A leading Irish theologian has described the Vatican’s actions to censure a founder of Ireland’s Association of Catholic Priests as “theologically inept”. In a new book, Augustinian Fr Gabriel Daly examines the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith’s 2012 silencing of Fr Tony Flannery and its suspending him from ministry. Flannery, a Redemptorist, had Read more
The Vatican congregation that deals with religious life was not consulted over the decision to require the major group of women religious in the United States to reform its statues and programmes, the congregation’s head has revealed. Cardinal João Braz de Aviz, prefect of the Congregation for Religious, said the lack of discussion over the action Read more
In May of 2005, Archbishop William Levada—who had headed the Archdioceses of Portland (Oregon) and San Francisco—was appointed prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. In July of 2011, having reached the age of 75, Cardinal Levada duly submitted his resignation from that important curial post. Almost a year later, on July Read more
Reliable voices in the Vatican are saying Cardinal William Levada, Prefect for the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, will retire by the end of June. Italian daily La Stampa reports that Levada has told Pope Benedict he wants to return home to the United States and that Benedict will accept his resignation. David Read more
The leader of the American nuns in a battle with the Vatican is challenging the reasons for disciplining her organisation. The President of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious, Sr Pat Farrell, said that Catholics should be able to search for answers about faith without fear and that raising questions of doctrine should not be seen Read more
The attack on the Nuns is a case of perception not reality according to Vatican Cardinal William Levada, who admits to being saddened by people’s assessment of him, his office and the report on the nuns. Levada, prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF), insists neither he, nor the Vatican is picking on the nuns. “We’re sad if people Read more
Responding to the Vatican’s offer of a personal prelature, akin to a diocese without boarders, the Society of St Pius X (SSPX) says the offer could lead to a new round of discussions. SSPX Superior General, Bishop Bernard Fellay said doctrinal difficulties with the teaching of the Vatican II and the subsequent liturgical reform were Read more
Accused of promoting radical feminism and promoting social issues incompatible with the Church, United States Leadership Committee of Women Religious President Sister Pat Farrell and Executive Director Sister Janet Mock said they “were grateful for open dialogue” with Cardinal William Levada, and Archbishop Peter Sartain, on Wednesday. The nuns, who requested the meeting, told Reuters Read more
Cardinal Levada has issued regulations “regarding the manner of proceeding in the discernment of presumed apparitions or revelations.” The regulations, updated from the time of Pope Paul VI, are aimed at helping pastors “in their difficult task of discerning presumed apparitions, revelations, messages, or extraordinary phenomena of presumed supernatural origin.” In his column in NCR, Eugene Cullen Read more
The Vatican has given the Society of St Pius X (SSPX) little room to manoeuvre if it wants to be reconciled with Rome. At a meeting between Bishop Bernard Fellay, superior general of SSPX and Cardinal William Levada, head of the Congregation of the Doctrine of Faith, Fellay received a document detailing the “doctrinal principles and criteria Read more