Catholic abuse crisis
‘Trinity’s Triumph’ film, written by New Jersey priest, humanizes Catholic clergy
By Kathryn Post — February 27, 2024
(RNS) — While reductive narratives depict priests as perfect heroes or evil villains, said writer and producer Stephen Fichter, truth is more complicated.
Bolivian Catholic priest accused of abusing seminary students
By Associated Press — May 22, 2023
LA PAZ, Bolivia (AP) — Milton Murillo, a Catholic parish priest in the southern region of Tarija, was sent to pre-trial detention for three months.
German bishop resigns, cites responsibility in abuse scandal
By Kirsten Grieshaber — March 27, 2023
BERLIN (AP) — Franz-Josef Bode had been the bishop of Osnabrueck, Germany, since 1995.
Vatican child protection expert says prelates should apologize for abuse cover up
By Claire Giangravé — January 24, 2022
(RNS) — After a recent report accused Benedict XVI of abuse coverup, Vatican child protection expert calls for those involved to apologize.
Pope Francis reins in Catholic movements after flood of abuse cases
By Claire Giangravé — September 23, 2021
VATICAN CITY (RNS) — Francis said the Vatican is conducting a study, given the growing number of abuse cases in Catholic lay and religious movements.
Pope sends envoys to German diocese in church abuse crisis
By Geir Moulson — May 28, 2021
(AP) — Two papal envoys will investigate “possible errors” on the part of Cologne's archbishop, Cardinal Rainer Maria Woelki and three German bishops in dealing with cases of sexual abuse by clergy and others.
In Mississippi Delta, Catholic abuse cases for black victims settled on cheap
By Michael Rezendes — August 27, 2019
In Mississippi, black Catholic victims of abuse were offered settlements far smaller than those give to white victims.
Pope places sanctions on bishop investigated over sexual harassment, lavish spending
By Jack Jenkins — July 22, 2019
(RNS) — The sanctions obligate the former West Virginia bishop to "make amends" and bar him from celebrating Mass or living in his former diocese.
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.
Catholic leaders in Texas name 286 accused of abusing minors
By David Warren — February 1, 2019
(AP) — The number represents one of the largest collections of names to be released since an explosive grand jury report last year in Pennsylvania.
Ex-deputy to Argentine bishop says Vatican knew of misdeeds
By Almudena Calatrava — January 21, 2019
ORAN, Argentina (AP) — The scandal is the latest to implicate Pope Francis as he and the Catholic hierarchy as a whole face an unprecedented crisis of confidence over their mishandling of cases of clergy sexual abuse of minors and misconduct with adults.
Vatican instructs U.S. bishops to halt voting on sex abuse measures
By Jack Jenkins — November 12, 2018
BALTIMORE (RNS) — Cardinal Blase Cupich of Chicago, citing the urgency of the abuse crisis for the American church, urged that the bishops still discuss the "action items" on the issue.
Federal government launches investigation into Pennsylvania dioceses
By Jack Jenkins — October 18, 2018
(RNS) — The Archdiocese of Philadelphia confirmed to Religion News Service that it is aware of the inquiry and is cooperating with investigators — including handing over documents.
Pope defrocks 2 more Chilean priests accused of sex abuse
By The Associated Press — October 13, 2018
(AP) — Pope Francis on Saturday defrocked two more Chilean prelates accused of sexually abusing minors, and to show greater transparency about how he’s responding to the church’s global sex abuse crisis, the pontiff publicly explained why they were removed.
Pope summons bishops for February abuse prevention summit
By Nicole Winfield — September 12, 2018
VATICAN CITY (AP) — The February meeting at the Vatican is believed to be the first of its kind, and signals a realization at the highest levels of the church that clergy sex abuse is a global problem.
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