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Local France
3 days ago
- Politics
- Local France
Sex-abuse priest's promotion draws attacks on French Catholic Church
Victim support groups and traditionalists have expressed outrage over the case of Dominique Spina, who was found guilty of raping a 16-year-old boy in 2006 and sentenced to five years in prison. The archbishop of Toulouse, Guy de Kerimel, set off the controversy in June when he named Spina as diocesan chancellor, putting him in charge of archives. The canonical code lays down that the chancellor must be "of honest reputation and above all suspicion". Kerimel said he had acted out of "mercy" in making the appointment and that he had "nothing to reproach" the priest for in an "administrative function". In a statement released Thursday in the face of mounting protests, Kerimel acknowledged the "incomprehension" and "questions" among Catholics but said again that without "mercy" Spina risked a "social death". "This is in no way about downplaying a crime" and the victim must be "recognised and helped", he insisted. Because of the sensitivity of the topic, Catholic leaders have been reluctant to speak publicly, but one bishop told AFP, on condition of anonymity, that the appointment was "a great shame" for the Church. "A priest convicted of serious sexual acts cannot hold a position of responsibility again. We should be able to say that," the bishop added. In a joint statement, several groups of victims of sexual abuse in Catholic schools expressed their "deep indignation" and "anger" at the appointment. The Catholic media has also lambasted the appointment. Advertisement La Croix, a Catholic daily newspaper, said that "the principle of mercy cannot be used as a hasty justification". The traditionalist website Riposte Catholique called the appointment "unjustifiable" and said the Vatican should intervene. "Compassion does not consist of rehabilitating a condemned man to a canonical position," commented the christian website Tribune Chretienne, known for its conservative line. France's Catholic Church is already reeling from several sexual scandals in schools it runs and accusations of longtime sexual abuse made against Abbe Pierre, once an icon of the defence of the poor who died in 2007. The Church has set up two commissions on acknowledging and compensating for the widespread abuses uncovered by an independent inquiry released in 2021.
The Citizen
3 days ago
- The Citizen
Sex-abuse priest's promotion draws attacks on Catholic Church
A French archbishop's decision to promote a priest who was sentenced to jail for raping a teenage boy has drawn... A French archbishop's decision to promote a priest who was sentenced to jail for raping a teenage boy has drawn new condemnation of the Roman Catholic Church for its record on sex abuse. Victim support groups and traditionalists have expressed outrage over the case of Dominique Spina, who was found guilty of raping a 16-year-old boy in 2006 and sentenced to five years in prison. Catholic priest promoted out of 'mercy' The archbishop of Toulouse, Guy de Kerimel, set off the controversy in June when he named Spina as diocesan chancellor, putting him in charge of archives. The canonical code lays down that the chancellor must be 'of honest reputation and above all suspicion'. Kerimel said he had acted out of 'mercy' in making the appointment and that he had 'nothing to reproach' the priest for in an 'administrative function'. In a statement released on Thursday in the face of mounting protests, Kerimel acknowledged the 'incomprehension' and 'questions' among Catholics but said again that without 'mercy' Spina risked a 'social death'. 'This is in no way about downplaying a crime' and the victim must be 'recognised and helped', he insisted. ALSO READ: Kokstad to Vatican: Local Bishop gets big job from Pope Leo XIV Because of the sensitivity of the topic, Catholic leaders have been reluctant to speak publicly, but one bishop told AFP, on condition of anonymity, that the appointment was 'a great shame' for the church. 'A priest convicted of serious sexual acts cannot hold a position of responsibility again. We should be able to say that,' the bishop added. Anger over priest's appointment In a joint statement, several groups of victims of sexual abuse in Catholic schools expressed their 'deep indignation' and 'anger' at the appointment. The Catholic media has also lambasted the appointment. La Croix, a Catholic daily newspaper, said that 'the principle of mercy cannot be used as a hasty justification'. The traditionalist website Riposte Catholique called the appointment 'unjustifiable' and said the Vatican should intervene. 'Compassion does not consist of rehabilitating a condemned man to a canonical position,' commented the Christian website Tribune Chretienne, known for its conservative line. ALSO READ: Pope Leo warns AI could disrupt young minds' grip on reality France's Catholic Church is already reeling from several sexual scandals in schools it runs and accusations of long-term sexual abuse made against Abbe Pierre, once an icon of the defence of the poor, who died in 2007. The Church has set up two commissions on acknowledging and compensating for the widespread abuses uncovered by an independent inquiry released in 2021.
The Sun
3 days ago
- Politics
- The Sun
Sex-abuse priest's promotion draws attacks on Catholic Church
PARIS: A French archbishop's decision to promote a priest who was sentenced to jail for raping a teenaged boy has drawn new condemnation of the Roman Catholic Church for its record on sex abuse. Victim support groups and traditionalists have expressed outrage over the case of Dominique Spina, who was found guilty of raping a 16-year-old boy in 2006 and sentenced to five years in prison. The archbishop of Toulouse, Guy de Kerimel, set off the controversy in June when he named Spina as diocesan chancellor, putting him in charge of archives. The canonical code lays down that the chancellor must be 'of honest reputation and above all suspicion'. Kerimel said he had acted out of 'mercy' in making the appointment and that he had 'nothing to reproach' the priest for in an 'administrative function'. In a statement released Thursday in the face of mounting protests, Kerimel acknowledged the 'incomprehension' and 'questions' among Catholics but said again that without 'mercy' Spina risked a 'social death'. 'This is in no way about downplaying a crime' and the victim must be 'recognised and helped', he insisted. Because of the sensitivity of the topic, Catholic leaders have been reluctant to speak publicly, but one bishop told AFP, on condition of anonymity, that the appointment was 'a great shame' for the Church. 'A priest convicted of serious sexual acts cannot hold a position of responsibility again. We should be able to say that,' the bishop added. In a joint statement, several groups of victims of sexual abuse in Catholic schools expressed their 'deep indignation' and 'anger' at the appointment. The Catholic media has also lambasted the appointment. La Croix, a Catholic daily newspaper, said that 'the principle of mercy cannot be used as a hasty justification'. The traditionalist website Riposte Catholique called the appointment 'unjustifiable' and said the Vatican should intervene. 'Compassion does not consist of rehabilitating a condemned man to a canonical position,' commented the christian website Tribune Chretienne, known for its conservative line. France's Catholic Church is already reeling from several sexual scandals in schools it runs and accusations of longtime sexual abuse made against Abbe Pierre, once an icon of the defence of the poor who died in 2007. The Church has set up two commissions on acknowledging and compensating for the widespread abuses uncovered by an independent inquiry released in 2021. – AFP
7NEWS
26-05-2025
- Business
- 7NEWS
Australia's second-largest private hospital group Healthscope goes into receivership amid debt concerns
Healthscope, the private operator behind the troubled Northern Beaches Hospital, has gone into receivership after its lenders withdrew support for the current owner. The major private health group confirmed the news on Monday, saying its lenders have appointed McGrathNicol Restructuring to oversee the sale of the company's assets as they seek to recover their loans. Owned by Canadian asset management giant Brookfield, Healthscope is Australia's second-largest private hospital group, now burdened by $1.6 billion in debt. The receivership applies only to Healthscope's non-operating parent entities, with hospital operations continuing unaffected. Healthscope's management team, led by CEO Tino La Spina, remains in place to oversee daily operations. Spina assured the move will not affect hospital operations or patients, citing the current cash balance and additional funding. 'All 37 of our hospitals continue to operate as normal and today's appointment of receivers, including the additional funding, ensures a stable path to a sale, with no impacts on any hospitals, staff or patients,' he said. 'The additional funding, while we do not anticipate it being required, provides additional support.' Healthscope said it currently holds a cash balance of $110 million and has 'substantial additional asset backing across the group'. In addition, the Commonwealth Bank will provide $100 million to support the business, while Westpac has agreed to continue assisting the receivers in the sale process. 'There is no interruption to the outstanding care we provide. Our incredible teams are all working as normal, providing the high standard of care they always have,' Spina added. McGrathNicol partner Keith Crawford echoed those assurances. 'Our immediate focus is to engage constructively with all key stakeholders to ensure uninterrupted operation of Healthscope hospitals and continuity of best practice standards of patient care,' Crawford said. He said the plan was to transition all hospitals to new ownership, with no plans for closures or redundancies of the provider's 18,000 employees. KordaMentha has been appointed as administrator to the same non-operating entities, in a move the company describes as standard practice. The Australian Medical Association (AMA) says it is ready to work with receivers to ensure Healthscope hospitals continue operating smoothly. AMA President Dr Danielle McMullen said the federal government is expected to play a key role in supporting the transition and maintaining the hospital network. Healthscope owns Northern Beaches Hospital in Sydney, Hobart Private Hospital, Darwin Private Hospital, and Knox Private Hospital in Melbourne. It came under scrutiny following the death of two-year-old Joe Massa at the Northern Beaches Hospital in September 2024. The toddler died after being wrongly triaged and waiting two hours for a hospital bed. He was later transferred to Sydney Children's Hospital in Randwick following a cardiac arrest but succumbed to brain damage. Joe's parents, Elouise and Danny, have been vocal advocates, calling for Healthscope to step aside and urging the government to address the crisis. Elouise said the receivership provides the NSW Government with the opportunity to bring Northern Beaches Hospital back under public control. 'Healthscope's move into receivership marks the end of a disastrous attempt by Canadian private equity firm Brookfield to profit from the care of sick and injured Australians,' Elouise said in a statement. 'We have witnessed first-hand the tragedy that unfolded when Healthscope and Brookfield prioritised profit over patient care — resulting in the avoidable death of our beloved Joe after we took him to Northern Beaches Hospital, where he should have recovered, but did not.' 'This moment presents the NSW Government with a renewed opportunity to return Northern Beaches Hospital to public hands.'
Business Journals
25-04-2025
- Business
- Business Journals
Shuttered Riverview Restaurant in South Jersey sold, will be rebranded under new owners
By submitting your information you are agreeing to our Privacy Policy and User Agreement . Join the Philadelphia Business Journal to unlock even more insights! The new owners of the Burlington County restaurant are looking to elevate the local dining scene with their new concept, called Revell Hall. The shuttered Riverview Restaurant & Bar in South Jersey has been sold to a group of hospitality industry veterans planning a total overhaul. The restaurant and bar, located at 219 High St. in Burlington, was acquired by partners Andrew Palmieri, Robert Spina, Joey Sergentakis and Ryan Held in March, Spina told the Business Journal. He declined to disclose the cost of the acquisition, and the sale price is not yet recorded in property records. Spina will serve as the restaurant's managing director, while Sergentakis will be the head chef. Spina opened Italian restaurant Boschetto in Montclair, New Jersey, in August 2023 with his brother-in-law Held and Sergentakis. GET TO KNOW YOUR CITY Find Local Events Near You Connect with a community of local professionals. Explore All Events Palmieri, who has a background in finance, brought the trio onto the Burlington project when former owner Adrian Thomas began looking to sell Riverview Restaurant & Bar. The business closed late last year after operating solely as an event venue in 2024, according to Robert Gillis of Bielat Santore & Co., who marketed the property for sale. Thomas purchased the building for $600,000 in 2014, property records show, and opened Riverview in early 2017. expand The Burlington restaurant and bar spans 10,000 square feet across two floors. Robert Gillis The new owners plan to completely renovate and rebrand the restaurant as Revell Hall, named after Thomas Revell, a 17th-century Burlington resident who owned the Revell House, the oldest building in Burlington County. The reimagined restaurant will have new furniture, lighting and cuisine. Revell Hall will serve what the owners are calling "new American fare," according to Spina. The menu will feature international influences including French, Asian and Italian. The 10,000-square-foot, two-story restaurant has a dining room and bar on each level. It also features a sunroom, lounge, meeting room and outdoor courtyard, according to Gillis. Spina said Revell Hall will likely seat between 200 and 250 people when it is finished. He added that the restaurant's size, including its large outdoor patio facing the Delaware River, gives it the infrastructure needed to maintain a robust events business in addition to regular restaurant service. 'Not only do we have a lot of seats inside, we'll be able to really focus on large-scale events on the patio, full buyouts between outside and in,' Spina said. expand The property's new owners plan to utilize the patio for a la carte dining and events. Robert Gillis The partners plan to open Revell Hall in phases, starting with the first floor in June. Spina said they hope to have the second floor open and the events side of the business up and running by the end of the year. Revell Hall will initially be open Wednesday to Sunday for dinner. Spina said it will eventually add breakfast and lunch service and could ultimately be open six days each week. The restaurant is expected to have 30 to 40 full- and part-time employees. Spina said he believes Revell Hall will help elevate the Burlington dining scene. 'It will bring a real, complete restaurant brand. So everything you [see], feel, touch, smell and taste will be deliberate,' Spina said. Sign up here for the Philadelphia Business Journal's free newsletters, and download our free app for breaking news alerts.
