Harvey Weinstein trial is 'not a referendum on #MeToo', says judge

THE GUARDIAN

James Burke issued directive as jury selection entered its final stage on Thursday. read more »

New Uber safety feature renews talk of N.J. college student’s mistaken-identity murder

NJ.COM

On the heels of a safety report accounting for more than 3,000 sexual assaults on rides in one year, the ridesharing app Uber rolled out a new security feature recently, garnering some praise from safety advocates as they stressed more could be done. read more »

Pope Francis orders investigation on Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio, head of Diocese of Brooklyn

NEWS12

Pope Francis has ordered an investigation into the sexual abuse allegations against Brooklyn Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio.

The Vatican appointed Cardinal Timothy Dolan from the archdiocese of New York to conduct the investigation.

The bishop is accused of molesting a child while he was a priest in New Jersey back in the 70s. read more »

French Trial Exposes How Church Covered for Predator Priest

NEW YORK TIMES

One of the first people to notice Bernard Preynat's unhealthy obsession for young boys was the supervisor at the seminary where, still a teen, the future priest started training for his career in the church.

"At 14, 15 years old, I became interested in the youngest boys and the supervisor summoned me to tell me that I was abnormal and sick," the self-confessed child abuser said at his trial in France this past week. “I explained this to the bishop."

And yet, after a two-year church-imposed course of psychotherapy, Preynat was still ordained into the priesthood. This chance, the first of many, to keep him away from children was spurned by the church hierarchy, which instead consistently — and successfully — long kept his abuses under wraps. read more »