Essay: Before tackling troublesome issues, Pope Francis insists on synodality
US Catholic commentator THOMAS REESE says – in an article first published on Religion News Service – that he feels like he is on the Titanic while the crew is meeting to talk about how they should listen to one another…
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
Cardinal leading Catholics’ churchwide consultation wrestles with tradition and change
Vatican City RNS Every summit of bishops called by Pope Francis has been ripe with expectations about the possible reforms – and novelties – that it might introduce in the over 2,000-year-old institution. The Pope’s latest effort, the Synod on Synodality, now underway and continuing through the end of 2024, has already fomented ardent debate […]
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 […]
Vatican won’t say if women can vote in 2023 church meeting
Rome, ItalyAP Vatican officials declined on Tuesday to say if women would be able to vote on concrete proposals about the future of the Catholic Church at the end of a two-year process of consultation of ordinary faithful that Pope Francis kicks off next month. For years, women activists and even nuns have pressed to […]
Nun named to voting position at Vatican praises “brave” Pope
Rome, ItalyAP A French nun who has become the first woman to hold a voting position at the Vatican said Wednesday that her appointment is evidence the “patriarchal mindset is changing” as more and more women assume high-level decision-making responsibilities in the Catholic hierarchy. Sister Nathalie Becquart said during a news conference that her appointment […]