LOS ANGELES (CNS) — Archbishop Jose H. Gomez said penance and purification is needed to rebuild the U.S. Catholic Church and respond to the abuse crisis. He stressed the importance of strong procedures and protocols for addressing abuse claims, helping the victims and creating safe environments for all children and …

IMAGE: CNS photo/Bob Roller By Rhina Guidos WASHINGTON (CNS) — Some victims of clergy sex abuse and their supporters are calling on federal and state entities to investigate sex abuse within the Catholic Church and root out abusers and anyone who has protected them. Members of the Survivors Network of …

IMAGE: CNS Photo/ courtesy of The Catholic University of America By WASHINGTON (CNS) — In an Aug. 18 letter to students and staff at The Catholic University of America, its president, John Garvey, said the laity must have a role in rebuilding the church in the wake of a new …

By SCRANTON, Pa. (CNS) — The Jesuit-run University of Scranton announced Aug. 20 it was rescinding honorary degrees given to three former bishops of the Diocese of Scranton, and removing their names from buildings. Jesuit Father Scott Pilarz, the university president, said the school is doing so because “these bishops …

IMAGE: CNS photo/Paul Haring By BOSTON (CNS) — Cardinal Sean P. O’Malley said Aug. 20 that he takes full responsibility for office procedures that resulted in him never being notified about a June 2015 letter sent to his attention regarding “sexual abuse/harassment/intimidation” allegations concerning Archbishop Theodore E. McCarrick. It was …

IMAGE: CNS photo/courtesy Archdiocese of Philadelphia By Matthew Gambino PHILADELPHIA (CNS) — Two priests of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia have been found unsuitable for ministry, the archdiocese announced Aug. 19 following Masses at the parishes where Father Andrew D. McCormick and Msgr. Gregory J. Parlante most recently served. The ministry …

IMAGE: CNS/Paul Haring By Ed Langlois PORTLAND, Ore. (CNS) — Portland Archbishop Alexander K. Sample issued a letter Aug. 20 to western Oregon Catholics in which he expresses shock, anger and discouragement over revelations of clergy sex abuse in other parts of the country. “I have been shaken to the …

IMAGE: CNS photo/Clodagh Kilcoyne, Reuters By Cindy Wooden VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Pope Francis will meet survivors of sexual abuse during his trip to Ireland Aug. 25-26, but it will be up to the survivors to decide whether any information about the meeting will be released, said the director of …

IMAGE: CNS photo/Carlos Barria, Reuters By Zita Ballinger Fletcher WASHINGTON (CNS) — Sexual assault victims say they were hurt not only by individual priests, but by church officials and ordinary Catholics who treated them with intolerance and indifference. Four survivors of sexual assaults by priests shared their stories with Catholic …

IMAGE: CNS photo/Barbara Fraser By Barbara J. Fraser BOGOTA, Colombia (CNS) — Asiangelis Guevara sat at the dining room table at a shelter for migrants, sipping hot chocolate, holding her year-old son and encouraging him to eat a piece of bread. He gripped the food, but just stared back at …