clerical sexual abuse

The Latest

Esther Harber. Courtesy photo.

Speaking out, hopeful, and waiting for change

May 3, 2019

By JD Flynn

Esther Harber says she was raped by a priest, and spent years trying to be heard in the Archdiocese of... Read more

Bishop Richard Malone. CNA file photo.

Analysis: With bishops in a tight spot, will priests get squeezed?

May 1, 2019

By JD Flynn

As bishops address the clerical sexual abuse crisis, will they ensure the canonical rights of priests?  Read more

Gonzaga University.

Gonzaga students worked at on-campus home of accused priests

Apr 29, 2019

Gonzaga University students were hired to serve as aides at an on-campus retirement home in which lived several priests accused... Read more

Archbishop Allen H. Vigneron speaking April 25, 2019 at The Catholic University of America.

‘Lay co-agents essential for Church leadership’ Detroit archbishop says

Apr 25, 2019

By Christine Rousselle

The role of the laity is crucial to the Church’s efforts to combat clerical sex abuse, Archbishop of Allen Vigneron... Read more

Bishop Richard Malone. CNA file photo.

Bishop Malone apologizes in Buffalo diocese, says he was part of no cover-ups

Apr 12, 2019

The Bishop of Buffalo said in a statement Thursday that despite media reports to the contrary, he has not been... Read more

Pope Francis and Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI on June 28, 2017.

Analysis: How Benedict's essay supports Francis' call for 'zero tolerance'

Apr 11, 2019

By Ed Condon

At the heart of his new essay, Benedict XVI insists that the purpose of punishing the perpetrators of sexual abuse... Read more

Pope emeritus Benedict XVI.

In new essay, Benedict XVI addresses sex abuse scandal

Apr 10, 2019

In an essay published Thursday at CNA, Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI offered his thoughts about the sex abuse crisis facing... Read more

Bishop Franco Mulakkal.

Indian bishop accused of rape could face charges this week

Apr 8, 2019

The bishop accused of serially raping a nun could face criminal charges this week, as Indian police say they will... Read more

Pope Francis greets the pilgrims during his weekly general audience in St Peter's square at the Vatican on January 08, 2014. Via Shutterstock.

Pope Francis asks youth for help in ‘preventing atrocities’ of abuse

Apr 2, 2019

By Courtney Mares

Pope Francis has called upon young people to be vigilant in the face of “horrible crimes” of clerical sexual abuse,... Read more

Pope Francis on the Roman Curia's Lenten spiritual exercises.

Argentine bishop under investigation for sex abuse attending pope’s Lenten retreat

Mar 11, 2019

By Hannah Brockhaus

Argentine Bishop Gustavo Oscar Zanchetta, under a Vatican investigation for sexual abuse of seminarians and other sexual misconduct, is attending... Read more

Cardinal Sean O'Malley.

O'Malley introduces whistleblower system for complaints against Boston bishops

Mar 11, 2019

The Archdiocese of Boston has announced it will implement a third-party system for reporting allegations of abuse or misconduct against... Read more

Cardinal George Pell.

Analysis: The stakes of Pell's Vatican trial

Mar 5, 2019

By Ed Condon, JD Flynn

The Vatican has announced that a canonical process against Cardinal George Pell will soon begin in the Congregation for the... Read more

Cardinal Pell speaks with journalists after being charged with sexual abuse June 29, 2017.

Pell awaits sentence in solitary confinement

Mar 4, 2019

By JD Flynn

Cardinal George Pell is incarcerated at the Melbourne Assessment Prison while he awaits the results of a sentencing hearing held... Read more

Cardinal George Pell speaks with CNA at the Vatican March 17 2016.

Alleged Pell abuse victim to sue over Ballarat swimming claims

Mar 4, 2019

A man who says he was sexually assaulted in the 1970s by Australia’s Cardinal George Pell says he will file... Read more

New documents challenge Vatican claims about accused Argentine bishop

Feb 25, 2019

An Argentine newspaper has published documents purporting to show that the Vatican knew about allegations of sexual abuse by Bishop... Read more

Cardinal Blase Cupich during a press briefing at the Vatican abuse summit.

Analysis: In spite of itself, Vatican abuse summit may still do some good

Feb 22, 2019

By JD Flynn

The Vatican’s abuse summit this week will not solve the problems plaguing the Catholic Church in the U.S. In fact,... Read more

Participants at the Vatican abuse summit brief the media on Feb. 21, 2019.

Tagle: Confront the 'stench of filth' caused by abuse

Feb 21, 2019

An expert on abuse prevention offered “practical suggestions” to participants at a Vatican summit on child sexual abuse on Thursday,... Read more

Members of Have No Fear, a Polish organization for sex abuse victims and advocates, speak to media in Rome, Feb. 21, 2019.

Polish sex abuse victims meet Pope Francis, release abuse report

Feb 21, 2019

By Courtney Mares

A Polish delegation of sex abuse victims and advocates met Pope Francis Wednesday, and presented the pope with a report... Read more

Demonstrators from Georgetown University outside the 2018 USCCB Fall General Assembly in Baltimore.

Hoya no more: Georgetown rescinds McCarrick's honorary degree

Feb 20, 2019

Georgetown University announced on Tuesday that it would rescind the honorary Doctor of Humane Letters the school conferred on disgraced... Read more

Archbishop Samuel J. Aquila of Denver.

Colorado's Catholic bishops will open abuse records for review

Feb 19, 2019

By Kevin J. Jones

An agreement between Colorado’s attorney general and the state’s Catholic bishops aims to investigate clergy sex abuse of minors in... Read more