Clergy Archives

Stresses multiply for many US clergy: ‘We need help too’

Feb 19, 2020

It’s difficult to quantify the extent of clergy stress, nationwide or denominationally. But a 2018 Gallup poll bears out a common impression that clergy no longer enjoy the same public esteem as in the past.

By David Crary

Poll finds American Catholics don’t look to clergy on politics

Nov 15, 2019

A new survey from the PEW Research Center has found that not only do most Americans believe religion and politics shouldn’t mingle, but Catholics in particular emerged as less likely than other U.S. Christian churches to trust their clergy on hot-button issues such as abortion.

By Elise Harris

Pope laments ‘pain, unbearable suffering’ of clerical abuse scandals

Mar 8, 2019

After a French cardinal was convicted of covering up sex abuse, Pope Francis on Thursday addressed the scandals in a meeting with Roman clergy.

By Claire Giangravè

Italian protesting clerical abuse arrested in front of the Vatican

Feb 5, 2019

An Italian victim of sexual abuse by clergy peacefully protested in front of the Vatican Monday before being taken away by police officers.

By Claire Giangravè

Pope again flexes papal muscle to keep tabs on cardinals

Jun 16, 2017

Pope Francis has revived what has been called a “noble tradition” of asking cardinals to inform him when they leave town and where they’re going. This show of papal muscle comes after the pope wrote a letter asking for obedience to a rioting diocese in Nigeria and the tensions with the Knights of Malta.

By Associated Press

Vatican tailors, cobblers try to adapt to Francis’s ‘papal athleisure’

Jun 12, 2017

Pope Francis’s emphasis on simplicity and frugality is a hit all around the world, but it’s produced just a bit of backlash among fashion-conscious Italians, including an exclusive club of tailors and shoemakers who outfit pontiffs — some of whom are a little nostalgic for the days when being pope also meant dressing to the nines.

By Claire Giangravè