King County looking at Uber, Lyft driver screening after recent sexual assaults

In the wake of several alleged assaults by Uber and Lyft drivers, King County may consider changes to how it regulates the 32,000 licensed ride-hailing drivers in the region, including possibly requiring signage on ride-hailing cars or mandating that drivers be fingerprinted before licensing. read more »

Key points of Vatican law on reporting sex abuse, cover-ups

Pope Francis on Thursday issued a new church law about reporting clergy sex abuse and cover-up, outlining investigation procedures when the accused is a bishop or religious superior. It’s the latest effort by the pope to respond to the global eruption of the sex abuse and cover-up scandal.

Some key points of the new protocol, entitled “You are the light of the world”:

Makes all Catholic priests and religious sisters mandated reporters for sex abuse and cover-up to church authorities, though not to police or law enforcement. Provides whistleblower protections saying those reporting misconduct may not suffer “prejudice, retaliation or discrimination.” read more »

Critics say pope's law requiring priests, nuns to report sex abuse does not go far enough

Victim advocates said Thursday that the fatal flaw in Pope Francis’ new mandate that priests and nuns report clerical sex abuse is that it requires the church to police itself, instead of notifying law enforcement.

They say it’s not enough that Francis has required whistleblowers to report any abuse or cover-ups to their superiors. read more »