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.
Poll: Half of Poles declare distrust of Catholic Church as it loses its moral authority September 19, 2025By Paulina Guzik OSV News Filed Under: Child & Youth Protection, News, World News The level of trust in the Catholic Church in Poland hit a record low with only one third of traditionally Catholic Poles trusting the church.
In interview, pope talks about abuse crisis, Trump, following Pope Francis September 18, 2025By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: Child & Youth Protection, Feature, News, Vatican, World News Clerical sexual abuse continues to be “a real crisis,” one that the Catholic Church still must learn to deal with, particularly in improving the way it helps survivors while also ensuring the rights of the accused are respected, Pope Leo XIV said.
New Maciel documentary a ‘cathartic’ experience, Legionaries head says September 18, 2025By Junno Arocho Esteves OSV News Filed Under: Child & Youth Protection, Movie & Television Reviews A new documentary on the life and crimes of Father Marcial Maciel Degollado was another chance for members of the Legionaries of Christ and Regnum Christi to confront the truth of their founder’s dark past and the suffering inflicted on innocent victims, said Father John Connor, general director of the congregation.
Pope urges church to listen to sorrows of abuse victims, walk together September 15, 2025By Carol Glatz Catholic News Service Filed Under: Child & Youth Protection, News, Vatican, World News Pain must never give rise to violence, and every Catholic needs to learn to safeguard with tenderness those who are vulnerable, Pope Leo XIV said during a prayer vigil dedicated to people experiencing pain and affliction due to illness, bereavement, violence or abuse.
Pope tells new bishops they must address abuse claims promptly September 12, 2025By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: Bishops, Child & Youth Protection, News, Vatican, World News Pope Leo XIV told 192 new bishops from around the world that they must respond promptly to allegations of inappropriate or abusive behavior by priests.
Bankruptcy plan confirmed for Rochester Diocese sets up nearly $257 million settlement fund September 10, 2025By Karen M. Franz Catholic Courier Filed Under: Child & Youth Protection, News, World News “Thank you, Lord!” a gentleman in the gallery blurted out as U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Paul R. Warren announced he was putting pen to paper Sept. 5 to sign an order confirming the Eighth Amended Joint Plan for Chapter 11 Reorganization of the Diocese of Rochester.
