IMAGE: CNS photo/courtesy of the dioceses By WASHINGTON (CNS) — The U.S. bishops as “are shamed by and sorry for the sins and omissions by Catholic priests and Catholic bishops” that have led to sexual abuse and caused great harm to many, said an Aug. 14 statement from the president …

IMAGE: CNS photo/Paul Haring By Cindy Wooden VATICAN CITY (CNS) — 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. While coverage of clerical abuse in the United States, Chile and Australia continues, …

By Rhina Guidos WASHINGTON (CNS) — In a June 2015 letter to Boston’s Cardinal Sean P. O’Malley obtained by Catholic News Service, a New York priest tells the prelate about “sexual abuse/harassment/intimidation” allegations he had heard concerning then-Cardinal Theodore E. McCarrick and asks that if the matter doesn’t fall under …

IMAGE: CNS photo/Chris Heisey, The Catholic Witness By Jen Reed FAIRFIELD, Pa. (CNS) — The grinding sounds of an excavation and construction site yielded to the intonation of a solemn pontifical Mass and prayers for the future on a vista in Fairfield July 25, where construction is underway for a …

IMAGE: CNS photo/Paul Haring By Cindy Wooden ROME (CNS) — Members of the Catholic Church sin and give scandal, it’s true, Pope Francis said, but it is up to each Catholic to live the faith as authentically as possible and witness to the world the love of Jesus. “The best …

By Rhina Guidos WASHINGTON (CNS) — The Archbishop of Boston said in an Aug. 10 statement that he has asked the rector of its main archdiocesan St. John Seminary to go on sabbatical leave immediately and is asking for an investigation of allegations made on social media about activities there …

By Theresa Laurence NASHVILLE, Tenn. (CNS) — Two Tennessee Catholic bishops called the execution of Billy Ray Irick Aug. 9 “unnecessary.” “Tonight’s execution of Billy Ray Irick was unnecessary. It served no useful purpose,” Bishop J. Mark Spalding of Nashville and Bishop Richard F. Stika of Knoxville said in a …

IMAGE: CNS photo/Paul Haring By Cindy Wooden VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Any member of the clergy accused of the sexual abuse of a minor is tried according to procedures outlined in the Code of Canon Law and specific norms spelled out in “Sacramentorum Sanctitatis Tutela” (“Safeguarding the Sanctity of the …

IMAGE: CNS photo/Bob Roller By ATLANTA (CNS) — Atlanta Archbishop Wilton D. Gregory issued a print and video statement Aug. 9 on the website of The Georgia Bulletin, archdiocesan newspaper, expressing his “profound anger, sadness and distress concerning sexual abuse by church leaders of children, young people and those over …

IMAGE: CNS photo/Agustin Marcarian By David Agren MEXICO CITY (CNS) — The Argentine Senate voted against a bill that would have decriminalized abortion during the first 14 weeks of pregnancy. Senators voted 38-31 against the measure early Aug. 9 following a 15-hour debate. The measure had been approved in June …