Catholicism
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.
Lawyers for religious leaders challenging Missouri abortion ban say law imposes beliefs on everyone
By Jim Salter — November 16, 2023
ST. LOUIS (AP) — The lawsuit was filed in January on behalf of 13 Christian, Jewish and Unitarian Universalist leaders who support abortion rights.
Nicaragua’s exiled clergy and faithful in Miami keep up struggle for human rights at Mass
By Giovanna Dell'orto — November 16, 2023
MIAMI (AP) — For Nicaguaran worshippers who have fled or been exiled, the Sunday afternoon Mass is a means of pushing back against the regime’s violent suppression of critics.
