The High Court in London ruled on Tuesday that the Catholic Church can be held liable for the wrongdoings of priests, which could make it easier for abuse victims to bring claims against the Church.

STATE COLLEGE, Pennsylvania (Reuters) - Two former Penn State officials were charged on Monday with covering up alleged sexual assaults of young boys by a former coach, as authorities widely criticized the university for allowing the abuse to continue unchecked for more than a decade.

STATE COLLEGE, Pennsylvania (Reuters) - Two former Penn State officials were charged on Monday with covering up alleged sexual assaults of young boys by a former coach, as authorities widely criticized the university for allowing the abuse to continue unchecked for more than a decade.

STATE COLLEGE, Pa (Reuters) - Two top Penn State officials quit their posts and were charged on Monday with covering up a sexual abuse scandal that has tarnished the reputation of revered football coach Joe Paterno.

DUBLIN (Reuters) - In the week that Ireland announced it was closing its embassy to the Vatican, the pews at Dublin's main Roman Catholic church are less than a third full for Sunday morning mass. There is no one under 30 in the congregation.

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Catholic Ireland's stunning decision to close its embassy to the Vatican is a huge blow to the Holy See's prestige and may be followed by other countries which feel the missions are too expensive, diplomatic sources said on Friday.

KANSAS CITY, Mo (Reuters) - A Missouri man lodged a sexual molestation lawsuit against Catholic leaders in Kansas City on Thursday, adding to a long list of allegations that high-ranking clerics in the area have covered up child abuse by priests.

MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - The Legionaries of Christ will pay more than $20,000 apiece to at least four victims sexually abused by the order's Mexican founder, Father Marcial Maciel, three years after his death, a spokesman said on Thursday.

The Vatican has ordered an investigation into allegations of sexual abuse at an abbey in London, the local diocese said Tuesday.

(Reuters) - The first indictment of a bishop for failing to report child pornography would have been groundbreaking in itself but legal experts say a second charge -- against the diocese -- is almost as rare.

KANSAS CITY, Missouri (Reuters) - Parishioners at the former church of a priest charged with possessing child pornography voiced dismay yet sympathy on Saturday over their bishop's indictment in connection with the case.

KANSAS CITY (Reuters) - Kansas City's Roman Catholic bishop has been charged with failing to promptly report pornography on a priest's computer, prosecutors said, becoming the highest-ranking U.S. church official charged in long-running clergy abuse scandals.

PHILADELPHIA (Reuters) - A judge ruled on Friday that prosecution experts could examine retired Cardinal Anthony Bevilacqua to see if he is fit to testify in a church sex scandal trial.

A Catholic congregation in Canada's Quebec province on Thursday apologized to former students who had suffered sex abuse in their schools and offered CAN$18 million (US$17.3 million) in compensation.

Pope Benedict XVI's first state visit to his native Germany fell far short of the expectations of sex abuse victims and those clamouring for a more open and tolerant Church.

FREIBURG, Germany (Reuters) - Pope Benedict urged Catholics in his native Germany on Sunday to close ranks behind him rather than demand reforms or leave the Church, a staunchly conservative message that some who came to hear him found frustrating.

FREIBURG, Germany (Reuters) - Pope Benedict appealed for unity on Sunday from Catholics in his native Germany who have been leaving the Church in record numbers, but many who came to hear him said they were frustrated by his staunchly conservative message.

FREIBURG, Germany (Reuters) - Pope Benedict said on Saturday the Catholic Church could not accept gay marriage and urged young people to root out evil in society and shun a "lukewarm" faith that damages their Church.

FREIBURG, Germany (Reuters) - Pope Benedict said on Saturday the Catholic Church could not accept gay marriage and urged young people to root out evil in society and shun a "lukewarm" faith that damages their Church.

Pope Benedict XVI celebrated an open air mass for around 30,000 people Saturday amid a minor security scare, a day after a meeting with victims of sex abuse by priests left him "deeply shaken."