The statement contradicts Archbishop Viganò’s account of his meeting with the pope, in which he said Francis had never reproached him for organizing the meeting with Ms. Davis.

Archbishop Vigano now says Pope Benedict made the sanctions private, perhaps “due to the fact that [Archbishop McCarrick] was already retired, maybe due to the fact that [Pope Benedict] was thinking he was ready to obey.”

A Vatican source said: “The archbishop seems to have declared open war on Pope Francis and the Vatican.”

Danny was in eighth grade when he was abused by a priest. His life was never the same again.

More than 6,700 Catholic women religious are among those helping more than 1 million people taking shelter in relief camps after unprecedented floods ravaged Kerala state in southwest India.

Father Malone interviewed Mr. Douthat about what was needed from the Vatican and how Catholics can maintain their faith in light of all the news about abuse in the church this summer.