Pope creates new expert commission to study women deacons
By Nicole Winfield — April 8, 2020
ROME (AP) — The 10-member commission, the second of Francis’ pontificate to study the fraught issue, includes equal numbers of men and women representing the United States and six European countries.
Vatican seeks to explain absence of aide after book scandal
By Nicole Winfield — February 5, 2020
VATICAN CITY (AP) — The Vatican press office denied that Archbishop Georg Gaenswein, who works for both the reigning and the retired pope, had been officially suspended as head of Francis' papal household over his role in the scandal.
Texas grand jury declines to indict monsignor in consent case
By Nomaan Merchant and Nicole Winfield — October 22, 2019
HOUSTON (AP) — A Texas grand jury has declined to indict the onetime deputy to Cardinal Daniel DiNardo on charges he sexually assaulted a married woman in a case that raised questions about consent in the #MeToo era.
Vatican defends married priest proposal on Amazon agenda
By Nicole Winfield — October 3, 2019
VATICAN CITY (AP) — Organizers of the Synod on the Pan-Amazon Region defended plans to introduce debate on married priests, saying the proposal represents the “the voice of the local church,” not a decision by the pope.
Ex-cardinal’s letters to victims show signs of grooming
By Nicole Winfield — August 6, 2019
VATICAN CITY (AP) — Full of flattery, familiarity and boasts about his own power, the letters provide visceral evidence of how a globe-trotting bishop made young, vulnerable men feel special — and then allegedly took advantage of them.
Woman accuses Cardinal Daniel DiNardo of dismissing sex abuse case
By Nicole Winfield — June 4, 2019
HOUSTON (AP) — Cardinal Daniel DiNardo, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, has been accused of covering up abuse by one of his chief aides. A Texas women says Monsignor Frank Rossi manipulated her into a sexual relationship, while serving as her spiritual counselor and confessor and while asking her for donations. She says DiNardo allowed Rossi to continue as a priest with no penalties. The archdiocese says Rossi was suspended.
Vatican law: Priests, nuns must report sex abuse, cover-up
By Nicole Winfield — May 9, 2019
VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Francis issued a groundbreaking law Thursday requiring all Catholic priests and nuns around the world to report clergy sexual abuse and cover-up by their superiors to church authorities.
Pope: Women have ‘legitimate claims’ for justice, equality
By Nicole Winfield — April 2, 2019
VATICAN CITY (AP) — 'A living church can look back on history and acknowledge a fair share of male authoritarianism, domination, various forms of enslavement, abuse and sexist violence,' Francis said.
