Los Angeles Archdiocese to pay $880M to clergy sex abuse victims
The Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles has reached a landmark $880 million settlement to resolve over 1,300 claims of childhood sexual abuse. The settlement stems from allegations dating back to the 1940s and is the largest single settlement involving a Catholic archdiocese in the country.
This agreement was made possible by California Assembly Bill 218, which temporarily lifted the statute of limitations on civil claims of childhood abuse, allowing older cases to be revived. The Archdiocese has previously settled similar claims, including a $660 million settlement in 2007 involving around 500 cases.
In a statement, Archbishop José H. Gomez expressed deep remorse, stating, “My hope is that this settlement will provide some measure of healing for what these men and women have suffered.” He assured that the funds would be drawn from reserves, investments, and loans, without affecting designated donations to parishes or schools.
“The massive amount of this settlement reflects the amount of grievous harm done to vulnerable children and the decades of neglect, complicity and cover-up by the archdiocese which allowed known serial predators to inflict this harm,” attorney Morgan A. Stewart said in a statement. “I encourage other religious institutions within the Catholic Church to meet their responsibilities and take accountability.”
32 million Christians don’t plan on voting in November, bad omen for Trump?
102 million people of faith, including 32 million regular Christian churchgoers, are expected to abstain from voting in November’s elections. The data comes from Arizona Christian University’s Cultural Research Center, which found significantly lower voter enthusiasm compared to 2020.
The researchers stated, “If that expectation holds true, the impact bodes more poorly for President Trump’s prospects for reelection than for Mrs. Harris’s effort to succeed Joe Biden.”
Dr. George Barna, the research center director, explained, “Christian churchgoing voters have historically supported the more conservative major-party candidate in a presidential race and appear poised to do so again this election cycle — albeit with fewer of them casting a ballot than in the most recent presidential race.”
The report defined people of faith as anyone who associates with a religion including Christianity, Judaism, Mormonism, and Islam. It used census data to project possible totals.
Those who said they aren’t going to vote gave multiple reasons: 48% said they believed the election would be rigged, 57% said they dislike all major candidates, and 50% said the election has become too controversial for their liking.
“In 2020, the margins of victory were a combined 587,000 votes or so in nine battleground states,” Dr. Barna stated. “In that context, the 32 million Christians sitting in the pews each week who refuse to vote are a gamechanger.”
Former President Trump has relied on religious voters in both of his previous elections, especially white evangelical Protestants.
“Christians get out and vote just this time. You won’t have to do it anymore,” Trump told attendees at the Turning Point Believers Summit in July. “Four more years you know what? It’ll be fixed it’ll be fine. You won’t have to vote anymore.”
He even acknowledged that without Christian voters, his chances to win the election might be low.
“I don’t want to scold you, but do you know that Christians do not vote proportionately? They don’t vote like they should,” Trump told the crowd. “They have to vote. If you don’t vote we’re not going to win the election.”
Around 25% of voters in 2020 were white evangelicals, and AP VoteCast data shows 81% of them voted for Trump while 18% supported Joe Biden. That same data shows Catholics were split – 49% for Biden and 50% for Trump.
According to Gallup, about a quarter of voters in 2020 had no religious identity and 65% voted for Joe Biden.
Oklahoma charter school board seeks SCOTUS review of religious school case
The Oklahoma Statewide Charter School Board is asking the Supreme Court to review a state court ruling that denied public funding for the nation’s first Catholic charter school. St. Isidore of Seville Virtual Charter School Inc. was founded by the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City and the Diocese of Tulsa in 2022 and was set to open for the 2024 school year this fall.
The state board approved the school’s charter application in June 2023, despite its religious affiliation. Oklahoma Attorney General Drummond sued in 2023 to prevent the school’s authorization and to prohibit using public money for religious institutions.
In June, Oklahoma’s Supreme Court ruled that the creation of a public religious school is unconstitutional, citing that it violates the Oklahoma State Constitution and the First Amendment’s establishment clause.
Supporters of the Catholic charter school argue that approval would expand educational choices for Oklahoma families and reinforce religious freedom.
Critics, including Attorney General Drummond, warn that approval could lead to public funding requests from various religious groups, potentially including controversial ideologies.
Each year, the U.S. Supreme Court is asked to review thousands of cases and typically only considers 100 to 150 cases.
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Burlington files for bankruptcy protection
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Burlington, Vermont, the state’s only diocese, filed for bankruptcy protection this week amid a surge of lawsuits alleging decades-old sexual abuse by clergy members. The diocese faced a rise in allegations after the Vermont Legislature removed the statute of limitations on childhood sexual abuse claims in 2019.
The filing temporarily paused dozens of unsettled cases, signaling the start of a complex financial restructuring process. Bishop John McDermott initiated the bankruptcy proceedings, citing depleted assets and lack of insurance coverage for incoming settlements.
Since 2006, the diocese settled 67 cases, resulting in $34 million in payouts to victims. An additional $20 million was paid out between 2006 and 2019. More than 30 active cases are still pending resolution.
The diocese took significant measures, including selling church property and tapping into investments, to meet settlement obligations.
There are concerns about the equitable distribution of the diocese’s limited funds among survivors, as large settlements could potentially deplete resources for other claimants.
An independent committee’s 2019 report revealed 40 priests with credible claims of sexual abuse against minors, with most incidents occurring between 1950 and 1980.
Catholic church to canonize first millennial saint
A teenager known as “God’s influencer” will officially become the Catholic Church’s first millennial saint. Carlo Acutis — who died from leukemia at 15 years old in 2006 — was known for using his computing skills to spread awareness of the Catholic faith. He also set up a website that documented miracles.
To become a saint, a person must have two miracles attributed to them. His first miracle was in 2020, when a Brazilian boy with a pancreatic birth defect healed after his mother prayed to Acutis.
The second was in 2022, when a mother said she prayed at Acutis’ tomb and her daughter recovered from a severe brain injury doctors didn’t think she’d survive.
A date has not yet been set for the canonization ceremony, but the Vatican said it will likely be during the 2025 jubilee celebrations.
Oklahoma Supreme Court rules Catholic charter school unconstitutional
St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School, which was set to open this fall as the nation’s first religious public charter school, faced a setback when the Oklahoma Supreme Court ruled it unconstitutional on June 25. The court concluded that the creation of a religious charter school in Oklahoma violates state statutes, the Oklahoma Constitution and the First Amendment’s establishment clause.
When the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City proposed the Catholic charter school, it emphasized its mission to evangelize and required teachers to uphold the church’s values both professionally and personally.
However, Oklahoma’s Republican attorney general, Gentner Drummond, filed a lawsuit in 2023, claiming that the religious charter school violated state and federal law.
Charter schools, although funded by public money and subject to government performance standards, operate independently from public school districts and have the flexibility to choose their own curriculum.
Under Oklahoma state law, the use of public funds for establishing a religious institution is prohibited.
The high court’s ruling clarified that St. Isidore does not dispute its status as a religious institution. Its purpose is explicitly stated as “to create, establish and operate” the school as a Catholic educational institution.
One judge on the state’s Supreme Court, Justice James Winchester, emphasized that the state would directly fund a religious school, requiring students at St. Isidore to participate in the religious curriculum. That would be in violation of the establishment clause in the First Amendment, which prohibits the government from making laws “respecting an establishment of religion.”
The Archdiocese of Oklahoma City expressed disappointment on behalf of hundreds of families who were eagerly anticipating sending their children to the charter school this fall. Despite the legal setback, they believe that “St. Isidore could still be a valuable asset to students, regardless of socioeconomic background, race or faith.”
Reaction to conservative Supreme Court justices secretly recorded at Gala
A recent undercover operation by liberal activist Lauren Windsor, who posed as a Catholic conservative at a charity event, has brought new scrutiny to the U.S. Supreme Court. Windsor, known for covertly recording prominent Republicans, secretly recorded conversations with conservative Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito and Chief Justice John Roberts.
The release of this audio has reignited debates over the court’s credibility, coinciding with the anticipated rulings on several high-profile cases in June.
“As a Catholic and as someone who like really cherishes my faith, I just don’t, I don’t know that we can negotiate with the left in the way that needs to happen for the polarization to end,” Windsor said to Alito. “I think it’s a matter of like, winning.”
“I think you’re probably right,” Alito responded. “On one side or the other — one side or the other is going to win. I don’t know. I mean, there can be a way of working, a way of living together peacefully, but it’s difficult, you know, because there are differences on fundamental things that really can’t be compromised. They really can’t be compromised. So, it’s not like you are going to split the difference.”
“People in this country who believe in God have got to keep fighting for that, to return our country to a place of godliness,” Windsor said.
“Well I agree with you,” Alito said. “I agree with you.”
These remarks have led some Democrats to question whether personal beliefs might influence judicial decisions on politically sensitive cases.
Justice Roberts, however, defended the court’s role, emphasizing its duty to decide cases impartially.
“You don’t think there’s, like, a role for the court in guiding us toward a more moral path?” Windsor asked Roberts.
“No, I think the role for the court is deciding the cases,” Roberts said. “If I start — would you want me to be in charge of guiding us toward a more moral path? That’s for the people we elect. That’s not for lawyers.”
“I believe that the founders were godly, were Christians, and I think that we live in a Christian nation, and that our Supreme Court should be guiding us in that path,” Windsor said.
“I don’t know if that’s true,” Roberts said. “I don’t know that we live in a Christian nation. I know a lot of Jewish and Muslim friends who would say, ‘Maybe not,’ and it’s not our job to do that. It’s our job to decide the cases as best we can.”
Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., has been vocal calling for Supreme Court ethics reform. He criticized Justice Alito, saying, “Alito is becoming a loose cannon turned on the court itself. He mocks ethics.”
In contrast, conservative advocacy groups like the Judicial Crisis Network released a statement dismissing the recordings as “pure click bait” and said there was nothing inappropriate in the justices’ comments.
The Supreme Court Historical Society, which hosted the event where the recordings took place, condemned Windsor’s undercover tactics. Windsor defended her actions, citing the legality of her recordings under Washington’s one-party consent law. She argued that the Supreme Court “has been shrouded in secrecy and refuses any degree of accountability.”
The latest miracle attributed to Acutis happened in 2022. A mother said she believes her prayers at the tomb of Acutis in Assisi, Italy, led to her daughter’s recovery from a severe brain injury after her daughter fell off of her bicycle in Florence. Doctors did not believe that her daughter would survive. However, two days after her prayers, her mother said that a CT scan showed that her daughter’s brain hemorrhage had vanished.
The first miracle recognized by Pope Francis happened in 2020. The miracle involved a Brazilian boy being healed from a pancreatic birth defect after his mother prayed to Acutis.
As the path to sainthood continues, Pope Francis said he will convene a meeting of cardinals to set a date for canonization. To become a saint, the first step involves an investigation of the person’s life and acts. After thorough review, a person can then be deemed eligible.
The life of Acutis was reportedly one of devout faith. When he was seven years old, he wrote that his life plan was to “always be close to Jesus.”
In January, Pope Francis urged young people to learn from Acutis. Pope Francis said, “he did a great deal of good things,” in his 15 years of life.
“Above all, he was impassioned by Jesus; and since he was very good at getting around on the internet, he used it in the service of the gospel, spreading love for prayer, the witness of faith and charity toward others,” Pope Francis said.
Acutis was born in 1991 in London, but shortly after moved to Italy. Acutis has drawn a major following for his website and faith.
In 2020, Acutis was beatified. The following year, around 117,000 people came to see the tomb where his body lay on display.
In addition to Acutis, Pope Francis also approved the canonization of 11 martyrs in Syria.
Backlash after Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker’s controversial college speech
An online petition called for the Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs to fire its kicker, Harrison Butker, over a commencement speech. The petition, which has been widely circulated, accuses Butker of making sexist, homophobic, anti-trans, anti-abortion and racist remarks.
“As a man who gets a lot of praise and has been given a platform to speak to audiences like this one today,” Butker said during the speech. “I pray that I always use my voice for God and not for myself. Everything I am saying to you is not from a place of wisdom, but rather, a place of experience.”
The story has received national attention, with dozens of headlines dedicated to the controversy:
CNN: “Chiefs Player Faces Backlash for Dissing Working Women in Controversial Speech.”
The Huffington Post: “NFL Pushes Back on Harrison Butker’s Bigoted Graduation Speech.”
So, what did Butker say and why is it receiving so much backlash?
Benedictine College in Kansas, a Catholic institution, invited Butker, a conservative Catholic, to give the commencement speech. The school considers its religious affiliation an important component of its stated mission: “The education of men and women within a community of faith and scholarship.”
During his speech, Butker made comments critical of President Biden, abortion, IVF, Pride Month and the media. He also discussed gender roles in society.
The part of his speech receiving the most pushback is his comments to the female graduates:
“For the ladies present today, congratulations on an amazing accomplishment,” Butker said. “You should be proud of all you’ve achieved to this point in your young lives. I want to speak directly to you briefly because I think it is you, the women, who’ve had the most diabolical lies told to you.
“How many of you are sitting here now, about to cross this stage, and are thinking about all the promotions and titles you’re going to get in your career? Some of you may go on to lead successful careers in the world. But I would venture to guess, the majority of you are most excited about your marriage and the children you’ll bring into this world. I am beyond blessed with the many talents God has given me but it cannot be overstated that all of my success has been made possible because a girl I met in band class back in middle school would convert to the faith, become my wife, and embrace one of the most important titles of all: homemaker.”
The audience proceeded to clap for nearly 20 seconds straight.
Butker’s supporters noted he did not say that women should not have careers and did not say being a wife and mother is all there is for women.
His supporters note that he believed the women sitting in the audience at a Catholic institution are probably most excited about the families they will create with their future husbands.
Butker also encouraged the men and women in the audience to embrace the most important title of all: a Catholic.
“I don’t see what’s controversial about what he said there,” one user on X, formerly Twitter, wrote.
“Good for him,” another user wrote. “I have no problem with anything he had to say. Diversity of thought is what academia has left behind.”
However, critics voiced their concerns with Butker’s speech, prompting the petition.
“I hope you miss every kick this season,” one user wrote on X.
Even the official Kansas City account decided to tell followers where Butker resides.
“Just a reminder that Harrison Butker lives in the city of Lee’s Summit,” the city posted.
The city has since removed the post and apologized.
“These comments reinforce harmful stereotypes that threaten social progress,” the petition to fire Butker said. “They create a toxic environment that hinders our collective efforts towards equality, diversity and inclusion in society. It is unacceptable for such a public figure to use their platform to foster harm rather than unity.”
The petition received over 130,000 signatures and continues to gain momentum.
The NFL also responded to Butker’s speech.
“Harrison Butker gave a speech in his personal capacity,” the league said in a statement. “His views are not those of the NFL as an organization. The NFL is steadfast in our commitment to inclusion, which only makes our league stronger.”
The graduates and their families in the audience appeared to not take issue with Butker’s speech as they applauded him with a standing ovation.
FBI interviewed priest, choir director when creating ‘anti-Catholic’ memo
FBI Director Christopher Wray testified on Capitol Hill Tuesday, Dec. 5, after a House investigative report revealed the FBI interviewed a Catholic priest and choir director to collect information for a memo which has since been rescinded. The memo raised the alarm about “racially or ethnically motivated violent extremists” with individuals who hold a “radical-traditionalist Catholic” ideology.
The memo was criticized by Republicans who said it targeted Americans for their religious beliefs. The report from the House Judiciary Committee also found “no legitimate basis for the memorandum to insert federal law enforcement into Catholic houses of worship.”
Wray told Congress that the individuals involved were not found to have engaged in bad faith conduct.
“A number of the individuals involved in writing that product in the Richmond office were themselves Catholics,” Wray said. “So the notion that they were targeting their own faith is nonsense.”
“Oh, so they had a get out of jail free card. I see,” Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., responded.
Wray said that the individuals involved in writing the memo have been admonished, and the incident will go into their annual performance reviews, which directly impacts their compensation.
The House Judiciary report also states that the agents who wrote the memo admitted to using information from sources they knew were politically biased.
“I can tell you that we don’t investigate people for their exercise of their constitutionally protected religious expression,” Wray said. “As for this particular intelligence product — is something that as soon as I saw it, I was aghast, I had it withdrawn,” Wray said.
As Wray mentioned, the memo has been retracted, but House Republicans contend that had it not been for a whistleblower, the memo would still be in systems across the FBI.