Pope’s child protection board urges transparency from Vatican sex abuse office, compensation
Updated: 7:30am, 30th October, 2023 (AEDT) AP Pope Francis’ child protection board called Tuesday for victims of clergy sexual abuse to have greater access to information about their cases and the right to compensation, in the first-ever global assessment of the Catholic Church’s efforts to address the crisis. The Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors issued […]
In surprise appointment, Bishop Henning to replace Cardinal O’Malley in Boston, US
United States RNS In a surprise announcement, Pope Francis has appointed Bishop Richard G Henning, of the Diocese of Providence, as Archbishop-elect of Boston. Henning, who has only been a bishop since 2018, will replace 80-year-old retiring Cardinal Seán P O’Malley, who has served as one of Francis’ closest advisers since the beginning of his […]
Pope’s top adviser, women who say they were abused by ex-Jesuit artist, ask for mosaics to be removed
Rome, Italy AP The scandal over a famous ex-Jesuit artist who is accused of psychologically, spiritually and sexually abusing adult women came to a head Friday after some of his alleged victims and the Pope’s own anti-abuse adviser asked for his artworks not to be promoted or displayed. The separate initiatives underscored how the case […]
Pope meets with child protection board as events outside Vatican show abuse scandal isn’t going away
Rome, Italy AP Pope Francis sought to encourage his child protection board on Thursday to continue helping victims, as new developments outside the Vatican underscored that the Catholic Church’s clergy sex abuse scandal isn’t going away anytime soon. Francis met with his Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors, which is expected to soon release the […]
After acrimonious resignation, Pope tells abuse commission to ‘move forward’
Vatican City Reuters Pope Francis on Friday praised the work of an international Vatican commission on sexual abuse prevention, following the recent acrimonious resignation of a high-profile member who accused it of lacking transparency. In an address to a plenary session of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors, Francis made no reference or […]
Top expert resigns from Vatican committee against child sex abuse
Vatican City Reuters Father Hans Zollner, one of the leading members of the Vatican committee against child sexual abuse, said on Wednesday he had resigned from the group, citing concerns over the way it was operating. Zollner was one of the founding members of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors, which Pope Francis […]
Pope warns of lost trust without more abuse accountability
Vatican City AP Pope Francis gave a new mandate to his sex abuse advisory commission Friday, telling its members to work with bishops around the world to establish special welcome centers for victims and to audit the church’s progress on fighting abuse from its new perch within the Vatican. Francis warned that without more transparency […]
Pope taps Chilean sex abuse whistleblower for Vatican panel
Vatican City AP Pope Francis on Wednesday named a Chilean survivor of clerical sex abuse to serve on a Vatican commission that advises the pontiff on how to protect children from paedophile priests. The Vatican said Juan Carlos Cruz is the latest member of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors. Other members of […]
Abuse in lockdowns: Amid pandemic, domestic and sexual abuse is skyrocketing. Activists worry that news is being buried
CLAIRE GIANGRAVÉ, of Religion News Service, reports from Vatican City on concerns the battle against abuse of the vulnerable is losing momentum during the coronavirus pandemic…
Essay: Taking stock of the clergy sexual abuse crisis – holding bishops accountable
US Catholic commentator THOMAS REESE, in an article first published on Religion News Service, continues his look at how the Catholic Church should respond to the clergy sexual abuse crisis…