An Indian Catholic nun who claims a bishop raped her has accused the Vatican and senior church officials of inaction and silence despite her repeated complaints, but the bishop says the accusations are baseless.

Bishop Christopher Coyne of Burlington pledged to cooperate with state and local officials investigating reports of alleged abuse of former residents of a Catholic orphanage.

In recent years I have engaged in a form of lectio divina on July 4. On the morning of U.S. Independence Day, I re-read the United States' Declaration of Independence. Last year, I reflected on the reference to "merciless Indian Savages." This year, I noticed that well over half the document is a complaint listing specific acts of oppression by the king of England.

As director of the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation's Catholic Sisters Initiative, Sr. Jane Wakahiu oversees one of the largest funders in the world of programs and initiatives focused on Catholic women religious. She spoke to GSR about the foundation's recently announced a new five-year strategy.

A new Catholic elementary school in the Archdiocese of Baltimore will honor Mother Mary Elizabeth Lange, who founded the Oblate Sisters of Providence, the first religious community of women of African descent, and opened the first Catholic school in the United States for black children.

Forming a community of women from different backgrounds and uniting them in prayer, in care for the earth and in hospitality to others is a powerful witness of Gospel values, Pope Francis told a group of Benedictine sisters.

Several communities of sisters joined the Leadership Conference of Women Religious in issuing statements in response to the clergy sex abuse crisis.

Revelations of clergy sex abuse, cover-up and infighting among church leadership continue to shake the Catholic world. Sisters spoke to GSR about the crisis. They advocate giving women religious and the laity authority in abuse cases; putting women religious in positions of authority within the church to thwart clericalism; and including more women religious in the vocation process for priests.

See for Yourself - "Yes, I still use a wristwatch and, in fact, I wouldn't be without it. How else would you tell the time?"

Right here and right now, the broken heart of Christ is evident in the wounded members of his body, most especially the victims of sexual abuse and the victims of abuse of ecclesial power.