Catholic church

Cardinal George Pell, seen earlier this month, has been sentenced to six years in prison by a Melbourne, Australia, court for the sexual abuse of two children more than 20 years ago.

Cardinal George Pell, Former Vatican Official, Sentenced To 6 Years In Prison

9:18pm March 12, 2019

by Vanessa Romo

He had been convicted of sexually abusing two choir boys in Melbourne, Australia, two decades ago. He is 77 and will be eliglble for parole in three years and eight months.

Rosaries are sold by a vendor in Mexico City on Sept. 22, 2017.

At Lent, Catholics Reflect On Faith As Sex Abuse Scandal Shakes The Church

6:33pm March 10, 2019

by Michel Martin

On the first Sunday of Lent, NPR's Michel Martin speaks with Sister Joan Chittister about the holiday's meaning amid the ongoing abuse scandal.

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Pope Francis arrives for the opening of a sexual abuse prevention summit at the Vatican on Thursday.

'A Life Destroyed': Survivors And Pope At Vatican Summit Address Clergy Sex Abuse

7:59pm February 21, 2019

One survivor said a priest forced her to have abortions after raping her. The pope said he has come up with 21 "reflection points" designed to address the crisis.

Theodore McCarrick, shown in 2011, has been accused of abusing minors and adults over a nearly 50-year clerical career.

Vatican Defrocks Former Cardinal McCarrick, Finds Him Guilty Of Sex Abuse

11:32am February 16, 2019

by Jacob Pinter

Theodore McCarrick rose to power as a cardinal and archbishop of Washington, D.C. He became the most senior Catholic Church official in modern times to lose clerical status.

Pope Francis meets Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI prior to the opening of the Holy Door of St. Peter's Basilica on Dec. 8, 2015 in Vatican City, Vatican.

'The Pope' Tells The Tale Of A Roman Catholic Church With Coexisting Pontiffs

8:10am February 08, 2019

by Tom Gjelten

In his new book, soon to be a feature film, Andrew McCarten examines Popes Francis and Benedict XVI — and how having two living popes, for the first time in 600 years, has weakened the papacy.

The moon rises behind a church in the Pittsburgh Diocese, one of six dioceses mentioned in the massive report on sexual abuse among Pennsylvania clergy.

For The Catholic Church, A Year Of Unending Clergy Abuse Revelations

9:16am December 26, 2018

by Virginia Alvino Young

The Catholic Church has been roiled by revelations about clergy abuse in dioceses across the country in 2018. It began with a Pennsylvania grand jury report in August that detailed decades of abuse.

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Pope Francis told a gathering of cardinals Friday that clergy who break their vows by sexually abusing children are similar to Judas Iscariot, the disciple who betrayed Jesus Christ.

Pope Francis Tells Abusive Priests And Bishops To Turn Themselves In

12:58pm December 21, 2018

by Bill Chappell

Priests who sexually abuse children are like Judas Iscariot, the disciple who betrayed Jesus Christ, Pope Francis told a gathering of cardinals on Friday.

More Accusations Of Child Sex Abuse By Priests In Illinois Uncovered In Report

1:57pm December 20, 2018

by Cat Schuknecht

A preliminary investigation by the state's attorney general revealed the Illinois Catholic Church withheld from the public the names of at least 500 accused priests.

Pope Francis greets the crowd in the Vatican's St. Peter's Square in October. Many of the pope's most vocal opponents are in the United States, attacking him in tweets, blogs and politically conservative media.

Resurgence Of Cleric Scandal Invigorates Conservative U.S. Critics Of Pope Francis

7:18pm November 07, 2018

by Sylvia Poggioli

Politically conservative Catholics criticize Francis for being pro-migrant, anti-capitalist and less rigid in doctrine than predecessors. The cleric sex abuse scandals have emboldened these critics.

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The office and residence of the Archbishop of Agana in Guam, seen Wednesday. The house was listed as one of the non-essential properties owned by the Catholic Church in the U.S. territory, which announced that it will file for bankruptcy.

Guam's Catholic Church To File Bankruptcy Amid Deluge Of Sex Abuse Lawsuits

4:30pm November 07, 2018

by Colin Dwyer

Guam's archdiocese is facing claims from nearly 200 alleged survivors. "Bankruptcy is the method to deliver the greatest measure of justice to the greatest number of victims," said a Church lawyer.