“Father Aaron Joseph Cote, 57, of New York, was convicted of one count of custodian child abuse by a judge earlier this week in Maryland. Cote served in the Holy Trinity Church in Somerset in the late 1980s.

“Cote entered a not guilty plea to the charge, but did not object to a statement of facts that was given by the prosecution and was found guilty of the charge by Judge Louis G. Scrivener.

“Cote was indicted last year on the charge in Maryland after victim Brandon Rains, at the time of the abuse 14-years-old, accused Cote of molesting him on a regular basis. Cote was serving part-time as the youth minister at the Mother of Seton Parish in Germantown.”

[Zanesville TimesRecorder]

“You were stripped and on numerous occasions there could be one, two, three Christian brothers with straps or sticks and they beat the living daylights out of you. They just beat you until they got tired or wanted to go onto their next victim.”

[BBC News]

“…a series of allegations of sexual abuse of minors by priests that had been covered up by the church authorities shook Catholicism in America, Canada, Australia, Ireland, the UK and other countries. At least two cardinals were forced to retire, dozens of paedophile priests were jailed for their crimes, and the Church paid out millions of pounds in compensation to victims.”

[The Independent]

“Sheriff’s investigators said Michael Pratt, 37, of Orem was principal at Lone Peak High School’s Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints seminary when he was arrested…”

[Denver Post]

“…32 civil claims against the trustees of the Marist Brothers have been lodged in the ACT Supreme Court on behalf of former Marist College students, alleging they were molested by 10 former brothers and lay teachers while at the school. In some of the claims, former students allege they were molested by as many as four brothers and teachers.

“The Canberra Times can also reveal that in the past two months some of these cases have been settled out of court, with the religious order’s insurers, Catholic Church Insurances, granting pay-outs understood to be more than $50,000 each. More settlements which are not an admission of wrongdoing are expected in the coming months.”

[Canberra Times]

“Deputies say a 10-year old girl with cerebral palsy was killed by her mother’s boyfriend—a volunteer firefighter.

“According to arrest warrants, 31-year old David ‘Tony’ Tyre caused the girl’s death ‘by shaking the child and dropping the child on her head…’”

Naturally, you’d assume that the little girl’s family would be angry with this man for, you know, killing her. But alas, nothing can be assumed when dealing with good Christian folks.

“…Meah’s grandfather says the family believes Tyre did not intentionally hurt the girl.

“‘From what I understand, he was playing too rough with her,’ says Rev. Larry Monday, pastor of Whitney Freewill Baptist Church. Monday says Tyre was swinging Meah back and forth and ‘accidentally hit her head’.

“‘Tony was always really good with her children,’ says Monday. ‘I didn’t know him for long, but he seemed like a great guy.’”

[News Channel 7]

“…Pam, related her story of abuse beginning years ago when she was a teenager and abused sexually by a Catholic nun. She said she did not see it as abuse at the time, but believes the church knew and did little to protect her.”

[Vindy]

“The girl said Jeyapaul made ‘strange’ and ‘weird’ noises, began to disrobe and touch himself and told her it was “a sin” if she did not touch him. She said he then sexually assaulted her, including pushing her onto a couch and forcing oral sex. It was painful and it made her cough, she told the investigators, according to the complaint.

“She said Jeyapaul also molested her under her clothing and told her he ‘could make her life miserable’ if she refused to touch him. The priest told her she was a bad person and that she should kill herself, and if she didn’t, he would kill her and her family.”

[Grand Forks Herald]

“Police say as part of the church, he took children on various outings including trips to Disneyland. Catello faces 29 felony charges, including sexual assault on a victim under 14, and lewdness with a minor under 14.”

[KXNT]

“…129 from polygamous communities sought victim services for domestic violence, child abuse or sexual abuse. Another 141 sought counseling, while 348 service providers, including social workers, lawyers and medical personnel, received training.”

Praise Jesus!

[Deseret News]