Unlike everyone else who witnessed the Holy Father taking a phone call in the middle of a General Audience in St. Peter’s Square the other day, I was not the least bit surprised. And why should I be, since I was the one who made the call? No sooner had I dialed the number than … Read more
The Association of US Catholic Priests (AUSCP) has replaced a keynote speaker at its 12th Annual Assembly (taking place June 12-15 at the University of San Diego) with a university Theology professor who claims to be “married” to another man. Cardinal Louis Tagle had to cancel his participation in the Assembly because he had been … Read more
An order of nuns in Arlington received a letter from a Catholic Bishop, blaming a lawsuit they filed for inciting “hatred and animosity” against him, the attention of international media, and hindering his power to investigate the Reverend Mother. The letter from Michael Olson, the Bishop of Fort Worth, denied a request from the … Read more
I was asked recently to read the North American “Final Document” for the “Synod on Synodality” and offer my opinion. I am the kind of theological nerd who loves papal encyclicals, but it was pure misery slogging through the “Final Document.” It’s not something written to inspire the hearts and minds of the faithful, but … Read more
The Archbishop of St. Louis will close 35 parishes and reassign 155 priests in the most sweeping reorganization of the Catholic church in St. Louis history. After 18 months of waiting, Catholics learned on Saturday the fate of their priests and parishes in the downsizing of the archdiocese called “All Things New.” The changes, which … Read more
Pope Francis has called for world leaders to implement an “end” to the “era of fossil fuel,” in his message released for the ecumenical Season of Creation taking place later this year. “Let us heed our call to stand with the victims of environmental and climate injustice, and to put an end to the senseless … Read more
Your browser does not support the video tag. Three former students at a Massachusetts Catholic high school have filed a lawsuit against Boston’s Cardinal Sean O’Malley and other Church leaders because of alleged abuse committed by the school’s vice principal. Attorney Mitchell Garabedian on Monday announced that he had filed a May 5 lawsuit … Read more
A lawsuit filed in Massachusetts alleges that the current head of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland was one of three high-ranking members of the Catholic Church who were negligent in allowing an administrator at Arlington Catholic High School to prey on minors a decade ago. Bishop Robert Deeley, who as vicar general and moderator … Read more
Pope Francis called the migration crisis between Mexico and the United States a “serious problem” and praised a U.S. bishop working along the border during an interview with Telemundo journalist Julio Vaqueiro. In the interview, broadcast May 25, the pope was shown photos of a baby wrapped in a blanket and placed inside a suitcase … Read more
Ohio’s Catholic Diocese of Columbus will close 15 churches as part of a parish reorganization and merger plan, but Bishop Earl Fernandes emphasized new possibilities for growth, especially if lay Catholics take on more responsibility for the Church’s future. “When I arrived, I said I’m not interested in presiding over 25 years of decline in … Read more