Episcopal sex abuse

The Latest

Father James Martin, S.J., speaks at the World Meeting of Families in Dublin on August 23, 2018.

Father Martin apologizes for ‘not being clearer’ about Archbishop Weakland’s ‘sins and crimes’

Aug 23, 2022

By CNA Staff

Father James Martin, SJ, said he was sorry Tuesday for not having been clearer about the “sins and crimes” of... Read more

Cardinal Marc Ouellet takes part in the Pontifical Council for Culture's Plenary Assembly on Women's Cultures in Rome, Feb. 6, 2015.

Cardinal Ouellet: Allegations against me are defamatory

Aug 19, 2022

By Carl Bunderson

Cardinal Marc Ouellet, Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops, on Friday denied having made inappropriate gestures on a woman who... Read more

Cardinal Marc Ouellet takes part in the Pontifical Council for Culture's Plenary Assembly on Women's Cultures in Rome, Feb. 6, 2015.

Cardinal Ouellet named in Canadian sex abuse lawsuit

Aug 16, 2022

By Carl Bunderson

Cardinal Marc Ouellet, Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops, was accused of sexual assault in a civil suit filed against... Read more

Bishop Gustavo Zanchetta, Bishop Emeritus of Orán

Argentine bishops renew commitment to eradicating sex abuse after Bishop Zanchetta's sentencing

Mar 4, 2022

By Walter Sánchez Silva

The Argentine Bishops’ Conference expressed Friday its closeness to the victims of Bishop Gustavo Oscar Zanchetta, sentenced to prison for... Read more

Bishop Gustavo Zanchetta.

Argentine Bishop Zanchetta convicted of sexually abusing seminarians

Mar 4, 2022

By Christine Rousselle

Argentine Bishop Gustavo Zanchetta has been found guilty of abusing seminarians in Oran, Salta, northern Argentina, and sentenced to 4... Read more

Bishop Gustavo Zanchetta, Bishop Emeritus of Orán.

Bishop Zanchetta pleads not guilty at civil trial for sex abuse in Argentina

Feb 22, 2022

By Diego López Marina

Bishop Gustavo Oscar Zanchetta, the Bishop Emeritus of Orán, denied Monday all charges of alleged sexual abuse of two former... Read more

Theodore McCarrick outside Dedham District Court, Friday, Sept. 4, 2021.

Judge: Newark archdiocese can be held liable for McCarrick's misconduct

Oct 1, 2021

By Jonah McKeown

A New Jersey federal judge ruled this week that the Archdiocese of Newark can be held financially responsible for the... Read more

Theodore McCarrick.

Lawsuits bring additional sexual battery allegations against Theodore McCarrick

Sep 2, 2021

By Jonah McKeown

Theodore McCarrick, a disgraced former cardinal, is facing criminal charges of sexual abuse of a minor, with his first court... Read more

Bishop Tomé Ferreira da Silva, who resigned as Bishop of São José do Rio Preto Aug. 18, 2021. Credit: Diocese de São José do Rio Preto via Facebook.

Brazilian bishop resigns after leak of explicit video

Aug 18, 2021

By Christine Rousselle

Pope Francis accepted the resignation of the Bishop of São José do Rio Preto on Wednesday, five days after a... Read more

Bishop Peter Libasci of Manchester. Credit: Jeff Dachowski.

Lawsuit brings sex abuse allegations against New Hampshire bishop

Jul 23, 2021

By Jonah McKeown

Bishop Peter Libasci has been accused in a lawsuit of committing sexual abuse while a priest in New York during... Read more

St. Michael's Cathedral in Springfield, Mass.

Alleged Massachusetts abuse victim requests outside judge in suit, citing diocese's influence

Apr 27, 2021

Lawyers for an alleged abuse victim in the Diocese of Springfield in Massachusetts have asked the state’s chief justice to... Read more

Vatican exonerates retired bishop of multiple abuse claims but issues canonical rebuke

Jan 26, 2021

By Christine Rousselle

The Vatican’s doctrinal congregation has exonerated retired Bishop Joseph Hart of Cheyenne over numerous accusations of the sexual abuse of... Read more

Bishop Franco Mulakkal of Jullundur.

In India, Catholic bishop accused of rape asks Supreme Court to intervene

Jul 27, 2020

After several failures to secure dismissal of charges in lower courts, a Catholic bishop whom a nun has accused of... Read more

Bishop Franco Mulakkal of Jullundur.

Catholic bishop in India charged with rape tests positive for coronavirus

Jul 15, 2020

Bishop Franco Mulakkal of Jullundur, who has been charged with the rape of a nun, has tested positive for coronavirus.... Read more

Dulce Nombre de Maria Cathedral Basilica in Hagatna, Guam. (public domain)

Catholic archdiocese in Guam stopping monthly payments to former archbishop

Jun 30, 2020

The Archdiocese of Agaña announced Tuesday it will no longer give a monthly honorarium to its emeritus Archbishop Anthony Apuron.  Read more

No sex abuse charges for former Wyoming bishop, but successor praises 'courageous' victims

Jun 12, 2020

While Wyoming prosecutors have declined to press criminal sexual abuse charges against Bishop emeritus Joseph Hart, Bishop Steven Biegler of... Read more

The USCCB autumn general assembly in Baltimore, Md., Nov. 11, 2019.

US reporting mechanism for episcopal abuse cases launched

Mar 16, 2020

A national third-party reporting system for allegations of abuse, neglect, or misconduct against bishops in the US has launched.  Read more

Bishop Franco Mulakkal of Jullundur.

Indian bishop charged with rape faces allegation from second nun

Feb 25, 2020

It has emerged that a second nun of the Missionaries of Jesus has accused Bishop Franco Mulakkal of Jullundur of... Read more

The USCCB autumn general assembly in Baltimore, Md., Nov. 11, 2019.

US reporting mechanism for episcopal abuse cases could go live by February

Nov 13, 2019

By Matt Hadro

A national third-party reporting system for allegations of abuse, neglect, or misconduct against bishops could be activated by February 2020,... Read more

Pope Francis meets with Bishop Gustavo Zanchetta.

Police raid former offices of Argentine bishop charged with fraud, sex assault

Nov 8, 2019

Local civil authorities on Thursday raided the chancery of the Diocese of Orán, where Gustavo Oscar Zanchetta was bishop from... Read more