The cardinal was the highest-ranking Roman Catholic leader ever found guilty of sexually abusing children.
Tag: Priests
Ex-Priest in France Is Convicted of Abusing Dozens of Scouts
Bernard Preynat, 75, received a five-year sentence after admitting to assaulting boys over a 20-year period, a scandal that embroiled a top cardinal.
Pope Francis Sets Aside Proposal on Married Priests
The decision, in a letter on Catholic life in remote Amazon areas, is a victory for conservative forces who had warned that change there would put the church on a slippery slope.
French Cardinal Acquitted of Abuse Cover-Up on Appeal
Cardinal Philippe Barbarin, the archbishop of Lyon, had been found guilty last year of failing to report a priest in his diocese who had admitted to sexually abusing dozens of Boy Scouts.
Two Popes, and One Big Furor After Benedict Weighs in on Priestly Celibacy
In a new book, the former pope makes a firm defense of celibacy for priests as Pope Francis is expected to decide whether to allow married priests in remote regions. Let the intrigue begin.
Pope Francis Abolishes Secrecy Policy in Sexual Abuse Cases
Church officials can now share information with secular law enforcement authorities. Critics said the confidentiality rule led to the concealment of abuse.
German Catholic Church Debates Sexuality, Celibacy and Women’s Roles
With the German church’s global influence, a meeting of bishops and laypeople to take up hot-button topics has led to warnings of a new schism, originating in the home of the Protestant Reformation.
2 Priests Convicted in Argentina of Sexual Abuse of Deaf Children
The priests at a now-shuttered school in Mendoza were each sentenced to more than 40 years in prison; a former gardener was sentenced to 18 years.
Catholic Bishops Back Ordination of Married Men as Priests in Amazon Region, a Milestone
It was the first time a summit of bishops convened by a pope has endorsed such a historic change to the tradition of a celibate priesthood. The final decision will be up to the pope.
A Bigger Role for Women in the Catholic Church? 185 Men Will Decide
Discussions at the Synod of Bishops for the Amazon have acknowledged that women must get recognition of some sort. But few expect real change.