Australia’s Catholic bishops and religious orders, responding to recommendations from the Royal Commission Into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, accepted 98 percent of its suggestions, but said they could not accept recommendations that would violate the seal of confession.
Sexual Abuse
Posted inFaith, News
Cardinal Wuerl’s letter to priests expresses ‘anguish’ for suffering
Washington Cardinal Donald W. Wuerl asked the priests in his archdiocese to accept his “contrition for any suffering I have caused, as well as the grace to find, with you, ways of healing, ways of offering fruitful guidance in this darkness.”
Posted inFaith, Vatican Dispatch
Vatican officials refuse to discuss Viganò’s letter, encourage journalists to study it
In the Vatican there are feelings of “bitter disappointment” and “restlessness.”
Posted inFaith, Faith in Focus
The witch hunt for gay priests
Where does this extreme hatred of gay priests come from? It comes from fear.
Posted inFaith, News
Senate GOP leader in Pennsylvania cautions against retroactive abuse claims
Pennsylvania Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati of Pennsylvania said he opposes legislation to retroactively loosen time limits on lawsuits by victims of sexual abuse.
Posted inFaith, Faith in Focus
I spoke out on sex abuse—and lay people kicked me out of Mass
The congregation chided me to sit down.“This is Mass!” I was told. “It’s not the time.”
Posted inDispatches, Politics & Society
Don’t go back to your school without learning its real rules of discipline
Improve your academic experience by familiarizing yourself with the rights and responsibilities of students, parents and everyone in the school community.
Posted inFaith, News
Timeline: McCarrick kept a robust public presence during years he was allegedly sanctioned
From 2008 to 2013, the former cardinal kept up a public profile that included preaching at high-profile Masses, giving talks and accepting awards.
Posted inFaith, Short Take
Pope Francis, the bishops and the road to real conversion after the McCarrick scandal
Francis made a leadership correction while in Argentina; he can still bring the church to a space of humility and wisdom in response to the sexual abuse crisis.
Posted inFaith, Vatican Dispatch
Cardinal Burke: It is ‘licit’ to call for the resignation of Pope Francis
Cardinal Burke was among the first of a small number of bishops to come out in support of Viganò’s denunciation of the pope.