News Story of the Day
Pope defensive on sex abuse as commission lags
By Nicole Winfield
March 5, 2014
VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis is coming under increasing criticism that he doesn't get it on sex abuse.
Pope hits out at criticism of Church over sexual abuse
By BBC News
March 5, 2014
Pope Francis has strongly defended the Roman Catholic Church's record on tackling sexual abuse by priests.
In a rare interview with an Italian newspaper, the Pope said "no-one else has done more" to root out paedophilia.
Plug pulled on event for sex offender archbishop Kenneth Storheim
By Kristin Annable
March 2, 2014
A small but fervent group remains committed to raising funds for convicted sex offender and disgraced archbishop Kenneth (Seraphim) Storheim.
Mother of priest's victims reveals family pain, more abuse and church's rebuke
By Madeleine Barab
February 25, 2014
The mother of the boys abused by the Rev. Curtis Wehmeyer no longer ends her days with a silent prayer. Memories and flashbacks surface too easily in those quiet moments. Instead, she plays solitaire on her cell phone until sleep.
A novel approach for Twin Cities Catholic officials: Punish those responsible
By Kristen Ward and David Clohessy
February 26, 2014
One way to sometimes stop people from doing wrong is to punish them for doing wrong. History, psychology and common sense all suggest this approach often works.
Pell's new job called a 'golden parachute'
By Channel 9 News
February, 25, 2014
Cardinal George Pell's new job at the Vatican is not an honour but an "escape clause", says a group representing survivors of child sex abuse by priests.
Number of alleged sex abusers greater than church has revealed
By Madeleine Baran
At the height of the national clergy abuse scandal 11 years ago, Archbishop Harry Flynn gave speeches across the country condemning child abuse and vowing to change the church.
The U.N. Isn't Biased Against the Vatican. It's Biased in Favor of Children
By Amanda Marcotte
February 7, 2014
On Wednesday, a U.N. human rights panel released its assessment of the Holy See's responsibilities in the decades long child sex-abuse scandal and offered its recommendations to the Vatican on both how to prevent sex abuse in the future and how to deal responsibly with victims when it happens. The report is scathing in its judgment of the church's past actions, but what is most startling is how aggressive the panel is in recommending that the church radically change its teachings and culture to prevent more child abuse.
Ruling requiring Archbishop Nienstedt to testify in abuse case stands
By Emily Gurnon
February 16, 2014
A judge has denied a motion by the Twin Cities archdiocese to prevent Archbishop John Nienstedt from testifying about priests accused of child sexual abuse.
A cool change, but what has Pope Francis actually achieved?
By Marcus O'Donnell
February 10, 2014
A year ago this week, the ageing, doctrinaire and aristocratic Pope, Benedict XVI, shocked keen Vatican watchers and the public alike by his sudden resignation. Few were prepared for the shockwaves that would follow.
