Catholic Church
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.
Calvary’s Brendan Gleeson: An Irish priest lives into universal themes
By Laura Turner — July 31, 2014
CALVARY, a drama about an Irish priest and the eccentric small town he ministers to, will be released August 1. I talked with its star, Brendan Gleeson, and its writer/director, John Michael McDonagh.
SNAP’s clergy abuse victims mark 25 years and eye new targets
By David Gibson — July 29, 2014
(RNS) The leading advocacy group for people who have suffered clergy sexual abuse is wrestling with how to respond to a flood of inquiries from victims from other faiths and institutions, and how to push for changes beyond the familiar precincts of the Catholic Church.
In ‘The Devilers’ comic book, exorcists convene to stop hell from breaking loose
By Brian Truitt — July 16, 2014
(RNS) The main conceit behind new comic book, The Devilers, is the Catholic Church, which has had an armistice with Satan's forces for hundreds of years to keep the demonic element downstairs. Not surprisingly, the deal doesn't hold.
Report: Minnesota Archbishop Nienstedt under scrutiny for same-sex relationships
By David Gibson — July 1, 2014
(RNS) A Minnesota prelate, who had been one of the Catholic hierarchy’s most vocal opponents of gay rights, now finds himself under investigation for allegations he had a series of sexual relationships with priests, seminarians and other men.
Notre Dame signals welcome to gay athletes in new campaign
By David Gibson — May 8, 2014
(RNS) The Catholic Church has taken a lot of heat over its stance against gay rights and for policies that often bar openly gay people from participating in church life. But the University of Notre Dame, an icon of American Catholicism, is going against the flow by supporting student athletes who come out as gay.
Who knew? The late Cardinal John O’Connor’s mother was born Jewish
By David Gibson — April 30, 2014
NEW YORK (RNS) It’s hard to think of a Catholic churchman who was more outspoken in defense of Jews and Judaism than the late Cardinal John O’Connor. Now it turns out that the mother of the New York archbishop was actually born Jewish -- and O’Connor apparently never knew.
ANALYSIS: Conservatives squawk over pope’s tweet on inequality
By David Gibson — April 29, 2014
(RNS) A three-word tweet from Pope Francis -- in Latin -- about inequality left some conservatives dazed and confused over Catholic teachings on economics, or rather Pope Francis' interpretation of them.
Are married priests next on Pope Francis’ reform agenda?
By David Gibson — April 25, 2014
(RNS) The issue came up in discussions between Pope Francis, an Argentine, and a churchman in Brazil, and bishops in Latin America, Africa and Asia have often been the most outspoken about the need to consider a change.
UPDATED: Did Pope Francis really tell a divorced woman to take Communion?
By David Gibson — April 23, 2014
The details about the pontiff's alleged call to an Argentine woman are changing, but if the story is true, it would still be a big deal. Here's why, and what we know so far.
A new Jesuit martyr in Syria, made YouTube appeal
By David Gibson — April 7, 2014
News this morning from the Jesuit curia in Rome says that the Rev. Frans van der Lugt, a 75-year-old Jesuit who refused to leave Syria so that he could remain to work with the poor and refugees from the civil war, has been killed.
What’s it like to have Pope Francis as your boss? Depends where you work
By David Gibson — March 12, 2014
VATICAN CITY (RNS) For some Vatican insiders, having the pope as your boss is a good thing. For others, not so much. “I have even heard people say ‘We are praying for him (Francis) to die as soon as possible,’” says one cardinal.
Cardinal Dolan: Pope Francis opened door to gay civil unions debate
By David Gibson — March 10, 2014
NEW YORK (RNS) When asked if accepting civil unions would make him “uncomfortable,” New York Cardinal Timothy Dolan said it would because it could “water down” the traditional religious view of marriage.
ANALYSIS: Pope Francis’ plan for reform: Convert the church
By David Gibson — March 5, 2014
VATICAN CITY (RNS) As important as such structural reform can be, church leaders and Vatican insiders say Pope Francis is really focused on a more ambitious (and perhaps more difficult) goal: overhauling and upending the institutional culture of Catholicism.
Pope Francis warns cardinals against gossip, court intrigue
By David Gibson — February 23, 2014
“You are not a royal court,” the pontiff tells more than 100 scarlet-clad “princes of the church” arrayed before him in St. Peter’s Basilica.
