Archbishop denies Vigano allegation

VATICAN CITY — The archbishop of Washington on Monday “categorically denied” ever being informed that his predecessor had been sanctioned for sexual misconduct, undercutting a key element of a bombshell allegation that Pope Francis covered up clergy abuse. Cardinal Donald Wuerl issued a statement after Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano, the Vatican’s former ambassador to the United States, accused Pope Francis of effectively freeing ex-Cardinal Theodore McCarrick from the sanctions in 2013 despite knowing of McCarrick’s sexual predations against seminarians. Wuerl’s denial corresponds with the public record, which provides ample evidence McCarrick lived a life completely devoid of ecclesiastic restriction after the sanctions were said to have been imposed in 2009 or 2010. That suggests Pope Benedict XVI either didn’t impose sanctions or never conveyed them in any official way.

Unions fight Missouri law

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — Unions representing teachers and other public employees sued on Monday to try to block a new Missouri law that they claim imposes “a raft of harsh restrictions” that “effectively eviscerates” their right to organize and bargain on behalf of employees. A Missouri law set to take effect Tuesday will require most public sector unions to hold recertification votes to continue their representation and require annual employee permission to deduct dues.

Goodman: Wife likely to have died in ‘Roseanne’ spinoff

LOS ANGELES — In an interview with the Sunday Times of London, John Goodman said he wasn’t sure how the new “Roseanne” spinoff, titled “The Conners,” will be structured, but he guessed his character will be “mopey and sad” because his wife has died.