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The article reports on the issuance by Roman Catholic Church Pope Francis in May 2019 of a law mandating church officials around the world to report cases of clergy sexual abuse and efforts for cover up to their superiors. Topics include the criticism by abuse survivors and their advocates of the new law due to its failure to require reporting of abuse to police or prosecutors, the law's 90-day initial investigation period, and some church officials accused of abuse like Theodore E. McCarrick.

The article focuses on a meeting of Catholic bishops at the Vatican convened by Pope Francis to address the child sexual abuse issue in February 2019. The bishops heard pre-recorded testimonies from several abuse survivors who urged bishops and other church leaders to work with civil authorities to hold those involved accountable. Victims gave interviews and observed vigils outside the Vatican.

The article informs that Pope Francis has approved child protection policy for Vatican and personnel of the Catholic Church to report child abuse. Topics discussed include protecting minors and vulnerable people as part of the church's mission; identify and prevent offenses; and names the staff and clergy of the St. Pius X Pre-Seminary.

The article offers information on the "Our Common Home," on Catholic social teaching and Franciscan spirituality regarding creation. Topics discussed include need to deal with the ongoing sex abuse crisis in the church; naming of Wilton Gregory as archbishop of Washington; and God speaking to people through creation.

The article focuses on the lawsuit against the California bishops and 11 dioceses in California for covering up child sexual abuse by abuse survivor Tom Emens and Jeff Anderson & Associates discussing the need to have a strict ‘zero tolerance' policy," and the protection of human rights.

The article reports that Pope Francis has summoned bishops from around the world to Rome for a meeting focused on protecting minors and management of clerical sexual abuse crisis.

The article reports on the clear and effective policies which the Catholic Church commission advising Pope Francis would develop to protect children from sexual abuse by pedophile priests.

The article reflects on a 53-page report released as of April 14, 2014 by the Task Force formed in response to accusations of mishandled allegations of clergy sexual abuse of minors. It mentions several recommendations of the Task Force including, appointing a layperson to manage the archdiocese's response to all clergy misconduct, strengthening the mechanism to receive complaints of clergy, and enhancing the components of safe environment.

The article focuses on issues related to clergy sexual abuse cases and discusses some of the findings of an audit conducted by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) on child protection.

The article focuses on a press conference of the United Nations (UN) Committee on the Rights of the Child that was held in Geneva, Switzerland on February 5, 2014 over children's rights protection policies in the Vatican City. Topics discussed include failure of a group monitoring the implementation of the 1989 Convention on the Rights of the Child in Vatican, UN report on handling of children concerning sexual abuse of children by Catholic clergy and tips for protecting children's rights.

The article discusses Pope Francis and his plan to establish a special commission which will advise the Catholic Church on how to handle a problem involving priests who sexually abuse children as of December 2013, focusing on Cardinal Sean O'Malley of Boston, Massachusetts and sex abuse victims.

The article focuses on the benefits of seminarian screening in preventing child sexual abuse by clergy. It informs that the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People that was adopted in the U.S. 2002, decided to use various screening methods, like psychological testing and analysis, for evaluating the fitness of students for ordination. Psychologist Thomas Plante states that psychological screening ensures that emotionally healthy people are admitted to priesthood.

This section offers news briefs concerning the Catholic Church as of February 19, 2012, including a decision of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit in a case about California's Proposition 8, the move of wealthier religious orders to share their resources with struggling religious communities and the launch a global initiative to prevent child sexual abuse by clergy.

Offers a look at the appointment of Robert G. Whiteman by the New York Roman Catholic Archdiocese to lead its Safe Environment Program, a screening and monitoring project to help protect against child abuse. Statement that Whiteman is an ordained deacon as well as a practicing lawyer; Report that there have been six charges of professional misconduct brought against Whiteman; Comments made by Joseph Zwilling, a spokesman for the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York.

Reports that U.S. Roman Catholic bishops voted to pass revised rules on priest sex abuse cases. Belief that the rules will remove from public ministry priests who have sexually abused a child or young person; Rejection of a measure to censure bishops who protect or have protected abusive priests; Background on the Vatican's demand for changes to the bishops' zero-tolerance policies; Details of the revised policy, under which priests would be judged by church tribunals; Outlook for resolving cases. INSET: Changes in the Bishops' Policy.

Reports that many bishops, priests and even laypeople are expressing relief concerning the Vatican's failure to endorse the U.S. bishops' zero tolerance policy for priests who sexually abuse children. Perception of the Vatican's decision as a corrective measure; Comments of Archbishop Thomas C. Kelley of Louisville, Kentucky; Confusion over the alleged victims and the priests who have been removed from the ministry; Observation that many bishops are putting a positive spin on the Vatican's response.

Reports that the Vatican rejected a policy by U.S. bishops to combat child sexual abuse by priests. Implications of the decision for Roman Catholic leaders in the U.S.; Reasons for the decision, in particular objections to the bishops' zero tolerance policy; Questions over the fate of the policy; View of Vatican officials that the policy did not safeguard the rights of accused priests; Interpretation of the Vatican's response by U.S. bishops, including Bishop Wilton D. Gregory; Reactions of victims groups in the U.S. INSET: Vatican's Letter on U.S. Bishops' Policy.

Reports that the Vatican is not fully backing the U.S. bishops' zero-tolerance policy for punishing sexually abusive priests, according to Roman Catholic officials. Vatican's concerns that the policy may lead to removal of some priest without due process; Qualms about the requirement that bishops report all sexual abuse claims to police; Expected release of a formal Vatican response; The Vatican's power in binding bishops to the regulations.

Analyzes the emergency meeting in the Vatican to discuss how to prevent sexual abuse by clergymen. Disagreement over whether to impose unconditional punishment on all priests who have molested minors; Issue of zero tolerance for abuse cases not being retroactive; Comments of David Clohessy, director of the Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests; Possible reasons for sexual abuse by clergy, including celibacy; Failure to include laypeople in the final communique from the U.S. cardinals.