Milwaukee’s Judicial Vicar in a Long-Term Homosexual Relationship?

While Pope Francis has urged diocesan bishops to take more seriously the canonical discipline of clerics, the outgoing chairman of the U.S. bishops’ canonical affairs committee has not taken steps to address canonically reports of public cohabitation by a senior-ranking official in his archdiocese. A spokesperson for Archbishop Jerome Listecki of Milwaukee told The Pillar … Read more

Papal Nuncio Has Isolated Himself U.S. Bishops

When Archbishop Timothy Broglio began on Tuesday morning his USCCB presidential address on the state of the Church in the U.S., he quoted from scripture, urging that “whoever has ears ought to hear what the Spirit says to the Churches.” To most of those with ears to hear, it seems clear that Broglio was talking … Read more

Synod Emphasizes Transparency, But Won’t Reveal Its Cost

The Vatican has not responded to questions regarding the expense it incurred to organize and host October’s synod of bishops on synodality, a month-long meeting of more than 400 people, held in the Vatican’s Paul VI Hall. But sources have confirmed to The Pillar that many of the costs associated with the meeting will be … Read more

From Draft to Final Text: 10 Ways the Synod Report Changed

The report issued at the end of the synod on synodality’s first session evolved considerably from the day a draft was presented to delegates to its Oct. 28 release. An initial draft of the “synthesis report” prompted more than 1,000 amendments after it was shared with participants Oct. 25. The 42-page final report, published Saturday … Read more

Knoxville Priest Weighs-In on Bishop Stika’s Tenure

When Bishop Rick Stika resigned from the Diocese of Knoxville in June, he said in a statement that he hoped to find “relief” from the responsibilities he experienced as a diocesan bishop. But while Stika may now have found “relief,” many Catholics in the Knoxville diocese — including many of its priests — are still … Read more

Vatican Bank Denies Claims its Doing Business with Russia

Vatican City’s commercial bank denied Saturday that it holds deposits and lends money to the Russian state. The charge was leveled by a senior advisor to Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky, who accused the Vatican’s Bank of harboring Russian funds, despite international sanctions. The Institute for Works of Religion “does not receive or invest Russian money,” … Read more

Mass. Priest Charged with Theft While Living with Parish Employee

A Massachusetts priest facing larceny charges lived with a female parish employee for almost 10 years, apparently without intervention from his diocese, according to court documents in the priest’s criminal case. The priest reportedly spent more than $100,000 in parish funds for unauthorized purchases, including a snowblower, a riding lawnmower, and dozens of power tools, … Read more