Sexual Abuse

The Latest

Former Bishop Gustavo Zanchetta of the Diocese of Oran, Argentina.

Victim of Bishop Zanchetta: ‘Don't turn your back on us; we didn’t deserve such treatment’

Aug 13, 2022

By Walter Sánchez Silva

Bishop Gustavo Zanchetta of Oran, Argentina, was found guilty of abuse and sentenced to prison in March, but in July... Read more

Photo illustration.

Oklahoma Catholic high school sued for $75M over alleged sex abuse 

May 19, 2022

By Katie Yoder

Ten current and former students, along with six parents or guardians, are suing a Catholic high school in Oklahoma —... Read more

Father David Huneck, who has has agreed to plead guilty to two felony charges of child seduction and sexual battery.

Fort Wayne-South Bend priest will plead guilty to sex abuse charges 

Jan 7, 2022

By Joe Bukuras

Father David Huneck, a former high school chaplain in the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend, has agreed to plead guilty... Read more

David Haas in a concert at the Ateneo de Manila University, Quezon City, Philippines.

New allegations against David Haas prompt top music publisher to sever ties with hymn composer

Aug 4, 2021

By Christine Rousselle

At least two dioceses--the Diocese of Oakland and the Diocese of Jefferson City--announced that they would be permanently suspending the... Read more

St. Joseph Cathedral in Buffalo, N.Y.

Priests of Buffalo diocese continue to face sex abuse accusations

Jul 29, 2021

By Joe Bukuras

Since June more than 90 sex abuse lawsuits involving the Diocese of Buffalo have been filed under New York’s Child... Read more

Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary parish in Detroit, Mich. Credit: Steve Burt via Flickr (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

Vatican declines to move forward with canonical investigation of Detroit priest

Apr 23, 2021

The Archdiocese of Detroit will proceed with a “canonical disciplinary process” against a priest accused of the sexual abuse of... Read more

Saint Peter in Chains Cathedral on W 8th Street in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Former auxiliary bishop who mishandled reports of misconduct named pastor in Cincinnati archdiocese

Apr 13, 2021

A Catholic bishop who resigned last year as an auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati amid controversy for failure... Read more

Credit: Dragana Gordic/Shutterstock

NGO names ‘Dirty Dozen’ top contributors to sexual exploitation

Feb 23, 2021

By Christine Rousselle

The National Center on Sexual Exploitation (NCOSE) on Tuesday announced its annual “Dirty Dozen” ranking of the top mainstream contributors... Read more

City skyline in Sydney, Australia.

Australian Catholic bishops establish new agency to fight abuse

Dec 4, 2020

On Thursday, the Catholic bishops of Australia and two other Catholic entities launched Australian Catholic Safeguarding Limited, a company charged... Read more

Bishop Mitchell T. Rozanski at the tomb of St. Peter during an ad limina visit Nov. 7, 2019.

Questions of abuse cover-up directed at incoming St. Louis archbishop, but details unclear

Aug 7, 2020

By Kevin J. Jones

Archbishop-designate Mitchell Rozanski is set to take over the Archdiocese of St. Louis, after heading the Diocese of Springfield in... Read more

Catholic composer David Haas performs.

Archdiocese drops music, prohibits concerts, after new allegations against David Haas

Jul 10, 2020

The Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis said Thursday it has received new allegations of misconduct on the part of... Read more

David Haas in a concert at the Ateneo de Manila University, Quezon City, Philippines.

Alleged David Haas sexual assault victim speaks out

Jul 2, 2020

By Jonah McKeown

A former music and youth minister, who alleges that Haas aggressively kissed and groped her when she was 19, spoke... Read more

LA archdiocese to lead novena for sexual abuse healing

Apr 17, 2020

The Archdiocese of Los Angeles will lead nine days of prayer and reflection for healing from sexual abuse, from April... Read more

Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio of Brooklyn. CNA file photo

Bishop DiMarzio denies allegations of sexual abuse

Nov 13, 2019

By CNA Staff

Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio of Brooklyn is rejecting an allegation that he sexually molested a minor in the 1970s, calling it... Read more

Sex abuse scandal leaves Australian Church, gov’t scrambling for solutions 

Sep 25, 2019

In the wake of a major clergy sex abuse scandal and the high-profile, controversial trial and conviction of sex abuse... Read more

St. Joseph Cathedral in Buffalo.

Erie district attorney investigating seminarian's sexual harassment claims

Sep 25, 2019

The district attorney in Erie County has begun a criminal investigation into claims of sexual harassment raised by a former... Read more

Mural of first Memphis bishop removed after abuse allegations

Sep 9, 2019

After being included several months ago on a Virginia list of priests credibly accused of sexual abuse, the first Catholic... Read more

St. Joseph Cathedral in Buffalo.

Second Buffalo whistleblower says he was abused as seminarian

Sep 6, 2019

By Matt Hadro

New allegations have surfaced that the second whistleblower reporting a cover-up of clerical sexual abuse by the Diocese of Buffalo,... Read more

Franciscan Province paid poor abuse victims $15,000 in nondisclosure agreement

Aug 27, 2019

The Associated Press has uncovered the cases of two men whom the Franciscans of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin... Read more

Sleeping arrangements at the Downtown Hope Center women's shelter.

Federal court: Women's-only shelter not required to admit men

Aug 12, 2019

A federal court has issued a preliminary injunction protecting a women’s overnight shelter in Anchorage from the city’s demands that... Read more