Catholicism
Pope Francis says he has a lung inflammation but will go to Dubai this week for a climate conference
By Frances D'emilio — November 27, 2023
VATICAN CITY (AP) — Francis gave the traditional noon blessing in an appearance televised live from the chapel in the Vatican hotel.
Oklahoma Christian leaders seek to join suit opposing state-funded Catholic school
By Fiona André — November 22, 2023
(RNS) — St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School could become the country’s first publicly funded religious charter school.
Confusion follows Pope Francis’ audience with Israeli and Palestinian delegations
By Claire Giangravé — November 22, 2023
(RNS) — The Vatican denied that Francis referred to the Israeli attacks in Gaza as genocide.
Jury acquits Catholic priest in Tennessee who was charged with sexual battery
By Associated Press — November 22, 2023
SEVIERVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The charges centered on allegations from February 2020 regarding Punnackal's actions toward the parishioner
A French bishop is accused of attempted rape in latest scandal to hit Catholic Church in France
By Associated Press — November 22, 2023
PARIS (AP) — The Bishops' Conference of France said the accused bishop, Georges Colomb, contests the charge and deserves the presumption of innocence.
Church Militant founder Michael Voris resigns
By Jack Jenkins — November 21, 2023
(RNS) — Michael Voris was asked to resign for ‘breaching the Church Militant morality clause,’ according to a press release.
How a game designer turned Jesuit ended up writing about space religion
By Bob Smietana — November 21, 2023
(RNS) — In writing one of Starfield’s religions, Shane Liesegang drew on his studies as a Jesuit priest in training.
Pope Francis voices ‘concern’ over German Synodal Path
By Claire Giangravé — November 21, 2023
VATICAN CITY (RNS) — In a letter to German Catholics, Pope Francis said its proposals risk moving away from the Catholic Church.
For this group of trans women, the pope and his message of inclusivity are a welcome change
By Trisha Thomas and Nicole Winfield — November 21, 2023
TORVAIANICA, Italy (AP) — For the marginalized trans community of Torvaianica, it was just the latest gesture of inclusion from a pope who has made reaching out to the LGBTQ+ community a hallmark of his papacy.
Christian conservatives flock to former telenovela star in Mexico’s presidential race
By MarÍa Teresa HernÁndez — November 21, 2023
MEXICO CITY (AP) — Eduardo Verástegui speaks against LGBTQ+ inclusion, and if elected, he says he would do anything in his power to reverse abortion access.
Catholic leaders meet with White House on climate change
By Jack Jenkins — November 17, 2023
(RNS) — Bishop Edward Weisenburger of Tucson said he told White House officials that the issue of climate change 'is a matter of ethics, spirituality and our faith.'
Hong Kong’s Roman Catholic cardinal says he dreams of bishops from greater China praying together
By Kanis Leung — November 17, 2023
HONG KONG (AP) — Joseph Li's arrival in Hong Kong on Monday at the invitation of cardinal Stephen Chow marked the first-ever official visit by a Beijing bishop to the city.
To remake church power in Francis’ vision, synod calls for changes to canon law
By Claire Giangravé — November 16, 2023
(RNS) — Canon law already allows for the participation of lay Catholics, but the role of bishops — and even the pope — might require revisions to the code that runs the church.
US bishops fumble the ball on global warming and synodality
By Thomas Reese — November 16, 2023
(RNS) — One can only wonder how different the bishops' meeting would have been if they had consulted in a synodal fashion with the laity.
UK archaeologists use metal-detecting hobbyists’ finds to study medieval faith
By David I. Klein — November 16, 2023
(RNS) — Archaeologists hope to capitalize on a local fad for metal detecting to examine pilgrimage and personal piety in areas where the written record is thin.