Now that Pope Francis’ sexual abuse summit has ended — a convocation of more than 100 heads of episcopal conferences throughout the world — many Catholics rightly wonder what comes next in addressing the crisis of clergy sexual abuse. As for the
Other than the extreme damage done to victims of clergy abuse and their families, perhaps the biggest fallout from the devastating and seemingly interminable clergy abuse crisis has been a severing of trust between lay Catholics and Church leadership. This is not
Two months before leaders of episcopal conferences worldwide gathered at the Vatican for a ground-breaking summit on clergy sexual abuse, organizers of the event sent letters to the participating bishops encouraging them to meet with victims of sexual abuse ahead of the
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — The day Australian Cardinal George Pell was jailed in Melbourne after being found guilty of child sexual abuse, the Vatican announced his case would be investigated by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. “After the guilty
WASHINGTON (CNS) — Amid worry that bad news about the Catholic Church and the clergy abuse scandal could impact Catholic giving, one financial expert just published a paper with a different story. Walter Dillingham, a Catholic, who is managing director of endowments
MELBOURNE, Australia (CNS) — An Australian court found Cardinal George Pell guilty on five charges related to the sexual abuse of two 13-year-old boys; sentencing is expected in early March, but the cardinal’s lawyer already has announced plans to appeal the conviction.
The Vatican summit on clergy sex abuse repeatedly has been called a turning point. But taking that assessment as a statement of fact, it’s reasonable to ask: turning to what? In his talk after the gathering’s closing Mass, Pope Francis said the
This column is being written on the eve of a much-publicized summit meeting of bishops from around the world whom Pope Francis has summoned to Rome to discuss the sex abuse scandal but will appear after it. No matter how that gathering
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — While the four-day Vatican summit on the protection of minors has ended, the work to ensure that laws and concrete actions are in place is just beginning, said Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi. During a press briefing Feb. 24,
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — The time has come for an “all-out battle” against the abuse of minors, erasing this abominable crime from the face of the earth, Pope Francis said, closing a global four-day summit on child protection in the Catholic Church.