The Catholic Church Is Headed for Another Sex Abuse Scandal as #Nunstoo Speak Up

World Wide (Conversation) – All eyes will turn to Rome between 21-24 February, when senior church clerics across the world meet to discuss how to handle the widening sexual abuse crisis in the Catholic Church. Until recently, this has been focused on the abuse of children. But now Pope Francis has admitted – for the first time – sexual abuse by priests against religious women exists and must be acknowledged. And Catholic women are speaking out, under the #NunsToo hashtag. Twenty-five years ago, Irish nun, Maura O’Donohue prepared an extensive…

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Four Southern African Nations Petition to Lift the International Ivory Trade Ban

Africa (GV) – As the world prepares for the 18th annual Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) and their Conference of Parties (CoP18), four southern African countries — Zimbabwe, Botswana, Namibia and South Africa — have submitted a petition and proposal seeking to remove restrictions and allow international trade in registered raw ivory of their elephants. CITES is an “international agreement between governments to ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival,” and the convention will take place…

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