Will other states follow Pennsylvania on church abuse?

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Attorneys general around the U.S. have been largely silent this week about any plans to conduct an investigation like Pennsylvania's that uncovered widespread child sexual abuse in six Roman Catholic dioceses, although New York's top prosecutor is an exception, saying she is...

Vatican in 'shame and sorrow' over abuses in Pennsylvania

VATICAN CITY (AP) — The Vatican expressed "shame and sorrow" Thursday over a scathing Pennsylvania grand jury report about clergy who raped and molested children in six dioceses in that state, calling the abuse "criminally and morally reprehensible" and saying Pope Francis wants to eradicate "this tragic...

Bishops request Vatican investigation as abuse crisis grows

NEW YORK (AP) — Responding to what it calls a "moral catastrophe," the leading body of U.S. Catholic leaders said Thursday it would ask the Vatican to investigate the scandal involving a former cardinal who allegedly engaged in sexual misconduct with children and adult seminarians. The request by the U.S....

Washington cardinal entangled in two sex-abuse scandals

Cardinal Donald Wuerl, the Roman Catholic archbishop of Washington, is facing a storm of criticism and calls for his resignation after becoming entangled in two major sexual abuse scandals roiling the church that he has served with distinction since 1966. A scathing grand jury report this week on rampant abuse in...

Vatican condemns sex abuse described in Pennsylvania grand jury report, says Pope Francis is on victims' side

Australian sex abuse victim settles with Catholic order

PERTH, Australia (AP) — A 74-year-old man with terminal cancer said on Thursday he could die happy after reaching a 1 million Australian dollar ($727,000) landmark settlement against a Catholic religious order for sexual abuse he suffered in Australia more than 50 years ago. Paul Bradshaw was to testify on...

The Latest: Survivors describe Italy bridge collapse

GENOA, Italy (AP) — The latest developments following the deadly collapse of a highway bridge in Italy (all times local): 8:05 p.m. A survivor of the Italian bridge collapse has described the highway falling out from under him. Another described trying to abruptly flip her car into reverse, and then...

Italy hunts for blame in bridge collapse that killed 39

GENOA, Italy (AP) — As more bodies were pulled Wednesday from a mountain of jagged concrete and twisted steel left by a highway bridge collapse that killed 39, prosecutors focused on possible design flaws and past maintenance of the heavily used span, and politicians squabbled over blame. Motorists,...

Bishops accused of brushing off sexual abuse complaints

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — A priest raped a 7-year-old girl while visiting her in the hospital after she had her tonsils removed. Another priest forced a 9-year-old boy into having oral sex, then rinsed out the youngster's mouth with holy water. One boy was forced to say confession to the priest who sexually...

Report: Pennsylvania priests molested over 1,000 children

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Hundreds of Roman Catholic priests in Pennsylvania molested more than 1,000 children — and possibly many more — since the 1940s, and senior church officials, including a man who is now the archbishop of Washington, D.C., systematically covered up the abuse, according to...