Eric de Moulins-Beaufort, head of the Bishops' Conference of France, said that secrets shared in the confessional are above the law.
The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse found that Cardinal George Pell knew about abuses dating back to the 1970s and kept them hidden.
Prosecutors said the surprise raids took place at the dioceses of Valparaiso, Chillan, Osorno and Concepcion. Images published by local media showed authorities walking out from the buildings after seizing documents.
President Rodrigo Duterte's comments have offended many in the predominantly Catholic and deeply religious Philippines.
Mario Abdo Benitez, who represents the country's long-dominant Colorado conservatives, won slightly more than 46 percent of the vote, with his centrist opponent Efrain Alegre taking almost 43 percent in a race that was far closer than expected.
Archbishop Charles Scicluna said he was sent to Santiago, Chile by Roman Pope Francis to investigate claims that a priest abused young boys.
As the US reels in shock after the worst shooting in the country's modern history, Las Vegas residents come together in support of victims and their families.
Worshippers celebrating the ordination of a bishop died after a roof caved in on a congregation of about 2,000.
A German bishop believes teaching Islam in German schools could prevent pupils from falling into the hands of terrorists, such as DAESH.
Pope Francis has urged Church to be more tolerant towards divorced and remarried Catholics
Italian police drop probe into bishop who is accused of alleged sexual abuse of seminarists, media says
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