Clergy abuse
The Latest
Pope Francis extends ‘Vos estis’ decree to counter both lay and clerical abuse
The decree promulgated March 25 extends the Church’s norms for handling of abuse to cover lay leaders of international associations. Read more
Portuguese bishops announce steps to end sexual abuse in the Church
The bishops of Portugal on Friday began taking concrete steps to respond to a damning investigative report last month. Read more
Michigan priest sentenced to prison for sexual abuse of second-grader
A priest of the Archdiocese of Detroit has been sentenced for the rape of an elementary student at the Catholic... Read more
Judge upholds Maine law on retroactive abuse lawsuits, says Catholic diocese challenge has a point
The judge acknowledged that attorneys for the Catholic Diocese of Portland raised “serious” constitutional concerns in their legal challenge. Read more
Portugal report details decades of sexual abuse by priests and others within the Catholic Church
Only 25 complaints have been referred to authorities for prosecution because the statute of limitations has expired or the victims... Read more
Pope Francis: ‘I had nothing to do’ with Father Marko Rupnik case
For the first time, Pope Francis has commented publicly about the scandal surrounding Jesuit artist Father Marko Rupnik. Read more
Alleged abuse victim files lawsuit against ex-priest, Denver Archdiocese
The plaintiff alleges that then Father Tim Evans abused him more than 100 times when he was an altar boy... Read more
McCarrick’s lawyers say he’s not competent to stand trial
Defense attorneys plan to file a motion to dismiss the criminal case against Theodore McCarrick, who is accused of sexually... Read more
Kansas clergy sex abuse investigation reports 188 clergy members suspected of crimes
Kansas authorities investigating clerical sex abuse have identified 188 Catholic and Society of St. Pius X clergy members suspected of... Read more
Former bishop of French Guyana guilty of sex abuse, Vatican court says
Bishop Emeritus Emmanuel Lafont of Cayenne, French Guyana, has been found guilty of sexual abuse in a canonical court and... Read more
Former priest convicted of sexually abusing a minor in Virginia court
Scott A. Asalone, 65, was arrested in Asbury Park, New Jersey, in 2020 on a felony charge of carnal knowledge... Read more
‘Everyone’s vulnerable to an accusation’: Bishops respond to priests’ fear of false abuse claims
Eighty-two percent of priests responding to a survey conducted by The Catholic Project said they live in constant fear of... Read more
Albany bishop asking to be laicized isn’t barred from publicly celebrating sacraments, as he claims
Bishop Emeritus Howard Hubbard says he is “not able” to publicly exercise his priestly functions, but the diocese says he... Read more
Colombian archdiocese publishes list of abuse complaints, actions taken
The Archdiocese of Medellín has published the list of complaints of sexual abuse by priests it has received in the... Read more
FBI probe could help prosecute Louisiana priests accused of inter-state sex abuse
Federal authorities are investigating alleged sex abuse of minors by New Orleans-area Catholic clergy, sometimes going back decades, on the... Read more
Diocese of Camden to pay out $87.5 million for sexual abuse claims
The Diocese of Camden, New Jersey, will pay $87.5 million to approximately 300 alleged sexual abuse victims, under a settlement... Read more
'We were practically nothing to him,' ex-seminarian says of Bishop Zanchetta's abusive behavior
One of the former seminarians who was the victim of sexual abuse by Argentine Bishop Emeritus Gustavo Zanchetta of Orán... Read more
Why the Zanchetta case matters for the Church
The Vatican has made no public comment on the court’s verdict. Read more
Argentine Bishop Zanchetta convicted of sexually abusing seminarians
Argentine Bishop Gustavo Zanchetta has been found guilty of abusing seminarians in Oran, Salta, northern Argentina, and sentenced to 4... Read more
Florida priest, convicted of rape, sentenced to nearly 8 years in prison
Father Jean Claude Philippe, 67, pastor of Sacred Heart Church in Homestead, Florida, was sentenced to 94½ months in state... Read more
