Abuse of minors

The Latest

Michigan State Capitol Building in Lansing, MI.

Michigan announces investigation into seven Catholic dioceses

Sep 21, 2018

Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette has opened an investigation into child sexual abuse in the Catholic Church in the state.  Read more

Brooklyn Cathedral.

Brooklyn diocese reaches $27.5m settlement over abuse by lay volunteer

Sep 19, 2018

The Diocese of Brooklyn and an after-school program reached a $27.5 million settlement Tuesday with four men who were sexually... Read more

Pope Francis.

Irish bishops and abuse survivors respond to pope’s letter

Aug 21, 2018

By Christine Rousselle

Several Irish bishops, as well as victims of clerical sexual abuse in the country, have offered responses to a letter... Read more

The Supreme Court Chamber in the Pennsylvania State Capitol building.

Former Pennsylvania chief justice backs delay of grand jury report

Aug 8, 2018

By Ed Condon

The former chief justice of Pennsylvania’s Supreme Court has warned that the release of a grand jury report into allegations... Read more

Pope Francis addresses the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith

CDF laicizes Ecuadorian priest for abuse of minors

Jul 23, 2018

By Hannah Brockhaus

An Ecuadorian priest accused of the sexual abuse and possible torture of minors was dismissed from the clerical state by... Read more

Did Planned Parenthood cover up child abuse and sex trafficking?

May 30, 2018

By Christine Rousselle

In 2011, after undercover footage appeared to show Planned Parenthood officials failing to report suspected sex abuse of minors, the... Read more

Bishop Alejandro Goić Karmelić.

Chilean bishop suspends 12 priests, apologizes for not acting sooner

May 21, 2018

By Elise Harris

Over the weekend, Chilean Bishop Alejandro Goić Karmelić suspended several priests after allegations of sexual misconduct were raised against them.... Read more

Two Franciscan friars plead guilty to endangering children in Pennsylvania

May 7, 2018

Two Franciscan friars who served as superiors of their community in Pennsylvania have pled guilty to charges of endangering children,... Read more

Pope Francis and a cross during the Stations of the Cross at the Coliseum in Rome, Italy on April 3, 2015.

Pope Francis: 'painful' failures help Church lead in protecting minors

Oct 6, 2017

By Elise Harris

On Friday Pope Francis told a group of religious and secular experts from around the world that protecting minors against... Read more

Pope Francis in St. Peter's Square June 17, 2015.

Pope reiterates Church’s ‘zero tolerance’ on abuse of minors

Sep 21, 2017

By Hannah Brockhaus

Thursday in a written speech Pope Francis reiterated the Catholic Church’s commitment to the protection of minors from sexual abuse,... Read more

Australian bishops oppose forcing priests to reveal details of confession

Aug 14, 2017

By Elise Harris

The bishops of Australia have indicated that they will resist the Royal Commission's proposal that priests be legally obligated to... Read more

St. Peter's Basilica.

Protection of minors event draws swath of top Vatican leaders

Mar 24, 2017

By Elise Harris

In a significant show of unity, officials from every Vatican department – including at least half a dozen cardinals who... Read more

View of St. Peter's Basilica.

Abuse survivor resigns from commission for protection of minors

Mar 1, 2017

By Elise Harris

On Wednesday the decision of clerical abuse survivor Marie Collins to resign from her post on the Pontifical Commission for... Read more

The new website for the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors.

Vatican's anti-abuse commission launches new website

Dec 6, 2016

By Hannah Brockhaus

The Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors launched a new website Tuesday, which is designed to help inform the... Read more

Pope greets graduates of Rome course on protecting minors from abuse

Jun 14, 2016

By Ann Schneible

The first graduates of an international diploma course on safeguarding minors received a special greeting from Pope Francis, who encouraged... Read more

Pope Francis at the Jubilee Audience in St. Peter's Square honoring members of the police, firemen, and armed forces on April 30, 2016.

Negligence in abuse cases enough to oust a bishop, Pope says

Jun 4, 2016

On Saturday, Pope Francis issued an edict on the protection of minors and vulnerable adults, in which he said that... Read more

Salvatorians apologize for failing to protect Irish children from abusive priest

May 4, 2016

The Salvatorians have offered their “deepest apology” for failing to stop a priest who sexually abused children in Ireland until... Read more

Former TOR Franciscan leaders charged for oversight of abusive friar

Mar 16, 2016

Three former heads of a TOR Franciscan province in Pennsylvania face criminal charges for their alleged role in enabling a... Read more

A view of St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City, Jan. 25, 2015.

Vatican: the Church has been anything but indifferent to clerical abuse

Mar 4, 2016

By Elise Harris

Vatican spokesman Fr. Federico Lombardi cautioned Friday that the recent Oscar-win for “Spotlight” and the lengthy deposition of a top... Read more

St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City on June 19, 2014.

What the Church has done about sex abuse

Mar 4, 2016

By Andrea Gagliarducci

The movie Spotlight’s Best Picture win at the Academy Awards has brought renewed attention to the Catholic sex abuse scandals... Read more