A collection of Pope Francis’s lockdown sermons, prayers and other messages has been published by the Vatican. “Strong in the Face of Tribulation: The Church in Communion – A Sure Support in Time of Trial,” also includes resources for times when physical access to the sacraments is not possible, plus other Church blessings and prayers. Read more
The Vatican’s new document on “the pastoral conversion of the parish community at the service of the Church’s evangelizing mission” has not been well-received by all. The new document, an instruction rather than law, deals with the theme of the pastoral care of parish communities. It’s focus is on what parish communities mean to the Read more
The Church of Sweden has more female priests than male priests for the first time, according to numbers released this month, a sign of huge strides for gender equality since women were first allowed to be ordained in 1960. The Lutheran institution, which was the official Swedish state church until 2000, now counts 1,533 women Read more
Pope Francis sent a letter of gratitude to a Spanish teen pilgrim with an intellectual disability after the 15-year-old traveled more than 60 miles along the famed Camino de Santiago de Compostela. In a letter signed July 21 and published on the website of the Diocese of Malaga, Spain, the pope said he learned of Read more
A church volunteer has admitted to starting the fire at Nantes Cathedral and was charged with arson on Saturday. The 39-year-old Rwandan refugee — who had been detained and released by the police immediately following the July 18 fire at the Gothic cathedral — was arrested again and indicted July 25 on “charges of destruction Read more
A Catholic cleric who officiated the civil union of two lesbians at a ceremony in Rome has controversially resigned from his post. On July 11, Father Emanuele Moscatelli, from the former pastor of the Church of St. Lawrence the Martyr in Sant’Oreste, presided over the wedding of two close friends identified as Beatrice, 50, and Read more
Chinese Christians receiving government assistance have been told to replace Christ with Mao or risk losing their welfare payments. Compliance includes replacing all religious symbols in their homes with pictures of Chairman Mao and President Xi Jinping. Christians in several provinces have had visits from government officials and had their religious images replaced. The policy Read more
New Vatican guidelines for parishes urge communities to abandon “outdated” models and to embrace a spirit of “missionary evangelization.” Rather than prescribing new norms or policies for parish life, the guidelines encourage Catholics to think prayerfully about what their parishes are, and what they’re for. According to the guidelines, parishes “represent a valuable opportunity for Read more
Ordaining women is not okay, over 200 Australian Catholic students have told the country’s bishops in an open letter. The letter, sent ahead of the upcoming Fifth Plenary Council of the Church in the country, urges the bishops to remain committed to the Church’s teaching. Ordaining women should therefore be rejected. “Many submissions to the Read more
A quality control guide has been issued by a group of exorcists to combat demonic possession. The handbook insists authority to perform exorcisms belongs exclusively to priests assigned by their diocesan bishop. According to the group, they issued the quality control guide because of a perception that there are too many unauthorised rogue operators, both Read more