Catholic Church
Activists contest Vatican over gay rights before key Italian vote
By Rosie Scammell — January 23, 2016
ROME (RNS) Gay rights activists demonstrated for civil marriage across 100 city squares, ahead of Thursday's (Jan. 28) parliamentary vote, which would grant same-sex couples legal rights.
David Bowie’s spectacular afterlife
By Laura Turner — January 11, 2016
David Bowie was "not quite an atheist." He could never bring himself fully to disbelief.
Pope Francis: Will you have tequila for me when I’m in Mexico?
By Rosie Scammell — January 8, 2016
VATICAN CITY (RNS) The pontiff is no party animal but he loves to swap one-liners with the crowd.
Supreme Court Justice Scalia: Constitution says government can favor religion
By David Gibson — January 4, 2016
(RNS) In his "sermon," the Supreme Court justice said the principle of religious neutrality has been distorted and “one of the reasons God has been good to us is that we have done him honor.”
Pope Francis surprises an Italian family with a Christmastime call
By David Gibson — December 29, 2015
(RNS) A letter from an Italian boy who wrote the pope because he was worried about his ailing aunt has prompted another surprise papal phone call from Francis.
Philadelphia monsignor to get new trial in sex abuse cover-up case
By Reuters — December 22, 2015
The court said Monsignor William Lynn, convicted of mishandling reports of child sex crimes, didn't get a fair trial because jurors heard too much about priests who molested children.
Is this the first papal selfie? Alas, the viral Pope Francis story that wasn’t
By David Gibson — December 14, 2015
(RNS) The Instagram post was a big hit but the story turned out to be too good to be true -- like some previous papal urban legends.
Detroit archbishop denounces proposals to bar Muslims from U.S.
By David Gibson — December 11, 2015
(RNS) Archbishop Allen Vigneron's criticism is significant because Catholic leaders have been strong defenders of religious freedom in recent years but have been largely quiet in the wake of Donald Trump’s controversial pitch earlier this week to bar all Muslims from the U.S.
Priest who survived ISIS: ‘My interfaith work saved my life’
By Rosie Scammell — December 11, 2015
ROME (RNS) Speaking in detail for the first time since his escape, the Rev. Jacques Mourad admitted he didn't always think he would make it: “It was very difficult above all when they said, ‘Become Muslim or we’ll cut your head off.'"
‘Spotlight’: It’s not just a Catholic problem
By Boz Tchividjian — December 7, 2015
Protestants can learn much from a film about sexual abuse in the Catholic Church.
‘Spotlight’ draws a curious — but no longer outraged — crowd
By Cathy Lynn Grossman — November 23, 2015
(RNS) The film may draw more viewers eager to see Mark Ruffalo and Michael Keaton than folks outraged by a 2002 newspaper expose showing the Boston's Catholic Church leaders covered up for predatory priests.
‘Spotlight’ movie on newspaper’s expose of Catholic child sex abuse a ‘masterpiece’
By Brian Truitt — November 6, 2015
Not only is it an amazingly crafted movie, it’s an important one as well.
Polish vote marks resurgence of conservative Catholic values
By Reuters — October 28, 2015
WARSAW (Reuters) The staunchly Eurosceptic PiS, with a brand of patriotism infused with Catholic piety, takes over from the more secular-minded liberal Civic Platform, which led the country for the last eight years.
Pope Francis’ visit boosted the church. The pope himself? Not so much
By Cathy Lynn Grossman — October 7, 2015
(RNS) A new survey shows the popular pontiff's tour didn't give his own favorability ratings more than a "modest bounce," but he did improve many Americans' view of the Catholic Church.
Pope Francis, Kelly Gissendaner, & ‘unchanging faith in a changing world’
By David P. Gushee — September 30, 2015
Pope Francis and contemporary Roman Catholicism oppose the death penalty. This is a huge change. How do religious traditions decide when doctrines should, or should not, change?
