# Clerical Abuse
Last year
2022
# Clerical Abuse
Portugal opens investigation into sexual abuse claims against Catholic Church
An independent commission gathered testimony from alleged victims.
# Pope Benedict
Former pope confirms he attended meeting in 1980 about abusive priest despite earlier denial
He says an editorial error was responsible for his previous assertion that he was not there.
All time
Voices
Opinion: It is time for change in the Catholic church and that starts with equality for women
‘Guided by the Holy Spirit we must come together and find new inclusive governance structures to replace the old patriarchal model, which has broken down’, writes Colm Holmes.
# Marie Collins
Campaigner calls on Catholic Church to remove 'vagueness and ambiguity' from response to child abuse
A Protection of Minors meeting is due to take place in the Vatican later this month.
# Clerical Abuse
Pope Francis defrocks two Chilean bishops for sex abuse of minors
Defrocking means the offender is forbidden from exercising any clerical duties at all, even in private.
# Clerical Abuse
'We ask pardon for all the abuses' Pope Francis tells Mass in unscripted remarks
He has been criticised for not going far enough in his comments this weekend.
# Clerical Abuse
Coveney says pope has recognised 'magnitude' of abuse but action is now needed
The Tánaiste said Pope Francis is “clearly angered” by what took place.
# Clerical Abuse
Accountability, not apologies: Survivor calls for justice at 'separate Church and State' event
Darren McGavin called for senior Church figures who did not report abusers to be held to account.
# Papal Visit
Varadkar says 'there is much to be done to get justice' for Church abuse survivors
In a speech delivered at an event attended by Pope Francis, the Taoiseach spoke about the “dark aspects of the Catholic Church’s history”.
# world meeting
'Only a proportion' of clerical abuse victims have come forward, Archbishop says
Archbishop of Dublin Diarmuid Martin said that more could be done to encourage victims to come forward.
# Clerical Abuse
'Survivors are tired of meaningless apologies': One in Four critical of Pope letter
The Pope arrives in Ireland on Saturday.
# Papal Visit
Bishop of Limerick says Catholic Church must acknowledge 'dark' aspects of its history
Bishop Brendan Leahy made his comments ahead of the Pope’s visit to Ireland later this month.
# Papal Visit
Colm O'Gorman: Pope should 'tell the damn truth' about abuse cover-up when he's here
A demonstration of solidarity with those who have been abused is being organised to coincide with the Pope’s visit.
# Adelaide
Australian archbishop gets 12 months for concealing child abuse
But Philip Wilson could avoid jail.
# historic cases
'Shocking and indefensible': 1 in 14 priests in Australia accused of child abuse
The St John of God Brothers had 40% of its members accused of abuse.
# Dublin
'Singing' priest and serial abuser Tony Walsh jailed for raping boy three times in 1980s
The judge said Walsh’s abuse of the victim had “plagued his life to date”.
# Clerical Abuse
Cardinal says it was 'disastrous coincidence' five paedophile priests preyed on children
The Vatican’s finance chief was based in the town at a time when dozens of children were being abused.
# rigid priests
Pope Francis: 'If you're unstable, see a doctor - don't become a priest'
“I’m scared of rigid priests. I keep away from them. They bite!”
# defrocked
Cork man ejected from priesthood over abuse claims 'kept celebrating Mass at home'
It’s led to a resignation in the diocese of Cloyne.
# jozef wesolowski
Former Archbishop dies before trial for abusing boys
The former archbishop died overnight, the Vatican has announced today.
# Clerical Abuse
Chile to deport paedophile Irish priest convicted of abusing young girl
The priest repeatedly molested the girl from the time she was five.
# Clerical Abuse
"God knows" - Irish priest found guilty of sexually abusing toddler in Chile
John O’Reilly began abusing the girl when she was five.
# Clerical Abuse
Brady resignation "too late" for abuse survivor
Brendan Boland says that Sean Brady was “weak”.
# Apology
Pope Francis asks for forgiveness after first meeting with abuse survivors
After meeting two Irish survivors, the Pontiff condemned “execrable acts of abuse.”
# Clerical Abuse
Pope Francis will meet with Irish abuse survivors for the first time
He has promised to continue a ‘zero tolerance’ approach to abuse.
Voices
Column: We must stop claiming that 'we never knew' about child abuse at Catholic institutions
It’s a common refrain that widespread abuse was only exposed in recent decades – but the real story is very different, writes Fin Dwyer.
# Safeguarding
Accused 'Kiltegan Fathers' on African missions "afforded too much tolerance"
In one case, a priest believed to have abused at least 50 victims since 1966 did not leave the society until 2002.
# Safeguarding
Archbishop of Cashel and Emly praised for speedy reaction to abuse claims
However, the tone used to some complainants was “inconsistent” – some responses were compassionate and others were “sharp in tone”.
# Clerical Abuse
Abuse victims to receive $16.5m as Christian Brothers declare US bankruptcy
Two corporations behind the ‘Irish’ Christian Brothers will enter ‘Chapter 11′ bankruptcy, which allows them to reorganise.
# Clerical Abuse
Priest dismissed over complaints of child sexual abuse
A number of complaints of sexual abuse of minors against the priest have been upheld by a canonical penal trial today.
# Clerical Abuse
Irish/US film on Church child abuse selected for Oscar shortlist
The film examines the story of four men who were abused as boys in a school for the deaf in the USA.
# Clerical Abuse
Poll: Should there be a Tribunal into clerical sexual abuse?
Various commissions have only investigated abuse claims on a diocese-by-diocese basis. Should there be a national overall inquiry?
Voices
Column: This wasn’t the Middle Ages, Bishop Kirby, it was the 1990s
Lisa McInerney asks why, if a senior member of the Catholic Church thought paedophilia was ‘crossing the line in friendship’, does the same Church think it can guide people on how to love and who to marry?
# need to know
The Evening Fix... now with added superheroes
Things we learned, loved and shared today.
# Safeguarding
Diocese of Kildare and Leighlin: 'Relatively few cases to deal with'
Summary of the main findings of the National Board for Safeguarding Children in the Catholic Church in Ireland into Kildare and Leighlin Diocese.
# Safeguarding
Missionaries of the Sacred Heart: Priests admitted abuse but authorities weren't told
Summary of the main findings of the National Board for Safeguarding Children in the Catholic Church in Ireland into the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart.
# Child Protection
Diocese of Clonfert: "No written procedures for management of allegations"
Summary of the main findings of the National Board for Safeguarding Children in the Catholic Church in Ireland into Clonfert diocese.
# Papal Visit
Is the Pope coming to Ireland?
The Catholic Communications Office says there’s “no concrete information” about a rumoured visit in 2013.
# Abuse
Over 1,300 abuse survivors received counselling under Catholic Church service
Towards Healing’s first annual report says that over 28,000 counselling sessions were provided last year.
