Actress Mariska Hargitay opens up about being raped by a friend in her 30s, revealing her struggle to process the trauma and the emotional toll it took on her. She shares her empathy for the part of her that coped by removing the incident from her narrative and discusses her advocacy for survivors of sexual assault through the Joyful Heart Foundation. Hargitay seeks legal reform to address sexual violence and desires an acknowledgment and apology from her attacker, expressing a sense of renewal and compassion as she continues to work through her experience.
Clergy abuse survivors have proposed a new church law calling for the permanent removal of abusive priests and superiors who covered for them, following outrage over Pope Francis' appointment of Cardinal Victor Fernández to head the Vatican office that investigates sex crimes. The survivors, part of the global advocacy group End Clergy Abuse, unveiled the draft law and are seeking to draw attention to the ongoing scandal in the Catholic Church and the failure of Francis and the hierarchy to fulfill their promises of "zero tolerance" for abuse. Fernández has faced criticism for his handling of abuse cases in Argentina, including refusing to promptly remove a priest accused of abusing teens. The proposed law calls for the dismissal of priests who commit sexual offenses against minors or vulnerable adults and the removal of bishops or religious superiors who fail to report sex crimes to law enforcement.
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of San Francisco has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in order to address over 500 lawsuits related to child sexual abuse. The archdiocese claims that bankruptcy is the best solution for compensating survivors, as it lacks the financial means and practical ability to litigate each case individually. However, victim advocates argue that this move denies justice and transparency for survivors and allows the archdiocese to keep its secrets and wealth. The bankruptcy filing would freeze legal actions against the archdiocese while it restructures its finances, but it would not affect the independently managed parishes and schools. This follows similar bankruptcy filings by other dioceses in California and across the United States.
