A leading German Catholic bishop responded to the Vatican’s rejection of blessings for same-sex couples on Monday by saying that there were “no easy answers” to the issue. Bishop Georg Bätzing, president of the German bishops’ conference commented March 15 after the Vatican’s Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF) clarified that the Catholic Read more
Some Catholic leaders have argued that all three Covid-19 vaccines are morally acceptable, pushing back against U.S. Catholic bishops questioning the morality of taking coronavirus vaccines. They have said the shots are moral and are needed urgently to save lives. The barrage of differing philosophical opinions on the three approved vaccines were based on how Read more
A manual to protect minors from predatory clergy has been published by the Vatican. Targeted at bishops and religious superiors conducting in-house investigations into allegations of priests who rape and molest minors and vulnerable adults, the long-awaited publication offers advice about how to handle cases of clergy sex crimes. “These documents constitute an ‘instrument’ intended Read more
A Vatican congregation says an allegation of abuse made against a bishop from Texas is ‘manifestly unfounded’. The bishop concerned, Auxiliary Bishop George A. Sheltz (73) of Galveston-Houston has returned to public ministry. He had stepped aside from public priestly duties after being accused with a “false allegation” of sexual abuse from 1971. The Texas Read more
Australian Cardinal George Pell’s days in court may continue for some time, with a Vatican court trial on the cards. He is currently in custody, waiting for three senior judges to consider his appeal against his conviction for child sexual abuse. Pell was jailed in February for six years, with a non-parole period of three Read more
Christians cannot pray like or with Muslims, says Cardinal Gerhard Müller, former prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. Müller, the former archbishop of Regensburg, Germany, made the comment during a reflection in Verona on the theme “Prayer: A gift from God,” telling hundreds of listeners that “the faithful of Islam are not Read more
Canon lawyer Professor Thomas Schüller of Münster University, one of Germany’s best-known canon law experts, has sharply criticised the acquittal of Vatican official Fr Hermann Geissler (FSO), an Austrian priest and a former section head at the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. He called the acquittal a “scandalous verdict” as it had been Read more
The Vatican Supreme Court has acquitted an Austrian priest accused of making sexual advances during confession. Father Hermann Geissler who formerly worked at the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith resigned from his post in January after allegations against him went public. He has always maintained his innocence. The day he resigned, the congregation Read more
The Vatican is calling Cardinal George Pell’s conviction of sexual abuse of minors’ as “painful”, saying it “shocked many people”. In a statement, the Vatican acknowledges the “utmost respect for the Australian judicial authorities” and says the Vatican is waiting for the outcome of the appeals process. It says, (Pell) “has the right to defend Read more
Pope Francis has appointed Malta’s Archbishop Charles Jude Scicluna as adjunct secretary of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. The Congregation is the Vatican office that processes sex abuse cases globally and examines appeals (in matters of grave offence). The announcement came as the Vatican prepares for a summit meeting of the presidents Read more