Safeguarding minors and vulnerable persons must be a priority for everyone in the church, Pope Francis said during an audience May 5 with staff and members of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors at the Vatican.
Commentary: What cannot be overstated is the force that the hierarchical culture — that privileged, secretive, unaccountable, male-only construct — can apply against any movement toward radical truth-telling.
Two U.S. cardinals, six bishops and prominent leaders of various faiths clasped hands with a group of about 20 men and women Nov. 18 in Baltimore, praying for an end to the evil of sexual abuse of children.
Commentary: Sr. Christine Schenk's review of major U.S. dioceses' websites presents a heartening (though inconclusive) picture of synod events planned by church leaders of both "liberal" and "conservative" persuasions.
Boston Cardinal Sean O'Malley met with Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel on Sept. 9 and visited a Cuban COVID-19 vaccine laboratory at a time of tense relations between the U.S. and Cuba.
Following a meeting at which a majority voted to advance a divisive document on the Eucharist, the U.S. bishops' conference is seeking to clear up its own mixed messaging and is insisting the document will no longer target Catholic politicians.
After receiving an unprecedented letter from 67 bishops appealing for a delay, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' president explained in a memo the procedure followed in bringing the question to a vote.
Juan Carlos Cruz, a survivor known for using Twitter and media appearances to point out powerful prelates not reporting abuse cases, will join 15 of the other previous members of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors.
