The prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship has suggested an appendix to the Roman Missal contain parts of the extraordinary form of the Mass. In an article in L’Osservatore Romano, Cardinal Robert Sarah stated that the Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy should not be read with a “hermeneutic of rupture”. “It would be wrong Read more
An Irish bishop wants his fellow bishops to set up a body to look at the possibility of ordaining married men to the priesthood. Bishop Leo O’Reilly of Kilmore has urged his colleagues to arrange a commission to this end. Bishop O’Reilly also wants such a commission to study the possibility of female deacons. He will raise the Read more
American Catholic bishops have been told that many priests admit they don’t feel comfortable giving guidance to couples on marital problems. At their spring assembly, the bishops heard from three married couples speaking about marriage and the family. One of the couples, Ricardo and Lucia Luzondo, raised the issue of seminarian and priest formation. “We Read more
The Church likes to pretend that its current state is as it has always been, and it does this by reading history backwards, an historian writes. Practising Catholic and Pulitzer Prize winner Garry Wills argues this in his latest book, titled: “The Future of the Church with Pope Francis”. “Since one begins from a certitude Read more
A Vatican tribunal to judge bishops in connection with child abuse wouldn’t investigate any Australian bishops until a royal commission has concluded. Last week, the Vatican announced a new tribunal within the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith “to judge bishops with regard to crimes of the abuse of office when connected to the Read more
Pope Francis has approved a new system of accountability for bishops who don’t appropriately handle accusations of clergy sex abuse. Power will be given to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith to judge bishops “with regard to crimes of the abuse of office when connected to the abuse of minors”. A new office Read more
Pope Francis has named a new archbishop for Berlin in Germany, following a local election. Francis named Bishop Heiner Koch of Dresden-Meissen to the position. The right to elect their own bishops, from a “terno”, or list of three candidates approved by Rome, is still held by 13 of Germany’s 27 dioceses and archdioceses. This Read more
Pope Francis has warned against listening to the daily messages of seers as a way of renewing one’s Christian identity. Speaking during Mass at the Sancta Martha Guesthouse on June 9, the Pope’s words came only days after he said a ruling on the Medjugorje apparitions will be coming soon. On June 9, Francis preached Read more
The Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith has warned against trying to adapt Christ’s teaching to today’s often pagan lifestyles. Speaking to Die Tagespost on June 6, Cardinal Gerhard Müller rejected placing “any so-called lived realities” on the same level as Scripture and tradition. This is “nothing more than the introduction of Read more
An Australian Christian couple has vowed to divorce if Australia allows same-sex couples to marry. Nick and Sarah Jensen believe that widening the definition of marriage to include same-sex couples would threaten the sacred nature of the union. They also fear it would leave the door open for polygamy. The Jensens have been happily married Read more