Click a link to jump to articles:
Headlines and Opinion Essays
April 2004: Boston Archdiocese Sells Headquarters to Cover Abuse Settlements
February 2004: Report: 11,000 Abuse Complaints since 1950
January 2004: Interview with Boston's New Archbishop
Sept. 2003: $85M Deal in Boston Church Abuse Suits
Augustr 2003: The Coming Catholic Church: How the Faithful Will Reshape U.S. Catholicism
The scandal exposed the Church's worst flaws, but also points the way to positive change, says journalist David Gibson
July 2003: Massachusetts Attorney General Says Number of Victims May Top 1000
July 2003: Can the New Archbishop Save Boston?
Profile of Sean O'Malley
June 2003 Bishops' Meeting
As the abuse scandal continues, Catholic bishops will be judged by their worst member. Can they overcome their divisions? By David Gibson
Despite everything that's happened, they still hide behind legalisms when their only salvation is transparency. By Fr. Andrew Greeley
Head of Abuse Review Board Resigns
Governor Frank Keating blasts coverups
What's It All About?
February 2004: Report: 11,000 Sexual Abuse Complaints Since 1950
From the John Jay College of Criminal Justice's report on molestation of minors by U.S. Roman Catholic clergy.
Past Sex Abuse Cases (AP)
Answers to common questions about the current scandal and past cases of clergy sexual misconduct.
Common Misperceptions (USA Today)
Nov. 2002: An overview says that very few accused priests remain in positions where they could abuse minors.
Who's Who in the Catholic Church
Basic facts about who makes what decisions.
Q&A: Psychiatric Issues in Pedophilia
Accessible answers to frequently asked questions by a psychiatrist specializing in clergy pedophilia.
Are They Really Pedophiles?
A researcher analyzing earlier data says that many victims of priests are adolescent boys, not children. By Philip Jenkins
Catholic Reactions
"A Crisis of Fidelity"
George Weigel on the culture of dissent (Summer 2002)
Time for the Laity to Step Forward
Interview with Garry Wills (Summer 2002)
"The Catholic Church's Watergate" (Summer 2002)
Beliefnet's interview with Catholic League's President William Donohue reveals a typically staunch defender of the Church indicting it instead. (Spring 2002)
Spring 2002: Pope Denounces Sex Abuse
In an annual letter to priests, Pope John Paul II says the current "scandal" casts a "dark shadow" on all priests.
Spring 2002: U.S. Bishops' Conference Issues Formal Apology
Op-ed piece by the Chairman of the Bishops' Ad Hoc Committee on Sexual Abuse
Nuns Call for Reform in Wake of Abuse Crisis (August 2002)
Opinion Polls for Catholics: Cast Your Votes
Have you decreased your contributions to diocesan collections? Has your priest preached about the scandals? Beliefnet invites Catholic users to respond to polls.
Spring 2002: Cardinal Law Should Resign
Even conservative Catholics agree that some prelates have failed God's children. By Charlotte Hays
Another Look at Cardinal Law
Do Law's actions rise to that level of offense for which resignation is the only recourse? To analogize from politics, Nixon's cover-up of Watergate did rise to that level, Clinton's cover-up of Monica did not.
What the Media Is Missing
In focusing on the admittedly terrible events of the past, the press is not covering systemic changes the Church made in the 1990s to combat clergy sex abuse. By Bishop Joseph Galante, member of the Catholic Bishops' Ad Hoc Committee on Sexual Abuse
Spring 2002: An Ecclesiastical Enron
Molesters and sexual deviants among the Catholic clergy, episcopal negligence and coverups, stonewalling chanceries and empty claims that at long last the Church is going to clean house: This is not a new story. And that is the real scandal. By Rod Dreher
Spring 2002: Odd Attempts to 'Explain' the Pedophilia Crisis
Both liberals and conservatives are playing the blame game--and are usually way off the mark. By Eugene Kennedy
Spring 2002: For Catholics, a Special Kind of Horror
Pedophile priests: The phrase brings instant and visceral reaction: anger, revulsion, fear. For all people of goodwill, it's a dual tragedy: the violation of a child and the betrayal of a trust.
Chicago Cardinal's 'Sexist' Comments Anger Critics (April 26)
February 2002: How Should Catholics Respond to the Scandals?
The great St. Francis of Assisi lived in a time of terrible immorality in Italy. Priests were setting horrible example. Lay immorality was even worse. Then, as now, the only adequate response was holiness.
The tradition is a discipline, not a dogma.
It's self-serving for men who have repudiated their promise of celibacy to attack those who still try to keep it. By Andrew Greeley
"Celibacy is a precious gift given by God to his Church and as a sign of the kingdom which is not of this world -- a sign of the undivided love of the priest for God and for God's people."
Which Dioceses Are Affected?
Bishops' Worst Mistakes
Plus: Avoid "Simplistic" Judgments: The bishops' conference responds
Bishop-by-Bishop Overview
(Dallas Morning News, June 2002)
Specific abuse cases and alleged coverups across the country.
Catholic Crisis Spreads Abroad
Your Diocese's Statement/Policies:
Multifaith
Not Just Priests
Clergy sexual abuse of minors and adults is a problem in all faiths. By Anne Simpkinson
Clergy Sexual Misconduct Resources
Links for individuals and communities dealing with sexual misconduct and prevention.
The Cost to the Church
Sept. 2003: $85M Deal in Boston Church Abuse Suits
Feb. 2003: Scandal Costs Account for Over Half of L.A. Archdiocese’s $13.4 Million Deficit
Nov. 2001: How Much Is This Costing the Church?
A pre-scandal estimate said U.S. dioceses may already have spent as much as $1 billion in payouts to victims.
No Deep Pockets
If Catholics are successful in their crusade to punish the church through its pocketbook, who will they really hurt? By Fr. Andrew Greeley
Spring 2002: Chicago Cardinal Suggests Selling Church's Mansion for Funds
Fall 2002: Despite Scandal, NY Diocese Fundraiser May Set Record
Spring 2002: Scandals Won't Bankrupt the Church
Even with the prospect of fresh lawsuits that could double the billion-dollar tally of settlements already reached, the bankruptcy of even a single diocese is unlikely, church financial analysts say.
How Have Innocent Priests Been Affected?
Fall 2002: Due Process for Priests
By Fr. Andrew Greeley
Priests' Rights Could Be Next Victim
Some clergy say recent moves constitute a "witch hunt" that could affect innocent priests.
In Defense of Good Priests--and Celibacy
Do marriage and sex turn you into a mature adult? Will priests grow up if only they marry? Does marriage automatically produce maturity? By Andrew Greeley
Prayer Resources
Guided Prayers for Catholics Struggling With the Scandals
Dealing with feelings of anger and betrayal. From the Daughters of St. Paul.
Beliefnet Prayer Circle for Victims of Child Sexual Abuse
Dec. 2002: Vatican Approves Revised Sexual Abuse Policy
September 2002: Vatican Likely to Require Abuse Policy Changes
May request changes to Dallas charter
The View from Rome: How the Crisis Sank In
An excerpt from "The Courage to Be Catholic" by George Weigel
Summer 2002: Vatican Journal Slams U.S. Media for Scandal Coverage
Spring 2002: Pope Denounces Sex Abuse
In an annual letter to priests, Pope John Paul II says the current "scandal" casts a "dark shadow" on all priests.
Journal: Bishops Not Responsible for Abuse
Influential canon lawyer says bishops should not turn over allegations of sexual abuse by priests to civil authorities.
Summer 2002: Vatican, U.S. Bishops May Be at Odds
Cardinal Theodore McCarrick says the Catholic Church responded too slowly to the sexual abuse crisis, and the heat is on bishops to fix it now.
Spring 2002: Gays React to Vatican Comments
As a Catholic pedophilia crisis expands, some Catholics are denouncing implied links between homosexuality and the reported incidents, especially after recent remarks from the Vatican.
Vatican Apparatchiks: Clueless and Arrogant
Comments by bishops abroad reveal they know nothing about U.S. society, culture, and law--or about American Catholics. By Andrew Greeley
April 2002: The Papal Summit
What Did the Pope's Statement Really Mean?
Read the text and an analysis.
U.S. Catholics Welcome Pope's Speech
Top U.S. Clergy Agree to Defrock "Notorious" Sex Abusers
The View from Rome: How the Crisis Sank In
An excerpt from "The Courage to Be Catholic" by George Weigel
More on the Papal Summit
Homosexuality and the Priesthood
Official Church Teaching on Homosexuality
Vatican View: "A strong tendency towards an intrinsic moral evil"
August 2002: Survey Suggests Gay Priest Culture
Spring 2002: Gays React to Vatican Comments
As the abuse crisis expands, some Catholics are denouncing implied links between homosexuality and the reported incidents, especially after recent remarks from the Vatican.
Commentary
Should Gay Priests Be Screened Out?
The Question of Gay Seminarians
By Fr. Donald Cozzens
Abuse Crisis Spotlights Gay Priests
Related Link: The Gay Priest Problem
A Navy chaplain says that the church needs to address the epidemic of homosexual priests.
Related Link: In Defense of Gay Priests
By Chuck Colbert
Beliefnet Member Discussion
Supreme Court Ducks Clergy Case
Cardinal Law Blames Bad Advice
How to Save the Church
By Michael Sean Winters
Spring 2002: Boston Archdiocese Needs Cash for Lawsuits
Spring 2002: Ex-Boston Priest Shanley Arrested for Child Rape
Chicago Cardinal's 'Sexist' Comments Anger Critics
Cardinals Show They're Slow Learners
(NYT, April 29)
By Maureen Dowd
Death Penalty for Serial Child Molestors?
(April 27, ABCNews.com)
Trusted Ally of Pope Accused of Abuse
(ABCNews.com, April 26)
Defining "Spiritual Scandal"
176 Priests Removed in 28 States
(April 26)
Cardinal Law Opposes Formation of Parish Groups
Female Victims Often Overlooked
Experts believe troubled priests and other clergy are more likely to abuse females.
Complete Boston Globe Coverage
News Roundup by Poynter.org
Forgiving Abusive Priests: Bishops, Victims, and Laypeople Respond
Bishop after bishop wrestled with questions of forgiveness and accountability. There was even a mention of purgatory.
Fuzzy Language
The bishops vote on confusing changes made earlier this month to their policy, adopted in June, dealing with clergy sex abuse.
What Happened at the Bishops' June 2002 Meeting in Dallas?
The Issues: Zero tolerance, lay involvement, reporting abusers to the police, more
The Decision: All abusers booted out of public ministry, but not necessarily out of the priesthood (AP)
The Victims: Speeches by men and women abused by priests
Reporter's Weblog: Thursday, June 13 and Friday, June 14
August 2002: Catholic Abuse Crisis Deepens in Australia
Summer 2002: Australian Catholic Archbishops Apologize to Sex Abuse Victims
Spring 2002: Catholic Crisis Spreads Abroad
