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 head of the congregation’s discipline section, which processes the cases. The CDF serves as the central processing center for abuse cases as well as an appeals court for accused priests under the church’s canon law, a parallel legal system that dispenses ecclesial justice. But there are still countries the CDF has never heard from — a scenario that suggests “either that they’re all saints or we don’t know about them yet,” Kennedy told AP.

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History of this topic

Vatican commission finds Catholic Church must do better job on compensating abuse victims
2 months, 1 week ago

Vatican commission finds Catholic Church must do better job on compensating abuse victims

ABC  

The Catholic Church must do a better job of handling compensation for the victims of clergy sexual abuse, the Vatican's child protection commission said in its first annual report on Tuesday The church has been shaken by scandals across the world for decades, involving paedophile priests and the cover-up of their crimes. Colombian Bishop and commission secretary Luis Manuel Ali …

Pope expels a bishop and 9 other people from a Peru movement over 'sadistic' abuses
3 months, 2 weeks ago

Pope expels a bishop and 9 other people from a Peru movement over 'sadistic' abuses

The Independent  

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Pope expels a bishop and 9 other people from a Peru movement over ‘sadistic’ abuses
3 months, 2 weeks ago

Pope expels a bishop and 9 other people from a Peru movement over ‘sadistic’ abuses

CNN  

VATICAN CITY Associated Press — Pope Francis took the unusual decision Wednesday to expel 10 people – a bishop, priests and laypeople – from a troubled Catholic movement in Peru after a Vatican investigation uncovered “sadistic” abuses of power, authority and spirituality. According to the statement, the Vatican investigators uncovered physical abuses “including with sadism and violence,” sect-like abuses of …

Expanding clergy sexual abuse probe targets New Orleans Catholic church leaders
8 months, 1 week ago

Expanding clergy sexual abuse probe targets New Orleans Catholic church leaders

Associated Press  

NEW ORLEANS — Authorities have expanded an investigation of clergy sexual abuse in the Roman Catholic Church in New Orleans to include senior church officials suspected of shielding predatory priests for decades and failing to report their crimes to law enforcement. Louisiana State Police carried out a sweeping search warrant last week at the Archdiocese of New Orleans, seeking a …

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 …

The Vatican’s problematic process to address clergy sex abuse cases, explained
10 months, 2 weeks ago

The Vatican’s problematic process to address clergy sex abuse cases, explained

Associated Press  

VATICAN CITY — One afternoon in mid-December, Pope Francis had a meeting that wasn’t on his official agenda or otherwise recorded, that underscored the utter dysfunction of the Catholic Church’s response to the global clergy sex abuse scandal. “The only justice, or semblance of justice that has been meted out is in civilian courts because the church can’t screw them …

Spain’s report on Catholic Church sex abuse estimates victims could number in hundreds of thousands
1 year, 2 months ago

Spain’s report on Catholic Church sex abuse estimates victims could number in hundreds of thousands

Associated Press  

MADRID — Spain’s first official probe of sex abuse by clergy members or other people connected to the Catholic Church in the country included a survey that indicated that the number of victims could run into hundreds of thousands. The survey was part of a damning report by the office of Spain’s ombudsman, or “defensor del pueblo,” following an 18-month …

Spain's report on Catholic Church sex abuse estimates victims could number in hundreds of thousands
1 year, 2 months ago

Spain's report on Catholic Church sex abuse estimates victims could number in hundreds of thousands

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 Spain’s first official probe of …

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 …

Clergy abuse survivors propose new ‘zero tolerance’ law following outcry over Vatican appointment
1 year, 3 months ago

Clergy abuse survivors propose new ‘zero tolerance’ law following outcry over Vatican appointment

Associated Press  

ROME — Clergy sexual abuse survivors on Monday unveiled a proposed new church law calling for the permanent removal of abusive priests and superiors who covered for them, as they stepped up their outrage over Pope Francis’ choice to head the Vatican office that investigates sex crimes. The Vatican office that Fernandez now heads has processed priest abuse cases globally …

Vatican shares investigation into child abuse allegations against an Australian bishop with police
1 year, 3 months ago

Vatican shares investigation into child abuse allegations against an Australian bishop with police

Associated Press  

CANBERRA, Australia — The Vatican had shared with police findings of an internal investigation of a former Australian bishop over child sex abuse allegations and the church would fully cooperate with criminal investigators, a cleric said on Friday. The Catholic Church announced the handover of its investigation report into former Bishop Christopher Saunders three days after the Western Australia Police …

Over 1,000 cases of sexual abuse in Swiss Catholic Church since mid-20th century
1 year, 3 months ago

Over 1,000 cases of sexual abuse in Swiss Catholic Church since mid-20th century

The Hindu  

A sweeping, year-long study of sex abuse by Catholic priests and others in Switzerland published on September 12 has turned up more than 1,000 cases since the mid-20th century, as the Swiss church becomes the latest in Europe to reckon with the abuse scandal. The report, commissioned by the Swiss Conference of Bishops and led by two University of Zurich …

Sweeping study finds 1,000 cases of sexual abuse in Swiss Catholic Church since mid-20th century
1 year, 3 months ago

Sweeping study finds 1,000 cases of sexual abuse in Swiss Catholic Church since mid-20th century

Associated Press  

GENEVA — A sweeping, year-long study of sexual abuse by Catholic priests and others in Switzerland published Tuesday has turned up more than 1,000 cases since the mid-20th century, as the Swiss church becomes the latest in Europe to reckon with the abuse scandal. The report, commissioned by the Swiss Conference of Bishops and led by two University of Zurich …

Pope Francis expresses concern and dismay over alleged abuse by priests in Bolivia
1 year, 6 months ago

Pope Francis expresses concern and dismay over alleged abuse by priests in Bolivia

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 expressed concern — …

Pope Francis expresses concern and dismay over alleged abuse by priests in Bolivia
1 year, 6 months ago

Pope Francis expresses concern and dismay over alleged abuse by priests in Bolivia

Associated Press  

LA PAZ, Bolivia — Pope Francis expressed concern — and dismay — over the allegations of sexual abuse committed by priests in Bolivia in a letter sent Friday to President Luis Arce, as a pedophilia scandal involving priests continues to rock the the Andean country. In the letter, Francis says he shares the president’s “concern, outrage and condemnation” regarding the …

Report reveals over 600 abuse cases in Baltimore Catholic church
1 year, 9 months ago

Report reveals over 600 abuse cases in Baltimore Catholic church

Al Jazeera  

Officials say abuse in the Baltimore archdiocese — stretching back to 1940s — was ‘pervasive, pernicious and persistent’. “The sheer number of abusers and victims, the depravity of the abusers’ conduct, and the frequency with which known abusers were given the opportunity to continue preying upon children are astonishing.” The report adds to a growing list of sexual abuse allegations …

Pope expands sex abuse law, reaffirms adults can be victims
1 year, 9 months ago

Pope expands sex abuse law, reaffirms adults can be victims

The Hindu  

Pope Francis on Saturday updated a 2019 church law aimed at holding Catholic hierarchs accountable for covering up cases of sex abuse, expanding the norms to cover lay Catholic leaders and reaffirming that vulnerable adults can also be victims of abuse when they are unable to consent. The new norms also reaffirmed that even adults can be victims of predator …

Spain’s ombudsman registers 445 church sex abuse complaints
1 year, 9 months ago

Spain’s ombudsman registers 445 church sex abuse complaints

Associated Press  

MADRID — Spain’s ombudsman said Monday that an independent commission set up a year ago to investigate historic sex abuse by the Catholic church has collected testimonies from 445 victims, as the nation tackles an issue other European countries acted on long ago. Spain’s parliament voted on March 10, 2022 to open the first official investigation, led by ombudsman Ángel …

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 …

Though faulted, Benedict turned Vatican around on sex abuse
2 years ago

Though faulted, Benedict turned Vatican around on sex abuse

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. “In our view, Pope Benedict XVI is taking decades …

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 …

FBI opens sweeping probe of clergy sex abuse in New Orleans
2 years, 6 months ago

FBI opens sweeping probe of clergy sex abuse in New Orleans

Associated Press  

NEW ORLEANS — The FBI has opened a widening investigation into sex abuse in the Roman Catholic Church in New Orleans going back decades, a rare federal foray into such cases looking specifically at whether priests took children across state lines to molest them, officials and others familiar with the inquiry told The Associated Press. They’ve dragged their feet around …

Vatican ponders priesthood amid abuse research, revelations
2 years, 10 months ago

Vatican ponders priesthood amid abuse research, revelations

Associated Press  

VATICAN CITY — The Vatican this week is hosting a three-day symposium on the Catholic priesthood amid renewed public attention on clergy sex abuse scandals and fresh research into the abuses of priestly power that harm both children and adults. Archbishop Bernard Hebda of St. Paul and Minneapolis told his fellow bishops over a year ago that the McCarrick scandal …

Portugal: Church sex abuse panel unearths over 200 cases
2 years, 10 months ago

Portugal: Church sex abuse panel unearths over 200 cases

Associated Press  

LISBON, Portugal — A lay committee looking into historic child sex abuse in the Portuguese Catholic Church said Thursday that during its first month of work it received allegations from 214 people. The allegations are from people born between 1933 and 2006 and tell of psychological torment kept secret for decades, the Independent Committee for the Study of Child Abuse …

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 …

Pope expresses ‘shame’ at scale of church sex abuse in France
3 years, 3 months ago

Pope expresses ‘shame’ at scale of church sex abuse in France

LA Times  

Pope Francis listens to speeches during his weekly general audience at the Vatican on Wednesday. Pope Francis expressed “shame” for himself and the Roman Catholic Church on Wednesday for the scale of child sexual abuse within the church in France and acknowledged failures in putting the needs of victims first. “It is also my shame, our shame, my shame, for …

France Catholic church abuse scandal: 216,000 minors sexually abused, report finds
3 years, 3 months ago

France Catholic church abuse scandal: 216,000 minors sexually abused, report finds

CNN  

Paris CNN — Members of the Catholic clergy in France sexually abused an estimated 216,000 minors over the past seven decades, according to a damning report published Tuesday that said the Church had prioritized the protection of the institution over victims who were urged to stay silent. “Faced with this scourge, for a very long time the Catholic Church’s immediate …

The global scale of child sexual abuse in the Catholic Church
3 years, 3 months ago

The global scale of child sexual abuse in the Catholic Church

Al Jazeera  

A series of abuse scandals, often involving children, have rocked the Catholic Church in recent decades. The Catholic Church has been repeatedly rocked by child sexual abuse scandals over the last three decades. An independent inquiry on Tuesday said it had concluded there were about 216,000 victims of sexual abuse carried out by the French Catholic Church’s clergy between 1950 …

French clergy sexually abused ‘over 200,000 children’ since 1950
3 years, 3 months ago

French clergy sexually abused ‘over 200,000 children’ since 1950

Al Jazeera  

About 216,000 children are estimated to have been sexually abused by thousands of French Catholic priests, deacons and other clergy since 1950, an independent inquiry has found, alleging the phenomenon was covered up by a “veil of silence”. Speaking at a public, online presentation of the report, Suave added that the Church had shown “deep, total and even cruel indifference …

Pope to bishops: Listen to abuse victims for sake of church
3 years, 3 months ago

Pope to bishops: Listen to abuse victims for sake of church

Associated Press  

ROME — Pope Francis urged European bishops on Saturday to listen to survivors of clergy sexual abuse and consider them partners in reform, warning that their failure to do so risks the very future of the Catholic Church. He said bishops in particular must be the first to listen to victims, not the last, and must be at their service …

Vatican exonerates Brooklyn Bishop accused of sexual abuse
3 years, 4 months ago

Vatican exonerates Brooklyn Bishop accused of sexual abuse

Associated Press  

NEW YORK — The Vatican has concluded that allegations of sexual abuse dating back a half century against the Roman Catholic Bishop of Brooklyn do not “have the semblance of truth,” but an attorney for the accusers said they would press forward with their civil cases. Cardinal Timothy Dolan, the Archbishop of New York, said Wednesday that the Vatican has …

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 …

Poland seeks Vatican’s data for its church sex abuse probes
3 years, 6 months ago

Poland seeks Vatican’s data for its church sex abuse probes

Associated Press  

WARSAW, Poland — Poland’s state commission for fighting sex abuse of minors said Thursday it has asked the Vatican for data on abuse by the clergy in Poland because Poland’s church is not providing the requested information. He said, however, that despite written requests made earlier this year to regional leaders of Poland’s Catholic Church and of other churches, only …

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 …

Spain: Catholic leaders put numbers to sex abuse claims
3 years, 8 months ago

Spain: Catholic leaders put numbers to sex abuse claims

Associated Press  

MADRID — In a first public attempt to put numbers to instances of child sex abuse by the country’s Catholic clergy, Spain’s Episcopal Conference revealed Friday that 220 cases were officially reported to the Vatican over the past two decades. The conference, which is the top governing body of Spain’s Catholic Church, said Spanish bishops submitted 76 allegations against regular …

Catholic Church Pays $7 Million to More than 70 Victims in Colorado of Sexual Abuse by Priests
4 years, 1 month ago

Catholic Church Pays $7 Million to More than 70 Victims in Colorado of Sexual Abuse by Priests

News 18  

The Roman Catholic Church has paid out $7.3 million to more than 70 people sexually abused during their youth by priests in Colorado parishes, settling claims dating back over two decades, authorities said on Tuesday. In its review of all three Colorado dioceses stretching back to the 1950s, the state attorney general’s inquiry documented a total of 212 cases of …

Vatican's McCarrick report forces debate on power and abuse
4 years, 1 month ago

Vatican's McCarrick report forces debate on power and abuse

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 The Vatican’s report into ex-Cardinal …

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 …

Vatican says bishops should report sex abuse to police
4 years, 5 months ago

Vatican says bishops should report sex abuse to police

The Hindu  

The Vatican told bishops around the world on Thursday they should report cases of clergy sex crimes to police even when not legally bound to do so, in its latest effort to compel church leaders to protect minors from predator priests. In addition, the manual says bishops should not ignore allegations just because they fall outside the church’s statute of …

Vatican says bishops should report sex abuse to police
4 years, 5 months ago

Vatican says bishops should report sex abuse to police

Associated Press  

VATICAN CITY — The Vatican told bishops around the world on Thursday they should report cases of clergy sex crimes to police even when not legally bound to do so, in its latest effort to compel church leaders to protect minors from predator priests. In addition, the manual says bishops should not ignore allegations just because they fall outside the …

Vatican releases guidelines for bishops on how to handle clerical child abuse claims
4 years, 5 months ago

Vatican releases guidelines for bishops on how to handle clerical child abuse claims

Daily Mail  

The Vatican today released guidelines for bishops on how to handle clerical child abuse claims after Pope Francis called for a 'practical handbook' for cases. The Vatican today released guidelines for bishops on how to handle clerical child abuse claims after Pope Francis called for a 'practical handbook' for cases At the time, he called for 'a practical handbook indicating …

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 …

Vatican office struggles to keep up with clergy abuse cases
5 years ago

Vatican office struggles to keep up with clergy abuse cases

Associated Press  

VATICAN CITY — The Vatican office responsible for processing clergy sex abuse complaints has seen a record 1,000 cases reported from around the world this year, including from countries it had not heard from before — suggesting that the worst may be yet to come in a crisis that has plagued the Roman Catholic Church. “We’re effectively seeing a tsunami …

Pope abolishes ‘pontifical secret’ in clergy sex abuse cases
5 years ago

Pope abolishes ‘pontifical secret’ in clergy sex abuse cases

The Hindu  

Pope Francis has abolished the “pontifical secret” used in clergy sexual abuse cases, after mounting criticism that the high degree of confidentiality has been used to protect paedophiles, silence victims and keep law enforcement from investigating crimes. In a new document, Francis decreed that information in abuse cases must be protected by church leaders to ensure its “security, integrity and …

1,700 Catholic Priests Accused Of Child Sex Abuse Reportedly Living Freely In U.S.
5 years, 3 months ago

1,700 Catholic Priests Accused Of Child Sex Abuse Reportedly Living Freely In U.S.

Huff Post  

LOADING ERROR LOADING Nearly 1,700 priests and other clergy members that the Roman Catholic Church considers credibly accused of child sexual abuse are living under the radar with little to no oversight from religious authorities or law enforcement, decades after the first wave of the church abuse scandal roiled U.S. dioceses, an Associated Press investigation has found. He said he …

100s of accused priests living under radar with no oversight
5 years, 3 months ago

100s of accused priests living under radar with no oversight

Associated Press  

Almost 1,700 priests and other clergy members that the Roman Catholic Church considers credibly accused of child sexual abuse are living under the radar with little to no oversight from religious authorities or law enforcement, decades after the first wave of the church abuse scandal roiled U.S. dioceses, an Associated Press investigation has found. A recent push by Roman Catholic …

Catholic Church tightens rules on reporting sexual abuse — but not swearing off clergy privilege
5 years, 7 months ago

Catholic Church tightens rules on reporting sexual abuse — but not swearing off clergy privilege

Salon  

Pope Francis recently changed the Catholic Church law, making it mandatory for clergy to report sexual abuse to church superiors. Pope Francis’ proposal is an effort to address gaps in the regulatory process of the church, which has been accused of shielding clergy sexual abuse. In my research, I reviewed more than 700 judicial decisions addressing clergy privilege in a …

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