“We appreciate that a Religious Order has to look at its resources of personnel from time to time – the age profile of the members and the shortage of Vocations – and to try to continue to be faithful to the charism of the Order in the prevailing circumstances.”

112 parishes in the Archdiocese of New York to be merged with a neighbouring parish due to declining finances and falling church attendances.

Sixth tranche of audits reviewed 18 religious congregations and found that support for complainants of abuse was inconsistent and not good enough.