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February 25, 2019

Australian archbishop faces questions over handling of abuse allegations

February 25, 2019

Archbishop Mark Coleridge of Brisbane is being investigated by his former archdiocese over his alleged handling of information on child sex abuse given him by a woman during a 2006 meeting. As president of the Australian bishops’ conference, Coleridge attended the February 21-24 Vatican summit on the protection of minors in the Church. Guardian Australia

The Church needs transparency. These two cases show it has a long way to go

February 25, 2019

(ROME — 25 February 2019) Even before the thing began — whatever the thing was that happened over four days last week and into Sunday here in Rome — the pieces didn’t quite fit. At the Monday presser presenting the three days of working sessions and two liturgies that were to serve as capstones to the

Pope Francis covered up for bishop who had gay porn on his phone, Vatican journalist says

February 25, 2019

A prominent Vatican journalist has accused Pope Francis of covering up for an Argentine bishop who had gay porn on his phone. Inés San Martin, who is one of the most respected journalists in the Vatican press corps, asked Archbishop Charles Scicluna at a press conference after the abuse summit: “We know there is a

Pope Francis promises ‘all-out battle’ against abuse

February 25, 2019

Pope Francis on Sunday outlined eight points that the Church will focus on in an “all-out battle” against the sexual abuse of minors to, he said, “turn this evil into an opportunity for purification.” “We need to recognize with humility and courage that we stand face to face with the mystery of evil, which strikes

As the abuse summit closes, what has changed?

February 25, 2019

(ROME — 24 February 2019) The Vatican’s four-day “summit” on child protection ended on Sunday, with little to show. The three days of the meeting’s working sessions began with a call from Pope Francis for “concrete, effective measures” to combat the clerical sexual abuse of minors, and ended with what essentially came to more promises.

Morning Catholic must-reads: 25/02/19

February 25, 2019

The Church must “once again be absolutely credible and reliable”, Pope Francis said at yesterday’s Angelus (full text, full video). An Egyptian court has recommended the death penalty for two monks convicted of murdering a bishop John Allen, Rod Dreher, Jason Horowitz and Elisabetta Povoledo, Rocco Palmo and Michael Sean Winters comment on the abuse

Letters from the Vatican #6

February 25, 2019

How can the success or failure of the Vatican “abuse summit,” which concluded yesterday, be measured? A week ago, your editor suggested one analytic tool: ten points which, if agreed upon by the participants, would constitute a “considerable success.” Reviewing them one by one may help get into preliminary focus a complex affair that was

A Catholic gentleman: the inspiring life of Philip Trower

February 25, 2019

The word “gentleman” has largely fallen out of favor, which is a shame, because there isn’t a better word to describe Philip Trower, an elegant Catholic writer whose long life came to an end on January 9th. He was 95, and leaves behind a rich legacy. I was good friends with Philip for many years,