An outspoken politician has called for a royal commission into Islam in Australia, noting how such a body is helping uncover child abuse in the Church. Independent Senator Jacqui Lambie’s office released a graphic comparing a “big problem”’ with Islamic radicalisation to child molestation in the Australian Catholic Church. The graphic asks if a royal Read more
An absent member of the Pope’s commission to protect minors hopes to eventually lead a victims and survivors panel on the commission. British campaigner Peter Saunders said the idea of the panel was suggested by commission head Cardinal Sean O’Malley. Mr Saunders was encouraged to resign from the commission after he questioned Pope Francis’ commitment Read more
A clergy abuse survivor was asked to step aside from the Pope’s commission to protect minors after a clash over the group’s work and mission. According to an Associated Press report, Peter Saunders said the members of the 17-person Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors asked him to step aside, with one abstention. This Read more
The admissions by Planned Parenthood personnel about harvesting the body parts of aborted foetuses have been panned by a US cardinal. Cardinal Sean O’Malley, chairman of the US bishops’ Committee on Pro-Life Activities, said videos showing the admissions reveal a lack of respect for human life. The undercover videos were recorded by a pro-life non-profit Read more
A victim of clergy sexual abuse has offered to lead the Vatican’s child protection commission in Rome. Peter Saunders, a member of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors, told The Tablet he would like to see the commission have wider powers. He would like to see the commission’s remit extended so it is Read more
The head of a papal commission to protect minors has warned Catholics not to behave as if the clergy sex abuse crisis is over. Cardinal Sean O’Malley of Boston told a press conference in Rome that some prelates were still reluctant to deal with the problem openly. “It would be perilous for us, as leaders Read more
New mechanisms could soon be proposed to remove prelates who don’t follow Church guidelines on preventing and reporting abuse of children. A member of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors, Marie Collins, said accountability of bishops is her main priority in this role. The 17 member commission met in Rome over the weekend. Read more
Boston Cardinal Sean O’Malley has added his surprise to the content of the UN’s report into the Vatican’s response to sexual abuse. Cardinal O’Malley, in a blog post, said he would have thought that the competency of UN commission was to examine the policies and practices of their member nations, and had they focused on that Read more
What a great day in our world mission family as we continue to bring the mission message to Boston from the ends of the earth! writes Maureen Heil from the Office of the Pontifical Mission Societies in Boston USA. “Archbishop Adrian Smith, sm of the Solomon Islands joined us for a visit with Cardinal Sean Read more
“The will of God is not entirely clear,” Chicago’s Cardinal Francis George told his congregation on Sunday, and as cardinals, yesterday, had their final day of discussions it still seems there is no clear candidate cardinals can agree on. The cardinals, yesterday, held their last pre-conclave talks where they have been talking about the qualities Read more