Aug 26 Pope denounces Irish forced adoptions after victims' appeal By Nicole Winfield, Helena Alves, Associated Press Pope Francis on Sunday denounced how Irish children were "robbed of their innocence and taken from their mothers" by Catholic-run institutions that put them up for adoption to erase the shame of having been born to unwed mothers. Continue reading
Aug 25 Pope in Ireland vows to end cover-up of clergy sex abuse By Nicole Winfield, Maria Grazia Murru, Associated Press Pope Francis declared Saturday as he arrived in Ireland that he shares the outrage of rank-and-file Catholics over the cover-up of the "repugnant crimes" of priests who raped and molested children, and vowed that he was committed to ending the… Continue reading
Aug 21 Pope Francis expected to meet with abuse victims in Ireland, Vatican says By Nicole Winfield, Associated Press The Vatican said Tuesday that Pope Francis is expected to meet with victims of sexual abuse during his weekend visit to Ireland and speak out about the problem. Continue reading
Aug 20 Watch 8:54 Many Catholics call for dramatic change after latest sex abuse revelations Pope Francis condemned the Catholic Church's role in covering up child sex abuse by priests in his first personal response to a scathing report on misconduct and assault in parishes across Pennsylvania. What would change and accountability look like? John… Continue watching
Aug 20 Pope on sex abuse: 'We showed no care for the little ones' By Nicole Winfield, Associated Press Pope Francis issued a letter to Catholics around the world, condemning the crime of priestly sexual abuse and its cover-up and demanding accountability, seeking to respond to new revelations in the U.S. of decades of misconduct by the Catholic Church. Continue reading
Aug 16 Vatican is in 'shame and sorrow' over abuses in Pennsylvania By Frances D'Emilio, Associated Press The Vatican expressed "shame and sorrow" Thursday over a scathing Pennsylvania grand jury report about clergy who raped and molested children. Pope Francis wants to eradicate "this tragic horror."… Continue reading
Aug 02 Pope Francis says death penalty is 'inadmissible,' changes Catholic Church teaching By Nicole Winfield, Associated Press The new teaching, contained in Catechism No. 2267, says the previous policy is outdated, that there are other ways to protect the common good, and that the church should instead commit itself to working to end capital punishment. Continue reading
Jul 30 Australian archbishop convicted of covering up sexual abuse resigns By Nicole Winfield, Rod McGuirk, Associated Press Pope Francis on Monday accepted the resignation of an Australian archbishop convicted in criminal court of covering up the sexual abuse of children by a priest, taking action after coming under mounting pressure from ordinary Catholics, priests and even the… Continue reading
Jul 28 U.S. prelate McCarrick resigns from College of Cardinals By Frances D'Emilio, Associated Press Pope Francis has accepted U.S. prelate Theodore McCarrick's offer to resign from the College of Cardinals following allegations of sexual abuse. Continue reading
Jun 11 Pope Francis begins purge at Chilean church over sex abuse scandal By Nicole Winfield, Associated Press Pope Francis accepted the resignation of the bishop at the center of Chile's clerical sex abuse scandal and two others, launching a purge of a Catholic Church that has lost its credibility under an avalanche of accusations of abuse and… Continue reading