Catholic Church
Poll: Catholics agree with Pope Francis that church is ‘obsessed’ with moral issues
By David Gibson — October 4, 2013
(RNS) The survey shows that two in three adult Catholics said they agreed with Pope Francis' observation that the church has become too focused on issues such as homosexuality, abortion and contraception.
Pope Francis fires a warning shot at church’s ‘top-down’ bureaucracy
By David Gibson — October 1, 2013
(RNS) Pope Francis made clear that a chief evil in the church was the “narcissism” of its leaders, even calling the papal court a "leprosy of the papacy."
Survey: Hispanics like Pope Francis and the Democratic Party
By Cathy Lynn Grossman — September 27, 2013
AUSTIN, Texas (RNS) Hot button issues with conservative Christians, such as abortion and same-sex marriage, are not as critical to Hispanics. Topping their list of critical issues: jobs and unemployment, health care costs and the quality of public schools.
Billy Graham’s grandson: evangelicals ‘worse’ than Catholics on sex abuse
By Sarah Pulliam Bailey — September 26, 2013
AUSTIN, Texas (RNS) "Protestants can be very arrogant when pointing to Catholics," said Boz Tchividjian, a grandson of evangelist Billy Graham and executive director of Godly Response to Abuse in the Christian Environment (GRACE), which has investigated sex abuse allegations.
5 things we learned about Pope Francis from his blockbuster interview
By David Gibson — September 20, 2013
(RNS) Here are five broader insights that this wide-ranging interview revealed about Pope Francis -- and why they will be keys to reading his pontificate, and perhaps the future of Catholicism.
Excerpts from Pope Francis’ explosive new interview
By David Gibson — September 19, 2013
(RNS) Pope Francis has given a lengthy, wide-ranging interview with journalists from his own Jesuit order in which he made a number of stunningly frank comments that are likely to rattle the church and cement his reputation as a pastoral rather than a doctrinal leader. Here are excerpts featuring his most provocative comments, plus links to the full transcript.
7 Questions: Sr. Jeannine Gramick on space for gay Catholics
By Michael J. O'Loughlin — September 15, 2013
An American nun has fought for LGBT rights in the Catholic Church since 1977. 7 Questions with Sr. Jeannine Gramick.
ANALYSIS: Pope Francis’ outreach to atheists not as controversial as it seems
By David Gibson — September 12, 2013
(RNS) Worried observers could have mistaken Pope Francis' pastoral gesture to atheists as an effort to dilute the gospel rather than what he really intended -- an evangelical outreach intended to bring nonbelievers closer to Christ.
ANALYSIS: Is ‘Just War’ doctrine another victim of the Syrian conflict?
By David Gibson — September 11, 2013
(RNS) The central problem is not that the just war doctrine is being dismissed or condemned, but that both sides in the debate over Syria are citing just war theory, but are reaching diametrically opposed conclusions.
Pope Francis, the ‘cold-call pope,’ reaches out and touches a lot of people
By Alessandro Speciale — September 6, 2013
Francis has been dubbed the "cold-call pope" due to his penchant for picking up the phone and calling all sorts of folks. But his habit can also encourage hoaxes and pranksters, and the Vatican this week had to deny two reports of alleged papal phone calls.
Italian school seeks to revive Catholic dominance of sacred art
By Alessandro Speciale — September 6, 2013
FLORENCE, Italy (RNS) The Sacred Art School puts a special emphasis on depiction of the human figure, with students learning the anatomy of bones and muscles just as Leonardo Da Vinci did five centuries ago.
Pope calls despairing single pregnant mom, offers to baptize her child
By David Gibson — September 6, 2013
The "cold-call pope," as Francis, has been dubbed, was at it again, phoning a Roman woman who wrote to him in despair. He said he would baptize her infant if she couldn't find a willing priest; she said she'll call the child "Francis" if it's a boy. Francis has already surprised his cobbler with a phone call and counseled a worried Italian teen and an Argentine rape victim.
Reformist priest sees potential ally in Pope Francis
By Kevin Eckstrom — July 22, 2013
WASHINGTON (RNS) The Rev. Helmut Schuller is the key organizer behind a group of about 430 Austrian priests who are openly challenging the hierarchy on allowing women priests, married priests, same-sex marriages and lay Catholics' voice in the election of bishops.
Priests’ reform group charts middle course
By David Gibson — July 2, 2013
(RNS) The head of the Association of U.S. Catholic Priests said the middle course charted by the 140 delegates will promote dialogue, not lay down markers for a confrontation with the hierarchy.
Religion and human rights: An interview with President Jimmy Carter (part two)
By Jonathan Merritt — July 1, 2013
President Jimmy Carter discusses women’s rights, DOMA, and the afterlife.
