As a matter of urgency, the new pope must extend the gift of marriage to all priesthood candidates. Failure to do that will mean, in less than a generation, a priesthood comprised solely of social misfits and emotionally damaged refugees
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.
Flocks and shepherds
As a conclave gathers to elect a pope, many in the Catholic church want change
WANTED: man of God; good at languages; preferably under 75; extensive pastoral experience; no record of covering up clerical sex abuse, deeply spiritual and, mentally,
Shadow of shame: The conflict facing gay priests
I am delighted that my research and I are referenced in this fine article.
By Dani Garavelli
LOOKING back from a distance of more than 20 years, Fr Joe can see that his decision to join the priesthood was motivated
Cardinal Keith O’Brien: how Britain’s Catholic leader fell from grace
By Catherine Deveney
What is it about a gold mitre, a flowing robe, a flash of cardinal red that so clouds our judgment? It is as if we believe these things hold a kind of magic. Don them and the
Cardinal O’Brien’s confession turns spotlight on Scottish Catholic church
Admission of sexual misconduct exposes former head cleric and church to claims of hypocrisy especially over gay rights
By Severin Carrell
The Scottish Roman Catholic church is facing a series of questions about the conduct of its former leader and
O’Brien priest worries that church wants to ‘crush’ him
Key figure behind allegations of inappropriate behaviour attacks Catholic church’s response to complaints
By Catherine Deveney
A key figure behind allegations of inappropriate behaviour by Cardinal Keith O’Brien has launched a powerful attack on the Catholic church’s response to the
Don’t miss this…
Scottish cardinal admits improper sexual conduct
Thank you for your honesty, Cardinal!
By Joshua J. McElwee
Cardinal Keith Patrick O’Brien, a Scottish archbishop who resigned last week following accusations of improper sexual conduct with priests, has admitted that “my sexual conduct has fallen below the standards
Church needs saving from its dysfunctional structure
By DIARMAID MACCULLOCH
The Catholic Church, aka the western church of the Latin rite, trades on tradition. That is what so fascinates many people: the lure of its continuity, the certainty, the serene provision of answers.
As anyone mildly acquainted