Author – The Durango Herald

Chile church sex abuse whistleblower from pariah to VIP

VATICAN CITY – The key whistleblower in Chile’s clerical sex abuse scandal has arrived in Rome for his audience with Pope Francis and said Tuesday he will urge the pope to get rid of the “to...

DATE: Apr 24, 2018 | CATEGORY: Religion

Pope seeks ‘saints next door’ not doctrinaire perfectionists

VATICAN CITY – Pope Francis is calling for ordinary Catholics to live holy lives in whatever they do, stressing that the “saints next door” are more pleasing to God than religious elites who...

DATE: Apr 15, 2018 | CATEGORY: Religion

Vatican bows to pressure, releases retired pope’s letter

VATICAN CITY – Stung by accusations of spreading “fake news,” the Vatican on Saturday released the complete letter by Emeritus Pope Benedict XVI about Pope Francis after coming under blister...

DATE: Mar 19, 2018 | CATEGORY: Religion

Vatican doctors photo of Benedict’s praise for Francis

VATICAN CITY – The Vatican admitted Wednesday that it altered a photo sent to the media of a letter from retired Pope Benedict XVI about Pope Francis. The manipulation changed the meaning of...

DATE: Mar 14, 2018 | CATEGORY: Religion

Francis marks 5 years as pope amid love, disenchantment

VATICAN CITY – Pope Francis marked his fifth anniversary as pope Tuesday by receiving votes of confidence from his predecessor and current Vatican No. 2, even as surveys showed his reform-mi...

DATE: Mar 13, 2018 | CATEGORY: Religion

Pope revives lapsed sex abuse commission amid skepticism

VATICAN CITY – Pope Francis revived his lapsed sex abuse advisory commission by naming new members Saturday, after coming under fire for his overall handling of the scandal and his support f...

DATE: Feb 19, 2018 | CATEGORY: Religion

Church expert: #Metoo, Chile bishop scandal a wake-up call

VATICAN CITY (AP) – The #MeToo movement and the controversy over a Chilean bishop show the need for a broader response to “the abuse of power and conscience,” the head of the Catholic Church...

DATE: Feb 12, 2018 | CATEGORY: Religion

Pope sends sex crimes expert to Chile to investigate bishop

VATICAN CITY – Pope Francis is sending the Vatican’s most respected sex crimes expert to Chile to investigate a bishop accused by victims of covering up for the country’s most notorious pedo...

DATE: Jan 30, 2018 | CATEGORY: Religion

Pope apologizes to abuse victims, but defends Chilean bishop

ABOARD THE PAPAL PLANE – Pope Francis apologized for insisting that victims of pedophile priests show “proof” to be believed, saying he realized it was a “slap in the face” to victims that h...

DATE: Jan 23, 2018 | CATEGORY: Religion

Vatican issues new rules for relics in saint-making process

VATICAN CITY – The Vatican’s saint-making office has updated its rules governing the use of relics for would-be saints, issuing detailed new guidelines Saturday that govern how body parts an...

DATE: Dec 19, 2017 | CATEGORY: Religion

Vatican defends pope against criticism over Rohingya stance

YANGON, Myanmar – The Vatican on Wednesday defended Pope Francis after human rights groups expressed disappointment that he didn’t publicly acknowledge the plight of Rohingya Muslims, who ha...

DATE: Nov 29, 2017 | CATEGORY: Religion

Pope demands rights for all in Myanmar, omits ‘Rohingya’

NAYPYITAW, Myanmar – Pope Francis insisted Tuesday that Myanmar’s future depends on respecting the rights of each ethnic group, an indirect show of support for Rohingya Muslims who have been...

DATE: Nov 28, 2017 | CATEGORY: Religion