The president of the German bishops’ conference says October’s synod on the family cannot prescribe in detail the pastoral practice for Germany. Cardinal Reinhard Marx told a German newspaper the German Church “cannot wait” for synodal statements, as marriage and family ministry has to be undertaken now. The German bishops therefore want to publish their Read more
An international Catholic reform network has denounced as self-defeating the official Vatican set of questions before October’s synod on the family. Catholic Church Reform International has created its own alternative 20-question survey which is open to Catholics worldwide. The reform network is made up of representatives of more than 100 groups in 65 countries. At Read more
Dublin’s archbishop has warned Church leaders not to use insensitive and over-judgemental language in debates on marriage and family. Speaking in a Lenten talk in Country Kerry, Archbishop Diarmuid Martin’s warning also extended to those he called the Church’s “self-appointed spokespeople”. “Where the Church argues from general principles, there is inevitably the feeling on the Read more
While the Shroud of Turin is displayed later this year, local priests have been given faculties to reconcile women who confess to having had an abortion. The goal of the special faculties granted by Turin’s Archbishop Cesare Nosiglia is to ensure that the public display of the shroud promotes conversion and healing. The shroud, which Read more
A Brazilian man executed by firing squad in Indonesia was denied the chance to have Catholic last rites before his death. Marco Archer Cardoso Moreira, 53, was executed on January 18 at on Nusakambangan, Indonesia’s execution island Moreira was sentenced to death in 2004 after attempting to smuggle 13.4 kilograms of cocaine into Indonesia. The Read more
Australia’s royal commission looking at institutional responses to child sex abuse has backed the way sacked Toowoomba Bishop William Morris handled a case. Fr Frank Brennan, SJ, writing for the ABC, noted how this is in stark contrast to how the commission lambasted Cardinal George Pell’s handling of the case of abuse victim John Ellis. This Read more
An eminent American historian has written that Pope Francis is making change in the Church by yielding his power. In an interview with Macleans.ca, Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Garry Wills said Francis hasn’t asserted his power and to do so would be a “weakening” thing for him. “Instead, he’s yielding power constantly,” Mr Wills said. “He’s Read more
A coalition of royals, prelates and Catholic activists has appealed to Pope Francis asking him to hold the line on Church teaching regarding the family. According to a Breitbart report, their letter to the Pope focuses on the synod on the family in October. It expresses the signatories’ “fears and hopes regarding the future of Read more
The French government has proposed a plan for dialogue with Muslims which is based on a model it uses to liaise with the Catholic Church. The plan would promote an Islam “faithful to the values of the republic”. The official council of French Muslims has been unable to deal with the challenges presented by Islamist Read more
The cardinal who heads the Vatican’s economic oversight body has questioned the releasing of Vatican asset figures to the media by Cardinal George Pell. Earlier this month, Cardinal Pell, who is prefect of the Secretariat for the Economy, told media the Vatican had US$1.5 billion in assets that had not been previously accounted for. German Read more