Vatican Steps Up Scrutiny of American Nuns

Pontiff keeps his silence on sex abuse scandals

(AP) - A senior cardinal defended Pope Benedict XVI from "petty gossip" today, praising his "unfailing" leadership, even as the pontiff maintained his silence on mounting accusations of sex abuse cover-ups during his Easter message. At the end of the two-hour long ceremony, a weary-looking Benedict delivered the papacy's traditional Easter "Urbi et Orbi" message, analyzing humanity's failings and hopes. More»

Vatican 'needs to look into source of sex scandals'

(NEWSER) - The Catholic church needs to take a long hard look at its celibacy policy in the wake of its seemingly endless sex scandals, an influential cardinal says. Cardinal Christoph Schonborn, the archbishop of Vienna, wrote in his archdiocese magazine last week that the Vatican should carry out an "unflinching examination" of the roots of the scandals, paying particular attention to priests' training and personality development. 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»

Priests told to get tough on sinners instead of providing counseling sessions

(NEWSER) - The Vatican plans a campaign to remind priests that the confessional isn't a psychiatrist's couch, the Guardian reports. A handbook will be issued to emphasize that sinners are in confession to be given penance, not counseling sessions. The number of Catholics going to confession has slumped in recent years and church officials believe getting tough might win back those who miss traditional practices. More»

(NEWSER) - Israeli-Vatican tensions are expected to heat up yet again during Pope Benedict's visit today as the pontiff presses Catholic claims over a room in Jerusalem believed to be the site of Christ's last supper. The room is in a building that served for centuries as a mosque and is now marked with Arabic inscriptions. Israel is reluctant to hand the site over without significant backing from the Vatican to help develop and manage it as a massive Christian tourist site. More»