American Archbishop Charles Chaput is asking Pope Francis to cancel the youth synod set for this October. The synod will gather bishops from around the world to discuss matters about “young people, the faith and vocational discernment.” “I have written the Holy Father and called on him to cancel the upcoming synod on young people. Read more
Posts Tagged ‘clergy sex abuse’
Royal Commission – Include church say two academics
Monday, August 20th, 2018
Two academics have called for the inclusion of the Catholic church in the Historical Abuse in State Care Royal Commission. But Professor David Tombs, the head of the University of Otago’s Theology and Public Issues Centre also says there is no need for the church to wait for the royal commission, and it should start Read more
Archbishop will appeal his conviction, 12 month sentence
Thursday, July 5th, 2018
Archbishop Philip Wilson says he will appeal his conviction of concealing child sex abuse in the church. Wilson was sentenced to 12 months’ detention in a magistrate-only trial in a Newcastle, Australia on Tuesday. He will be eligible for parole after six months. He is the most senior Catholic cleric in the world found guilty Read more
French abuse victims request an audience with Pope Francis
Friday, March 18th, 2016
French victims of abuse by Bernard Preynat, a priest accused of pedophilia, sent a letter to Pope Francis on Monday to request for a private audience. “We wish, Holy Father, that you can be a guiding light in our night and that you take the time to get to know us,” read the letter, sent Read more
Three American Franciscans charged in alleged abuse cover-up
Friday, March 18th, 2016
A US grand jury report released this week indicted three Franciscan friars for alleged mishandling of members of the order who were accused of child sexual abuse dating back to the 1960s. Charged for endangering the welfare of children and criminal conspiracy were Giles A. Schinelli, 73, Robert J. D’Aversa, 69, and Anthony M. Criscitelli, Read more
Vatican describes George Pell’s testimony ‘dignified’
Tuesday, March 8th, 2016
Vatican spokesman Father Federico Lombardi described the testimony made by Cardinal George Pell before the royal commission into child sexual abuse as “dignified.” Pell “must be accorded the appropriate acknowledgment for his dignified and coherent personal testimony, from which yet again there emerges an objective and lucid picture of the errors committed in many ecclesial Read more
Pa. bishop defends his handling of clergy sex abuse allegations in grand jury report
Tuesday, March 8th, 2016One of the Altoona-Johnstown, Pa., bishops singled out by a grand jury report for his “abysmal” record on sexually abusive priests responded in turn hours after its release, defending his handling of allegations as adhering to a strict review process and following advice of psychiatric experts. In a 10-page statement filed with the Allegheny County Read more
Pell says Church ‘made enormous mistakes’ in abuse allegations
Tuesday, March 1st, 2016
Cardinal George Pell said the Catholic Church “has made enormous mistakes” in dealing with allegations of sex abuse by priests. The Australian prelate made the statement when he testified via video link from a Rome hotel to the Royal Commission sitting in Sydney. “I’m not here to defend the indefensible. The church has made enormous Read more
‘Spotlight’ wins Best Picture at Oscars
Tuesday, March 1st, 2016
“Spotlight,” a real-life drama about a team of The Boston Globe journalists who reported about sex abuse in the Catholic Church, won Best Picture at the 88th Academy Awards on Sunday. The movie also won best original screenplay. “This film gave a voice to survivors, and this Oscar amplifies that voice, which we hope will Read more