Jesuits ask victims to come forward in artist abuse case
Vatican CityAP Pope Francis’ Jesuit order on Sunday asked any more victims to come forward with complaints against a famous Jesuit artist who was essentially let off the hook by the Vatican twice despite devastating testimony by women who said he sexually and spiritually abused them. The Jesuits asked for new evidence against Rev Marko […]
Pope moves to reorganise Vatican doctrine office
Rome, ItalyAP Pope Francis took the first step Monday to reorganise the Vatican’s powerful doctrine office, removing the number two official widely believed responsible for a controversial document barring blessings for same-sex couples because God “cannot bless sin”. Francis named Archbishop Giacomo Morandi, currently the secretary of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, […]
Vatican warns US bishops over get-tough Communion proposals
RNS A Vatican official urged US bishops to tap the brakes on plans to produce a document concerning Communion and politicians, sending a letter to a top US cleric that could dial-down debate over whether to deny President Joe Biden the Eucharist. The letter, dated 7th May and first reported by America Magazine, came from Cardinal Luis […]
German Catholics to bless gay unions despite Vatican ban
Berlin, GermanyAP Germany’s powerful Catholic progressives are openly defying a recent Holy See pronouncement that priests cannot bless same-sex unions by offering such blessings at services in about 100 different churches all over the country this week. The blessings at open worship services are the latest pushback from German Catholics against a document released in […]
Vatican cardinals defend same-sex union blessing ban amid dissent
Rome, ItalyAP Three cardinals close to Pope Francis defended a recent Holy See pronouncement that priests cannot bless same-sex unions as the Vatican faced outright dissent from some Catholic clergy and questions about the pontiff’s approval of the document. Cardinal Kevin Farrell, head of the Vatican’s laity office, concurred Thursday with the pronouncement that a […]
Belgian bishop lashes out at Vatican over gay unions decree
Brussels, BelgiumAP A Belgian bishop has lashed out at the Vatican over its decree that the Catholic Church won’t bless same-sex unions since God “cannot bless sin”. Antwerp Bishop Johan Bonny wrote in an opinion piece Wednesday that he feels “shame for my Church” and “intellectual and moral incomprehension” after Pope Francis approved the “negative” […]
Vatican says church cannot bless same-sex unions
Vatican CityReuters The Vatican said on Monday that priests cannot bless same-sex unions and that such blessings are not valid, in a ruling that greatly disappointed gay Catholics who had hoped their church was becoming more welcoming under Pope Francis. In some countries, such as the United States and Germany, parishes and ministers have begun […]
Vatican clears retired US bishop of multiple abuse claims
Denver, US/Rome, ItalyAP The Vatican has cleared a retired US bishop of multiple allegations he sexually abused minors and teenagers, rejecting lay experts’ determination that a half-dozen claims were credible and instead slapping him on the wrist for what it called “flagrant” imprudent behaviour. The Vatican’s Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith exonerated retired […]
Vatican: OK to get virus vaccines using abortion cell lines
Vatican CityAP The Vatican on Monday declared that it is “morally acceptable” for Roman Catholics to receive COVID-19 vaccines based on research that used cells derived from aborted fetuses, guidance that came after some churchmen in the United States argued that such products were immoral. The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, the Vatican’s […]
Addressing euthanasia, Vatican doctrine tsar reminds media that bishops aren’t infallible
Vatican CityRNS Next time you see a headline relaying juicy quotes from a Catholic prelate, the Vatican suggested on Tuesday, take it with a grain of salt. The head of the Vatican doctrinal office, once known as the Inquisition, made it clear on Tuesday that only the Pope and the bishops of the church as […]