News Story of the Day

Francis stumbles on sexual abuse

By Mark Silk 

March 10, 2014

Rome, we’ve got a problem. 

Pope Francis, politically the surest-footed pontiff in many a long century, stumbled pretty badly last week in discussing the crisis that has engulfed Roman Catholicism these past dozen years.


Church sex abuse survivors criticize Pope

By NBC Nightly News

March 5, 2014

On Ash Wednesday, Pope Francis’ strong words – printed in Italy’s largest newspaper -- caught some parishioners by surprise.


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

February 19, 2014

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.


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