German Catholic Bishops Welcome Initiative Seeking Change in Church Teaching on Sexuality
Screenshot from Deutsche Bischofskonferenz Bishop Helmut Dieser, chairman of the Synodal Way forum on ‘Living in Successful Relationships,’ welcomes the #OutInChurch campaign, Jan. 24, 2022. The initiative, backed publicly by 125 people including priests, religion teachers, and Church employees, also appealed for blessings and “access to the sacraments” for same-sex couples.
Ukraine Nunzio: the Pope’s closeness heartens the soul
Pope Francis has proposed this Wednesday, 26 January, as a day of prayer for peace for Ukraine, and has expressed his concern over the increasing tensions that threaten peace and security in Ukraine and in the rest of Europe. In an interview with Vatican News, Archbishop Visvaldas Kulbokas, the Apostolic Nuncio to Ukraine, speaks of […]
Cardinal Czerny calls for prayers and solidarity for Tonga
The acting Prefect of the Dicastery for promoting Integral Human Development presides over a prayer service for devasted Tonga, reminding that the recent tsunami in the Pacific island shows, once again, that man is not omnipotent and depends on God for all things. Read all
German Catholic bishops welcome initiative seeking change in Church teaching on sexuality
Bishop Helmut Dieser, chairman of the Synodal Way forum on ‘Living in Successful Relationships,’ welcomes the #OutInChurch campaign, Jan. 24, 2022. / Screenshot from Deutsche Bischofskonferenz YouTube channel. Aachen, Germany, Jan 25, 2022 / 04:15 am (CNA). German Catholic bishops on Monday welcomed an initiative that is calling for a change in Church teaching on […]
Confirming my son during the COVID-19 pandemic
Commentary: It had been a difficult trip to get to my son’s confirmation ceremony. For a kid with autism and anxiety, the road was rockier than usual. When he was finally ready to be confirmed, COVID-19 complicated the situation.
Pope Francis' 'alliance' between the old and the young: An interview with Fr. Antonio Spadaro
Pope Francis’ belief that elderly wisdom should be shared with the young led to his participation in a new Netflix documentary series. The series’ editorial consultant told NCR about the pope’s hands-on collaboration in the process.
The 'new evangelization' has problems, but a synodal approach can help
Commentary: Often our evangelization efforts are linked with bad theology and clerical attitudes. A better approach would be to realize that everything we do as Catholics is a touchpoint of evangelization.
Links: Dorothy Day's canonization controversies; money in politics; smog over the Olympics
Michael Sean Winters: Millionaires flood Senate races with campaign contributions; Garvey’s attack on scientism is ridiculous; the International Olympic Committee overlooked this hurdle for the Beijing Winter Olympics.
The Christian Response in the Age of an Epidemic
Plagues and pandemics have been a cause of human misery throughout recorded history. In the Christian era alone, over 200 million deaths have been caused by viral outbreaks, from the Antonine Plague (A.D. 165) to the current Coronavirus (COVID-19). These scourges are no respecter of persons, taking the lives of the young, old, rich, poor, […]
Mourning the Loss
Pope Francis recently had a few sharp words for people who have dogs and cats rather than children, sensibly suggesting that it bespeaks a selfish culture that has lost its hope. That was a welcome change from when he criticized those few Christians who, he said, breed like rabbits. There may come a time, perhaps, […]