Archbishop "shocked at the level" of church child sex abuse, years before inquiry

The Archbishop of Canterbury says the findings of an inquiry into child sexual abuse within the Church of England are “shameful and disgraceful” but not a surprise as he had known about the level and extent of abuse since taking up the post seven years ago.

Pope vetoes married priests

Pope Francis, in one of the most significant decisions of his papacy, has dismissed a proposal to allow some married men to be ordained in the Amazon region to ease an acute scarcity of priests.

Victoria next state to compel priests to report confessed child sex abuse

Victoria is joining South Australia, Tasmania and Western Australia in moving to introduce laws to force priests to report child sex abuse revealed to them during the sacrament of confession.