Catholicism
Russian shelling hits a landmark church in the Ukrainian city of Kherson
By Hanna Arhirova — August 3, 2023
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — The Kherson church, dating from 1781, is one of the city's most notable buildings.
Muslim missionaries accused of trafficking Amazon Indigenous boys to Turkey
By Eduardo Campos Lima — August 1, 2023
SÃO PAULO (RNS) — The case has caused outrage. Muslims have criticized the media’s rapt coverage as Islamophobic, given that the alleged operation was not very different from what many Christian churches have been doing for decades.
Oklahoma parents, faith leaders and education group sue to stop US’s first public religious school
By Associated Press — August 1, 2023
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — A group of parents, faith leaders, and a public education nonprofit sued Monday to stop Oklahoma from establishing and funding what would be the nation’s first religious public charter school.
In Portugal, Pope Francis will sow seeds of his legacy
By Claire Giangravé — July 31, 2023
(RNS) — The pontiff will meet with nearly a million young Catholics for World Youth Day celebrations and share his vision for the future of the church.
A Notre Dame professor sues a student publication over its coverage of her abortion-rights work
By Giovanna Dell'orto — July 28, 2023
(AP) — The case is raising questions about press freedom and academic freedom at one of the nation’s preeminent Catholic institutions of higher education.
Upstate New York Catholic diocese announces $100 million settlement for sexual abuse victims
By Associated Press — July 28, 2023
SYRACUSE, N.Y. (AP) — The Syracuse diocese, which filed for bankruptcy protection in 2020, said there are 411 claims involving 387 people, with some people filing multiple claims.
Vatican and Vietnam agree to open resident Holy See office in Hanoi, as relations improve
By Nicole Winfield — July 28, 2023
VATICAN CITY (AP) — Vietnam formally agreed Thursday to let a Vatican representative live in the country and open an office, a notching up of relations that could have implications down the line for the Holy See’s delicate ties with China.
One thing the pope won’t be able to ignore in Portugal is a legacy of clergy sex abuse
By Barry Hatton — July 28, 2023
LISBON, Portugal (AP) — During a live television broadcast, experts reported in February that at least 4,815 boys and girls had been abused since 1950, most aged 10-14.
Sinead O’Connor was once seen as a sacrilegious rebel, but her music and life were deeply infused with spiritual seeking
By Brenna Moore — July 28, 2023
(The Conversation) — A professor of modern Catholicism looks back at the ways the iconic Irish singer steeped herself in religion, even as she criticized its institutions.
Vatican abuse investigators begin their audit of secretive Peru-based Catholic society
By Franklin BriceÑo — July 27, 2023
LIMA, Peru (AP) — The scandal at the Peru-based Sodalitium of Christian Life, has close parallels to other cases of charismatic Catholic leaders in Latin America being accused of sex abuse.
We want God to be like Batman
By Thomas Reese — July 26, 2023
(RNS) — Deep in our hearts, we want God to beat up our enemies and punish evildoers.
Vatican prosecutors request a total of 73 years in prison for defendants in corruption trial
By Claire Giangravé — July 26, 2023
(RNS) — If convicted, Cardinal Angelo Becciu would become the first cardinal at the Vatican to serve prison time.
Synod raises hopes for long-sought recognition of women in the Catholic Church
By Claire Giangravé — July 25, 2023
(RNS) — Called to examine power structures in the Catholic Church, the Synod on Synodality will grapple in large part with the role of women.
In targeting Catholic Charities, Republicans amplify right-wing Catholic fringe
By Jack Jenkins — July 24, 2023
WASHINGTON (RNS) — GOP representatives, who seem to be taking their cues from deeply conservative Catholic groups that vow to "#defund the bishops," plan to cut funding to a DHS program that supports Catholic relief centers at the United States' Southern border.
Vatican is moving ahead with plan to reunite Ukrainian children taken to Russia with their families
By Nicole Winfield — July 24, 2023
ROME (AP) — The effort follows an explicit request by Ukraine and Russia has expressed an apparent willingness to engage in the process.
