Victims ask Pope for independent inquiry into abuse by prominent priest
Rome, Italy Reuters Former nuns who said they were subjected to sexual, psychological or spiritual abuse by a famous priest urged Pope Francis on Wednesday to allow an independent investigation, saying the Catholic Church had put up “a rubber wall” blocking the truth. Father Marko Ivan Rupnik, a religious artist whose mosaics adorn about 200 […]
Jesuits in US bolster outreach initiative aimed at encouraging LGBTQ+ Catholics
New York, US AP Even as Catholic dogma continues to repudiate same-sex marriage and gender transition, one of the most prominent religious orders in the United States – the Jesuits – is strengthening a unique outreach program for LGBTQ+ Catholics. The initiative – fittingly called Outreach – was founded two years ago by Rev James […]
Discerning the call: In Catholic men’s religious orders, diversity brings new opportunities – and occasional friction
ELIZABETH E EVANS, of Religion News Service, reports on how religious communities are exploring different ways to mentor and walk alongside young men as they discern their calling…
Ex-Jesuit’s religious community in Slovenia ordered to dissolve in one year over widespread abuse
Rome, ItalyAP The Vatican has decided to shut down a Slovenian-based female religious community founded by a controversial ex-Jesuit artist accused by some women of spiritual, psychological and sexual abuses. The Archdiocese of Ljubljana, Slovenia said in a statement Friday that the Loyola Community would have one year to implement the 20th October decree ordering […]
Pope orders Vatican to reopen case of priest accused of adult abuse but allowed to keep ministering
Rome, ItalyAP Pope Francis has ordered the Vatican to reopen the case of a well-known priest-artist accused of sexually, psychologically and spiritually abusing adult women, and removed the statute of limitations that had previously prevented a church trial based on their claims. The Vatican’s announcement on Friday marked a major turnaround for the Holy See and followed […]
Women who say they were abused by a onetime Jesuit artist denounce an apparent rehabilitation effort
Vatican CityAP Women who say they were abused by a once-prominent Jesuit artist said Tuesday they had been revictimized by his superiors, saying Pope Francis’ recent gestures and an apparent effort to exonerate him publicly showed church pledges of “zero tolerance” were just a “publicity stunt.” In an open letter published on an Italian survivor […]
Nicaraguan Government orders seizure of top Jesuit-run university
Reuters A Nicaraguan judge has ordered the confiscation of all assets belonging to a prestigious Jesuit-run university, the college announced, as the government’s crackdown on Catholic clergy and church-affiliated institutions intensifies. In a letter seen by Reuters that was dated Tuesday and addressed to the university community, the Central American University (UCA) said it had […]
Nicaragua freezes bank accounts of top university led by Jesuits – source
Reuters Nicaraguan authorities froze the bank accounts of the country’s top private university, a source from the institution told Reuters, marking the latest move against a Catholic-led institution in an ongoing crackdown by the government. The Jesuit-run Central American University (UCA) is the alma mater of many youth leaders who protested the government of President […]
Jesuits confirm expulsion of a priest artist and lament that Vatican norms block harsher sanctions
Rome, ItalyAP The Jesuits said Monday that a famous artist priest is definitively expelled from the religious order for sexually, spiritually and psychologically abusing women, and lamented they couldn’t prosecute him more vigorously under the Vatican’s internal procedures. Rev Marko Ivan Rupnik remains a Catholic priest but is no longer a Jesuit priest, after he […]
Supporter defends expelled Jesuit priest against “lynching”, says abuse claims unproven
Rome, ItalyAP The head of a religious art and culture centre founded by a disgraced Jesuit priest came to his defense Saturday after he was expelled from the Jesuit religious order following allegations of sexual, spiritual and psychological abuse against adult women. Maria Campatelli, director of the Rome-based Aletti Center, said the claims against Rev […]