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Current Chiclayo Bishop Edinson Farfán at a press conference on Friday, May 9, 2025. / Credit: Diego López Marina/ACI Prensa

Lima Newsroom, May 13, 2025 / 15:56 pm (CNA).

The current bishop of Chiclayo, Peru, Edinson Farfán, is publicly defending the actions of his predecessor, Bishop Robert Prevost — now Pope Leo XIV — in the face of accusations that he covered up sexual abuse in the diocese.

Responding to a question at a press conference about the issue, Farfán stated: “That’s a lie. He has listened, he has respected the processes, and this process is still ongoing… believe me, I am the most interested person in justice being served and, above all, in being able to help the victims.”

The bishop of Chiclayo was referring to the allegations of three sisters who met with Prevost in 2022 to report that they had been abused by a priest years earlier when they were minors. They allege that the then-bishop did not open an effective canonical investigation and that the accused continued to celebrate Mass.

Farfán said he has accompanied the alleged victims: “I have asked for their forgiveness, we have wept  together, and they have undoubtedly been treated well; there is a close relationship. I hope we can reach satisfactory closure.”

He added that the canonical process is ongoing, assuring that “the cardinal, Pope Leo XIV, has been the most responsive to these cases in the Peruvian Church, and he has listened to us; he has allowed us to achieve justice.”

Pope Francis appointed Prevost as apostolic administrator of Chiclayo in November 2014 and bishop of the same diocese in 2015. He later also served as apostolic administrator of Callao, also in Peru.

Chiclayo is the fifth most populated city in Peru with over 600,000 inhabitants. 

At the press conference, Farfán also denied that the victims had received $150,000 in exchange for their silence, citing the public testimony of one of them, who wrote the following on social media in response to a series of accusations in the form of questions directed to Farfán: “I am one of the victims. We have not received any money, and I would never receive it in exchange for my silence. If this were true, with that amount I would at least have had the good sense to delete my posts, but that’s not the case. You can see everything on my profile.”

Farfán, an Augustinian like Pope Leo XIV, was appointed bishop of Chiclayo on Feb. 14, 2024, when then-Cardinal Prevost was prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops, the Vatican body that oversees bishops worldwide and nominates candidates.

International concern and demand for reform

Farfán’s defense of the new pope contrasts with the international reaction of survivor groups, especially SNAP (Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests), which issued a statement following Leo XIV’s election expressing concern about the new pope’s record in handling abuse allegations, both in Chicago, where he is originally from, and in Peru.

In an open letter, SNAP charged that, when Leo XIV was provincial of the Augustinians, he allowed a priest accused of abuse to reside near an elementary school in Chicago and that as bishop of Chiclayo, victims reported a lack of action and transparency in the investigation, even allowing the accused priest to continue celebrating Mass after the complaint was lodged.

In the letter, SNAP demanded that decisive measures be taken within the first 100 days of the pontificate, including the creation of an independent global truth commission, the adoption of a universal zero-tolerance policy, international agreements ensuring transparency and accountability, a reparations fund financed with Church assets, and a global council of survivors with real authority to oversee and enforce these measures.

The Vatican’s reaction

ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner, contacted the Vatican press office for a response, and its director, Matteo Bruni, responded by saying that “this is news that’s been around for some time, as far as I know, and the diocese has already responded in a fairly clear statement.”

The statement Bruni referred to was published Dec. 12, 2023, by the Office of Social Communications of the Diocese of Chiclayo, noting that in April 2022, several young women lodged complaints with the Diocese of Chiclayo against Father Eleuterio Vásquez Gonzáles for sexual harassment. This led to his dismissal from the parish and the opening of both internal and criminal investigations, although both of these were later closed due to lack of evidence.

“After receiving the complaints, the accused priest was summoned and asked to leave the parish and cease exercising his ministry. A preliminary investigation was initiated and then sent to the Holy See,” the text states, adding that the “Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, seeing that the accusations brought against the accused priest have not been sufficiently proven, consequently decided to close the case pro nunc.” 

In response to subsequent news media and social media coverage of the case, the diocese said it had reopened the investigation, imposed precautionary measures on the priest, “and ordered him not to exercise his priestly ministry.” It also reaffirmed its rejection of any conduct that would harm minors and vulnerable people, emphasizing the presumption of innocence while the case continues and “zero tolerance for this type of conduct.”

The Diocese of Chiclayo emphasized in the text that, in accordance with “the instructions from the Holy See,” it will continue “developing appropriate measures of prevention and action for the good of the Church” so that “pastoral activity is not affected by behaviors that seriously damage it.”

Diego López Marina and Victoria Cardiel contributed to this article.

This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA.

Former United States Ambassador to the Holy See Francis Rooney speaks to “EWTN News Nightly” anchor Catherine Hadro on Monday, May 12, 2025. / Credit: EWTN News

Washington, D.C. Newsroom, May 13, 2025 / 14:48 pm (CNA).

Former United States Ambassador to the Holy See Francis Rooney said this week that he believes Pope Leo XIV’s relationship with America will “be very powerful.” 

Speaking to “EWTN News Nightly” anchor Catherine Hadro on Monday, Rooney — also a former U.S. representative — said that Leo will be a “fantastic pope” because he “can communicate with people in a very clear but nonthreatening way.”

“People will hear his message, and he will inspire people,” Rooney said. 

Rooney and the pope became friends when “Father Bob,” as Rooney used to know him, began to join meetings at an Augustinian school of which Rooney was on the board.

“He was always very insightful in his comments,” Rooney said of the pope, born Robert Prevost. 

“He’s not complicated,” Rooney said about Leo, “but he’s super smart.”

Rooney previously lived in Rome while serving as the U.S. ambassador to the Holy See. He held the position from 2005 to 2008, which overlapped with Pope Leo XIV’s time as head of the Augustinian order. 

Rooney said they saw “an awful lot” of each other. 

“He did a great job running the order,” Rooney said. “The Augustinian order hasn’t had many of the problems that some other orders have had … I attribute it to good management, like Father Bob.”

As a former U.S. representative for Florida’s 19th congressional district, Rooney also has a diplomatic view of what an American pope may mean for the Church.

“Human rights and human dignity” are the issues that “need to be at the top of the agenda” if Pope Leo XIV and the United States collaborate, he said.

Pope Leo XIV’s American roots will allow him to “be a bridge builder between Europe, Asia, Latin America, as well as the United States,” Rooney said.  

He “can inspire young people” and “inspire our Hispanic community,” he said, arguing that such efforts can “generate more Catholics.”

An American pope “will stimulate people to be more active in the Church, and maybe some to come back, and maybe some to join up,” Rooney said. 

Pope Leo XIV’s time in Peru and ability to speak Spanish and Portuguese will “enthuse some of our Latin Catholic community, a lot of whom have become Protestants,” Rooney said. “Maybe we’ll get them back.”

“I think that Pope Leo will continue to enthuse young people to consider participation in the Church,” he added.

A Planned Parenthood facility in Indianapolis. / Credit: Jonathan Weiss/Shutterstock

CNA Staff, May 13, 2025 / 14:18 pm (CNA).

Planned Parenthood’s latest annual report shows a rising number of abortions and increasing federal funding for the abortion giant while other programs such as cancer screening and prevention services decrease.

Released on Mother’s Day, Planned Parenthood’s 2023-2024 annual report, titled “A Force for Hope,” revealed that the organization provided 402,230 abortions over the year, an increase of nearly 10,000 abortions from the previous year’s report and a record high in the abortion giant’s history.

As abortions increased, taxpayer funding increased as well. Public funding for Planned Parenthood was up by about $100 million from the previous year’s report. At $792.2 million, taxpayer dollars made up nearly 40% of Planned Parenthood’s revenue.

Amid the rise in abortions, Planned Parenthood also provided fewer health care services, with 45% fewer UTI treatments, 13.7% fewer primary care visits, and 8.1% fewer cancer screenings year over year.

Michael New, a senior associate scholar at the pro-life Charlotte Lozier Institute and assistant professor of practice at the Busch School of Business at The Catholic University of America, said this decrease was “consistent with broader long-term trends.” 

“During the past 10 years, Planned Parenthood has done 54.4% fewer cancer screenings and 62.8% fewer prenatal services,” New told CNA. “Meanwhile the number of abortions that they have performed has increased by over 22%.”

Taxpayers “are paying more money for more abortions and less health care,” New said. 

Citing data from the report, the Charlotte Lozier Institute found that almost 97% of women “seeking help related to their pregnancy at Planned Parenthood” were “sold an abortion” rather than health care.

Meanwhile, prenatal services, miscarriage care, and adoption referrals accounted for about 3% of Planned Parenthood’s services, according to the institute.

With various states strengthening their life-affirming laws, some women have sought abortion in other states. Planned Parenthood reported that it provided affiliates with $3.4 million in travel assistance for more than 12,000 patients seeking abortions. 

Planned Parenthood also highlighted its legal team’s efforts to block laws that protect unborn children, highlighting pro-abortion victories in Iowa and Arizona. The report also hailed Kamala Harris as the first sitting vice president to visit an abortion facility.

Pro-life voices call for defunding of Planned Parenthood

The report “heightens the urgency to defund Big Abortion,” stated Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, a pro-life network dedicated to ending abortion. 

“As community health centers outnumber Planned Parenthood locations 15 to 1 nationwide and offer far more comprehensive care, including for Medicaid patients, Americans have real choices and much better options,” the statement read. 

Planned Parenthood reported more than $2 billion in income and $2.5 billion in net assets in the annual report.  

New said the report “clearly shows that Planned Parenthood continues to prioritize abortion over health care.”

“From a Catholic perspective it is frustrating that the taxpayer dollars from countless faithful Catholics go to an organization that funds abortion, contraception, transgender treatments, and other activities that weaken families and undermine a culture of life,” New told CNA. 

“It is my hope that Congress will take the lead of many states and defund Planned Parenthood during this budget cycle,” New continued. 

Abby Johnson, a former director of Planned Parenthood turned pro-life activist, called the report “sickening.”

Continued government funding for Planned Parenthood “is beyond reason,” Johnson said in a statement shared with CNA.

“The blatant disregard for human dignity in all its forms that Planned Parenthood ardently supports — from the unborn baby to the mom to their own employees — is revolting,” Johnson said.

Jeanne Vath Ory receives her Regina Matrum Award after a special vigil Mass was celebrated by New Orleans Archbishop Gregory Aymond at her home parish, St. Joan of Arc in LaPlace, Louisiana, on May 12, 2025, the day after Mother’s Day. / Credit: Kim Roberts

CNA Staff, May 13, 2025 / 12:12 pm (CNA).

A Catholic mother of 10 and grandmother of 30 was honored by New Orleans’ Archbishop Gregory Aymond during a special vigil Mass on May 12.

Jeanne Vath Ory was selected as the 2025 recipient for the “Regina Matrum” or “Queen of Mothers” award, a decades-long tradition in the Archdiocese of New Orleans. 

Established in 1947, the Regina Matrum Award is designed to honor a Catholic mother each year and to highlight the ideals of Catholic motherhood and family life. 

Kim Roberts, the current chairman of Regina Matrum and former president of the Council of Catholic School Co-operative Clubs (CCSCC), said that every year when they give the award, the recipient is surprised. 

“They’re all so humble, and they’re always so surprised,” she recalled.

This year’s recipient didn’t even get out of her pew when her name was called. 

“She really didn’t know. She was looking around the church like, ‘Who are they talking about?’ Everybody knew it was her,” Roberts told CNA. 

When Ory was selected at her parish on Palm Sunday, it brought tears to her eyes. 

Over the years, Ory has served the local church in various committees, ministries, and outreach programs. She also co-founded the Rosary Congress at her parish — a ministry that has continued for more than a decade.

Ory even has a family connection to the award. She is the granddaughter of the sixth Regina Matrum recipient Florence Dunn Vath and niece of Theresa Vath Bourgeois, who received the award in 2000. 

The special vigil Mass celebrated by the archbishop took place at Ory’s home parish, St. Joan of Arc in LaPlace. 

Why an award for mothers?

“Regina Matrim, at its core, is just to highlight a woman from the archdiocese here in New Orleans who is a shining example of Catholic motherhood,” Roberts explained. 

“It doesn’t always have to be the lady that’s out front all the time but the one who could be quietly in the background, supporting their parish, helping their children, going a little extra mile for God,” she said.

Award recipients come from “all walks of life” and socioeconomic backgrounds, Roberts said. 

“A lot of them have 10 kids. Some of them have one child. Some of them have children with special needs,” she said. 

There’s one thing they all have in common — but it’s hard to put into words. 

“They all have this special glow where really Mary is at the center of everything they do,” Roberts said. 

The “delightful ladies” who receive these awards raise their children with the Catholic faith as a “solid foundation” while also helping their local parish, Roberts explained. 

The award helps serve as an inspiration and a reminder. 

“We want to shine the light on these women and to have them as examples for all the rest of us,” Roberts said. 

Their example carries through from the home to the parish to the community. 

“This is just our way of highlighting the faithful women who are boots to the ground, doing the Lord’s work, and keeping Mary at the center of their family,” Roberts said.