clergy abuse scandal
Australian ex-priest has prison sentence extended to 40 years for molesting 72nd child victim
By Associated Press — August 17, 2023
MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — The prison sentence has been extended eight times over the decades as more victims have come forward.
Events in Bolivia and Brazil may signal a turning point for the Catholic Church’s sexual abuse crisis in Latin America
By Matthew Casey-Pariseault — June 16, 2023
(The Conversation) — Public outrage over alleged abuse has been muted in much of Latin America for years, partly because the church remains one of the region’s most powerful institutions – but that may be changing.
Jesuits expel prominent priest after allegations of sexual, spiritual and psychological abuse
By Nicole Winfield — June 15, 2023
ROME (AP) — The Jesuits acknowledged he had been accused by several women of sexual, spiritual, and psychological abuses over a 30-year period.
Poll: Religious attendance is shrinking but those who remain are happy
By Yonat Shimron — May 16, 2023
(RNS) — In the PRRI study, 57% of Americans say they seldom or never attend religious services. Among those who do, 89% said they were proud to be associated with their congregation.
Wisconsin priest digs in to refuse bishop’s demand to resign
By Todd Richmond and David Crary — June 6, 2021
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — The Rev. James Altman calls himself “a lowly priest” serving a blue-collar city in western Wisconsin. But when his bishop demanded his resignation – after a series of divisive remarks about politics and the pandemic – Altman refused to oblige and has since raised more than $640,000 from his conservative supporters […]
Amid pandemic, domestic and sexual abuse is skyrocketing. Activists worry that news is being buried.
By Claire Giangravé — August 27, 2020
VATICAN CITY (RNS) — Throughout Europe, countries recorded a worrying spike in domestic violence, just as ‘corona divorces’ grow in Japan and China after months of lockdown, with many women citing domestic violence as the main cause.
Willow Creek confirms abuse allegations against Hybels’ mentor Gilbert Bilezikian
By Emily McFarlan Miller — January 28, 2020
CHICAGO (RNS) — Willow Creek Community Church confirmed that a mentor of former pastor Bill Hybels has been accused of sexual misconduct.
Report accuses Arizona imam of misconduct and abuse
By Aysha Khan — November 14, 2019
(RNS) — A victim's advocacy group has accused a Phoenix imam of sexual battery, child abuse, misappropriation of charitable funds and marriage fraud.
Texas grand jury declines to indict monsignor in consent case
By Nomaan Merchant and Nicole Winfield — October 22, 2019
HOUSTON (AP) — A Texas grand jury has declined to indict the onetime deputy to Cardinal Daniel DiNardo on charges he sexually assaulted a married woman in a case that raised questions about consent in the #MeToo era.
Vatican names new leader of West Virginia diocese to replace Bransfield
By Associated Press — July 23, 2019
WHEELING, W.Va. (AP) — Baltimore Auxiliary Bishop Mark Brennan will lead the Wheeling-Charleston diocese after a scandal over the former bishop's sexual harassment of adults and lavish spending.
Vatican instructs U.S. bishops to halt voting on sex abuse measures
By Jack Jenkins — November 12, 2018
BALTIMORE (RNS) — Cardinal Blase Cupich of Chicago, citing the urgency of the abuse crisis for the American church, urged that the bishops still discuss the "action items" on the issue.
Lawsuit settled, former SNAP director returns to the fight against abuse
By Eric Berger — September 26, 2018
ST. LOUIS (RNS) — David Clohessy's re-emergence is a reboot for the organization representing abuse survivors, two years after he resigned amid allegations of kickbacks from victims' attorneys.
Pope apologizes for Catholic Church ‘crimes’ in Ireland
By Nicole Winfield — August 26, 2018
KNOCK, Ireland (AP) — Pope Francis, who is on a weekend visit to Ireland, told the hundreds of thousands of people who turned out for Mass that he met Saturday with victims of all sorts of abuses.
Pope Francis received sex abuse victim’s letter, contradicting denial
By Nicole Winfield — February 5, 2018
VATICAN CITY (AP) — The fact that Francis received the eight-page letter, obtained by the AP, challenges his insistence that he has 'zero tolerance' for sex abuse and cover-ups.
Longtime leader of clergy victims group leaves as SNAP faces lawsuit
By David Gibson — January 24, 2017
(RNS) David Clohessy, longtime executive director of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, said his departure had nothing to do with allegations that the group colluded with plaintiff lawyers to profit from settlements.
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