Cardinal George Pell has sparked outrage with comments that the Church should not be held responsible for crimes committed by priests. Last week, Cardinal Pell used a “trucking company” analogy before Australia’s Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse. Speaking by video link from Rome, the Cardinal likened the Church to a trucking Read more
The Justice Minister has ruled a former Catholic brother is to be extradited back to Australia to face child sex charges. The office of Justice Minister Judith Collins has confirmed that she has issued an order for Bernard McGrath’s surrender to Australia. But Mr McGrath has already filed judicial review proceedings challenging the Minister’s decision. Read more
A former Catholic priest is believed to be one of those supporting singer Sir Cliff Richard as he faces an historic allegation of abusing a boy. Sir Cliff, who vehemently denies the abuse claim, is often in the company of former priest John McElynn, who is one of the supporters dubbed “Team Cliff”. The singer’s Read more
The priest dubbed the Vatican’s point man for clerical sexual abuse says the media did the Church a service by revealing abuse scandals. In an interview with the Sunday Star Times, American Msgr Robert Oliver praised the media’s role, echoing a tribute he paid early last year. “It’s hard for any group over time to Read more
A lay coalition in an American archdiocese has drawn up a list of potential successors to an embattled archbishop, who is being called upon to resign. The Catholic Coalition for Church Reform in St Paul-Minnesapolis has identified seven nominees to replace embattled Archbishop John Nienstedt. During the first half of November, an “election-like process” will Read more
New Zealand’s Catholic Church has been training Pacific Islands church personnel on safeguarding children and dealing with abuse. National Office for Professional Standards director Bill Kilgallon and the Congregation for the Doctine of the Faith’s promoter of justice Msgr Robert Oliver visited American Samoa in July. Accompanied by clinical psychologist Carolyn Cavana, they were there Read more
A Safe Church Programme is to be introduced to the Catholic Church in New Zealand and a person with education experience has been appointed to run it. Maria Noonan, who will develop and deliver the programme, was introduced at a Safe Church Training Day held in Wellington on July 30. She will work as part Read more
Former St John of God Brother and convicted abuser Bernard McGrath has dropped a judicial review bid against Justice Minister Judith Collins. Australian authorities are trying to extradite McGrath from New Zealand to face 252 child sex charges. He is currently on bail. A Christchurch District Court judge put the final extradition decision in Ms Read more
Rocker Tom Petty and his band the Heartbreakers have hit out at the Catholic Church’s child abuse scandal in their latest album “Hypnotic Eye”. In a song titled “Playing Dumb”, one line states “For every confession that wasn’t on the level; For every man of God that lives with hidden devils”. Although the song does Read more
The Louisiana Supreme Court in the southern United States has issued a decision that may require a priest to violate the secrecy of confession. The case involves the possible confession of a 12-year-old, who was allegedly abused by a parishioner in 2008. The complainant said she told the priest in three separate confessions of her Read more