Clerical sex abuse

The Latest

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Court rules Church in Costa Rica must pay $100,000 compensation to sex-abuse victim

Aug 25, 2022

By CNA Staff

A lower court ruled Aug. 23 that the Church must pay the compensation to a victim of sexual abuse committed... Read more

St. Louis Cathedral in New Orleans.

FBI probe could help prosecute Louisiana priests accused of inter-state sex abuse

Jul 1, 2022

By Kevin J. Jones

Federal authorities are investigating alleged sex abuse of minors by New Orleans-area Catholic clergy, sometimes going back decades, on the... Read more

Cardinal Angelo Sodano speaks at the funeral Mass for the former archbishop of Boston, Cardinal Bernard Law, who died in 2017.

Cardinal Angelo Sodano, former Vatican secretary of state, dies at 94

May 28, 2022

By Hannah Brockhaus

The cardinal had been accused in recent years of covering up clerical sexual abuse. Read more

The Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus in Knoxville, Tenn.

Lawsuit claims Knoxville diocese mishandled priest's sex assault of parishioner

Apr 28, 2022

By Kevin J. Jones

The Diocese of Knoxville allegedly mishandled a report that a priest sexually assaulted a parishioner who sought grief counseling in... Read more

Cardinal Juan José Omella Omella of Barcelona and Javier Cremades at a press conference in Madrid, Feb. 22, 2022.

Church in Spain again asks forgiveness for sexual abuse

Apr 25, 2022

By Blanca Ruiz

During his address opening the Spanish Bishops’ Conference’s Plenary Assembly on Monday, Cardinal Juan José Omella Omella of Barcelona expressed... Read more

Toledo Cathedral in Toledo, Spain.

Spain's bishops welcome government commission to investigate sex abuse

Mar 11, 2022

By Kevin J. Jones

The Spanish parliament has overwhelmingly approved the creation of an independent commission to investigate alleged sexual abuse in the Catholic... Read more

Cardinal Juan José Omella and lawyer Javier Cremades at a press conference in Madrid, Spain, Feb. 22, 2022.

Spanish cardinal: Clerical abuse audit is a ‘step forward’ in transparency

Feb 22, 2022

By Courtney Mares

The investigation is expected to take a year to complete. Read more

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Spanish university publishes independent report on sex abuse victims in Navarra

Feb 14, 2022

By Blanca Ruiz

The Public University of Navarra has published an independent report in which it identified 52 victims of sexual abuse committed... Read more

The Palacio de las Cortes in Madrid, where Spain's Congress of Deputies meets.

Spanish legislature may create commission to investigate sex abuse in Church

Feb 4, 2022

By Blanca Ruiz

Spain’s lower house, the Congress of Deputies, agreed Feb. 1 to debate the creation of a commission to investigate sexual... Read more

Archbishop Eamon Martin. Credit: Northern Ireland Office (CC BY 2.0).

Apologizing 'unreservedly' to sex abuse victims, N Ireland diocese launches compensation fund

Oct 1, 2021

By Kevin J. Jones

In hopes of supporting dozens of victims of sex abuse by Catholic clergy and other representatives, the Diocese of Dromore... Read more

Former cardinal Theodore McCarrick arrives at Massachusetts' Dedham District Courthouse for his arraignment, Sept. 3, 2021.

Theodore McCarrick faces new sex abuse lawsuit in New Jersey

Sep 16, 2021

By Christine Rousselle, Matt Hadro

Three sex abuse lawsuits, including one naming disgraced former archbishop Theodore McCarrick as the alleged abuser, were filed on Thursday,... Read more

Cardinal Wilton Gregory receives the red hat from Pope Francis in St. Peter's Basilica on Nov. 28, 2020.

Cardinal Gregory ‘embarrassed’ at McCarrick abuse charges

Sep 9, 2021

By Matt Hadro

The Archbishop of Washington on Wednesday said he was “embarrassed” at the charges of sex abuse filed against his predecessor,... Read more

Theodore McCarrick arrives at Dedham District Court on Friday morning, Sept. 3 for his 9 a.m. arraignment

Former cardinal Theodore McCarrick makes first court appearance, pleads not guilty

Former cardinal Theodore McCarrick pleaded ‘not guilty’ on Friday to several charges of sexual assault, while appearing for the first... 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

Theodore McCarrick before his dismissal from the clerical state.

Theodore McCarrick's court hearing is today: What to expect

Sep 2, 2021

By Matt Hadro

Disgraced former cardinal Theodore McCarrick is expected to appear in a Massachusetts court on Friday morning for his arraignment. Read more

Fr Cesáreo Gabaráin, deceased hymn composer, credibly accused of abuse

Aug 9, 2021

By Walter Sánchez Silva

The Marist Congregation in Spain has confirmed it has received credible accusations of the abuse of minors against Fr. Cesáreo... Read more

Bishop Gustavo Zanchetta.

Bishop Zanchetta faces trial on sexual abuse charges in October

Aug 7, 2021

By CNA Staff

The Argentine bishop was given a Vatican post by Pope Francis in 2017. Read more

The Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist in Milwaukee. Credit: Sulfur via Wikimedia (CC BY-SA 3.0)

Despite criticism from Wisconsin AG, Milwaukee archdiocese stresses cooperation with new abuse cases

Jul 22, 2021

By Kevin J. Jones

The Milwaukee archdiocese said that to its knowledge the Wisconsin attorney general’s inquiry into sexual abuse, which some critics say... Read more

The Cathedral of Saint Patrick in Norwich, Conn. Credit: Farragutful via Wikimedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Diocese in Connecticut files for bankruptcy amid abuse lawsuits

Jul 16, 2021

By CNA Staff

The Diocese of Norwich filed for bankruptcy Thursday amid several dozen sexual abuse lawsuits filed related to a former school... Read more

The Cathedral of the Immaculate Heart of Mary in Las Cruces, N.M. Credit: Peter Potrowl via Wikimedia (CC BY-SA 3.0).

Las Cruces diocese says abuse records disclosed voluntarily, despite New Mexico attorney general's claims

Jun 7, 2021

By Kevin J. Jones

While New Mexico’s attorney general has taken credit for securing Catholic Church documents on sex abuse by clergy, saying they... Read more