Sexual Abuse

The Latest

Iowa bishops to cooperate with attorney general’s request for abuse records

Jun 5, 2019

The Catholic bishops of Iowa have agreed to voluntarily hand over records on clerical sex abuse allegations in their dioceses,... Read more

Archbishop William Lori speaks at a Legatus conference on Feb 8, 2013.

‘No excuse, no adequate explanation’: Lori releases findings of Bishop Bransfield investigation

Jun 5, 2019

Archbishop William Lori of Baltimore has released a letter to the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston addressing the findings of a preliminary... Read more

President Donald Trump.

Abortion language nixed from UN resolution after Trump admin threatens veto

Apr 24, 2019

Language referring to abortion was removed from a United Nations resolution on the care of sexual abuse survivors in wartime,... Read more

Pope Francis greets the then-Archbishop of Agana, Anthony Apuron, at the Vatican Feb. 7, 2018.

Former Guam archbishop 'deeply saddened' by conviction, maintains innocence

Apr 4, 2019

By Hannah Brockhaus

Emeritus Archbishop Anthony Apuron of Agaña said Thursday that despite the failure of his appeal and the confirmation of a... Read more

Archbishop Anthony Apuron greets Pope Francis Feb. 7, 2018.

CDF upholds guilty verdict of Guam archbishop for abuse of minors

Apr 4, 2019

By Hannah Brockhaus

The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith announced Thursday that, following an appeal, the Vatican's court has upheld last... Read more

Bishop Michael Bransfield.

New lawsuit claims Bishop Bransfield sexually abused seminarians

Mar 28, 2019

A new lawsuit against the former bishop of Wheeling-Charleston, West Virginia, claims that the prelate sexually assaulted seminarians, a claim... Read more

Maryland State House.

Maryland House votes to remove statute of limitations for child sexual abuse

Mar 19, 2019

The Maryland House of Delegates has approved a bill to entirely remove the statute of limitations for filing lawsuits related... Read more

Bishop Michael Bransfield. CNA file photo.

Lawsuit says West Virginia diocese knowingly hired sex abusers as teachers

Mar 19, 2019

The attorney general of West Virginia has filed a lawsuit charging that the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston and its former bishop... Read more

Thousands of unaccompanied minors allege sexual abuse in government custody

Mar 1, 2019

Thousands of migrant children and teens have reported being sexually abused or harassed while in government custody during the last... Read more

Archbishop Jose Gomez.

Archbishop Gomez: 'Crisis of personal fidelity' at the heart of Church scandals

Feb 25, 2019

Archbishop Jose Gomez of Los Angeles responded to the Vatican’s summit on abuse by stressing the need for a renewal... Read more

Cardinal Daniel DiNardo at the Vatican summit on sex abuse Feb. 23, 2019.

Head of US bishops after Vatican abuse summit: 'Intensify the Dallas Charter'

Feb 24, 2019

Cardinal Daniel DiNardo, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, has promised “unyielding vigilance” and an intensification of the... Read more

Mexico City cathedral.

Archbishop: 152 priests in Mexico removed for abuse in last 9 years

Feb 11, 2019

Over the past nine years, 152 priests in Mexico have been removed from ministry for sexual abuse of youth or... Read more

Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit.

Sister resigns from Detroit seminary after sex abuse allegations

Jan 18, 2019

By Mary Farrow

Sacred Heart Seminary in Detroit announced this week the resignation of Sr. Mary Finn, 84, a long-time faculty member and... Read more

Cardinal Philippe Barbarin arrives in court Jan. 7, 2019.

Trial begins for French cardinal accused of abuse cover-up  

Jan 7, 2019

French Cardinal Philippe Barbarin, archbishop of Lyon, begins trial Monday on charges of failing to report allegations that a priest... Read more

Argentine archbishop temporarily closes monastery after monks arrested

Jan 4, 2019

Archbishop Marcelo Daniel Colombo of Mendoza, Argentina has temporarily closed the Christ at Prayer Monastery in the town of Tupungato,... Read more

St. Mary's Cathedral Houston.

District attorney searches Houston archdiocese

Nov 28, 2018

Investigators have executed a search warrant on the chancery offices of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston. A search warrant obtained by... Read more

Mexico City cathedral.

Mexican bishops discussing commission to address abuse of minors

Nov 16, 2018

As part of their work at the 106th Plenary Assembly, the Mexican Bishops' Conference (CEM) is discussing and could approve... Read more

Demonstrators from Georgetown University outside the 2019 USCCB Fall General Assembly in Baltimore.

Angry, betrayed Catholics travel to Baltimore demanding answers, change

Nov 14, 2018

By Christine Rousselle

As one of the testimonies progressed at the Silence Stops Now rally near the USCCB’s Fall General Assembly, Anna Ahlbin,... Read more

Pope Francis addresses seminarians from the northern Italian region of Lombardy, Oct. 13, 2018,

Pope tells seminarians to report abuse ‘immediately’

Oct 17, 2018

By Hannah Brockhaus

Pope Francis told a group of Italian seminarians to report immediately to their bishop if they ever see or suspect... Read more

Fr. Philip Bochanski. Courtesy of Carmel Communications.

Director of Courage releases letter on Penn. abuse report

Sep 17, 2018

Courage International, an apostolate to support people with same sex-attraction in leading chaste lives, has issued a statement on three... Read more