Clerical sex abuse

The Latest

The St. Louis Cathedral and Jackson Square on March 27, 2020, in New Orleans.

Archdiocese of New Orleans offers $62 million abuse settlement; survivors ask for $1 billion

Sep 17, 2024

By Daniel Payne

The archdiocesan proposal is considerably less than the roughly $1 billion proposed by survivors of clergy abuse. Read more

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Ohio priest steps down after calls for resignation over child porn hard drive controversy

Jul 30, 2024

By Daniel Payne

Father Barry Stechschulte announced his departure from St. Susanna Catholic Parish in a message on the church’s website this week. Read more

St. Joseph’s Cathedral in Dunedin, New Zealand.

New Zealand commission finds Church guilty of ‘inadequate’ responses to abuse and neglect

Jul 24, 2024

By Kate Quiñones

The abuse commission conducted its study over six years. It is notably the most wide-ranging investigation into abuse and neglect... Read more

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Ohio priest apologizes for destroying hard drive containing possible child porn

Jul 18, 2024

By Daniel Payne

Father Barry Stechschulte said he wanted to “address” and “apologize for” his involvement in a controversy surrounding a priest accused... Read more

Father Anthony Odiong, a former Louisiana priest, was arrested for possession of child pornography in Florida, law enforcement said on July 16, 2024, with the suspect also accused of multiple other instances of sexual abuse.

Former Louisiana priest arrested on child pornography charges

Jul 17, 2024

By Daniel Payne

Father Anthony Odiong was arrested for possession of child pornography in Florida, with the suspect also accused of multiple other... Read more

Rosary Cathedral in Toledo, Ohio.

Diocese of Toledo to pay $1 million to three priest sex abuse victims

Jul 11, 2024

By Daniel Payne

The Diocese of Toledo will pay out a seven-figure sum to three victims of priest sexual abuse after agreeing to... Read more

Archbishop Luc Terlinden attends a hearing session of the special commission investigating abuse in Church and other situations of power at the Flemish Parliament on Jan. 26, 2024, in Brussels.

Brussels archbishop apologizes amid priest election scandal

May 10, 2024

By AC Wimmer

Archbishop Luc Terlinden apologized to abuse survivors for the inclusion of reportedly three perpetrators of abuse on an advisory council. Read more

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Ex-priest sentenced to 15 months in prison for molestation of minor with cancer

Feb 28, 2024

By Daniel Payne

The judge condemned the sexual assault of a child and said the laicized priest took advantage of the family’s need... Read more

Father Fernando Gonzalez,

Texas priest arrested over allegation of sexual misconduct with minor

Feb 19, 2024

By Daniel Payne

Brownsville Bishop Daniel Flores said in a statement last week that diocesan officials had received an allegation against Father Fernando... Read more

Bishop Georges Colomb of La Rochelle and Saintes was reportedly charged on Nov. 17, 2023, with attempted rape of an adult man in 2013.

French bishop charged with attempted 2013 rape of adult man

Nov 21, 2023

By Daniel Payne

Pope Francis has appointed an apostolic administrator of the La Rochelle and Saintes Diocese, while Bishop Georges Colomb will retain... Read more

A view of Baltimore's Basilica nestled amid the city's famed row houses.

Pastor removed from ministry after report about $200,000 in sex abuse hush money

Oct 16, 2023

By Joe Bukuras

Father Paschal Morlino, OSB, who has been removed from his 30-year tenure as pastor of a local parish, denies any... Read more

Delegates at the Synod on Synodality participate in small-group round table discussions Oct. 9, 2023.

Vatican safeguarding group calls on Synod on Synodality to address abuse in the Church

Oct 10, 2023

By Hannah Brockhaus

The Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors has called on the synod to discuss sexual abuse this month. Read more

Church of the Society of Jesus in Cochabamba, Bolivia.

Jesuits in Bolivia call lawsuit filed by alleged sexual abuse victims ‘senseless’

Oct 4, 2023

By Diego López Marina

The lawsuit was filed on Oct. 2 by a group of former students of the John XXIII School in Bolivia... Read more

Father Hans Zollner.

Celibacy is not a direct cause of sexual abuse, Jesuit expert says

Sep 29, 2023

By Walter Sánchez Silva

The psychologist said that “celibacy is not a direct cause of abuse; what can become a risk factor is a... Read more

The 2023 Plenary Assembly of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) is being held Sept. 25-28, 2023, outside of Toronto, Ontario.

Canadian bishops address protection of minors and vulnerable adults at meeting

Sep 27, 2023

By Tyler Arnold

On the second day of the 2023 Plenary Assembly, a bishops’ committee provided recommendations on diocesan policies focused on protecting... Read more

A view of Baltimore's Basilica nestled amid the city's famed row houses.

Baltimore Archdiocese considers bankruptcy amid possible sex abuse lawsuits 

Sep 6, 2023

By Tyler Arnold

On Oct. 1, a new law will go into effect that ends the statute of limitations for civil lawsuits related... Read more

St. Mary Cathedral in Cheyenne, Wyoming.

UPDATED: Wyoming bishop cleared of abuse by the Vatican dies at 91

Aug 25, 2023

By Jonah McKeown

The former bishop of Cheyenne, Joseph Hart, was accused on multiple occasions of sexual abuse of minors, but claims were... Read more

Australian Cardinal George Pell leaves after being released from Barwon Prison near Anakie, some 70 kilometers west of Melbourne, on April 7, 2020.

Catholic Church loses bid to have abuse lawsuit thrown out in Australia

Aug 25, 2023

By Daniel Payne

The Court of Appeal agreed with last year’s Supreme Court ruling, ordering that the father of the now-deceased alleged victim... Read more

The Cathedral Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul in Philadelphia.

Philadelphia Archdiocese settles for $3.5 million in sex abuse lawsuit for deceased priest

Aug 10, 2023

By Tyler Arnold

The lawsuit alleged that Monsignor John Close sexually assaulted a 14-year-old boy in 2006 when he took classes at a... Read more

A view of Baltimore's Basilica nestled amid the city's famed row houses

Archdiocese of Baltimore adds 42 accused individuals to child sex abuse list

Jul 3, 2023

By Joe Bukuras

The additional names come following Maryland Attorney General’s April report on child sexual abuse in the archdiocese dating back to... Read more