Posts Tagged ‘Philadelphia’

US mayor says prelate’s family teachings aren’t Christian

Tuesday, July 12th, 2016

Philadelphia’s mayor has characterised as “not Christian” guidelines issued by an archbishop on a papal document on marriage and the family. Archbishop Charles Chaput of Philadelphia recently released pastoral guidelines in the wake of Pope Francis’s post-synodal exhortation Amoris Laetitia. In the guidelines, one of the topics addressed was divorced and civilly remarried Catholics living Read more

On last day in US, Pope criticises narrow, unbalanced faith

Tuesday, September 29th, 2015

Preaching before more than one million people in Philadelphia, Pope Francis argued strongly against a narrow approach to faith. At a Mass at the Benjamin Franklin Parkway on September 27, the Pope expanded on readings of the day in which Jesus and Moses chided their followers for narrowness. “To raise doubts about the working of Read more

Women’s ordination activists gather to send signal to Pope

Tuesday, September 15th, 2015

Some 500 activists wanting women’s ordination will gather for a meeting in Philadelphia one week before Pope Francis arrives in the city. The US-based Women’s Ordination Conference (WOC) is hosting the Women’s Ordination Worldwide meeting from September 18-20. The gathering will assess the place of women in church and society and develop plans to advance Read more

Priest inmate moved from US prison Pope will visit

Friday, July 17th, 2015

A former Church official jailed for his handling of abuse complaints is no longer housed at a US prison Pope Francis will visit later this year. Msgr William Lynn is serving a minimum three year sentence for endangering children in Philadelphia archdiocese. He had been held at Curran-Fromhold Correctional Center, while he appealed his 2012 Read more

Music supremo quits only months out from US papal Mass

Friday, June 5th, 2015

A liturgical music specialist who was to have a key role in preparations for a US papal Mass has resigned over differences with his archbishop. John Romeri resigned as head of liturgical music for Philadelphia archdiocese, effective on June 30. It was a role Dr Romeri held for five years. It is unclear what role Read more

Chaput criticised for posting bail for convicted priest

Saturday, January 4th, 2014

Philadelphia Catholic archbishop, Charles Chaput, has defended his decision to use church funds to help with the bail of Church official, Monsignor William Lynn. City prosecutors had charged Lynn with felony child endangerment, but the state Superior Court ruled that the law that existed at the time did not cover people who did not directly supervise children. Philadelphia Read more

Twitter campaign shames media over abortion trial

Tuesday, April 16th, 2013

Pro-life advocates including celebrities and politicians have used Twitter and Facebook to shame national media in the United States for not covering the trial of an abortionist whose clinic has been dubbed the “House of Horrors”. Pro-life groups decided to use social media as a platform for people to voice their frustrations over the mainstream Read more

Independent foundation to run Catholic school system in US

Friday, August 24th, 2012

The archdiocese of Philadephia is handing the management of its secondary schools over to an independent foundation in a move aimed at improving finances and increasing enrolment levels. The first independently managed Catholic school system in the United States will be run by the Faith in the Future Foundation, created by concerned Catholics in conjunction Read more

Monsignor Lynn jailed for obeying his bishop

Friday, July 27th, 2012

Monsignor William Lynn “chose wrong” by obeying his bishop, said the judge who sentenced him to prison for three to six years for his handling of an abusive priest. Monsignor Lynn, the archdiocese of Philadelphia’s secretary for clergy from 1992 to 2004, was found guilty of endangering a child. The charge stemmed from his handling Read more

Archdiocese apologises after Philadelphia abuse case conviction

Tuesday, June 26th, 2012

The archdiocese of Philadelphia has offered a “heartfelt apology” to abuse victims and expressed a commitment to child safety and “reform and renewal” after one of its senior clergy was found guilty of failing to protect children from an abusive priest. A jury found Monsignor William J. Lynn, the former archdiocesan secretary for clergy under Read more