Sexual abuse scandal in the Catholic diocese of Davenport
Encyclopedia
The sexual abuse scandal in Davenport diocese is one of a number of Catholic sex abuse cases in the United States and Ireland.
, who was accused of fondling as many as 15 students during his tenure as priest and principal at Regina Catholic High School
in Iowa City during the 1960s. Soens denies the allegations.
investigative panel found behavior that may have been inappropriate, but it did not appear to be sexual in nature.
filed for Chapter 11 protection. By November 27, 2007, $37 million had been allocated to 156 persons.
has had to deal with the fallout from the sexual abuse scandal that had engulfed the Church. Two days before he assumed office, the Diocese of Davenport filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.
Allegations against Bishop Soens
The decision was driven by many claims which focused on Bishop Lawrence SoensLawrence Donald Soens
Lawrence Donald Soens is a bishop of the Catholic Church in the United States. He served as Bishop of Sioux City in the state of Iowa from 1983 to 1998.-Early life & Ministry:...
, who was accused of fondling as many as 15 students during his tenure as priest and principal at Regina Catholic High School
Regina High School (Iowa)
Regina High School is the only Catholic K-12 Education Center in Iowa City, Iowa. It is located in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Davenport. It currently houses 450+ in the elementary, and 400+ in the Junior/Senior High School...
in Iowa City during the 1960s. Soens denies the allegations.
Diocesan investigation
In February 2006, the Diocese of DavenportRoman Catholic Diocese of Davenport
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Davenport is a diocese of the Catholic Church for the southeastern quarter of the state of Iowa. There are within the diocese...
investigative panel found behavior that may have been inappropriate, but it did not appear to be sexual in nature.
Legal settlements
One claim was settled for $20K in 2004. Two more suits were pending in May 2006. Seven more suits were filed in May 2006. One new suit with 13 plaintiffs was filed in August 2006 alleging abuse from 1959–1967. A judge discharged one suit in October 2006. Recently, Bishop Soens was the first United States Roman Catholic Bishop to be named as being the object of 'credible' sexual abuse charges.Filing for bankruptcy
On October 10, 2006, the Diocese of DavenportRoman Catholic Diocese of Davenport
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Davenport is a diocese of the Catholic Church for the southeastern quarter of the state of Iowa. There are within the diocese...
filed for Chapter 11 protection. By November 27, 2007, $37 million had been allocated to 156 persons.
Recovery under Bishop Amos
Since taking office, Bishop Martin John AmosMartin John Amos
Martin John Amos is a bishop of the Catholic Church in the United States. He served as an auxiliary bishop of the Diocese of Cleveland in the state of Ohio from 2001–2006, and as the eighth bishop of the Diocese of Davenport in the state of Iowa since 2006.-Early Life & Ministry:Martin John Amos...
has had to deal with the fallout from the sexual abuse scandal that had engulfed the Church. Two days before he assumed office, the Diocese of Davenport filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.
See also
- AbuseAbuseAbuse is the improper usage or treatment for a bad purpose, often to unfairly or improperly gain benefit. Abuse can come in many forms, such as: physical or verbal maltreatment, injury, sexual assault, violation, rape, unjust practices; wrongful practice or custom; offense; crime, or otherwise...
- Child abuseChild abuseChild abuse is the physical, sexual, emotional mistreatment, or neglect of a child. In the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Department of Children And Families define child maltreatment as any act or series of acts of commission or omission by a parent or...
- Child sexual abuseChild sexual abuseChild sexual abuse is a form of child abuse in which an adult or older adolescent uses a child for sexual stimulation. Forms of child sexual abuse include asking or pressuring a child to engage in sexual activities , indecent exposure with intent to gratify their own sexual desires or to...
- Religious abuse
- Sexual abuseSexual abuseSexual abuse, also referred to as molestation, is the forcing of undesired sexual behavior by one person upon another. When that force is immediate, of short duration, or infrequent, it is called sexual assault. The offender is referred to as a sexual abuser or molester...
- Sexual misconductSexual misconductSexual misconduct is misconduct of a sexual nature. The term may be used to condemn an act, but in some jurisdictions it has also a legal meaning....
- Spiritual abuseSpiritual abuseSpiritual abuse is a serious form of abuse which occurs when a person in a cult-religious authority or a person with a unique spiritual practice misleads and maltreats another person in the name of a deityor church or in the mystery of any spiritual concept...
- Woodstock defence