Amazon synod
Pope appoints first cardinal from Amazon rainforest
By By Fabiano Maisonnave and Nicole Winfield — July 1, 2022
RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — There is a religious lens through which to see the acute environmental struggles playing out in the region.
Blocked from serving their church, Catholic women push for female deacons
By Yonat Shimron — September 14, 2021
(RNS) — There is growing momentum to restore women to the diaconate, which would allow women to serve as Catholic chaplains in prisons, hospitals and other settings.
How social distancing may change the way we do church
By Thomas Reese — April 22, 2020
(RNS) — Given the average age and low number of Catholic priests, services that conform to social distancing will have to be led by laypersons, most of whom will be women.
Pope Francis punts on married priests
By Thomas Reese — February 13, 2020
(RNS) — Francis appears to have feared splitting the church over the question of celibacy.
Pope Francis vetoes married priests in the Amazon, slams those who exploit region
By Claire Giangravé — February 12, 2020
VATICAN CITY (RNS) — The papal document, called 'Querida Amazonia' (Beloved Amazon), is born from the discussions of over 180 bishops from all over the world who gathered at the Vatican last fall (Oct. 6-27) to address the social, environmental and spiritual needs of the indigenous people of the Amazon and their habitat.
New book by Pope Francis points to continuity with John Paul II
By Claire Giangravé — February 11, 2020
VATICAN CITY (RNS) — Among the topics discussed in the text are some of the thorniest issues facing the Catholic Church at this moment.
Abortion preeminent issue, global warming not urgent, say bishops
By Thomas Reese — November 13, 2019
(RNS) — Breaking with tradition, the meeting did not include a report on the recently concluded Amazon synod.
The rise of fundamentalist Catholicism
By Mark Silk — November 12, 2019
(RNS) — The recent Amazon synod has exposed just how far conservative Catholicism has been reshaped in the image of American evangelicalism.
Pope criticizes cultural discrimination in new book of interviews from Amazon synod
By Claire Giangravé — November 5, 2019
VATICAN CITY (RNS) — In an interview book published Tuesday, Pope Francis discusses his vision for a missionary church and criticizes groups that discriminate against other cultures and view them as unworthy of receiving the gospel.
What the US bishops can learn from the Amazon synod
By Thomas Reese — October 31, 2019
(RNS) — The American Catholic hierarchy isn't ready to follow the synod's search for real-world solutions. Too many conservatives believe that if we simply return to the old ways of doing things, everything will be fine.
Bishops vote for married priests, call developed world to repent for harming Amazon
By Thomas Reese — October 26, 2019
(RNS) — The bishops, under the leadership of Pope Francis, have once again found their prophetic voice, at least in the Amazon.
As Amazon synod closes, bishops ask the Pope to allow some married priests
By Claire Giangravé — October 26, 2019
VATICAN CITY (RNS) — Meeting in Rome, Catholic bishops from the Amazon recommended that the Pope allow married deacons to become priests in their region as a way to cope with a growing shortage of priests.
Final synod document expected to mention female deacons
By Claire Giangravé — October 23, 2019
VATICAN CITY (RNS) — As word spread that the final document of the Amazon synod will include recommendations about the ordination of women to the diaconate, bishops involved in the synod have taken a stand asking for more female participation and leadership in the Catholic Church.
Saving Amazon rainforest requires change in Western lifestyles, say synod bishops
By Thomas Reese — October 22, 2019
VATICAN CITY (RNS) — The West 'wants the Amazonian people to keep the forest,' said Bishop Karel Martinus Choennie of Suriname, 'but they don’t want to change their lifestyles, and that is the big contradiction.'
Decision time begins for Amazon bishops as synod enters final week
By Thomas Reese — October 19, 2019
VATICAN CITY (RNS) — The synod's final recommendations to the pope could have profound impact not only on the Amazon but the entire church.
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