IMAGE: CNS/Paul Haring By VATICAN CITY (CNS) — 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.” “Victims should know that the pope is on their …

IMAGE: CNS photo/Tyler Orsburn By Tyler Orsburn HENDERSON, Ky. (CNS) — When it comes to sizable Hispanic populations, Henderson isn’t Los Angeles or New York City. Nestled in the western part of the Bluegrass State, the Ohio River faithfully meanders by smooth fields of corn, soybean and patches of woods. …

IMAGE: CNS photo/courtesy St. John Vianney Parish By Kelly Sankowski PRINCE FREDERICK, Md. (CNS) — For many parishioners of St. John Vianney Catholic Church in Prince Frederick, the violence happening in Nicaragua is more than just headlines flashing across the screen. “The parish here is impacted by it a lot,” …

IMAGE: CNS photo/Jeffrey Bruno By Steve Larkin WASHINGTON (CNS) — When Chris Bell was working in Times Square in the late 1970s, he was shocked to repeatedly see young mothers entering crisis shelters with their children, and he decided that he had to do something. With the help of Father …

By Greg Erlandson WASHINGTON (CNS) — When Catholic News Service posted a short video of the Pennsylvania attorney general’s Aug. 14 news conference announcing a grand jury report on clergy sexual abuse in six dioceses, its editors had to add a warning about the graphic language viewers would hear. The …

IMAGE: CNS photo/Bob Roller By Mark Pattison WASHINGTON (CNS) — 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. …

IMAGE: CNS photo/Reuters video By Rhina Guidos WASHINGTON (CNS) — The report begins dramatically, imploring its readers: “We, the members of this grand jury, need you to hear this.” Plain and simple, at least 1,000 children identified in the investigation were raped in Catholic places of worship, in schools, and …

IMAGE: CNS photo/courtesy of the dioceses By WASHINGTON (CNS) — The following are excerpts of statements, and links to the full statements, made by the bishops of the six Pennsylvania dioceses named in a grand jury report released Aug. 14 that detailed a two-year investigation of seven decades of clergy …

IMAGE: CNS/Bob Roller By Julie Asher WASHINGTON (CNS) — Washington Cardinal Donald W. Wuerl said Aug. 14 that during his tenure as bishop of Pittsburgh from 1988 to 2006, he “established strong policies that addressed the needs of abuse survivors, removed priests from ministry and protected the most vulnerable in …

IMAGE: CNS photo/Tim Shaffer, Reuters By Rhina Guidos WASHINGTON (CNS) — 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 …