Part II in a look at the problems facing falsely accused priests.

WASHINGTON — New allegations of clerical abuse have revived public outrage regarding weak oversight in U.S. chanceries, but there’s another related concern that worries priests: accused clerics denied due process by their own Church.

The explosive clergy sex abuse scandal and the U.S. hierarchy’s uphill struggle to regain credibility with the faithful and the public at large have resulted in pleas for forgiveness, promises of reform and financial settlements for thousands of victims.

But advocates for accused priests contend that the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishop’s “zero tolerance” policy has also spawned an unjust...READ MORE

CAIRO — Egyptian Christians and their friends abroad are anxiously waiting to see whether the fall of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak’s regime will benefit them or harm them.

Comprising roughly 10% of Egypt’s 84 million citizens, many Christians — the community includes an estimated 250,000 Catholics — actively took part in the demonstrations that ultimately led to the ouster of the longtime Egyptian leader.

Now that Mubarak is gone, it remains to be seen what kind of government will be formed in the coming months, and whether, as some predict, Islamic political parties will play a larger role in the future.

Christian leaders in Egypt say they are both hopeful and anxious about their...READ MORE

A scan on the radio dial at just about any time of the day will surface a handful of radio talk shows with hosts clamoring to be the voice of reason and to have the answers to solving problems of all types.

One host, however, is very confident that he truly does have something to offer as he unabashedly gives his Catholic take on today’s headline issues. His name is Allen Hunt, and his show, the Allen Hunt Show can be heard each weeknight on 150 stations across the nation.

His viewpoint wasn’t always Catholic, however. He recently sat down to talk about his conversion to the Catholic faith and how it has shaped his radio platform.

Tell me about your journey from Methodist pastor for...READ MORE

WASHINGTON —  In 2002, the U.S. bishops’ groundbreaking “zero tolerance” policy for clerical perpetrators won broad support, but the new era of aggressive accountability has made it tough for accused priests that have been cleared of abuse charges and seek to return to parish work.

Fresh allegations of abuse and curial negligence, incomplete media coverage of new and historical cases, the difficulty of establishing guilt, the drumbeat of outrage from victims’ rights groups, and ongoing financial settlements have led the public, and some Church leaders, to question whether any priest linked to a “credible allegation” — whatever the outcome of subsequent investigations — should be allowed...READ MORE

MIAMI — Pope John Paul II wrote his “Letter to Artists” in 1999 to encourage Catholic participation in the arts. One group of Miami filmmakers not only took him literally — they also named their film festival after him.

The John Paul II International Film Festival, which will be held Feb. 17-26 in Miami, is the brainchild of 7eventh Day Media, Inc., made up of husband-and-wife team filmmaker Frank William Brennan and actress Laura Alvarado, along with social worker Rafael Anrrich.

“At first, we planned to do something extremely local and purely Catholic,” said Alvarado, co-director of the 2011 festival. “Yet, with a name like John Paul II, we knew it couldn’t be strictly Catholic and we...READ MORE

Jim Towey is coming home.

The former head of the White House Office for Faith-Based and Community Initiatives and president of Saint Vincent College in Latrobe, Pa., has been named president and CEO of Ave Maria University in Naples, Fla.

Towey holds a bachelor’s degree from Florida State University and a Juris Doctor from Florida State University College of Law.

He starts July 1 and will succeed Nicholas Healy. Towey is also assuming the role of CEO, in the place of Ave Maria founder Tom Monaghan, who will continue as just the chancellor.

Towey, who once worked closely with Mother Teresa of Calcutta, spoke with Register senior writer Tim Drake from his office.

When and how did you...READ MORE

Bishop Salvatore Cordileone has been strongly involved in Californians’ efforts to preserve the definition of marriage as the union between one man and one woman.

Now, the bishop of Oakland, Calif., has become chairman of the U.S. Bishops’ Ad Hoc Committee for the Defense of Marriage, and he will be working to promote traditional marriage in the face of legislative efforts to legalize same-sex “marriage.”

“Marriage and the family are the essential coordinates for society,” he said when Archbishop Timothy Dolan, the bishops’ conference president, appointed him to the position Jan. 11. “How well we as a society protect and promote marriage and the family is the measure of how well we stand...READ MORE

Even after a late-term abortion procedure has been started, there’s still time to save the baby. In Chicago, the Pro-Life Action League and Resurrection Medical Center are shining a light on this little-known reality — and saving babies.

The ray of hope became stronger last July. Action League staffers Corrina Gura and Urszula Mihai, as usual, went on a Friday to pray outside Family Planning Associates, Albany Medical-Surgical Center, which performs abortions into the third trimester. A distressed woman walked up to them and said she wanted to reverse the three-day abortion procedure that had already started.

The young woman had tried calling a number of health clinics to reverse the...READ MORE