🤷🏻‍♀️ Are The Feds Still Investigating Southern Baptist Sex Abuse? That's A Good Question 🔌

This week’s Weekend Plug-in delves into reports the U.S. Justice Department has ended its investigation of Southern Baptist sex abuse. Plus, as always, catch up on all the best reads and top headlines in the world of faith.

Weekend Plug-In, Analysis, Religion, Religion News, OpinionBobby Ross Jr.March 8, 2024Bobby Ross Jr., Southern Baptist Convention, Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee, Southern Baptist sex abuse, sex abuse investigation, sex abuse, Clergy sex abuse

South Africa And The Legacy Of Jackrollers

The gangsterism style of rape dwindled when South Africa gained its freedom on April 27, 1994. Yet, rape is coming to a rise in a different dimension. Many homes are affected by fathers and brothers who are victimizing and raping their own wives, mothers, daughters and sisters. What is now appalling is the reported recurring incidents of rapes that women and children suffer at the hands of some of the clergy.

The Dalai Lama ‘Incident’: How Not To Respond To A Troubling Sexual Situation With A Child

(OPINION) In education circles, an incident like the Dalai Lama asking a boy to suck his tongue is often called a teachable moment. But the real lessons to be learned from this video could be titled “How NOT to respond to possible child sexual abuse” Or “How NOT to respond to a troubling sexual situation with a child.”

Opinion, Analysis, Asia, Buddhism, Human RightsDavid ClohessyApril 25, 2023David Clohessy, Dalai Lama, Sexual abuse, Child abuse, Buddhism, Clergy sex abuse, Suck my tongue, Inappropriate behavior Comments

‘May God Heal Their Little Hearts, Their Little Souls’: Prayer And Lament In Uvalde

This week’s Weekend Plug-in opens with the school shooting in Uvalde, Texas, that claimed the lives of 19 children and two teachers, along with the gunman. Plus, as always, catch up on all the best reads and top headlines in the world of faith.

Weekend Plug-In, Analysis, Religion, Religion News, OpinionBobby Ross Jr.May 27, 2022Bobby Ross Jr., Uvalde, Uvalde school shooting, Robb Elementary School, Texas, guns, God and guns, mass shootings, Buffalo, Southern Baptists, Southern Baptist Convention, sex abuse, Clergy sex abuse

Pastors Charged with Child Sex Crimes Scar Victims, Shock Congregations

Nearly a dozen pastors and church workers in Florida and elsewhere have been charged with possessing child pornography and/or other sex crimes against children in recent months.

McCarrick report: Vatican hierarchy downplayed past sex abuse reports

A long-awaited Vatican probe into ex-Cardinal Theodore McCarrick found that many in the Catholic hierarchy — starting with Pope John Paul II — continuously turned a blind eye to a series of red flags that he’d sexually abused children and seminarians.

News, North America, ReligionClemente LisiNovember 10, 2020Clemente Lisi, Vatican, Pope John Paul II, Pope Benedict XVI, Pope Francis, Theodore McCarrick, Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano, Clergy sex abuse, Rome, Washington, Primary Feature, sexual abuseComment

Papal slap ushers in a busy 2020 on the Catholic beat

(OPINION) This time of year brings with it pieces looking back on the biggest stories of the year. It’s also a time to look ahead. The coming year will certainly be a busy one once again for journalists who cover Catholicism, Pope Francis and the church’s hierarchy.

Collection of essays aim to explore the philosophy behind Francis' papacy

(BOOK REVIEW) Discovering Pope Francis is in a way an opportunity for fans of this papacy to defend him. It also tries to lay out common ground between those who may be liberal or conservative politically, but also Roman Catholic.

Europe, Politics, Religion, Books, Culture, OpinionClemente LisiOctober 30, 2019Christianity, Catholic church, Clemente Lisi, Vatican, Pope Francis, Clergy sex abuse, evangelicalsComment

Cardinal Robert Sarah’s new book puts the spotlight on what ails the modern world

(BOOK REVIEW) Cardinal Robert Sarah’s new book examines the spiritual decline of the West amid scandals in the Catholic Church and secularization. He’s hopeful prayer can reverse the trend.

Africa, Books, Europe, North America, Religion, Religious Equality, Society, Culture, OpinionClemente LisiSeptember 25, 2019Clemente Lisi, Pope Francis, Pope Benedict XVI, religious freedom, Clergy sex abuse, clergy marriages, ChristianityComment

Back to School: Don't forget Catholicism and education coverage

(OPINION) It’s back to school time, but media coverage of Catholic schools — unless there’s a scandal — is lacking. Given that some Catholic schools in low-income neighborhoods outperforming public schools, private religious schools deserve more coverage.

North America, Opinion, Politics, Religion, Religion News, SocietyClemente LisiSeptember 5, 2019Catholic, Christianity, Catholic schools, Clemente Lisi, religion, religion reporting, religious liberty, witches, homosexuality, Clergy sex abuse Comments

Keep McCarrick in the news by educating readers

(COMMENTARY) On the one-year anniversary of the revelations that exposed the past misdeeds of Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, the story doesn’t look like it is subsiding anytime soon.

Analysis, North America, Politics, Opinion, ReligionClemente LisiJune 19, 2019Christianity, Catholic church, Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano, Clemente Lisi, Clergy sex abuse, Primary Feature, Secondary Feature

Pope vs. populists: European election results highlight Catholic divisions

(NEWS ANALYSIS) Never shy about brandishing a rosary or invoking God’s help, Italy’s Matteo Salvini has provided voters in the recent European elections with an alternative to Pope Francis’ pro-migrant stance and the church’s traditional social teachings.

Pope Francis' decree on sex abuse reporting ignores role of lay Catholics

(COMMENTARY) The attempt by Pope Francis to finally create some accountability and transparency is well intentioned, although misguided given that it largely ignores the role of laypeople and relies primarily on clergy self-policing.

Analysis, Primary Feature, Religion, OpinionClemente LisiMay 10, 2019Roman Catholic, Christianity, Clergy sex abuse, pope francis, Clemente Lisi, Primary Feature, primary feature, Secondary Feature, Sexual Abuse

Journalists often fail to see the 'outrage' in anti-Catholic comedy

(COMMENTARY) At a time when humor is struggling with political correctness and fallout from the #MeToo movement, there’s little material for late-night hosts and stand-up comedians to work with. However, the people you’re allowed to pick on (at least from the material you see on TV) are Christians across all denominations.

Analysis, Film & TV, North America, Politics, Religion, Society, Culture, OpinionClemente LisiMay 9, 2019Roman Catholic, Christianity, Clergy sex abuse, clergy, Clemente Lisi

Pope Benedict and Cardinal Sarah provide leadership in the age of Francis

(COMMENTARY) Again, it was conservative Catholic media that proved to be the preferred mouthpiece for Cardinal Robert Sarah and Pope Emeritus Pope Benedict XVI over the past week. Both men — with help from right-leaning news organizations — have been very vocal about the problems plaguing the church.

Ongoing questions linger on who knew what and when regarding McCarrick

(COMMENTARY) The big story remains who knew what and when. Who’s implicated in potentially covering up the misdeeds of now-former Cardinal Theodore McCarrick over the years? The implication here is that the cover-up — if that’s the word you want to use — goes beyond Pope Francis, but back in time years to when Saint Pope John Paul II was the head of the Roman Catholic church.

Analysis, Europe, North America, Politics, Religion, OpinionClemente LisiMarch 22, 2019Roman Catholic, Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano, Theodore McCarrick, Pope John Paul II, Pope Francis, Clergy sex abuse, Clemente Lisi, Secondary Feature, Christianity

Big trend piece to consider: Could the Catholic church in New York file for bankruptcy?

(COMMENTARY) Whether Cardinal George Pell of Australia was found guilty because of anti-Catholic bias is one theory, but the overall takeaway here — editors and reporters take note — is that this case may serve as a bellwether of more to come.