An Italian priest is worried at the “quality” of people’s confessions he hears and he believes some penitents are misusing Pope Francis’s words. In a letter to the chiesa website last month, the confessor recounted two instances that illustrated what he believes is a trend. One man, who repented of a series of sins against Read more
I’ll admit it: I was dreading reading Marcellino D’Ambrosio’s new book, 40 Days, 40 Ways: A New Look at Lent (Servant Books). It didn’t help that it arrived and demanded my attention on the cusp of fall, when I did not want to think about Lent. (Granted: I never really want to think about Lent. I am not one of those “I love Lent” Read more
Catholics in England and Wales are allowed to eat meat on Boxing Day this year, even though it falls on a Friday, their bishops say. In England and Wales, Catholics are usually required to abstain from meat on Fridays. A spokesman for the bishops noted that Boxing Day, or St Stephen’s Day, falls within the Read more
When I entered the confessional that day I assumed I would be absolved of whatever transgressions I chose to reveal. From what I’ve been told, Father Charles has never been known to withhold his forgiveness and mercy. He understands the frailties of human virtue. He knows about the appetites of the flesh. In fact, I’ll Read more
Several Australian bishops said they would support re-establishing year-round Friday abstinence from meat in their country. Auxiliary Bishop Peter Elliott of Melbourne, Bishop Geoffrey Jarrett of Lismore and Bishop Michael Kennedy of Armidale are among prelates who would back the change. Friday penance regulations were relaxed in Australia in 1985, allowing Catholics to perform an Read more
There have been calls from some quarters to reform Confession, and a recent Tablet article listed many reasons why Catholics said they had stopped going. Even a cardinal, Cormac Murphy-O’Connor, has called for “proper reform to the sacrament” – an idea Pope Francis has signalled he does not want to look at. Recently I came Read more
Starting today, meatless Fridays are ‘back in’ as Catholic practice in England and Wales. Since 1985 it has been possible for Catholics in England and Wales to substitute some other form of penance instead of giving up meat, however the English and Welsh Bishops’ decided to restore meatless Fridays because they believe Catholics forget their Read more