Skip to: Content
Skip to: Site Navigation
Skip to: Search
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2009
| Subscribe to Newser's RSS feeds RSS | Follow Newser on Twitter Twitter

NEWS ABOUT: priest sex abuse

priest sex abuse stories: 19 news summaries

Vatican Slams Sex Abuse in Other Religions

Pedophilia statement charges that most abusers are gay

Sep 29, 09 5:22 AM CDT
(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... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Catholic Church • Vatican • sexual abuse • homosexuality • clergy abuse scandal • priest sex abuse • homosexual clergy • pedophilia • gay men

OPINION

Sex-Abuse Report Shames Ireland, Church

Writer lauds harrowing report of violence against children

May 21, 09 8:28 AM CDT
(Newser) - The massive report released yesterday documenting the systematic abuse of children in Irish Catholic schools and institutions is "a monument to the shameful nature of Irish society throughout most of the decades of the 20th century," writes Mary Raftery in the Irish Times. The painstaking disclosure of physical... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Catholic Church • child abuse • sexual abuse • abuse • Ireland • priest sex abuse • Irish Catholics • Catholic priest • Christian school

 Irish Church 
 Long Shielded 
 Pedophiles: Report 

Long-awaited report finds rampant abuses at reform schools

May 20, 09 12:29 PM CDT
(Newser) - Sexual abuse was endemic in Irish Catholic institutions until the 1980s, a 9-year government inquiry has found. Over a 60-year period, 2000 children—mostly boys, now over 50—suffered physical and sexual abuses at the rigid schools, the BBC reports. Church officials encouraged beatings and shielded pedophiles in their orders,... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Catholic Church • child abuse • sexual abuse • church • Ireland • priest sex abuse • pastor controversy • Catholic priest • Cardinal Sean Brady

 Vatican Can 
 Be Sued 
 for Abuse: 
 US Court 

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

Mar 5, 09 3:35 AM CST
(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... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Catholic Church • Vatican • sexual abuse • lawsuit • priest sex abuse • clergy

 Milwaukee's 
 Dolan 
 Named NY 
 Archbishop 

Genial but conservative leader succeeds Cardinal Egan

Feb 23, 09 6:40 AM CST
(Newser) - The pope today named Timothy Dolan, who leads the archdiocese of Milwaukee, as the new Roman Catholic archbishop of New York. Dolan is 59, relatively young for promotion to such a prestigious seat—which normally comes with an elevation to cardinal. While he is doctrinally conservative, Dolan is less confrontational... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Pope Benedict XVI • Catholic Church • priest sex abuse • Archdiocese of New York • Timothy Dolan

Coverup Probe Launched in LA Archdiocese Abuse Cases

Cardinal may face fraud charges for failing to protect parishioners

Jan 29, 09 5:07 AM CST
(Newser) - Federal authorities are investigating whether top officials of the Los Angeles Catholic Archdiocese conspired to cover up the sexual abuse of minors by priests, sources tell the Los Angeles Times. Cardinal Roger Mahony and other leaders may face fraud charges for failing to keep children safe by improperly dealing with... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Catholic Church • child molestation • Cardinal Roger M. Mahony • archdiocese • priest sex abuse • Catholic priest

(Newser) - Alleged victims of sexual abuse by Catholic priests can move ahead with a lawsuit against the Vatican, the Wall Street Journal reports. A federal appeals court in Cincinnati ruled that the Vatican can be held liable for negligence in the thousands of such cases reported in the US. A Vatican... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Pope Benedict XVI • Vatican • sexual abuse • priest sex abuse • Catholic

 'Go Green,' Pope Urges Youth 

Pontiff pleads for the earth as he kicks off visit to Australia

Jul 14, 08 4:35 AM CDT
(Newser) - The Pope yesterday called on the world—particularly young people—to combat global warming with "a style of life that eases problems caused to the environment," reports the Sydney Morning Herald. Pope Benedict issued his plea just minutes before touching down in Australia for an official visit. The... More »

MORE ABOUT:
climate change • Pope Benedict XVI • Australia • global warming • Vatican • solar energy • priest sex abuse • World Youth Day

 Pope Vows Abuse
 Apology in Australia 

He vows to help sex abuse victims, who say cover-ups continue

Jul 13, 08 2:06 PM CDT
(Newser) - Traveling to Sydney today, Pope Benedict promised to apologize for a sexual abuse scandal that has rocked Australia's Catholic Church, Reuters reports. He also vowed to ensure it never recurs, and to help Australian victims heal—but one victims' group still accuses the Church of covering up abuse by priests... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Pope Benedict XVI • Australia • Catholic Church • apology • priest sex abuse

US Clergy Tell Aussie Critic to Go Home

Bishop vows to keep slamming Vatican for sex abuse, celibacy

Jun 7, 08 6:52 PM CDT
(Newser) - On orders from the Vatican, a dozen top US bishops have asked their Australian colleague to cancel his American book tour, the Los Angeles Times reports. But Geoffrey Robinson, former auxiliary bishop of Sydney, vows to keep on promoting Confronting Power and Sex in the Catholic Church, which blames... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Australia • Catholic Church • Cardinal Roger M. Mahony • priest sex abuse • bishop • Roman Catholicism

25K Teens
Rock at NY
Pope Rally

Kelly Clarkson opens before Benedict XVI blesses followers

Apr 19, 08 6:01 PM CDT
(Newser) - About 25,000 teens experienced Popemania today at a rocking rally in Yonkers, NY, the New York Daily News reports. After Kelly Clarkson belted out tunes, Benedict XVI emerged from a seminary meeting with disabled kids to receive gifts of bread and bless the crowd. "It's a once-in-a-lifetime thing,... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Pope Benedict XVI • Catholic Church • Kelly Clarkson • Popemobile • priest • priest sex abuse • Catholics • Roman Catholicism • Pope Benedict's US visit

Pope Prays for Healing After Abuse Scandal

Reassures clergy
of his "spiritual closeness" in NYC

Apr 19, 08 11:37 AM CDT
(Newser) - Pope Benedict XVI spent the third anniversary of his election to the papacy trying to comfort clergy still weathering the fallout from the priest sex abuse scandal, the AP reports. “I simply wish to assure you of my spiritual closeness,” Benedict said. The pontiff, addressing 3,000 people... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Pope Benedict XVI • New York • Vatican • Christians • priest sex abuse • Roman Catholicism • Pope Benedict's US visit

Pope's Words Anger Victims
of Sex Abuse

They're looking for action against priests—not lip service

Apr 16, 08 5:07 AM CDT
(Newser) - Pope Benedict's attempt to placate priests' sex abuse victims has only served to anger many of them, reports the New York Times. The pontiff said he was "deeply ashamed" of the scandal that has triggered complaints from some 13,000 victims. He does not plan to meet with any... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Pope Benedict XVI • Catholic Church • sexual abuse • clergy abuse scandal • priest • priest sex abuse • Pope Benedict's US visit

UPDATED

 'Monumental' US Visit Ahead 

Unprecedented presidential welcome kick off Pope's jam-packed itinerary

Apr 15, 08 5:05 PM CDT
(Newser) - Today's arrival of Pope Benedict XVI "had the look and feel of a monumental and historic event," a CNN correspondent notes—and the six-day visit will indeed be eventful. Benedict will speak to US Catholic leadership tomorrow after a welcoming ceremony at the White House, then visit the... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Pope Benedict XVI • Catholic Church • Vatican • priest sex abuse • Pope John Paul II • Catholics • Pope Benedict's US visit

 Pope 'Ashamed' by
 Priest Sex Abuse 

Pontiff promises to make sure it won't happen again

Apr 15, 08 11:01 AM CDT
(Newser) - Pope Benedict XVI said today he is "deeply ashamed" by the priest sex-abuse scandal that caused a crisis of faith in the US, and he vowed that the church "will absolutely exclude pedophiles" from the priesthood, the AP reports. "We will do whatever is possible so that... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Pope Benedict XVI • Catholic Church • sexual abuse • clergy abuse scandal • priest sex abuse • Pope Benedict's US visit

NY Diocese's Coloring Book Warns of Abuse

Angel tells kids not to be alone with an adult; priest not mentioned

Dec 5, 07 9:06 AM CST
(Newser) - A coloring book handed out by the Catholic Church to kids in New York warns them not to be alone with an adult in a room with the door shut, Newsweek reports. It doesn't specifically name priests as a risk, but it does depict an angel warning an altar boy... More »

MORE ABOUT:
education • Catholic Church • New York • children • clergy abuse scandal • priest • priest sex abuse • clergy

Hillary Hostage Suspect Claims Priest Abuse

Long-troubled man faced divorce, domestic violence charges

Dec 1, 07 6:08 AM CST
(Newser) - Leeland Eisenberg's problems began long before he seized five hostages yesterday in a New Hampshire campaign office of Hillary Clinton. In 2002, Eisenberg filed a lawsuit charging that a Catholic priest had sexually abused him when he was 21 years old, homeless, and emotionally vulnerable, ABC News reports. The accused... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Hillary Clinton • New Hampshire • priest • priest sex abuse • Leeland Eisenberg • hostage

Jesuits Settle Sex Suit for $50M

Case involves abuse of 110 children in remote Alaskan villages

Nov 19, 07 3:55 AM CST
(Newser) - The Jesuits have agreed to pay $50 million to some 110 people living in remote Alaskan villages who claim they were sexually molested as children by 15 priests, brothers or men working for the Jesuits, reports the Seattle Times. Details of the settlements are still being negotiated, according to attorneys... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Alaska • sexual abuse • priest sex abuse • Society of Jesus • Jesuits • Diocese of Fairbanks • Province of Oregon • Yukon

Laity, Clergy Asked to Defray Sex Abuse Costs

San Diego bishop draws support from pulpit, less backing from pews

Oct 8, 07 12:00 PM CDT
(Newser) - The San Diego Diocese is turning over every stone to pay its $198.1 million settlement to sexual abuse victims, asking both priests and parishioners to chip in. Clerics are apparently willing—many will donate a month’s salary—but parishioner responses are far less positive, the LA Times reports.... More »

MORE ABOUT:
bankruptcy • Rome • Vatican • San Diego • priest sex abuse • settlement • Catholic • laity • San Diego Diocese

19 Stories


from our news partners