Will Anyone Ever be Actually Held Accountable in the Case of Theodore McCarrick?

At 93 and apparently suffering from dementia, former cardinal Theodore McCarrick is unlikely to be tried on criminal charges of sexual abuse. It’s likewise doubtful he’ll ever testify in court in pending civil lawsuits against him. And the Vatican seems to have moved on, having issued a long report about him almost three years ago, … Read more

Archbishop of Milan Issues Pastoral Guidance for Homosexual Unions

The archbishop of Europe’s largest archdiocese in terms of number of Catholic faithful has been criticized for releasing pastoral guidelines that appear to define homosexual attraction as love, and equating them to heterosexual relationships with respect to pastoral care. In a pastoral proposal for 2023-2024, Archbishop Mario Delpini of Milan wrote that “particularly delicate attention … Read more

Fernández Outlines His Distorted Vision as the Vatican’s New Doctrinal Chief

In an extensive new interview published Thursday, Archbishop Victor Manuel Fernández has outlined his vision as prefect of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, one that places an emphasis on engaging contemporary culture and real-life experiences, and stressing the importance of charity in both moral theology and theological reflection. Speaking to La Civilta … Read more

Francis’ New Doctrine Czar Warns Bishops Against Judging ‘Doctrine of the Holy Father’

The incoming prefect of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith has warned that bishops — both “progressive” and those from “traditionalist groups” — who think they have a “special gift of the Holy Spirit to judge the doctrine of the Holy Father” are on a road to “heresy” and “schism.” Speaking in response … Read more

Priest Pleads Guilty to Federal Child Sex Exploitation Charges

A Catholic priest pleaded guilty this week to charges of child sex exploitation related to the transport of a minor from South Carolina to Florida several years ago. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of South Carolina said in a press release Thursday that 68-year-old Father Jamie Adolfo Gonzalez-Farias had entered a guilty plea … Read more

Cardinal Sarah: No Synod Can Invent a ‘Female Priesthood’

Cardinal Robert Sarah, prefect emeritus of the Dicastery for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, stressed that “the priesthood is unique” and warned that “no council, no synod” can “invent a female priesthood.” In his conference on the priesthood, entitled “Joyful Servants of the Gospel,” given July 3 at the Conciliar Seminary in … Read more

Cupich Still Planning to Sell Historic Church to Promoter of Immoral Events

Ever since their parish was suppressed in 2016, former parishioners and others connected to St. Adalbert Church in Chicago’s Pilsen neighborhood have tried to keep the church building in the community’s hands. But now, St. Adalbert members are facing the prospect that not only might they lose their bid to reacquire the church and keep … Read more