Mafia godfathers – bosses of the scandalous crime syndicates – have been banned from standing as godparents at baptisms or as sponsors at confirmations. Sicilian Archbishop Michele Pennisi, an outspoken Mafia critic, says he wants to challenge the idea that crime bosses have a paternal side. “The Mafia has always taken the term godfather from Read more
Forty-one baptisms were included in a Chinese Catholic church’s 300-year anniversary celebrations last week. Thousands of people attended St Francis Cathedral of Xi’an in China’s Shaanxi province four days of celebrations. The celebrations included music, lectures, a cultural show, the installation of a relic of St Francis of Assisi and the unveiling of a tablet Read more
Pope Francis has described priests who refuse to baptise the children of young single mothers as “animals”. Francis was speaking at a Q&A session near the end of a pastoral conference of Rome diocese on the family. Crux reported that Francis spoke of a “pastoral cruelty” at the Q&A. An example is priests who refuse Read more
The Church of Scotland is considering online baptisms and communions to help reverse a decline in membership. The plans are due to be presented to delegates at the Church’s annual gathering on The Mound in Edinburgh next week. It is hoped the plans will start a debate about how to engage more with parishioners while also Read more
Land adjoining the site of Jesus’ baptism in the River Jordan is to be cleared of thousands of land mines. A British trust is to work on clearing the mines at Qasr al-Yahud on the West Bank of the Jordan, with the co-operation of Israeli and Palestinian authorities and eight churches. Work is expected to Read more
A priest has reportedly told the lesbian partner of a woman whose baby was being baptised not to be on the altar at the ceremony. The baptism took place in the Church of Santa Rita de Cassia in Telde, Gran Canaria, in the Canary Islands. The women were married in a civil ceremony in 2012 Read more
The Vatican has stated that people with transsexual behaviours cannot be godparents. The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith issued this directive in the case of a Spanish transsexual person who sought to be godfather to a nephew. Alex Salinas, 21, was born female, but holds an ID card identifying her as a male. Read more
A Spanish bishop has reversed a decision not to allow a woman who identifies as a man to be a godparent. Two weeks ago, Bishop Rafael Zorzona Boy of Cádiz and Ceuta determined that Alex Salinas, 21, could not be a godparent at her nephew’s Baptism. But the woman, who has not yet undergone a Read more
A Spanish woman who identifies as a man and plans to undergo a sex-change operation has been refused permission to be a godparent of her nephew. Bishop Rafael Zornoza Boy of Cadiz and Cueta determined that Alex Salinas, 21, cannot be a baptismal sponsor because of canonical requirements that a sponsor live in accordance with Read more
A Church of England vicar has formally called for a new liturgy akin to baptism that would celebrate a newly transgender person’s new identity and name. Rev. Chris Newlands has put forward a motion for the church’s General Synod to consider. The vicar said he was asked about re-baptism by a church member who had Read more