Catholic Church
Pope Francis goes off script in visit to see Shroud of Turin
By Rosie Scammell — June 22, 2015
VATICAN CITY (RNS) Pope Francis on Monday (June 22) concluded a whirlwind two-day visit to Turin in northern Italy, during which his lively, often extemporaneous conversations covered everything from chastity to the arms trade.
Pope Francis’ environmental encyclical is even more radical than it appears (COMMENTARY)
By Jay Michaelson — June 19, 2015
(RNS) "Laudato Si'" may turn out to be politically influential. It is already theologically revolutionary.
The Earth is becoming a ‘garbage dump’ and other unofficial quotes from environmental encyclical
By David Gibson — June 16, 2015
(RNS) Pope Francis states clearly that global warming is a fact and mankind has contributed to it. Above all, he stresses that everyone has a moral duty to work to mitigate the effects of climate change to avert a worldwide disaster.
More Catholics, fewer receiving sacraments: New report maps changing church
By Cathy Lynn Grossman — June 1, 2015
(RNS) A new demographic report looks at “the three most important indicators of ‘vitality’ for the Catholic Church" -- the number of Catholics, the number of parishes, and the number of priests. Some indicators do not bode well for the church's future.
More Catholics, fewer receiving sacraments: A new report maps a changing church
By Cathy Lynn Grossman — June 1, 2015
Not even the boom of Catholics in the Global South solves a core problem for the church: Rates are falling for baptism, first communion and other essential Catholic ceremonies.
Why the Dennis Hastert scandal has a familiar ring
By Cathy Lynn Grossman — May 30, 2015
Do you hear a familiar bell ring as scandal now envelops former Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert? Something about secrets and sex -- and disbelief? Ding! Ding! Ding! Catholic scandal 2002, anyone?
Ireland is for gay marriage because it is Catholic (COMMENTARY)
By Paul F. Morrissey — May 27, 2015
The Irish are lovers. It doesn't matter who the partners are -- "I promise to love you all the days of my life, so help me God."
Ireland gay-marriage vote a ‘reality check’ for church (ANALYSIS)
By Kim Hjelmgaard — May 26, 2015
About 85 percent of people polled in Ireland's census in 2011 identified as Catholic. The church runs more than 90 percent of Ireland's public schools.
For Mother’s Day, a place to mourn the babies who never came home
By Lauren Markoe — May 6, 2015
(RNS) For decades, nobody would talk about the babies these mothers lost. Now they have a place to mourn.
Cardinal Walter Kasper, ‘the pope’s theologian,’ reveals the brains behind Francis’ heart
By David Gibson — April 3, 2015
ROME (RNS) Rejecting claims that Pope Francis is a theological lightweight, Cardinal Walter Kasper describes Francis as a theologian in his own right whose pastoral approach is setting Catholicism on a new course.
Debate over gays in St. Patrick’s parades roils Irish on big day
By David Gibson — March 16, 2015
NEW YORK (RNS) The New York parade marches down Fifth Avenue on Tuesday (March 17), the saint’s feast day, and Cardinal Timothy Dolan is facing renewed calls from conservative Catholics to step down as grand marshal.
Pope Francis: ‘All I want is to go out for a pizza!’
By David Gibson — March 13, 2015
(RNS) Pope Francis isn't a fan of being cooped up inside the Vatican, and he may not be for very long. That and other juicy tidbits from his two-year anniversary interview.
Two years in, Pope Francis faces headwinds in reforming the Vatican. Here’s how he can prevail
By David Gibson — March 9, 2015
VATICAN CITY (RNS) Transforming the dynamic of Vatican power is key to what Pope Francis considers his greater goal: reorienting Catholicism itself to face the new challenges of the third millennium.
Pope Francis is naming new cardinals. Will any be American?
By David Gibson — December 11, 2014
(RNS) Pope Francis did not pick any Americans when he made his first batch of cardinals, and several U.S. cardinals are very close to 80.
Benedict Groeschel, popular priest and controversial media figure, dies at 81
By David Gibson — October 6, 2014
NEW YORK (RNS) Groeschel was an outspoken opponent of abortion and was quick to defend the church against what he saw as unfair criticism. But his critique of media coverage of the clergy sex abuse scandals also landed him in hot water.