Father Malone interviewed Mr. Douthat about what was needed from the Vatican and how Catholics can maintain their faith in light of all the news about abuse in the church this summer.

Dallas Bishop Edward J. Burns has asked Pope Francis for an extraordinary synod to address issues in the latest Catholic clergy sex abuse crisis, including "abuse of power, clericalism, accountability and the understanding of transparency in the church."

Australia's Catholic bishops and religious orders, responding to recommendations from the Royal Commission Into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, accepted 98 percent of its suggestions, but said they could not accept recommendations that would violate the seal of confession.

Washington Cardinal Donald W. Wuerl asked the priests in his archdiocese to accept his "contrition for any suffering I have caused, as well as the grace to find, with you, ways of healing, ways of offering fruitful guidance in this darkness."

In the Vatican there are feelings of “bitter disappointment” and “restlessness.”

Where does this extreme hatred of gay priests come from? It comes from fear.