Catholic sex abuse scandal
Victims of clergy abuse to sue Vatican, seek abusers’ names
By Amy Forliti — May 14, 2019
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The lawsuit being filed Tuesday seeks the release of 3,400 names of priests who were referred to the Vatican for "credible cases of abuse."
The success of Pope Francis’ new sex abuse reporting rules depends on enforcement
By Thomas Reese — May 9, 2019
(RNS) — Only if the new norms are enforced well can the church’s credibility be rebuilt.
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.
Benedict’s unfortunate letter ignores the facts on the Catholic sex abuse crisis
By Thomas Reese — April 15, 2019
(RNS) — The pope emeritus' comments on sexual revolution are part of his campaign against theologians who, in his view, opened the floodgates to all sorts of sexual sins.
Retired Pope Benedict wades into clergy sex abuse debate
By Nicole Winfield — April 11, 2019
(AP) — His analysis was immediately criticized as 'catastrophically irresponsible' — a conflict with efforts by his successor, Pope Francis, to lead the church out of its crisis.
Washington gets Wilton Gregory, a great bishop
By Thomas Reese — April 4, 2019
(RNS) — Washington should rejoice to have such a good bishop; too bad we may not have him very long.
Atlanta Archbishop Wilton Gregory tapped to lead Washington, DC, Catholics
By Jack Jenkins — April 4, 2019
WASHINGTON (RNS) — 'It’s a reason to break a Lenten fast and pour a drink, because it’s great news for the Archdiocese of Washington, which has been mired a bit in all kinds of stuff,' the Rev. Ray Kemp said of the announcement.
Taking stock of the clergy sexual abuse crisis: Holding bishops accountable
By Thomas Reese — March 28, 2019
(RNS) — As the Catholic sexual abuse crisis has rolled on, the demand that the bishops be held accountable has become the focus of inquiries from the Vatican to attorney general offices across the U.S.
Survey: More than a third of US Catholics question loyalty in wake of scandals
By Jack Jenkins — March 13, 2019
(RNS) — More Catholics are questioning whether they should remain in the church today than did in 2002.
French court convicts cardinal of not reporting child abuse
By Nicolas Vaux-Montagny — March 7, 2019
LYON, France (AP) — French Cardinal Philippe Barbarin said Thursday he will offer his resignation to Pope Francis, after a court found Barbarin guilty of failing to report allegations of sexual abuse of minors by a priest.
Bishops told transparency needed to overcome clergy abuse crisis
By Thomas Reese — February 25, 2019
VATICAN CITY (RNS) — The real work of reconciliation will begin when the bishops go home and start to hold each other accountable about what they are doing to protect children.
Pope Francis calls for ‘all-out battle’ against child sex abuse
By Jack Jenkins — February 24, 2019
VATICAN CITY (RNS) — Pope Francis referred to clerics who abuse children as 'tools of Satan.'
At Vatican summit, talk of destroyed files riles bishops’ critics
By Jack Jenkins — February 23, 2019
VATICAN CITY (RNS) — 'The Vatican may destroy documents, may restrict our access for justice, but … we are the evidence of the abuse,' said an advocate for abuse survivors.
At sex abuse summit, Catholic bishops tangle with details
By Jack Jenkins — February 22, 2019
VATICAN CITY (RNS) — "We have to be respectful … of their concerns, but, at the same time, make sure that does not allow for a justification of secrecy,” Cardinal Blase Cupich said.
Vatican meeting on abuse opens with indictments from victims
By Thomas Reese — February 21, 2019
VATICAN CITY (RNS) — Pope Francis’ goals for this week’s meeting on sex abuse have become clear: Win back the trust of the Catholic people by focusing on the victims of abuse.