Rappler's latest stories on Catholic church
Vatican lifts envoy's immunity over sex assault claims – France
Luigi Ventura, 74, faces 4 complaints of sexual abuse – including that he molested a junior official at the Paris town hall
French priest at heart of church abuse scandal defrocked
The allegations against priest Bernard Preynat sparked the biggest crisis in the French church in decades, drawing in its most influential cleric, Cardinal Philippe Barbarin
Pampanga priest accused of abusing 17-year-old girl
'Ecclesiastical investigation is ongoing,' says San Fernando Archbishop Florentino Lavarias
[OPINION] Understanding separation of Church and state
Its misunderstanding can be used to silence the Church
Why Filipinos believe Duterte was 'appointed by God'
It's rooted in the Filipino view of God as 'Punisher' – like Rodrigo Duterte
Paris' Notre-Dame to celebrate first mass after fire
It will take place on June 15 in the Chapel of the Virgin on the east side of the cathedral behind the choir, which has been confirmed to be safe
Vatican moves to counter gender theory in education
The Church is trying to promote 'dialogue on the question of gender in education,' Milan's Gonzague Institute professor Roberto Zappala says in a statement
Pope accepts resignation of Brazilian bishop – Vatican
The bishop is under investigation for alleged extortion of priests in his diocese, and the covering-up of sexual abuse cases, according to Brazilian media reports
U.S. Catholic dioceses announce abuse 'compensation program'
The program by the 6 California dioceses will be managed by two independent monitors who have handled similar programs in New York and Pennsylvania, the Catholic archbishop of Los Angeles Jose Gomez says
U.S. Catholic abuse victims sue to open Vatican archives
The group wants Vatican to release 'all identities of thousands of offenders known exlusively and held in strict secrecy'
Gunmen kill 6 in Burkina Faso Catholic Church
The attackers set fire to the church, several shops and a small cafe before heading to the local health center
Pope changes Church law to make reporting sex abuse obligatory
Every diocese in the world will now be obliged to have a system for the reporting of abuse, under a new law published by the Vatican – but the requirement will not apply to secrets revealed to priests in the confessional
Sri Lanka Catholic schools to reopen after attacks
All state-run schools – more than 10,000 in total – have resumed classes on Monday, May 6, after police and security forces deployed armed guards
Rappler Talk: Will religious endorsements work in 2019 polls?
Rappler talks to sociologist of religion Jayeel Cornelio about religious endorsements – in the time of the President who said God is stupid
Film on Catholic priests using nuns as 'sex slaves' pulled
The documentary 'Sex Slaves in the Catholic Church' has been pulled from the channel Arte, following a complaint by a priest
Sri Lanka Catholics to resume mass 2 weeks after attacks
'But we will start with a smaller number of masses and see if we can slowly increase it depending on how the situation develops,' says Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith
East Timor: police arrest ex-priest for sexually abusing girls in his orphanage
'A list with the names of the girls was on his door, so we knew when it was our turn...It happened every day, during his afternoon naps and the night,' says one victim
[OPINION] The folly of religious endorsements
Our politics is thoroughly personality-driven. When religious leaders throw their support behind certain candidates, they inevitably echo the divide according to existing political loyalties.
Priest stabbed during mass at Canada's biggest church
The suspect is arrested at the Roman Catholic basilica shortly after the attack in front of 50 people and a television audience, while priest Claude Grou is taken to hospital
Convicted French cardinal expected to resign at meeting with pope
(UPDATED) The Argentine pontiff could take several weeks to decide whether to accept the resignation
[OPINION] An open letter to President Duterte
'Just as you take seriously your duty to protect the country, priests are earnestly committed to defending the Word of God,' students tell President Rodrigo Duterte
When the Catholic Church flexes political muscles
Here's a look at the times when Catholic bishops and priests took sides in Philippine politics
Convicted French cardinal Barbarin to meet Pope Francis
Pope Francis will grant the 68-year-old archbishop of Lyon a private audience at 10 am Monday, March 18
Duterte vs the Church: Do the times call for a Catholic vote?
A viral video of Archbishop Socrates Villegas fuels hopes that more bishops will openly – though indirectly – campaign against President Rodrigo Duterte's bets
Bataan bishop scraps fees for funeral Masses
This is the latest in a growing trend in the Philippine Catholic Church to scrap the arancel system, or the practice of imposing taxes on 'free' church services
Otso Diretso to Duterte: 'Stop fueling fire of persecution vs Church'
The opposition senatorial bets argue that President Rodrigo Duterte's tirades against the Catholic Church are emboldening some to threaten members of the clergy
[EDITORIAL] #AnimatED: Tinig sa karimlan ang simbahan
Batid ng mga pari na hindi lamang ito atake sa ating pampulitikang institusyon – atake rin ito sa ating moralidad, dignidad, at espiritwal na buhay
French cardinal convicted over sex abuse cover-up
(UPDATED) 'I have decided to go to see the Holy Father to hand him my resignation. He will receive me in a few days' time,' Cardinal Philippe Barbarin says after the verdict
Vatican to open archives of WWII pope Pius XII in 2020
Researchers have long sought to examine the archives over why Pius XII did not intervene more against the Holocaust perpetrated by the German Nazis
France urges Vatican to act after envoy charged with sex abuse
'I am waiting for the Holy See to assume its responsibilities,' French European Minister Nathalie Loiseau says when asked if Luigi Ventura should see his diplomatic immunity lifted
Vatican to open probe into Cardinal Pell over child sex abuse
The investigation could result in a canonical trial and George Pell's eventual expulsion from the priesthood
Vatican has 'utmost respect' for justice after Pell conviction
Cardinal George Pell, one of Pope Francis' closest advisers, has been found guilty of sexually assaulting two choirboys, becoming the most senior Catholic cleric ever convicted of child sex crimes
Priests should be allowed to marry, says Duterte
President Rodrigo Duterte says 'even the gay ones' among priests should be allowed to have same-sex marriage
Pope calls child sex abuse like 'human sacrifice,' vows 'all-out battle'
But some victims are not convinced, saying that Pope Francis talks about the devil but not 'permanently excluding child rapists and abusers' from the Catholic Church
Overturned statue of accused Polish priest restored
Polish authorities charge 3 activists for overturning the statue of Polish priest Henryk Jankowski who is facing long-standing accusations of pedophilia
The week in photos: February 16-22, 2019
This week's selection of photo highlights here and around the world
Cardinal admits Church files on pedophile priests 'destroyed'
'Files that could have documented the terrible deeds and named those responsible were destroyed, or not even created,' German Cardinal Reinhard Marx told a landmark Vatican summit on tackling pedophilia in the clergy
Cardinal calls for global recognition of sex abuse in Catholic Church
'The entire Church must take an honest look, undertake rigorous discernment, and then act decisively,' says Indian Cardinal Oswald Gracias
Cardinal Tagle at sex abuse summit: Bishops wound victims
At a historic Vatican summit on sex abuse, Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle hits a culture of cover-up 'to protect perpetrators and the institution'
'Concrete measures' on sex abuse needed, pope tells Vatican summit
(UPDATED) 'We humbly and sorrowfully admit that wounds have been inflicted by us bishops on the victims and in fact the entire body of Christ,' Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle tells the assembly
Duterte hits Church ahead of sex abuse summit
'The Pope is now calling for a summit to address this particular problem because 4 out of 5, sabi ng Rome, ang pari bakla,' says President Rodrigo Duterte
Spanish victims of sexually abusive priests speak out
The heads of around 100 bishops' conferences from every continent will convene from February 21 to February 24 for the Vatican meeting on the protection of minors
Sex abuse survivors spell out Catholic Church challenge
Victims' groups lay out demands as the Vatican is set to hold a global child abuse summit
Vatican defrocks former U.S. cardinal over sex abuse claims
(UPDATED) Theodore McCarrick is the first cardinal ever to be defrocked for sex abuse
France probes sexual assault claim against Vatican envoy
The envoy, 74-year-old Luigi Ventura, is accused of molesting a man at the Paris townhall on January 17 when Mayor Anne Hidalgo gave a New Year's address to diplomats, religious leaders, and civil society figures
Pope admits priests, bishops sexually abused nuns
Pope Francis says the problem can be found 'anywhere' but is prevalent in 'some new congregations and in some regions'
Who were targets of disinformation in 2018?
The Aquinos, the Catholic Church, and critics of Marcos and Martial Law, are the top targets of disinformation in the 133 claims that Rappler fact-checked in 2018
Pope says priest celibacy not 'optional'
'Personally I think that celibacy is a gift to the Church. Secondly, I don't think optional celibacy should be allowed. No,' says Pope Francis
'Hindi na tayo tatahimik': Religious groups unite vs injustice, Duterte attack on Church
'Hindi na tayo tatahimik at hindi lang manindigan kundi sama-sama tayong manindigan,' says Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo
'We exist' LGBT say in message to pope in Panama
"Together as a community, we are saying: We are here," says a 21-year-old protestor
