoms, Shaver, & Goodman, 1991). Media hysteria, the rise of the False Memory Foundation (Salter, 2008), and the failure of feminism to fit RA into dominant paradigms of sexual abuse led to many professionals becoming wary of RA (Scott, 2001). For practitioners, investigators, and journalists, it was reassuring and convenient to redefine RA as a nonphenomenon. However, it is likely, this left individuals who self-defined as RA survivors
more isolated and disbelieved....

 

DISBELIEF
Fear of disbelief was a prevalent theme across participants’ responses (n = 12). During interviews, participants explored the reasons behind this as well as consequences for survivors. Many tried to understand the reasons behind this lack of belief. “We face denial and disbelief on a scale that beggars belief. They can’t handle our abuse at all but they don’t have to, they just have to
listen, but they don’t.” Others felt angry, particularly when speaking about their experiences of not being believed in childhood. Some expressed child protection concerns. “How can we safeguard children from something that is not known about or recognized?”

 

Issues of mental illness and vulnerability were reflected in experiences of participants when seeking help. “I was given ECT [electroconvulsive therapy] . . . at the age of 13. They diagnosed posttraumatic stress disorder, at 16 a counsellor diagnosed False Memory Syndrome” and “when I started with my new therapist and started to remember ritual abuse she didn’t believe me.
I was devastated. It is hard enough trying to cope with some of these very extreme memories without having professionals disbelieve.”....

 

Conclusions
The current study found survivors appeared to suffer from the continued polarized discourse around belief, memory, and mental illness. The researchers discovered that survivors reported low awareness of RA issues among professionals, which in turn resulted in services being perceived as
poor. As a consequence, participants reported they were reluctant to reveal histories of RA due to anticipated negative reactions. The authors suggest there is a need for survivor agencies to raise awareness of issues for RA survivors, share the experiences of survivors, and encourage development of survivor-sensitive services.

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/278044326_Participatory_Action_Research_on_Help-Seeking_Behaviors_of_Self-Defined_Ritual_Abuse_Survivors_A_Brief_Report 

Class action suit by families of those brainwashed in Montreal medical experiments gets go-ahead, Brainwashed: The echoes of MK-ULTRA

Class action suit by families of those brainwashed in Montreal medical experiments gets go-ahead

Treatments included chemically induced sleep for weeks, rounds of electroshocks
CBC News Mar 03, 2022

 

A lawsuit against the Canadian government, the Royal Victoria Hospital and the McGill University Health Centre is moving ahead.

 

About 55 families of victims who underwent medical experimentation in the 1950s and 1960s are suing for millions of dollars.

Alison Steel says her mother was never the same after undergoing brainwashing experiments at Montreal's Allan Memorial Institute.

 

Treatments included chemically induced sleep for weeks, rounds of electroshocks and experimental drugs....

Steel is one of the main plaintiffs in a lawsuit against the Canadian government, the Royal Victoria Hospital and the McGill University Health Centre (MUHC).

 

How the CIA's MK-ULTRA mind-control experiments laid the groundwork for torture methods used today
The plaintiffs allege the Government of Canada funded psychiatric treatments by Dr. Ewen Cameron at the Allan Memorial Institute between 1950 to 1964. They claim the government played a role in the supervision and control of these experiments, which were part of the CIA's MK-ULTRA program of covert mind-control.

The defendants had moved to partially dismiss the case, but Quebec Superior Court dismissed the defence's request on Feb. 23.

 

Lawyer Alan Stein says the lawsuit, seeking about $1 million per family on top of legal costs "to compensate them for their [physical and emotional] loss," can now move ahead....
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/class-action-lawsuit-families-montreal-brainwashing-mk-ultra-1.6371416

 

Brainwashed: The echoes of MK-ULTRA
During the Cold War, the CIA secretly funded mind-control experiments on unwitting Canadians in a program codenamed MK-ULTRA. The experiments laid the groundwork for modern-day torture techniques. And victims and their families are still seeking recognition and justice.

By Michelle Shephard, Lisa Ellenwood and Chris Oke

October 21, 2020

The following story is based on material from the CBC podcast Brainwashed, a six-part series co-produced with The Fifth Estate that investigates the CIA's covert mind-control experiments — from the Cold War and MK-ULTRA to the so-called U.S. war on terror.

 

But many of the details are laid out in a thick file of documents, correspondences and reports. He has news articles and pictures spanning decades, all describing what his family went through. And he has his mother's heartwrenching medical report that is still hard for him to comprehend.

 

"She had her 30th and last day of sleep on March 24th," Schrier said as he read from the 1960 hospital record.

"They gave her all the drugs … about four or five barbiturates and amphetamines at a time."

 

Esther Schrier received electroshock therapy, massive amounts of drugs and so-called psychiatric treatments that sound as if they were lifted from the pages of George Orwell's dystopian novel, Nineteen Eighty-Four.

She was a patient at Montreal’s Allan Memorial Institute in the 1960s. She had gone to "the Allan," as the hospital is known, to seek treatment for what today would be considered anxiety or postpartum depression.

But once she walked through those hospital doors and into the care of a psychiatrist named Dr. Ewen Cameron, she became an unwitting experiment subject for a massive CIA brainwashing operation codenamed MK-ULTRA.

 

And Schrier was part of this clandestine program, too, because his mother was pregnant with him at the time.

"It's crazy," said Schrier. "I don't think it was fair to do that to a developing fetus."...

 

Hundreds of relatives whose loved ones were experimented upon by Cameron are now demanding compensation for family members and an apology from the Canadian government.

 

Canada has never provided a list of the victims of the experiments that took place during Cameron's tenure from 1943 to 1964. In the decades since, no government has ever admitted liability, let alone apologized — despite the fact that part of the experiments in Montreal were funded not only by the CIA, but also by the Canadian government....

 

But the story of MK-ULTRA isn't just relegated to Cold War history. 

 

The idea of mind control — the theory that breaking a person down will make them do something against their will — has been constantly revisited by governments during other periods of fear and uncertainty, when the military and medicine collide. 

What happened at Montreal's Allan Memorial Institute laid the groundwork for torture spanning decades to follow....

https://newsinteractives.cbc.ca/longform/brainwashed-mkultra/ 

Maryland attorney general releases report on decades of sex abuse by Catholic priests

 

Maryland attorney general releases report on decades of sex abuse by Catholic priests
April 5, 2023 By The Associated Press

 

BALTIMORE — The Maryland Attorney General's Office has publicly released a redacted version of an investigative report detailing sex abuse allegations against more than 150 Catholic priests and examining the Archdiocese of Baltimore's response.

 

The redacted findings were made public Wednesday afternoon, marking a significant development in an ongoing legal battle over its release and adding to growing evidence from parish es across the country as numerous similar revelations have rocked the Catholic Church in recent years.

 

Former Maryland Attorney General Brian Frosh launched the probe in 2019 and announced its completion in November, saying investigators had reviewed over 100,000 pages of documents dating back to the 1940s and interviewed hundreds of victims and witnesses. The report's contents weren't immediately released because they include information obtained from church officials via grand jury subpoenas, which are confidential proceedings in Maryland.

 

Lawyers for the state asked a court for permission to release the nearly 500-page document, which identifies 158 priests accused of abusing more than 600 victims over the past 80 years, and Baltimore Circuit Court Judge Robert Taylor ruled last month that a redacted version should be made public. Officials recently started making the necessary redactions, which included removing the names and titles of 37 people accused of wrongdoing....

 

 

State lawmakers are currently considering whether to end the state's statute of limitations for when civil lawsuits related to child sexual abuse can be filed against institutions. Similar proposals have failed in recent years, but the issue received renewed attention this session and the current proposal is nearing passage in Annapolis, where lawmakers have until midnight next Monday to give final approval and send the bill to Gov. Wes Moore, who has said he supports it. Currently, victims of child sex abuse in Maryland can't sue after they turn 38. The bill would eliminate the age limit and allow for retroactive lawsuits....

 

 

When Maryland prosecutors asked to release the findings of their recent investigation, they summarized some of the report's contents, which paint a damning picture. Sexual abuse was so pervasive, the filing said, that some parishes, congregations and schools had more than one abusive priest at the same time — including one congregation where 11 abusive priests practiced over 40 years. In some cases, victims ended up reporting abuse to priests who were abusive themselves, prosecutors wrote.

 

 

The investigation also revealed that the archdiocese failed to report many allegations of sexual abuse to authorities, conduct adequate investigations, remove abusers from the ministry or restrict their access to children.

 

"Instead, it went to great lengths to keep the abuse secret," the court filing said. "While the Archdiocese reported a large number of allegations to police, especially in later years, for decades it worked to ensure that the perpetrators would not face justice....

 

https://www.npr.org/2023/04/05/1168217401/maryland-baltimore-archdiocese-report-sex-abuse-catholic-church 

 

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