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Now playing Next Vatican Pope Francis's decade-long vision for the Church is finally realised in new Constitution On the 5th of June, the new Apostolic Constitution will enter into effect: for the first time, lay persons, including women, will be able to preside over the ministers of the Roman Curia. 03/06/2022
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Now playing Next Portugal More than 200 allegations of sex abuse in Portuguese Catholic Church An independent committee was set up in January to examine historical sex abuse. 10/02/2022
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Now playing Next Portugal Portugal's Catholic Church plans committee to probe child sex abuse Leading Portuguese Catholics, including politicians and writers, had urged bishops to create a fully independent committee to investigate possible historic abuse. 12/11/2021
Now playing Next France French Catholic Church agrees to compensate victims of child sex abuse A damming report last month estimated that around 330,000 children were sexually abused over 70 years by priests or other church-related figures. 08/11/2021
Now playing Next France French bishops pray for forgiveness for 'massive phenomenon' of abuse Bishops in the holy town of Lourdes prayed on their knees in a penitential gesture to ask god for forgiveness for sexual abuse in the Catholic church. 06/11/2021
Now playing Next No Comment French bishops kneel to ask forgiveness for sexual abuse Bishops gathered in Lourdes pray on their knees on the esplanade of the Rosary Basilica in a penitential gesture to ask God for forgiveness for sexual abuse in the Catholic church 06/11/2021
Now playing Next Vatican Vatican prosecutor seeks prison for priest in abuse trial The case is the first to go to trial alleging sexual abuse within the Vatican's walls. 16/07/2021
Now playing Next Vatican Vatican: Senior figures downplayed reports about ex-Cardinal McCarrick A Vatican investigation into ex-Cardinal Theodore McCarrick has found that a series of bishops, cardinals and popes downplayed or dismissed reports that he slept with seminarians. 10/11/2020
Now playing Next Vatican Ex-Vatican envoy faces sexual abuse charge in French court The Vatican’s former ambassador to France went on trial Tuesday for alleged sexual misconduct. 10/11/2020
Now playing Next France Barbarin appeals conviction in Catholic Church sex abuse case Barbarin appeals conviction in Catholic Church sex abuse case 28/11/2019