An American archbishop has suggested Catholic priests protest against same-sex marriage laws by refusing to sign any civil marriage certificates. Archbishop Charles Chaput of Philadelphia urged the US bishops to consider this in response to what he called the “new marriage regime” of same-sex civil marriage. In a lecture in New York on October 20, Archbishop Read more
An English cardinal says that during the synod on the family, he developed his thinking on ways towards Communion for the divorced and civilly remarried. Cardinal Vincent Nichols said he had developed his understanding of how the divorced and remarried could undergo a penitential path. This in turn could lead them being re-admitted to the Read more
Pope Francis’ road map for the future of the Church will far outlive his pontificate, a German theologian has predicted. Speaking in Austria during the second week of the recent synod on the family, Cardinal Walter Kasper said Francis is a “gift of God”. The Pope’s theology and his vision for the Church are centred Read more
Catholic leaders in Pakistan will appeal to the nation’s Supreme Court against the death sentence given to a Christian woman for blasphemy. Last week, the Lahore High Court upheld the sentence handed down in 2010 against Asia Bibi. She is the first Christian woman ever to be given the death sentence in Pakistan. One source Read more
At the beatification of Blessed Pope Paul VI, Pope Francis has urged the Church to be open to new ways. Speaking to 70,000 people at St Peter’s Square on October 19, Francis said Catholics must “not fear the new” and must be open to previously “unexpected paths”. Emeritus Pope Benedict XVI, who was made a Read more
A senior German cardinal has emphasised that Church doctrine can change over time. Speaking at a press briefing last Friday, before the synod on the family delivered its final report, Cardinal Reinhard Marx said the Church’s doctrine can develop. “Saying that the doctrine will never change is a restrictive view of things,” Cardinal Marx said. Read more
One third of divorced and remarried Catholics, who have not had their first marriage annulled, receive Communion, according to a Tablet survey. More than 4300 people from around the world completed a questionnaire on www.thetablet.co.uk between 3 and 14 October about what they’d like to see from the synod on the family. Nearly 85 per Read more
The conservative prefect of the Apostolic Signatura appears to have confirmed reports that Pope Francis is to assign him to a lesser role. American Cardinal Raymond Burke confirmed to the National Catholic Reporter that he has been told he will be removed from his current role. Asked who told him he would be removed, Cardinal Read more
A diocese in Texas has issued guidelines designed to prevent diseases like Ebola being spread because of physical contact in Masses. Fort Worth diocese is near Dallas, where three Ebola cases have been diagnosed. The guidelines include not taking the Blood of Christ at Mass and the faithful not holding hands while praying the Our Read more
Some of the Church’s senior prelates have been sharply critical of the document released half way through the synod on the family. The text – known as the relatio –sought to summarise the discussions at the gathering so far. It has been described as a “pastoral earthquake” and suggests the Church should recognise the good in unions Read more