Abuse survivor Juan Carlos Cruz recalls a "crazy year" — traveling with other survivors to the Vatican, receiving Francis' apology face-to-face, and more — at SNAP's annual conference in Chicago.
Pope Francis has accepted the resignation of two more Chilean Catholic bishops, bringing to five the number of prelates he has replaced so far as part of the continuing fallout of the country's clergy sexual abuse crisis.
After meeting with Pope Francis for more than four hours, a Chilean priest who suffered abuse and a priest who ministers to survivors said they felt comforted and hopeful for the church's future.
Grace on the Margins: In the face of spiritual harm, loss of work and civil rights, and physical violence endured by LGBTQ persons, are Francis' words to Juan Carlos Cruz adequate?
Pope Francis admitted in a May 31 letter to the people of Chile that clergy sexual abuse has continued because church leaders have not taken victims seriously.
The Vatican announced Pope Francis will soon be sending a letter to "all the People of God" of Chile, in what appears to be a sign that the pope has made a decision about whether to accept the resignations of the country's bishops over their mishandling of clergy sexual abuse.
We say: It's time to revisit the pope's 2015 proposal to establish a tribunal that would hold responsible bishops and religious superiors who mishandle cases of clergy sex abuse.
