IMAGE: CNS photo/Evandro Inetti, pool By Cindy Wooden VATICAN CITY (CNS) — In an opulent Vatican room designed in the 16th century for papal meetings with kings, a cardinal read, "We confess that we have shielded the guilty and have silenced those who have been harmed." "Kyrie, eleison," (Lord, have …

IMAGE: CNS photo/Vatican Television By Junno Arocho Esteves VATICAN CITY (CNS) — If they are truly serious about fighting clerical sex abuse, bishops must join forces with journalists and not view them as enemies plotting against the Catholic Church, Mexican journalist Valentina Alazraki said. Alazraki, who has covered the Vatican …

By Carol Glatz VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Transparent, reliable and respectful administration is critical for counteracting sinful behavior within the Catholic Church, said German Cardinal Reinhard Marx of Munich and Freising. "There are no alternatives to traceability and transparency," he said, adding that he saw no convincing reason why the …

IMAGE: CNS photo/Paul Haring By Junno Arocho Esteves VATICAN CITY (CNS) — The hypocrisy of Catholic leaders who claimed to be guardians of morality yet remained silent about clerical sexual abuse has left the church’s credibility in shambles, an African woman religious told bishops at the Vatican summit on abuse. …

IMAGE: CNS photo/courtesy National Black Catholic Congress By Joyce Duriga CHICAGO (CNS) — With February being both Black History Month and Catholic Press Month, Daniel Rudd’s story is worth knowing. A pioneering Catholic journalist, he founded the national black newspaper the American Catholic Tribune and also was the founder of …

IMAGE: CNS photo/Maria Grazie Picciarella, pool By Cindy Wooden VATICAN CITY (CNS) — The Catholic Church should re-examine how "pontifical secret" is applied in clerical sex abuse cases so there is greater transparency in the cases and it is not invoked "to hide problems," said a canon lawyer and Vatican …

IMAGE: CNS photo/Paul Haring By Carol Glatz VATICAN CITY (CNS) — For the Catholic Church, there is a "line in the sand," which can never be crossed, and that is to not allow anyone who harms or would harm a child to exercise public ministry, said Cardinal Sean P. O’Malley …

IMAGE: CNS photo/Vatican Media By Cindy Wooden VATICAN CITY (CNS) — The Catholic Church needs "new legal structures of accountability" for bishops accused of sexual abuse or of negligence in handling abuse allegations, Cardinal Blase J. Cupich of Chicago told the Vatican summit on safeguarding. Addressing Pope Francis and some …

IMAGE: CNS photo/Reuters By Carol Glatz VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Only together, by humbly sharing their experiences, encouragement and corrective advice, can the bishops and leaders in the Catholic Church work to prevent the abuse of minors and help bring healing to survivors, said the head of the Catholic Bishops’ …

IMAGE: CNS photo/Vatican Media By Carol Glatz VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Only together, by humbly sharing their experiences, encouragement and corrective advice, can the bishops and leaders in the Catholic Church work to prevent the abuse of minors and help bring healing to survivors, said the head of the Catholic …