Posts Tagged ‘John Paul II’

Vulnerable adult definition clarified by Vatican

Thursday, February 8th, 2024
Vulnerable adult

The Vatican has narrowed the definition of cases directly overseen by its main doctrinal office, the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith. On January 30, the dicastery announced that it would specifically investigate and judge cases involving individuals “who habitually have an imperfect use of reason.” This announcement delineates the jurisdiction of the doctrinal Read more

Vatican II and synodality: a friendly response to Joan Chittister

Monday, June 19th, 2023

We are now just a few months away from the October 2023 assembly of the Synod on the “synodal process”. A second assembly is scheduled for October 2024. Both will be held at the Vatican. The working document for this first assembly is to be unveiled to the press on June 20 and the names Read more

A mistake to canonise popes like John Paul II

Thursday, November 19th, 2020
John Paul II

The recent report detailing the Vatican’s response to the scandal surrounding ex-Cardinal Theodore McCarrick shows why it’s a mistake to canonise popes, or anyone quickly after their deaths. According to the Vatican report released last week, Pope John Paul II received warnings about McCarrick from Vatican officials and New York Cardinal John O’Connor in 1999. Read more

Open letter to the US Catholic bishops: It’s over

Monday, November 12th, 2018
it's over

Dear brothers in Christ, shepherds, fellow pilgrims, We address you as you approach this year’s national meeting in Baltimore because we know there is nowhere left to hide. It’s over. All the manipulations and contortions of the past 33 years, all the attempts to deflect and equivocate — all of it has brought the church, Read more

The unintended and horrible consequences of bad good intentions

Monday, October 15th, 2018
bad good intentions

In the early centuries of the church’s life, there were three so-called “mortal” sins: adultery, murder and apostasy. All three were sins against the life and unity of the community. They resulted in excommunication, separation from the community, until a penitential restoration of communion. By the time, many centuries later, when I was learning the Read more

Facing John Paul II’s legacy in sex abuse crisis

Monday, October 8th, 2018
John Paul II

After the Vietnam War ended, U.S. military leaders recognized that they could not grasp what went wrong and begin to fix it unless everyone could speak with absolute candor. Every crisis demands the same, including the sex abuse crisis. So, while it is always a mistake to try and figure out what the crazies at Read more

Papal medalist Stephen Hawking honoured by Vatican

Monday, March 19th, 2018

A series of tweets from the Vatican express sorrow and prayers for Stephen Hawking who died last week. Hawking was an esteemed member of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences. St John Paul II named Hawking a member of the Academy in 1986. Its members are chosen on the basis of their academic credentials and professional Read more

Thomas Merton on Christian nonviolence

Thursday, June 15th, 2017

On 8 December of last year, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception of Mary, Pope Francis released his message for the celebration of the Fiftieth World Day of Peace. It was titled, “Nonviolence: A Style of Politics for Peace.” In addition to this message, Pope Francis used Twitter in the days following its release to Read more

Important facts about the John Paul II assassination attempt

Thursday, May 18th, 2017

On May 13, 1981, thirty-six years ago, Pope John Paul II was on the brink of death. I wasn’t alive, but I’ve seen news reports from the time, and it’s horrifying to think what the faithful, and the world where going through. Like I said, I wasn’t born yet, and I’ve discovered some incredible facts Read more