Clerical sex abuse

The Latest

A view of Baltimore's Basilica nestled amid the city's famed row houses

Archdiocese of Baltimore adds 42 accused individuals to child sex abuse list

Jul 3, 2023

By Joe Bukuras

The additional names come following Maryland Attorney General’s April report on child sexual abuse in the archdiocese dating back to... Read more

Pope Francis meets with the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors in an audience May 5, 2023.

Vatican’s child protection commission invites public feedback on safeguarding principles

Jun 27, 2023

By Hannah Brockhaus

The online survey is available in four languages and responses will be used to formulate an updated Universal Guidelines Framework... Read more

The Church of Foreign Missions in Paris.

Investigation opened into alleged abuse by Paris Foreign Mission Society priests

Jun 21, 2023

By Courtney Mares

The French bishops’ conference said the official investigation has come at the request of the superior general of the Paris... Read more

The facade of Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of Peace in La Paz, Bolivia.

Bishops of Bolivia admit to having caused ‘deep pain’ to victims of sex abuse

May 25, 2023

By Abel Camasca

In a May 24 statement, the Bolivian Bishops’ Conference reported that it had received the visit of Msgr. Jordi Bertomeu,... Read more

Father Bernardo Mercado, the Jesuit provincial in Bolivia.

Jesuit provincial in Bolivia admits mistakes were made in dealing with sex abuse cases

May 24, 2023

By Abel Camasca

The Jesuit provincial in Bolivia, Father Bernardo Mercado, admitted that his religious order made mistakes in handling cases of sexual... Read more

Holy Name Cathedral in Chicago, Ill., mother church of the Archdiocese of Chicago. Credit: Edlane De Mattos/Shutterstock.

Illinois AG report says nearly 2,000 were victims of clergy sex abuse over 70-year span

May 23, 2023

By Tyler Arnold, Kevin J. Jones

The report released May 23 covers allegations from 1950 through 2019 within Illinois’ six Catholic dioceses. Read more

Pope Francis greeted victims of sexual abuse by members of the Church after the general audience on May 17, 2023. The victims arrived in Rome after making a pilgrimage by bicycle from Munich, Germany.

Abuse victims share ‘wounded heart’ with Pope Francis after bike trek from Germany

May 17, 2023

By Hannah Brockhaus

Fifteen abuse victims arrived in Rome this week from Munich to personally urge the pope to heal and prevent sexual... Read more

Church of the Sacred Heart in Bordeaux, France.

France’s Catholic clergy to carry ID cards proving they are in good standing

May 16, 2023

By Kevin J. Jones

The French Bishops’ Conference announced the change as part of a large set of measures designed to “intensify the fight... Read more

Maryland state capital building, Annapolis. Via Shutterstock.

Maryland Senate passes bill to end statute of limitations for child sex abuse lawsuits

Mar 20, 2023

By Tyler Arnold

The bill, sponsored by Maryland state Sen. William C. Smith, D-Montgomery, passed the Senate in a 42-5 vote. Read more

Fr. Marko Ivan Rupnik, S.J., with the official image of the 10th World Meeting of Families in Rome.

Rupnik concelebrated Mass in a basilica in Rome despite restrictions

Father Marko Rupnik concelebrated Mass at a basilica in Rome on Sunday despite restrictions prohibiting “any public ministerial and sacramental... Read more

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San Diego Diocese may file for bankruptcy amid abuse claims

Feb 14, 2023

By Jonah McKeown

At issue, Cardinal Robert McElroy said, is a mounting number of abuse claims filed under a three-year window opened by... Read more

Canadian Cardinal Marc Ouellet atends the pope's Mass for Our Lady of Guadalupe on Dec. 12, 2022, at St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican.

Cardinal Ouellet sues for defamation over accusations of sexual assault

Dec 13, 2022

By Kevin J. Jones

Cardinal Marc Ouellet has filed a defamation lawsuit in Quebec courts contending that a woman wrongly accused him of sexual... Read more

Father Michael Pfleger / Photo: Daniel X. O'Neil CC BY 2.0

Chicago’s Father Michael Pfleger reinstated to ministry 

Dec 12, 2022

By Joe Bukuras

Pfleger, a famous Chicago priest known for his social justice activism, has now been exonerated on four different sexual abuse... Read more

Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, Rochester, New York

Diocese of Rochester agrees to pay $55 million to sex abuse survivors

Nov 7, 2022

By Joe Bukuras

The diocese filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in September 2019 in an attempt to reach a settlement with hundreds of... Read more

Purple stole and confessional.

Catholic Church in England and Wales will ‘carefully study’ abuse report recommendations

Oct 27, 2022

By CNA Staff

The Catholic Church in England and Wales has said it will “carefully study” the contents of a national report concerning... Read more

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Catholic Church apologizes ‘unreservedly’ after English child sex abuse inquiry

Oct 20, 2022

By CNA Staff

The Catholic Church in England and Wales has offered an “unreserved apology” to all sexual abuse victims who have suffered... Read more

Fr. Michael Pfleger      Credit: Marie Kanger Born/Shutterstock

Chicago parish community defends Father Pfleger after his suspension for alleged abuse

Oct 18, 2022

By Jonah McKeown, Joe Bukuras

During an Oct. 16 Mass at St. Sabina Faith Community in Chicago, the celebrant and the community expressed support for... Read more

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Court rules Church in Costa Rica must pay $100,000 compensation to sex-abuse victim

Aug 25, 2022

By CNA Staff

A lower court ruled Aug. 23 that the Church must pay the compensation to a victim of sexual abuse committed... Read more

St. Louis Cathedral in New Orleans.

FBI probe could help prosecute Louisiana priests accused of inter-state sex abuse

Jul 1, 2022

By Kevin J. Jones

Federal authorities are investigating alleged sex abuse of minors by New Orleans-area Catholic clergy, sometimes going back decades, on the... Read more

Cardinal Angelo Sodano speaks at the funeral Mass for the former archbishop of Boston, Cardinal Bernard Law, who died in 2017.

Cardinal Angelo Sodano, former Vatican secretary of state, dies at 94

May 28, 2022

By Hannah Brockhaus

The cardinal had been accused in recent years of covering up clerical sexual abuse. Read more