Catholic Church
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.
Religion and human rights: An interview with President Jimmy Carter (part one)
By Jonathan Merritt — July 1, 2013
President Jimmy Carter discusses women’s rights, President Obama’s performance on these issues, and what he thinks about the afterlife.
Donations recover at controversial Catholic charity
By David Gibson — June 28, 2013
(RNS) Fundraising for the flagship anti-poverty program of the U.S. Catholic bishops, which has come under intense fire from conservatives and anti-abortion groups, is slowly recovering and even growing slightly after being battered by the recession and sharp attacks on its mission.
After high court rulings, what will religious conservatives do?
By David Gibson — June 26, 2013
(RNS) Beyond issuing denunciations, religious conservatives have a number of possible options for responding to the decisions, including renewing calls to protect religious freedom. But can they agree which path is best?
Buoyed by a new pope, priests gather to urge church reform
By David Gibson — June 14, 2013
(RNS) The Association of U.S. Catholic Priests gathers this month to discuss an agenda for church reform. They point to support among the laity as well as inspiration from the top: Pope Francis.
Update: Philadelphia plans to cremate and bury Gosnell bodies
By Sarah Pulliam Bailey — June 14, 2013
(RNS) Once the appeal period is over, the city will follow normal procedures and cremate and bury the remains of 47 bodies aborted by Kermit Gosnell, despite pleas from the Philadelphia archdiocese to give them a religious burial.
Activists rally to bury the bodies from Gosnell abortion trial
By Sarah Pulliam Bailey — June 7, 2013
(RNS) A spokeswoman for the Philadelphia district attorney said several people have called and tweeted requests for the bodies of babies killed by abortion provider Kermit Gosnell, but the ultimate decision will come from the medical examiner’s office.
Religion & Ethics Newsweekly Video: Andrew Greeley
By Sally Morrow — June 4, 2013
Fr. Andrew Greeley died on May 29, 2013. He was 85. Greeley's peers and family speak about his influence, Catholic faith and the accident that ended his writing.
Catholic leaders urge support for Boy Scouts after shift on gays
By David Gibson — May 31, 2013
(RNS) The U.S. Catholic Church’s top liaison to the Boy Scouts of America is telling Catholic Scout leaders and troop sponsors that the BSA’s new policy welcoming gay Scouts “is not in conflict with Catholic teaching” and they should continue to support Scouting programs.
‘Nuns on the Bus’ kick off immigration tour
By David Gibson — May 29, 2013
JERSEY CITY, N.J. (RNS) With the Statue of Liberty as a backdrop, the “Nuns on the Bus” on Wednesday kicked off a cross-country tour for immigration reform aimed at giving a faith-based push to legislation that is hanging in the balance in Congress.
Is Pope Francis is a heretic? No, but he does raise questions
By David Gibson — May 24, 2013
(RNS) Is Pope Francis endorsing heresy? It might look that way from headlines that made it seem as though the pontiff had said that everyone – even atheists! – were destined for heaven. What he actually said was boilerplate Catholic doctrine.
ANALYSIS: Can gay Catholics find a home in the Catholic Church?
By David Gibson — May 23, 2013
(RNS) As U.S. Catholics grow increasingly accepting of homosexuality, there's going to be inevitable conflict as an uneasy “Don’t Ask/Don’t Tell” policy clashes with gay Catholics' increasing visibility in the form of marriage licenses or wedding announcements.
Survey shows Catholic priests don’t like Mass changes
By David Gibson — May 21, 2013
(RNS) Nothing can upset the folks in the pews as much as changing the liturgy that they’re used to, and that seemed likely to be the case when the Vatican ordered revisions to the familiar prayers of the Catholic Mass. But now, more than a year after the changes took effect, a survey of American priests shows that they are more disturbed by the innovations than their flock.
Godless funerals thrive in ‘post-Catholic’ Ireland
By Paresh Dave — May 21, 2013
DUBLIN (RNS) After 32 years as an interior designer, Patricia Wojnar went back to school for a master's degree in bereavement studies, a hot commodity in Ireland's "post-Catholic'' economy that features growing markets for wedding and funeral officiants who aren't associated with the scandal-scarred Catholic Church.
“Nuns on the Bus” making a stop near you…
By David Gibson — May 20, 2013
The "Nuns on the Bus" are going back on the road, this time for immigration reform, and they just released their full schedule: 31 stops and 6500 miles in three weeks, starting May 28 in New Haven, CT, and ending on June 18 in San Francisco.
