Pope Benedict and Catholic Clergy Sex Abuse

For centuries the Catholic Clergy has had sexual abuse scandals, but only in the last 30 years have they risen to international attention. One of the first breakthroughs was the exposure of Cardinal Law's coverup of clergy sex-abuse of children in the Boston Archdiocese in 2002 by the Boston Globe. Since then there has been a flood of reports of child sex abuse cases and other related abuse by the clergy at all levels of the Catholic church. One of the prominent activist organizations leading the fight is SNAP, the survivor network of those abused by priests. After 20 years of revelations, its clear, this situation in Boston was not an exception for the Catholic Church but the norm. One of the major actors in this scandal was Pope Benedict, who recently died. While his acolytes claim he was a reformer in the scandal, when really he did everything possible to shift blame and demonize the gay community. Joining us to discuss his role and the conduct of the three most recent pope's in relation to the scandal and anti-LGBT campaigns of the Church are three members of SNAP, all of which have been abused by clergy at a young age. They are:

Eduardo Lopez de Casas:  Eduardo worked at two different parishes in the Galveston-Houston Archdiocese for over 15 years. As a music director at Prince of Peace Catholic Church in Houston Texas, he became aware that his boss the Father John Keller, had been accused of sexual abuse in the early 2000’s. Father Keller was removed when the Galveston-Houston accused priest list was released and shortly thereafter another priest was also removed from the same congregation. After speaking publicly about the history of abuse at his parish, Eduardo was told that his position there no longer existed. To add insult to injury, he was denied unemployment because the church is a “non-profit”. Eduardo Lopez de Casas is a 45 year survivor of sexual abuse and currently serves on the National Board of SNAP serving as a liaison to the Spanish speaking community and their particular issues.

Mary Dispenza, she, her, is a former Catholic nun, educator, and National Distinguished Principal. She is an activist for LGBTQIA+ rights, an international speaker and writer. She is a survivor of sexual assault at age seven by the parish priest and abuse by a nun when she was a postulant. Mary is the National SNAP leader and contact for those abused by nuns. She is the author of the award-winning memoir: SPLIT - A Child, A Priest, and the Catholic Church. Mary believes that our individual and collective stories have the power to change us. Mary lives with her wife in Bellevue, Washington.

Mike McDonnell  is a husband, father and National Communication Director for SNAP (Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests-NUNS) I am a Certified Peer Specialist licensed in Pennsylvania. Mike is a survivor of clergy abuse at the hands of two priests in 1981 out of Norristown, Pa when he was 13 years old. Mike has worked in Human Services in Addiction and Mental Health Services and has been active in SNAP since 2006 and assumed a full-time position in 2020 as Communication Director. 

John Riley hosts the segment.

NY City Council Committee Holds Hearing on Bill to Amend City Code to Force Retirees into Medicare (dis) Advantage Plan

        On January 9, 2023 the New York City Council Committee on Civil Service and Labor held a marathon hearing ( about 11 hours) to consider an amendment to Article 12-126 of the city code that would eliminate the right of retirees from Municipal employment to free traditional Medicare coverage throughout their lives. The testimony came from labor "leaders",  advocates for retirees and and retirees themselves. Naomi Brussel airs highlights from the proceedings.