Investigation Cost Albany Diocese $2.4 Million

THE TROY RECORD, AUG. 6 — The Troy, N.Y., newspaper reported that the Albany diocese paid more than $2.4 million to look into allegations of sexual misconduct against Bishop Howard Hubbard. The investigation, led by former U.S. Attorney Mary Jo White, concluded that the allegations had “no merit.”

The Record story quoted attorney John Aretakis, who represents alleged victims of clergy sex abuse, as saying that the bishop “spared no expense” in a “false effort” to clear himself.

Mark Furnish, the local leader of the Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests, was quoted as saying, “It's nice that Hubbard could spend that much money to clear his name and find closure for himself… He's lucky, but there is no amount of money that could reverse all the things that happened to victims of clergy abuse (in the Albany diocese).”

Madonna and Children — Kabbalah Style

THE STAR ONLINE, Aug. 6 — Former “Material Girl” and lapsed Catholic Madonna is starting a Kabbalah school for children in New York. Scheduled to open at the end of the year, the Kabbalist Grammar School for Children will combine standard school curriculum with Kabbalah teaching.

The Kaballah is a Jewish practice of meditative, devotional, mystical and magical activity. Throughout much of its history, it was taught selectively and is often viewed as esoteric. The word “Kabbalah” is derived from the root “to receive, to accept”, and in many cases is used synonymously with “tradition.”

Madonna, 46, converted to Judaism from Catholicism and has taken the Hebrew name of Esther. She was born Madonna Louise Veronica Ciccone in Bay City, Mich. As a performer, she became known as Madonna.

“The school has been a dream of Madonna's for some time,” the story quoted a source as saying. “Education means a lot to her, and she was keen to make the most of her money by leaving a lasting mark, as well as helping kids.”

Canadian Abortionist Claims Procedure Lowers Crime

LIFENEWS.COM, Aug. 1 — Mother Teresa once said that society can never expect to have peace in the streets if abortion remains legal. Henry Morgentaler would disagree.

The Canadian abortionist, who defied his country's abortion laws in the 1960s, reiterated claims that abortion and contraception play a major role in the decline in his nation's violent crime rate, the pro-life website reported. The Canadian homicide rate is now the lowest it has been since 1967. Children that are wanted, his reasoning goes, are less likely to be abused and neglected, and therefore less likely to commit violent crimes later in life.

Morgentaler suggests that “violent crimes are usually committed by young men with a rage in their heart, a result of maltreatment they received as babies and children.”

But a number of researchers point out that child abuse has actually risen since Roe v. Wade, the U.S. Supreme Court ruling that allowed abortion nationwide. Canada's abortion law began to be loosened in 1969 and was finally struck down by the country's Supreme Court in 1988.