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Former US vice president Joe Biden was refused holy communion at Mass last Sunday. Biden, who is a presidential candidate, is refusing to confirm the reports, saying the incident is part of his “personal life.” The priest who refused to give Biden the sacrament, says based his decision on Biden’s support for legal abortion. “Sadly, Read more
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A change in canon law will make it easier for a religious order to dismiss a member who leaves the community without permission, stays away and does not communicate with his or her superior. Pope Francis amended the Code of Canon Law in a document entitled “Communis Vita” (Community Life). The amendment now includes an Read more
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A Church of England synod has decided to put aside a centuries-old requirement for every church in every benefice to celebrate the weekly Sunday services. The synod says the rules will be amended to say morning and evening prayer need only be held at “at least one church within a benefice, which might include multiple Read more
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Environmental protection is an issue the Vatican’s former top legal advisor says should be included in canon law. Cardinal Francesco Coccopalmerio, president emeritus of the Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts, says caring for the environment is “one of the most serious duties” for the faithful today. Christians should not only “not harm” but “improve” the Read more
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More thought is needed before passing a law requiring priests in Australia to break the confessional seal to report cases of child sex abuse, says Victoria’s attorney general Martin Pakula. In his view the government needs to further consider 24 of the recommendations made by the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse. Read more
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A letter to the German bishops from the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith says Pope Francis has asked the German Catholic bishops’ conference not to publish nationwide guidelines for allowing Protestants married to Catholics to receive Communion at Mass. The letter signed by Congregation’s prefect, Cardinal-designate Luis Ladaria, says Pope Francis has concluded Read more
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Canon law changes mean the way church law is taught will also need to change, the Congregation for Catholic Education says. Pope Francis has amended canon law so marriage annulment cases are handled more quickly, more pastorally and with less expense. Catholic universities should therefore strengthen their canon law programmes, the Congregation says. At the Read more
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The Church must clarify its legislation about the role retired popes should play in future, says Professor Thomas Schüller. Schüller is the head of the Canon Law department at Germany’s Münster University. He is one of several German theologians who have called on the Vatican to establish clear canonical regulations for future popes who resign Read more
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Jeremy Corbyn and his right to receive holy communion is a hot topic in Catholic UK at the moment. Media reports are broadcasting statements about his faith – or lack of it. He’s not a Catholic says one source. He’s agnostic, says another. Perhaps he’s an atheist, says yet another. He has his own opinions- Read more
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A nun has officiated at a Catholic marriage at a church at Lorrainville, 650 km west of Montreal in Canada. Sister Pierrette Thiffault’s authority to celebrate the marriage came from Rome after the Congregation of Divine Worship and for the Discipline of Sacraments agreed she would be suitable to carry out this ministry. In a Read more
