By Alistair McBay
It seems there is no end to the woes of the Catholic Church in Scotland in the wake of Cardinal O’Brien’s abrupt departure.
The latest reports in the media examine the Scottish Catholic Church’s record on dealing
Well good luck to you sir!
Argentina’s Pope Bergoglio a moderate focused on the poor
By Alejandro Lifschitz
The first Latin American pope, Argentina’s Jorge Bergoglio is a moderate known for his strong negotiating skills as well as a readiness to challenge powerful interests.
He is
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,
Vatican department shares Rome palazzo with gay sauna
A historic palazzo in Rome that houses a key Vatican department is also the home of a well-known gay sauna.
The Holy See paid 20m euros (£17.5m) in 2008 for around 20 apartments in the building for the Congregation for
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.
Church’s two-faced attitude to gays cruel
By Fintan O’Toole
A few years ago, I was on a studio-based television show. One of my fellow guests was a reasonably well-known Catholic priest. He was in a buoyant, perhaps reckless mood, pepped up by the adrenalin surge that
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.
Roman Catholic leaders need to get rid of their groupthink
By Lisa Miller
Recent events prompt a stating of the obvious. The Roman Catholic Church is not now, nor has it ever been, a democracy. It values neither free speech nor freedom of the press. Its leaders are not elected
Unfit for purpose and in denial: a church that has lost all authority
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
Lesbian provisions prompt Catholic bishops to oppose Violence Against Women Act
File under: Cut Your Nose Off To Spite Your Face!
By Lauren Markoe
Five key Catholic bishops are opposing the newly authorized Violence Against Women Act for fear it will subvert traditional views of marriage and gender, and compromise the