VATICAN CITY — The Latest on Catholic Church canonizations on Sunday (all times local). 4:00 p.m. Thousands of people have gathered in El Salvador’s capital to celebrate slain Archbishop Oscar Romero being declared a saint. Church bells pealed in unison throughout the country and large crowds watched on large video screens in front of San … Continue reading VATICAN CITY The Latest: New saint gives Salvadorans ‘happiest day’
VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis sent Washington Cardinal Donald Wuerl a warm letter in accepting his resignation, praising what he said was Wuerl’s nobility and sacrifice in stepping down for the greater good of the Catholic Church. Here are excerpts of the letter, in which Francis asks Wuerl to remain on in a temporary position … Continue reading VATICAN CITY | Excerpts of Pope Francis’ letter to Cardinal Wuerl
Even as top Pennsylvania officials assail the Catholic Church over its cover-up of clergy sexual abuse, a state agency is refusing to release a report on allegations of sexual abuse by a high-ranking state university administrator despite lingering questions about how the accusers’ complaints were handled. In a case that bears some broad similarities to … Continue reading Off limits: Report on state college abuse kept from public
VATICAN CITY — The former Vatican ambassador who accused three popes and their advisers of covering up for a disgraced American ex-cardinal has denounced Pope Francis‘ refusal to directly respond to his claims and challenged the Vatican to say what it knows about the scandal. Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano penned a new missive a month … Continue reading VATICAN CITY | Accuser denounces pope’s silence over abuse cover-up claims
VATICAN CITY — The Latest on the agreement between China and the Catholic Church on the appointment of bishops (all times local): 12:15 p.m. Pope Francis is urging Chinese Catholics to trust him and make concrete gestures of reconciliation following a landmark deal over bishop appointments aimed at ending decades of estrangement between the Vatican … Continue reading VATICAN CITY | The Latest: Pope asks for reconciliation in Chinese church
BERLIN — A top German bishop has apologized for thousands of sexual abuse cases that took place inside the Catholic Church in Germany, according to a devastating report released Tuesday that concludes at least 3,677 people were abused by clergy between 1946 and 2014. “Sexual abuse is a crime,” Cardinal Reinhard Marx, who is also … Continue reading BERLIN | German bishops apologize for thousands of sex abuse cases
BERLIN — The German Bishops Conference has released a report on sexual abuse inside the Catholic Church in Germany saying 3,677 people were abused by clergy between 1946 and 2014. Tuesday’s report concludes that more than half of the victims were 13 or younger and most were boys. Every sixth case involved rape and at … Continue reading BERLIN | German Catholics release report on church sex abuse
NEW YORK — Hoping to restore the faith of those disillusioned by how the Catholic church has handled sexual abuse allegations, the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York appointed a former federal judge Thursday to review its procedures and protocols. Cardinal Timothy Dolan announced the appointment of Barbara Jones, saying many Catholics had told him … Continue reading NEW YORK | Cardinal hires judge to review church sex abuse policies
