₦airaland Forum

Pope Francis met with US bishops and cardinals on Thursday to discuss the Vatican’s response to a new wave of devastating claims of sexual abuse by clergy.

The pope met Cardinal Daniel DiNardo of Galveston-Houston, who leads the US Conference of Bishops, and Cardinal Sean O’Malley of Boston, who advises the pope on sex abuse issues.

DiNardo’s deputy Jose Horacio Gomez and general secretary Brian Bransfield also attended the closed-door meeting.

The US Catholic Church has been shaken by the publication of a report on sexual abuse by clergy in Pennsylvania and by the resignation in July of US Cardinal Theodore McCarrick.

READ ALSO: Man allegedly kills woman, throws body in river

He was accused of sexually abusing a teenager while working as a priest in New York in the early 1970s.

AFP journalists saw O’Malley leaving the Vatican, and the Holy See released two photos of the meeting, but no statement.

– Falling popularity –

According to a new poll published by the US news channel CNN on Wednesday, Pope Francis’s popularity has nosedived in the United States recently.

The poll showed that only 48 percent of Americans in general supported the Argentinian pontiff, and his popularity has also plummeted among US Catholics to 63 percent from 83 percent 18 months ago.

A former ambassador to the Holy See, Monsignor Carlo Vigano, has even demanded the pope’s resignation, accusing him of covering up for McCarrick.

On Thursday, the pope accepted the resignation of US Bishop Michael Bransfield — a cousin of the Bransfield attending Thursday’s Vatican meeting — and ordered an investigation into allegations he sexually harassed adults, his Baltimore diocese said in a statement.

– ‘Church’s own 9/11′ –

Archbishop Georg Gaenswein, private secretary to Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, on Tuesday described sexual abuse against minors by clergy as the Church’s “own 9/11”.

Cardinal DiNardo said he wanted to present an “action plan” to the pope to facilitate reporting of abuse and misconduct by bishops.

Referring to the McCarrick case, DiNardo called for a “prompt and thorough examination… into how the grave moral failings of a brother bishop could have been tolerated for so long and proven no impediment to his advancement.”

Police on Tuesday arrested a priest in DiNardo’s Texas diocese following allegations he abused a male high school student between 1998 and 2001.

A diocesan statement also referred to allegations the priest, Manuel La Rosa-Lopez, abused a 16-year-old girl in 2001.

Her parents “decided not to pursue the matter” and left the country, and the priest was allowed to resume his duties in 2004 after an internal investigation, the statement said.

In the United States, a group of 5,000 Catholic chief executives have frozen $820,000 (700,000 euros) in funds paid annually to the Holy See pending clarification of the sex abuse cases.

While Pope Francis has refused to respond to Vigano’s allegations so far, the Vatican said Monday that he was “formulating the eventual and necessary clarifications”.

– Cover-up allegations –

Among the clergymen targeted by Vigano, Cardinal Donald Wuerl, the archbishop of Washington and formerly a bishop in Pennsylvania, is accused of covering up the sexual abuse in that state.

He has said he plans to travel to Rome in the near future to meet with Pope Francis to discuss his resignation.

On Wednesday, the pontiff called for a meeting of all the heads of Catholic bishops’ conferences worldwide at the Vatican next February to discuss the issue of the “protection of minors”.

More cases are coming to light.

The conclusions of a study commissioned by the Church in Germany were leaked to the press on Wednesday.

They included the finding that priests sexually assaulted more than 3,600 children in Germany over nearly seven decades.

News source >>> http://gistmore.com/pope-meets-us-church-leaders-clergy-sexual-abuse

Oya hit Gistmore

SEE ANOTHER PHOTO HERE >>> http://gistmore.com/cute-couple-oya-hit-trademark-pose-lovely-pre-wedding-photos

Man and his wife-to-be do Comedian, Broda Shaggi’s famous kung fu style ‘oya hit me’ pose in cute pre-wedding photoshoot.

News source >>> http://gistmore.com/cute-couple-oya-hit-trademark-pose-lovely-pre-wedding-photos

Former Bbnaija's alex signs an endorsement deal with MyPaddi.

Shared with caption...

Naomad Agency @naomadagency proudly announces the brand endorsement deal between the myPaddi App @mypaddi_ng and Alex Asogwa @alex_unusual.
The myPaddi App Team is impressed by Alex’s passion for people, her stand against unhealthy practices by youths and is pleased to announce Alex as its Brand Ambassador.

As a myPaddi App Ambassador, Alex will champion conversations around sexual health and safe practices, as well as interact with young people to help them find answers to their questions on sexual health from experts on the myPaddi App. The app will also be an avenue for Alex’s fans to interact directly and exclusively with her.

The @mypaddi_ng app is a product of MOBicure (makers of the multi-award winning @omomi_ng app). MOBicure is a mobile health company that provides mobile technology solutions to Africa’s most pressing health problems. The @mypadd_ng app is available on all platforms and already has over 5,000 users just weeks after its launch.

Source >>> http://gistmore.com/bbnaijas-alex-signs-endorsement-deal-mypaddi

Abia State House Of Assembly speaker’s aide empowers elderly woman with a bicycle.

Source >>> http://gistmore.com/abia-state-house-assembly-speakers-aide-empowers-elderly-woman-bicycle

See more photos cute slay queens here >>> http://gistmore.com/slay-queens-rock-super-eagles-jersey-watch-seychelles-vs-nigeria-match-pics

Beautiful slay queens rock super eagles Jersey to watch Seychelles Vs Nigeria: AFCON 2019 Qualifier match.

Source >>> http://gistmore.com/slay-queens-rock-super-eagles-jersey-watch-seychelles-vs-nigeria-match-pics

British Supermodel Naomi Campbell, who was named fashion icon of the year, was honoured by singer and actress Zendaya, while Legend was presented with the Hugo Boss most stylish man prize by his wife Chrissy Teigen.

Ayodeji 'Wizkid' Balogun appeared to be relishing the company of international model, Naomi Campbell in the picture of the duo below.

She took to her Instagram page to appreciates Wizkid for being for being by her side. She wrote;

Thank you for being by my side baby wiz @wizkidayo love you brother @britishgq

Source >>> http://gistmore.com/super-model-naomi-campbell-appreciates-wizkid-side

Lol

2 lover birds



See more Mr Eazi & Temi loveup photos here >>> http://gistmore.com/billionaire-daughter-temi-otedola-tags-boyfriend-poor-farmer-photos

Popular lovebirds, Mr Eazi and his breadwinner, Temi Otedola have been on vacation at a private ranch in Oxford to celebrate her graduation.

During one of their romantic outing where the couple went for Clay shooting practice, the fashion blogger referred to themselves as farmers due to their outfits and Eazi's natural look when snapped chilling on hay.

Source >>> http://gistmore.com/billionaire-daughter-temi-otedola-tags-boyfriend-poor-farmer-photos

Lalasticlala

Nollywood actor Emeka Enyiocha flaunts his fat nipples in new photos. The ladies in building, am very sure you girls will like this.

Source >>> http://gistmore.com/actor-emeka-enyiocha-flaunts-fat-nipples-new-photos

See more photos here >>> http://gistmore.com/school-father-marries-school-daughter-years-met-secondary-school-pics

School father marries his school daughter years after they met in secondary school, today they are now husband and wife.

As shared with caption...

A journey of a thousand miles begins with a step. We started as innocent friends, school father and daughter. Today, we stand as man and wife in what seem like a script written by God & foretold by the prophets. I am eternally grateful to Adanna Immaculate Osahon who requested that I watch over her younger sister in school. I have fulfilled my promise and will do so forever.

Source >>> http://gistmore.com/school-father-marries-school-daughter-years-met-secondary-school-pics

Lol

Ubi why ?




See more here >>> http://gistmore.com/ubi-franklin-calls-wife-buying-fake-designers-photo