Priests in Australia’s capital city could soon be forced to violate the seal of confession to report abusers. The abuse scandal has cost US Catholics $3.3 billion since 2004. The Holy See is preparing to open its first permanent embassy in South Sudan. The Church in the Democratic Republic of Congo has suspended some sacraments after an Ebola outbreak. Fr Thomas Weinandy argues that claims of a “new Gnosticism” in the Church are “generally misdirected”. John Allen suggests that Benedict and Francis are “far more profoundly united” than many realise. And Stephen Greydanus says that Diary of a Country Priest meets Taxi Driver in the new film First Reformed. Follow me on Twitter @lukecoppen for updates throughout the day.