The Latest Breaking News from Church

Spain's public prosecutor has ordered regional offices to look into all ongoing judicial investigations into the sexual abuse of minors by the Catholic Church, while parliament took a first step towards potentially opening its own investigation.

Spain's government handed over a list of almost 1,000 properties claimed by the Catholic Church on contested legal grounds to a federation of local authorities on Thursday, taking a first step towards resolving long-running feuds over ownership.

From Bixler v. Superior Court, decided Wednesday by the California Court of Appeal (Justices Laurence Rubin, Carl Moor, and Lamar Baker): Petitioners … are former members of the Church of Scientology who reported to the police that another Church member [Daniel Masterson] had raped them. They allege that, in retaliation…

Conservatives on Friday defended former Pope Benedict against charges of mishandling sexual abuse cases decades ago, but victim groups and experts said the findings of a German report had tarnished the legacy of one of Catholicism's most renowned theologians.

The Vatican has given space on its website to a Catholic group that demands the ordination of women priests during consultations ahead of a key meeting next year.

William and Kate visited Church on the Street in Burnley, Lancashire, a centre that helps disadvantaged people.

Prayers will be said for Bernadette in St Cronan's Church on Brackenstown Road tomorrow evening, to "bring her home to her loving family"

This venerable institution, its bureaucracy swollen and its image hurt by scandal, is strapped for cash. Pope John Paul II is pressing his cardinals to find a solution.