Pope Francis Accepts Cardinal Wuerl's Resignation Cardinal Donald Wuerl, Archbishop of Washington, D.C., stood accused of being complicit in covering up years of sexual abuse by priests. NPR talks to Joshua McElwee of the National Catholic Reporter.
A 'Voice For The Voiceless': Sainthood For El Salvador's Archbishop Óscar Romero Romero was an outspoken champion of the poor who pleaded for social justice during a time of widespread violence. On Sunday, Romero will be canonized as a saint at the Vatican. Danny Hajek
Vatican's Meeting Of Bishops Is Overshadowed By Abuse Allegations The pope opened a three-week gathering of bishops as the Catholic Church deals with new revelations about sex-abuse claims against priests in the U.S., Germany, Chile and elsewhere. NPR Staff
Indonesians Attend Mass After Earthquake Kills More Than 1,700 The death toll continues to climb in Indonesia after an earthquake and tsunami struck nine days ago. Some people in the hardest-hit area went to church for Sunday services.
Pope Francis Defrocks Priest Fernando Karadima, A Notorious Abuser In Chile Karadima has been the face of the church's sex abuse scandal in Chile. In 2011, a Vatican tribunal found him guilty of sexually abusing dozens of minors. Bill Chappell
U.S. Leaders Of 'Lacerated' Catholic Church Meet Pope To Discuss Sex Abuse Crisis As Pope Francis grapples with a growing scandal, an accused bishop has resigned in West Virginia and a new study has emerged documenting the scale of clerical abuse in Germany. Amy Held
Catholic Clergyman Calls For Cardinal Wuerl To Resign NPR's Michel Martin asks James Garcia, a deacon at St. Matthew's Cathedral in Washington, D.C., to explain his open letter calling on Cardinal Donald Wuerl to resign.
New Jersey Launches Investigation Into Clergy Abuse In The State's Catholic Dioceses New Jersey Attorney General Gurbir Grewal speaks with NPR's Audie Cornish about his decision to establish a task force to investigate clergy sex abuse.
Pennsylvania Grand Jury Investigation Into Clergy Sex Abuse May Set New Precedent The failure of church authorities to police their own clergy has led lay Catholics and civil authorities to move on their own. After Pennsylvania, other state attorneys general have launched investigations. Tom Gjelten
The Legal Challenges In Investigating Church Abuse NPR's Scott Simon talks to David Soares, district attorney of Albany County, about the legal hurdles to investigating the Catholic Church and child sex abuse in New York state.