Children, refugees victimized by AI-fueled human trafficking, says Vatican diplomat December 1, 2025By Gina Christian OSV News Filed Under: Child & Youth Protection, Immigration and Migration, News, World News With human trafficking on the rise globally, the Vatican’s diplomatic mission to the United Nations is highlighting concerns for child victims and refugees — while warning of technological tools used by traffickers to expand their criminal activities.
Pope encourages religious orders to perfect safeguarding systems November 18, 2025By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: Child & Youth Protection, News, Vatican, World News Religious orders of men and women must continue perfecting their efforts to ensure the safety and integrity of every child, every person they meet and every member of their order, Pope Leo XIV said.
Pope holds long meeting with Belgian abuse survivors November 10, 2025By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: Child & Youth Protection, News, Vatican, World News Pope Leo XIV spent close to three hours listening to and praying with 15 Belgians who had survived clerical sexual abuse as children.
Victim-survivors tell of mistrust, pain in third court session November 6, 2025By Christopher Gunty Catholic Review Filed Under: Bankruptcy, Child & Youth Protection, Feature, Local News, News In a federal courtroom in Baltimore Nov. 5, 10 people stepped up to give impact statements about the effects of their abuse as minors by people connected to the Archdiocese of Baltimore. Their stories included tears and frustration, as well as signs of hope and healing.
Diocese of Alexandria, La., files for bankruptcy to address abuse claims filed under lookback law November 4, 2025By Gina Christian OSV News Filed Under: Child & Youth Protection, News, World News The Diocese of Alexandria, La., has filed for bankruptcy to address dozens of abuse claims, the total number of which may rise under that state’s extended “lookback law.”
Pope urges Catholic leaders across Asia to adopt ‘zero tolerance’ stance on abuse October 29, 2025By OSV News UCA News Filed Under: Child & Youth Protection, News, Vatican, World News Pope Leo XIV and Vatican officials have urged Catholic leaders across Asia to adopt a “zero tolerance” stance on abuse and called on them to strengthen measures to protect minors and vulnerable adults.
Pope Leo meets with coalition of survivors of clergy abuse October 20, 2025By Carol Glatz Catholic News Service Filed Under: Child & Youth Protection, News, Vatican, World News Pope Leo XIV met with a coalition of survivors of abuse and victims’ advocates for the first time at the Vatican Oct. 20.
Survivors warn papal commission that abusers, retaliation still a problem October 16, 2025By Carol Glatz Catholic News Service Filed Under: Child & Youth Protection, News, Vatican, World News To improve the church’s safeguarding approaches and measures, the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors said it relied on extensive input and feedback from victims/survivors in its second annual report.
Bishops, state agree to protect confession in Washington mandatory reporter law October 10, 2025By Kate Scanlon OSV News Filed Under: Child & Youth Protection, News, Religious Freedom, World News Washington state’s government and its Catholic bishops reached an agreement Oct. 10 in a federal lawsuit over the state’s mandatory reporter law they said could force priests to violate the seal of confession.
Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors will focus its new report on reparations October 7, 2025By Paulina Guzik OSV News Filed Under: Child & Youth Protection, News, Vatican, World News As the Pontifical Commission for the Protection Minors concluded its Sept. 29-Oct. 3 assembly in Kraków, “following five days of intensive dialogue, reflection and strategic planning,” it prepares to publish its second annual report Oct. 16.
Hostile legislative climate over confessional seal nothing new, says priest-canon lawyer September 27, 2025By Kimberly Heatherington OSV News Filed Under: Child & Youth Protection, Feature, News, Religious Freedom, World News, Worship & Sacraments If it seems like batches of states are suddenly legislating mandatory clergy reporting laws — legal decrees that require clergy to report child abuse or neglect revealed in the confessional — Father John Paul Kimes, a canon lawyer, has some current and historical context to offer.
Pope taps Italian canon lawyer for top position at Dicastery for Bishops September 26, 2025By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: Child & Youth Protection, News, Vatican, World News In the first major appointment of his papacy, Pope Leo XIV chose an Italian expert in canon law to succeed him as prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops and president of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America.
