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February 24, 2019

No more excuses; time for 'all-out battle' against crime of abuse, Pope Francis says

Pope Francis celebrates a Mass attended by the heads of bishops' conferences from around the world on the last day of the four-day meeting on the protection of minors in the church at the Vatican Feb. 24, 2019.
VATICAN – The time has come for an "all-out battle" against the abuse of minors, erasing this abominable crime from the face of the earth, Pope Francis said, closing a global four-day summit on child protection in the Catholic Church.
Published in International
February 23, 2019

Lack of transparency harms church, justice, victims, Cardinal Marx says

Cardinal Reinhard Marx of Munich speaks at a briefing on the third day of the meeting on the protection of minors in the church at the Vatican Feb. 23, 2019. Also pictured are Father Arturo Sosa Abascal, superior general of the Society of Jesus, and Nigerian Sister Veronica Openibo, congregational leader of the Society of the Holy Child Jesus.
VATICAN – Transparent, reliable and respectful administration is critical for counteracting sinful behavior within the Catholic Church, said German Cardinal Reinhard Marx of Munich and Freising.
Published in International
February 22, 2019

Bob Brehl: Toronto priest doesn’t pull any punches on clerical abuse

Fr. Michael Machacek

Even before Pope Francis called on bishops from around the globe to meet for a Vatican sex abuse summit, a Toronto priest was travelling to parishes to talk about the origins of and solutions to clergy abuse of minors.

Published in Register Columnists
February 22, 2019

Fr. Raymond J. de Souza: Sex abuse summit is catch-up time for much of the world

Pope Francis walks with bishops at the Vatican Feb. 22, 2019, as he arrives for the second day of the meeting on the protection of minors in the church.

It is déjà vu all over again for Canadian bishops who travelled to Rome for the Vatican’s meeting on the protection of minors in the Church.

Published in Register Columnists
February 22, 2019

Church needs new structure to ensure bishops' accountability, Cardinal Cupich says

Cardinal Blase J. Cupich of Chicago and Cardinal Ruben Salazar Gomez of Bogota, Colombia, attend the second day of the meeting on the protection of minors in the church, at the Vatican Feb. 22, 2019.
VATICAN – The Catholic Church needs "new legal structures of accountability" for bishops accused of sexual abuse or of negligence in handling abuse allegations, Cardinal Blase J. Cupich of Chicago told the Vatican summit on safeguarding.
Published in International
February 21, 2019

Vatican sex abuse summit opens with acknowledgment of evil committed

Pope Francis attends the opening session of the meeting on the protection of minors in the church at the Vatican Feb. 21, 2019.
VATICAN – Opening the Vatican summit on child protection and the clerical sexual abuse crisis, Pope Francis said, "The holy people of God are watching and are awaiting from us not simple, predictable condemnations, but concrete and effective measures" to stop abuse.
Published in International
February 20, 2019

Survivors demand that Church leaders 'break the code of silence' at abuse summit

Juan Carlos Cruz, a victim of clergy sexual abuse in Chile, speaks with journalists near the Vatican in Rome Feb. 20, 2019.
VATICAN – Abuse survivors and support groups were very clear about what they want the world's bishops, religious superiors, the pope and the Vatican to do to protect children and end clerical sexual abuse.
Published in International
February 13, 2019

Doing the right thing: Abuse summit aims to put the world’s bishops on the same page

After a year of scandal upon scandal, Pope Francis will be front and centre when the heads of the conferences of bishops are in Rome Feb. 21-24 to address clerical sexual abuse and safeguarding minors.

Ever since Pope Francis announced in September that he was calling the heads of the world’s bishops’ conferences to Rome for an unprecedented summit on sexual abuse, expectations have been mounting.

Published in International
February 13, 2019

Only a matter of time: Abuse allegations from Asia make some worry that more to follow

A boy attends Mass with his family at the Church of Sts. Peter and Paul in Singapore April 2, 2010. "The scandals abroad are a wake-up call for us, as the Catholic Church in Singapore has not been spared allegations of child abuse," Singapore Archbishop William Goh said.
BANGKOK – Recent credible sexual abuse allegations in India and East Timor have underscored the fears of many in the church that clerical sex abuse is rife in South, Southeast and North Asia, which have a collective population of at least 120 million Catholics.
Published in International
February 13, 2019

Vatican abuse summit to have realistic goals, address not just 'concrete cases'

Jesuit Father Hans Zollner, a professor of psychology and president of the Centre for Child Protection at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome, leads a briefing for journalists in Rome Feb. 12, 2019. The briefing was to prepare for the Feb. 21-24 Vatican meeting on the protection of minors in the church. Father Zollner is on the organizing committee for the meeting.
VATICAN – All eyes and ears will be on the Vatican during an unprecedented gathering Feb. 21-24 to discuss the protection of minors in the Catholic Church.
Published in International
February 12, 2019

Archbishop: 152 priests in Mexico removed for abuse in last nine years

World Youth Day pilgrims from Mexico pray as Pope Francis leads the Way of the Cross at Santa Maria la Antigua Field in Panama City Jan. 25, 2019.
MONTERREY, Mexico – Over the past nine years, 152 priests in Mexico have been removed from ministry for sexual abuse of youth or vulnerable adults, the president of the Mexican Bishops’ Conference said Sunday.
Published in International
January 16, 2019

Pope Francis wants sex abuse summit to lead to accountability, prevention

Cardinal Blase J. Cupich of Chicago has been appointed by Pope Francis to be part of the organizing committee for the Vatican's Feb. 21-24 global bishops meeting to address clerical sexual abuse. Cardinal Cupich is pictured in front of Archbishop Charles J. Scicluna of Malta, also appointed a member of the committee, at the Vatican Oct. 18.
VATICAN – At the upcoming meeting on protecting minors, Pope Francis wants leaders of the world's bishops' conferences to clearly understand what must be done to prevent abuse, care for victims and ensure no case is whitewashed or covered up.
Published in International
January 16, 2019

Calgary priest charged with sexual assault

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Calgary released a statement on Jan. 15 saying it is aware of the charges and that Fr. D’Souza was placed on administrative leave and prohibited from priestly ministry in October.

A Calgary priest has been charged in connection to alleged sexual assaults dating back to 2012.

Published in Canada
January 15, 2019

Glen Argan: Reform begins with an open conversation

Pope Francis walks in front of a candle in memory of victims of sexual abuse as he visits St. Mary's Pro-Cathedral in Dublin Aug. 25.

Last week, I put on my detective’s hat to help a friend from out of town. Her father had lost contact with a close friend of his who lived in St. Albert, a suburb of Edmonton. Could I help my friend’s dad find his friend?

Published in Register Columnists
January 14, 2019

Clerical abuse survivor wants Vatican summit to increase accountability

Clerical abuse survivor Marie Collins is seen at the World Meeting of Families in Dublin, Ireland August 24, 2018.
DUBLIN – A prominent survivor and advocate for those affected by clerical abuse has urged Pope Francis to publicly name bishops who have been found guilty of negligence by church tribunals.
Published in International
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