Television reporter Valentina Alazraki of Televisa speaks during a meeting on the protection of minors in the church at the Vatican Feb. 23, 2019, in this image taken from Vatican television. (CNS photo/Vatican Television)

Journalist at abuse summit: The press is not the enemy of the church

by Gerard O’Connell February 23, 2019

“The faithful do not forgive the lack of transparency because it is a new assault on the victims,” Valentina Alazraki, a Mexican television reporter, told the 190 church leaders attending the Vatican summit on the protection of minors.

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Faith, Vatican Dispatch

Cardinal Marx: the Catholic Church must be transparent in its handling of sexual abuse

by Gerard O’Connell February 23, 2019

“It is not transparency which damages the church, but rather the acts of abuse committed, the lack of transparency or the ensuing cover-up.”

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Faith, Faith in Focus

Nigerian sister asks bishops: Why did the church allow atrocities of sex abuse to remain secret?

by Michael J. O’Loughlin February 23, 2019

Acknowledging that the church is currently “in a state of crisis and shame,” Sister Veronica Openibo urged church leaders to “acknowledge that our mediocrity, hypocrisy and complacency have brought us to this disgraceful and scandalous place we find ourselves as a church.”

Faith, Short Take

Catholic and apostolic: The complicated reality behind oversight of bishops

by John Garvey February 22, 2019

Lay oversight of Catholic bishops is needed—but it should be a process that respects the principle of apostolic succession while providing a check on the successors of the apostles.

Child psychologist and founding member of the Ending Clergy Abuse (ECA) organization, Miguel Hurtado from Spain, center, reads an open letter to the Benedictine order outside the St. Anselm on the Aventine Benedictine complex in Rome on Feb. 22. (AP Photo/Domenico Stinellis)

Faith, Vatican Dispatch

Vatican official urges revision on ‘pontifical secret’ and role of laity in abuse crisis

by Gerard O’Connell February 22, 2019

In addressing the abuse crisis, Ms. Ghisoni called for “the dynamic involvement of the whole people of God.”

Faith, News

U.S. cardinals hope new accountability stops abusers in future

by Nicole Winfield - Associated Press February 22, 2019

VATICAN CITY (AP) — Two U.S. cardinals attending the Vatican’s sex abuse prevention summit said Friday that the downfall of their former colleague, Theodore McCarrick, was sad for the Catholic church but they hoped a new spirit of accountability would prevent future cover-ups of bishop misconduct. Cardinals Sean O’Malley of Boston and Blase Cupich of […]