The Irish Times newspaper has described as “a regrettable editorial lapse” a cartoon it published suggesting that no priests can be trusted with children. The cartoon by Martyn Turner showed three priests, with one holding a paper stating “Children First Bill” and “Mandatory Reporting”. The three priests were singing “I’d do anything for children (but Read more
Pope Francis’s efforts to build a new way of “being Church” are facing increased opposition from within the Roman Curia, a leading cardinal says. Honduran Cardinal Oscar Rodriguez Maradiaga said this during an address to Franciscan provincials in Florida, according to the National Catholic Reporter. The cardinal said Pope Francis is seeking to build a Read more
In his traditional Easter message, Pope Francis has prayed for people suffering from war, violence, abandonment and disease around the world. An estimated 150,000 people were gathered on Easter Sunday in St Peter’s Square. The Pope delivered his traditional blessing and address Urbi et Orbi, “to the city and to the world” from the balcony Read more
The papal preacher has warned against a “god of money” who creates an alternative spiritual universe where virtues are turned upside down. Fr Raniero Cantalamessa was preaching at a Good Friday service presided over by Pope Francis at St Peter’s Basilica. In such an alternative universe, faith, hope and love do not come from God Read more
The messages and visions of an alleged seer, Maria Divine Mercy, have been given the thumbs down by Church authority. Archbishop Diarmuid Martin of Dublin has issued a statement about the alleged prophetess, who is believed to live in his archdiocese. He declared that these “messages and alleged visions have no ecclesiastical approval and many Read more
Three England and Wales bishops have backed suggestions that permission to ordain married men to the priesthood be widened. This followed reports that Pope Francis would like bishops’ conferences to achieve consensus and put forward reform ideas to Rome. The Pope reportedly made this suggestion to a bishop from a remote diocese in Brazil. During Read more
Pope Francis has told seminarians that the seminary is not a refuge for those who lack the courage to “get on in life”. The Pope told seminarians training for the Italian diocese of Lazio that a seminary is not a refuge for those who have psychological problems either. The Pontiff was speaking on April 15 Read more
Pope Francis has discussed the possibility of ordaining proven married men as priests, a South American bishop says. Bishop Erwin Krautler, whose diocese of Xingu is in the Brazilian rainforest, spoke with Pope Francis on April 4 in a rare private interview. The desperate shortage of priests in the bishop’s huge diocese was one of Read more
Pope Francis has asked for forgiveness for the damage that abusive priests have inflicted on children. He was speaking on April 11 to the International Catholic Child Bureau, a French Catholic network that works to promote the rights of children. The Pope’s remarks, which were unscripted, appear to be his strongest yet on the subject Read more
The Catholic Church in the Netherlands has admitted that a Dutch bishop who died last year was a child abuser. A church complaints commission found that the late Bishop Jo Gijsen committed abuse. This happened decades ago when he was a chaplain and a teacher in the southern Netherlands. The abuse reportedly happened in 1958-9 Read more