Catholic Sex Abuse

Walking The (Catholic) Plank

Sarah O'Leary | Posted 04.27.2012

Sarah O'Leary

Why doesn't my Catholic Church get its own house in order first? Get the plank/log/boulder/semi truck/elephant out of its own eye before it tries to remove a speck from another's eye?

Kansas City Bishop To Stand Trial In Abuse Case

Posted 04.11.2012

By Joshua J. McElwee National Catholic Reporter KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- The first criminal case against a sitting U.S. bishop in the decades-long cler...

Priest Blames Late Archbishop In Philly Sex Abuse Coverup

AP | By MARYCLAIRE DALE | Posted 04.28.2012

PHILADELPHIA -- A Roman Catholic monsignor charged with protecting predator-priests lost a last-minute bid to have criminal charges dismissed Monday, ...

Must Clergy Report Confidential Confessions to the Authorities?

Rabbi Jason Miller | Posted 04.15.2012

Rabbi Jason Miller

Judaism does not place the same emphasis on confession as the Catholic faith does, but we do want people to feel comfortable speaking with their rabbi while they're in the process of repentance.

More Mistresses Than Pedophilia, Priest Sex Abuse A Problem In Asia

AP | NICOLE WINFIELD | Posted 04.10.2012

ROME — A culture of silence across Asia may be keeping many victims of clergy sex abuse there from coming forward, a top Asian church official t...

Cardinal Anthony Bevilacqua's Spilled Blood

Joe The Nerd Ferraro | Posted 04.02.2012

Joe The Nerd Ferraro

The day after a ruling that would have compelled Cardinal Anthony Bevilacqua to testify in the cases against the Church in pedophilia scandals, it is announced that the Cardinal died overnight.

Philadelphia Archdiocese Named 'Unindicted Co-Conspirator' In Clergy Sex Abuse

AP | MARYCLAIRE DALE | Posted 03.24.2012

PHILADELPHIA — Prosecutors on Monday accused the Archdiocese of Philadelphia of being an "unindicted co-conspirator" in a clergy sex abuse case ...

Victims' Group Refuses To Turn Over Names In Abuse Suit

Posted 01.04.2012

By Tim Townsend St. Louis Post-Dispatch ST. LOUIS (RNS) The director of a leading victims' advocacy group refused to answer some questions or turn...

Accused Janitor Says Priest Blackmailed, Abused Him

Posted 11.29.2011

By Ben Horowitz Religion News Service MORRISTOWN, N.J. (RNS) For four years, Jose Feliciano told a jury on Monday (Nov. 28), his rage grew. ...

The Emperor's New Clothes, 2011 Edition

Kim Michele Richardson | Posted 01.22.2012

Kim Michele Richardson

I think fear is a real quandary for society. All we have at the moment is exposure of crimes and a salute to the victims, the brave ones who courageously stand up to these bullying organizations and institutions.

Sex Abuse And The Grandiose Narcissist

Rev. James Martin, S.J. | Posted 01.16.2012

Rev. James Martin, S.J.

There are two main characteristics of the abuser: narcissism and grandiosity. The narcissist cares only for his own needs. And many of these people are like the Pied Piper -- the energetic coach, for example.

Indicted Bishop Plans To Continue Leading Diocese

AP | BY HEATHER HOLLINGSWORTH and RACHEL ZOLL | Posted 12.19.2011

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Calls for Roman Catholic Bishop Robert Finn to resign started even before last week, when he became the highest-ranking church lea...

Kansas City Bishop Charged For Not Telling Police About Child Porn

AP | BILL DRAPER | Posted 12.14.2011

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Kansas City's Catholic bishop has become the highest-ranking U.S. Catholic official indicted on a charge of failing to protec...

A Proposed World Wide Registry For Catholic Clergy Predators

Kim Michele Richardson | Posted 11.15.2011

Kim Michele Richardson

Recently, the Boston Archdiocese released a list of accused clergy. A good first step. A move in the right direction. But also mind-boggling is the number of Catholic clergy predators in one town.

Irish Government Slams Vatican For Role In Abuse Cover-up

AP | By SHAWN POGATCHNIK | Posted 09.21.2011

DUBLIN -- The Vatican encouraged Catholic bishops not to tell police about suspected pedophile priests and flouted Irish law, Ireland's lawmakers decl...

Irish Government To Publish New Catholic Sex Abuse Report

AP | SHAWN POGATCHNIK | Posted 09.12.2011

DUBLIN — A new investigation into the Catholic Church's chronic cover-up of child abuse found Wednesday that a rural diocese and its bishop igno...

Convicted Pedophile Priest Also Had A Record In Italy

AP | By GILLIAN FLACCUS | Posted 08.29.2011

LOS ANGELES -- Clergy abuse victims protested Wednesday outside the cathedral of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles after learning that a v...

Vatican To Brief Bishops, Religious Orders On Abuse

Posted 08.14.2011

By Francis X. Rocca Religion News Service VATICAN CITY (RNS) The Vatican will use online education and other methods to help the world's Catholic bis...

Asian Bishops Say Abuse Isn't Just 'A Problem Of The West'

Posted 08.06.2011

By Hisashi Yukimoto Religion News Service TOKYO (RNS/ENInews) Roman Catholic bishops from across Asia will hold a summit on "The Impact of Pedophilia...

True Reform Would Start With 'I'm Sorry'

Kim Michele Richardson | Posted 07.19.2011

Kim Michele Richardson

If the Catholic Church is to erase this stain on its reputation, it will have to be based on a complete reversal of its callous shielding of abusers within its ranks. I and other victims are still waiting.

Amnesty International Says Vatican Not Meeting Obligations On Sex Abuse

Posted 07.18.2011

By Francis X. Rocca Religion News Service VATICAN CITY (RNS) Amnesty International has criticized the Vatican for falling short of its commitments...

Vatican Gives Bishops Guidance For Handling Sex Abuse Cases

AP | NICOLE WINFIELD | Posted 07.16.2011

VATICAN CITY — The Vatican has told bishops around the world that it is important to cooperate with police in reporting priests who rape and mol...

Vatican Covered Up Child Sex Abuse, Lawsuit Claims

AP | TAMMY WEBBER | Posted 07.11.2011

CHICAGO — The Vatican was named Wednesday in a lawsuit that claims the Holy See ultimately was responsible for covering up child sexual abuse by...

At Easter, Church Expels Women's Advocate, Keeps Pedophiles In The Fold

Angela Bonavoglia | Posted 06.21.2011

Angela Bonavoglia

Mary's gift to the world is brutally dismissed and diminished by a Church that has declared the fight for her voice, her equality and her empowerment to be a most grave crime.

Belgian Bishop Says Abuse Of Nephew Was A 'Game'

Posted 06.16.2011

By Francis X. Rocca Religion News Service VATICAN CITY (RNS) Belgium's Catholic bishops declared themselves "extremely shocked" on Friday (Apr. 15...