sexual abuse

As Catholic sex abuse scandals once again dominate headlines from Boston to Belgium, and even the fast-track canonization of Pope John Paul II is marred by questions of culpability, the role of the Catholic hierarchy in enabling clergy abuse seems indisputable, admitted even by die-hard church partisans like the Catholic League. But what’s less understood is how these same patterns persist in today’s Church, where demographic shifts and a dwindling priesthood may be creating a new set of scenarios for abuse. The story of Katia Birge is a case in point.

Mitchell’s manipulation of Mormonism, not mental illness, to blame.

The Orthodox Jewish community in the U.S. has treated allegations of sexual abuse with the same secrecy and refusal to include secular authorities as the Catholic Church. Now, however, more Orthodox abuse victims are coming forward than ever before.

RD’s weekly review, nearly as hoary as the Flying Spaghetti Monster.

… in our lifetime?

What happens when God’s “anointed” one claims victimhood.

Last week it was discovered that several powerful republicans at the heart of two sex scandals—Sens. John Ensign and Tom Coburn and Gov. Mark Sanford, among others—are members of The Family, reputed to be an “aggressively anti-democratic” Christian movement quietly steering us toward a “theocentric” state. Three scholars discuss The Family with the author. Sparks fly.

Self-styled “prophet” still faces other charges.

While Protestant churches like the Presbyterian Church USA have their annual gatherings in the summer, the institutional Roman Catholic Church, with no such meetings to worry about, uses the season to issue documents from on high. According to

Friending the Pope.