Pope Francis has described the Second Vatican Council as “a beautiful work of the Holy Spirit” and said “stubborn” Catholics should not resist the Spirit as it pushes the Church forward. “We want to put the Holy Spirit to sleep,” the Pontiff said. “We want to ‘tame’ the Holy Spirit. And that doesn’t work, because Read more
The first name released of those killed in the April 15 explosions at the Boston Marathon was that of 8-year-old Martin Richard, whose picture in newspapers showed him grinning broadly, apparently at his first Communion in May last year. The young Catholic boy, one of three people killed when a bomb exploded near the finish Read more
Pope Francis has reaffirmed the need to reform the major group of women religious in the United States, accepting the Vatican’s 2012 assessment that found it had “serious doctrinal problems”. The Pope’s view was conveyed to representatives of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious, led by president Sister Florence Deacon, by the prefect of the Read more
Pope Francis’ creation of a group of cardinals to help him govern the Church does not mean he is giving up any of his papal authority — but it may reduce the powers of the Vatican secretary of state. Paolo Gherri, who teaches the theology of canon law at the Pontifical Lateran University, said he Read more
In a bid to educate the public about the promises offered by adult stem-cell therapies, the Catholic Church has brought together scientists, politicians, Church leaders, students and journalists at a conference in the Vatican. The Church is promoting adult stem-cell research as ethical and scientifically more promising than embryonic stem-cell research, which requires the destruction Read more
Pope Francis has appointed a commission of eight cardinals — including Cardinal George Pell of Sydney — to advise him on governing the Church and reforming the Roman Curia. Observers consider it is significant that the commission includes only one prelate currently serving in the Vatican — Cardinal Giuseppe Bertello, president of the Vatican city-state Read more
Catholic churches and charities in Russia have been targeted in a wave of raids on organisations with foreign links, which the government has labelled “foreign agents”. The raids on non-government organisations across the country prompted the German and French governments to summon Russian diplomats in Berlin and Paris to express their concern. “The Catholic Church Read more
Veteran Catholic correspondent John Allen has delved into the background of Pope Francis as a bishop and cardinal in Argentina and clarified his record on such issues as liberation theology, sex abuse guidelines, civil unions and the former military dictatorship. On the Pope’s record in Argentina, Allen says: = Despite Archbishop Jorge Bergoglio’s reputation as Read more
Pro-life advocates including celebrities and politicians have used Twitter and Facebook to shame national media in the United States for not covering the trial of an abortionist whose clinic has been dubbed the “House of Horrors”. Pro-life groups decided to use social media as a platform for people to voice their frustrations over the mainstream Read more
The number of Christians in the Palestinian Territories where Christ was born has halved since 2000, dropping from 2 per cent of the population to 1 per cent — a “social disaster” in the opinion of a researcher. And in Jerusalem there were 27,000 Christians in 1948, but today there are only 5000, according to Read more