This probably falls in the category of "only in America."

A new organization that calls itself a grassroots group of Catholics upset with the hierarchy's current handling of the sex abuse crisis is asking Catholics to voice their disapproval of Pope Benedict XVI by ponying up only a penny when parishes do the Peter's Pence collection later this month that provides humanitarian and emergency relief for people around the world.

Our regular OSV Newsweekly contributor from across the pond, London-based Austen Ivereigh, recently published in the Britain’s daily Guardian newspaper a striking commentary about the clerical sex abuse scandal following Pope Benedict XVI’s latest apology for it. 

The Catholic Church in secularized Europe wasn't healthy before this latest wave of abuse scandals swept the continent. In most countries, Mass attendance is thought to be in the single digits, and the Church's voice is marginalized in the public square.

The world's media is focused intently on the Vatican again as the Year for Priests closes. Pope Benedict XVI is expected over the next few days to address an international gathering of priests in Rome for conferences and celebrations to close the jubilee. The big question, of course, is whether he'll again address the issue of clerical sex abuse.

The invaluable media criticism blog "GetReligion" does a good job deconstructing the latest attempt to tie a direct line between Pope Benedict XVI and the mishandling of U.S. abuser priests.

Pope Benedict XVI is again emphasizing penance and purification as a necessary response to the scandal of clergy sex abuse.

Time magazine has a lengthy article online called "The trial of Benedict XVI" that essentially makes two points: Pope Benedict has to apologize for the abuse scandal. A radical, laity-driven restructuring — from both left and right — of the Church is underfoot.

Check out this interview in USA Today on Pope Benedict XVI's handling of clerical sex abuse. The interview is with OSV president and publisher Greg Erlandson and OSV's The Catholic Answer editor Matt Bunson. They've just co-authored a book called "Pope Benedict XVI and the Sexual Abuse Crisis: Working for Reform and Renewal."

The Associated Press reports Pope Benedict XVI called the sex abuse crisis the "greatest threat" to the Catholic Church.  But he didn't.