Monsignor Charles Pope (sic) explains why some of the younger generation of priests are rescuing the cassock from the back of the wardrobe. “I love the cassock. It is practical, comfortable, defining, and a good memorare for both priest and layman,” he says. Continue reading
Posts Tagged ‘Priests’
Would married priests fix the shortage?
Thursday, June 22nd, 2017
In 1970, there was one priest for every 800 Catholics in the United States. Today, that number has more than doubled, with one priest for every 1,800 Catholics. Globally, the situation is worse. The number of Catholics per priest increased from 1,895 in 1980 to 3,126 in 2012, according to a report from CARA at Read more
Myanmar’s Catholic leaders leading Myanmar’s rebuild
Thursday, June 15th, 2017Myanmar’s Catholic leaders are planning to rebuild their country, which has been devastated by decades of military rule. Last week 72 bishops, priests, nuns and laypeople attended a “Mission planning for nation building” workshop to find a common platform so they could “effectively contribute to the building of the nation”. Read more
Married priests: Pope’s response not so new after all
Thursday, March 23rd, 2017
While Pope Francis’ recent comments on the subject of married priests made headlines around the world, his response falls clearly in line with the thinking of his predecessors. In an interview with German newspaper Die Zeit, published in early March, Pope Francis was asked if allowing candidates for the priesthood to fall in love and Read more
Suicide and depression rising among Irish priests
Tuesday, December 6th, 2016
Suicide and depression and being turned into “sacrament dispensing machines” are part of an ongoing struggle for many Irish priests. Diocesan priests in Ireland are ““often pitied, patronised, reviled, insulted, disrespected, ignored and resented.” These words came from Fr Brendan Hoban at last week’s annual meeting of the Association of Catholic Priests (ACP). Abuse scandals Read more
Mexico: the world’s most dangerous place to be a priest
Tuesday, September 27th, 2016
Fr Gregorio López Gorostieta thought he had done enough to stay safe on the night of December 21, 2014. He had spent a long day celebrating Masses and overseeing a religious festival at the cathedral of Ciudad Altamirano, in southwestern Mexico’s troubled Guerrero state. The end-of-year collection – to fund Asunción seminary, where he taught Read more
Memories from priests who went to battle on September 11
Friday, September 16th, 2016
“It started coming down on us.” Fifteen years ago, Capt. Thomas Colucci led the men of his 31st Street firehouse into what would be the finest hour for New York City’s fire, police and emergency responders: Ground Zero on Sept. 11. After the South Tower collapsed, the Catholic fire captain and his firefighters began digging Read more
New Irish guidelines cover abuse-accused priests’ funerals
Tuesday, July 5th, 2016
When a priest accused of sexual abuse dies, care should be taken as to how his funeral is conducted, new Irish child protection guidelines say. The National Board for Safeguarding Children published updated guidelines on Wednesday. They give recommendations if an accused priest dies before an investigation has concluded. In such a case, “careful thought Read more
There are worse sins than priests having sex: Archbishop
Tuesday, July 5th, 2016An African archbishop has said there are worse sins than priests who have promised to be celibate having sex. Archbishop Peter Akwasi Sarpong, who is Archbishop emeritus of Kumasi archdiocese in Ghana, was responding to people accusing priests of having sex. “Of course it is against their vows and it is inimical to the growth Read more
Canada archdiocese to stop priests being alone with kids
Tuesday, June 28th, 2016Priests and other church-connected people will be forbidden from being alone with children and other vulnerable people in Montreal archdiocese. This is part of a pilot project, which aims to create a “safety net”. The policy will be introduced in a handful of churches in Montreal, starting in September. An archdiocese spokesman said the policy Read more