Pope Francis has named Archbishop Wilton Gregory of Atlanta as the new archbishop of Washington. The appointment was announced today in Washington by Archbishop Christophe Pierre, the Vatican nuncio to the United States. Archbishop Gregory, 71, a former president of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops who helped navigate the conference through the clergy sexual…
Perry West New legislation in Alabama would ban all abortions in the state, except in cases where the mother faces a “serious health risk”. The bill, introduced in both the Alabama House and Senate on April 2, would make it a felony for doctors to perform or attempt an abortion. Women would not be…
To fight clerical sexual abuse, the Catholic Church must have clear laws and procedures, but it also must engage in “spiritual combat”, because it is obvious the devil is at work, Pope Francis said. Speaking to reporters on March 31 on his way back to Rome from Morocco, the Pope said stopping abuse requires a…
The Catholic Bishops Conference of Scotland is warning against the government’s restriction of free speech, amid fears that the Church’s stance on marriage and sexuality could make Catholics susceptible to hate crime allegations. “Care must be taken to allow room for debate and a robust exchange of views, ensuring that ‘hate’ doesn’t include the kind…
Utah governor Gary Herbert signed a new law this week to prohibit most abortions after 18 weeks of pregnancy. The “Cherish Act”, signed into law on March 26, is expected to take effect in May. The law, sponsored by Republican Cheryl Acton of Salt Lake City, includes exceptions to allow abortions for pregnancies resulting from…
No one should be afraid that God has allowed there to be different religions in the world, Pope Francis has said. “But we should be frightened if we are not doing the work of fraternity, of walking together in life” as brothers and sisters of one human family, he said. As is customary, at his…
Peruvian authorities are investigating the death of British De La Salle Brother Bro. Paul McAuley, whose burned body was found April 2 in a home he founded for indigenous students in Iquitos, in the northeastern Amazonian region. In a statement issued the same day, Peru’s bishops called for authorities to clarify the events surrounding his…
Junno Arocho Esteves Critics of an agreement signed between the Vatican and the Chinese government must be patient and not quick to judge a deal that is meant to protect religious freedom, the Vatican Secretary of State has said. After addressing a symposium on religious freedom on April 3, Cardinal Pietro Parolin told journalists…
Junno Arocho Esteves In confession, the privacy of one’s conscience before God, also known as the internal forum, must always be protected and not be used to influence decisions outside the confessional, Pope Francis said. Departing from his prepared text in a speech to priests and seminarians attending an annual conference on the internal forum…
Dale Gavlak Jordan’s King Abdullah II urged greater co-operation to take on serious challenges worldwide as he was awarded a top Catholic peace prize by the Conventual Franciscans of the Sacred Convent of Assisi in central Italy. The annual award, known as the Lamp of Peace, recognises King Abdullah’s promotion of peace in the…
