German Theologians Question The Myth Of Saint Maria Goretti As A "Martyr Of Purity"

WARNING! - August 9, 2026


Maria Goretti was an 11-year-old girl who died after resisting an attempted rape in 1902 and was later canonized as a "martyr of purity." In this opinion article, three German theologians argue that this title should no longer be used because it can reinforce harmful ideas about sexual violence. They say emphasizing her virginity and forgiveness of her attacker shifts attention away from the crime and can increase guilt and shame for survivors of abuse. Drawing on trauma psychology, abuse research, and the writings of St. Augustine, they argue that rape is always the responsibility of the perpetrator, not the victim, and that the Church should present Maria Goretti primarily as a child victim of violence rather than as a symbol of sexual purity.

Class-Action Lawsuit Over Abuse At Metro Vancouver Schools Settled For $30M

By Patricia Grell • August 9, 2026
CTV News - August 1, 2026 Vancouver, BC - The B.C. Supreme Court has approved a $30-million settlement for a class-action lawsuit involving historical claims of physical, psychological and sexual abuse at Vancouver College and St. Thomas More Collegiate. More than 200 former students joined the lawsuit, which alleged that some abusive Christian Brothers had been transferred from the Mount Cashel orphanage in Newfoundland. The alleged abuse occurred between the 1970s and 2013 and caused lasting emotional, relationship, and substance-abuse problems for many victims. Although most class members supported the settlement, some criticized the defendants for a lack of accountability, while several chose to pursue individual lawsuits instead.

Settlement Reached In Priest Sex-Abuse Lawsuit

By Patricia Grell • August 9, 2026
Bishop Accountability - July 7, 2026 Winnipeg, AL - A Winnipeg man in his mid-40s has settled a lawsuit alleging that he was sexually abused by two Catholic priests when he was 10 or 11 years old in 1990–91. The alleged abuse occurred while he was a student at St. Jean Baptiste Elementary School and a member of the local Catholic church. The lawsuit, filed in 2023, involved the Archdiocese of St. Boniface, the Red River Valley School Division and the estate of priest Léo Couture. The other priest, René Touchette, had previously been convicted of sexual offences in the 1990s and died in 2012. The settlement details have not been released, and none of the defendants admitted liability. The case was scheduled for trial in November 2027, but those proceedings will now be cancelled because of the settlement.
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