US Catholic bishops urged to listen as they consider Communion document
Updated: 12:40pm (AEDT)Baltimore, USAP Pope Francis’ top envoy to the United States cautioned the country’s bishops on Tuesday that the church needs to listen before it teaches as they deliberated at their fall meeting on a sensitive document about Holy Communion that emerged amid debates over Catholic politicians’ support for abortion. “It is sometimes said […]
US Catholic bishops may dodge rebuke of Biden over abortion
AP While some US Catholic bishops continue to denounce President Joe Biden for his support of legal abortion, their conference as a whole is likely to avoid direct criticism of him at its upcoming national meeting. The highest-profile agenda item is a proposed “teaching document” about the sacrament of Communion. Months of work on the […]
In Rome and at the Vatican, Biden found refuge and welcome in Catholic community
Vatican CityRNS In Rome and at the Vatican, President Joe Biden found a safe haven from the debates taking place back home, where some US bishops argue Catholic politicians should not be allowed to receive Communion if they support abortion rights. Biden was in Rome from Friday to Monday to attend the G20 summit, convening […]
Biden receives Communion in Rome amid ongoing debate in US
Rome, ItalyAP US President Joe Biden received Communion at St Patrick’s Church during Saturday Vigil Mass, a day after saying Pope Francis told him he should continue to partake in the sacrament, despite the opposition of some conservatives in the US upset with his position on abortion. Biden and his wife, Jill, visited the English-speaking church […]
Biden: Pope told me that I should “keep receiving Communion”
Rome, ItalyAP Face-to-face at the Vatican, President Joe Biden held extended and highly personal talks with Pope Francis on Friday and came away saying the pontiff told him he was a “good Catholic” and should keep receiving Communion, although conservatives have called for him to be denied the sacrament because of his support for abortion […]
Biden, Pope to talk virus, climate, poverty at Vatican
Rome, ItalyAP President Joe Biden arrived at the Vatican Friday to meet with Pope Francis, the world’s two most notable Roman Catholics huddling to discuss the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change and poverty. The President takes pride in his Catholic faith, using it as moral guidepost to shape many of his social and economic policies. Biden […]
Biden to meet Pope amid pressure from anti-abortion US bishops
Vatican CityReuters Devout Roman Catholic Joe Biden meets Pope Francis in the Vatican on Friday at a time when the US President is under pressure from conservatives in the Church for his conflicted position in the dispute over abortion rights. Biden goes to weekly Mass regularly and keeps a picture of the Pope behind his […]
It’s official: Rumoured October meeting between Biden and Pope Francis is confirmed
Washington DC, USRNS The White House announced on Thursday that President Joe Biden will meet with Pope Francis at the end of the month, confirming a long-rumoured summit between the pontiff and the second Catholic US president. In a statement, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said the President and first lady Jill Biden have […]
Pelosi meets Pope as abortion debate rages in US; Vatican announces Pope will not be at COP26
Vatican CityReuters Pope Francis met on Saturday with US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a Catholic who has come under criticism from some bishops in the United States for her support for abortion rights. Their meeting took place several weeks before Joe Biden is expected to meet the Pope while the US President is in Rome […]
Flying home, Pope addresses abortion, questions vaccine sceptics
AP Pope Francis said Wednesday that Catholic bishops must minister with “compassion and tenderness,” not condemnation, to politicians who support abortion rights and warned that clerics shouldn’t let politics enter into questions about receiving Communion. Francis was asked en route home from Slovakia about the debate in the US church about whether President Joe Biden […]