Women Catholic deacons ‘no longer taboo’
Germany’s top Roman Catholic has called for women to be allowed to become deacons, which would enable them to perform baptisms and marriages outside of mass – a novelty for Catholic women.
Archbishop of Freiburg Robert Zollitsch, who chairs the
Kentucky woman ordained as priest in defiance of Catholic church
By Peter Smith
In defiance of Roman Catholic authority and doctrine, the Association of Roman Catholic Women Priests ordained its first Louisville-area priest on Saturday.
Rosemarie Smead of Bedford, Ky., a retired Indiana University Southeast counselor-education professor, was ordained during
Hans Küng on Election of Pope Francis
By Michael Enright
For such a conservative group of middle-aged and elderly men, the Princes of the Church do seem to have a few surprises up the sleeves of their vestments. The 115 cardinals sequestered themselves in the Sistine Chapel
Pope Francis called to restore the Church
Leonardo Boff’s weekly columns are available in Spanish from Servicios Koinonia and in Portuguese on his blog. Some of his older columns are available in English at LeonardoBoff.com.
by Leonardo Boff (English translation by Rebel Girl)
On the
The Pope’s inbox: Top priorities for Benedict’s successor
Pope Benedict XVI’s successor takes the helm at a difficult time for the Catholic Church.
By Michael Hirst
In the West, the Church is struggling to fill pews as congregations dwindle, while the number of priests is also falling.
Meanwhile,
Cleveland priest excommunicated for role in breakaway worship community
By Brian Roewe
Cleveland Bishop Richard Lennon has issued a decree formally excommunicating Fr. Robert Marrone, the pastor who followed his parishioners from St. Peter Church to the independent worship community that formed in the wake of their parish’s closing.
Vatican spokesman brings flowers as women’s second-class status in church comes under scrutiny
BY NICOLE WINFIELD
The Vatican’s spokesman came to his press briefing Friday bearing flowers for female journalists to mark International Women’s Day. “On behalf of all of us men, congratulations and happy Women’s Day!” said a beaming Rev. Federico Lombardi.
Former Catholics say rigid church forced them to leave
Opposition to female ordination and the prohibition on marriage for priests are among the factors causing an exodus from the Catholic Church.
By: Leslie Scrivener
Joanna Manning, former nun, award-winning religion teacher, advocate for the poor and activist-intellectual, was battle-weary.
WHAT THE POPE CAN PRAY FOR
BY JANE KRAMER
In the twelve days since Benedict XVI announced his retirement, I’ve been wondering whether the Church of Rome might not have been better served—at least from the point of view of progressive Catholics—by the Pope keeping his