Catholic priests in Nicaragua sentenced to decade behind bars
Managua, Nicaragua Reuters A Nicaraguan judge sentenced four Catholic priests to 10-year prison terms on Monday, after they were charged with “treason” and “spreading false news,” amid what rights groups call a growing clampdown on critics of President Daniel Ortega. Two Catholic seminarians studying for the priesthood were also sentenced to a decade behind bars […]
Spain’s ombudsman set to lead probe into Catholic Church abuses
Madrid, SpainReuters Spain’s parliament on Thursday overwhelmingly approved the creation of an independent commission led by the country’s ombudsman to investigate suspected sexual abuse of minors by Catholic priests. The commission would be a significant step for Spain, where abuse allegations are only now gaining traction years after similar scandals rocked the United States, Ireland […]
Catholic Church: US clergy shortage eased by recruits from Africa
KWASI GYAMFI ASIEDU, of Associated Press, reports on how Catholic priests from Africa are finding vocations in the US…
Priests differ on call to arms in violence-torn Mexico state
Mexico CityAP Even for the violence-wracked Mexican state of Michoacan, it was surprising when a priest called from the pulpit for parishioners to arm themselves against warring drug gangs. “The cartel gunmen come, they take the livestock, they screw your wife and daughter, and you do nothing,” Rev Alfredo Gallegos said in a sermon. ”Well, […]
COVID-19 vaccinations: Priests navigate Catholics’ fears and consciences in vaccine exemption pleas
ALEJANDRA MOLINA, of Religion News Service, reports on the debate among US Catholics over the granting of religious exemptions for COVID-19 vaccines…
Last of group of 10 Catholic hostages, including two French nationals, freed in Haiti
Port-au-Prince, HaitReuters The last six of 10 hostages who were kidnapped in Haiti earlier this month were released on Friday, including four Catholic priests and two French citizens, according to a senior church leader of the Caribbean nation. The group of 10, five priests and two nuns among them, were initially taken at gunpoint from […]
Catholic officials halt activity in Haiti for nine kidnapped
Port-au-Prince, HaitiAP Roman Catholic institutions including schools and universities closed Wednesday across Haiti in a three-day protest to demand the release of five priests, two nuns and two other people kidnapped more than a week ago amid a spike in violence that the government is struggling to control. Catholic officials also organised Masses to pray […]
Clergy shortage grows to more than 3,000 Catholics for every priest, Vatican data shows
Vatican CityRNS Catholic missions are struggling amid dwindling vocations and the COVID-19 pandemic, according to data released by the Vatican ahead of the World Mission Day this Sunday. The number of priests and ordained leaders has dropped significantly, especially in Europe and America, according to the report issued on Friday by the Vatican Congregation for […]
After another priest is killed in El Salvador, local clergy ask ‘who will be next?’
Vatican CityRNS A Catholic priest was found dead near his car on 7th August in El Salvador, the most recent in a pattern of clergy killings in the country over the past half century. Friends and parishioners of the slain priest called for justice and urged the Vatican “to protect our priests.” Pigeons fly in front of […]
God and goal: Catholic priests and seminarians compete in 13th annual Vatican soccer tournament
Vatican CityRNS Catholic priests and seminarians prepare to toss their cassocks aside and give their all on the soccer field, as Rome launches its 13th annual Clericus Cup. “It was really cool to come to an international place like this, especially coming from the Midwest,” Paul Floersch, a native of Omaha, Nebraska, told Religion News Service […]