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,
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
A Papal Surrender?
I thought this was a particularly insightful article. A bit dated, but still.
By Paolo Flores d’Arcais
“There’s no place for a Pope Emeritus,” John Paul II (born Karol Józef Wojtyła) declared dryly as recently as 1994. Yet beginning at
Strong policies on abusive priests vital, O’Malley says
Ya gotta love this guy!
By Lisa Wangsness
Cardinal Sean P. O’Malley said Tuesday that the next pope must make sure the Roman Catholic Church adopts measures to deal with bishops whose “malfeasance” allowed abusive priests to remain in ministry.
College of Cardinals imposes media blackout
These old men will never get that their pathological need for secrecy is one of the main reasons their church is in crisis. When all else fails, redouble the effort to keep the lid on.
By Jason Horowitz
The College
Rome exhibition takes aim at the Church as papal vote looms
By Naomi O’Leary
As cardinals flock to Rome to choose the next pope, two artists have taken the opportunity to stage an exhibition taking aim at the wealth of the Roman Catholic Church and the sex abuse scandals that plagued
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
Vatican ‘knew of Cardinal O’Brien claims’
THE Vatican knew of allegations against Cardinal Keith O’Brien five months ago, it was claimed today.
Reports said a priest lodged a complaint in October about “inappropriate behaviour” by the former Archbishop of St Andrews and Edinburgh in 2001.
The