clergy sexual abuse
Vatican diplomat Jozef Wesolowski convicted of sexual abuse, defrocked from the priesthood
By Josephine McKenna — June 27, 2014
VATICAN CITY (RNS) Archbishop Jozef Wesolowski was removed from his post in the Dominican Republic and recalled to the Vatican last August amid claims that he had abused boys in Santo Domingo.
Archbishop sparks controversy on fifth anniversary in St. Louis
By Lilly Fowler — June 11, 2014
ST. LOUIS (RNS) Any celebrating of the anniversary on the part of Archbishop Robert J. Carlson was done in the midst of nationwide headlines about his connection to the sexual abuse scandal that has rocked the Roman Catholic Church for more than a decade.
Clergy abuse victims are divided over Pope Francis’ offer to meet
By David Gibson — May 28, 2014
(RNS) Some victims of clergy sex abuse say Pope Francis' first-ever encounter with victims is simply stagecraft aimed at distracting the public from what they say are the pope’s larger failures to address the abuse crisis.
UN criticizes Vatican on sexual abuse but stops short of calling it torture
By Josephine McKenna — May 23, 2014
ROME (RNS) The panel’s criticism was far more muted than a scathing February report from the U.N. Committee on the Rights of the Child that asserted that the Vatican had fostered “impunity” for abusers.
Vatican defends record on sexual abuse to UN panel
By Josephine McKenna — May 6, 2014
VATICAN CITY (RNS) “Any serious look around the world at what the Holy See is doing and what local churches are doing shows clearly that there is no climate of impunity but a total commitment to clean house," Archbishop Silvano Tomasi said.
Victims demand action as Vatican abuse panel gets down to work
By Josephine McKenna — April 30, 2014
VATICAN CITY (RNS) The Vatican's new commission for the protection of minors, led by Boston Cardinal Sean O’Malley, is designed to show the pope’s personal commitment to confront the sex scandals that have shaken the church around the world.
Vatican faces second round of UN scrutiny on sexual abuse policies
By Josephine McKenna — April 15, 2014
VATICAN CITY (RNS) At issue is whether the church's handling of the sexual abuse scandal violates international norms against subjecting minors to torture, something that the Vatican's chief spokesman denied on Tuesday.
Vatican defends sex abuse record to U.N. panel
By Eric J. Lyman — January 16, 2014
VATICAN CITY (RNS) The Vatican's top spokesman said critics "presuppose that bishops or religious superiors act as representatives or delegates of the pope -- (though this is) utterly without foundation.”
Pope Francis launches commission to tackle sex abuse
By David Gibson — December 5, 2013
(RNS) After growing criticism that Pope Francis has not given sufficient attention to the clergy sex abuse scandal, Boston Cardinal Sean O’Malley said Thursday that the pope will create a special commission to advise him and church leaders on ways to address the crisis.
Is Pope Francis ignoring clergy sex abuse? Some are beginning to wonder
By David Gibson — December 4, 2013
(RNS) Pope Francis has captivated the public by embracing disfigured pilgrims at the Vatican, cold-calling the downtrodden and washing the feet of young people at a detention center, but he has yet to meet with abuse victims.
Fed-up victim nabs his priest abuser in sexting sting
By Mark Mueller — October 2, 2013
NEWARK, N.J. (RNS) A young Catholic priest thought he was swapping explicit text messages with a 16-year-old boy. Turns out it was a former friend who was fed up with years of sexual harassment.
Benedict XVI emerges to defend his record on sexual abuse
By Eric J. Lyman — September 24, 2013
ROME (RNS) Emeritus Pope Benedict XVI disputed the claim that abuse is pervasive in the Catholic Church, noting that "according to research by sociologists, the percentage of priests guilty of these crimes is no higher than those present in other similar professional fields."
Pope Francis names assisting bishop for troubled Newark, N.J., archdiocese
By Mark Mueller — September 24, 2013
NEWARK, N.J. (RNS) Embattled Archbishop John Myers rejected a claim that the appointment of a designated successor was a rebuke of his administration. "Absolutely not. It was my own request."
Embattled Archbishop John Myers lashes out at media, critics
By Mark Mueller — August 21, 2013
NEWARK, N.J. (RNS) Embattled Archbishop John J. Myers, under fire for his handling of abusive priests, lashed out at his critics, saying "God will surely address them in due time."
Yeshiva hit with $380 million abuse lawsuit
By David Gibson — July 10, 2013
(RNS) The 148-page lawsuit filed on Monday accused former president Rabbi Norman Lamm and other Yeshiva officials of a “massive cover-up of the sexual abuse of students” at a high school run by the university.
