In an unprecedented event, Israel’s parliament, the Knesset, has held a special session to commemorate St John XXIII. During the Second World War, Archbishop Angelo Roncalli’s efforts are believed to have helped save thousands of Jews from Nazi death camps Archbishop Roncalli was elected Pope in 1958 and took the name John XXIII. His pontificate Read more
A coalition of 16 United States progressive Catholic groups has written to Pope Francis asking for a public apology to American nuns and a theologian. The Nun Justice Project wrote an open letter regarding recent comments by Cardinal Gerhard Müller to the Leadership Conference of Women Religious. On April 30, Cardinal Müller, the prefect of Read more
One of the worst effects of modern clergy sex abuse scandals is cynicism about the call to holiness, a senior cardinal says. Cardinal Sean O’Malley of Boston said this at the tenth National Catholic Prayer Breakfast in Washington on May 13. He heads the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors set up by Pope Read more
Vietnam’s Catholic bishops have condemned China’s deployment of a deep sea oil rig in a disputed area of the South China Sea. “This situation can pose a high risk for a military conflict,” Archbishop Paul Bui Van Doc, president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Vietnam, said in a letter on behalf of the bishops. Read more
Former soccer star Diego Maradona has urged Pope Francis to transform the Vatican from “a lie” into an institution that gives more to the people. In an interview shown on an Italian television station, Dubai-based Maradona urged his fellow Argentine move ahead with reforms. “The Vatican, for me, is a lie because instead of giving to people it Read more
Western society has reduced the Christian command to “love thy neighbour” to mere secular tolerance, Templeton Prize winner Fr Tomáš Halík has warned. On May 14, the Czech philosopher priest was presented with the award, which honours a living person who has made exceptional contributions “to affirming life’s spiritual dimension”. The prize is worth about Read more
A group of 26 Italian women – all claiming to be in affairs with priests – have written to Pope Francis pleading with him to end the celibacy requirement. The women said that there were many more like them who were “living in silence”. “We love these men, they love us, and in most cases, Read more
Newly published letters between Jackie Kennedy and a priest reveal the former US first lady’s struggles to keep her faith after her husband was assassinated. The priest was Vincentian Fr Joseph Leonard, a lecturer at Dublin’s All Hallows College, who died in 1964. Excerpts from the letters were published in the Irish Times. One letter, Read more
The Vatican is investigating a Jesuit theologian from India for allegedly espousing unorthodox beliefs. Censure has reportedly been threatened against Fr Michael Amaladoss, whose best-known book is “The Asian Jesus”. But the Jesuit provincial of Fr Amaladoss’s Indian province said there had been no condemnation or censure. Rather, there has been an ongoing dialogue that has Read more
A senior Italian bishop says the Church should listen to arguments for gay relationships, Communion for divorcees and ending mandatory celibacy for priests. Bishop Nunzio Galantino, who is secretary-general of the Italian bishops’ conference (CEI), said he wants Church leaders to open their minds on these issues. “My wish for the Italian Church is that Read more