The idea is that the 114 heads of bishops’ conferences will return home with clear ideas on how to spot and deal with abuse

The pope has admitted that the Church had ‘delayed’ in applying the necessary sanctions

Catholic leaders from around the world will meet next week for a conference to combat child abuse which will include a penitential service.

Compulsory clerical celibacy rubbished by Christians outside the Catholic church.

Groups representing victims of clerical abuse expressed outrage this week after the pope criticised raids on the Catholic church by Belgian police.

Pope Benedict has appointed controversial retired archbishop of Westminster, Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O’Connor in sex abuse scandal case.

Joker in foreign office forces a grovelling official apology to a defensive Catholic Church.

The Vatican was forced into a climbdown after remarks by a senior cardinal linking homosexuality with paedophilia caused an international outcry.

A furious transatlantic row has erupted after a retired bishop suggested Jews were behind criticism of the Catholic church’s record on sex abuse.