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• Criminal Justice
• Pennsylvania

Report details 1,000 victims of child sexual abuse by 300 ‘predator priests’ across Pa.

The roughly 900 page report, paints a horrid portrait of activity that occurred in the dioceses of scranton, allentown, harrisburg, greensburg, erie and pittsburgh..

• Katie Meyer
• Kevin McCorry
• Lindsay Lazarski
• Joe Hernandez

Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro says more charges await following an investigation into decades of cases of the Catholic clergy sexually abusing children. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

In the wake of Shapiro’s press conference, several of the dioceses released statements.

“Sadly, abuse still is part of the society in which we live. We acknowledge our past failures, and we are determined to do what is necessary to protect the innocent, now and in the future,” wrote Allentown Diocese bishop Alfred A. Schlert.

Named prominently in the report is Cardinal Donald Wuerl, the archbishop of Washington, D.C., who served as the bishop of Pittsburgh from 1988 through 2006.

The grand jury found that Wuerl allegedly shuffled around abusive priests and failed to inform church officials in other states of priests who were moved there after facing sexual abuse allegations in the Pittsburgh Diocese.

In a letter to priests late Monday, Wuerl said he acted to protect children after learning about allegations of sexual abuse.

“It moved me not simply to address these acts, but to be fully engaged, to meet with survivors and their families, and to do what I could to bring them comfort and try to begin a process for healing,” Wuerl wrote, claiming he imposed a “zero tolerance” policy for clergy sex abuse.

When Wuerl came to Pittsburgh, he replaced then-Bishop Anthony Bevilacqua, who went on to become Archbishop of Philadelphia, where a grand jury found he had protected abusive priests. Bevilacqua died in 2012.

Bishop Edward C. Malesic, of the Diocese of Greensburg, reacted to the report in a homily that will be played in parishes across the diocese this weekend.

“Those priests acted as wolves among us even if they were dressed in sheep’s clothing. I am sorry for that,” Malesic said. “In fact, honestly, I am extremely angry at them for what they did to you.”

In the Erie Diocese, where the grand jury identified 41 “predator priests,” Bishop Lawrence Persico apologized to the victims of child sexual abuse and said the diocese would work to bring them justice.

“Today, I pledge the following to victims: the Diocese of Erie will not shroud abusers in secrecy no matter who they are or how long ago the abuse has occurred.”

Attorney General Shapiro claimed the Erie Diocese and Persico’s predecessor, Bishop Emeritus Donald Trautman, knew about allegations and even admissions of child sex abuse committed by priests for years, but covered them up and allowed abusers to remain in active ministry.

Although the Archdiocese of Philadelphia wasn’t a focus of this report, Archbishop Charles Chaput emphasized that reforms have been made since a city grand jury made similar revelations in 2005.

“The work undertaken in Philadelphia over the past 15 years has resulted in dramatically safer environments for all those in our care,” said Chaput in a statement. “I want to reaffirm as forcefully as I can that we have a zero tolerance policy for clergy, lay employees, or volunteers who engage in the abuse of children or other misconduct with minors.  We take immediate action when an allegation of misconduct is made.”

What’s next?

The grand jury made a list of recommendations, including eliminating the statute of limitations for child sexual abuse. It also called for a “civil window” law, which would give victims a two-year period to file civil charges retroactively.

“We saw these victims; they are marked for life. Many of them wind up addicted, or impaired, or dead before their time,” wrote the grand jury.

Currently in Pennsylvania, victims of child sex abuse who turned 18 after Aug. 27, 2002, have until age 50 to file criminal charges. Those who turned 18 before that date cannot bring a criminal case.

For civil charges, child victims have until their 30th birthday to file, no matter when the abuse occurred.

Facing stiff opposition from groups such as the Pennsylvania Catholic Conference, legislation advancing such measures hasn’t found consensus.

The grand jury also called on Pennsylvania lawmakers to tighten the requirements on clergy members to report alleged sexual abuse to the police and eliminate the use of confidentiality agreements in cases where an abusive priest could face criminal charges.

Following the release of the grand jury report, the Pennsylvania Office of Victim Advocate, the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape, and the Archdiocese of Philadelphia’s Office for Child and Youth Protection joined to share resources and provide support services to survivors.

“This report and its scope may deeply impact victims and our community at large,” the groups said, in a joint statement. “We want all affected to know they are not alone — there are free and confidential resources for those victims identified within the report, for parishioners in need of assistance with processing the report, as well as the community in general who may need guidance in talking through the emotional toll.”

Parishioner reaction

For Catholics who felt that the church received an unfair amount of scrutiny, the report provided some closure after a necessary but painful investigation into decades of abuse across Pennsylvania parishes.

Pat Kastelnik led a group of parishioners in praying the Rosary at the Holy Infancy Roman Catholic in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania in the hours before the grand jury report was released.

“Right now we need to pray for all of those priests — some of them are falsely accused — some of them are rightly accused — and one of the big problems has been the cover up by Bishops,” Kastelnik said after mass Tuesday afternoon. “This needs to end and we need to pray for all of them.”

Kastelnik added that no abuse is permissible, but “at this point in time they are shining a light at the Catholic Church and it seems like it is out of proportion.”

Mary Anne Chickey also attended a daily mass in Bethlehem, Pa.

“This is one of the biggest things that stops people from becoming Catholics,” said Chickey, after mass at Holy Infancy Roman Catholic in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. “Every religion has something. But boy, oh boy this is a biggie.”

Long legal battle

The 40th Statewide Investigating Grand Jury was convened in 2016 in an investigation led by the Pa. attorney general. Tuesday’s redacted report came after months of legal battles challenging its release.

It was initially slated for public view at the end of June, but was delayed after a group of unnamed current and former clergy filed objections claiming that publishing the report would violate their due process rights.

Attorneys for the clergy said the state should not be able to name or implicate individuals without charging them with a crime or allowing them to challenge evidence and cross-examine witnesses. As is typical in grand jury proceedings, the clergy members had been invited to file a written response to the report.

In response to objections from about two dozen current and former clergy, the state Supreme Court stayed the report’s release to allow more time for appeals.

Nine news outlets — including WHYY, the lead station of Keystone Crossroads — and the state attorney general’s office then pushed to make the report public, even if only in a redacted form.

Attorney General Josh Shapiro called the clergy’s appeals a “desperate attempt to stop the public from learning the truth about their abhorrent conduct,” and said he opposes giving clergy the option to essentially rewrite the report “in accordance with their preferred view of the facts.”

Norman Krumenacker III, the Cambria County judge who presided over the grand jury investigation, also disagreed with the clergy and pushed for an unredacted report to be released in full.

The Pa. Supreme Court said Krumenacker’s logic was flawed. It argued that the Pa. Constitution compels the court to put a high premium on an individual’s right to reputation. In a July 27 order, the high court agreed with an alternate plan proposed by the media intervenors and decided a version which redacted the names of the objectors would be released by mid-August.

The high court chose Judge John M. Cleland of McKean County as the special master to work out any disputes over how to black out the report.

Cleland, 70, had been drawn out of retirement in 2011 to preside over Jerry Sandusky’s trial. He was also chairman of the state commission impaneled to investigate the “kids-for-cash” corruption scandal that plagued Luzerne County’s juvenile court in 2008.

Hearings to decide if the complaints by individual clergy members are valid will be held in September in Philadelphia.

The group of unnamed challengers said even a redacted version would violate grand jury secrecy rules, because it includes specific facts from the report and “would impermissibly lift the cloak of anonymity they have been afforded.”

The legal battle has sparked a debate over Pennsylvania’s use of grand jury proceedings, in which 23 jurors meet in private to sort through potential evidence on complicated crimes or issues of public importance.

Prosecutors say such proceedings can help develop particularly difficult cases and bring to light issues that would otherwise remain hidden. Critics say the process should not be used to identify and criticize individuals who haven’t been charged with crimes.

Abuse in the Philadelphia and Altoona-Johnstown dioceses have been covered in previous reports.

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Report Reveals Widespread Sexual Abuse By Over 300 Priests In Pennsylvania

Katie Meyer

Kevin McCorry

Joe Hernandez

Lindsay Lazarski

The sun sets behind a church in the Pittsburgh Diocese, one of six dioceses mentioned in the massive report on sexual abuse among Pennsylvania clergy. Gene J. Puskar/AP hide caption

The sun sets behind a church in the Pittsburgh Diocese, one of six dioceses mentioned in the massive report on sexual abuse among Pennsylvania clergy.

Updated at 4:33 p.m. ET

A long-awaited grand jury investigation into clergy sexual abuse in Pennsylvania was released Tuesday in an interim redacted form. The report detailed decades of alleged misconduct and cover-ups in six of the state's eight Roman Catholic dioceses.

The roughly 900-page report , not including exhibits, is thought to be the most comprehensive of its kind and paints a horrid portrait of activity that occurred in the dioceses of Scranton, Allentown, Harrisburg, Greensburg, Erie and Pittsburgh, implicating 300 "predator priests" statewide who committed "criminal and/or morally reprehensible conduct."

One priest in the Diocese of Harrisburg abused five sisters in a single family. Another, in the Diocese of Greensburg, impregnated a 17-year-old girl, married her, then divorced her months later.

Catholic Sexual Abuse Crisis Deepens As Authorities Lag In Response

A priest in the Diocese of Erie admitted to assaulting at least a dozen boys, yet was later thanked by the bishop for "all that you have done for God's people."

The grand jury said it reviewed a half-million pages of internal church documents and "secret archives" that were readily available to bishops. It found credible allegations by more than 1,000 victims, but it added, "We believe that the real number ... is in the thousands."

The findings revealed a pattern of abuse that occurred in hundreds of parishes in 54 of Pennsylvania's 67 counties going back at least 80 years. It detailed how fellow clergy members conducted shoddy investigations into sexual abuse allegations and how bishops often sided with abusive priests.

"The pattern was abuse, deny and cover up," said state Attorney General Josh Shapiro at a press conference in Harrisburg on Tuesday. He described a "systematic cover-up" and a "failure of law enforcement."

The at-times-scathing report described a pattern of abuse that has never been seen "on this scale."

"Despite some institutional reform, individual leaders of the church have largely escaped public accountability. Priests were raping little boys and girls, and the men of God who were responsible for them not only did nothing; they hid it all. For decades. Monsignors, auxiliary bishops, bishops, archbishops, cardinals have mostly been protected; many, including some named in this report, have been promoted. Until that changes, we think it is too early to close the book on the Catholic Church sex scandal."

The report counted 41 "predator priests" in the Diocese of Erie, 37 in Allentown, 20 in Greensburg, 45 in Harrisburg, 99 in Pittsburgh, and 59 in Scranton.

Abuse in the Philadelphia and Altoona-Johnstown dioceses have been covered in previous reports.

The report noted that the state was not immune from the global sex abuse scandal in the church, saying, "For many of us, those earlier stories happened someplace else, someplace away. Now we know the truth: it happened everywhere."

The interim report was released just before the 2 p.m. deadline the state Supreme Court gave its appointed special master to sort out disputes regarding the redactions.

A majority of the activity described within the scathing investigation falls outside of Pennsylvania's statute of limitations for sexual crimes, and those clergy members both named and currently blacked out of the report are not expected to face criminal charges.

But the grand jury issued presentments against a priest in the Greensburg Diocese and a priest in the Erie Diocese, who it said had sexually assaulted children within the past decade.

In the wake of Shapiro's press conference, several of the diocese released statements.

"Sadly, abuse still is part of the society in which we live. We acknowledge our past failures, and we are determined to do what is necessary to protect the innocent, now and in the future," wrote Allentown Diocese Bishop Alfred A. Schlert.

Named prominently in the report is Cardinal Donald Wuerl, the archbishop of Washington, D.C., who served as the bishop of Pittsburgh from 1988 through 2006.

The grand jury found that Wuerl allegedly shuffled around abusive priests and failed to inform church officials in other states of priests who were moved there after facing sexual abuse allegations in the Pittsburgh Diocese.

Cardinal Donald Wuerl, archbishop of Washington, previously served as the bishop of Pittsburgh, where, according to the grand jury report, he moved around abusive priests and failed to report abuse allegations. Jose Luis Magana/AP hide caption

Cardinal Donald Wuerl, archbishop of Washington, previously served as the bishop of Pittsburgh, where, according to the grand jury report, he moved around abusive priests and failed to report abuse allegations.

In a letter to priests late Monday, Wuerl said he acted to protect children after learning about allegations of sexual abuse.

"It moved me not simply to address these acts, but to be fully engaged, to meet with survivors and their families, and to do what I could to bring them comfort and try to begin a process for healing," Wuerl wrote, saying he imposed a "zero tolerance" policy for clergy sex abuse.

When Wuerl came to Pittsburgh, he replaced then-Bishop Anthony Bevilacqua, who went on to become Archbishop of Philadelphia, where another grand jury said he had protected abusive priests. Bevilacqua died in 2012.

What's next?

In this interim report, the grand jury made a list of recommendations, including eliminating the statute of limitations for child sexual abuse. It also called for a "civil window" law, which would give victims a two-year period to file civil charges retroactively.

"We saw these victims; they are marked for life. Many of them wind up addicted, or impaired, or dead before their time," wrote the grand jury.

In Pennsylvania, a victim of child sex abuse who turned 18 after Aug. 27, 2002, has until age 50 to file criminal charges. Those who turned 18 before that date can no longer bring a criminal case. For civil charges, child victims have until their 30th birthday to file, no matter when the abuse occurred.

Advocates for victims have long pushed to amend these statutes. They want to raise the age for civil filings and to abolish limitations on criminal charges, likening sexual abuse to murder.

They've also called for "window" legislation that would give victims a brief period to file civil charges retroactively.

Facing stiff opposition from groups such as the Pennsylvania Catholic Conference, pieces of legislation advancing such measures haven't found consensus.

Long legal battle

The 40th Statewide Investigating Grand Jury was convened in 2016 in an investigation led by the Pennsylvania attorney general. Tuesday's redacted report came after months of legal battles challenging its release.

It was initially slated for public view at the end of June but was delayed after a group of unnamed current and former clergy filed objections claiming that publishing the report would violate their due process rights.

Attorneys for the clergy said the state should not be able to name or implicate individuals without charging them with a crime or allowing them to challenge evidence and cross-examine witnesses. As is typical in grand jury proceedings, the clergy members had been invited to file a written response to the report.

In response to objections from clergy, the state Supreme Court stayed the report's release to allow more time for appeals.

Nine news outlets — including NPR member station WHYY, the lead station of Keystone Crossroads — and the state attorney general's office then pushed to make the report public, even if only in a redacted form.

"The pattern was abuse, deny and cover up," said Attorney General Josh Shapiro at a press conference in Harrisburg on Tuesday. Jessica Kourkounis/Getty Images hide caption

"The pattern was abuse, deny and cover up," said Attorney General Josh Shapiro at a press conference in Harrisburg on Tuesday.

Shapiro called the clergy's appeals a "desperate attempt to stop the public from learning the truth about their abhorrent conduct" and said he opposes giving clergy the option to essentially rewrite the report "in accordance with their preferred view of the facts."

Norman Krumenacker III, the Cambria County judge who presided over the grand jury investigation, also disagreed with the clergy and pushed for an unredacted report to be released.

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court said Krumenacker's logic was flawed. It argued that the state constitution compels the court to put a high premium on an individual's right to reputation. In a July 27 order, the high court agreed with an alternate plan proposed by the media intervenors and decided a version that redacted the names of the objectors would be released by mid-August.

Hearings to decide whether the complaints by individual clergy members are valid will be held in September in Philadelphia.

The group of unnamed challengers said even a redacted version would violate grand jury secrecy rules, because it includes specific facts from the report and "would impermissibly lift the cloak of anonymity they have been afforded."

The legal battle has sparked a debate over Pennsylvania's use of grand jury proceedings, in which 23 jurors meet in private to sort through potential evidence on complicated crimes or issues of public importance.

Prosecutors say such proceedings can help develop particularly difficult cases and bring to light issues that would otherwise remain hidden. Critics say the process should not be used to identify and criticize individuals who haven't been charged with crimes.

This story was jointly reported by stations WHYY and WITF.

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'Confusion, control and abuse': Report offers new details about Jean Vanier's secret sect and sexual exploitation

Jean Vanier, founder of the L'Arche communities, appears in the 2018 documentary "Summer in the Forest." Nine months after his 2019 death, an independent study commissioned by the International Federation of L'Arche found that Vanier had engaged in sexually abusive relationships with at least six adult women. (CNS/Abramorama)

by Katie Collins Scott

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When revelations emerged nine months after his 2019 death that Jean Vanier — a philosopher, author and activist once deemed a living saint — had sexually and spiritually abused women, his legacy was upended.  

Now a massive report, released Jan. 30, seeks to untangle and analyze many pieces of the dark and complex story of Vanier's decadeslong hidden life, highlighting both the extent of abuse and the "incredible persistence of a perverse nucleus" of abusers.

Produced by an independent, interdisciplinary commission of French academics, the nearly 900-page report validates the claims of 25 non-disabled women against Vanier, who founded a worldwide organization supporting adults with intellectual disabilities. As part of a sectarian group led by Vanier's spiritual mentor, Dominican Fr. Thomas Philippe, the charismatic Vanier identified people seeking spiritual guidance and exploited them for sexual purposes.

The new report builds upon an investigation launched by Paris-based L'Arche International that in 2020 revealed Vanier had participated in a secret group and engaged in coercive sexual relationships with six non-disabled women.

'Why the collective blindness? Why wasn't he stopped?' —Claire Vincent-Morey Tweet this

"New pieces of information are numerous and enable us to see, in a sense, from within the sectarian group," Florian Michel, a professor at Panthéon-Sorbonne University in Paris and one of two historians on the commission, told NCR.

Among threads explored in the report: The group evaded detection for decades and was bound by a feeling of persecution and a conviction of a divine election; the church's practice of secrecy around matters of morals and the inefficacy of church sanctions allowed Philippe to maintain his abusive activities; the charismatic authority of Vanier, who was intellectually and sexually formed by Philippe, essentially sealed him off from accountability.

"On each occasion, Vanier's reputation for holiness, his prophetic charisma acknowledged by many, and the collective belief in his legitimate authority on all matters — spiritual, human, professional — helped to create an atmosphere in which it was almost impossible for these women to question Vanier's attitudes, words and actions with them," commission member Claire Vincent-Mory, a sociologist and postdoctoral researcher at the Centre for European Studies and Comparative Politics in Paris, said in an interview with NCR. "The environment in L'Arche and the social acclaim for Vanier contributed to the silence of these women and to the persistence of confusion, control and abuse."

Jean Vanier, founder of the L'Arche communities, is pictured in a March 3, 2011, photo. A new 900-page report validates the claims of 25 non-disabled women that Vanier for decades had identified people seeking spiritual guidance and exploited them for sexual purposes. (CNS/Courtesy of Jean Vanier Association)

The six researchers, following a two-year inquiry, concluded that L'Arche as an organization "has nothing to do with a sect." However, the concept of living in community with people who have intellectual disabilities "was originally only necessary to create an official support, a 'screen,'" for a reunion of men committed to the "mystical-sexual" beliefs they received from Philippe, says the report.

NCR was given a copy of the translated report conclusion before release of the full document.

At the same time, researchers found the origins of L'Arche were not merely a screen. "We find that it coexists from the start with a sincere intention to devote oneself to people with disabilities," reads the report. "The two intentions, without contradicting each other, are, for the group, in coherence. The opportunity offered to them may even seem 'providential' to them."

Vanier had at one point visited mental institutions and had said he was horrified by the conditions for patients. His vision was that people with intellectual disabilities could live in homes with non-disabled adults.

L'Arche operates 154 communities in 38 countries, including houses in Washington, D.C., and Portland, Oregon.

There was no evidence that the beliefs and practices of the group spread beyond a limited circle of a few people, nor was there evidence the abuse proliferated within L'Arche, according to the report. Vanier's abusive behaviors, though, occurred beyond the sect's nucleus in France, in other countries and communities. The researchers note other victims may come forward.

The report did not clearly state how many people were in the group of abusers.

Any victims of Philippe and of Vanier, whether they live in France or abroad, have the opportunity, if they wish, to engage in a process of restorative justice, said Tina Bovermann, national leader for L'Arche USA .

The report "has given me a deepening awareness of what occurred, and I'm very mindful of the experiences of these women and the insidiousness of the spiritual, psychological and sexual abuse they experienced," Bovermann told NCR. "The mix of that is heavy."

The women told mediators and interviewers they felt grateful for how L'Arche has handled the investigations and that they hope the process brings them closure, according to Bovermann. "Our hope is that we do right by these women," she said. 

Tina Bovermann is national leader for L’Arche USA. A 900-page report detailing the sexual and spiritual abuse and secret sect of L’Arche founder Jean Vanier and his "spiritual father," Dominican Fr. Thomas Philippe, was released Jan. 30. "Our hope is that we do right by these women," Bovermann said. (Courtesy of Tina Bovermann)

The 25 victims include married and single women and vowed religious; at least one woman is from the United States, though all the abuse accusations studied by the commission occurred in France. Vanier's known abuse spanned from 1952 until just before his 2019 death.

Members of the commission — one sociologist, a theologian, a psychiatrist and a psychoanalyst, and two historians — studied thousands of letters, including those Philippe and Vanier exchanged and nearly 100 Vanier sent to nuns. They also conducted more than 100 interviews.

Documents were obtained from the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith and the Dominican archives in Rome as well as from the French Dominicans, an Ottawa library and the Vanier family in Canada. Vanier was born in Geneva, Switzerland, but was a Canadian citizen.

Due to Philippe's and Vanier's correspondence, access to archives and the "precise and courageous testimonies of the victims," the investigators in the report write, "we were able to analyze the mechanisms deployed by the two men from the inside: influence, sexual abuse, collective delirium, theological corruption of notions at the heart of Christianity, spiritual deviation, manipulation, incestuous representations of relationships between Jesus and Mary."

Researchers followed the lives of Philippe and Vanier from 1950 to 2019, examining the developments of the sectarian nucleus that was able to grow and persist for more than 50 years.

In 1946 Philippe, who became a spiritual father to Vanier, founded L'Eau Vive as an international formation center in France. The location linked the sect. After departing from the Royal Navy, Vanier, then in his 20s, joined Philippe there.

'What is it about the power that these perceived spiritual, saintly men hold and are given that allows for hidden, manipulative and distasteful behavior?' —Tina Bovermann Tweet this

This period "serves as a moment of initiation, of discovery, in a great confusion of the sexual, the emotional and the spiritual," according to the report. "T. Philippe's beliefs and influence suddenly give him access to the world. The experience lived during this period comes to constitute in his eyes, the intimate base, the guiding axis of his life."

In 1952, after several women accused Philippe of sexual and emotional abuse, the Dominicans removed the priest from L'Eau Vive, and the Holy Office (now Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith) investigated. Philippe was forbidden to teach, to exercise his ministry and to administer sacraments. The Holy Office also decided to close L'Eau Vive and to disperse its members, who were permanently forbidden to regroup.

(Leaders of L'Arche learned in 2014 about allegations concerning Philippe, who died in 1993, although Vanier said publicly in 2015 and 2016 that he had not known of any abuse. "We now know that Jean Vanier lied," read the 2020 report.)

With lies, disguises, letters, secret code and tree holes used for their messages, "the sect rebuilt the network," said Michel, noting it sounds like a fantastical novel.

In 1963, during the Second Vatican Council, "without being forgiven or allowed to do it, Thomas Philippe goes back to France and escapes the radar of the Holy Office," Michel said. The French Dominicans, "not knowing the full story, wanted to turn the page in the name of 'mercy' " and the local bishop, also unaware of the full story, tried to defend Philippe and Vanier, partially in the name of the "episcopal rights" Vatican II had reinforced.

"Rome in the 1950s seriously underestimated the determination of the sectarian group to stick together and not to obey," Michel said. "For instance, Rome had absolutely no clue that in spite of the judgment given in 1956, the members were still in contact and that in 1964 they were once again together."

The report also calls attention to a "structural limit" of the church: "the secrecy which legally surrounds the matters of morals dealt with by the Holy Office."

If in certain cases it can be justified, "we must emphasize that the nondisclosure of the exact causes of T. Philippe's conviction is precisely what helped maintain his reputation for holiness and rewrite history as he saw fit."

Following the initial report in 2020, many admirers of Vanier and L'Arche members grappled with the seeming contradictions within a man whose behaviors violated the values he had long proclaimed and appeared to live.

Pope Francis visits with the "Chicco" community, part of the L'Arche movement, in Ciampino, Italy, May 13, 2016. L'Arche operates 154 communities in 38 countries, including houses in Washington, D.C., and Portland, Oregon. (CNS/L'Osservatore Romano)

Yet what appears a contradiction "might be in fact the difficulty that comes with changing our view of the man whose sanctity has been so celebrated," Vincent-Mory said.

Vanier held erroneous beliefs he inherited from Philippe that led him to develop reprehensible relationships with women, "marked by confusion, control and abuse," she said.

"But how could this have prevented him from also wanting, at the same time, to invest himself in an experimental initiative, which then became a major international organization in the field of disability, a source of good for many? One dimension is hidden, the other is public."

Vincent-Mory said the real question in her view is why the hidden part of his beliefs and actions was not spotted earlier. "Why the collective blindness? Why wasn't he stopped? These questions bring us back, in my opinion, to the problem of idealization and early sanctification of Jean Vanier."

Vanier received abundant honors and awards during his lifetime, including the Templeton Prize and the Legion of Honor, France's highest award. Many schools were named after him, and Pope Francis called Vanier a week before his death to thank him for his ministry and witness.

Bovermann said the new report has led her to reflect upon the interplay of gender, power and charismatic leadership.

"In the wake of the Me-Too movement, I would be hard-pressed to find a charismatic woman" who inflicted abuse in the manner of Vanier, she said. There are many such men, she said.

"What is it about the power that these perceived spiritual, saintly men hold and are given that allows for hidden, manipulative and distasteful behavior?"

L'Arche is developing tools to help community members process the contents of the report. "Anybody could find a trigger point in this — there are so many painful elements," Bovermann said. She noted the rates of abuse are higher among those with intellectual disabilities nationwide, and L'Arche is providing trauma-informed tools for them.

Since 2017, L'Arche has invested in safeguarding people with and without disabilities within L'Arche, according to a press release from the national organization. The commission report "gives valuable insights into the dynamics of authority and power, spiritual expression and methods of accompaniment in L'Arche's history."

"The new report will be used to renew L'Arche's leadership model and curriculum, and to fuel momentum to make L'Arche as inclusive and diverse as its mission promises, particularly here in the U.S."

In a letter to supporters, Bovermann writes that L'Arche "painfully accepts the truth that was revealed."

"Truth is always powerful. Truth is always right. We believe in its justice and are grateful for the opportunities that it invites."

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Sibling Sex Abuse Prevalent Among Victims of Pennsylvania Predator Priests, Grand Jury Report Finds

By marc levy • published august 28, 2018 • updated on august 28, 2018 at 11:06 am.

It took 50 years, until the release of a landmark investigative report, for sisters Mary Robb Jackson and Cynthia Carr Gardner to realize that the parish priest in the Pittsburgh-area suburb where they lived as children had molested both of them, a couple of years apart.

The sisters' discovery — during a long-distance telephone conversation between Massachusetts and Pennsylvania — added theirs to the cases of siblings cited throughout the state grand jury report on the sexual abuse of children by clergy within six Roman Catholic dioceses in Pennsylvania.

The nearly 900-page report , released Aug. 14 after a two-year investigation, cited at least two dozen sets of siblings victimized by clergy among the scores of abuse cases it documented going back to the 1940s. Two of the cases involved five siblings.

Clergy members often won the trust of parents before going on to molest siblings, sometimes in a home while parents were present, sometimes on trips with the children, the report said. The priests then parlayed that trust into leverage against children, who were afraid to say no to an authority figure trusted by their parents.

The predator priests often warned their victims to keep quiet. That and shame often kept victims quiet and unaware of their siblings' trauma for years; some spoke up more quickly.

Jackson did eventually complain to her mother, a devout Roman Catholic, about the Rev. Lawrence O'Connell's abuse, which consisted of groping and kissing while she performed office tasks in the St. Gabriel parish house practically next door as part of an after-school job. Her mother promptly ended the after-school job, Jackson said.

Jackson went off to college, and the girls' mother died suddenly. O'Connell soon invited Gardner — who was 11 or 12 at the time and lived with their father — to spend her afternoons doing office tasks in the parish house, and went on to molest her, Gardner said.

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Jackson, away at college, never knew that O'Connell had invited Gardner in, she said. Neither Jackson nor her mother had said anything to the other family members about O'Connell, and neither Gardner nor her father had any reason to refuse a job offer from a man who had bestowed gifts on the girls, including trips to the Ice Capades and the circus.

"Was it calculated? I don't understand that kind of mindset. But, if it was, that's just pure evil," Gardner, now 63, said. "That's pure evil calculation if you take advantage of a family who's had a horrific life event and you prey on the younger version of the sibling."

O'Connell died in 1986.

Child sex abuse cases in which the victims are siblings are more common when the predator is part of an organized religion, said Ben Andreozzi, a lawyer who has represented victims of Catholic clergy and of Jerry Sandusky, the former Penn State assistant football coach now serving a long prison sentence.

"Parents will at times unknowingly legitimize the perpetrator to the children," Andreozzi said. "In other words, the parents will bring them into the home, they'll break bread with the religious figure and hold that religious figure out to the children as someone they can trust. And that religious figure will use that as an opportunity to access the children."

In one case documented in the report, five siblings — brothers and sisters — were allegedly victimized in the 1970s by a seminarian, and three of them by a priest at St. Brigid in Meadville in northwestern Pennsylvania.

"The survivors reported that they were poor, dysfunctional, and dependent upon the diocese for their mother's employment at St. Brigid parish," the grand jury report said. "Furthermore, the parents were befriended by the abusers and the family would often invite them over to engage in drinking parties."

Once the parents were drunk and distracted, the abusers would molest or rape the children in the home, and threaten them against telling their parents, the report said.

In another case, two brothers testified that a priest at Mother of Sorrows school in Murrysville in western Pennsylvania molested them in the early 1980s in in their bedrooms while praying before going to bed and on trips the family invited the priest to join.

The parents discovered what was going on when one of the boys screamed at the priest, but the boys had otherwise been afraid to say anything because their parents liked the priest so much, the report said.

The report cites other accusers who are now adults — including one woman in a 2004 lawsuit — saying they had performed sex acts on O'Connell as girls.

Gardner, who lives in Massachusetts, called her sister in suburban Pittsburgh when she realized O'Connell was in the report. In that conversation, they discovered they'd both been abused by O'Connell, although Gardner thought she had mentioned it years earlier.

"She told me she had been haunted by it when we finally had the conversation about it," said Jackson, now 70.

At the parish house, Gardner tried to ward off O'Connell's groping hands and reject his invitations to go somewhere private. She walked out for good after he forced a kiss on her, she said.

The Associated Press does not name victims of sexual abuse without their consent. Gardner decided to speak publicly to add her voice to the others victimized by O'Connell, she said.

Jackson — who had quietly reported her own story to the Pittsburgh Diocese after hearing of the 2004 lawsuit — decided to speak publicly now out of anger that O'Connell had targeted her younger sister.

"That's what made me so sad and so angry," Jackson said. "I never knew."

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How Jean Vanier went from a ‘living saint’ to a sexual abuser

Jean Vanier was the founder of L’Arche, a network of intentional communities where people with and without disabilities live alongside one another in mutual friendship. While he was considered a “living saint” up until his death in 2019, allegations that he had sexually abused six adult, nondisabled women sent shockwaves throughout the L’Arche Community. And more recently, a nearly 900-page report was released last Monday shed more light on the scope of the abuse.

Jenna Barnett has been following this story since it broke. She is the host of the new podcast “Lead Us Not” from Sojourners. We talk to Jenna about Vanier and how L’Arche is responding, as well as larger questions about how we hold in tension the good works created by deeply flawed, charismatic founders.

During Signs of the Times, we talk about the developing situation between the church and the government in Nicaragua, where four priests were sentenced to 10 years in prison, as well as Notre Dame’s new food delivery robots. (After we recorded, news broke that the four priests were part of a group of 222 political prisoners who were deported from Nicaragua and will take refuge in the United States .)

Links from the show:

• Listen to “Lead Us Not”
• New report finds evidence Jean Vanier founded L’Arche to reunite a religious sect with ‘mystical-sexual’ practices
• Explainer: The Catholic Church’s fraught relationship with the Nicaraguan government
• Robot food delivery launches at the University of Notre Dame
• Remembering Rachel Held Evans

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Catholic Church Sexual Abuse Scandal: 7 Excerpts From the Grand Jury Report

A nearly 900-page report investigating abuse in six dioceses over a period of 70 years documents more than 300 abusive priests.

By The New York Times

“We, the members of this grand jury, need you to hear this,” begins the nearly 900-page report released Tuesday by a grand jury that spent two years investigating reports of sexual abuse in six Pennsylvania dioceses of the Roman Catholic Church over a period of 70 years.

The report , which says there were more than 1,000 identifiable victims and perhaps thousands more, is the broadest examination yet by a government agency in the United States of child sexual abuse in the Catholic Church. Here are some excerpts.

A litany of disturbing cases

The grand jury members documented a wide variety of abuses by priests and others within the church, as well as creative ways of covering up or denying accusations. “Even of those odious stories, some stood out,” the report reads.

Those cases include a priest who the grand jury says raped a 7-year-old girl while visiting her in the hospital after she got her tonsils out. Another priest made a 9-year-old boy give him oral sex, “then rinsed out the boy’s mouth with holy water to purify him.”

[Read about the grand jury investigation and the church’s ‘ playbook for concealing the truth .’]

Criticism of church leaders

The grand jury used strong language to hold leaders of the church accountable for enabling and protecting the abusers.

Church leaders frequently protected and sympathized with the abusers, not their victims, the report states.

Looking the other way

One of the cases that the grand jury reports on in great detail involves the Rev. Edward R. Graff, who served as a priest for 45 years, including 35 in the diocese of Allentown. During his years in ministry, Father Graff raped scores of children, the grand jury report says.

The church had documented numerous reports of Father Graff’s abuse over the years, the grand jury report says, and yet when they came to light publicly, the church downplayed and denied its knowledge.

In 2002, Father Graff was arrested in Briscoe County, Tex., where he had continued his ministry, for sexually abusing a 15-year-old boy, the grand jury report says. He died of injuries from an accident while in a Texas prison awaiting trial.

One family, many victims

Another case documented by the grand jury involved a priest in the Harrisburg diocese who was accused of abusing many members of a large family in his parish during the 1980s.

Abusers working together

The grand jury reported that it had uncovered a ring of predatory priests in the Pittsburgh diocese who “shared intelligence or information regarding victims,” created pornography using the victims, and exchanged victims among themselves. “This group of priests used whips, violence and sadism in raping their victims,” the report states.

“George still has the cross and it was shown to the grand jury,” the report states.

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New Report Details Abuses of L’Arche Founder Jean Vanier

Composed of six researchers from different backgrounds, the independent commission sought to understand the context and sectarian mechanisms that enabled Vanier, as a great spiritual figure, to use his power to take advantage of young women.

A new independent report commissioned by L’Arche International and released on its website Jan. 30 has shed light on the magnitude of psychological and sexual abuse committed by its famous founder, Jean Vanier, who died in 2019.

Founded in the French commune of Trosly-Breuil in 1964, L’Arche is an international federation gathering networks of community where people with and without intellectual disabilities live and work together. The initiative has inspired thousands of faithful around the world, allowing it to expand to 38 countries on five continents through 150 different communities. The shockwaves caused by the revelations about its founder were all the greater because he was often regarded as a saint.

While a previous report issued in February 2020 revealed Vanier’s sexual misconduct with six women in the context of providing spiritual direction to them, this new investigation found that between 1952 and 2019, at least 25 women — all of them adults without disabilities, single, married, or consecrated — experienced “at some point of their relationship with Vanier a situation implying a sexual act or intimate gesture.” 

The more than 900-page report, the result of a two-year investigation, also looks into the actions of Father Thomas Philippe, a Catholic priest who died in 1993 and whom Jean Vanier considered his spiritual mentor. Father Philippe was also the subject of a parallel investigation by the Dominican order, which will be published Wednesday.

Stephan Posner and Stacy Cates Carney, leaders of L’Arche International, wrote in a letter to the federation’s members that they were “appalled” by the report’s findings. The leaders wrote that “we once again condemn, without reservation, the actions of Jean Vanier and [Father] Thomas Philippe which are in total contradiction with the elementary rules of respect and integrity of persons, and contrary to the fundamental principles of our communities.”

Composed of six researchers from different backgrounds, the independent commission sought to understand the context and sectarian mechanisms that enabled Vanier, as a great spiritual figure, to use his power to take advantage of young women. His relationships with those women, according to a synthesis provided by L’Arche, “all fit into a continuum of confusion, control, and abuse.”

The report stated that “while some people described themselves as ‘victims’ or ‘survivors’ of an abusive relationship, a few described themselves rather as consenting partners in a transgressive relationship … justified by mystical-sexual beliefs inherited from [Father] Philippe.”

Investigators also looked into Vanier’s complicity in Father Philippe’s actions, covering up his spiritual and sexual abuses for decades, despite the Vatican’s canonical sanctions against the religious and his brother, Marie-Dominique Philippe, who was also a Dominican, as early as the 1950s. 

Among the most shocking revelations of the report is the fact that the foundation of L’Arche had as its primary objective to serve as a “screen” against Rome’s sanctions against Father Philippe and to continue the work he had been developing through his spiritual center L’Eau Vive, which the commission described as a sect. 

The researchers, however, concluded that “L’Arche as a project and as an organization has nothing to do with a sect, and that while the original sectarian nucleus did form a microsystem at the heart of L’Arche, in the light of the facts of abuse identified by the commission, it did not seem to have developed beyond the [French] mother house in Trosly-Breuil.”

Contacted by CNA, Father Christian Mahéas, chaplain of L’Arche in France for 16 years until 2020, expressed his deep pain and dismay at reading the new report and the details of the abuses committed by Vanier.

Father Mahéas, whose priestly vocation flourished through his mission at the service of L’Arche and its members with intellectual disabilities, accompanied Vanier the last five months of his earthly life and was beside him when he died.  

“I find it very disturbing that a man as seemingly free as Jean Vanier could have remained under the influence of Father Thomas Philippe for so many years without standing up to him,” he told CNA. He said that Vanier had been under Father Philippe’s thumb since he was 20 years old and that Father Philippe had shaped Vanier’s entire spiritual development.

According to Father Mahéas, the aura of holiness that surrounded Vanier, and Father Philippe before him, was likely to aggravate the sectarian aberrations in which he engaged.

“This warns us against the all-too-common temptation to canonize people during their lifetime by putting them on a pedestal,” he said, also underlining the extreme prudence that spiritual guides must show toward their flock, always taking care to respect the inner freedom of each person.

“There is a path, a work of purification and conversation to live in the Church and this is all part of it. It is a matter of continuing our mission in this sense without losing sight of the innumerable fruits borne by L’Arche in its service to the least of this world, and which are to be dissociated from its founder,” Father Mahéas continued, expressing his appreciation for the strong support the federation continues to receive from Christians around the world. 

“It would be a great shame if people who need to be welcomed by L’Arche were to suffer the double punishment of being rejected by society in principle, and now rejected a second time because of this case which concerns its founder only. What a tragedy that would be!”

In their official communique that accompanied the release of the report, the federations’ leaders also announced that a new audit will be undertaken in 2023 in all the communities of L’Arche and that from then on audits will be scheduled every three years to protect its members against all types of abuse in the future.

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Pa. grand jury report names hundreds of Catholic clergy accused of sexual abuse

After nearly two years of investigating sexual abuse of children within six Catholic dioceses across Pennsylvania, a grand jury Tuesday issued a historic report that details decades of abuse by hundreds of priests - described as "weaponizing" faith - and the efforts of the church hierarchy to cover it up.

Among the abuse described in the report:

• One priest who told boys he was conducting "cancer checks"
• Another priest who impregnated an underage girl
• Yet another priest who raped a girl, and when she became pregnant, arranged for an abortion
• And a priest who over a period of years, abused five girls from the same family.

With this report, all eight of the state's Catholic dioceses have been investigated by a grand jury, and victim advocates say this is the biggest and the most exhaustive such investigation conducted by any state,

At a news conference after the release of the nearly 900-page report, state Attorney General Josh Shapiro said, "I'm here, finally, to announce the results of a two-year grand jury investigation (into the abuse allegations) and the systematic coverup by officials in Pennsylvania and the Vatican."

This came shortly after the Harrisburg diocese released the names of 72 priests and clergy accused of sexual abuse or inappropriate contact with children. The grand jury report detailed abuse that occurred in the Harrisburg diocese and five others: Allentown, Erie, Greensburg, Pittsburgh and Scranton.

The Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown and the Philadelphia Archdiocese  had been investigated previously.

More: 'We are angry' at accused clergy: York priests talk about moving forward after report

The news conference began with video testimony from victims of abuse at the hands of priests, dating back to 1947. One said, "It doesn't ever go away." Another said, "These are people who these priests ruined their lives." Another said, "I've waited a long time for this." Some of those on the stage - all survivors of the abuse - wept openly.

The report was heavily redacted, and Shapiro said his office would be returning to court next month to have an unredacted report released to the public.

"The abuse scarred every diocese," Shapiro said, adding later that "predators weaponized the Catholic faith," often telling victims that their abuse was holy and sanctioned by their faith. 

In York County, the report detailed the abuse allegedly committed by a number of priests, including Father Francis Bach, who served at St. Patrick' from 1964 to 1965 and St. Rose of Lima from 1975 to 1976.

It said he admitted to church investigators that he had abused 14 boys between the ages of 14 and 16 over the years. The church concluded that there was no need for "any trial or proceeding, either judicial or administrative."

Another priest, Richard Barry, who served at St. Joseph's in Dallastown from 1981 to 1983, was accused of abusing three boys. The church declined to take action against him after a bishop determined he was not within his jurisdiction. 

Yet another, Francis "Scotty" Allen, who had served as a diocesan seminarian at St. Patrick's in York, was accused of abusing several boys in the 1970s. The complaints were reported to Monsignor Thomas Brennan, who took no action, according to the report.

Much of the information - "troves of documents," in Shapiro's words - came from the church's own secret archives that described decades of abuse and the church's effort to cover it up.

301 'predator priests,' 1,000 victims

The report described 301 predator priests who may have abused more than 1,000 victims. Shapiro said the grand jury believed that both numbers were low, that the number of victims could be thousands and thousands.

At times, the church archives described the abuse as horseplay, wrestling or inappropriate contact, but Shapiro said it was child sexual abuse and rape and that the church had "disdain for the victims."

The priests gave some of their victims gold crosses as gifts, intended to mark the victims as those who had been groomed by their predators. 

The report named 45 priests in the Harrisburg Diocese, including one priest who rationalized his abuse as "horseplay." 

The coverup was effective, Shapiro said, as the statute of limitations has passed, something the attorney general described as "the manipulation' of Pennsylvania's weak laws governing child sexual abuse. Many of the church leadership remained in place or were promoted, "putting the institution before the (safety of victims)."

The grand jury report described numerous instances in which church leadership "lied," Shapiro said. The church more often than not, he said, saved its compassion for the suspected predators rather than for the victims of their abuse.

The grand jury report also described the failure of law enforcement, including the tale of a district attorney who declined to prosecute an abusive priest because he wanted the church's support for his re-election. 

Calls for reform

The grand jury made four recommendations to reform the law:

• Elimination of the statute of limitations
• Expand the window in which abuse victims can sue their abuser and the church
• Clarify the penalties against institutions for failing to report abuse
• Ban civil confidentiality agreements from preventing victims from reporting abuse to law enforcement. 

In a statement issued before the grand jury report was released, the Diocese of Harrisburg’s Bishop, Ronald W. Gainer, issued a statement noting that he had read the report "with great sadness," describing the abuse of children as"horrific."

"I am saddened because I know that behind every story is a child precious in God’s sight; a child who has been wounded by the sins of those who should have known better," the bishop said in the statement.

"As I stressed last week when we released information regarding our own internal review of child sexual abuse in the Harrisburg Diocese, I acknowledge the sinfulness of those who have harmed these survivors, as well as the action and inaction of those in Church leadership who failed to respond appropriately."

How we got here

The report was highly anticipated and has been the subject of an ongoing legal battle over its release. 

Patrick Wall, an advocate and adviser with the law firm Jeff Anderson & Associates, which specializes in child sexual abuse cases and has offices around the country, told the York Daily Record in September 2016 that this investigation would be "historic."

More: Pa. diocese abuse investigations 'historic,' advocates say

Wall and other advocates and experts in the area of clergy sexual abuse said the grand jury investigation after Philadelphia and Altoona-Johnstown were previously investigated would make Pennsylvania the first state to investigate all dioceses within its borders.

In late-September 2016, the Rev. Thomas Doyle, who has worked with clergy abuse survivors for more than 30 years, said he expected the investigation could "end up being the most extensive investigation yet" because of its scope.

About two months before news of the grand jury investigation into the six dioceses broke, in August 2016, the Harrisburg diocese responded to a list of 15 names of clergy compiled by the York Daily Record. It was believed to be the first time the Harrisburg diocese had confirmed a list of accused priests, including detail on where and when they served, and how the diocese responded when the allegations were made.

More: 15 priests accused of abuse had ties to Harrisburg diocese

About two weeks after the York Daily Record published the list, it learned the names of three more clergy with connections to the Harrisburg diocese who were accused of sexual abuse of children .

Again, the Diocese of Harrisburg confirmed the three names and said that each had worked in York County at some point, but the diocese did not say where the alleged abuse occurred. Two of the names were published by the York Daily Record while the third was withheld because the diocese said the accused, who had never been previously accused, was dead and the allegation indicated the abuse was from the 1970s, and was then passed along to law enforcement. 

Story continues below gallery: 

The York Daily Record began investigating cases of sexual abuse of children by clergy with connections to the Harrisburg diocese after a grand jury in March 2016 issued findings in the neighboring Altoona-Johnstown diocese . That report revealed more than 50 accused priests and hundreds of victims.

In September 2016, State Rep. Mark Rozzi, D-Berks, who has said he was abused by a priest in 1984, confirmed the grand jury investigation into six dioceses was underway. He said it would help victims understand how priests abused children in other parishes.

More: Six dioceses now under investigation in Pa.

In April 2018, the Erie diocese named dozens of credibly accused priests and laypeople.

More: Erie Diocese names dozens of credibly accused priests, laypeople

The grand jury report was expected to be released in June 2018, but many named in the report objected to its release, arguing that the way they're discussed in the report would violate their constitutional rights and their right to due process.

A legal battle ensued. 

More: 'Many individuals' object to naming in Pa. grand jury Catholic Church priest abuse report

Then, in late-July, the Supreme Court said it would allow the report to be released, but for now without the names of priests and others who have challenged the report. The court directed names to be redacted, and for that to be completed by Aug. 8 and released no later than Aug. 14.

More: PA Supreme Court orders release of parts of clergy abuse grand jury report

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

More: Watch: Sharon Tell talks about her years of abuse

More: 'We named names': Pa. law didn't cover child sex crime victims. That didn't stop this D.A.

Attorney who tackled Catholic Church abuse scandal guided by his Judaism

Josh shapiro made a name for himself nationally, compiling the extensive report on sex abuse in pennsylvania’s catholic churches..

2 yrs of investigating, a grand jury, 300+ sexually abusive priests & 1,000+ children who carry the burden as Survivors. For too long, the Church has shielded pedophiles, pushing their victims into the shadows.No longer. Today, we publish the truth. https://t.co/U7OZsYJEzd — AG Josh Shapiro (@PAAttorneyGen) August 14, 2018

This site serves as the holding ground for the results of a two-year grand jury investigation into widespread sexual abuse of children within six dioceses of the Catholic Church in Pennsylvania and the systemic cover up by senior church officials in Pennsylvania and at The Vatican.

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Project 2025 Publishes Comprehensive Policy Guide, ‘Mandate for Leadership: The Conservative Promise’

Apr 21, 2023 20 min read

WASHINGTON — With the goal of shaping policy decisions among presidential candidates , t he 2025 Presidential Transition Project announced the publication of the ninth edition of “ Mandate for Leadership: The Conservative Promise . ” It’s the earliest publication of “Mandate” ever—months before candidates square off in the first presidential primary debate.

A comprehensive policy guide for the next conservative U.S. president, the book pulls from the expertise of hundreds of political appointees , policy scholars, and conservative leaders across the conservative movement. The book builds upon the legacy of the 1981 edition of “Mandate for Leadership,” which appeared on T he Washington Post’s paperback bestseller list .

“ Mandate for Leadership: The Conservative Promise ” offer s both specific p ro posals for addressing every major issue facing the country and a blueprint for how to restructure each agency to solve those issues.

Among the recommendations in this edition:

• Restore the integrity of the Department of Justice to ensure accountability by giving the F BI a hard rest, ensuring consistent litigation decisions, and enforcing immigration laws.
• Solidify our border by restructuring the Department of Homeland Security and its priorities in ways that streamline the immigration process, end unclear immigration visas , and create a more secure immigration process.
• Break up the Department of Education to strengthen education freedom, enhance parental rights in education , and protect taxpaye r s from student loan “forgive ness . ”

“ Mandate for Leadership: The Conservative Promise ” features 3 0 chapters spanning all aspects of the federal government. E ditors Paul Dans, director of Project 2025, and Steven Groves, the Margaret Thatcher f ellow at Heritage, worked with more than 35 primary authors and hundreds of contributors to assemble the 900-page book , which will be distributed Friday at Heritage ’s two-day Leadership Summit in National Harbor , Maryland .

Heritage President Dr. Kevin Roberts released the following statement Friday praising the publication :

“For over two years, the Left has ignored the voice of everyday Americans leading to crip p ling inflation, biological males dominating women’s sports, rampant violence, and a crisis in education not seen in decades. Our country is all but unrecognizable.

“This is why the conservative movement is coming together to prepare for the next conservative administration. Heritage is convening the conservative movement behind the policies to ensure that the next president has the right policy and personnel necessary to dismantle the administrative state and r estor e self-governance to the American people .

“ ‘ The Conservative Prom ise ’ is just the first step in preparing future conservative leaders for the task of serving their country, and it will continue to guide the movement-wide coalition. We know what time it is; the conservative movement is on offense to restore our great nation. ”

Since the first edition of “Mandate for Leadership” more than 40 years ago, this “policy bible” aims to provide administrations with a blueprint of policy solutions. The Reagan administration implemented nearly half of the ideas included in the first edition by the end of his first year in office, while the Trump administration embraced nearly 64% of the 2016 edition’s policy solutions after one year.

The following is a list of the 30 chapters and authors for each.

Chapter 1: White House Office, Rick Dearborn Chapter 2: Executive Office of the President of the United States, Russ Vought Chapter 3: Central Personnel Agencies: Donald Devine, Dennis Dean Kirk, and Paul Dans Chapter 4: Department of Defense, Christopher Miller Chapter 5: Department of Homeland Security, Ken Cuccinelli Chapter 6: Department of State, Kiron K. Skinner Chapter 7: Intelligence Community, Dustin J. Carmack Chapter 8: U.S. Agency for Global Media, Mora Namdar; Corporation for Public Broadcasting, Mike Gonzalez Chapter 9: Agency for International Development, Max Primorac Chapter 10: Department of Agriculture, Daren Bakst Chapter 11: Department of Education, Lindsey M. Burke Chapter 12: Department of Energy and Related Commissions, Bernard L. McNamee Chapter 13: Environmental Protection Agency, Mandy M. Gunasekara Chapter 14: Department of Health and Human Services, Roger Severino Chapter 15: Department of Housing and Urban Development, Benjamin S. Carson, Sr., MD Chapter 16: Department of the Interior, William Perry Pendley Chapter 17: Department of Justice, Gene Hamilton Chapter 18: Department of Labor and Related Agencies, Jonathan Berry Chapter 19: Department of Transportation, Diana Furchtgott-Roth Chapter 20: Department of Veterans Affairs, Brooks D. Tucker Chapter 21: Department of Commerce, Thomas F. Gilman Chapter 22: Department of the Treasury, William L. Walton, Stephen Moore, and David R. Burton Chapter 23: Export-Import Bank, Veronique de Rugy and Jennifer Hazelton Chapter 24: Federal Reserve, Paul Winfree Chapter 25: Small Business Administration, Karen Kerrigan Chapter 26: Trade, Peter Navarro and Kent Lassman Chapter 27: Securities and Exchange Commission, David R. Burton; Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Robert Bowes Chapter 28: Federal Communications Commission, Brendan Carr Chapter 29: Federal Election Commission, Hans A. von Spakovsky Chapter 30: Federal Trade Commission, Adam Candeub

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Cable TV politics, Republican presidential plans

We talk to the author of a book that explores the impact of cable television on political polarization. Then, a policy analyst helps us better understand a conservative plan for a Republican presidency.

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Project 2025: a conservative think tank's plan for a republican presidency.

In April, a conservative think tank called the Heritage Foundation unveiled the blueprint for Project 2025—a game plan to be used if a Republican is elected president in the next election.

The more than 900-page report outlines how conservatives might boost executive power and deconstruct the administrative state from the moment a Republican president is sworn in.

We talk to a public policy expert about what’s in the plan, the likelihood of it being enacted, and how it would affect how we’re governed.

How cable television has shaped American politics

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Knoxville police officers disciplined after chief sharply criticizes their arrest of Lisa Edwards

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Three of the four Knoxville police officers involved in the arrest of 60-year-old Lisa Edwards , who collapsed in police custody and later died, have been disciplined.

Sgt. Brandon Wardlaw, the first to arrive at the hospital, was demoted to officer.

Officer Timothy Distasio, who was driving Edwards to jail when she lost consciousness, was suspended without pay for 10 days.

Officer Adam Barnett was suspended without pay for four days.

Transportation officer Danny Dugan did not violate any departmental policies, according to a Knoxville Police Department report .

After the arrest, all four were placed on paid suspension. None will lose their jobs.

Edwards was arrested Feb. 5 outside Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center just after she was discharged. Police videos show she begged for medical help, was left on a sidewalk and later slumped over in the back of a squad car while the officer stopped to help a driver who was pulled over on the side of the road.

The Knoxville Police Department's internal affairs investigation report was released a little more than three months after Edwards' death, which drew widespread outrage over the way police treated her.

What does the Internal Affairs report say?

The nearly 900-page report examined the actions of the police officers who responded that morning. It found Edwards told police many times about her medical concerns but officers inadequately addressed or outright ignored them.

Wardlaw, the report said, never changed his decision to take Edwards to jail and failed to look into why her statements differed from those of the hospital security guards. None of the officers made any attempt to get a medical opinion on Edwards' health.

The "words, actions and inactions" of Wardlaw, Distasio and Barnett showed "an utter disregard for the respect of human life," the report concluded. "Ms. Edwards was entrusted to the custody, care and control of the KPD ... and, once seized, her life literally rested in their hands."

Distasio committed seven violations: unbecoming conduct, neglect of duty, unsatisfactory performance, treatment of prisoners, courtesy, prisoner transportation (seat belt), unconscious persons

Wardlaw committed six violations of department policy: unbecoming conduct, neglect of duty, unsatisfactory performance, treatment of prisoners, courtesy and prisoner transportation (seat belt)

Barnett committed four violations: unbecoming conduct, unsatisfactory performance, treatment of prisoners and courtesy

Knoxville Police Chief Paul Noel, who said he was "disturbed and embarrassed" when he watched the videos, explained why the disciplinary actions were taken and why the supervisor received the harshest penalty.

"Our response and subsequent actions followed a larger systemic failure," Noel said. "Ms. Edwards was at minimum failed by the hospital system and hospital security before we even arrived. We did not help that situation by the way our officers chose to treat Ms. Edwards."

Noel stressed his officers' actions did not contribute to Ms. Edwards’ death, pointing to the autopsy report.

But, he added, "The way we spoke to and treated Ms. Edwards was completely unacceptable, and exposed that we have a problem as an organization with how we talk to people. This situation also represented a failure of supervision. Supervisors are held to a higher standard and are there to ensure that the employees under their command are making decisions in the best interest of those we serve and the department.”

What led to Lisa Edwards' death

Edwards had been a longtime resident of Knoxville , but in 2018 she moved to Rhode Island to be closer to her sons and grandchildren.

Edwards initially lived with family but had a stroke in August 2019 and moved into a nursing home. Eventually, Edwards decided to move back to Knoxville, where she was going to live with a friend.

Soon after Edwards arrived at the Knoxville airport on Feb. 4, she was taken to Blount Memorial Hospital for abdominal pain. She was discharged but went to Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center, where she was evaluated and discharged the next morning.

Edwards was arrested after hospital security staff called police to tell them she refused to leave. Body cam footage showed the first KPD officer arrived just before 8 a.m., about an hour after Edwards was discharged. Edwards told the officer she had a stroke and couldn’t walk, but his response was that the hospital wanted her gone and he was taking her to jail.

A jail van was called and officers and the driver physically struggled for 30 minutes to get Edwards into the side compartment, leaving her slumped on the sidewalk.

Edwards repeatedly said she couldn't breathe or stand, but officers and security staff told her she was fine. The police eventually decided to take her in a regular police cruiser. Officers struggled to place her in the back seat and never succeeded in getting her into a fully upright position.

At the beginning of the drive, Edwards was gasping and wheezing before she slumped back. Within 10 minutes, she slipped out of sight and could not be heard on the cruiser camera. The officer drove another 3 minutes before he stopped to help another driver. When he returned to the vehicle, he found Edwards unconscious.

What happened after Edwards' death?

The Knox County District Attorney's Office said Edwards died of a stroke and that none of the officers who handled her arrest would face criminal charges. The office cited a medical examiner's report that said “at no time did law enforcement interaction cause or contribute to Ms. Edwards’ death.”

The hospital in April released a statement that found the medical treatment and hospital discharge were "clinically appropriate."

The hospital also conducted an in-depth review of its security procedures and policies and evaluated its security services contract, the release said.

"Several officers involved are no longer working at any Covenant Health facility," the release said. "In addition, we are implementing empathy training for security officers serving on behalf of Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center and Covenant Health."

People posted hundreds of critical Facebook comments about the officers' conduct, and many community members gathered Feb. 27 to hold a vigil in her honor.

Edwards' family hired Devon Jacob, a high-profile civil rights attorney who is an expert in lawsuits over in-custody deaths. Jacob did not answer an emailed request for comments on the report.

Liz Kellar is a public safety reporter. Email [email protected] . Twitter @LizKellar .

Support strong local journalism by subscribing at knoxnews.com/subscribe .

This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Knoxville police officers disciplined after arrest of Lisa Edwards

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900 page report shows 15 railroad bridges in Binghamton in severe or poor condition

BINGHAMTON (WBNG) -- In the wake of the devastating train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio earlier this year, combined with concerns from residents Binghamton Mayor Jared Kraham called for the inspection of 28 railroad bridges throughout the city.

After what he described as decades of inaction and concerns about structural integrity, Kraham brought in independent engineering firm HUNT-EAS to complete a visual inspection of the bridges.

The result was a comprehensive 900-page report that details many issues with bridges that Kraham said are visible to anyone who passes by.

“This is a detailed and damning report that details what residents have known for years,” said Kraham. “Railroad companies in particular in particular Norfolk Southern have failed to maintain railroad bridges they own in Binghamton leading to structural and safety concerns.”

The report names 15 of the city’s bridges as either in severe or poor condition. Bridges listed as being in severe condition are on Water Street, Front Street, Glenwood Avenue and Jarvis Street.

HUNT-EAS Engineer Andy Kinsley said each of these bridges has similar issues.

“They’re pretty similar,” said Kinsley. “All the concrete structures have bad concrete loss, rebar exposure and deterioration at the base of the columns. That was similar across almost all of the concrete bridges.”

Kraham said the companies who own these bridges are required to frequently complete their own inspections, but discrepancies between their reports and the city’s report have the mayor calling for more accountability from the companies.

“In some cases, these were inspected or looked at earlier this year by the railroads. So, they have a mandate to inspect their own bridges and report that they are safe to the federal government,” said Kraham. “They have been doing that, but this report appears to contradict a lot of what’s being reported.”

Kraham noted Binghamton does not have the authority to push independent rail companies to repair their bridges.

In an effort to garner support, he has had conversations with Representative Marc Molinaro (R, NY-19), Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D, NY) and Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D, NY) to hold these companies accountable on a federal level.

Copyright 2023 WBNG. All rights reserved.

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Commission on Civil Rights Releases Report on Federal Response to Hurricanes Maria and Harvey

The U.S. Commission on Civil Rights (USCCR) released a landmark report detailing the federal response to Hurricanes Harvey and Maria, “ Civil Rights and Protections during the Federal Response to Hurricanes Harvey and Maria .” The 900-page report is the first examination by the commission of the civil rights implications of federal disaster response. The report extensively cites testimony by NLIHC President and CEO Diane Yentel, as well as numerous statements and documents created by members and partners of the NLIHC-led Disaster Housing Recovery Coalition (DHRC), including Ayuda Legal Puerto Rico, Disability Rights Texas, Fundacion Fondo de Acceso a la Justicia, FURIA Inc., Texas Appleseed, the H.O.M.E. Coalition, Partnership for Inclusive Disaster Strategies, Planners for Puerto Rico, Texas Housers, and Texas Rio Grande Legal Assistance.

“In the days following a disaster, there is an expectation that the federal government, along with state and local governments, will come to the aid of affected residents,” explains the executive summary of the report . “There is also the expectation that assistance will be prompt and ameliorate any unnecessary suffering. As in all government services, there is also a need to ensure fairness and equality. Natural disasters are often thought of as ‘leveling agents’ that affect all individuals equally; however, research has shown that disasters can exacerbate existing disparities and have more lasting impacts on communities that were disadvantaged prior to the disaster.”

Among the report’s recommendations are the following:

• Clearer guidelines for the aid application process should be established, including a more streamlined portal for the intake of federal disaster assistance applications and a process for sharing data across all responding agencies at the federal, state, and local levels.
• Federal agencies, local governments, and aid organizations should work to collaborate more closely. Disaster recovery experts assert that public engagement with stakeholders should begin with emergency planning and response and continue through the closeout of recovery and mitigation programs.
• The recovery and mitigation process should focus on survivors with the greatest needs, particularly people of color, low-income people, people with disabilities, immigrants, members of LGBTQ communities, and other marginalized individuals.
• FEMA should provide disability training to all shelter personnel, including registration, medical, and security workers. FEMA should work with state and local partners to find and locate persons with disabilities who will have trouble evacuating to shelters. The agency should also ensure that such shelters have electricity for electric-dependent persons (i.e., those who rely on ventilators and similar medical equipment, as well as those who need access to refrigeration, such as people with diabetes).
• FEMA should hire and train staff fluent in the languages spoken in disaster areas and ensure information and applications for all assistance programs are available in relevant languages and can be submitted in such languages.

Read the text of the report at: https://bit.ly/3dxKDyP

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FiveThirtyEight

Jun. 15, 2018 , at 9:04 AM

The 500-Page Inspector General’s Report In 900 Words

By Perry Bacon Jr.

Filed under The Trump Administration

Jose Luis Magana / AP

The long-awaited report by the Justice Department’s inspector general examining the department’s conduct in the Hillary Clinton email investigation came out on Thursday, and, if nothing else, it’s exhaustive. At more than 500 pages, it carefully and meticulously unpacks how organizations and individuals acquitted themselves before and after the 2016 election. Of course, very quickly, much of the nuance was stripped out; interested parties — President Trump , his supporters , former FBI Director James Comey — all found in the report plenty of ammunition to load the gun they were already holding. Cherrypicking aside, however, the report did come to some conclusions.

So let’s look at the legal, policy and political implications of the report but also try to keep the nuance while losing some of the complexity (and adding some brevity). Here are four key takeaways from those 500+ pages in about 900 words. (Note: The report is overwhelmingly about the Justice Department’s and the FBI’s conduct in the Clinton email probe, not the investigations surrounding Trump or his campaign’s alleged connections to Russia. Inspector General Michael Horowitz is now looking into elements of the Trump investigation.)

1. Comey looks bad procedurally but not legally

The report is most conclusive on two issues: the conduct of Comey and former Attorney General Loretta Lynch, and the Justice Department’s decision not to charge Clinton with any crime as part of its investigation into her use of a private email server . Let’s take those in reverse order.

The report does not directly affirm the decision not to charge Clinton, 1 but it does say that it was not motivated by any kind of improper political bias among Justice Department officials. That squarely rebuts Trump’s suggestion that Justice Department and FBI officials like Comey were soft in pursuing allegations against Clinton for political reasons.

At the same time, the report comes down hard on Comey in two areas. First, it suggests that the process that led to the director’s public comments on the Clinton email case in July 2016 (slamming Clinton’s email use but saying that it was not a crime) and October 2016 (announcing that the investigation would be re-opened because of some emails found on the computer of Anthony Weiner, the husband of top Clinton aide Huma Abedin ) were problematic. Making those comments without consulting Lynch and other top Justice Department officials was outside of department norms, the report concludes. Secondly, the report says that Comey himself was using a personal email account to conduct some government business, both violating department protocol and taking what appears to be a hypocritical action, considering that the Clinton probe in part involved her use of non-government email when she was secretary of state.

Finally, Lynch is criticized for her handling of a June 2016 tarmac meeting with former President Bill Clinton; the inspector general suggests that she should have avoided it (although the report concludes that Lynch and Clinton did not discuss the email investigation). The inspector general also found that Lynch did not adequately manage Comey and the investigation; as Lawfare put it , the report found that “at key moments, the problem was not that Comey chose to disobey direct orders but, rather, that he did not have any direct orders to obey.”

2. The FBI looks bad politically but not legally

Remember, this was largely a probe of how the FBI handled the Clinton investigation, not the Trump one. That said, the report highlights some problematic behavior by FBI officials that could hurt the bureau’s credibility in the Russia probe. It has long been known that two FBI officials, Lisa Page and Peter Strzok, sent some anti-Trump text messages to each other in 2016. This was significant because Page was on the team investigating Clinton and (later) the Trump-Russia probe, which Strzok was leading for a time. 2

The IG report includes a previously unknown text-message exchange between the two that has already become political fodder for the right . In a message on Aug. 8, 2016, Page wrote, “[Trump’s] not ever going to become president, right? Right?!” And Strzok responded, “No. No he’s not. We’ll stop it.”

Strzok told investigators that he did not mean he would use the investigation to block Trump from winning, but rather that he was trying to assure Page that Trump would not win. And overall, as noted above, the inspector general did not conclude that the Justice Department’s probe was biased toward helping Clinton or hurting Trump. So, on substance, the investigation’s integrity was reaffirmed, but that won’t prevent Trump from using that text message to argue that it wasn’t.

That and the damage this report does to Comey’s reputation will help Trump in continuing to cast the former FBI chief as a villain and the FBI as tarnished . But that’s a question of politics, not substance.

3. The report is vindication for Clinton

The report all but says that Comey was wrong to go public in the ways he did in the Clinton investigation in 2016. This is basically what Clinton has long argued . The report also basically confirms that she should not have been charged with any crime for email use. Of course, that doesn’t undo Comey’s actions, which may have cost Clinton the election . But still.

4. The report doesn’t mean much for the Russia probe — and that’s what really matters now

The inspector general’s report doesn’t undermine the Russia investigation — not on substance, at least. Strzok was removed last summer from the Russia team , which by then was being led by special counsel Robert Mueller, in part because of the discovery of some of these text messages. So Strzok wasn’t a big part of the string of indictments that Mueller made over the last year. And little in the inspector general’s report focuses specifically on Mueller, in part because this is largely a report about Justice Department actions during 2016, well before the special counsel was appointed.

Comey could be a witness in an obstruction of justice charge against Trump that stems from the president’s dismissal of the FBI director in what Trump suggested was a move to end the Russia investigation . And perhaps this report dings Comey’s credibility. But I doubt that Mueller will push an obstruction charge based solely on the words of Comey. And the inspector general, if anything, was attacking Comey for being too candid.

We already knew that legal experts found Comey’s moves in 2016 to be kind of dumb and that some FBI agents had a low opinion of Trump. So while the inspector general’s report is important and newsworthy, it’s not particularly surprising. And it doesn’t really change anything right now. We are really still waiting on Mueller and what his investigation concludes.

The inspector general seems to think that kind of decision is ultimately up to prosecutors.

Page and Strzok were reportedly romantically involved.

Perry Bacon Jr. was a senior writer for FiveThirtyEight. @perrybaconjr

Filed under

Donald Trump (1706 posts) 2016 Election (1138) The Trump Administration (788) Hillary Clinton (579) Robert Mueller (100) Russia Investigation (95) Russia (90) FBI (37) James Comey (27)

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New jersey issues first-of-its-kind report on covid-19 response, new jersey is the only state to commission an independent review of its covid-19 actions. the 900-page report details the effects on public health infrastructure and recommends changes to prevent the state from being blindsided again next time..

•  Fully four years after the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a pandemic in March 2020, New Jersey has released the first independent, comprehensive state-level review of its kind.
•  There has been no national review of the country’s pandemic response, asking what could be done to improve response to future outbreaks.
•  The COVID-19 pandemic is the nation’s worst public emergency in more than a century, claiming more than a million lives.

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Ottawa home prices to increase $33,900 by end of 2024, report says

Home prices in Ottawa are expected to increase more than four per cent by the end of the year due to the anticipated drop in interest rates and buyers and sellers returning to the market, according to a new report.

Royal LePage released its House Price Survey on Friday, saying the aggregate price of a new home in Ottawa will increase nearly $34,000 to $788,662 in the fourth quarter compared to the fourth quarter of 2023.

The aggregate price of a home in Ottawa increased 4.4 per cent year over year to $757,700 in the first quarter. Royal LePage said the aggregate price of a new home was $754,700 in the fourth quarter last year.

"The Ottawa housing market has seen a positive start to the year, with an uptick in activity persisting as we enter the spring market. With an anticipated drop in interest rates expected this year, buyers and sellers are regaining confidence and are beginning to come off the sidelines," Jason Ralph, broker of record with Royal LePage Team Realty, said in a statement.

"With this boost in market activity, we have begun to see more multiple-offer scenarios taking place, less so in comparison to the peak of the pandemic, but enough to put upward pressure on housing prices. I expect this momentum will continue into the summer and fall markets."

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The report says the aggregate price of a new home will increase nine per cent across Canada by the fourth quarter of 2024, to an average of $860,555. The Greater Toronto Area will see a 10 per cent hike in housing prices this year, while the aggregate price of a new home will spike 8.5 per cent in Montreal.

Royal LePage said in its report that there is still "not enough supply" to meet demand in Ottawa.

"Demand for all housing types continues to outpace available supply in Ottawa," Ralph said.

"While we are seeing more product become available, we are still lacking enough inventory to satisfy demand, especially as buyer activity ramps up. I expect more sellers will be willing to list their homes if we see interest rates decrease in the coming months."

The report says new developments will help alleviate inventory pressures and new build transactions will pick up this year. Ralph says anticipated interest rate cuts will help boost the market.

"Looking ahead, I expect interest rate cuts will spur market activity further in Ottawa as more buyers and sellers jump back into the market," Ralph said.

"I believe we will see a robust spring market followed by even stronger summer and fall seasons, where we will really begin to see the benefits of lowered lending rates."

The Bank of Canada held its key interest rate at 5 per cent this week, but signalled rate cuts are getting closer.

The aggregate price of a home in Ottawa was $757,700 in the first quarter. CTVNewsOttawa.ca apologizes for the error.

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Grain-gobbling bears spark 'no stopping' zone in Banff National Park

A popular highway in Alberta's Banff National Park now has a 'no stopping zone' to help protect two bears.

Former Thunder Bay police chief arrested and charged in misconduct probe

Ontario Provincial Police have arrested and charged the former Thunder Bay police chief as part of an ongoing misconduct probe.

The Masters turns into a menace. Scheffler, DeChambeau and Homa hold on to share the lead

Max Homa played the most beautifully boring round of golf amid raging wind and endless calamity Friday in the Masters, giving him a share of the lead with Scottie Scheffler and Bryson DeChambeau going into a weekend for the survivors.

Tesla cuts Full Self-Driving subscription prices in U.S., Canada

Elon Musk's Tesla said on Friday it has cut prices of its Full Self-Driving (FSD) subscriptions in the United States and Canada, as it seeks to drive adoption amid softening demand and price competition.

Toronto police officer stabbed, suspect shot

A Toronto police officer shot a 28-year-old man who stabbed him during an altercation in the city's west end on Friday afternoon, the province's police watchdog said.

Trudeau says he doesn't understand why NDP is pulling back from carbon price support

The New Democrats are facing political headwinds when it comes to carbon pricing, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau acknowledged Friday, but he said he doesn't understand why they're pulling back their support.

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Dartmouth, N.S., company launches alcohol vending machines

Dartmouth native Corey Yantha has launched SmartServ, a vending machine for beer and ready-made alcoholic drinks.

Patient died of hanging while in Moncton psychiatric unit

According to her autopsy, Kaytlyn Hemsworth died of hanging at the Dr. Georges-L.-Dumont University Hospital Centre in Moncton while in the psychiatric unit.

Locked wheels and receipt checks: Grocer anti-theft measures have some Maritimers on edge, others welcome the change

In the early 1900’s, you would walk into a grocery store with your list, pass it to an employee behind a desk, and they would gather what you wanted.

Two people in hospital following separate stabbings in downtown Toronto

Two people are in hospital following two separate stabbings in downtown Toronto on Friday.

Toronto city staff proposes complete revamp of vacant home tax program amid rollout 'mess'

Toronto city staff is proposing to completely change the vacant home tax program and cancel the bills for the thousands of undeclared properties following the “flawed” and unfairly “punitive” rollout.

Alleged members of global crime syndicate arrested after $3M jewelry heist in Montreal

Police believe that an organized crime group from South America was behind a massive jewelry heist at a shopping mall on Montreal's West Island overnight.

Arrest made after random attack on woman in Montreal metro

Montreal police have made an arrest in connection with another random physical assault on transit users in the Metro system.

French prime minister defends state secularism, denies interfering in Quebec politics

After making a passionate plea for secularism in Quebec's Salon Bleu, French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal denied on Friday that he had interfered in Quebec's internal politics.

Northern Ontario

Northern Ont. man fined $25K for illegally building road on Crown land

A Sturgeon Falls man has been fined a total of $25,000 for trying to build a road across Crown land to access a piece of private property.

Evacuation underway in Kashechewan, Ont., due to spring flooding of Albany River

A precautionary evacuation of about 600 people from Kashechewan First Nation is underway with the first group arriving in Kapuskasing on Friday.

'I'm crying with the bank': Ontario woman loses $86K to CRA scam

An Ontario woman is out $86,000 after receiving a call from a fraudster claiming to be a Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) investigator. They told her that her bank accounts were involved in a money laundering operation.

Police handing out Faraday bags to help prevent auto thefts

Windsor police are trying to help prevent auto thefts by handing out Faraday bags.

Calmer weather conditions expected this weekend

After a strong weather system with gusty winds and heavy rainfall cooled the region down, some warmer days are here once again.

Cycling community looks to sanction trails Black Oak Heritage Park

Black Oak Heritage Park is one part of what will soon make up the Ojibway National Urban Park.

Rain, rain, go away: Calmer weather conditions expected this weekend

'there was nothing human about what they did': london, ont. family angered after sentencing hearing in stabbing death.

A London family is speaking out after a sentencing hearing for the three people who pleaded guilty in connection with the stabbing death of their loved one got underway in court.

Baby Gwendolyn celebrates 1st birthday after receiving rare liver disorder diagnosis

Gwendolyn Barnett celebrated her first birthday last month, but the first year of her life has been a battle to save it.

Man killed in Kitchener shooting

A 32-year-old man is dead after a shooting in Kitchener’s Country Hills East neighbourhood. Here's what we know about the investigation so far.

Tree clearing company calls equipment ‘dangerous’ after metal object hit Kitchener home

New questions are being raised about the equipment that sent a chunk of metal flying through the air and into a Kitchener, Ont. home, missing the homeowner’s head by mere inches.

Kitchener couple claims landlord is targeting them for organizing tenants union

A Kitchener couple has now received a second eviction notice from their landlord at 250 Frederick Street. This time their appliances are allegedly to blame.

Dancing with the Easter Seals returns to Barrie with remarks from celebrity guest judges

The annual fundraiser 'Dancing with the Easter Seals Stars' returns to Barrie on Friday.

One person injured in multi-vehicle crash on Highway 400 in Barrie

A multi-vehicle collision caused delays on Highway 400 through Barrie early Friday afternoon.

Retired teacher convicted of historical sexual assaults apologizes to victims

Lawrence Fritz appeared in a Newmarket courtroom more than two months after he pleaded guilty to five counts of inappropriately touching students in the 1970s, 80s and 90s while teaching at schools across York Region.

Winnipeggers wanting to one day buy a home are 'trying to climb a hill that's just too steep'

Owning a home may be out of reach for many Canadians according to new data from CIBC, and for one Winnipegger, the prospect of owning their own home is starting to feel like an impossible goal.

Province issues flood warning for portion Assiniboine River

Manitoba’s Hydrologic Forecast Centre issued a flood warning Friday for a portion of the Assiniboine River.

Moose on the loose in Oakville, Man.

Two moose were on the loose in Oakville, Man. on Friday.

Vehicles blocking traffic on Highway 1 west of Calgary: RCMP

Vehicles connected to a protest are blocking lanes on Highway 1 west of Calgary, causing delays.

John G. Diefenbaker High School students raise more than $25,000 pedalling for a purpose

John G. Diefenbaker High School kicked off its Ride of the Chiefs (ROTC) charity event on Friday, with students raising more than $25,000 for the Alberta Children's Hospital.

Edmonton had 'no lawful basis' to remove dogs before they killed boy, investigation finds

The City of Edmonton says previous complaints about two dogs who killed an 11-year-old boy were properly investigated.

Pop art: Edmonton photographer's work to feature on Jones Soda bottles

An Edmonton photographer's work will soon be a part of pop culture, soda pop culture that is.

1 arrested, police seek second man after March liquor store robbery

Edmonton police are trying to identify a man wanted for robbing a liquor store last month.

Sask. students say 'pressure is still on' ahead of renewed talks between teachers, province

The school year has been a challenging one for students and teachers alike, yet students see the problems teachers have brought forward during a lengthy contract dispute with the Saskatchewan government firsthand.

Crown's final witnesses take stand in trial for Sask. man accused of abducting daughter

The Crown has presented its case against Michael Gordon Jackson as the first of a two-week trial came to a close Friday morning with the arresting officers taking the stand.

Arrests made following investigation into store robberies in Regina

Arrests have been made following an investigation into four convenience store robberies in Regina beginning in 2022.

‘We need rain desperately’: fire ban issued for Corman Park, other Sask. communities

Saskatoon firefighters are reminding the public to be diligent heading into the weekend. It comes as fire bans have been issued for multiple communities including the RM of Corman Park.

Spring construction season begins in Saskatoon with road closures and traffic delays

With the arrival of spring and temperatures finally warming up, construction crews in Saskatoon are gearing up for a busy season.

New SFU medical school could provide primary care to 30,000 patients

Details of behind-the-scenes efforts to establish British Columbia's second medical school are increasingly becoming public, including the possibility of family doctor access for thousands of Surrey residents at the Simon Fraser University campus.

'Why not do it together?': Lifelong friends take part in 'brosectomy' in Vancouver

While many people choose to keep their medical appointments private, four longtime friends decided to undergo vasectomies as a group in B.C.'s Lower Mainland.

B.C. premier meets with patient who took herself off transplant list due to costs

Christina Derksen-Unrau was in Victoria this week on a mission to bring change.

Vancouver Island

Beware of Taylor Swift ticket resale scam, Vancouver Island Mounties warn

Police on Vancouver Island are warning Taylor Swift fans not to fall for scams advertising resale tickets to her sold-out Vancouver shows on Facebook.

Malahat Legion celebrates its 90th anniversary after almost closing down during pandemic

Stan Grenda has been a Legion member for 40 years. The last 27 of those years have been with the Malahat Legion.

Canadian navy's Pacific fleet to accept first Arctic patrol vessel

The Canadian navy's Pacific fleet is set to take possession of its first Arctic patrol vessel, which arrives in British Columbia next week ahead of a formal commissioning ceremony.

Evacuation of Kelowna, B.C., apartment near construction site extended for two weeks

More than 80 residents from a low-income apartment building in Kelowna, B.C., have learned they won't be able to return to their homes for at least another two weeks.

2 men injured after 'road rage' incident with Dodge Ram driver, Kelowna RCMP say

Mounties are investigating a reported "road rage" incident in Kelowna, B.C., that left two men injured last week.

Unstable nearby construction site forces evacuation of apartment in Kelowna, B.C.

More than 80 residents of a low-income apartment building in Kelowna, B.C., have been told they need to leave over a 'significant' risk to life and safety.

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