Response to Current News Events

Pope Francis’ Motu proprio, "Vos estis lux mundi", establishes new procedures for reporting abuse and violence, and ensures that Bishops and Religious Superiors are held accountable for their actions. It includes the obligation for clerics and religious to report abuse. Every Diocese must have a system that allows the public to submit reports easily. Read more.

The "Protection of Minors in the Church" Meeting, attended by presidents of the Bishops Conferences of the Catholic Church, will take place at the Vatican Feb. 21-24, 2019. The website, www.pbc2019.org, was established to be able to transparently and authentically follow the process of change and development, both during the meeting and thereafter.

Full text of this primer is available here. 
February 2019 - Version 3, December 2018 - Version 2, October 2018 - Version 1

September:
Priests who served in the Diocese of Lafayette-in-Indiana with Substantiated Allegations of Sexual Misconduct with Minors
U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' Administrative Committee Statement on Sex Abuse Scandals
Bishop Doherty's Statement from Sept. 16, 2018 edition of the Catholic Moment
Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend releases statement regarding conclusion of DA investigation
Conversation with Cardinal Dolan: September 11, 2018
Bishop Doherty's Message in The Catholic Moment: Sept. 3, 2018

August:
Archbishop McCarrick; the Pennsylvania Report, August 5, 2018
Joint Response to Pennsylvania Grand Jury
President of U.S. Bishops' Conference Announces Effort, August 16, 2018
Bishop Doherty's Message to the Diocese: August 16, 2018
Letter of His Holiness Pope Francis to the People of God, August 20, 2018
Watch Bishop Doherty on CNN, August 17, 2018
President of U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops Renews Commitment