The Vatican released comprehensive records of sexual abuse cases revealing 2,572 priests have been sanctioned and 848 have been defrocked over the last ten years.
German Catholic priest Stefan Hartmann has asked the Pope to release him from his oath of celibacy after admitting to having an illegitimate daughter on national television.
A group of clergymen filed suit in North Carolina challenging state laws that make it illegal for them to perform wedding ceremonies for gay and lesbian couples within their congregations.
A recent poll conducted by Associated Press and GfK found that Americans are more skeptical and less confident about several scientifically proven concepts.