Clergy abuse

The Latest

Theodore McCarrick

Theodore McCarrick faces new civil sex abuse lawsuit

Jul 31, 2021

By Matt Hadro

Former cardinal Theodore McCarrick now faces a fifth civil sex abuse lawsuit in New Jersey, after he was criminally charged... Read more

Theodore McCarrick before his laicization

Former cardinal Theodore McCarrick charged with sexual assault of a minor

Former Cardinal Theodore McCarrick has reportedly been charged with sexual assault of a teenage boy, a crime alleged to have... Read more

Belvedere College, Dublin

Irish Jesuits apologize for ‘shameful’ mishandling of abuse case

Jul 28, 2021

By Jonah McKeown

Following the leak of the Irish Jesuits’ draft inquiry into sexual abuse committed by a deceased member, the order on... Read more

Concerns raised about using surveillance technology to track clergy

Jul 19, 2021

By Alejandro Bermudez

The prospect of private parties using national security-style surveillance technology to track the movements and activities of Catholic bishops, priests,... Read more

Crucifix /

Springfield bishop appoints co-chairs of sex abuse task force

Jun 29, 2021

By Jonah McKeown

The bishop of Springfield in Massachusetts has announced the appointment of two social workers to lead an independent task force... Read more

Cathedral of St. Peter in Kansas City, Kansas

Now agreeing with former priest’s victim, Kansas City archdiocese says abuse claim was substantiated

Jun 22, 2021

By Kevin J. Jones

Crediting a sex abuse victim for his challenge of a review board’s ruling in 2002, the Archdiocese of Kansas City... Read more

Members of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops pray at their fall meeting in Baltimore, Maryland on Nov. 11, 2019

Lay advisor urges U.S. bishops to reconcile with all Catholics over clergy abuse

Jun 17, 2021

By Matt Hadro

In responding to clergy sex abuse, U.S. bishops must expand their reconciliation efforts to include not only victim survivors, but... Read more

Louisiana state capitol

Louisiana poised to create window for sex abuse lawsuits

Jun 14, 2021

The Louisiana state legislature last week passed a bill allowing for new lawsuits in old cases of child sex abuse... Read more

Cathedral of Christ the King, Lubbock, Texas

Texas supreme court rejects defamation lawsuit against Lubbock diocese

Jun 11, 2021

By Matt Hadro

The Texas supreme court on Friday rejected a defamation lawsuit against the Lubbock diocese, filed by a former deacon who... Read more

Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

In pushback against AG inquiry, Wisconsin Catholics cite decades of church vigilance against abuse

Jun 10, 2021

By Kevin J. Jones

The Archdiocese of Milwaukee is citing decades of Catholic efforts to prevent sex abuse, along with judicial statements and reviews... Read more

St. Joseph Cathedral, Buffalo diocese

Buffalo diocese places three priests on leave following accusation

Jun 7, 2021

The Diocese of Buffalo has placed three diocesan priests on administrative leave, following a new abuse accusation that dates back... Read more

Fr. Michael Pfleger

Chicago archdiocese reinstates Father Pfleger after investigating sex abuse allegations  

May 24, 2021

By Kevin J. Jones

Outspoken activist priest Father Michael Pfleger will return to the pulpit, after a Chicago archdiocese investigation concluded there was “insufficient... Read more

Sacred Heart Cathedral, Newark, New Jersey

New lawsuit alleges child sex abuse by former Newark archbishop 

May 19, 2021

By Christine Rousselle

A new lawsuit alleges that the late archbishop of Newark groomed and molested a five year-old girl during his tenure... Read more

Chicago archdiocese reinstates priest after investigating TikTok allegation

May 18, 2021

The Archdiocese of Chicago has reinstated a pastor who was accused of attempted sexual assault, after failing to substantiate the... Read more

Cathedral of St. Agnes, Rockville Centre, New York

Reckoning with history, Long Island diocese names 101 clergy accused of sex abuse

May 3, 2021

By Kevin J. Jones

The Diocese of Rockvillle Centre has released a list of 101 diocesan clergy it believes to be credibly accused of... 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

Pennsylvania state capitol

Two-year ‘window’ for abuse lawsuits gets new support in Pennsylvania

Apr 23, 2021

A bill that could expand child sex abuse lawsuits in the state of Pennsylvania has received new support in the... Read more

Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Syracuse, New York

Syracuse diocese to hold Mass for Healing amid nearly 400 sex abuse claims

Apr 21, 2021

The Diocese of Syracuse will hold a Mass for Healing on April 29 after nearly 400 sex abuse claims involving... Read more

Credit: Quisquilia/Shutterstock

North Dakota lawmaker withdraws bill requiring violation of seal of confession

Feb 2, 2021

A North Dakota bill that would have required priests to violate the seal of confession has been withdrawn by its... Read more

Los Angeles County Superior Court   Credit: LunaseeStudios/Shutterstock

California bishops challenge state’s extension of statute of limitations for abuse

Feb 1, 2021

California bishops are asking a judge to overturn a state law that extends the statute of limitations for sexual abuse... Read more