Can the church step up, lead way in protecting children, cardinal asks
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’ …
Cardinal: Can the church step up, lead way in protecting children?
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 …
Obituary: Rev. Gary J. Witsken
Rev. Gerard J. Witsken, Loving son of the late Lawrence H., Sr. and Antoinette (Duwel) Witsken. Dear brother of the late Lawrence H., Jr. (Mary Ann) Witsken and Richard A. (Jeannette) Witsken. Survived by numerous nieces and nephews. Former Pastor of St. Vincent de Paul Church (Riverside), St. Peter Church …
Clericalism, abuse of power, at heart of sex abuse crisis, cardinal says
IMAGE: CNS photo/Evandro Inetti, pool By Junno Arocho Esteves VATICAN CITY (CNS) — The abuse crisis in the Catholic Church is a call for bishops to unmask the deep-seated clericalism that placed protection of the institution of the church above the sufferings of victims, said the head of the council …
Cesareo urges greater role for laity in church’s response to abuse
IMAGE: CNS photo/Bob Roller By WASHINGTON (CNS) — Laypeople must be involved in a "more meaningful and influential role" to help Catholic bishops create "an environment of safety within the church," the chairman of the National Review Board said in an opinion piece published by The Boston Globe. Writing Feb. …
Bishops must protect their flock from abuse at all costs, archbishop says
By Carol Glatz VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Catholics need to know that their leaders "mean business" when it comes to protecting minors from abuse, the Vatican’s top abuse investigator told representatives of the world’s bishops and religious orders. "They should come to know us as friends of their safety and …
At summit, survivors expose ‘cancer’ of clergy sex abuse
IMAGE: CNS photo/Evandro Inetti, pool By Junno Arocho Esteves VATICAN CITY (CNS) — "Every time I refused to have sex with him, he would beat me," an abuse survivor from Africa told Pope Francis and bishops attending the Vatican summit on child protection and the abuse crisis. The meeting began …
Vatican summit opens with acknowledgement of evil committed
By Cindy Wooden VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Opening the Vatican summit on child protection and the clerical sexual abuse crisis, Pope Francis said, "The holy people of God are watching and are awaiting from us not simple, predictable condemnations, but concrete and effective measures" to stop abuse. The summit meeting …
Update: N.J. priest at Vatican, removed in 2018, was accused of abuse in 2003
By Cindy Wooden VATICAN CITY (CNS) — U.S. Msgr. Joseph R. Punderson, a senior official of the Vatican’s highest court, was instructed by his bishop to resign his Vatican post late in 2018 and then was removed from ministry 15 years after he was found to be credibly accused of …
Pipeline struggle reveals value of community to religious congregation
IMAGE: CNS photo/Stephanie Keith, Reuters By Dennis Sadowski WASHINGTON (CNS) — For the Adorers of the Blood of Christ, the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision not to hear the order’s religious freedom claims in a legal challenge to a natural gas pipeline through their land in Pennsylvania came as no real …