clergy sexual abuse
Alleged assault by former SBC president may be most damaging part of explosive report
By Yonat Shimron — May 23, 2022
(RNS) — Johnny Hunt, former president of the Southern Baptist Convention and longtime Georgia megachurch pastor, has denied the allegations he sexually assaulted another pastor's wife.
Lawsuit accuses ACNA church of negligence that resulted in child sexual abuse
By Kathryn Post — May 18, 2022
(RNS) — The case will be co-counseled by longtime sexual abuse attorney Boz Tchividjian.
Munich report on sex abuse heightens Catholic Church divide over sexuality
By Claire Giangravé — February 15, 2022
(RNS) — Benedict XVI’s supporters believe attacks on the emeritus pope’s handling of sexual abuse while archbishop of Munich are aimed at reinforcing progressive views on sexuality and priestly celibacy.
Spanish ombudsman set to probe church sex abuse
By Joseph Wilson — February 7, 2022
BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — The move comes after Spanish lawmakers took a first step toward opening a parliamentary inquiry into sexual abuse in the church.
Former pope was at meeting where pedophile priest discussed
By Associated Press — January 24, 2022
BERLIN (AP) — Retired Pope Benedict XVI has acknowledged that he did attend a 1980 meeting at which the transfer of a pedophile priest to his then-diocese was discussed, saying an editorial error was responsible for his previous assertion that he wasn’t there. Authors of a report on sexual abuse between 1945 and 2019 in […]
Indian court acquits bishop of charge of raping nun
By Krutika Pathi and Ashok Sharma — January 15, 2022
NEW DELHI (AP) — An Indian court on Friday acquitted a Roman Catholic bishop of charges of raping a nun in her rural convent, a case that became a major issue amid allegations of sexual harassment in the church.
Kin of dead sex abuse victim sue under new California law
By Brian Melley — January 12, 2022
LOS ANGELES (AP) — After decades of dealing with the boyhood trauma of being molested by a priest, Jim Bartko sued the Roman Catholic church two years ago. But the lawsuit was dismissed when he died four days after speaking publicly about it. A new law has now revived his case, allowing his estate to […]
New book shines light on abuse and racist discrimination of Catholic nuns
By Claire Giangravé — November 29, 2021
VATICAN CITY (RNS) — 'The Veil of Silence,' a new book by Vatican reporter Salvatore Cernuzio, details the racism, abuse and discrimination faced by nuns in female Catholic congregations.
As Reform Jews investigate themselves, a reckoning over sexual abuse grows
By Yonat Shimron — October 15, 2021
(RNS) — Multiple investigations, which will look at both historic and more recent instances of sex abuse, signal a desire for a new level of ethical accountability on sexual misconduct and gender discrimination.
The SBC’s Ronnie Floyd fails his Ezra moment on sexual abuse
By Russell L. Meek — September 30, 2021
(RNS) — Prayer and fasting has convinced the SBC's Ronnie Floyd to prevent Southern Baptists from repenting.
With abuse allegations, conservative Anglican diocese faces questions about structure
By Kathryn Post and Bob Smietana — August 19, 2021
(RNS) — ACNA’s Upper Midwest Diocese, where the abuse allegations have taken place, places few checks and balances on the bishop’s authority.
NY let childhood sex abuse victims sue; 9,000 went to court
By Michael Hill — August 13, 2021
ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — For two years, New York temporarily set aside its usual time limit on civil lawsuits in order to allow victims of childhood sexual abuse to sue churches, hospitals, schools, camps, scout groups and other institutions and people they hold responsible for enabling pedophiles or turning a blind eye to wrongdoing. That […]
Leaked Russell Moore letter blasts SBC conservatives, sheds light on his resignation
By Paul O'Donnell and Bob Smietana — June 2, 2021
(RNS) — In a letter written more than a year before his resignation, Moore explained his troubles with the SBC leadership in bitterly frank terms. Then-President Donald Trump barely makes an appearance.
Exclusive: Sex abuse allegations by Carl Lentz’s former nanny put spotlight on Hillsong culture
By Roxanne Stone — May 31, 2021
NEW YORK (RNS) — The allegations, which Lentz denies, are the most recent chapter in a scandal that has caused turmoil in the global church.
Southern Baptist pastor, former abuser resigns after church ousted from denomination
By Adelle M. Banks — March 15, 2021
(RNS) — His church is no longer 'in friendly cooperation' with the denomination that found it 'knowingly employs as pastor a man convicted of statutory rape.'
