Religious scandals
Southern Baptist Convention President J. D. Greear holds a Bible as he speaks during the denomination's annual meeting Tuesday, June 15, 2021, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
Southern Baptists pick president who worked for racial unity

By Travis Loller And Peter Smith Jun. 15, 2021 06:41 PM EDT

Audrey Azoulay, UNESCO's director general, right, attends the exhibition " Revive the Spirit of Mosul ", in Venice, Italy Friday, May 21, 2021. The United Nations’ cultural agency has opened an exhibit detailing plans to rebuild the Iraqi city of Mosul that underlines the role of architecture in helping heal wounds. The exhibit is on the sidelines of the 17th International Architecture Exhibition that opened after a one-year pandemic delay Saturday for a six-month run under the title: “How will we live together?” (UNESCO via AP)
UNESCO exhibit in Venice focuses on rebuilding Mosul sites

By Colleen Barry May. 22, 2021 10:06 AM EDT

Nine new priests lie face down on the ground during their ordination ceremony lead by Pope Francis, inside St. Peter's Basilica, at the Vatican, Sunday, April 25, 2021. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)
Pope ordains 9 priests, saying: Stay humble, compassionate

By Frances D'emilio Apr. 25, 2021 05:59 AM EDT

Editorial Roundup: Mississippi

By The Associated Press Apr. 14, 2021 08:23 AM EDT
Recent editorials from Mississippi newspapers: ___ April 11 The Dispatch on criminal church...

This 2021 photo made at an undisclosed location shows a woman who has accused now-defrocked Catholic priest Richard Daschbach of abuse when she stayed at the Topu Honis children's shelter in Kutet, East Timor. Over a dozen accusers have come forward to accuse Daschbach. They are not being identified because of fears of retribution. (AP Photo)
Defrocked US priest revered in East Timor accused of abuse

By Margie Mason And Robin Mcdowell Apr. 07, 2021 09:13 PM EDT

Merkel's bloc dips in polls 6 months before German vote

Mar. 28, 2021 07:10 AM EDT
BERLIN (AP) — A leading figure in Chancellor Angela Merkel’s center-right Union bloc has warned that there’s a growing “mood for change” in Germany, as surveys...

FILE - In this Oct. 13, 2015 file photo, Yehuda Meshi-Zahav, then head of Israel's ZAKA rescue service, center, stands stands at the scene of a shooting attack by a Palestinian gunman, in Jerusalem. On Sunday, March 14, 2021, the Israeli police announced that the force's major crimes unit, Lahav 433, had opened an investigation into sexual abuse allegations against Meshi-Zahav. In recent days, some 20 people have come forward with claims that he was a savage sexual predator who assaulted men, women and children for years. (AP Photo Oded Balilty, File)
Sex abuse allegations pile up against Israeli rescue chief

By Ilan Ben Zion Mar. 16, 2021 02:07 AM EDT

Editorial Roundup: Pennsylvania

By The Associated Press Feb. 17, 2021 09:00 AM EST
Erie Times-News. Feb. 14, 2021. Editorial: Carl Knight’s story underscores importance of criminal justice reform The...

Editorial Roundup: Pennsylvania

By The Associated Press Feb. 10, 2021 09:00 AM EST
Philadelphia Inquirer. Feb. 7, 2021. Editorial: Gov. Wolf’s Pa. budget includes bold proposals. Now it requires bold action ...

This Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2021, photo shows the Holy Name of Jesus Cathedral in Raleigh, N.C. The Raleigh Diocese collected at least $11 million from the federal government’s small business emergency relief program. Yet during the fiscal year that ended in June 2020, overall offerings were down just 5% and the assets available to the diocese, its parishes and schools increased by about $21 million to more than $170 million, AP found. In another measure of fiscal health, the diocese didn’t draw on a $10 million line of credit. (AP Photo/Allen G. Breed)
Sitting on billions, Catholic dioceses amassed taxpayer aid

By Reese Dunklin And Michael Rezendes Feb. 04, 2021 01:24 AM EST

FILE - This Feb. 27, 2018, file photo, Israeli-born Australian Malka Leifer, right, is brought to a courtroom in Jerusalem. The former teacher extradited from Israel after a six-year legal battle appeared in an Australian court Thursday, Jan. 28, 2021, to face child sex abuse charges.(AP Photo/Mahmoud Illean, File)
Extradited teacher appears in Australia court on sex charges

Jan. 27, 2021 07:57 PM EST

FILE - This Feb. 27, 2018, file photo, Israeli-born Australian Malka Leifer, right, is brought to a courtroom in Jerusalem. Israel's Supreme Court on Tuesday, Dec. 15, 2020, rejected an appeal challenging the extradition of Leifer, a former teacher wanted in Australia accused of sexually abusing several former students at a Jewish school in Melbourne, clearing the way for her to stand trial after a six-year legal saga. Leifer is currently on a plane to Australia, Monday, Jan. 25, 2021. (AP Photo/Mahmoud Illean, File)
Israel extradites woman wanted for sex crimes to Australia

By Ilan Ben Zion Jan. 25, 2021 03:17 AM EST

FILE - In this Oct. 7, 2020, file photo, Mona Hardin, center left at podium, mother of Ronald Greene, speaks at a news conference outside the Louisiana State Capitol in Baton Rouge, La. Greene died following a police chase in Louisiana in 2019, and his death is now under federal investigation. Greene's family filed a federal wrongful-death lawsuit in May alleging troopers "brutalized" Greene, used a stun gun on him three times and "left him beaten, bloodied and in cardiac arrest," before covering up his actual cause of death. (AP Photo/Dorthy Ray, File)
Pandemic, hurricanes top Louisiana news for 2020

Dec. 28, 2020 06:54 AM EST

Luigi Ventura 's lawyer Solange Doumic, right, answers journalists after the verdict, Wednesday, Dec. 16, 2020 in Paris. A Paris court on Wednesday convicted former Vatican ambassador to France 76-year-old Luigi Ventura of sexually assaulting five men in 2018 and 2019, and handed him a suspended 8-month prison sentence. (AP Photo/Michel Euler)
Paris court convicts former Vatican envoy of sexual assault

By Masha Macpherson Dec. 16, 2020 10:42 AM EST

FILE—This file photo from June 19, 2012, shows Monsignor William Lynn, center as he walks to the Criminal Justice Center, in Philadelphia. Lynn was charged with child endangerment, for allegedly keeping co-defendants former priest Edward V. Avery and the Rev. James J. Brennan, and other accused predators, in ministry. Two years ago, U.S. attorney William McSwain in Philadelphia joined the long line of ambitious prosecutors investigating the Roman Catholic church's handling of priest-abuse complaints. The Justice Department had never brought a conspiracy case against the church. McSwain sent subpoenas to dioceses across Pennsylvania asking them to turn over their files and submit to grand jury testimony if asked. The dioceses pledged to comply. But as McSwain's tenure nears its end as President-elect Joe Biden takes office next month, there's no sign that any sweeping church indictment is afoot. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File)
DOJ probe of Catholic church abuse goes quiet 2 years later

By Maryclaire Dale Dec. 13, 2020 08:22 AM EST

Editorial Roundup: Pennsylvania

By The Associated Press Dec. 10, 2020 09:22 AM EST
Recent editorials of statewide and national interest from Pennsylvania’s newspapers: Extend CARES deadline Altoona...

FILE - In this Saturday, Sept. 29, 2012 file photo, priest Tadeusz Rydzyk, chairman of "Radio Maryja" and TV channel "Trwam," demonstrates with others in Warsaw, Poland, against government policies, and to demand social welfare and job security. The popular Polish priest Tadeusz Rydzyk apologized Tuesday Dec. 8, 2020, for a sermon in which he defended a bishop accused of covering up for pedophile priests. His sermon, delivered to a congregation including the justice minister and other top politicians, was condemned by government officials. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski, File)
Polish priest apologizes for defense of disgraced priest

Dec. 08, 2020 11:29 AM EST

FILE - In this Sunday, June 7, 2020 file photo, Archbishop Jose H. Gomez celebrates the the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity Mass at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in downtown Los Angeles. Gomez is serving as the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops president since 2019. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
McCarrick scandal, pandemic pose challenges for US bishops

By David Crary Nov. 16, 2020 07:32 PM EST

FILE - In this Sunday, June 7, 2020 file photo, Archbishop Jose H. Gomez celebrates the the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity Mass at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in downtown Los Angeles. Gomez is serving as the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops president since 2019. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
In a moment of turmoil, US Catholic bishops meet virtually

By David Crary Nov. 15, 2020 08:02 AM EST

FILE - This Sunday, June 2, 2019, file photo shows Washington D.C. Archbishop Wilton Gregory posed for a portrait following mass at St. Augustine Church in Washington. Pope Francis has named 13 new cardinals, including Washington D.C. Archbishop Wilton Gregory, who would become the first Black U.S. prelate to earn the coveted red cap. In a surprise announcement from his studio window to faithful standing below in St. Peter’s Square, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2020, Francis said the churchmen would be elevated to a cardinal’s rank in a ceremony on Nov. 28. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, File)
Pope names 13 new cardinals, including 1st Black US prelate

By Frances D'emilio Oct. 25, 2020 12:33 PM EDT