News
Letter of His Holiness Pope Francis to the People of God
With shame and repentance, we acknowledge as an ecclesial community that we were not where we should have been, that we did not act in a timely manner, realizing the magnitude and the gravity of the damage done to so many lives, writes Pope Francis.
Carta del Papa Francisco al Pueblo de Dios
Con vergüenza y arrepentimiento, como comunidad eclesial, asumimos que no supimos estar donde teníamos que estar, que no actuamos a tiempo reconociendo la magnitud y la gravedad del daño que se estaba causando en tantas vidas, escribe Papa Francisco.
Nuncio says U.S. bishops committed to addressing abuse scandal
"All of us bishops, priests and members of the church must find a real response to the problem. Just a juridical or organizational response will not be enough to avoid evil," said the nuncio, Archbishop Christophe Pierre.
Pope: Abuse victims’ outcry more powerful than efforts to silence them
"No effort must be spared" to prevent future cases of clerical sexual abuse and "to prevent the possibility of their being covered up," Pope Francis said in a letter addressed "to the people of God."
Changing the world requires action, not dreaming, cardinal says
Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican secretary of state, said men and women must ask themselves how to bring about change in light of the "current situation in the West."
A.W. Richard Sipe, researcher, expert on clergy sex abuse, dies at 85
Sipe's research into celibacy and priestly sexual behavior helped guide the work of church leaders and others studying, investigating and responding to the clergy sexual abuse crisis that emerged in 2002.
Religious groups to fight physical, sexual violence against kids in Peru
Catholic and other Christian and non-Christian religious groups launched an effort Aug. 16 to combat violence, especially sexual violence, against children in Peru.
Latin American church leaders mark 50 years of ‘option for the poor’
Latin American church leaders will meet in Medellin Aug. 23-26 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of a landmark regional bishops' meeting that took place in the same city in 1968.
Americans surveyed on views on ethics of genetically engineering animals
A Pew Research Center report released Aug. 16 found that Americans' view of genetically engineering animals varies widely based on the intended purpose of the modifications.
Vatican wants accountability for abusers, those who protected them
In the wake of a grand jury report on clergy sexual abuse in six dioceses in Pennsylvania, a Vatican spokesman called the abuses described in the report as being "criminal and morally reprehensible."