LA Cardinal Apologizes to Abuse Victims

159 clerics on list; 91 others omitted

(NEWSER) - Nearly a decade after a sexual abuse scandal erupted in the Archdiocese of Boston, Cardinal Sean O'Malley has released a list of 159 clerics accused of abusing children. The list was compiled using files that go back as far as 70 years, but the archdiocese has come under fire for omitting the names of 91 other priests, most of whom are now deceased, the Boston Globe reports. The names of priests from religious orders and other dioceses accused of molesting Boston-area children were also omitted. More»

Pedophilia statement charges that most abusers are gay

(NEWSER) - The Vatican hit out at critics of its handling of the church's sexual abuse crisis yesterday, maintaining that most of its abusive clergymen were gay men and not pedophiles. The Holy See's UN representative cited "available research" that only 5% or less of its clergy were involved in child sex abuse, and that up to 90% of them "belong to this sexual orientation minority" attracted to teenage boys. His statement also cited a newspaper report that Protestant and Jewish communities also suffer from sex abuse. More»

(NEWSER) - Last week the largest group of American nuns held its annual meeting, and once again they refused to let survivors of sexual abuse in Catholic schools attend. When even the bishops have acknowledged the depth and seriousness of abuse within the Church, it's strange for the nuns to bury their heads in the sand, writes Frances Kissling on Salon. "Perhaps it is simply too painful to listen," she says. "Much better to remember the Bing Crosby and Ingrid Bergman versions of religious life." More»

Ruling finds that Vatican can be held responsible for priests' actions

(NEWSER) - A federal court has ruled that the Vatican hierarchy can be sued for sexual abuse committed by priests, the Los Angeles Times reports. Judges decided that a man—who says he was molested by a priest in the '60s—can proceed with his lawsuit against the Vatican, even though it's a sovereign nation, because the alleged abuse occurred while the priest was an employee. More»

Pontiff tells Australia child abusers have damaged the church

(NEWSER) - Pope Benedict XVI used unusually strong language today in condemning the sexual abuse of children by Australia's Catholic clergy, reports the AP. The pontiff said the clergy's "grave betrayal of trust" had damaged the Catholic church. "I am deeply sorry for the pain and suffering the victims have endured. I assure them as their pastor that I, too, share in their suffering," Benedict said during a mass in Sydney. "Those responsible for these evils must be brought to justice." More»