More than two decades after The Boston Globe’s Spotlight investigations revealed a widespread culture of abuse and cover-up among Catholic clergy, a Vatican report found that despite progress, the church remains sluggish in implementing transparency and accountability measures when it…
New BNG podcast tells the stories of Kanakuk abuse survivors
A child is sexually assaulted every 9 minutes in the United States, according to the Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network. Over the past two decades, there have been more than 60,000 documented cases of child sexual abuse. Three out…
Coming soon: ‘Non-Disclosure’ podcast shares voices of Kanakuk survivors
“I handed my son over to the devil,” Joe Alarcon told me during an interview for BNG’s upcoming podcast, “Non-Disclosure,” which features interviews from survivors and their families about the serial sexual abuse that occurred at Kamp Kanakuk. Alarcon’s son,…
‘Trey’s law’ signed by governors in Missouri and Texas
“Trey’s Law” is now the law of the land in Missouri and Texas after governors Mike Kehoe and Greg Abbott signed their versions of the bill this month. On June 10, Missouri Gov. Keheo signed SB-81, a comprehensive public safety…
Robert Morris scandal engulfs a Colorado pastor
Leaders of New Life Church in Colorado Springs announced the resignation of Senior Pastor Brady Boyd Friday evening, 12 days after Boyd promised his flock he knew nothing about the sexual sins of his mentor, Robert Morris, founder of the…
One year after Robert Morris’ confession, things are only worse
It has been one year since megachurch pastor Robert Morris admitted he had sexually abused a child decades earlier and resigned from Gateway Church in Dallas, but the scandal has only grown and now engulfs other leaders in controversies about…
Litigation in Yandell v. Kanakuk proceeds in court of appeals
Following the dismissal of fraud and civil conspiracy claims made by Logan Yandell against Kanakuk Kamps, Yandell’s attorneys are proceeding with litigation against the Christian summer camp in the Missouri court of appeals. On Jan. 17, following arguments made by…
New Law Requires Priests to Break Seal of Confession to Report Child Abuse
The secrecy of the confessional in the Roman Catholic Church is so sacrosanct that any priest who violates it is automatically excommunicated.
‘Trey’s Law’ passes unanimously in Missouri House
“Trey’s Law,” legislation intended to release sexual abuse survivors from nondisclosure agreements, was adopted unanimously by the Missouri House of Representatives April 22. A similar bill is pending in the state Senate. Rep. Brian Seitz filed the bill, HB-709, to…
For first time, a woman alleges sexual abuse at Kanakuk in lawsuit
For the first time, a woman has come forward as a victim of serial child sexual abuser Pete Newman in a lawsuit filed today against Kanakuk Kamps and its leadership. Plaintiff “Jane Doe” of Dallas filed a petition in Missouri…
‘Trey’s Law’ advances in Texas and Missouri
“Trey’s Law” continues gaining momentum in the Texas and Missouri legislatures. The law calls for an amendment to state laws surrounding the use of nondisclosure agreements in child sexual abuse cases. If passed, Trey’s Law will make it easier for…
‘Trey’s Law’ makes its way through Missouri and Texas legislatures
Following a hearing in early March where Kanakuk abuse survivors, their families and other activists spoke in front of a Judiciary Committee at the Missouri House of Representatives about nondisclosure agreements, “Trey’s Law” continues to make its way through the…