News/International

Bishop Kevin C. Rhoades of Fort Wayne-South Bend, Ind., listens to speakers Nov. 16 during the opening of the 2015 fall general assembly of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops in Baltimore.

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

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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.
Bishop Lawrence T. Persico of Erie, Pa., speaks during a meeting in late January at the headquarters of U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops in Washington. In an Aug. 16 interview on EWTN, he said the church needs "complete transparency" in addressing abuse "if we're going to get the trust of the people back."

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

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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.
Greg Burke, Vatican spokesman, is seen with Pope Francis aboard the flight from Dhaka, Bangladesh, to Rome Dec. 2, 2017.

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

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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."
Bishop David A. Zubik of Pittsburgh addresses the media Aug. 14 at the pastoral center in Pittsburgh. The Pennsylvania attorney general released a grand jury report that day on a months-long investigation into abuse claims spanning a 70-year period in the Diocese of Pittsburgh and five other Pennsylvania dioceses.

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

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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.
Cardinal Daniel N. DiNardo of Galveston-Houston, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, concelebrates the closing Mass at the 2017 convocation in Orlando, Fla. Cardinal DiNardo announced Aug. 16 three key goals and a comprehensive plan to address the "moral catastrophe" of the new abuse scandal. The plan "will involve the laity, lay experts, the clergy and the Vatican," he said.

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

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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.
Marie Collins, center, then member of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors, watches as Cardinal Sean P. O'Malley of Boston, president of the commission, speaks during a briefing at the Vatican May 3, 2014. Collins, who left the commission, told the Irish Times that Pope Francis "should admit responsibility the Vatican and church leadership hold for past events in Ireland." Also pictured is Jesuit Father Hans Zollner, a professor of psychology and president of the Center for Child Protection at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome.

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

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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.
Aretha Franklin performs at the Festival of Families with Pope Francis during the World Meeting of Families in Philadelphia Sept. 26.

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

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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.
The Archdiocese of Boston announced Aug. 15 Cardinal Sean P. O'Malley will not attend the World Meeting of Families in Dublin Aug. 21-26. Cardinal O'Malley is pictured in a 2014 photo.

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

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BOSTON – The Archdiocese of Boston announced Cardinal Sean P. O'Malley will not attend the World Meeting of Families in Dublin Aug. 21-26.
Boston Cardinal Sean P. O'Malley and Deacon Bernie Nojadera, executive director of the U.S. bishops' Secretariat for Child and Youth Protection, are pictured during the 2017 Catholic convocation in Orlando, Fla. In an Aug. 13 interview, Deacon Nojadera said he and his staff at the secretariat are receiving calls from people concerned about the current abuse crisis in the church. "Our fist job," he said, "is to listen, to be empathetic."

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

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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.
In a screen grab taken from video, Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro speaks during an Aug. 14 news conference to release a grand jury on a months-long investigation into abuse claims spanning a 70-year period in the dioceses of Harrisburg, Pittsburgh, Scranton, Allentown, Greensburg and Erie.

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

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WASHINGTON – The report begins dramatically, imploring its readers: "We, the members of this grand jury, need you to hear this."
In a screen grab taken from video, Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro speaks during an Aug. 14 news conference to release a grand jury on a months-long investigation into abuse claims spanning a 70-year period in the dioceses of Harrisburg, Pittsburgh, Scranton, Allentown, Greensburg and Erie.

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

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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.
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