U.S. church reforms adopted in the early 2000s have contributed to a dramatic decline in cases of child abuse by clergy. The San Diego Diocese has not had a confirmed incident of sexual abuse of a minor by any of its priests in the past 20 years, records show.
Sexual Abuse
Posted inFaith, News
Former Albany bishop named among child abuse lawsuits as N.Y. ‘look back’ laws kick in
Among the dozens of priests named in new lawsuits is at least one bishop, the Most Rev. Howard Hubbard, who led the Diocese of Albany from 1977 to 2014. He is accused in a lawsuit of sexually abusing a 16-year-old in the 1990s.
Posted inFaith, News
One year after a devastating grand jury report, Pennsylvania bishops reflect on abuse crisis
The grand jury report, released Aug. 14, 2018, was based on a monthslong investigation into alleged abuse in the dioceses of Pittsburgh, Allentown, Scranton, Erie, Harrisburg and Greensburg, Pennsylvania. It covered a 70-year period starting in 1947.
Posted inNews, Politics & Society
Flurry of suits emerge as New York opens door to old abuse claims
The Catholic Church, the Boy Scouts of America, public school districts and possibly even deceased financier Jeffrey Epstein are among the likely targets.
Posted inFaith, Faith in Focus
How D.C. Catholics are leading the response to the clergy sexual abuse scandal
My parish decided to “own” the response to the sexual abuse scandal. One year later, this is what we’ve learned.
Posted inFaith, News
Sex abuse claim made against well-known Chicago priest Father Clements
In an Aug. 8 interview with the Chicago ABC-TV News affiliate, Father Clements called the accusation “totally unfounded.” “Here I am, 87 years old, and I don’t know what this is all about or anything,” he said.
Posted inFaith, News
Guam’s ex-archbishop shielded culture of clergy sex abuse
For decades, abusers held the power in a culture of impunity led by an archbishop who was among those accused. Anthony Sablan Apuron was convicted in a secret Vatican trial and suspended in 2016, after which restrictions he supported on the reporting of abuse were eased.
Posted inFaith, News
Former cardinal McCarrick’s letters to victims show signs of grooming
But taken in context, the correspondence penned by disgraced ex-Cardinal Theodore McCarrick to the young men he is accused of sexually abusing or harassing is a window into the way a predator grooms his prey.
Posted inFaith, Vatican Dispatch
Pope Francis writes new letter encouraging priests during the fallout caused by the abuse crisis
The 5,000-word letter focuses on four themes: pain, gratitude, encouragement and praise.
Posted inFaith, News
U.S. priest to receive reports of abuse, cover-up at Vatican City State
Vatican City State will have its own reporting system in place before the end of the year for flagging suspected cases of the abuse of minors and vulnerable people and instances of cover-up or negligence in handling such cases, the Vatican said.