News Story of the Day

To End Sexual Abuse in Churches, Dismantle Purity Culture

With tears in her eyes, Shannon Dingle approached a female volunteer, the lone woman on an all-male staff at a friend’s church youth group. Dingle was 16 and had finally worked up the courage to disclose that she had been repeatedly raped as a child. “We had just heard a talk on purity and modesty, which was the only context in which sex was ever discussed in the church, so it felt like, Okay, at least we’re kind of in the right area,” Dingle, now 38, recounts. “They were talking about the choices people make, and I kept thinking about how my experiences so far hadn’t been a choice.”


Reviled by Catholic leaders, this NJ activist has helped many victims of clergy sex abuse

As an advocate for survivors of clergy sex abuse and a watchdog of the Catholic Church, Robert Hoatson is accustomed to provoking the wrath of Catholic leaders. 


Vatican Court Hears Unprecedented Sexual Abuse Criminal Trial

An unprecedented trial is underway this month at the Vatican, the result of a whistleblower going public.


Ohio Priest Accused of Sex Trafficking Played Father Figure To Victims, Enabled Drug Addiction

Michael Zacharias, 53, former Ohio priest who was arrested in August 2020, is facing a 10-count indictment with charges that include sex trafficking of minor, sex trafficking of an adult by fraud, and coercion. He has also been accused of sexually exploiting the minors by enabling their drug addiction.


Boy Scouts abuse claims may become largest case against a single national organization

As a Nov. 16 deadline looms for abuse survivors to come forward to make claims in the Boy Scouts of America bankruptcy, a judge’s ruling could allow the case to become the largest-ever child sexual abuse case against a single national organization.


Michigan’s clergy abuse probe identifies 454 accused priests, 811 victims

LANSING, MI – A two-year investigation into sexual abuse in Michigan’s Catholic churches has, so far, identified 454 accused priests and 811 victims, and led to charges against 11 clergymen.


Ousted priest writes new book: "Ordained by a Predator"

MARTINSVILLE - The next chapter of Father Mark White’s story has been written, quite literally, by White himself.


‘VeraCity: Unrepentant’ investigating abuse in the Canadian Catholic Church

‘VeraCity: Unrepentant’ is a Citytv original documentary uncovering the secret history of child sexual assaults that was kept silent by an order of Canadian Catholic priests. Taking the hunt for accountability all the way to Vatican City.

Colorado Catholic dioceses pay $6.68M to sex abuse survivors

DENVER (AP) — Colorado’s three Catholic dioceses paid $6.68 million to 73 survivors of sexual abuse by priests, a new report said.


Pope Moves Against Polish Bishop Accused of Hiding Predators

ROME (AP) — Pope Francis has ordered a Polish bishop to leave his central diocese and let someone else run it while he is under investigation for covering up cases of sexual abuse that were featured in a second clergy abuse documentary that has rocked Poland's Catholic Church.


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