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August 2018

August 14

Cardinal Wuerl named in grand jury report more than 200 times, responds to criticism

August 14, 2018

WASHINGTON – Cardinal Donald Wuerl, Archbishop of Washington, D.C., and the former Bishop of Pittsburgh, has been named more than 200 times in a Pennsylvania grand jury report, released Aug. 14, after an 18-month investigation into historic allegations of sexual abuse in six Pennsylvania Catholic dioceses.

U.S. bishops 'shamed' by 'sins, omissions' of priests, bishops leading to sex abuse

August 14, 2018

WASHINGTON – The U.S. bishops as "are shamed by and sorry for the sins and omissions by Catholic priests and Catholic bishops" that have led to sexual abuse and caused great harm to many, said an Aug. 14 statement from the president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and the chairman of its child protection committee.

Pennsylvania grand jury says church purposely hiding sex abuse allegations for decades

August 14, 2018

WASHINGTON – A Pennsylvania grand jury report issued Aug. 14 paints a picture of a Catholic Church in six of the state's dioceses that for decades handled claims of sex abuse of minors under its care by hiding the allegations and its victims.

Trinity Western University removes mandatory community covenant

August 14, 2018

OTTAWA – After battling all the way to the Supreme Court of Canada to defend its mandatory community covenant, Trinity Western University (TWU) has decided to drop it for students.

Church must seek justice for abuse victims, Moncton archbishop says

August 14, 2018

QUEBEC CITY – As many Canadians mark National Acadian Day Aug. 15, the biggest Acadian diocese in the world is going through the greatest crisis in its history.

August 15

Report: More than 1,000 cases of minors raped, groomed by clergy, hidden by culture of secrecy

August 15, 2018

WASHINGTON – The report begins dramatically, imploring its readers: "We, the members of this grand jury, need you to hear this."

Pope Francis asks consolation for all who suffer on feast of the Assumption

August 15, 2018

VATICAN – Mary's assumption into heaven was a special sign of God's favor, but it also indicates God's desire to save all people, body and soul, Pope Francis said.

Catholics express worry, disbelief, anger at new sex abuse revelations in U.S.

August 15, 2018

WASHINGTON – After the first allegations of abuse against Archbishop Theodore E. McCarrick were publicized in mid-June, employees at the U.S. bishops' conference headquarters in Washington were bracing for calls from Catholics confused, outraged or anything in between regarding the emerging scandal.

Cardinal O'Malley to miss World Meeting of Families to focus on seminary matters

August 15, 2018

BOSTON – The Archdiocese of Boston announced Cardinal Sean P. O'Malley will not attend the World Meeting of Families in Dublin Aug. 21-26.

August 16

"Queen of Soul", Aretha Franklin, dies at 76 after battling health issues

August 16, 2018

Aretha Franklin, a singer who began her career with gospel music and was later crowned the “Queen of Soul,” died Thursday (Aug. 16) after battling a range of health issues. She was 76.

Fr. Thomas Reese: Pennsylvania grand jury report is a new low for Catholic Church

August 16, 2018

Awful, disgusting, horrifying, sickening — one runs out of adjectives in describing the actions of abusive priests chronicled in the just-released Pennsylvania grand jury report.

Pressure mounts for Pope to address abuse scandal leading up to World Meeting of Families

August 16, 2018

VATICAN – Pope Francis is traveling to Ireland specifically for the World Meeting of Families, but the sex abuse crisis is dominating headlines before his Aug. 25-26 trip.

Cardinal DiNardo lays out three steps on dealing with the 'moral catastrophe' of abuse scandal

August 16, 2018

WASHINGTON – The president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops Aug. 16 announced three key goals and a comprehensive plan to address the "moral catastrophe" of the new abuse scandal hitting the U.S. church.

Pennsylvania bishop apologizes, explains diocese's 30-year record dealing with abuse

August 16, 2018

PITTSBURGH – Bishop David A. Zubik of Pittsburgh expressed sorrow and apologized to young victims of clergy sexual abuse, while explaining his diocese's 30-year record of working to remove offenders, assist victims and prevent further abuse.

Ontario winding down basic income pilot project

August 16, 2018

OTTAWA – Anti-poverty advocates are disappointed that Ontario’s new Conservative government intends to cancel the province’s basic income pilot project, arguing that the study is important to help reduce poverty far beyond the province.

Making a mark: Theology and the tattoo trend

August 16, 2018

Emma Fradd prayed and discerned about her tattoo for six months before she ever walked into a tattoo parlour.

Speaking out: Reflecting on my engagement

August 16, 2018

I was watching a comedy special by Chris D’Elia the other day where he joked about marriage and it really got me thinking.

August 17

Vatican wants accountability for abusers, those who orchestrated sex abuse cover ups

August 17, 2018

VATICAN – In the wake of a grand jury report on clergy sexual abuse in six dioceses in Pennsylvania, a Vatican spokesman called the abuses described in the report as being "criminal and morally reprehensible."

Bishops who covered up sex abuse should resign, Pennsylvania prelate says

August 17, 2018

WASHINGTON – In an Aug. 16 interview with Eternal Word Television Network, Erie Bishop Lawrence T. Persico said the only way to regain the trust of the laity after decades-long claims of sexual abuse by priests and others at six Pennsylvania dioceses is by deeds and one of those deeds may mean getting rid of bishops who hid abusers.

Indiana bishop to release names of priests accused of rape, abuse

August 17, 2018

SOUTH BEND, Ind. – At an Aug. 17 news conference, Bishop Kevin C. Rhoades of Fort Wayne-South Bend, said that in response to the release of the grand jury report on abuse claims in six Pennsylvania dioceses over a 70- year period, he will collect and release a list of the names of priests in the diocese he currently heads who committed similar offenses.