Blessing for all? Also for remarried divorcees and homosexuals? A new paper from the Catholic Church in Germany is causing controversy. Critics believe it oversteps the mark and want to lodge a complaint. A group of conservative Catholics is criticising new rules in Germany according to which homosexuals can also be blessed in church as…
“The digital world is not a parallel or purely virtual world, but part of the daily experience of many people, especially the younger generations. It is where they seek meaning, relationships, and truth.” – Pope Francis, World Communications Day Message, 24 Jan. 2024 In our fast-paced digital world, we constantly receive social media messages,…
Following the death of Bishop Brendan Comiskey SS CC, Bishop Emeritus of Ferns and former Auxiliary Bishop of Dublin, Archbishop Eamon Martin of Armagh and President of the Irish Catholic Bishops’ Conference has published the following statement: “On behalf of the Bishops’ Conference, I wish to express my sadness at the death of Bishop Brendan…
This article draws on reporting from The Irish Times and OSVNews. A 17-year-old boy who attacked Galway priest Fr Paul Murphy with a hunting knife in August 2024 has been sentenced to eight years’ detention for attempted murder. The boy, whose identity cannot be disclosed due to his age, repeatedly stabbed the Army chaplain after…
Each day between now and the May 7 conclave to elect a successor to Pope Francis, John Allen is offering a profile of a different papabile, the Italian term for a man who could be pope. There’s no scientific way to identity these contenders; it’s mostly a matter of weighing reputations, positions held and influence wielded over…
Christiane Laudage (KNA) The conclave begins on May 7. In the past, it was a race against time for the cardinals to get to Rome on time. One US cardinal was only successful on his third attempt. The cardinals have already arrived in Rome and many of them attended the funeral of Pope Francis. Today,…
The conclave to elect the new Pope is scheduled to begin on May 7. The date has been confirmed. A new Pope will be elected. The Vatican issued the following statement on Monday, April 28. All cardinals who had not reached the age of 80 at the time of Pope Francis’ death are eligible to…
Each day between now and the conclave to elect a successor to Pope Francis, on a date yet to be set, John Allen is offering a profile of a different papabile, the Italian term for a man who could be pope. There’s no scientific way to identity these contenders; it’s mostly a matter of weighing reputations, positions…
Historically, the time had once again been ripe for a religious man in the papal office. And the Jesuit Francis obviously wanted this to continue in the near future. Jorge Mario Bergoglio has brought many superlatives to papal history from his native Argentina: he was the first Latin American, the first Argentinian, the first pope…
The Catholic Church in Germany has published instructions for the blessing of remarried and homosexual couples. According to the authors, this is in the spirit of the late Pope. Nevertheless, there is criticism. Germany now has rules on how remarried divorcees and homosexuals can be blessed in church. As announced by the German Bishops’ Conference…
John L. Allen Jr.
Renata Milán Morales