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 …
Tolton sainthood cause advances; next step would be ‘venerable’ decree
IMAGE: CNS photo/Karen Callaway, Chicago Catholic By Joyce Duriga CHICAGO (CNS) — The canonization cause for Father Augustus Tolton is just one step away from going to Pope Francis for the priest to be declared "venerable." On Feb. 5, the feast of St. Agatha, a nine-member Vatican theological commission unanimously …
K of C and Family and Youth Initiatives host blessing & dedication of FYI Parenting Network Center
FAIRBORN — The Fairborn Council 3724 Knights of Columbus (K of C) and the Family and Youth Initiatives (FYI) recently hosted the Most Reverend Dennis M. Schnurr at the Mary Help of Christians (MHC) Parish Center in Fairborn. FYI Co-Executive Director Pat Banaszak welcomed the approximately 200 attendees for the …
Update: Blaming homosexuality for abuse of minors is distraction, victims say
IMAGE: CNS photo/Paul Haring By Carol Glatz ROME (CNS) — People must stop using homosexuals as scapegoats for the sexual abuse of children, two male survivors of abuse by priests told reporters. "To make this link between homosexuality and pedophilia is absolutely immoral, it is unconscionable and has to stop," …
To know God is to know love, pope says at audience
IMAGE: CNS photo/Paul Haring By Junno Arocho Esteves VATICAN CITY (CNS) — When speaking to God as a father, Christians experience a love that goes beyond human love and affection, which can be unpredictable and mired by selfishness, Pope Francis said. While often compared to the love of parents, the …