Catholic imprint on six ‘swing states’ may shape the global future
ROME – Were you to ask veteran Vatican-watchers to name the six most important prelates in the Catholic church today beyond the pope himself, you’d probably get a fairly representative sampling of leading papabili, meaning perceived candidates to be the next pope. The list probably would include Cardinals Matteo Zuppi of Bologna, president of the […]
Today begins May, the month dedicated to our spiritual mother, the Virgin Mary
Pilgrims at the Wednesday general audience Aug. 9, 2023, hold up an image of the Virgin Mary. / Credit: Daniel Ibañez/CNA ACI Prensa Staff, May 1, 2024 / 16:02 pm (CNA). May will always be a special month, the month that the Church dedicates to… […]
Here are the countries that rank worst in the world in religious freedom
null / Credit: Juthamat8899/Shutterstock Washington, D.C. Newsroom, May 1, 2024 / 17:05 pm (CNA). The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) released a new report on Wednesday highlighting the countries with the w… […]
Archdiocese of New Orleans suspected of child sex trafficking, warrant shows
The St. Louis Cathedral, the oldest Catholic cathedral in continual use in the United States, on April 9, 2020, in New Orleans. / Credit: Chris Graythen/Getty Images Washington, D.C. Newsroom, May 1, 2024 / 17:50 pm (CNA). A criminal investigat… […]
Archdiocese of Baltimore concludes traumatic ‘listening sessions’ around restructuring plan
Catholics in the Archdiocese of Baltimore pack the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen during a concluding listening session on the archdiocese’s major parish restructuring plan on April 30, 2024. / Credit: Matthew Balan Baltimore, Md., May 1, 2024 / 18:10 pm (CNA). Hundreds of Catholic residents of Baltimore packed the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen […]
Latin patriarch of Jerusalem takes possession of Rome titular church after delays due to war
Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa gives the homily at a Mass in which he took possession of his titular church, St. Onuphrius, in Rome on May 1, 2024. / Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/ACI Prensa ACI Prensa Staff, May 1, 2024 / 18:30 pm (CNA). Cardinal Pi… […]
Pro-life roundup: Here’s what happened with abortion at the state level this week
The pro-life flag from the Pro-Life Flag Project (www.prolifeflag.com). / Credit: Pro-Life Flag Project (www.prolifeflag.com) Washington, D.C. Newsroom, May 1, 2024 / 18:50 pm (CNA). Here’s a look at abortion-related developments that took plac… […]
Trying not to make God look bad
For 15 years, I taught a course entitled “The Theology of God.” The students in that course were predominantly seminarians preparing for ministry, along with a number of lay students who were preparing to serve as ministers in various capacities in their churches. I would always teach what the curriculum called for: the key biblical […]
Proportion of Catholic weddings drops to almost a third – CSO stats
The number of Catholic weddings made up just 35% of all those taking place in the State – the lowest recorded figure since the year 2000 – with civil ceremonies (32%) catching up quickly, marriage statistics for 2023 show. The proportion of Catholic weddings fell from 40% in 2022, while the percentage of civil ceremonies […]
Confidently proclaiming the Gospel and making Down and Connor fit for mission
The recently installed Bishop of Down and Connor will no doubt face some tough, unpopular decisions as his diocese faces a dearth of priests and decreasing Mass attendance – much the same as dioceses across Ireland. Bishop Alan McGuckian SJ, who was installed last month after serving as Bishop of Raphoe for almost seven years,… […]