Pope Francis sought to encourage his embattled child protection advisory board Friday, following weeks of turmoil sparked by the latest resignation of a founding member and fresh questions about its direction. Francis urged his Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors to pursue a “spirituality of reparation” with abuse survivors and build a culture of … Read more
The investigation of a Catholic priest who was accused of sexual abuse of a minor while serving in South Dakota has ended; and while the allegation couldn’t be proven, the Church stated the priest will “remain out of public ministry.” Rev. Michel Mulloy was removed from public ministry in August 2020 following the allegation presented … Read more
The former director of the Lansing Catholic Diocese’s St. Francis Retreat Center has been arrested for allegedly embezzling $830,000 from three fellow priests, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel announced Thursday. Father David Rosenberg, 70, of Dewitt, was arraigned in the 65-A District Court in Clinton County on the following charges: Three counts of Embezzlement from … Read more
A suspended Indianapolis Catholic priest has pleaded guilty to a felony charge stemming from allegations he sexually abused a teenage boy about six years ago. Suspended Catholic priest David Marcotte pleaded guilty to one count of dissemination of matter harmful to minors under terms of the plea agreement accepted and filed Oct. 12 by Hamilton … Read more
A Northeast Ohio teenager has filed a civil lawsuit against the Catholic Diocese of Cleveland that alleges the diocese failed to protect him against his abuser: former priest Robert McWilliams. A federal judge sentenced McWilliams to a life sentence last November for numerous child pornography, child exploitation and child sex trafficking charges. McWilliams took his … Read more
A former chancellor for the Roman Catholic Church’s Archdiocese of Omaha has been charged with a new count of theft after he admitted to stealing money from the church to give to a homeless man. During an police interview in September 2021, Rev. Michael Gutgsell admitted to taking $106,000 from his former parish St. Joseph’s … Read more
A civil lawsuit filed in Jefferson County alleges a Louisville priest, Rev. Anthony Ngo, wrongfully used church money by converting funds donated to the parish for his personal use. “I know that we have a case pending against me and against this community,” Ngo said. Ngo has been the pastor at St. John Vianney’s for more … Read more
Cardinal Blase Cupich sent a message to priests in the Chicago Archdiocese Wednesday about Catholics and the COVID vaccine. He said religious exemptions for the vaccine go against church teachings, and priests should not provide them to parishioners. In the letter, Cupich said the Catholic Church supports the vaccine, adding it promotes the common good. … Read more
The law firm Jeff Anderson & Associates announced that on Wednesday it will file two lawsuits against former Bakersfield priest Craig Harrison and the Roman Catholic Diocese of Fresno for ignoring and concealing his alleged sexual abuse against minors. Attorney Jeff Anderson confirmed with 23ABC the suit involves a new alleged victim. Harrison resigned from … Read more
The Diocese of Winona-Rochester in Minnesota says it has reached a $21.5 million settlement with 145 individuals who were sexually abused by its clergy members. It’s the last Catholic diocese in the state to settle its abuse claims, filed in response to a 2013 law that temporarily extended the statute of limitations on abuse cases. … Read more