Priests' sexual abuse – News, Research and Analysis – The Conversation

September 30, 2022

‘A long way to go’: Catholic women call for wide-ranging church reforms in new international survey

Kathleen McPhillips, University of Newcastle and Tracy McEwan, University of Newcastle

A substantial majority were concerned about the prevalence of abuse, racism, and sexism in church contexts, and many raised issues relating to transparency and accountability.

Margareta, head of the women’s community at Lippoldsberg (in modern-day Germany) clasps hands with an Augustinian monk as he hands her a book. Lippoldsberg Evangeliary. Kassel, Landesbibliothek, MS theol. 2o 59, f. 73v.

March 21, 2019

Nuns were secluded to avoid scandals in early Christian monastic communities

Alison I. Beach, The Ohio State University and Maria Chiara Giorda, Roma Tre University

Pope Francis recently confirmed that clergy members abused nuns. Since the early days of monasticism, the presence of nuns led to restrictions that limited contact between men and women.

Pope Francis speaking to cardinals Dec. 21, 2018 at the Vatican. Filippo Monteforte/AP Pool

January 16, 2019

Why victims of Catholic priests need to hear more than confessions

Joan M. Cook, Yale University and Jennifer J. Freyd, University of Oregon

Sex abuse by Catholic priests may be as devastating in many cases as sex abuse by a family member because of institutional betrayal, two trauma psychologists write. It calls for special measures.

Pennsylvania grand jury accused Cardinal Wuerl of helping to protect abusive priests when he was Pittsburgh’s bishop. AP Photo/Kevin Wolf

August 23, 2018

For some Catholics, it is demons that taunt priests with sexual desire

Elizabeth McAlister, Wesleyan University

While many American Catholics believe demons and exorcism to be part of a distant past, an expert explains how beliefs that sexual desires could be part of demonic temptation still persist.

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