Rome. Nashville. St. Louis.

These are the centers of the religion news universe this week, involving America’s three largest Christian groups.

At Vatican City, Pope Francis has convened a four-day meeting on the Catholic Church’s ongoing sex abuse crisis. In Nashville, Tenn., Southern Baptists heard from the convention’s president, J.D. Greear, earlier this week concerning that denomination’s own sex abuse crisis.

Meanwhile, the United Methodist Church’s high-stakes, three-day meeting on LGBT issues opens Sunday in St. Louis. Are we talking about schism or a semi-schism?

Amid all that news, let’s dive into the Friday Five:

1. Religion story of the week: In a busy week, the ongoing Catholic clergy sexual abuse crisis dominated headlines and GetReligion commentary. Oh, and there’s another post linked to those Covington Catholic High School boys.

In case you missed them, here are some of our must-read posts:

• How the mighty are fallen: Press should keep asking about 'Uncle Ted' McCarrick's secrets

• Early Vatican tea leaves: Pope mentions 'pedophilia,' while a public memo includes some land mines

• 'Abuse of minors' – Rare chance to hear New York Times sing harmony with Vatican establishment

• Beyond Thorn Birds (again): Vatican confirms there are rules for priests with secret children

• What did press learn from Covington Catholic drama? Hint. This story wasn't about Donald Trump