/tags/pope-francis Pope Francis en-US Copyright Mon, 15 Mar 2021 14:05:00 GMT /news-partners/2021-03-15/vatican-says-catholic-church-cannot-bless-same-sex-marriages "The presence in such relationships of positive elements ... cannot justify these relationships and render them legitimate objects of an ecclesial blessing," the Vatican said Monday. Mon, 15 Mar 2021 14:05:00 GMT /news-partners/2021-03-15/vatican-says-catholic-church-cannot-bless-same-sex-marriages Bill Chappell /news-partners/2020-07-16/new-vatican-guidance-urges-clergy-to-report-cases-of-sexual-abuse A step-by-step manual for investigating and reporting sexual abuse cases involving clergy calls on church authorities to alert civilian officials even if not required to do so by law. Thu, 16 Jul 2020 20:24:11 GMT /news-partners/2020-07-16/new-vatican-guidance-urges-clergy-to-report-cases-of-sexual-abuse David Welna /wvxu-stories/2020-05-07/bishop-binzer-resigns-from-archdiocese-of-cincinnati Updated: 4:33 p.m. Pope Francis accepted the resignation Thursday of the auxiliary bishop of the Cincinnati Archdiocese. Bishop Joseph Binzer offered... Thu, 07 May 2020 12:03:27 GMT /wvxu-stories/2020-05-07/bishop-binzer-resigns-from-archdiocese-of-cincinnati Jay Hanselman /news-partners/2020-02-12/pope-francis-wont-allow-married-men-as-priests-women-as-deacons Bishops from the Amazon region had sought the changes to address a shortage of clergy. But some Roman Catholic conservatives warned that enacting them would lead to the end of clerical celibacy rules. Wed, 12 Feb 2020 14:21:56 GMT /news-partners/2020-02-12/pope-francis-wont-allow-married-men-as-priests-women-as-deacons Bill Chappell /news-partners/2020-01-13/in-new-book-retired-pope-benedict-breaks-silence-to-speak-out-on-priestly-celibacy The surprise move is seen as a rebuke to Pope Francis, who is weighing whether to allow older, married men to be ordained in some South American countries, where a shortage of priests is acute. Mon, 13 Jan 2020 09:43:00 GMT /news-partners/2020-01-13/in-new-book-retired-pope-benedict-breaks-silence-to-speak-out-on-priestly-celibacy Scott Neuman /news-partners/2019-12-17/pope-francis-ends-top-secret-status-for-sex-abuse-cases-promising-transparency The changes apply to cases of clergy committing violence or sexual assaults against anyone under their authority, as well as minors. The pope also changed rules about child pornography. Tue, 17 Dec 2019 17:27:56 GMT /news-partners/2019-12-17/pope-francis-ends-top-secret-status-for-sex-abuse-cases-promising-transparency Bill Chappell /news-partners/2019-05-09/pope-francis-issues-rules-requiring-priests-and-nuns-to-report-abuse The papal decree also sets up new procedures to hold more-senior church authorities such as bishops accountable for committing abuse or for covering up the crimes of others. Thu, 09 May 2019 16:20:06 GMT /news-partners/2019-05-09/pope-francis-issues-rules-requiring-priests-and-nuns-to-report-abuse Merrit Kennedy /news-partners/2019-02-24/pope-calls-for-all-out-battle-on-clergy-sex-abuse-with-few-specifics At the end of his four-day summit, Pope Francis called priests who had abused minors "instruments of Satan." But critics said his address did not offer a strong enough message against clergy abuse. Sun, 24 Feb 2019 17:07:28 GMT /news-partners/2019-02-24/pope-calls-for-all-out-battle-on-clergy-sex-abuse-with-few-specifics Francesca Paris /news-partners/2019-02-20/as-pope-holds-sex-abuse-summit-u-s-catholics-not-hopeful-for-bold-moves American Catholics have become disappointed as Pope Francis described the meeting as featuring "prayer and discernment" — hardly an ambitious vision for what could have been a momentous event. Wed, 20 Feb 2019 13:02:46 GMT /news-partners/2019-02-20/as-pope-holds-sex-abuse-summit-u-s-catholics-not-hopeful-for-bold-moves Tom Gjelten /news-partners/2018-12-21/pope-francis-tells-abusive-priests-and-bishops-to-turn-themselves-in Priests who sexually abuse children are like Judas Iscariot, the disciple who betrayed Jesus Christ, Pope Francis told a gathering of cardinals on Friday. Fri, 21 Dec 2018 15:06:37 GMT /news-partners/2018-12-21/pope-francis-tells-abusive-priests-and-bishops-to-turn-themselves-in Bill Chappell