Sexual abuse by clergy
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

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

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...

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

Police officers escort Arzoo Raja, background center, after her appearance in Sindh High Court, in Karachi, Pakistan, on Nov. 3, 2020. Raja was 13 when she disappeared from her home in central Karachi. The Christian girl’s parents reported her missing and pleaded with police to find her. Two days later, officers reported back that she had been converted to Islam and was married to their 40-year-old Muslim neighbor. (AP Photo/Fareed Khan)
Each year, 1,000 Pakistani girls forcibly converted to Islam

By Kathy Gannon Dec. 28, 2020 02:28 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 - 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

Plaintiff lawyer Edmond Frety talks to media at the Paris courthouse, Tuesday, Nov.10, 2020. The Vatican's former ambassador to France goes on trial Tuesday for alleged sexual misconduct. Multiple men accused Archbishop Luigi Ventura of groping and inappropriate touching. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)
Pope's ex-envoy tried in Paris for sex assaults, without him

By John Leicester Nov. 10, 2020 10:27 AM EST

Camden diocese becomes latest to file for bankruptcy

Oct. 01, 2020 11:03 PM EDT
CAMDEN, N.J. (AP) — The Diocese of Camden has filed for bankruptcy, citing revenue losses because of the millions it paid out to clergy abuse victims and the...

People walk by the offices of the Diocese of Rockville Centre, Thursday, Oct. 1, 2020, in Rockville Centre, N.Y. The diocese filed for bankruptcy on Thursday because of financial pressure from lawsuits over past sexual abuse by clergy members. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan)
Suburban NY diocese files for bankruptcy amid abuse lawsuits

By Michael R. Sisak And David R. Martin Oct. 01, 2020 09:23 AM EDT

FILE - In this Tuesday, May 7, 2019 file photo, a statue of Pope John Paul II stands outside the island's main cathedral, Dulce Nombre de Maria Cathedral-Basilica, during a Mass in Hagatna, Guam. Over 200 clergy abuse lawsuits led church leaders in the U.S. territory to seek bankruptcy protection, as they estimated at least $45 million in liabilities. Even so, the Archdiocese of Agana’s parishes, schools and other organizations have received at least $1.7 million in coronavirus rescue funds in 2020, as it sues the Small Business Administration for approval to get a loan for its headquarters, according to the archdiocese’s bankruptcy filing. (AP Photo/David Goldman)
AP: After lobbying, Catholic Church won $1.4B in virus aid

By Reese Dunklin And Michael Rezendes Jul. 10, 2020 03:33 AM EDT

This Aug. 8, 2018 photo shows St. Peter Cathedral in Erie, Pa., the home parish for the Catholic Diocese of Erie. In mid-March 2020, the diocese closed its churches as the coronavirus spread, limiting its access to weekly donors, and applied for funds from the Paycheck Protection Program. It also decided to withhold payments from its victim-compensation program, saying its bank had decreased a line of credit. (Christopher Millette/Erie Times-News via AP)
Takeaways: Paycheck Protection loans and the Catholic Church

By Michael Rezendes And Reese Dunklin Jul. 10, 2020 02:34 AM EDT

FILE - In this Sept. 30, 2019 file photo, Cardinal Timothy Dolan, archbishop of New York, speaks during a news conference in New York. Dolan established a victim compensation fund in 2016, as a successful battle to lift the statute of limitations on the filing of child sexual abuse lawsuits gathered steam. In 2020, the Archdiocese of New York received 15 loans worth at least $28 million just for its top executive offices. Its iconic St. Patrick’s Cathedral on Fifth Avenue was approved for at least $1 million. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan, File)
AP: Catholic Church lobbied for taxpayer funds, got $1.4B

By Reese Dunklin And Michael Rezendes Jul. 10, 2020 02:08 AM EDT

Syracuse Roman Catholic Diocese seeks bankruptcy protection

By Carolyn Thompson Jun. 19, 2020 02:23 PM EDT
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Syracuse on Friday became the third of New York’s eight dioceses to file for bankruptcy protection as it defends itself against...

Pope names St Louis archbishop to replace retiring Carlson

Jun. 10, 2020 01:04 PM EDT
ST. LOUIS (AP) — The newly-appointed head of the Archdiocese of St. Louis vowed Wednesday to be an agent of healing, as the region and the nation continue to...

Editorial Roundup: US

By The Associated Press May. 06, 2020 04:14 PM EDT
Excerpts from recent editorials in the United States and abroad: ___ May 6 The Dallas Morning News...

Archdiocese files for bankruptcy amid clergy abuse costs

By Kevin Mcgill May. 01, 2020 02:59 PM EDT
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New Orleans announced Friday that it is seeking federal Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection amid growing...

Louisiana priest convicted of molestation released on bond

Apr. 29, 2020 05:32 AM EDT
OPELOUSAS, La. (AP) — A former Louisiana priest convicted of molesting an altar boy was released from jail on bond over coronavirus safety concerns. ...

In this photo taken Monday, April 27, 2020, a woman walks pass the historic San Felipe de Neri Church in Albuquerque, N.M., as the church and nearby Old Town shops remain close under a state health order to stop the spread of COVID-19. (AP Photo/Russell Contreras)
New Mexico diocese sues over limits on virus relief funds

Apr. 28, 2020 07:02 PM EDT