abuse cover-up Archives

Polish priest apologizes for defense of disgraced bishop

Dec 8, 2020

A popular Polish priest apologized Tuesday for a sermon in which he defended a bishop accused of covering up for pedophile priests. His sermon, delivered to a congregation including the justice minister and other top politicians, was later condemned by government officials.

By Associated Press

New York state sues Buffalo diocese over priest misconduct

Nov 24, 2020

New York Attorney General Letitia James on Monday sued the Catholic Diocese of Buffalo and two former church leaders, alleging they covered up allegations of sexual misconduct and misused charitable assets by supporting predatory priests who were allowed to retire or go on leave.

By Carolyn Thompson

Amid cover-up allegations, German prelate steps down from lay organization

Nov 21, 2020

Hamburg Archbishop Stefan Hesse has stepped down from his post as spiritual assistant to the Central Committee of German Catholics, the most important laypeople’s organization of the church in Germany, pending clarification of all the allegations about his possible role in covering up sexual abuse cases during his time in Cologne.

By Catholic News Service

At Vatican trial, seminary rector accuses victim of seeking payout

Nov 20, 2020

The former rector of a minor seminary located in the Vatican denied knowing about the alleged sexual abuse of a student, but instead alleged that the victim and his friend, who claimed he witnessed the abuse, were motivated by money.

By Junno Arocho Esteves

Catholic bishop says he’ll comply with Vatican inquiry

Nov 19, 2020

A California-based Roman Catholic bishop confirmed Wednesday that he is under investigation by the Vatican for his handling of abuse and misconduct cases in his former diocese in the Las Cruces area of southern New Mexico.

By Associated Press

New Zealand cardinal opens inquiry into late bishop’s actions on abuse

Nov 18, 2020

Cardinal John Dew of Wellington has asked for an independent investigator to determine whether the late bishop of Dunedin took proper action when he received complaints of sexual abuse.

By Catholic News Service

McCarrick report should be lesson in transparency, say canon lawyers

Nov 14, 2020

The Vatican report on Theodore E. McCarrick’s rise through the U.S. episcopal ranks should be a contemporary lesson in transparency for the entire church, said U.S. experts in church law.

By Tom Tracy

Lori: Report marks new era of transparency, which laity ‘have rightly demanded’

Nov 13, 2020

Baltimore Archbishop William E. Lori in a Nov. 10 letter to the Catholic faithful of his archdiocese said the long-awaited Vatican report on former cardinal Theodore E. McCarrick “brings us to another moment of painful awareness of our church’s past failures.”

By Catholic News Service