An independent commission set up at the request of the Roman Catholic Church in France found that abuse was far more pervasive than previously thought.
Tag: Clergy
Greece Enlists Church in Covid Vaccine Drive
The government has turned to the leaders of the powerful Orthodox Church to appeal to the faithful and rein in clerics who have been vocal about mistrusting vaccines.
Pope Widens Church Law to Target Sexual Abuse of Adults by Priests and Laity
The new rules explicitly criminalize the sexual exploitation of adults by priests who abuse their authority, and the changes also apply to laypeople with power in the church.
At Least 36 US States Prioritize Religious Leaders for Vaccines
Public health officials are turning to frontline faith leaders to reduce vaccination hesitancy in their communities.
Greek Orthodox Church Faces Criticism as Virus Hits Its Ranks
Church leaders have backed government restrictions, but defiance by hard-liners and a commitment to the sacrament of communion, taken with a shared spoon, may undercut good intentions.
South Africa and Malawi Quarrel Over Fate of Shepherd Bushiri, a Fugitive Preacher
Shepherd Bushiri, the founder of a megachurch in South Africa, fled to his home country, Malawi, amid fraud and money laundering charges, leaving the two nations to argue over his fate.
A Radical Cleric Ignites an Islamist Resistance in Afghanistan
The cleric’s supporters in Herat are enforcing harsh Shariah law reminiscent of the Taliban’s. Women are alarmed, and the government has been able to do little.
Poor and Desperate, Pakistani Hindus Accept Islam to Get By
Drawn by jobs or land offered by Muslim groups, some Hindus, facing discrimination and a virus-ravaged economy, are essentially converting to survive.
Cardinal George Pell Knew of Clergy Sex Abuse, Australian Report Finds
The cardinal, whose sexual abuse conviction was overturned last month, knew decades ago that priests had victimized children but failed to take action, a government inquiry concluded.
Pakistan Coronavirus Lockdown Is Thwarted by Imams as Ramadan Nears
The government gave in to clerics’ demands that mosques be allowed to stay open during the Islamic holy month. Now critics are asking who’s in charge.