World News
Pope’s new laws on sex abuse cannot heal gaping wound
June 3, 2019 · By Virginia Saldanha, Mumbai for www.ucanews.com
We are grateful to Pope Francis for attempting to address sexual abuse by clerics and its covering up in the Catholic Church as well as acknowledging the abuse of women religious by clerics. His motu proprio, a set of binding norms issued on May 7, for reporting clerical sexual abuse to the proper ecclesiastical authorities, should be seen […]
Read More...Cruelty towards flock haunts clergy amid sex abuse crisis
May 31, 2019 · By Inday Espina-Varona, Manila for www.ucanews.com
About five years ago, a 17-year old girl took her newborn child to church for baptism in the central Philippine city of Cebu. Instead of blessings, a Redemptorist priest heaped scorn on the young mother. “You should be ashamed and hide. We should close this church out of shame because you would have this child […]
Read More...Indian priest to appeal conviction over rape
May 31, 2019 · By Saji Thomas, Bhopal for www.ucanews.com
A Jesuit priest plans to appeal against his conviction and life prison sentence in connection with a gang rape case in India’s eastern Jharkhand state. Judge Rajesh Kumar of the Khuti District Court on May 17 sentenced Father Alphonse Aind and five others to life imprisonment for raping five women social workers on June 19 last year. “We […]
Read More...Indian cardinal to be investigated over abuse cover-up claim
May 31, 2019 · By ucanews.com reporter, New Delhi for www.ucanews.com
A court in western India has initiated an investigation into whether Cardinal Oswald Gracias of Bombay and two of his auxiliary bishops failed to take action over the alleged sexual abuse of a minor. There has been a claim that the trio did not implement disciplinary measures or report the crime to police. A special court dealing […]
Read More...Fifty children saved as international paedophile ring busted
May 30, 2019 · By BBC News for www.bbc.com
Fifty children have been rescued and nine people arrested after an Interpol investigation into an international paedophile ring. The arrests were made in Thailand, Australia and the US and more are expected, Interpol said. The investigation began in 2017 and focused on a hidden “dark web” site with 63,000 users worldwide. Police believe 100 more […]
Read More...Will India’s ecumenical network beat clergy sex abuse?
May 29, 2019 · By Cynthia Stephen, Bangalore for www.ucanews.com
Early in April, when police in India filed rape charges against Bishop Franco Mulakkal of Jalandhar, he became the first bishop in history to face court proceedings for raping a Catholic nun. The charges were filed nine months after the nun complained to police of prolonged sexual abuse from the bishop, who also served as the patron […]
Read More...The Spiritual Wounds of Sexual Abuse
May 29, 2019 · By Hans Zollner SJ for laciviltacattolica.com
In a meeting with Pope Francis, a victim of sexual abuse said with profound sadness and desperation: “Jesus had his mother nearby when he faced suffering and death. But my mother, the Church, left me all alone in my time of pain.” These few words express the horror of abuse, especially the sexual abuse of […]
Read More...Impunity blamed for Bangladesh child rape surge
May 29, 2019 · By Stephan Uttom and Rock Ronald Rozario, Dhaka for www.ucanews.com
Bangladesh has seen an alarming recent rise in child rape and abuse cases, with rights activists blaming a weak justice system for creating a culture of impunity and negligence. At least 41 children were raped — 37 girls and four boys — from May 1-8, according to the Manusher Jonno Foundation (MJF), a Dhaka-based rights […]
Read More...Courage born out of injustice and grief
May 28, 2019 · By Edita T. Burgos, Manila for www.ucanews.com
Even in the most excruciating and treacherous situations, people do selflessly give of themselves. Isn’t this the most concrete proof that God is within us? We will never be short of “living” heroes from whom we can draw inspiration especially from this kind of vocation to which we have dedicated our lives, fighting for a […]
Read More...Myanmar cardinal steps up fight to stop dam
May 28, 2019 · By John Zaw, Mandalay for www.ucanews.com
Cardinal Charles Maung Bo of Yangon has made a passionate plea to all stakeholders to stop any effort to dam the Irrawaddy River. In a video message marking Myanmar’s New Year on April 17, he appealed to Myanmar and Chinese leaders not to resume the stalled Myitsone Dam project. “We are deeply concerned and worried. There are signs that extreme […]
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