Clerical sex abuse

The Latest

French Flag.

Investigator: There could be 10,000 abuse victims in French Catholic Church since 1950

Mar 3, 2021

By Hannah Brockhaus

The head of an independent commission said on Tuesday that there could be at least 10,000 victims of sexual abuse... Read more

Fr. Pat Wattigny.

New Orleans priest removed for abuse sent messages to high school student

Oct 9, 2020

The Archdiocese of New Orleans reportedly knew for months but did not inform school officials that a priest chaplain at... Read more

The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Camden.

Majority of Camden diocese abuse claims left unprocessed amid bankruptcy filing

Oct 5, 2020

The Diocese of Camden filed for bankruptcy last week, leaving abuse settlements unpaid for about two-thirds of the alleged victims... Read more

The final press conference of the German bishops’ fall general assembly Sept. 24, 2020 in Fulda.

Germany’s Catholic bishops agree on uniform compensation system for abuse victims

Sep 25, 2020

Germany’s Catholic bishops agreed this week to a uniform system for compensation payments to abuse survivors.  Read more

Queensland passes law requiring priests to break confessional seal

Sep 8, 2020

The legislature of the Australian state of Queensland on Tuesday passed a law requiring priests to violate the seal of... Read more

Holy See upholds confessional seal in response to Australian royal commission

Sep 6, 2020

The Australian bishops have provided the federal government with the Holy See’s observations on 12 recommendations of a 2017 report... Read more

The flag of France.

French investigation: sex abuse of minors in Catholic Church tops 3,000 victims over 70 years

Jun 18, 2020

Over the last seven decades at least 3,000 children were sexually abused by Catholic clergy or officials in France, according... Read more

The Cathedral of Christ the King in Lubbock, Texas.

Texas Supreme Court to hear case of former deacon suing diocese for abuse claim

Jun 8, 2020

By Kevin J. Jones

The Texas Supreme Court will hear the Diocese of Lubbock’s appeal of a legal decision allowing a former deacon to... Read more

The Nassau County Courthouse in Mineola, N.Y.

NY judge upholds Child Victims Act after challenge by Rockville Centre diocese

May 14, 2020

A judge ruled Wednesday that New York's Child Victims Act is constitutional, rejecting a suit filed by the Diocese of... Read more

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, pictured in 2016.

Cuomo orders expanded window for NY sex abuse lawsuits, citing coronavirus

May 12, 2020

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo has issued an executive order to extend for five months the legal window for victims... Read more

St. Louis Cathedral in New Orleans.

Bankruptcy filing stalls case involving New Orleans Saints, archdiocese

May 6, 2020

By CNA Staff

The New Orleans archdiocese’ recent declaration of bankruptcy will freeze a court case alleging executives for the New Orleans Saints... Read more

The Cathedral of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Rapid City, S.D.

S. Dakota dioceses focus on healing, after statute of limitations bill fails

Feb 25, 2020

By Mary Farrow

The South Dakota legislature has killed a bill that would have opened a two-year window for childhood victims of sexual... Read more

New Orleans Saints defend assistance of archdiocese as disclosure

Jan 24, 2020

The New Orleans Saints have said assistance that team personnel offered to the Archdiocese of New Orleans on communications strategy... Read more

Bishop Edward Scharfenberger of Albany, who has served as apostolic administrator of the Buffalo diocese since December 2019. Photo courtesy of the Diocese of Albany.

Buffalo administrator: Catholic Charities donations will not go to abuse settlements

Jan 17, 2020

The apostolic administrator of the Diocese of Buffalo said this week that despite the possibility the diocese could file for... Read more

Mexican bishops call for ending statute of limitations for sex abuse of minors

Jan 15, 2020

The bishops’ conference of Mexico has called on the country’s government to get rid of the statute of limitations in... Read more

Bishop emeritus Donald Trautman of Erie.

Lawsuit charges Bishop Trautman, Buffalo diocese with abuse cover-up in 1980s

Jan 3, 2020

By Kevin J. Jones

A lawsuit against the Diocese of Buffalo and retired Bishop Donald Trautman claim they covered up a New York priest’s... Read more

The Nassau County Courthouse in Mineola, N.Y.

Rockville Centre diocese challenges Child Victims Act over due process

Nov 15, 2019

The Diocese of Rockville Centre filed a suit challenging New York's Child Victims Act on Tuesday, claiming it is barred... Read more

Pope Francis meets with Bishop Gustavo Zanchetta.

Police raid former offices of Argentine bishop charged with fraud, sex assault

Nov 8, 2019

Local civil authorities on Thursday raided the chancery of the Diocese of Orán, where Gustavo Oscar Zanchetta was bishop from... Read more

Bishop Franco Mulakkal of Jullundur.

Trial of Indian bishop charged with rape to begin in November

Oct 24, 2019

The trial of Bishop Franco Mulakkal of Jullundur, who was charged with rape in April, will begin Nov. 11 in... Read more

Exterior of the New York State Capitol in Albany.

Window opens for abuse victim suits as New York law comes in to effect

Aug 12, 2019

A one-year window that allows adults in New York state who were sexually abused as children to file lawsuits against... Read more