The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith might not consider a commission’s report on the Medjugorje phenomenon until after the northern summer. There had been a report in Italian media that the CDF had considered the report – by a commission led by Cardinal Camillo Ruini – at a “feria quarta” meeting on June Read more
Pope Francis has approved a new system of accountability for bishops who don’t appropriately handle accusations of clergy sex abuse. Power will be given to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith to judge bishops “with regard to crimes of the abuse of office when connected to the abuse of minors”. A new office Read more
Rome has appointed the superior-general of the Society of St Pius X as a first-instance trial judge in a case involving a Lefebvrian priest. The move by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith was announced by SSPX superior-general Bishop Bernard Fellay during a homily. The Secretary of the Pontifical Commission Ecclesia Dei, Archbishop Read more
The Vatican has denied that Pope Francis’s encyclical on the environment had been delayed over doctrinal fears. Veteran Vaticanista Sandro Magister claimed on his blog Settimo Cielo on May 11 that the Pope had “binned” the first draft of the encyclical in March. Magister said the Pope feared the first draft would have been “demolished” Read more
A public event involving a Medjugorje seer in the United States this month was cancelled at the request of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. But Ivan Dragicevic reportedly had an “apparition” in a private residence in a town in Missouri instead. According to the Medjugorje Today website, Mr Dragicevic “consoled” about 75 Read more
A victim of clergy sexual abuse has offered to lead the Vatican’s child protection commission in Rome. Peter Saunders, a member of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors, told The Tablet he would like to see the commission have wider powers. He would like to see the commission’s remit extended so it is Read more
A silenced Irish theologian says the prefect of the Church’s doctrinal watchdog is head of a Vatican faction opposed to Pope Francis. Redemptorist Fr Tony Flannery told an Irish radio show that Cardinal Gerhard Muller, prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, leads the anti-Francis faction in the Vatican. “He would generally Read more
Pope Francis has created a new commission to hear appeals of priests and bishops accused of what the Church considers grave crimes. These crimes include sexual abuse of minors, wrongful use of the sacrament of penance, heresy, apostasy and the attempted ordination of women. An edict approved by Francis establishes a new seven-member “college” inside Read more
Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith, Doctrinal Note on some questions regarding The Participation of Catholics in Political Life The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, having received the opinion of the Pontifical Council for the Laity, has decided that it would be appropriate to publish the present Doctrinal Note on some questions regarding Read more
A distinguished American feminist theologian says post-Vatican II renewal has not taken place in the Church’s hierarchy. Fordham University theologian Sr Elizabeth Johnson told an assembly of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious in Nashville that tension between the Vatican and women religious has historical, sociological and ecclesiastical roots. But a solution could be found, Read more