In a first in 600 years, two popes meet over lunch
Pope Francis has travelled to Castel Gandolfo to have lunch with his predecessor Benedict XVI in an historic and potentially problematic melding of the papacies that has never before confronted […]
French Muslim Leader on Papacy: ‘A New Beginning Is Necessary’
Dalil Boubakeur is one of France’s most prominent Muslims. In a SPIEGEL ONLINE interview, he discusses what retiring Pope Benedict XVI did wrong in bridging the Muslim-Catholic divide and how […]
The Last Supper: Germany’s Great Church Sell-Off
Epigraph: “He (Allah) it is Who has sent His Messenger, with guidance and the Religion of truth, that He may make it prevail over all other religions. And sufficient is Allah […]
Church and State: Where Catholic Beliefs and Public Needs Collide
By Frank Hornig, Barbara Schmid, Fidelius Schmid and Peter Wensierski SPIEGEL.DE Rape victims are being turned away, and divorced employees are losing their jobs. Catholic hospitals, kindergartens and nursing homes […]
Mea culpa: Nuns admit to past mistakes in children’s homes
by Clare O’Dea in Brunnen, swissinfo.ch An independent investigation into allegations of abuse at children’s homes run by the Swiss Ingenbohl Sisters of Mercy has found serious failings by the […]
After abuse scandal, Pope appoints new head of Irish church
STORY SUMMARY Pope Benedict on Friday appointed the new head of the Roman Catholic Church in Ireland to succeed Cardinal Sean Brady, whose tenure has been plagued by scandal over […]
Jesus ‘Used to Be Jewish’? That’s Not What the Gospels Say
Epigraph: “And remember when Jesus, son of Mary, said, ‘O children of Israel, surely I am Allah’s Messenger unto you, fulfilling that which is before me of the Torah, and […]
Jesus son of Mary
Christmas Day is a holiday in the Western world observed to commemorate the birth of Jesus(as). Jesus Christ(as) is amongst the best known and most influential historical figures and yet […]
Vatican official warns of mediocrity in American Christianity
SOURCE: CATHOLIC NEWS AGENCY Vatican City, Dec 11, 2012 / 12:03 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- An official for the Vatican’s Latin America commission has warned against a “gray pragmatism and mediocrity” that he believes has infiltrated Christianity in America. Professor Guzman Carriquiry, secretary for the Pontifical Commission for Latin America, made […]
Arabic makes debut at papal audience with eye on region
Reuters | Oct 10, 2012 | JORDAN TIMES VATICAN CITY — Arabic made its debut as one of the official languages at Pope Benedict’s weekly general audiences on Wednesday as […]
Cardinal Called Church ‘200 Years Out of Date’ Soon Before Death
Source: The New York Times By REUTERS ROME (Reuters) — The former archbishop of Milan and papal candidate Cardinal Carlo Maria Martini said the Roman Catholic Church was “200 years […]
Living in the Lap of Luxury: Bishop’s Extravagant Behavior Triggers Uproar
SOURCE: SPIEGEL.DE He extols the virtues of poverty and humility, but the German bishop of Limburg enjoys first-class flights and a luxurious new living complex. As the truth comes out […]
China bishop, named by Rome, held in seminary -source
By Sui-Lee Wee SWISSINFO.CH BEIJING (Reuters) – A Chinese priest who publicly quit the state-sanctioned Catholic Church and was made bishop with the pope’s approval was taken away by officials last weekend and is being held in his seminary, a source said on Tuesday, in a move likely to further […]
Denial no option in Catholic Church’s sexual abuse scandals: Vatican official
Courtesy Reuters: The Roman Catholic Church has sometimes been in denial over the sexual abuse of children by clergy but must now move forward to face up to the scandal, the Vatican’s top official for the issue said on Friday. In an interview with Reuters Television, Monsignor Charles Scicluna said he […]
Finding a new role for churches: Need for a new message
Reuters:John Lloyd ……….This “hunger to be more serious” is acute now, in Christmas week, when, in the countries of long Christian tradition, the broadcast air is replete with carols, sacred music and invocations to rejoice in a miracle birth. It is a hunger which also contains something of a languorous […]
Study says Dutch Catholic Church sexually abused thousands, bishops apologise
Reuters: Tens of thousands of children have been victims of sexual abuse by the Roman Catholic Church in the Netherlands since 1945, an independent commission said on Friday, criticizing what it called the church’s cover-up and culture of silence. Church leaders said the findings filled them with shame and sorrow […]
Bishop’s sex education remarks criticised
The bishop of the diocese of Basel, Felix Gmür, has spoken out against a controversial statement about sex education by the bishop of Chur, Vitus Huonder. Gmür told the SonntagsZeitung newspaper that “teaching about human sexuality is the job of the school. It shouldn’t be relinquished”. Gmür, a member of […]