CLEVELAND -- A grand jury indicted a Catholic priest on federal charges involving child pornography and the sexual exploitation of children.
VALLA BEACH, Australia -- Australian Cardinal George Pell, the most senior Catholic cleric convicted of child sexual abuse charges, will learn the fate of his final appeal to the country's High Court April 7.
Former French priest sentenced for sexual assaults
LYON, France -- A former French priest was sentenced to jail for five years for sexual assaults against Scouts.
Australian High Court releases Cardinal Pell's appeal submissions
CANBERRA, Australia -- Australia's High Court has released the full set of submissions for Cardinal George Pell's March 11 and 12 final appeal hearing against historic child sexual abuse crimes.
Pope Francis defrocks Argentine founder of religious institute
VATICAN CITY -- Pope Francis expelled from the priesthood the founder of Miles Christi, a religious institute based in Argentina, after he was found guilty of sexual and physical abuse.
French cardinal to offer resignation, despite abuse acquittal
LYON, France -- A French cardinal welcomed an appeal court judgment that overturned his suspended jail sentence for failing to report abuse, but confirmed he will ask Pope Francis to allow him to resign.
Abuse happens within women's orders, too, cardinal says
VATICAN CITY -- Sexual abuse and the abuse of authority have occurred and are occurring within religious orders of women and must be addressed with transparency and boldness, said Cardinal Joao Braz de Aviz, prefect of the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life.
U.S. bishop asked Pope Francis about McCarrick report
VATICAN CITY -- Bishop Joseph E. Strickland of Tyler, Texas, said he asked Pope Francis about the Vatican investigation into Theodore E. McCarrick and the release of a promised report on how the former cardinal managed to rise through the church ranks.
Legionaries to investigate abuse uncovered by report
VATICAN CITY -- The Legionaries of Christ vowed to cooperate with an investigation after a report stated that the congregation failed to address sexual abuse and cover-ups at one of its prestigious schools in Mexico.
YANGON, Myanmar -- A six-person committee charged with reviewing church governance and management is expected to present Australia's bishops with a plan to overhaul the management of the church in the country.
First clergy abuse suits under new California law announced
LOS ANGELES -- An attorney who specializes in lawsuits for victims of clergy sexual abuse has announced plans to file 12 suits in nine California dioceses under California's new Child Victims Act, which takes effect Jan. 1, extending the state's statute of limitations for childhood sexual abuse survivors.
Releasing list ‘the right thing to do’
OTTAWA -- The decision by the Jesuits of Canada to release a list of priests “credibly accused” of abuse of minors is a step in the right direction, but an honest accounting of the extent of child abuse will take a lot more work, said the president of an abuse survivor group.
Legionaries report 'chain of abuse' as victims went on to abuse others
ROME -- Demonstrating a strong "chain of abuse," the Legionaries of Christ said its founder, the late Father Marcial Maciel Degollado, sexually abused at least 60 minors and that at least another 51 youngsters were abused by Father Maciel's victims or victims of his victims.
Jesuits will name ‘credibly accused’
OTTAWA -- Canada’s Jesuits are planning to do what no other Catholic religious order in the country has done — release the names of priests “credibly accused” of sexual abuse of minors.
VATICAN CITY -- Pope Francis has accepted the resignation of Archbishop Luigi Ventura, the nuncio to France, who has been under investigation for sexual misconduct in France and in Canada.