clergy sex abuse
French church abuse victims get reparations, and recognition
By Sylvie Corbet — March 10, 2023
PARIS (AP) — France’s Catholic bishops’ conference agreed to provide reparations after a 2021 report estimated some 330,000 children were sexually abused over 70 years by priests or other church-related figures in France.
Polish TV report: John Paul II knew of abuse as archbishop
By Monika Scislowska — March 7, 2023
WARSAW, Poland (AP) — Pope St. John Paul II knew about sexual abuse of children by priests under his authority and sought to conceal it when he was an archbishop in his native Poland, according to a television news report.
Not all who harm the church are wolves. Some are renegade sheep.
By Karen Swallow Prior — February 2, 2023
(RNS) — The distinction makes a difference.
Man sues Denver archdiocese over abuse by convicted priest
By Colleen Slevin — January 20, 2023
DENVER (AP) — The lawsuit targets Timothy Evans, a priest convicted in 2007 of sexually abusing other teens in two Colorado counties around the same time frame.
Pope Benedict XVI, elected a philosopher king, was at heart a German professor
By Thomas Reese — December 31, 2022
(RNS) — In 2005, the cardinals thought they were electing the smartest man in the room. They should instead have sought the man who would listen to all the other smart people in the church.
Jesuit case underscores secrecy, leniency for abuse of women
By Nicole Winfield — December 15, 2022
ROME (AP) — While the Jesuits barred Rupnik from hearing confessions or giving spiritual direction, the restrictions on his ministry did not prevent him from celebrating Mass or preaching.
French Catholic leaders mired in sexual abuse scandals dig themselves deeper
By Tom Heneghan — November 15, 2022
(RNS) — French Catholic leaders initially played down clerical abuse, but the issue has now gone far beyond the ‘few bad apples’ stage.
Stricter clergy oversight part of Buffalo diocese settlement
By Carolyn Thompson — October 26, 2022
BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — The settlement requires the diocese to have a formal program to monitor credibly accused priests and submit to an annual compliance audit by a former FBI official
Portuguese bishop says conscience clear about abuse claims
By Barry Hatton — October 12, 2022
LISBON, Portugal (AP) — The head of the Portuguese Bishops Conference, Bishop José Ornelas, denied any wrongdoing or improper conduct in the cases dating from 2011 and 2014.
Pope Francis apologizes to Inuit in Canada, tells its youth not to be discouraged
By Claire Giangravé — July 29, 2022
IQALUIT, Canada (RNS) — On his last stop in Canada, Pope Francis spoke to members of the Inuit community, some of them former students at residential schools.
Pope Francis is not going to resign, yet
By Thomas Reese — July 19, 2022
(RNS) — Pope Francis has indicated the need for explicit guidelines for retired popes.
Pope tells religious orders to report abuse, protect others
By Associated Press — July 19, 2022
ROME (AP) — Religious orders have had some of the worst records, in part because their diffuse structure outside the diocesan hierarchy has enabled abusers to easily move to different countries rather than face justice at home.
Woman buoyed by support after viral pastor confrontation
By Peter Smith — June 4, 2022
(AP) — Bobi Gephart wanted the church community to know the truth and had no idea the video, recorded by a family member in the congregation, would generate such a viral response.
Mexican megachurch leader pleads guilty in LA to sex abuse
By Brian Melley — June 4, 2022
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Naasón Joaquín García, the leader of Mexican megachurch La Luz del Mundo, faces up to 16 years and eight months in prison when sentenced Wednesday.
When a celebrity becomes a bishop: Will Barron set aside Word on Fire for his new diocese?
By Steven P. Millies — June 3, 2022
(RNS) — Bishop Robert Barron could pose a historic first contradiction between two mandates for bishops.
