Sexual Abuse

The Latest

Pope Francis at the General Audience in St. Peter's Square, March 14, 2018.

Pope to meet in June with Chilean clerical abuse victims

May 22, 2018

Pope Francis will meet for three days next month with victims of a Chilean priest who committed sexual abuse as... Read more

Pope Francis in January 2018.

Meeting abuse survivors, Pope apologizes for being 'part of the problem'

May 2, 2018

By Elise Harris

After meeting with Pope Francis over the weekend, Chilean survivors of clerical sexual abuse said the pontiff was open, sympathetic... Read more

Cardinal George Pell.

Facing criminal trial, Pell will remain on leave of absence from Vatican position

May 1, 2018

Cardinal George Pell will remain on a leave of absence from his Vatican position as he faces charges of “historic... Read more

Guam's Dulce Nombre de Maria Cathedral Basilica.

Update: Guilty verdict for Guam archbishop, appeal to follow

Mar 16, 2018

By Hannah Brockhaus

On Friday the Vatican's Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith announced the conclusion of a year-long trial against an... Read more

Archdiocese of Mexico backs sentence of priest jailed for abuse

Mar 15, 2018

The Archdiocese of Mexico reaffirmed its commitment to fighting sexual abuse and expressed its support for the 62-year jail sentence... Read more

Dulce Nombre de Maria Cathedral Basilica, the seat of the Archbishop of Agana, Guam. Public Domain.

Slander lawsuit against Guam's suspended archbishop dismissed

Feb 16, 2018

A Guam court has dismissed part of a defamation lawsuit against Archbishop Anthony Apuron of Agana, who is facing several... Read more

Pope Francis greets pilgrims in St. Peter's Square during the Wednesday general audience on May 28, 2014.

Pope Francis regularly meets with abuse victims on Fridays

Feb 15, 2018

By Elise Harris

In a conversation with Jesuits during his recent visit to Peru, Pope Francis said he regularly meets with victims of... Read more

Emeritus bishop Marco Ordenes.

Chilean court dismisses case of bishop accused of abuse

Feb 1, 2018

The Iquique Court of Appeals in northern Chile has officially closed an investigation against the Bishop Emeritus of Iquique, Marco... Read more

Guam's Dulce Nombre de Maria Cathedral Basilica

Guam archbishop denies allegations of rape, sexual abuse

Jan 18, 2018

An embattled archbishop in Guam has denied an allegation that he raped his nephew nearly 20 years ago, when his... Read more

Pope taps Colombian bishop to oversee Sodalitium amid ongoing crisis

Jan 10, 2018

By Elise Harris

The Vatican announced Wednesday that Colombian Bishop Noel Antonio Londoño Buitrago C.Ss.R. has been appointed papal commissioner for the Sodalitium... Read more

Cardinal George Pell.

Cardinal Pell accuser dies before sexual abuse trial begins

Jan 8, 2018

The legal case against Cardinal George Pell of Australia has taken an unexpected turn, after the death of Damian Dignan,... Read more

Peruvian prosecutor requests jail for Sodalitium founder

Dec 13, 2017

Criminal prosecutors in Peru have requested that Luis Fernando Figari be incarcerated by a court order, while he is investigated... Read more

Activist group apologizes to priest after lawsuit dismissed

Nov 27, 2017

By Mary Farrow

An advocacy group has issued an apology to a St. Louis priest for "any false or inaccurate statements" regarding allegations... Read more

Cardinal George Pell, prefect of the economy secretariat, speaks to reporters outside Rome's Hotel Quirinale after meeting with sex abuse survivors, March 3, 2016.

Cardinal Pell will plead not guilty to abuse charges in Australia

Jul 26, 2017

By Hannah Brockhaus

In a brief hearing in a court in Melbourne Wednesday morning, Cardinal George Pell said he will be pleading not... Read more

New Mexico bishop takes charge in fighting sex abuse, healing wounds

Jun 29, 2017

By Carl Bunderson

The Diocese of Gallup, New Mexico added three names earlier this year to its list of workers against whom there... Read more

Cardinal Pell speaks with journalists after being charged with sexual abuse June 29, 2017.

Cardinal Pell to take leave while facing abuse charges in Australia

Jun 29, 2017

By Elise Harris

After Australian police announced that they have charged him on multiple counts of sexual abuse, Cardinal George Pell has maintained... Read more

Cardinal George Pell of Sydney, Australia speaks to CNA Oct. 25, 2016 in Rome.

Australian police charge top Vatican official with sexual abuse

Jun 28, 2017

By Elise Harris

After years of fighting allegations of sexual abuse and negligence in handling abuse cases, Cardinal George Pell, the Vatican's top... Read more

Minn. bishop rejects claim he pressured alleged abuse victim

May 10, 2017

Bishop Michael Hoeppner of Crookston, Minn. has rejected a lawsuit’s assertion that he coerced a deacon candidate into renouncing his... Read more

Former Boston priest faces more sex abuse charges

Feb 8, 2017

A former priest previously convicted of sex abuse of an altar boy was indicted on 29 counts of sexual misconduct... Read more

Barbara Blaine of SNAP protests on the steps of St Mary's Metropolitan Cathedral on September 15, 2010 in Edinburgh, Scotland.

Another resignation at SNAP as controversy continues

Feb 6, 2017

Another leader of a controversial group representing survivors of clergy sexual abuse has resigned, denying that the resignation is related... Read more