We shouldn't get rid of the priesthood. We should reconnect it to the holiness of God.

Georgetown University's Initiative on Catholic Social Thought and Public Life panel discussed the ongoing clergy sexual abuse crisis. It was, moderator John Carr observed, the seventh time the initiative had focused exclusively on it.

S.B. 360 -- which passed in the California Senate May 23 in a 30-2 vote -- would force priests to disclose information about child sexual abuse that they learn when they are hearing another priest's confession or when hearing the confession of a co-worker.

The nation's largest Protestant denomination took new steps to expel member churches that cover up or mishandle sexual abuse allegations.

David Gibson: This week’s reform package was easy compared with what comes next.

While the new protocols are designed to include laypeople at every stage of an investigation, lay reform groups and victim advocates say they are unsatisfied, as the new rules stop just short of requiring such involvement.