Cardinal Seán P. O’Malley expressed his surprise, disappointment and disagreement with statements challenging the commission’s effectiveness made by Father Hans Zollner.
Sexual Abuse
Posted inFaith, News
Jesuit sex abuse expert Hans Zollner resigns from papal commission over ‘urgent concerns’
There are urgent “structural and practical issues that led me to disassociate myself” from the papal commission of sex abuse, Father Hans Zollner said.
Posted inFaith, News
Pope Francis confirms ‘vulnerable adults’ are covered by updated Vatican sex abuse law
Pope Francis has updated the procedures for investigating allegations of sexual abuse, expanding the rules of “Vos Estis” to include Catholic lay leaders, who have the same responsibilities over members as a bishop over priests.
Posted inFaith, Short Take
We don’t know enough about the causes of clergy sexual abuse. One Jesuit initiative is beginning to change that.
Fordham University’s Taking Responsibility initiative released its final report on Feb. 9, calling for both clergy and lay members of Jesuit institutions to face “entangled responsibilities” around the abuse crisis.
Posted inFaith, News
Tracking priests on dating apps: Why an effort to stop clergy sexual misconduct is causing ethical concerns
The nonprofit Catholic Laity and Clergy for Renewal recently claimed it has been legally purchasing publicly available data to assess the use of “hookup apps” by seminarians and clergy.
Posted inFaith, News
Polish bishops defend St. John Paul II, form independent commission to get ‘full picture’ on sex abuse record
The bishops of Poland announced they will create a commission of experts to investigate cases of abuse of minors by clergy from the past, including Karol Wojtyla’s archbishopric.
Posted inDispatches, Politics & Society
Pope Francis tells bishops of Latin America, where new sex abuse protections aren’t in place, to make it a priority
Pope Francis told the Latin American church leaders, “Anyone who lessens the impact of this history or minimizes the current danger dishonors those who have suffered so much and deceives those they claim to serve.”
Posted inFaith, Faith in Focus
Pope Francis has done many great things. But on sex abuse, he hasn’t done enough.
With Pope Francis’ papacy reaching its 10-year mark, what we have right now is a church that talks endlessly about openness and welcome, but the front steps feel hopelessly broken down. Who will fix them?
Posted inFaith, News
Polish experts reject claim JPII ‘covered up abuse’ and urge church records be opened to give full context
The fact that Cardinal Karol Wojtyla—the future Pope John Paul II—knew about abuse when he was an archbishop of Krakow, Poland, is neither new nor surprising, experts say.
Posted inFaith, News
New legislation in 3 states would break seal of confession, require priest to report child abuse
House Bill 74 would do away with the privilege in a sacramental confession by requiring priests to report information relating to child abuse and neglect that is shared in a confessional.