Clerical Abuse

The Latest

Church in Australia to implement nationwide protocol for responding to abuse allegations

Jan 28, 2021

Starting in February, the Catholic Church in Australia will have a national protocol for responding to allegations of sexual abuse,... Read more

St. Joseph Cathedral in downtown Buffalo.

Thousands of clergy abuse records handed over to victims in Buffalo

Jan 11, 2021

By CNA Staff

The Diocese of Buffalo released thousands of clergy abuse documents and related records to abuse victims and their lawyers this... Read more

Cardinal Rainer Maria Woelki of Cologne. Credit: www.ewtn.de.

Confidentiality dispute piles pressure on cardinal accused of mishandling abuse cases

Jan 8, 2021

German media have criticized the Archdiocese of Cologne for offering to provide a “background briefing” to journalists about an unpublished... Read more

Cardinal Rainer Maria Woelki of Cologne.

German cardinal asks Pope Francis to review his handling of abuse case

Dec 11, 2020

A German cardinal announced Friday that he would ask Pope Francis to review his handling of a clerical abuse case.  Read more

Fr. George Rutler. CNA file photo.

Father George Rutler accused of sexual assault, denies allegation

Dec 1, 2020

By Jonah McKeown

A well-known New York City priest is maintaining his innocence amid an investigation into an allegation that he sexually assaulted... Read more

Archbishop Stefan Heße of Hamburg.

German Catholic archbishop asks Vatican to review his handling of abuse allegations

Nov 23, 2020

A German archbishop asked the Vatican Friday to review his handling of abuse allegations.   Read more

Cardinal Vincent Nichols at Westminster Cathedral in London, England, Feb. 2, 2019.

Cardinal Nichols says he has ‘no wish to walk away’ as bishops launch safeguarding overhaul

Nov 20, 2020

Cardinal Vincent Nichols said Friday that he was committed to overseeing a major overhaul of safeguarding procedures in England and... Read more

Pope John Paul II at prayer in 1991.

Polish Catholic university defends St. John Paul II against ‘slander’ in wake of McCarrick Report

Nov 17, 2020

A Polish Catholic university rejected Saturday claims that St. John Paul II failed to combat clerical abuse.  Read more

Analysis: After McCarrick Report, embracing the cross

Nov 11, 2020

By JD Flynn

How will ordinary Catholics respond to the disappointment of the McCarrick Report?  Read more

Cardinal Nichols at Westminster Cathedral on April 18, 2019.

Abuse inquiry faults English cardinal and the Vatican

Nov 11, 2020

Catholic leaders promised to reform safeguarding procedures Tuesday following the publication of a highly critical independent report on child abuse... Read more

Archbishop Luigi Ventura, then-Apostolic Nuncio to Canada, speaks at a Mass and Concert held in Ottawa, April 2, 2009.

In Paris, former apostolic nuncio begins trial for alleged sexual assault

Nov 9, 2020

The former apostolic nuncio to France will go on trial Nov. 10 in Paris after allegations he committed sexual assault... Read more

Archbishop Sławoj Leszek Głódź.

‘Vos estis’ inquiry into Polish Catholic archbishop advances

Nov 5, 2020

The apostolic nunciature in Poland announced Wednesday that the diocesan phase of an investigation into an archbishop accused of negligence... Read more

The Cupola of St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City on June 18, 2015.

Vatican abuse trial: Victim petitions to sue pre-seminary and religious group

Oct 27, 2020

By Hannah Brockhaus

At a hearing Tuesday of an ongoing abuse and cover-up trial against two Italian priests, the Vatican court accepted a... Read more

The Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in Richmond, Va.

Richmond Catholic diocese to pay $6.3 million in abuse settlements

Oct 16, 2020

The Diocese of Richmond is set to pay a total of $6.3 million in settlements to more than 50 victims... Read more

Byzantine priest who made up hate crime ordered to life of penance after abuse allegation

Oct 15, 2020

A Byzantine priest in Indiana has been ordered to a life of prayer and penance two years after he was... Read more

The first hearing of an abuse trial takes place at the Vatican court Oct. 14, 2020.

Vatican court hears charges on first day of priest sex abuse trial

Oct 14, 2020

By Hannah Brockhaus

At the first hearing of an abuse trial Wednesday, the Vatican court heard the charges against two Italian priests, one... Read more

View of St. Peter`s Basilica from the roof of the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross on April 1, 2015.

Vatican trial for priests accused of abuse and cover-up in Vatican City youth seminary

Oct 13, 2020

By Hannah Brockhaus

The Vatican’s criminal court is expected to begin this week the trial of two Italian priests, one accused of sexual... Read more

Then-Cardinal Theodore McCarrick arrives at the Vatican on March 5, 2013. CNA file photo.

Analysis: Two years after McCarrick investigation began, report not yet in sight

Oct 1, 2020

By JD Flynn

On October 6, 2018, the Holy See announced a review of its files and archives pertaining to Theodore McCarrick, the... Read more

Pope Francis in St. Peter's Square on Oct. 25, 2017.

Pope Francis: ‘Never again to the culture of abuse’

Sep 10, 2020

By Courtney Mares

Pope Francis has written a prologue to a recently published book on sexual abuse in the Catholic Church entitled “Theology... Read more

Socially distanced bishops attend the Polish bishops’ plenary assembly at Jasna Góra, Aug. 27-29, 2020.

Polish bishops concerned by rise in acts of desecration

Aug 31, 2020

Poland’s bishops expressed concern Saturday about a rise in acts of desecration.  Read more