Latest Roman Catholicism News
Judge: Diocese doesn't have to pay for victim's counseling
PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — A man who says he was abused by a priest has no legal argument to compel the Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland to pay for his psychological counseling, a Maine judge has ruled. David Gagnon, formerly of Biddeford, sued the Portland diocese in small claims court when it avoided...
Ex-priest sues over inclusion on list of suspected abusers
PROVIDENCE (AP) — A former Rhode Island priest has sued his old diocese for including his name on a list of clergy “credibly accused” of sexually abusing minors. In a defamation lawsuit against the Roman Catholic Diocese of Providence, ex-priest John Tormey said he never sexually assaulted...
Pittsburgh diocese to merge 26 parishes into eight next year
PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Roman Catholic diocese of Pittsburgh has announced plans to merge more than two dozen parishes into eight new parishes next year. Bishop David Zubik said Satuday that 26 parishes will be part of the Jan. 6 mergers, which will reduce the number of parishes in the diocese from 170 to...
Guatemalan cardinal to visit Mississippi after migrant raids
JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — A Guatemalan cardinal who advocates for migrants will visit Mississippi following immigration raids last summer that prompted 680 arrests. The Rev. Roberto Mena, who pastors some Catholic churches in Mississippi affected by the raids, announced the visit Saturday. Pope Francis...
Cries of abuse in Catholic Church start to be heard in Japan
TOKYO (AP) — During Pope Francis’ recent visit to Japan, Harumi Suzuki stood where his motorcade passed by holding a sign that read: “I am a survivor.” Katsumi Takenaka stood at another spot, on another day, holding up his banner that read, “Catholic child sexual abuse in...
Pope honors spiritual father on 50th anniversary as a priest
VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Francis was to mark his 50th anniversary as a priest Friday by paying homage to his spiritual father, a fellow Argentine Jesuit whose teachings on popular piety and discernment have had an enormous influence on the papacy. Francis is scheduled to attend the book launch for a...
Ex-Roman Catholic deacon indicted on child rape charge
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — A former Roman Catholic Church deacon in New Orleans was indicted Thursday on a charge that he raped an altar boy nearly 40 years ago. George Brignac, 84, was charged by a grand jury Thursday with one count of aggravated rape. He was arrested in September. The victim in the case came...
Catholic dioceses spar over Archbishop Sheen sainthood
In an unusual public spat, the Roman Catholic diocese of Peoria, Illinois, is accusing the Rochester, New York, diocese of trying to “sabotage” the beatification of Archbishop Fulton Sheen. Sheen, who before his death in 1979 was famous for his radio and TV preaching, had been scheduled to be...
DeGrood is new bishop of the Diocese of Sioux Falls
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — The Catholic Diocese of Sioux Falls has a new bishop. Rev. Donald DeGrood was to be introduced Thursday as the successor to Bishop Paul Swain, who submitted his resignation at age 75 last September, per cannon law. DeGrood most recently served as pastor of St. John the Baptist...
Ohio diocese ordered to release files on 14 accused priests
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — An Ohio judge has ordered the Roman Catholic Dioceses of Columbus to release files on 14 accused priests as part of an ongoing lawsuit. Franklin County Judge Jaiza Page made the decision on Friday, The Columbus Dispatch reported. Lebanon attorney Konrad Kircher requested the files in...
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