Religion

Religion

United Methodists Continue Bans On Same-Sex Weddings, LGBTQ Clergy

6:47am February 27, 2019

Steve Inskeep talks to Kenneth Carter, Jr., president of the Church's Council of Bishops, about the rejection of a measure that would have eased restrictions on gay clergy and same-sex marriages.

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Protesters sing and pray outside the United Methodist Church's special session of the general conference in St. Louis on Tuesday. Delegates voted to maintain current rules against gay clergy and same-sex marriage.

United Methodist Church Votes To Keep Bans On Same-Sex Weddings, LGBTQ Clergy

9:03pm February 26, 2019

by Bill Chappell

Delegates rejected change despite a Virginia pastor's warning: "You will be putting a virus into the American church that will make it very sick, and it will be sick quickly."

Cardinal George Pell Of Australia Is Convicted Of Child Sex Abuse

10:31am February 26, 2019

by Sylvia Poggioli

Cardinal Pell, a close adviser to Pope Francis, has been convicted of child sex abuse charges that go back decades. His conviction became public after a gag order was lifted.

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Cardinal George Pell leaves the court in Melbourne, Australia. Pell was convicted on five counts of child sexual assault in December 2018 but that verdict has just been released in Australia.

Australian Cardinal George Pell Convicted Of Child Sex Abuse

6:35am February 26, 2019

by Richard Gonzales

Once a top adviser to Pope Francis, Pell's conviction had been under seal in Australia pending a separate trial on other abuse charges. There will be no second trial, so the gag order has been lifted.

Religion

Abuse Survivor On How Catholic Church Will Make Good On Pope's Vow

5:40pm February 25, 2019

Juan Carlos Cruz, a victim of a Chilean predator priest, helped organize a meeting between abuse survivors and Vatican officials last week. He tells NPR's Ari Shapiro his thoughts on Pope Francis' vow to erase abuse in the church "from the face of the Earth."

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Religion

Abuse Survivors Wanted Pope's Summit To Issue Zero Tolerance Rules

12:33pm February 25, 2019

David Greene talks to Peter Isely, an abuse survivor and co-founder of the Ending Clergy Abuse network, about Pope Francis' conference on clergy sexual abuse.

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Vatican's Summit On Clergy Sex Abuse Left Many Survivors Disappointed

8:29am February 25, 2019

by Amy Sisk

The summit in Rome came after a Pennsylvania grand jury report detailed widespread sexual abuse by priests. Survivors say the meeting's outcome left them wanting more.

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News Brief: Pence In Colombia, Vatican Summit, Oscar Results

5:11am February 25, 2019

Vice President Pence talks to Latin American leaders about Venezuela's crisis. The pope calls for an "all-out battle" against clergy sex abuse. And, Green Book wins the Oscar for best picture.

Pope Francis Calls To Fight Sex Abuse; United Methodists Debate LGBTQ Issues

5:15pm February 24, 2019

NPR's Michel Martin speaks with Washington Post religion reporter Julie Zauzmer about two major religious conferences held this weekend.

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Pope Francis celebrated a final Mass on Sunday to conclude his unprecedented summit of Catholic leaders on clergy sexual abuse.

Pope Calls For 'All-Out-Battle' On Clergy Sex Abuse, With Few Specifics

4:15pm February 24, 2019

by Francesca Paris

At the end of his four-day summit, Pope Francis called priests who had abused minors "instruments of Satan." But critics said his address did not offer a strong enough message against clergy abuse.