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February 28, 2019

Victims shed harsh light on sex abuse at Vatican summit

Clerical sex abuse victims and their supporters rally outside Castel Sant’Angelo in Rome Feb. 21.

The abuse summit began with the voices of the abused … five testimonies gathered from around the world.

Published in International
February 22, 2019

Church needs new structure to ensure bishops' accountability, Cardinal Cupich says

Cardinal Blase J. Cupich of Chicago and Cardinal Ruben Salazar Gomez of Bogota, Colombia, attend the second day of the meeting on the protection of minors in the church, at the Vatican Feb. 22, 2019.
VATICAN – The Catholic Church needs "new legal structures of accountability" for bishops accused of sexual abuse or of negligence in handling abuse allegations, Cardinal Blase J. Cupich of Chicago told the Vatican summit on safeguarding.
Published in International
March 19, 2017

Vatican maze: Retracing the path of sex abuse accountability proposals

Recent exchanges in the media between the head of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith and a former member of a papal advisory commission have highlighted a lack of clarity and transparency when it comes to finding better ways to make bishops and religious superiors more accountable for how they handle allegations of sexual abuse.

VATICAN CITY – Recent exchanges in the media between the head of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith and a former member of a papal advisory commission have highlighted a lack of clarity and transparency when it comes to finding better ways to make bishops and religious superiors more accountable for how they handle allegations of sexual abuse.

Published in Faith
April 16, 2015

Pope, cardinal advisors discuss bishops' accountability in abuse cases

Boston Cardinal Sean O’Malley, president of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors, asked the Pope and the Council of Cardinals to “take on the subject of accountability and responsibility” when it comes to those in leadership who fail to comply with child protection norms, says a Vatican spokesperson.

VATICAN CITY - The question of accountability for bishops and religious superiors who fail to follow through on protecting minors from abuse was "put on the table" during the latest meeting between Pope Francis and his international Council of Cardinals, said the Vatican spokesman.

Published in Vatican
March 15, 2015

Francis’ reforms run into strong headwinds

Reforms launched by Pope Francis when he assumed the papacy two years ago are becoming bogged down in consultations and infighting.

VATICAN CITY - One reason the cardinals gathered in the Sistine Chapel elected Jorge Mario Bergoglio as Pope Francis two years ago was a brief but powerful speech the Argentine cardinal made shortly before the conclave in which he denounced the “theological narcissism” of the Roman Catholic Church.

Published in Vatican
December 16, 2014

Cardinal Timothy Dolan cuts ties with anti-abortion crusader Frank Pavone

Father Frank Pavone, one of the country's most visible and vocal opponents of abortion, has been suspended from active ministry outside the Diocese of Amarillo, Texas, over financial questions about the priest's operation of Priests for Life. The suspension was made public in a Sept. 13 letter by Amarillo Bishop Patrick J. Zurek. Father Pavone is pictured speaking to the media outside the Supreme Court building in Washington in this Nov. 8, 2006, file photo.

NEW YORK - In the latest clash between the Catholic hierarchy and one of the church’s leading anti-abortion crusaders, New York Cardinal Timothy Dolan accused the Fr. Frank Pavone of continuing to stonewall on financial reforms, and Dolan said he is cutting ties with his group, Priests for Life.

Published in Faith