The first thing I remember being taught about suicide is that it is selfish. And so in my middling Protestant childhood, while I did not worry about the eternal destiny of people who killed themselves, I did believe suicide was principally a moral failing. In Catholicism, the situation was more complex. Suicide was thought to Read more
Torturing people is a mortal sin, a grave sin, says Pope Francis. In a Tuesday message for the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, Francis said that torture didn’t end in Auschwitz-Birkenau. “Today people are being tortured. Many prisoners are tortured. Today in many places where there is war the same thing happens. Read more
Loving wealth destroys the soul, and cheating workers of their just wages and benefits is a mortal sin, Pope Francis said. Jesus did not mince words when he said, “Woe to you who are rich,” after listing the Beatitudes as written according to St. Luke, the pope said in a morning homily. If anyone today Read more
Pope Francis has said a theology of prosperity, where God rewards a just person with wealth, is wrong. Preaching during Mass at his residence on Thursday, the Pope said Christians err when think such a theology is valid. “You cannot serve God and wealth,” the Pope said, reflecting on a passage from the letter of 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