The sexual abuse scandal in Wilmington diocese is a significant episode in the series of Catholic sex abuse cases in the United States and Ireland.

Bishop Saltarelli releases 20 names

Bishop Michael Angelo Saltarelli

Michael Angelo Saltarelli

Michael Angelo Saltarelli was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Wilmington from 1995 to 2008.-Biography:...

 released the names of 20 diocesan priests accused of sexual abuse

Sexual abuse

Sexual abuse, also referred to as molestation, is the forcing of undesired sexual behavior by one person upon another. When that force is immediate, of short duration, or infrequent, it is called sexual assault. The offender is referred to as a sexual abuser or molester...

, and once said, "I condemn what's been done to victims with all my heart."

130 lawsuits filed

Altogether, more than 130 lawsuits have been filed against the diocese or Catholic religious orders in Delaware.

Allegations against Oblates of St. Francis de Sales

A Superior Court jury ruled the operators of Salesianum School -- the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales -- were liable under the Delaware Child Victim's Act of 2007, but their actions were not the proximate cause of the harm to James Sheehan.

Diocese files for chapter 11 bankruptcy

In October 2009, bishop William Francis Malooly

William Francis Malooly

William Francis Malooly is an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church, who currently serves as the Bishop of Wilmington.-Biography:...

 sought Chapter 11 protection for his diocese after obtaining financial settlements with victims of local child abusing priests.

Retirement benefits for abusive priests

The diocese said it is obligated to keep paying retirement benefits to six priests who church officials have confirmed are pedophiles. Similar controversial payments were reportedly given in Ireland to abusive priests in that country.

Anti-abuse charter

In a November 2009 statement, the diocese asserted that an independent audit showed it was in compliance with the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People, adopted in 2002 by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops

See also

• Abuse
  Abuse
  Abuse is the improper usage or treatment for a bad purpose, often to unfairly or improperly gain benefit. Abuse can come in many forms, such as: physical or verbal maltreatment, injury, sexual assault, violation, rape, unjust practices; wrongful practice or custom; offense; crime, or otherwise...
  
  
• Child abuse
  Child abuse
  Child abuse is the physical, sexual, emotional mistreatment, or neglect of a child. In the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Department of Children And Families define child maltreatment as any act or series of acts of commission or omission by a parent or...
  
  
• Child sexual abuse
  Child sexual abuse
  Child sexual abuse is a form of child abuse in which an adult or older adolescent uses a child for sexual stimulation. Forms of child sexual abuse include asking or pressuring a child to engage in sexual activities , indecent exposure with intent to gratify their own sexual desires or to...
  
  
• Religious abuse
• Sexual abuse
  Sexual abuse
  Sexual abuse, also referred to as molestation, is the forcing of undesired sexual behavior by one person upon another. When that force is immediate, of short duration, or infrequent, it is called sexual assault. The offender is referred to as a sexual abuser or molester...
  
  
• Sexual misconduct
  Sexual misconduct
  Sexual misconduct is misconduct of a sexual nature. The term may be used to condemn an act, but in some jurisdictions it has also a legal meaning....
  
  
• Spiritual abuse
  Spiritual abuse
  Spiritual abuse is a serious form of abuse which occurs when a person in a cult-religious authority or a person with a unique spiritual practice misleads and maltreats another person in the name of a deityor church or in the mystery of any spiritual concept...