Author Archive
Daniel Rudd: A pioneering leader in black Catholic journalism
IMAGE: CNS photo/courtesy National Black Catholic Congress By Joyce Duriga CHICAGO (CNS) — With February being both Black History Month and Catholic Press Month, Daniel Rudd’s story is worth knowing. A pioneering Catholic journalist, he founded the national black newspaper the American Catholic Tribune and also was the founder of …
Vatican official urges reconsidering ‘pontifical secret’ in abuse cases
IMAGE: CNS photo/Maria Grazie Picciarella, pool By Cindy Wooden VATICAN CITY (CNS) — The Catholic Church should re-examine how "pontifical secret" is applied in clerical sex abuse cases so there is greater transparency in the cases and it is not invoked "to hide problems," said a canon lawyer and Vatican …
Harming a child must be ‘line in the sand’ for removal, cardinal says
IMAGE: CNS photo/Paul Haring By Carol Glatz VATICAN CITY (CNS) — For the Catholic Church, there is a "line in the sand," which can never be crossed, and that is to not allow anyone who harms or would harm a child to exercise public ministry, said Cardinal Sean P. O’Malley …
Cardinal Cupich asks for new structure to ensure bishops’ accountability
IMAGE: CNS photo/Vatican Media By Cindy Wooden VATICAN CITY (CNS) — The Catholic Church needs "new legal structures of accountability" for bishops accused of sexual abuse or of negligence in handling abuse allegations, Cardinal Blase J. Cupich of Chicago told the Vatican summit on safeguarding. Addressing Pope Francis and some …
Can the church step up, lead way in protecting children, cardinal asks
IMAGE: CNS photo/Reuters By Carol Glatz VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Only together, by humbly sharing their experiences, encouragement and corrective advice, can the bishops and leaders in the Catholic Church work to prevent the abuse of minors and help bring healing to survivors, said the head of the Catholic Bishops’ …
Cardinal: Can the church step up, lead way in protecting children?
IMAGE: CNS photo/Vatican Media By Carol Glatz VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Only together, by humbly sharing their experiences, encouragement and corrective advice, can the bishops and leaders in the Catholic Church work to prevent the abuse of minors and help bring healing to survivors, said the head of the Catholic …
Clericalism, abuse of power, at heart of sex abuse crisis, cardinal says
IMAGE: CNS photo/Evandro Inetti, pool By Junno Arocho Esteves VATICAN CITY (CNS) — The abuse crisis in the Catholic Church is a call for bishops to unmask the deep-seated clericalism that placed protection of the institution of the church above the sufferings of victims, said the head of the council …
Cesareo urges greater role for laity in church’s response to abuse
IMAGE: CNS photo/Bob Roller By WASHINGTON (CNS) — Laypeople must be involved in a "more meaningful and influential role" to help Catholic bishops create "an environment of safety within the church," the chairman of the National Review Board said in an opinion piece published by The Boston Globe. Writing Feb. …
Bishops must protect their flock from abuse at all costs, archbishop says
By Carol Glatz VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Catholics need to know that their leaders "mean business" when it comes to protecting minors from abuse, the Vatican’s top abuse investigator told representatives of the world’s bishops and religious orders. "They should come to know us as friends of their safety and …
At summit, survivors expose ‘cancer’ of clergy sex abuse
IMAGE: CNS photo/Evandro Inetti, pool By Junno Arocho Esteves VATICAN CITY (CNS) — "Every time I refused to have sex with him, he would beat me," an abuse survivor from Africa told Pope Francis and bishops attending the Vatican summit on child protection and the abuse crisis. The meeting began …