Clerical Abuse

The Latest

Cardinal Santos Abril y Castello, archpriest of the Basilica of St. Mary Major, who is to lead the July 21 - 26 apostolic visitation to the Ciudad del Este diocese.

Papal delegation to investigate Paraguayan diocese

Jul 9, 2014

Pope Francis is sending an apostolic visitation to the Diocese of Ciudad del Este, a Paraguayan diocese the vicar general... Read more

Bishop Robert Finn.

Kansas City diocese questions legality, accuracy of abuse penalty

Jul 3, 2014

Attorneys for the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph have questioned the legality of a $1 million abuse penalty against the... Read more

Pope Francis preaches during a Penitential service at St. Peter's Basilica, March 28, 2014.

Sex abuse will not be tolerated, Pope Francis says

May 27, 2014

Pope Francis strongly denounced clerical sex abuse of children, saying that such abuse will not be tolerated and announcing a... Read more

St. Peter holds the keys in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican.

New appointment to CDF shows Vatican's concern for clergy abuse

May 19, 2014

Pope Francis’ appointment Monday of Archbishop Jose Mollaghan of Rosario as a member of the Vatican’s doctrine office confirms the... Read more

Pope Francis gives the Wednesday general audience in St. Peter's Square on October 2, 2013.

Pope apologizes for priests' sex abuse, promises strong response

Apr 11, 2014

Pope Francis called April 11 for an “even stronger” Catholic Church response to combat sexual abuse, saying he felt compelled... Read more

Cardinal Archbishop Timothy Dolan of New York.

Cardinal Dolan anticipates attacks over handling of sex abuse

Feb 25, 2014

In an attempt to both anticipate and deflect “potentially negative publicity,” Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan of New York has written... Read more

Cardinal reaffirms child protection pledge as documents release

Jan 22, 2014

Responding to the release of documents about Chicago priests accused of abusing minors over the past 50 years, Cardinal Francis... Read more

 Cardinal Francis George, O.M.I., Archbishop of Chicago.

Cardinal stresses accountability amid past clergy reports

Jan 13, 2014

Cardinal Francis George of Chicago has sent a letter to the faithful of his archdiocese ahead of the release of... Read more

Archbishop Charles J. Chaput. (File photo/CNA).

Archbishop Chaput calls contribution to priest's bail 'just'

Jan 3, 2014

Archbishop Charles Chaput of Philadelphia has explained his decision to provide ten percent of the bail of Msgr. William Lynn,... Read more

Archbishop Charles J. Chaput.

Archbishop Chaput says five Philly priests unfit for ministry

Dec 18, 2013

Continuing the Philadelphia archdiocese's response to a grand jury report on sex abuse or misconduct by clergy, Archbishop Charles J.... Read more

Priest's arrest shows Philadelphia reforms, attorney says

Sep 27, 2013

The Philadelphia archdiocese drew praise for its swift reporting of an inactive priest to authorities after a young man said... Read more

Archbishop Józef Wesolowski, papal nuncio to the Dominican Republic.

Vatican willing to hand over accused nuncio to civil authorities

Sep 12, 2013

A Vatican spokesman has said that the Holy See is willing to hand over a former nuncio accused of sexual... Read more

Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in Los Angeles, California.

LA Catholics pray for victims as more sex abuse files released

Aug 2, 2013

As the first set of religious orders' files on accused sex abusers in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles is released,... Read more

Archbishop Jerome Listecki.

Milwaukee archbishop releases abuse documentation

Jul 3, 2013

Archbishop Jerome E. Listecki has released almost 6,000 pages of documents related to the Archdiocese of Milwaukee’s handling of sex... Read more

St. Peter's Basilica.

Vatican lawyer not surprised by court's refusal to hear abuse case

Jun 17, 2013

A dismissed request that the International Criminal Court investigate U.S. clergy sex abuse as a crime against humanity misunderstands the... Read more

Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in Los Angeles, California.

Religious orders to release records of abusive LA priests

May 30, 2013

Catholic religious orders will soon release confidential files about priests accused of sex abuse who were assigned to work in... Read more

Archbishop John J. Myers of Newark (File Photo/CNA).

Archbishop Myers stresses child safety efforts in Newark

May 29, 2013

Archbishop John J. Myers of Newark has reaffirmed the archdiocese’s commitment to protecting children following the resignation of a priest... Read more

Former Newark priest arrested after breaking court agreement

May 21, 2013

After violating the terms of an understanding with local prosecutors, a priest who recently resigned from ministry with the Newark... Read more

Abuse report finds few allegations against clergy in 2012

May 11, 2013

The latest report on child protection in the U.S. Catholic Church found a total of 11 credible allegations of abuse... Read more

Newark archdiocese says media 'mischaracterizing' accused priest

Apr 30, 2013

By Carl Bunderson

The Archdiocese of Newark asserts that a local publication is inaccurately portraying the continued ministry of a priest who was... Read more