In South Korea, an embezzlement case involving the country’s largest church has fueled public debate online. Citizens, pointing out the Korean Protestant church’s corruption and its neglect of public duties, have even suggested lifting the tax exemption granted to churches. Korea is not a Christian nation, neither historically nor demographically, but the religion’s influence can be felt […]
Read MoreCatholic corruption and sex abuse allegations have made global headlines for years. Now a new film shines a spotlight on scandals at South Korea’s vast and politically powerful Protestant churches. South Koreans are enthusiastic religious believers, with 44 percent practising or considering themselves religious, according to state data. Protestants are the largest group, followed by […]
Read MoreThe Rise of Café Churches in South Korea How corruption scandals are driving young Christians away from megachurches—and conservative politics By Jason Strother The electronic keyboard and acoustic guitar kicked in as the junior minister opened this past Sunday’s service with a public prayer. He spoke in a rapid-fire cadence as the 20 members of the […]
Read MorePope Benedict XVI failed to act over complaints during the 1990s about a priest in the US who is thought to have abused some 200 deaf boys, victims say. As head of the Vatican office dealing with sex abuses, the then Cardinal Ratzinger allegedly did not respond to letters from an archbishop on the case. […]
Read MoreIn recent months allegations and admissions of child abuse by priests have shaken the Roman Catholic Church to its core, as a continuous stream of cases has surfaced across Western Europe and beyond. Experts say there is no evidence of a link between celibacy and abuse The Vatican has defended itself by suggesting this is […]
Read MorePope Benedict XVI says the clerical child abuse scandal shows that the greatest threat to Catholicism comes from “sin within” the Church. He made his comments in response to a question while en route to Portugal. Critics have previously accused the Vatican of attempting to blame the media and the Church’s opponents for the escalation […]
Read MoreCatholic church dragged into public works scandal that has sent shockwaves through Italian government Tom Kington in RomeSun 20 Jun 2010 22.24 BST A senior Vatican cardinal is under investigation for corruption, dragging the Catholic church into a public works scandal that has sent shockwaves through the Italian government. Italian media reported today that Cardinal Crescenzio […]
Read MoreThe Vatican’s handling of child abuse allegations has been called into question, following a senior cardinal’s suggestion of a link between homosexuality and paedophilia. Gerard O’Connell of the British Catholic newspaper The Universe says the Church’s attempts to defend itself often just cause more damage. Where is the Vatican’s media strategy going wrong? Pope Benedict […]
Read MoreFor the first time the Roman Catholic Church in Italy has admitted that about 100 cases of paedophile priests have been reported to church authorities during the past 10 years. But the Italian Catholic bishops’ conference refused to reveal how many priests in the country had subsequently been defrocked under canon law. It also did […]
Read MoreA high-profile former Roman Catholic priest in Italy has been charged with sexual abuse. Pierino Gelmini, 85, is alleged to have abused 12 young people at a drug rehabilitation centre he had founded. He denies the charges. Mr Gelmini left the priesthood two years ago to defend himself. The Comunita Incontro, which runs drug rehabilitation […]
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