Syriac Catholic bishops from around the world, meeting in Lebanon for their annual synod, lamented the plight of their “tormented and persecuted” faithful. In their final statement from the July 23-27 gathering, with Syriac Catholic Patriarch Ignace Joseph III Younan presiding, the bishops noted that they have “raised their voices high in front of the…

An Indian federal agency has proposed abolishing the Sacrament of Confession on grounds that Christian priests misuse it to blackmail and target women, but Church officials believe the plan is an unnecessary interference in religious affairs. The National Commission for Women, a body that protects women’s interests, also proposed a federal inquiry into two cases…

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled it will allow the release of a redacted version of a grand jury report on a months-long investigation into sexual abuse claims in six Pennsylvania dioceses, some of which go back decades. In June the court had put a hold on the full report being released because it said it…

Chilean 
prelate
 to 
testify
 over 
alleged 
abuse 
cover-ups The Chilean prosecutor’s office has issued a subpoena to Cardinal Riccardo Ezzati of Santiago regarding his role in the alleged cover-up of sexual abuse by members of the clergy. In a statement released by the Archdiocese of Santiago, Cardinal Ezzati said he was committed to helping victims “search for the truth” and denied any…

Hannah Brockhaus   When a person puts an object or a philosophy above God, it not only destroys happiness, it hinders the ability to experience real love, Pope Francis said today. “Attachment to an object or an idea makes us blind to love. Carry this in your heart: idols rob us of love, idols make…

After numerous accusations of sexual abuse of minors and adults have arisen against a former Archbishop of Washington, Cardinal Sean O’Malley of Boston called Tuesday for bishops to be held accountable for sex abuse. “These cases and others require more than apologies. They raise up the fact that when charges are brought regarding a bishop…

Editorials in national Catholic publications have taken the US Catholic Church to task for its failure to root out all forms of clergy sexual abuse in the light of allegations made by former seminarians against Cardinal Theodore E. McCarrick, retired archbishop of Washington. “The Catholic Church cannot pretend to be shocked about the pattern of…

Letter from Rome   US President Donald Trump spent most of last week desperately trying to spin his controversial summit with Vladimir Putin [pictured below] as a breakthrough, despite widespread impressions of near-total capitulation on the question of Russian interference in the 2016 election. “The Summit with Russia was a great success, except with the…

New York Cardinal Timothy Dolan [pictured], has called for prayers that “the change in the US Supreme Court will move our nation closer to the day when every human being is protected in law and welcomed in life.” Noting the lobbying that began by pro abortion groups as soon as Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy…