Clergy Sexual Abuse

“There is no mechanism for SBC action against any individual minister, since the SBC doesn’t ordain clergy. Individual churches make up the SBC, not individual ministers. The name of the new, independent database is ‘Baptist Accountability.’” - SBC Voices

“One year after Pope Francis called for a summit of Catholic bishops at the Vatican, abuse survivors flocked to the Eternal City on Thursday (Feb. 20) to report a lack of progress and accountability in the fight against clergy sex abuse.” - RNS

“In the case of Bufallo’s Bishop Malone, none of the visitation’s findings have been shared publicly. In his official statement, Malone defended his handling of clergy abuses before explaining that ‘prayer and discernment’ had led him to resign.” - The Conversation

“Roughly half of survey respondents say sexual abuse and misconduct is more common among Catholic priests and bishops than among leaders in other religious traditions (48%), while a nearly identical share say abuse is equally common among leaders in other religions (47%). Just 3% say abuse is less common in the Catholic Church than in other religious traditions.” - Pew

Cardinal Philippe Barbarin “was convicted on charges of failing to inform the proper authorities of child sexual abuse allegations. In his statement, Barbarin said on the morning of March 18 that he forwarded his resignation to the pope.” - WRN

“The report pointed out that church officials have informed their congregants of only a few names included in the list.” - WRN

“According to a poll released Wednesday (March 13) by Gallup, more than a third of U.S. Catholics …said they have questioned whether they should remain in the church.

Contrary to the claim by some clergy that the sexual abuse problems in the Catholic Church stem from “clericalism” — excessive deference to priests and bishops — German Cardinal Walter Brandmuller said the fundamental problem is homosexuality in the priesthood.

“A former Southern Baptist official has been indicted in Texas on charges related to the sexual assault of a 16-year-old girl in 1997, when he was a 25-year-old seminary student in Fort Worth….Aderholt, a prolific missionary, was the associate executive director and chief strategist for the South Carolina Baptist Convention for a year and a half until resigning over the summer.” - Radio.com

“Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan says her office has found 500 more Catholic clergy accused of sexually abusing children than the state’s six archdioceses have publicly identified.” - RNS