Vatican puts the brakes on Synod on Synodality, pushes ‘controversial’ topics to 2025
Vatican City RNS A three-year process aimed at putting the most pressing concerns of lay Catholics front and centre in the church was reshuffled on Thursday, as the Vatican announced that it plans to push discussion of “doctrinal, ethical and pastoral issues that are controversial” to June, 2025. The controversial issues include allowing women to […]
Vatican synod ends without clear stances on women deacons, LGBT
Vatican CityReuters A month-long Vatican meeting on the future of the Roman Catholic Church ended on Saturday without clear stands on hot-button issues such as women deacons and welcoming the LGBT community. The gathering, known as a Synod of Bishops, followed an unprecedented two-year canvassing of rank-and-file Catholics. The 365 synod participants included 300 bishops […]
Essay: Cardinal Hollerich guides synod with a gentle hand
US Catholic commentator THOMAS REESE says, in an article first published on Religion News Service, that Hollerich hopes the synod can develop a road map for worldwide consultation before the next session of the synod in October 2024…
Pope allows women to vote at upcoming bishops’ meeting
Vatican CityAP Pope Francis has decided to give women the right to vote at an upcoming meeting of bishops, an historic reform that reflects his hopes to give women greater decision-making responsibilities and laypeople more say in the life of the Catholic Church. Francis approved changes to the norms governing the Synod of Bishops, a […]
Pope renews cabinet of cardinal advisers, adds new members
Rome, Italy AP Pope Francis has renewed his cabinet of cardinal advisers from around the world, naming a handful of new members Tuesday and reconfirming others to help him run the Catholic Church. Francis instituted the Council of Cardinals one month into his papacy, on 13th April, 2013, with a primary goal of advising him […]
EU Catholic bishops demand release of clergy detained in Nicaragua
Rome, ItalyAP European Catholic bishops on Wednesday demanded the immediate release of Nicaraguan clergy detained in the government’s crackdown on the Catholic Church, saying they have been falsely accused and are being subjected to unjust persecution. Cardinal Jean-Claude Hollerich, president of the Commission of the Bishops Conferences of the European Union, said European bishops would […]
Synod officials caution bishops to put Catholics’ needs over their own agendas
Rome, ItalyRNS The Vatican officials heading up the Synod on Synodality issued a stern reminder to the world’s bishops that they are called to listen to their flock, rather than jump to conclusions or impose their own agendas. “There are in fact some who presume to already know what the conclusions of the Synodal Assembly […]
Vatican synod document acknowledges calls to welcome women, LGBTQ Catholics
Vatican CityRNS Launching the next phase of the Synod on Synodality, a global consultation with Catholics on the future of the church, Vatican prelates on Thursday acknowledged the clear call in the first round of reports from the faithful for inclusion of women, LGBTQ individuals and the poor. “Let us just look to each person […]
Cardinal calls for political leaders to “act according to conscience” on Afghanistan; Pope Francis sends financial aid to Haiti, Bangladesh and Vietnam
Vatican CityRNS From Haiti to Afghanistan, the Catholic Church sought to address global crises this week through financial and humanitarian aid, as well as heartfelt appeals for political leaders “to act according to conscience”. Since the Taliban rose to power in mid-August and sent Afghanistan spiraling into chaos, thousands of Afghan citizens have attempted to […]