Pope Francis has outlined a comprehensive vision for the future of the Church, which requires a deeply merciful Catholicism unafraid of change. Francis told a national Italian church conference in Florence that Catholics must realise: “We are not living an era of change, but a change of era.” “These times of ours demand that we Read more
Former Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has launched a stinging attack on Cardinal George Pell’s views on climate change. In a lecture, Mr Rudd said the cardinal needed an “ecological conversion”. This was a phrase used by Pope Francis in Laudato Si’. Mr Rudd said the Cardinal’s view that the Church should stay out of Read more
Pope Francis has pleaded with priests to give short, clear homilies. The Pope made this plea at the ordination of a Rome pastor as an auxiliary bishop. Ordaining Bishop Angelo De Donatis in Rome on Tuesday, Pope Francis reminded the new bishop of something he had told him earlier. “Let your words be simple so that Read more
Jesuit theologian and educator Michael Paul Gallagher died in Ireland on November 6 after a short illness. Fr Gallagher, 76, was a former Professor of Fundamental Theology at the Gregorian University in Rome, where he was dean of the theology faculty from 2005 to 2008. Fr Gallagher also lectured in University College, Dublin, as well Read more
A US woman has reacted with hurt and shock after her Catholic physician abruptly stopped prescribing contraception for her, citing religion. Leslie Gauthier posted the letter she received from her “ob-gyn” from Jackson, Mississippi, on Facebook. The Catholic doctor stated:” I am sending you this letter to notify you that as a Catholic physician, I Read more
The woman arrested in connection with the leaking of confidential Vatican documents may have been released early because she is pregnant. Francesca Immacolata Chaouqui, 33, and Msgr Lucio Angel Vallejo Balda, 54, were arrested by the Vatican Gendarmerie following an investigation. Their arrests came days before the publication of two books about Vatican finances and Read more
The recent synod opened, but didn’t enter, a door on the issue of civilly remarried people being admitted to the sacraments, says Cardinal Walter Kasper. Speaking in Germany on October 29, Cardinal Kasper said the synod “stated the general principle, but not the possible consequences”. “That was the only way to achieve the necessary two-thirds Read more
A prelate who has previously called for a relaxation of mandatory celibacy for priests has been appointed as the de facto head of the Catholic Church in Belgium. Pope Francis has named Archbishop Jozef de Kesel as the new Archbishop of Mechelen-Brussels. Currently the Bishop of Bruges, Archbishop-elect De Kesel is seen as a moderate Read more
Ireland’s Catholic primate has criticised the way social media is being turned into a harsh and dehumanising environment for some. Archbishop Eamon Martin of Armagh told a conference at Maynooth that it is particularly reprehensible when those responsible purport to be Catholic or Christian. “Sadly more and more journalists, members of the Church and other Read more
Specialists have reconstructed the face of Peruvian St Martin de Porres, who was known as the “saint of the broom”. The reconstruction by a team of specialists used research based on the saint’s skull. The result was unveiled on November 3 in Lima, Peru. The reconstruction revealed that the Dominican brother would have had trouble Read more