At a Vatican briefing on Oct. 8, Archbishop Scicluna reminded reporters that “the synod is not about the abuse of minors, it has to deal with many other questions, too.”

Part of the spiritual life is being okay with a few days, weeks, or even months of dry times in prayer.

It is in college that a young Catholic truly has to lay claim to her faith.

The president of the U.S. bishops' conference welcomed Pope Francis' pledge to fight attempts to cover up cases of sexual abuse and to stop offering special treatment to bishops who have committed or covered up abuse.

Cardinal Marc Ouellet, prefect of the Congregation for bishops, writes that with “necessary permission” of Pope Francis, he now gives “my personal testimony as prefect of the congregation of bishops, about the matters regarding the emeritus archbishop of Washington, Theodore McCarrick.”

The Vatican has issued a first or interim response to the accusations leveled against the pope and senior Vatican officials for their response to allegations against Archbishop Theodore McCarrick.