Cardinal Gerhard Müller, the former head of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, has called the Synod on Synodality a potential “hostile takeover of the Church of Jesus Christ.” Pope Francis announced last week that he is adding an extra year to the Synod on Synodality. Pope Francis has described it as a Read more
When Catholics in Germany recently gathered for their latest session of the Synodal Path, there were tensions around a text arguing that current Church dogma; teachings on sexual morality need to evolve. Several bishops at the September 8-11 assembly baulked at the proposal. But Cardinal Reinhard Marx of Munich and Freising, who is currently a Read more
In an interview with Cindy Wooden of the Catholic News Services Cardinal John Dew, the Archbishop of Wellington, said he did not think anyone was arguing that church doctrine should be changed. “We know what the church teaches; we all want to preserve that.” He said that there was, however, a need to change the Read more
Mercy towards those not following Church teaching is emerging as a prominent theme at the synod on the family. According to a media briefing on Saturday, another prominent issue in the first week of synod discussions was the Church’s vision on the indissolubility of marriage. Vatican Radio journalist Romilda Ferrauto told the briefing that the Read more
A cardinal says the Church must look for the good in relationships that don’t conform to a marital ideal, citing an example of a stable gay relationship. Cardinal Christoph Schönborn of Vienna said in an interview with La Civilta Cattolica that the bishops at next month’s synod on the family should not take a stance Read more
The pro-life coalition Voice of the Family has warned the working document for the synod on the family threatens elements of Church teaching. An analysis by Voice of the Family critiqued the Instrumentum Laboris for omissions and ambiguity in wording. The document “threatens the entire structure of Catholic teaching on marriage, the family and human Read more
A US archbishop has softened his tone on Catholics who support same-sex marriage receiving Communion. In 2013, Detroit Archbishop Allen Vigneron wrote that that Catholics who back same-sex marriage and receive Communion would “logically bring shame for a double-dealing that is not unlike perjury”. But this month he told the Detroit Free Press: “Whenever it Read more
The presidents of Africa’s bishops’ conferences have stated they will not adopt the language of movements fighting for the destruction of the family. In a preparatory meeting in Accra, Ghana ahead of October’s synod on the family, the bishops stated “we must begin from the faith, reaffirm it and live it for the sake of Read more
Every priest and parish in Britain and Ireland is to receive a DVD defending Catholic teaching on marriage, the family and sexuality. The DVD comes from the British Confraternity of Catholic Clergy in collaboration with St Anthony Communications, which specialises in catechetical video presentations. It has been launched as the Church prepares for the synod Read more
A Vatican spokesman has said he never intended to sue a Canadian blogger who received a lawyer’s letter threatening possible legal action. Fr Thomas Rosica, CSB, who works as an English language assistant to the Holy See Press office, issued a statement that “it was never my intention to sue” blogger David Domet. Mr Domet Read more