synod
When Pope Francis asks young people what they think
By Thomas Reese — March 20, 2018
(RNS) — 'Too often we talk about young people without asking what they think,' said Pope Francis at the opening of a weeklong meeting with young people from all over the world.
United Church of Christ resolution decries Israel’s treatment of underage prisoners
By Lauren Markoe — July 3, 2017
(RNS) The resolution, which passed Sunday at the church's general synod in Baltimore, also calls on the U.S. to withhold military assistance.
The pope frustrates foes with silence, this priest nails them with tweets
By David Gibson — December 27, 2016
ROME (RNS) The Rev. Antonio Spadaro has become so closely identified with the pontiff that he is almost as big a target as Francis for critics whose complaints are louder than ever.
Defrocked gay Vatican official says he has no regrets
By Rosie Scammell — November 12, 2015
ROME (RNS) Krzysztof Charamsa came out as gay following a long career as a priest that included 12 years as an official in the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, the Vatican’s doctrinal enforcement body.
Cardinal Wuerl: Catholic Church moving from legalism to mercy
By David Gibson — October 27, 2015
ROME (RNS) “The frame of reference is now going to be: ‘What does the gospel really say here?’" said Washington Cardinal Donald Wuerl in a Q&A summing up the momentous Vatican synod that just concluded.
Pope Francis calls for changes to papacy and a more decentralized church
By Reuters — October 18, 2015
Speaking at the 59th anniversary of the Synod of Bishops, the pontiff called for changes in the papacy and greater decision-making authority for local bishops.
Ordain women? Vatican synod gets an unexpected proposal
By David Gibson — October 7, 2015
(RNS) The idea is to ordain them as deacons, not priests. But if the idea floated among 270 leading churchmen flies, it would represent a historic breakthrough for the Catholic Church -- or, perhaps, a return to a New Testament tradition.
At Vatican synod, bishops want an open discussion on divorce, gays
By Rosie Scammell — October 6, 2015
VATICAN CITY (RNS) The 62 bishops who have so far spoken pushed back strongly against remarks made by Hungary’s Cardinal Peter Erdo, who defended the church’s exclusion of divorced and remarried couples from receiving Communion.
Pope opens synod, calls for welcoming church but no gay marriage
By Reuters — October 4, 2015
VATICAN CITY (RNS) Francis dedicated one third of his homily to love between man and woman, but also stressed that the church must be more welcoming, charitable, compassionate and merciful to all.
Intense jockeying on gay issues precedes next week’s Catholic synod meeting
By Rosie Scammell — October 2, 2015
VATICAN CITY (RNS) The Filial Appeal is one of a number of traditionalist groups holding meetings in Rome this week to voice their views. But for every such conference, another has organized by the opposite camp.
Two years in, Pope Francis faces headwinds in reforming the Vatican. Here’s how he can prevail
By David Gibson — March 9, 2015
VATICAN CITY (RNS) Transforming the dynamic of Vatican power is key to what Pope Francis considers his greater goal: reorienting Catholicism itself to face the new challenges of the third millennium.
Pope Francis: ‘There was no clash between the factions … but a dialogue’
By Josephine McKenna — December 10, 2014
VATICAN CITY (RNS) “Some of you have asked me if the synod fathers fought,” Francis said. “ I don’t know if they ‘fought,’ but they spoke forcefully. This is freedom. This is just the kind of freedom that there is in the church.”
Sparring continues as Catholic bishops prepare synod’s final report
By Josephine McKenna — October 17, 2014
VATICAN CITY (RNS) Even as work on the synod's final report continued, German Cardinal Reinhard Marx of Munich put homosexuality back on the agenda telling reporters “exclusion” was not part of the Catholic Church.
Bishops’ debate over gays: Lost in translation?
By Josephine McKenna — October 16, 2014
VATICAN CITY (RNS) The change in the English version was not made in the Italian original, where the term “accogliere,” which means “to welcome,” was kept.
Wisconsin couple to Catholic bishops: The church is failing to address marital issues
By Josephine McKenna — October 7, 2014
VATICAN CITY (RNS) Jeff and Alice Heinzen of La Crosse, Wis., told the pope and 180 bishops attending a synod devoted to family issues that they were alarmed by the number of young people born out of wedlock or living with divorced parents.
