clergy sex abuse scandal
“Dead end”: German cardinal offers to quit over church abuse
By Nicole Winfield and Kirsten Grieshaber — June 4, 2021
BERLIN (AP) — Cardinal Reinhard Marx, offered to resign as archbishop Friday over the Catholic Church's mishandling of clergy sexual abuse cases, declaring that the church had arrived at “a dead end."
Pope Francis issues long-awaited reform of Vatican penal law
By Claire Giangravé — June 1, 2021
VATICAN CITY (RNS) — The changes include stronger penalties for sexual abuse, financial malfeasance and crimes against the sacraments, including the ordination of women.
It’s time for our Catholic president to address the church’s sexual abuse scandal
By David Clohessy — May 13, 2021
(RNS) — Here are three steps President Biden can take to stop the suffering.
At online symposium, Pope Francis says religions can eradicate sexual abuse together
By Claire Giangravé — April 13, 2021
VATICAN CITY (RNS) — After decades of child sexual abuse scandals, the Catholic Church is ready to share its successes — and failures — with other religious and lay institutions.
Chicago parish fiercely backs priest after sex abuse claims
By Sophia Tareen — March 15, 2021
CHICAGO (AP) — "Father Pfleger is our family," said St. Sabina parishioner Pam Bosley. "We are not going to stop. We need him back."
Priest accused of abetting alleged sex abuse ring is hired by diocesan charity
By Claire Giangravé — January 12, 2021
(RNS) — The mother of an alleged abuse victim claims the priest broke the confidence of the confessional to warn church officials of a coming investigation.
Cardinal Pell’s prison diary explores suffering, solitary lockup
By Nicole Winfield — November 30, 2020
Rome (AP) — "Prison Journal," an account of Pell's months in solitary lockup, also provides personal insights into one of the most divisive figures in the Catholic hierarchy today.
Top Vatican investigator on sex abuse says church must empower victims
By Claire Giangravé — July 2, 2020
VATICAN CITY (RNS) — ‘We talk about communicating with victims, but we really need to listen to them,’ said Archbishop Charles J. Scicluna in a Tuesday webinar.
In video, Cardinal Pell details his time in prison before being cleared in abuse case
By Claire Giangravé — July 1, 2020
VATICAN CITY (RNS) — The newly released video is the cardinal’s first public appearance since he was acquitted. In it he said that though prison was ‘an adventure I would not have chosen,’ he had ‘survived it.’
Inquiry: Pell knew of abuse by Australian pedophile priest
By Rod McGuirk — May 7, 2020
(AP) — The inquiry rejected Pell’s claim that he was deceived by church officials about Australia’s worst pedophile priest, Gerald Ridsdale.
Australian cardinal links corruption to child abuse charges
By Rod McGuirk — April 15, 2020
CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — Cardinal George Pell told an interviewer that some church officials believed his prosecution was an attempt to stop his financial reforms at the Vatican.
NFL team’s deep Catholic ties behind role in abuse crisis
By Jim Mustian, Brett Martel, and Reese Dunklin — February 12, 2020
(AP) — The controversy that has led fans to question what exactly the New Orleans Saints did for the church and whether it was appropriate.
What lifting pontifical secrecy for clergy abuse cases will change for victims
By Claire Giangravé — December 19, 2019
VATICAN CITY (RNS) — 'This is a tremendous step forward in transparency' and for the rights of victims and the accused, said a veteran canon lawyer.
Surge of new abuse claims threatens church like never before
By Bernard Condon and Jim Mustian — December 3, 2019
(AP) — The day the Catholic Church has long feared has come, with 15 states extending or suspending their statute of limitations to allow abuse claims stretching back decades.
A New York diocese filed for bankruptcy. Will others follow?
By Carolyn Thompson — September 23, 2019
BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — All eight of the state's Roman Catholic dioceses face financial pressures as a result of the state's new Child Victims Act.
