Vatican prosecutor seeks prison for priest in abuse trial
3 years, 5 months ago

Vatican prosecutor seeks prison for priest in abuse trial

Associated Press  

VATICAN CITY — A prosecutor for the Holy See asked a Vatican court Thursday to convict and sentence an Italian priest for the alleged sexual abuse of a former altar boy on Vatican City property. Gabriele Martinelli stem from abuse that allegedly took place at the Vatican’s youth seminary. Earlier in the trial, the former altar boy testified that he arrived at the seminary from northern Italy as a 13-year-old and Martinelli began molesting him a few months later. In 2017, former altar boys went public with abuse accusations against Martinelli and cover-up allegations against seminary superiors.

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History of this topic

Lawyers hit out at Vatican’s ‘trial of the century’ after Pope secretly changes law four times
9 months, 3 weeks ago

Lawyers hit out at Vatican’s ‘trial of the century’ after Pope secretly changes law four times

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Reporters watch a screen in …

Italy abuse case highlights how scandal slowly beginning to come to light in pope’s backyard
9 months, 4 weeks ago

Italy abuse case highlights how scandal slowly beginning to come to light in pope’s backyard

Associated Press  

ROME — The clergy sexual abuse scandal is slowly gathering steam in Italy with increasing media coverage, criminal convictions and the launch Monday of an investigative podcast dedicated to a case that tangentially involved Pope Francis. Victim Antonio Messina told his story at the launch Monday of the podcast about his case, saying it was his duty to speak out …

Vatican prosecutor appeals verdict that largely dismantled his fraud case but convicted cardinal
1 year ago

Vatican prosecutor appeals verdict that largely dismantled his fraud case but convicted cardinal

Associated Press  

VATICAN CITY — The Vatican’s chief prosecutor has appealed a court verdict that largely dismantled his theory of a grand conspiracy to defraud the Holy See of millions of euros but found a cardinal guilty of embezzlement. Prosecutor Alessandro Diddi filed his appeal this week of the three-judge tribunal’s decision in a complicated financial trial that aired the Vatican’s dirty …

Vatican Convicts Cardinal In Financial Crime That Tested Justice System
1 year ago

Vatican Convicts Cardinal In Financial Crime That Tested Justice System

Huff Post  

LOADING ERROR LOADING VATICAN CITY — A Vatican tribunal on Saturday convicted a cardinal of embezzlement and sentenced him to 5 ½ years in prison in one of several verdicts handed down in a complicated financial trial that aired the city state’s dirty laundry and tested its justice system. Prosecutor Alessandro Diddi said the outcome “showed we were correct.” The …

Vatican court convicts cardinal of embezzlement in corruption trial
1 year ago

Vatican court convicts cardinal of embezzlement in corruption trial

The Hindu  

A Vatican court on Saturday convicted Italian Cardinal Angelo Becciu of several counts of embezzlement and sentenced him to five years and six months in jail. Becciu was the highest ranking Church official ever to stand trail before a Vatican criminal court. The 75-year-old, a former adviser to Pope Francis who was once considered a papal contender himself, was the …

Senior cardinal convicted of embezzlement in historic Vatican fraud trial
1 year ago

Senior cardinal convicted of embezzlement in historic Vatican fraud trial

Al Jazeera  

For the first time in the history of the Catholic Church, a cardinal has been sentenced to prison by a Vatican court. Cardinal Angelo Becciu, the most senior Catholic Church official ever to stand trial before a Vatican criminal court, has been convicted of embezzlement and sentenced to five-and-a-half years in jail. London building sold for $153m loss Becciu, a …

Pope orders Vatican to reopen case of priest accused of adult abuse but allowed to keep ministering
1 year, 2 months ago

Pope orders Vatican to reopen case of priest accused of adult abuse but allowed to keep ministering

Associated Press  

ROME — Pope Francis has ordered the Vatican to reopen the case of a well-known priest-artist accused of sexually, psychologically and spiritually abusing adult women, and removed the statute of limitations that had previously prevented a church trial based on their claims. A Vatican statement said Francis’ abuse prevention commission had flagged “serious problems” in the way his case was …

Argentina archbishop says he made mistakes in handling abuse allegations against priest
1 year, 5 months ago

Argentina archbishop says he made mistakes in handling abuse allegations against priest

Associated Press  

LA PLATA, Argentina — Archbishop Victor Manuel Fernández, chosen by Pope Francis to head the Vatican office that ensures doctrinal orthodoxy, conceded Sunday he made mistakes in handling a 2019 case of a priest accused of sexual abuse of minors. Pope Francis appointed Fernández on July 1 to head the Holy See’s Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, which …

Vatican cardinal accused in financial crimes case says he can’t get a fair trial
1 year, 7 months ago

Vatican cardinal accused in financial crimes case says he can’t get a fair trial

LA Times  

Cardinal Angelo Becciu, shown in 2022, was once one of the most influential Vatican cardinals and a close aide to Pope Francis. A Vatican cardinal on trial in the Holy See’s big financial crimes case alleged Friday that he can’t properly defend himself from “the nightmare of these accusations” because prosecutors have withheld key evidence from the defense. Cardinal Angelo …

Pope opens up on sex abuse cases, says church must do more
1 year, 11 months ago

Pope opens up on sex abuse cases, says church must do more

Associated Press  

VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis has shed light on the Catholic Church’s handling of sex abuse allegations against East Timor’s Nobel Peace Prize-winning independence hero, suggesting that he indeed was allowed to retire early rather than face prosecution or punishment. Francis acknowledged the Catholic Church still had a long way to go to deal with the problem, saying more transparency …

Italy church says 600 sex abuse cases sent to Vatican
2 years, 1 month ago

Italy church says 600 sex abuse cases sent to Vatican

Associated Press  

VATICAN CITY — Italy’s Catholic bishops provided their first accounting of clergy sexual abuse and revealed Thursday that more than 600 cases from Italy were on file at the Vatican since 2000. The report of the Italian bishops’ conference, which only covered complaints that local Italian church authorities had received over the last two years, did not mention the hundreds …

Argentine bishop defended by pope sentenced in abuse case
2 years, 10 months ago

Argentine bishop defended by pope sentenced in abuse case

Associated Press  

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina — An Argentine court on Friday sentenced a Roman Catholic bishop to 4 1/2 years in prison for sexual abuse of two former seminarians in a major blow to Pope Francis, who had defended Gustavo Zanchetta following initial allegations. The conviction in the pope’s homeland hits at Francis’ personal credibility since he had initially rejected accusations against …

Priest gets prison term for sexually abusing altar boy
2 years, 10 months ago

Priest gets prison term for sexually abusing altar boy

Associated Press  

UNIONTOWN, Pa. — A western Pennsylvania Roman Catholic priest who sexually assaulted an altar boy for several years has been sentenced to 2 1/2 to five years in state prison. Andrew Mark Kawecki, of Greensburg will also have to register as a sex offender for 10 years once he’s freed from custody under the sentence imposed Thursday. Prosecutors said the …

Vatican defends Benedict after report faults abuse record
2 years, 11 months ago

Vatican defends Benedict after report faults abuse record

Associated Press  

ROME — The Vatican on Wednesday strongly defended Pope Benedict XVI’s record in fighting clergy sexual abuse and cautioned against looking for “easy scapegoats and summary judgments,” after an independent report faulted his handling of four cases of abuse when he was archbishop of Munich, Germany. The Holy See’s editorial director, Andrea Tornielli, provided the Vatican’s first substantial response to …

Vatican Issues Acquittals to Two Priests in Child Sex Abuse Trial
3 years, 3 months ago

Vatican Issues Acquittals to Two Priests in Child Sex Abuse Trial

News 18  

Two priests were acquitted on Wednesday of charges linked with sex abuse at a school for altar boys in the Vatican City, in the first criminal trial of its kind. The trial, which started 12 months ago, was the first to be held before a Vatican criminal court over allegations of sex abuse or cover-ups within Vatican territory. In a …

Lawyer in Vatican abuse trial says no evidence of misconduct
3 years, 5 months ago

Lawyer in Vatican abuse trial says no evidence of misconduct

Associated Press  

ROME — The lawyer for a former altar boy accused of sexually abusing a younger boy at the Vatican’s youth seminary asked a Vatican court to absolve her client Friday, saying there was no evidence of misconduct and that “this trial never should have occurred.” In her closing arguments, attorney Rita Claudia Baffioni said the seven-month age difference between alleged …

Vatican law criminalizes abuse of adults by priests, laity
3 years, 7 months ago

Vatican law criminalizes abuse of adults by priests, laity

Associated Press  

VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis has changed Catholic Church law to explicitly criminalize the sexual abuse of adults by priests who abuse their authority and to say that laypeople who hold church office also can be sanctioned for similar sex crimes. The law doesn’t explicitly define which adults are covered, saying only an adult who “habitually has an imperfect use …

Vatican Law Criminalizes Abuse Of Adults By Priests, Laity
3 years, 7 months ago

Vatican Law Criminalizes Abuse Of Adults By Priests, Laity

Huff Post  

General audience of Pope Francis with the presence of a small group of faithful in masks after the long pause due to the coronavirus pandemic in the Cortile San Damaso, at Vatican City, May 26, 2021. Mondadori Portfolio via Getty Images VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis has changed church law to explicitly criminalize the sexual abuse of adults by priests …

The Pope Is Toughening Church Laws On Sex Abuse, Fraud And The Ordination Of Women
3 years, 7 months ago

The Pope Is Toughening Church Laws On Sex Abuse, Fraud And The Ordination Of Women

NPR  

The Pope Is Toughening Church Laws On Sex Abuse, Fraud And The Ordination Of Women Enlarge this image toggle caption Remo Casilli/Pool via AP Remo Casilli/Pool via AP ROME — Pope Francis on Tuesday issued a major revision of Catholic Church laws regulating clerical sex abuse, fraud and the attempt to ordain women. Sponsor Message After handling scandals secretively with …

Pope moves youth seminary out of Vatican amid abuse trial
3 years, 7 months ago

Pope moves youth seminary out of Vatican amid abuse trial

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Pope Francis has decided to …

Pope moves youth seminary out of Vatican amid abuse trial
3 years, 7 months ago

Pope moves youth seminary out of Vatican amid abuse trial

Associated Press  

ROME — Pope Francis has decided to move a youth seminary outside Vatican City, taking action before the Vatican’s criminal tribunal renders a verdict in a sex abuse trial involving a former seminarian and an ex-rector. The Vatican made no mention of the ongoing trial in its announcement Tuesday that the St. Pius X pre-seminary would relocate somewhere in Rome …

Ex-Vatican altar boy testifies in seminary sex abuse trial
3 years, 9 months ago

Ex-Vatican altar boy testifies in seminary sex abuse trial

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy A former Vatican altar boy …

Probe highlights Vatican legal system’s limited protections
3 years, 11 months ago

Probe highlights Vatican legal system’s limited protections

Associated Press  

VATICAN CITY — A criminal investigation into a Vatican real estate investment is exposing weaknesses in the city state’s judicial system and a lack of some basic protections for those accused — highlighting the incompatibility of the Holy See’s procedures with European norms. If nothing is done, wrote Marc Odendall, “the Holy See will no longer be able to integrate …

Vatican Court Hears Unprecedented Sexual Abuse Criminal Trial
4 years, 2 months ago

Vatican Court Hears Unprecedented Sexual Abuse Criminal Trial

NPR  

Vatican Court Hears Unprecedented Sexual Abuse Criminal Trial Enlarge this image toggle caption Bloomberg/Bloomberg via Getty Images Bloomberg/Bloomberg via Getty Images Editor's note: This story includes details some readers may find disturbing. It's the first criminal trial for sexual abuse to take place in the Vatican court. Following Jarzembowski's allegations, Francis waived the statute of limitations for sexual abuse and …

New Vatican Guidance Urges Clergy To Report Cases Of Sexual Abuse
4 years, 5 months ago

New Vatican Guidance Urges Clergy To Report Cases Of Sexual Abuse

NPR  

New Vatican Guidance Urges Clergy To Report Cases Of Sexual Abuse Enlarge this image toggle caption Andrew Medichini/AP Andrew Medichini/AP The Vatican on Wednesday published a handbook for clergy and church lawyers that lays out the steps to follow when investigating and reporting alleged cases of sexual abuse of minors and others by priests, deacons and prelates. Sponsor Message Some …

5-year sentence for French priest who abused boy scouts
4 years, 9 months ago

5-year sentence for French priest who abused boy scouts

Associated Press  

LYON, France — A French priest who acknowledged sexually abusing at least 75 boys over decades was sentenced Monday to five years in prison, in France’s worst case of clergy abuse to reach trial. Preynat testified that multiple cardinals and other senior church officials were aware of his misconduct dating back to the 1960s, but he wasn’t removed from the …

Vatican orders sex abuse investigation of Brooklyn bishop
4 years, 11 months ago

Vatican orders sex abuse investigation of Brooklyn bishop

Associated Press  

NEW YORK — The Vatican has ordered an investigation of a sexual abuse allegation against Brooklyn Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio, who was previously named by Pope Francis to investigate the church’s response to clergy sexual abuse in Buffalo. Cardinal Timothy Dolan of the Archdiocese of New York received instructions on Jan. 7 to begin an investigation of allegations that DiMarzio molested …

Vatican tribunal now overwhelmed by clergy abuse cases
5 years ago

Vatican tribunal now overwhelmed by clergy abuse cases

Associated Press  

VATICAN CITY — The Vatican office responsible for processing clergy sex abuse complaints saw a record 1,000 cases reported from around the world this year — and still some regions that haven’t reported any allegations at all. “We’re effectively seeing a tsunami of cases at the moment, particularly from countries where we never heard from,” said Monsignor John Kennedy, the …

Altar boys say they were abused by priests at the Vatican
5 years, 1 month ago

Altar boys say they were abused by priests at the Vatican

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Former altar boys have claimed …

Defrocked Catholic priest from 'Spotlight' faces second prison sentence
5 years, 7 months ago

Defrocked Catholic priest from 'Spotlight' faces second prison sentence

The Independent  

The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy A judge has sentenced …

Five Former Michigan Catholic Priests Charged With Sex Crimes
5 years, 7 months ago

Five Former Michigan Catholic Priests Charged With Sex Crimes

Huff Post  

LOADING ERROR LOADING DETROIT — Michigan prosecutors announced the filing of sexual abuse charges Friday against five former Catholic priests as part of a state attorney general’s investigation into clergy abuse going back decades. Attorney General Dana Nessel said the priests served in dioceses in Detroit, Lansing and Kalamazoo, and that they’ve been charged with various counts of criminal sexual …

Pope requires sex abuse claims be reported in Vatican City
5 years, 9 months ago

Pope requires sex abuse claims be reported in Vatican City

Associated Press  

VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis has issued sweeping new sex abuse legislation for the Vatican City State and Vatican diplomats that requires the immediate reporting of allegations to Vatican prosecutors, as he seeks to create a model policy for the Catholic Church. Francis also issued child protection guidelines for Vatican City State and its youth seminary, acting after the global …

Pope Issues New Edict Requiring Vatican Officials To Report Sex Abuse Allegations
5 years, 9 months ago

Pope Issues New Edict Requiring Vatican Officials To Report Sex Abuse Allegations

NPR  

Pope Issues New Edict Requiring Vatican Officials To Report Sex Abuse Allegations Enlarge this image toggle caption Andrew Medichini/AP Andrew Medichini/AP Pope Francis issued a new decree making it mandatory for Vatican City officials or its diplomats around the globe to immediately report allegations of sexual abuse to authorities or face possible jail time. Sponsor Message "The protection of minors …

Vatican child sex abuse scandal: Cardinal George Pell sentenced to six years in prison in Australia
5 years, 9 months ago

Vatican child sex abuse scandal: Cardinal George Pell sentenced to six years in prison in Australia

Firstpost  

The County Court Chief Judge Peter Kidd, while delivering the sentence, described Pell’s abuse of two choirboys in the sacristy at St Patrick’s Cathedral in Melbourne as “a brazen and forcible sexual attack on the victims” Melbourne: Cardinal George Pell, the most senior Vatican official to be convicted of sex abuse to date, has been sentenced to six years in …

Ex-Vatican Official, Cardinal Pell, Sentenced To 6 Years In Prison
5 years, 9 months ago

Ex-Vatican Official, Cardinal Pell, Sentenced To 6 Years In Prison

NPR  

Ex-Vatican Official, Cardinal Pell, Sentenced To 6 Years In Prison Australian Cardinal George Pell on Wednesday was sentenced to six years in prison — making him the most senior Catholic official to be found guilty in a criminal court of child molestation. STEVE INSKEEP, HOST: How much prison time is enough for the most senior Catholic cleric ever charged with …

Catholic Church cardinals implicated in sex abuse, cover-ups
5 years, 10 months ago

Catholic Church cardinals implicated in sex abuse, cover-ups

Associated Press  

VATICAN CITY — The conviction of French Cardinal Philippe Barbarin for failing to report a known pedophile priest to police deepens the crisis confronting an already discredited Catholic Church hierarchy. After his conviction, the Vatican said its sex crimes office had opened an investigation and confirmed the Sydney archbishop restricted Pell’s ministry after the cardinal returned to Australia to face …

Pope vows to end abuse cover-ups but victims disappointed
5 years, 10 months ago

Pope vows to end abuse cover-ups but victims disappointed

Associated Press  

VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis closed out his extraordinary summit on preventing clergy sex abuse by vowing Sunday to confront abusers with “the wrath of God” felt by the faithful, end the cover-ups by their superiors and prioritize the victims of this “brazen, aggressive and destructive evil.” But his failure to offer a concrete action plan to hold bishops accountable …

Pope calls for ‘concrete measures’ as summit on clergy sexual abuse begins
5 years, 10 months ago

Pope calls for ‘concrete measures’ as summit on clergy sexual abuse begins

CNN  

Rome CNN — Pope Francis began an unprecedented summit in Rome to confront the Catholic Church’s clergy abuse scandal by saying that Catholics are not looking for simple condemnation, but concrete actions. “In the face of this scourge of sexual abuse perpetrated by men of the church to the detriment of minors, I thought I would summon you,” the Pope …

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