By ROY BOURGEOIS
AFTER serving as a Roman Catholic priest for 40 years, I was expelled from the priesthood last November because of my public support for the ordination of women.
Catholic priests say that the call to be a
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
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.
Catholic Patriarchy: What the Papal Transition Means and What Feminists Can Do About It
By Mary Hunt
The obvious question is why any self-respecting feminist would worry about the Pope, the Roman Catholic Church, and its machinations. My simple answer is POWER. Religion is one of the many sources that shape how power is
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 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
The new pope’s three key challenges
An obstructionist Vatican, a chronic shortage of priests and a shrinking worldwide congregation: the list is daunting
By Andrew Brown
When 117 cardinals gather in Rome to choose the next pope this month, the first thing that will determine their
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
It’ll be a miracle if a new pope ushers in real change in a decaying Church
By Colette Browne
THE resignation of Pope Benedict has prompted much debate about his legacy but another question also arises — why do so many people in this country continue to care about an anachronistic institution that doesn’t want them