The sexual abuse trial of Piero Alfio Capuana, the lay leader of the 5,000-member Catholic Culture and Environment Association, began in this small Sicilian city on Tuesday (Sept. 15), three years after the abuse allegedly took place.

A new law requires priests in the state of Queensland to break the seal of confession to report child sex abuse to police or face three years in jail.

Pope Francis accepted the resignation of Michel Mulloy, the bishop elect of Duluth following an investigation.

Strong laws and codes of conduct for law enforcement officers already exist, but mechanisms for oversight and accountability are needed, writes Kathleen McChesney.

A class-action lawsuit against the Archdiocese of Vancouver charges that it failed to protect parishioners from clerical sexual abuse.

Victims had suffered additional pain from the way they were treated by leaders and other members of orders. “We deeply regret this and acknowledge our failure once again,” a representative for the German church said.