By Cindy Wooden VATICAN CITY (CNS) — “No effort must be spared” to prevent future cases of clerical sexual abuse and “to prevent the possibility of their being covered up,” Pope Francis said in a letter addressed “to the people of God.” “I acknowledge once more the suffering endured by

Pope Francis has responded to new reports of clerical sexual abuse and the ecclesial cover-up of abuse. In an impassioned letter addressed to the whole People of God, he calls on the Church to be close to victims in solidarity, and to join in acts of prayer and fasting in

IMAGE: CNS photo/Bob Roller By SOUTH BEND, Ind. (CNS) — At an Aug. 17 news conference, Bishop Kevin C. Rhoades of Fort Wayne-South Bend, said that in response to the release of the grand jury report on abuse claims in six Pennsylvania dioceses over a 70- year period, he will

IMAGE: CNS photo/Tyler Orsburn By CHICAGO (CNS) — “Sorrow, disgust, outrage — these are righteous feelings” for all to have in reaction to the latest abuse scandal in the Catholic Church, Cardinal Blase J. Cupich said in an Aug. 17 statement. These are “the stirrings of the conscience of a

By Dennis Sadowski WASHINGTON (CNS) — The Association of U.S. Catholic Priests said its members are “sad … angry … frustrated” over continued reports involving fellow priests and a lack of accountability by bishops. “At every level, our church is in pain,” the 1,200-member organization said Aug. 17. The organization

IMAGE: CNS photo/Tyler Orsburn By Rhina Guidos WASHINGTON (CNS) — In an Aug. 16 interview with Eternal Word Television Network, Erie Bishop Lawrence T. Persico said the only way to regain the trust of the laity after decades-long claims of sexual abuse by priests and others at six Pennsylvania dioceses

IMAGE: CNS photo/Shannon Stapleton, Reuters By Steve Larkin WASHINGTON (CNS) — A U.S. Commerce Department decision that a question about citizenship status be included on the 2020 census has its fair share of critics and has prompted lawsuits. The critics say such questions might make people less likely to participate

IMAGE: CNS photo/Reuters video By Rhina Guidos WASHINGTON (CNS) — In a tweet, a U.S. bishop said he had spent the night reading a grand jury report detailing seven decades of child sex abuse claims in six Pennsylvania dioceses and “it was like reading a horror book.” Unfortunately, it was

IMAGE: CNS/Paul Haring By VATICAN CITY (CNS) — In the wake of a grand jury report on clergy sexual abuse in six dioceses in Pennsylvania, a Vatican spokesman called the abuses described in the report as being “criminal and morally reprehensible.” “Victims should know that the pope is on their

IMAGE: CNS photo/Tyler Orsburn By Tyler Orsburn HENDERSON, Ky. (CNS) — When it comes to sizable Hispanic populations, Henderson isn’t Los Angeles or New York City. Nestled in the western part of the Bluegrass State, the Ohio River faithfully meanders by smooth fields of corn, soybean and patches of woods.