International News

News from outside of Canada.

The culture of clericalism that enables abuse and insists on hiding it

August 22, 2018

VATICAN – Pope Francis blamed "clericalism" in the Catholic Church for creating a culture where criminal abuse was widespread and extraordinary efforts were made to keep the crimes hidden.

WMF panel: Families urged to come up with 'media plan' to help protect minors from pornography

August 22, 2018

DUBLIN – Behavioral scientists and cybercrime experts talked to families about how digital distraction, pornography and the "online echo chamber" impact their lives, during one of the first panels at the international World Meeting of Families.

Victims call for federal investigation of sex abuse in Catholic Church

August 22, 2018

WASHINGTON – Some victims of clergy sex abuse and their supporters are calling on federal and state entities to investigate sex abuse within the Catholic Church and root out abusers and anyone who has protected them.

Priest attacked in church; assailant cited retribution for church sex abuse

August 22, 2018

MERRILLVILLE, Ind. – A Byzantine Catholic priest was attacked Aug. 20 in the altar servers' sacristy of his church in Merrillville, near Gary in the northwestern part of the state.

Pope to meet sex abuse survivors in Ireland at World Meeting of Families

August 21, 2018

VATICAN – Pope Francis will meet survivors of sexual abuse during his trip to Ireland Aug. 25-26, but it will be up to the survivors to decide whether any information about the meeting will be released, said the director of the Vatican press office.

Pope Francis says teachings of 'Amoris Laetitia' will mature, not rupture

August 21, 2018

VATICAN – Everything in the document "Amoris Laetitia" on marriage and family life is based on Catholic Church teaching "always in continuity -- without ruptures -- yet always maturing," Pope Francis said.

Nuncio says U.S. bishops committed to addressing cover-up, abuse scandal

August 20, 2018

VATICAN – The U.S. bishops are "deeply committed" to facing the reality of clerical sexual abuse and the history of covering it up, said the Vatican nuncio to the United States.

Pope Francis makes 'urgent' appeal to prevent clerical sex abuse

August 20, 2018

VATICAN – "No effort must be spared" to prevent future cases of clerical sexual abuse and "to prevent the possibility of their being covered up," Pope Francis said in a letter addressed "to the people of God."

Indian church joins relief efforts as floods, landslides wreak havoc in Kerala

August 20, 2018

COCHIN, India – The Catholic Church has joined relief efforts as unprecedented floods and landslides continue to wreak havoc in India's Kerala state, killing about 370 people within a week.

Cardinal Wuerl drops out of World Meeting of Families appearances

August 19, 2018

WASHINGTON – The Archbishop of Washington has cancelled his scheduled participation at the Church’s World Meeting of Families, which will be held this week in Dublin, Ireland.