News
Church’s inability to put victims first is ‘moment of shame,’ pope says
According to a four-year investigation in France, an estimated 216,000 children were abused by priests since 1950, and more than 100,000 others were abused by lay employees of church institutions.
Citing lack of evidence, Vatican court clears two priests in sex abuse case
The court cited the expiration of the statute of limitations in absolving Father Gabriele Martinelli on two charges of abuse that allegedly occurred after the victim's age of 18.
Pope will not attend U.N. climate summit in Glasgow
Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican secretary of state, will attend the COP26 summit Oct. 31-Nov. 12 in place of Pope Francis, the Vatican announced with no further details.
Church must move from sorrow to action on abuse, archbishop says
Following the report on clerical sexual abuse in France, the Vatican's top investigator of abuse cases said "mourning" must give way to a "determination and conviction to act."
Plenary Council asks Australian church to embrace its diversity
One of the key questions is how the church might better embrace its diverse liturgical traditions and the cultural gifts of immigrant communities to enrich the church in Australia.
After Pandora Papers report, Legionaries of Christ deny wrongdoing
A network of offshore trusts set up by priests and businessmen close to the Legionaries of Christ moved some $295 million around four continents, according to a trove of leaked documents.
Barron: If religion becomes afterthought, ‘society loses its soul’
With tensions rising over the role of religion in society, the broader culture is compartmentalizing religious faith and moral thinking into something akin to "a hobby," said Bishop Robert Barron in New Orleans.
Federal judge’s order temporarily blocks Texas’ abortion law
A judge granted an emergency request from the Justice Department, which had already sued the state saying the law was unconstitutional. It bans most abortions after six weeks of pregnancy.
Church must move from ‘maintenance’ to ‘mission,’ bishop says
After watching cultural trends for years, a Mississippi bishop believes for the church to survive and flourish it must completely change the way it does things, making active discipleship the central goal for every Catholic.
Broad Street glows as police, priest brighten the night for sick kids
The fourth annual "Good Night Lights" display at Shriners Hospital in Philadelphia, organized by Oblate Father Steven Wetzel, brought joy to kids and cops alike.