Rappler's latest stories on Roman Catholic church
Court clears French cardinal of shielding alleged pedophile priest
The trial court rules that Cardinal Philippe Barbarin chose not to tell the authorities of the abuse allegations 'in order to preserve the institution to which he belongs'
U.S. bishop steps down in Church abuse scandal
The Vatican says in a statement that it accepts the resignation of Bishop Richard Malone, from the Buffalo diocese in New York state
French priest at heart of church abuse scandal defrocked
The allegations against priest Bernard Preynat sparked the biggest crisis in the French church in decades, drawing in its most influential cleric, Cardinal Philippe Barbarin
Vatican moves to counter gender theory in education
The Church is trying to promote 'dialogue on the question of gender in education,' Milan's Gonzague Institute professor Roberto Zappala says in a statement
Pope accepts resignation of Brazilian bishop – Vatican
The bishop is under investigation for alleged extortion of priests in his diocese, and the covering-up of sexual abuse cases, according to Brazilian media reports
Priest stabbed during mass at Canada's biggest church
The suspect is arrested at the Roman Catholic basilica shortly after the attack in front of 50 people and a television audience, while priest Claude Grou is taken to hospital
French cardinal convicted over sex abuse cover-up
(UPDATED) 'I have decided to go to see the Holy Father to hand him my resignation. He will receive me in a few days' time,' Cardinal Philippe Barbarin says after the verdict
Vatican to open archives of WWII pope Pius XII in 2020
Researchers have long sought to examine the archives over why Pius XII did not intervene more against the Holocaust perpetrated by the German Nazis
France urges Vatican to act after envoy charged with sex abuse
'I am waiting for the Holy See to assume its responsibilities,' French European Minister Nathalie Loiseau says when asked if Luigi Ventura should see his diplomatic immunity lifted
Vatican to open probe into Cardinal Pell over child sex abuse
The investigation could result in a canonical trial and George Pell's eventual expulsion from the priesthood
Vatican has 'utmost respect' for justice after Pell conviction
Cardinal George Pell, one of Pope Francis' closest advisers, has been found guilty of sexually assaulting two choirboys, becoming the most senior Catholic cleric ever convicted of child sex crimes
Cardinal calls for global recognition of sex abuse in Catholic Church
'The entire Church must take an honest look, undertake rigorous discernment, and then act decisively,' says Indian Cardinal Oswald Gracias
'Concrete measures' on sex abuse needed, pope tells Vatican summit
(UPDATED) 'We humbly and sorrowfully admit that wounds have been inflicted by us bishops on the victims and in fact the entire body of Christ,' Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle tells the assembly
France probes sexual assault claim against Vatican envoy
The envoy, 74-year-old Luigi Ventura, is accused of molesting a man at the Paris townhall on January 17 when Mayor Anne Hidalgo gave a New Year's address to diplomats, religious leaders, and civil society figures
Pope says priest celibacy not 'optional'
'Personally I think that celibacy is a gift to the Church. Secondly, I don't think optional celibacy should be allowed. No,' says Pope Francis
Pope Francis announces Japan visit in November
The pope has made two trips to Asia since his election 5 years ago, visiting the Philippines and Sri Lanka in 2014, followed by Myanmar and Bangladesh in 2017
Second Chinese underground bishop steps aside
There are an estimated 10 million Catholics in China, divided between a government-run association whose clergy are chosen by the Communist Party, and the unofficial church loyal to the Vatican
Jesuits release list of 89 U.S. priests accused of sex abuse
The disclosures by the Jesuit provinces of Maryland and USA Midwest are the latest chapter in the ongoing sexual abuse scandal roiling the Catholic Church
California nuns stole school funds for Vegas gambling, travel
Sisters Mary Margaret Kreuper and Lana Chang, who are said to be best friends, took the money from tuition, fees, and donations at St. James Catholic School
U.S. opens federal investigation into Catholic Church abuse
'The archdiocese will cooperate with the United States Department of Justice in this matter,' says the Archdiocese of Philadelphia
New York subpoenas every Catholic diocese in state
All 8 Catholic dioceses have either been or are in the process of being subpoenaed by New York's state attorney general
Irish PM urges action on abuse as Pope admits 'shame and pain'
(UPDATED) Pope Francis is in Ireland to close the 2018 World Meeting of Families
Pope accepts resignation of 3 Chilean bishops in sex abuse scandal
(UPDATED) Several members of the Chilean church hierarchy are accused by victims of ignoring and covering up child abuse by Chilean pedophile priest Fernando Karadima during the 1980s and 1990s
14 priests linked to Chile sex abuse stripped of duties
Nicknamed 'the Family,' the group of priestly offenders committed sex abuses with young people including minors, churchgoer Elisa Fernandez tells Channel 13 last week
All Chilean bishops quit over child abuse scandal – spokesman
The striking announcement comes after Francis summoned the bishops to the Vatican over the scandal that has come to haunt his papacy
Pope Francis receives Chilean bishops over sex abuse scandal
The 34 bishops, 3 of whom are already retired, are to hold private and group meetings at the Vatican with the Argentine Pontiff
Pope Francis speaks out for terminally-ill British toddler
'I want to reiterate and strongly confirm that the only master of life, from the beginning to its natural end, is God, and our duty is to do everything to protect life,' says the Pope
Vatican revives pope's sexual abuse panel
'The newly-appointed members will add to the commission's global perspective in the protection of minors and vulnerable adults,' says US Cardinal Sean O'Malley
Pope denounces violence in visit to restive region of Chile
The Argentine-born pontiff was shining the spotlight on the simmering conflict between the Chilean state and the Mapuche people
Pope voices nuclear war concerns as he begins Latin America trip
'I am really afraid of this. One accident is enough to precipitate things.'
Pope sets off on trip to Chile and Peru
The 81-year old Argentine will hop on 10 flights to travel over 30,000 kilometers through hot and humid climates for his 22nd trip abroad
Ahead of pope's Chile visit, priests accused of child sex abuse
Almost 80 Roman Catholic clergy have been accused of sexually abusing children in Chile since 2000, a US-based monitoring group says
U.S. Cardinal Law, forced to quit over sex abuse scandal, dies aged 86
(UPDATED) The former Boston cardinal had fallen from grace after he allegedly shielded priests involved in a wide-reaching sex abuse scandal that shook the Roman Catholic Church and eclipsed his long and at one-time venerated career
Cake for 'joyful' pope on his 81st birthday
Pope Francis's birthday this year falls on Gaudete Sunday, which the church marks as a moment of particular joy as celebrations for the birth of Jesus Christ approach
New CBCP head tells priests, nuns: Repent
Davao Archbishop Romulo Valles calls for 'humble repentance and reparation' for 'occasions of frailty and scandals' among priests and nuns
Pope leads Dhaka mass before Rohingya meeting
Francis, the first pope to visit Muslim-majority Bangladesh in 31 years, arrives in a locally-made popemobile at Suhrawardy Udyan park where nearly 100,000 people wait to celebrate the mass
Pope flies to Bangladesh after contentious Myanmar visit
The pope lands in Bangladesh, a country struggling to provide for the more than 620,000 Rohingya who have crushed into its refugee camps after fleeing persecution in Myanmar
Pope preaches forgiveness in landmark mass for Myanmar Catholics
(UPDATED) He urges his audience to forgo anger and respond with 'forgiveness and compassion'
Pope to meet Myanmar's leader Suu Kyi
After the talks in the capital Naypyidaw, the pontiff will address Suu Kyi and diplomats there – his first opportunity to speak publicly about the conflict that looms over his trip
Pope arrives in Myanmar on high-stakes visit
(4th UPDATE) The country is holding its breath over what the pontiff will say on Myanmar soil, where any mention of the word Rohingya could unleash anger from a public that broadly supports the army campaign
'Put down those smartphones!' Pope Francis tells bishops
The Pope says 'At a certain point the priest leading the ceremony says 'lift up our hearts'. He doesn't say 'lift up our mobile phones to take photographs'
Pope Francis admits to snoozing while praying
The head of the Roman Catholic Church confesses he sometimes falls asleep while praying and claims saints too have been known to grab some Holy shut-eye
Pope urges world to act on causes of migration crisis
Francis says love rather than pity should be placed at the heart of international development efforts, and throws his weight behind efforts in the UN to negotiate a global accord on managed, safe migration
Some 50 witnesses for Cardinal Pell sex abuse hearing
(UPDATED) The exact details and nature of the allegations against Cardinal George Pell have not been made public, other than they involve 'multiple complainants'
Australia gay marriage debate highlights church divisions
Although attitudes to same sex marriage vary across denominations and congregations many Australians view the church as the greatest source of resistance to such unions
Pope leaves Colombia with prayers for peace
On the last day of his fifth visit as pope to his native continent he reiterates calls for peace in Colombia and prays for a peaceful end to Venezuela s grave crisis
1.3M join pope's mass in Colombia's ex-'narco city'
In Medellin he urges the Church to get out its comfort zone in order to confront challenges such as Colombia s peace process
Pope prays for peace in Colombia, Venezuela
Pope Francis lands in Colombia to plead for lasting peace in a country moving towards the end of a half century war and prays for stability in its crisis stricken neighbor Venezuela
Pope backs Australian cardinal in fight against sex abuse charges
Cardinal George Pell says he has been a victim of relentless character assassination and vows to clear his name and return to work in Rome
Vatican finance chief charged with child sex abuse
UPDATED Cardinal George Pell the Vatican s finance chief and the highest ranking Catholic cleric to face such charges had been interviewed in Rome by Australian police last October over the allegations
