Michael Warren Davis, Author at Catholic Herald

Michael Warren Davis

August 23, 2018

The Archbishop of Washington’s public relations strategy backfires Six dioceses, 300 priests and 1,000 victims. Those numbers were splashed across the front pages of every newspaper in America, from the New York Times to the Bangor Daily News. The publication of a Pennsylvania grand jury report chronicling clerical sex abuse and episcopal cover-ups in that

Abuse crisis: Only the beginning

August 16, 2018

As more allegations emerge in the US, bishops clash over the shape of a future inquiry Cardinal Donald Wuerl succeeded Theodore McCarrick as the Archbishop of Washington in 2006. Now that multiple allegations have been made of his predecessor’s “misconduct” with seminarians and young priests, Cardinal Wuerl is expected to lead efforts to prevent further

Religious freedom: Travel ban

August 09, 2018

A ban on adverts from religious groups on public transport in DC has been upheld Last Tuesday, the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit ruled that the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) had the right to ban advertisements on buses and trains from religious organisations, even if the adverts themselves are

US abuse scandal: An unprecedented move

August 09, 2018

The names of 71 accused clergy have been released by their bishop On Thursday, Bishop Ronald Gainer of Harrisburg released a list of 71 clergy – some living, some dead – who were accused of sexual abuse. He also ordered that the names of former diocesan bishops be removed from buildings, halls, and rooms honouring

McCarrick scandal: O’Malley’s new challenge

August 02, 2018

The cardinal’s formidable record on abuse is being tested In 2014, Pope Francis chose Cardinal Seán O’Malley of Boston to head the new Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors, the Holy Father’s top council of advisors on the sexual abuse of minors by members of the clergy. When reports began piling up that Theodore

Dallas Charter: Back to the drawing board

July 26, 2018

Do the current child protection norms need a radical overhaul? The scandal of Cardinal Theodore McCarrick’s alleged abuse has just become even more disturbing. The original allegations were made by men who were adults, or at least not pre-pubescent, at the time. A sexually active priest with a taste for younger men is detestable, but

Cardinal O’Malley condemns McCarrick’s ‘morally unacceptable’ alleged behaviour

July 25, 2018

The Church needs a strong policy to deal with bishops who break the vow of celibacy, Cardinal O'Malley said

United States: Courtroom drama

July 19, 2018

Is Brett Kavanaugh the man who will finally bring down Roe? “Vibrant” is a curious way to describe the Catholic community in Washington DC. To be sure, the Masses draw extremes. On most Sundays, the pews are filled by politicians, staffers, lobbyists and other middle-class transplants. Grey suits and wire-framed glasses abound. At the same

United States: Wonder woman

July 12, 2018

The Cause of an Ohio mystic is heading to Rome Last Friday the Diocese of Youngstown, Ohio, closed its two-year investigation into the Cause for canonisation of Rhoda Wise. Plagued by ill health throughout her life, Wise experienced several miraculous healings following her conversion to Catholicism in 1939. She was a mystic, and had visions

Supreme Court: Legally bland

July 12, 2018

Why Trump picked Brett Kavanaugh over ‘folk hero’ Amy Coney Barrett On Monday, President Donald Trump nominated Judge Brett Kavanaugh to the US Supreme Court. He will fill the seat vacated by Justice Anthony Kennedy, for whom Kavanaugh once served as a clerk. “The motto of my Jesuit high school was, ‘Men for others’,” Kavanaugh

Why Trump picked Kavanaugh over ‘folk hero’ Amy Coney Barrett

July 11, 2018

There is a palpable sense of disappointment among conservative Christians, but are they right to be downbeat?

United States: Abuse crisis – who knew?

July 05, 2018

The Cardinal McCarrick scandal raises awkward questions for Church leaders Responding to the accusation that he fondled a 16-year-old male 47 years ago, Cardinal Theodore McCarrick said last month: “I have absolutely no recollection of this reported abuse and believe in my innocence.” However, the Archdiocese of New York found the claim “credible and substantiated”.

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