Abortion Rights Find Strong Champions Among the Clergy

The Rev. Madison Shockley / Truthdig Jul 6, 2016 The news media are not presenting a complete picture For generations, many ministers have stood with people making difficult choices about their reproductive lives The news media are not presenting a complete picture. Dig deeper ( 4 Min. Read )

Vatican Told Irish Clergy to Keep Abuse Reports From Police

Staff / Truthdig Jan 19, 2011 According to an official letter issued by the Vatican in 1997, the Holy See issued a warning to higher-ups in the Irish Catholic Church, strongly suggesting that they keep reports of child abuse by clergy members from outside authorities or they could face "embarrassing" consequences. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Need a Job? Try Exorcism

Staff / Truthdig Nov 14, 2010 While jobs may be scarce in most parts of the country, look out for a boom in the exorcism sector. A shortage in the number of clergy who can perform the rite has led the U.S. Catholic Church to hold a training session in the sacred art of purging spirits from the possessed. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Deaf Defendant Includes Pope in Sex-Abuse Suit

Staff / Truthdig Sep 28, 2010 By virtue of his past and present vaunted positions in the Catholic Church, Pope Benedict XVI has certainly had to deal with the ramifications of the wide-ranging sex abuse scandal that's still rocking the Vatican But now the pontiff has actually been named (continued). Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

British Probe Finds Convicted Priests Still in the Fold

Staff / Truthdig Sep 16, 2010 The Catholic Church has made remorseful noises and gestures in response to the widespread allegations of clergy sex abuse coming in from multiple dioceses, and some accused parties have been duly punished in recent months or have they? . Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Pope Doesn’t Let Irish Bishops Resign

Staff / Truthdig Aug 11, 2010 Two Catholic bishops in Ireland attempted to resign late last year in the midst of a scandal about widespread sexual abuse occurring in their Dublin diocese, but Pope Benedict XVI wasn't having it. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Vatican Issues New Rules for Tackling Sex Abuse Cases

Staff / Truthdig Jul 15, 2010 The Vatican is finally getting the message that it needs to get with the program in terms of addressing widespread reports of sex abuse by Catholic clergy members, with the Holy See releasing a new set of rules designed to speed up and step up the process. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Italian Women Ask Pope to Drop Celibacy Rule

Staff / Truthdig May 29, 2010 A group of Italian women has posted an open letter to the pope on an Internet forum, asking Benedict XVI to reconsider the Catholic Church's celibacy requirement for clergy members, claiming that they (continued). Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

European Catholic Clergy Faces Fallout From Sex Scandal

Staff / Truthdig Apr 22, 2010 Two more high-profile figures are paying the price for their parts, however direct or oblique, in the child abuse scandal still rippling through the ranks of the Catholic church By Thursday, the Vatican had officially retired . Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Pope on a Rope: Favorability Rating Falls in U.S. Poll

Staff / Truthdig Apr 17, 2010 Pope Benedict XVI hasn't exactly won the hearts and minds of Americans in recent weeks, according to the results of a CNN/Opinion Research Corp survey released Friday, which showed the wear and tear of the ongoing clergy sex scandal on the pope's public standing (continued) . Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

‘Daily Show’: De-Sexifying Catholicism

Staff / Truthdig Apr 15, 2010 Now that the shameful clergy sex scandal has reached its grabby hands all the way to the top levels of the Vatican, it's time for drastic measures As John Hodgman makes chillingly clear in this "Daily Show" clip, the Catholic Church is an "extremely sexy place" (continued). Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Pope Changes His Tune, Talks of ‘Penance’

Staff / Truthdig Apr 15, 2010 While performing Mass on Thursday morning, Pope Benedict XVI inched toward acknowledging the need for the Vatican to show more contrition over the slew of clergy sexual abuse cases that have compromised the Catholic Church's public standing in recent months (continued). Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )