Clericalism: The culture that enables abuse and insists on hiding it

Throughout his pontificate, Pope Francis has targeted clericalism as an illness in the church, an ailment that pretends "the church" means "priests and bishops," that ignores or minimizes the God-given grace and talents of laypeople and that emphasizes the authority of clerics over their obligation of service.
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Pope: Abuse victims’ outcry more powerful than efforts to silence them

"No effort must be spared" to prevent future cases of clerical sexual abuse and "to prevent the possibility of their being covered up," Pope Francis said in a letter addressed "to the people of God."
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Canon lawyers explain how Vatican abuse trials function

In canon law, there is a basic presumption of innocence but not to the extent seen in U.S. or British law. The accused has the right to defend himself and the right to counsel. But the promoter of justice, a role similar to prosecutor, does not have to prove motive, means or criminal intent.
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Abuse expert: Crisis is call to new vision of priesthood, accountability

"Since God is the Lord of history, I understand all this as a call to a deeper understanding of what is the church about, what is priesthood about and what is the Christian life," Jesuit Father Hans Zollner told CNS.
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Pope revises catechism to say death penalty is ‘inadmissible’

Pope Francis has ordered a revision of the Catechism of the Catholic Church to assert "the death penalty is inadmissible because it is an attack on the inviolability and dignity of the person."
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Pope accepts Cardinal McCarrick’s resignation as cardinal

Pope Francis has accepted the resignation from the College of Cardinals of Cardinal Theodore E. McCarrick, retired archbishop of Washington, and has ordered him to maintain "a life of prayer and penance" until a canonical trial examines accusations that he sexually abused minors.
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Cardinal Farrell expresses shock over Cardinal McCarrick abuse case

"I was shocked, overwhelmed; I never heard any of this before in the six years I was there with him," Cardinal Farrell told Catholic News Service July 24.
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Pope applauds patriarch’s call to protect the planet, protect people

Pope Francis said that when he was on the Greek island of Lesbos, "while enchanted by the scenery of the blue sky and sea, I was struck by the thought that such a beautiful sea had become a tomb for men, women and children who had for the most part sought only to escape inhumane...
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Teaching on all-male priesthood is definitive, cardinal-designate says

That only men can be validly ordained to the priesthood is a truth that is part of the Catholic faith and will not and cannot change, said Cardinal-designate Luis Ladaria, prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.
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Pope, patriarch call for ethical intervention in economy

Pope Francis and Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople called on Christians to work together to build a culture of solidarity in the face of growing economic inequality and a lack of respect for the human dignity of the poor and of migrants.
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Cardinal stats: Pope makes college more international, not much younger

Although it is not unusual for a pope to set aside temporarily the limit of 120 cardinals under the age of 80, Pope Francis has done so in a way that could last for more than a year.
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Pope will create 14 new cardinals in June

Pope Francis announced he would make 14 new cardinals June 29, giving the red cardinal's hat to the papal almoner, the Iraq-based patriarch of the Chaldean Catholic Church and the archbishop of Karachi, Pakistan, among others.
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