Roman Catholic Church

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In this Feb. 9, 2019 photo, Monsignor Hector Lunar delivers his homily during a Mass in the Dulce Nombre de Jesus church, in the Petare slum of Caracas, Venezuela. Monsignor Hector Lunar, a beloved priest in one of Latin America's largest slums, has fallen under attack by loyalists of President Nicolas Maduro for using the pulpit to hold the embattled socialist leader responsible for suffering among his poor parishioners. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)

Priest under siege in battle over Venezuela’s political soul

By SCOTT SMITH - Associated Press

Pope Francis attends a penitential liturgy at the Vatican, Saturday, Feb. 23, 2019. The pontiff is hosting a four-day summit on preventing clergy sexual abuse, a high-stakes meeting designed to impress on Catholic bishops around the world that the problem is global and that there are consequences if they cover it up (Vincenzo Pinto/Pool Photo Via AP)

Pope vows to end abuse cover-ups but victims disappointed

By NICOLE WINFIELD - Associated Press

Pope Francis celebrates Mass at the Vatican, Sunday, Feb. 24, 2019. Pope Francis celebrated a final Mass to conclude his extraordinary summit of Catholic leaders summoned to Rome for a tutorial on preventing clergy sexual abuse and protecting children from predator priests. The Mass was celebrated Sunday in the Sala Regia, one of the grand, frescoed reception rooms of the Apostolic Palace. (Giuseppe Lami/Pool Photo via AP)

The Latest: Vatican City to get a child protection policy

Associated Press

Pope Francis celebrates Mass at the Vatican, Sunday, Feb. 24, 2019. Pope Francis celebrated a final Mass to conclude his extraordinary summit of Catholic leaders summoned to Rome for a tutorial on preventing clergy sexual abuse and protecting children from predator priests. The Mass was celebrated Sunday in the Sala Regia, one of the grand, frescoed reception rooms of the Apostolic Palace. (Giuseppe Lami/Pool Photo via AP)

The Latest: Victims disappointed by lack of concrete action

Associated Press

Pope Francis prays at the beginning of the third day of a Vatican's conference on dealing with sex abuse by priests, at the Vatican, Saturday, Feb. 23, 2019. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino, Pool)

Women take Catholic bishops to task at Vatican abuse summit

By NICOLE WINFIELD - Associated Press

FILE - In this Jan.7, 2019 file photo, cardinal Philippe Barbarin, center, takes his seat as he arrives at the Lyon courthouse with his lawyers : Jean-Felix Luciani, 2nd right, and Andre Soulier, right, to attend his trial, in Lyon, central France. Still coming to terms with their responsibility in the clerical sex abuse scandals that have rocked the Catholic church, French bishops have finally accepted the principle of awarding a financial compensation to victims in France. (AP Photo/Laurent Cipriani, File)

French bishops agree to compensation for sex abuse victims

By SAMUEL PETREQUIN - Associated Press

Pope Francis delivers his blessing during the Angelus noon prayer In St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, Sunday, Feb. 17, 2019. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

Sex abuse survivors to meet with Vatican summit organizers

By Nicole Winfield - Associated Press

FILE - In this April 23, 2002 file photo Cardinal Theodore McCarrick of the Archdiocese of Washington, waves as he arrives at the Vatican in a limousine. On Saturday, Feb. 16, 2019 the Vatican announced Pope Francis defrocked former U.S. Cardinal Theodore McCarrick after Vatican officials found him guilty of soliciting for sex while hearing Confession. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini, file)

McCarrick’s rise through church hierarchy began as altar boy

Associated Press

French writer Frederic Martel gestures during an interview with Associated Press, in Paris, Friday, Feb. 15, 2019. In the explosive book &quot;In the Closet of the Vatican&quot; author Frederic Martel describes a gay subculture at the Vatican and calls out the hypocrisy of Catholic bishops and cardinals who in public denounce homosexuality but in private lead double lives. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)

Bombshell book alleges a Vatican gay subculture, hypocrisy

By NICOLE WINFIELD and ANGELA CHARLTON - Associated Press

The local church stands in a state of disrepair, in Curahuara de Carangas, Bolivia, Saturday, Feb. 9, 2019. This four-century old church whose dazzling murals depicting biblical scenes and remote location high atop a Bolivian plateau have earned it the name the &quot;Sistine Chapel of the Andes.&quot; (AP Photo/Juan Karita)

Neglect, rain threatening ‘Sistine Chapel of the Andes’

By CARLOS VALDEZ - Associated Press

FILE - In this April 23, 2015 file photo, Chicago Archbishop Blase Cupich processes from Holy Name Cathedral following the funeral Mass of Cardinal Francis George in Chicago. The Chicago archbishop helping to organize next week's summit of the world's bishops at the Vatican says he expects it to make &quot;significant progress&quot; in responding to the sex abuse scandal that's riven the church. (Chris Walker/Chicago Tribune via AP, Pool, File)

Cardinal expects ‘significant progress’ at sex abuse summit

By JEFF KAROUB and NICOLE WINFIELD - Associated Press

Pope Francis delivers his message in the Paul VI hall on the occasion of his weekly general audience at the Vatican, Wednesday, Feb. 6, 2019. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

U.S. nuns urge changes to church structure to address sexual abuse

By Nicole Winfield - Associated Press

FILE- In this file photo from Oct. 17, 2018, survivors of child sexual abuse hug in the Pennsylvania Capitol in Harrisburg, Pa. while awaiting legislation to respond to a landmark state grand jury report on child sexual abuse in the Roman Catholic Church. Lawmakers have returned to the Pennsylvania Capitol for 2019 sessions, but they have yet to revisit a response to child sexual abuse scandals since the debate's late-night collapse that closed last year's final voting day. (AP Photo/Marc Levy, File)

Catholic priests should be allowed to marry

By Cheryl K. Chumley - The Washington Times

In this picture taken Sunday, Jan. 27, 2019, Pope Francis, flanked by Vatican spokesman Alessandro Gisotti, gestures to describe snobbish, hypocritical Catholics as he answers reporters' questions aboard the plane after taking off from Panama City. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino, Pool)

Pope reaffirms priest celibacy but makes case for exception

By NICOLE WINFIELD - Associated Press

In this Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2019 photo, Ken Eldridge works at a light table in St. Patricks glass studio in the Flynn building in downtown Fremont, Neb. On the table are drawings of doves and a banner that says &quot;Jesus, I trust in you.&quot; (Tammy Real-McKeighan/The Tribune via AP)

Artist creates Divine Mercy windows for Fremont church

By TAMMY REAL-MCKEIGHAN - Associated Press

Harvey-damaged Southeast Texas church reopens, rededicated

By HALEY BRUYN - Associated Press

FILE - This Nov. 7, 2018 file photo shows the residence and office of the Archbishop of Agana in Hagatna, Guam. Guam's Catholic Church has filed for bankruptcy, a move that will allow the archdiocese to avoid trial in dozens of child sexual abuse lawsuits and enter settlement negotiations. Ford Elsaesser, an attorney representing the church, says the Chapter 11 bankruptcy petition was filed Wednesday, Jan. 16, 2019 with federal court in Guam. The church faces multi-million dollar lawsuits for sexual abuse from about 190 accusers. (AP Photo/Grace Garces Bordallo, file)

Guam Catholic Church enters bankruptcy amid sex abuse claims

By GRACE GARCES BORDALLO - Associated Press

Supporters of spurned Congo opposition candidate Martin Fayulu gather to hear him speak, in Kinshasha, Friday, Jan. 11, 2019. Hundreds gathered to denounce what they called “the people’s stolen victory” in the presidential election. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay)

The Latest: Western nations asks Congo for election data

Associated Press

FILE - In this Dec. 30, 2018, file photo, ruling party presidential candidate Emmanuel Ramazani Shadary casts his vote in Kinshasa, Congo. Congo's electoral commission said Thursday, Jan. 10, 2019, opposition leader Felix Tshisekedi has won the presidential election as the vast country braces for possible protests over alleged rigging. Tshisekedi, who received more than 38 percent of votes, had not been widely considered the leading candidate. Some observers have suggested that President Joseph Kabila's government sought to make a deal as hopes faded for a win for ruling party candidate Emmanuel Ramazani Shadary. Shadary received more than 23 percent. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay, File)

The Latest: Police, military seen near Congo opposition area

By The Associated Press - Associated Press

German cardinal: Society hypocritical on church sex abuse

Associated Press