The priest dubbed the Vatican’s point man for clerical sexual abuse says the media did the Church a service by revealing abuse scandals. In an interview with the Sunday Star Times, American Msgr Robert Oliver praised the media’s role, echoing a tribute he paid early last year. “It’s hard for any group over time to Read more
The attorney-general in Massachusetts says a Catholic diocese illegally discriminated against a married gay couple by refusing to sell them a property. The Diocese of Worcester believed the men would use the property to host same-sex weddings. The issue is the subject of a law suit. Continue reading
A gay rights group will be allowed to march in Boston’s St Patrick’s Day parade in the United States. But it is unclear whether MassEquality will be allowed to carry signs or use slogans. Initially, one of the lead organisers of the parade, the South Boston Allied War Veterans Council, denied MassEquality permission to join Read more
Pope Benedict has accepted the resignation of Cardinal Bernard Law, archpriest of St Mary Major, a prominent Roman basilica. Nine years ago, after the clerical sex abuse scandal forced his resignation at Archbishop of Boston, John Paul II appointed Law as archpriest of one of Rome’s most important churches. Cardinal Law, who turned 80 this Read more
The 80th birthday of disgraced former Boston Cardinal Bernard Law was a lavish spread in a four-star Italian hotel, where guests rolled up in Vatican Mercedes sedans, reports the Boston Herald. People left the celebration singing the praises of the fallen prelate promoted to his Vatican post of archpriest of the Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore. Read more
The Catholic Archdiocese of Boston has posted online the names 159 priests and deacons who have been accused of child sexual abuse. The list was made public to assist survivors and protect children. Another 91 sex abusers also faced some level of accusation including 62 dead priests who have not been publicly accused and 22, mostly Read more
“You are all welcome here, gay or straight, rich or poor, young or old, black or white” is the message St Cecilia’s priest, Fr John Unni delivered to his parishioners last Sunday. His homily was in direct defiance of the Archdiocese’s policy but brought a standing ovation, the first any parishioner can remember. “Here, you Read more
The Boston Archdiocese is considering a radical reshuffle that would unite its 291 parishes into 80 to 120 groups according to an internal memo obtained by the Associated Press. The changes aim to save money in the parishes, which are “in a spiral of financial distress,” church officials say in confidential minutes of meetings where Read more