Synod on the Family
Pope Francis sidelines — but probably can’t silence — conservative Cardinal Raymond Burke (ANALYSIS)
By Josephine McKenna — November 10, 2014
VATICAN CITY (RNS) The stunning demotion may remake Burke into St. Raymond the Martyr, the patron saint of Catholic conservatives.
Cardinal: Pope Francis wants no ‘self pitying church’
By Cathy Lynn Grossman — November 7, 2014
WASHINGTON (RNS) Cardinal Walter Kasper, known as "the pope's theologian," says critics shouldn't fear Pope Francis' focus on mercy.
Pope Francis suggests no-cost annulments in divorce cases
By Josephine McKenna — November 5, 2014
VATICAN CITY (RNS) “The mother church has so much generosity it could provide justice free of charge," Pope Francis said.
Russell Moore, Rick Warren to join Vatican conference on marriage and family life
By Sarah Pulliam Bailey — November 3, 2014
(RNS) Organizers say the new conference will show that while the Catholic hierarchy is split on how to address contemporary challenges to marriage and family life, the church can nonetheless seek common ground with religious leaders outside the Vatican.
Cardinal says church under Pope Francis is a ‘rudderless ship’
By Josephine McKenna — October 31, 2014
VATICAN CITY (RNS) Catholics around the world are "feeling a bit seasick because they feel the church’s ship has lost its way," American Cardinal Raymond Burke said.
Archbishop Chaput ‘disturbed’ by Vatican synod debate, says ‘confusion is of the devil’
By David Gibson — October 21, 2014
NEW YORK (RNS) “I was very disturbed by what happened” at the Vatican's family synod, Archbishop Charles Chaput said. “I think confusion is of the devil, and I think the public image that came across was one of confusion.”
7 lessons from the Vatican’s wild and crazy Synod on the Family
By David Gibson — October 20, 2014
(RNS) Pope Francis' Synod on the Family was more of an opening act than the final word on homosexuality, divorce and other methods of "living in sin."
Catholic bishops narrowly reject a wider welcome to gays, divorced Catholics
By Josephine McKenna — October 18, 2014
VATICAN CITY (RNS) Saturday's vote was an abrupt about-face from Monday's mid-term report from the Synod, which spoke of "welcoming homosexual persons" and acknowledging the gifts they have to offer the wider church.
Pope Paul VI is almost a saint: Here are 4 of his biggest legacies
By David Gibson — October 16, 2014
(RNS) Pope Francis has beatified his controversial predecessor, Paul VI, whom he hails for groundbreaking reforms that are often overlooked. But can Francis succeed where Paul fell short?
US archbishop urges both sides to cool down at Vatican
By Josephine McKenna — October 15, 2014
VATICAN CITY (RNS) Archbishop Joseph Kurtz of Louisville, Ky., president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, stressed that a working document on family issues released on Monday (Oct. 13) is simply that -- a draft.
Conservatives insist Vatican isn’t changing teaching on gays or divorced Catholics
By Josephine McKenna — October 14, 2014
VATICAN CITY (RNS) In what looked like strenuous damage control, the Vatican’s chief spokesman told a packed media conference Tuesday that this was a “working document, not a final document.”
Conscience vs. authority at Pope Francis’ Synod on the Family (ANALYSIS)
By Jacob Lupfer — October 14, 2014
(RNS) The conflict between conscience and authority is the pre-eminent battle underlying the debates at the Vatican's Synod on the Family.
Vatican stuns Catholic world with greater openness toward gays and lesbians
By Josephine McKenna — October 13, 2014
VATICAN CITY (RNS) The document -- and the real or implied changes that may or may not materialize -- stunned church conservatives.
Vatican debate on gays provokes strong reaction from all corners
By Josephine McKenna — October 10, 2014
VATICAN CITY (RNS) Should families welcome their gay son and his partner home at Christmas? Lay Catholics say yes, and one leading cardinal calls it "evil."
Catholic bishops debate: Where does doctrine end and pastoral practice begin?
By David Gibson — October 9, 2014
(RNS) “We have to repeat the doctrine, but the pastoral practice is what we are talking about. That’s why we are having a synod," says Washington Cardinal Donald Wuerl.
