Sexual abuse claims that have not been substantiated make it impossible for alleged perpetrators to litigate the claims against them. A group for clergy sex-abuse victims made false statements “negligently and with reckless disregard for the truth” against a St. Louis priest to try to convict him on abuse charges, a federal judge has ruled. Read more
Posts Tagged ‘Clergy’
New relationship between laity and clergy needed: Cardinal
Tuesday, June 28th, 2016
One of Pope Francis’s top advisers says a new relationship between lay people and clergy is needed in the Church’s institutions and organisations. German Cardinal Reinhard Marx, a member of the Pope’s council of cardinals, spoke at a conference in Dublin, Ireland. The cardinal later told CNS, “When you see the institutions and the organisation Read more
US bishops covered up ‘hundreds’ of sexual abuses
Friday, March 4th, 2016
An investigation into alleged sex abuses by priests in the Diocese of Pennsylvania in the United States found that two bishops protected over 50 priests who sexually abused hundreds of children. The 147-page grand jury report came uncovered a “secret archive” of evidence stuffed into boxes and filing cabinets in a church office in the Read more
South Korea to require clergy to pay taxes
Tuesday, December 8th, 2015
South Korea’s parliament has approved a bill that will require the nation’s clergy to pay taxes from 2018. South Korea has an estimated 360,000 priests and monks whose earnings will be re-classified as “religious income”, rather than the current label of “honorarium”. A sliding scale means those earning 40 million won (US$34,500) or less a Read more
Outspoken abuse critic briefs pontifical commission
Tuesday, July 28th, 2015One of the most severe critics of the Church’s handling of the clergy sex abuse scandal has briefed members of a pontifical commission. Fr Thomas Doyle, OP, met four members of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors last month. The priest emphasised two main points: The need for real accountability on the part Read more
Pope says Church shouldn’t have ‘leaders for life’
Tuesday, July 7th, 2015Pope Francis has said the Catholic Church should not have “leaders for life” in its ranks. Otherwise it would risk being like a country under a dictatorship, he told 30,000 people at a rally in St Peter’s Square on July 3. “There should be a time limit to positions (in the Church), which in reality Read more
US priests group asks bishops for married clergy dialogue
Tuesday, February 10th, 2015
A group representing hundreds of priests has asked the United States Catholic bishops to start dialogue towards the ordination of married men to the priesthood. The Association of US Catholic Priests, which represents about 1000 mostly Vatican II-era priests, wrote to the bishops last month. According to an article in the National Catholic Reporter, the Read more
535 years of priestly ministry celebrated in Auckland
Tuesday, July 15th, 2014A total of 535 years of priestly ministry was celebrated in Auckland as 13 priests were acknowledged and appreciated for their years of service to the faithful. Msgr Paul Farmer, chairman of the Council of Priests, said the celebration of their brother priests’ jubilees is a significant day that no priest dare miss. Continue reading
Gift for a priest – Go beyond the socks and hankies
Friday, June 13th, 2014Many Catholics find it hard to choose a gift for a priest. Well here is something that takes you beyond the black sock and handkerchiefs… a set of clerical pyjamas. They come with a black top which has a clerical collar. You have a variety of colours and patterns to choose from for pants. If Read more
Italian bishops claim right not to report abuse claims to police
Friday, April 4th, 2014
An Italian cardinal has defended national guidelines exempting Italian bishops from having to report claims of abuse by clergy to police. Cardinal Angelo Bagnasco, president of the Italian bishops’ conference, said Italian law does not require it and victims may not want it. The guidelines, published in revised form in late March, were called for Read more