Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople offered a hopeful perspective on healing the millennium-old division between the Orthodox and Catholic churches, suggesting the historic 1054 “Great Schism” was not a sudden break, but a gradual process with tensions that “are not insurmountable.” “Of course, problems have accumulated over a thousand years. But we are full…
The Rupnik case continues to shake the Vatican and the Jesuit order to this day. The priest and artist is alleged to have sexually and spiritually abused numerous women. The trial against him is progressing slowly. The head of the worldwide Jesuit order is hoping for a swift conclusion to the Vatican proceedings against the…
Criticism of the Catholic Church: victims of abuse are demanding a different system of compensation. The Bishops’ Conference’s Advisory Council for Victims has now reiterated this demand. The Advisory Council of Victims of Abuse at the German Bishops’ Conference has criticised the voluntary church system of compensation. It may seem like a lot when Conference…
He is more important to the Pope than many a curial cardinal: his nurse Strappetti, who saved his life. Since the Pope’s serious lung disease, he has been more visible than ever. And makes decisions. When Pope Francis appeared in public for a few minutes on 23 March and 6 April, a man in a…
Victims of abuse can now visit the pilgrimage site of Lourdes without coming into contact with the works of artist and ex-Jesuit priest, Marko Rupnik. His mosaics in the French pilgrimage site have been covered up. Rupnik is accused by at least 20 women of having seduced and sexually exploited them. “It seemed to me…
“We rejoice in Mary Bartold’s healing, we give thanks to God for it, and also note the family’s sincere belief, held with a significant degree of supporting evidence, that Mary’s recovery was procured through the intercession of the much-beloved Blessed Solanus Casey but, as you’d expect, ultimately, we defer to the judgement of Rome on…
A new study by Poland’s Church Statistics Institute reveals that Catholic clergy increasingly face aggression. Of 614 priests surveyed, half reported experiencing hostility in the past year. Common forms included mockery, threats, and online abuse, with 4% facing physical attacks. Nearly 20% noted attacks on churches or religious sites, and 15% reported disruptions during services.…
In parts of the devastated earthquake regions of Myanmar, ongoing attacks by the military are hampering the deployment of aid workers. The military government rejects a temporary ceasefire in the civil war country. According to local media (Wednesday), junta leader Min Aung Hlaing emphasised that the “necessary defence operations” would continue. Myanmar’s democratic underground government…
Despite his recent illness, Pope Francis remains an active leader of the Church, advocating for peace and reform much as he did during the COVID-19 pandemic. Even from his hospital bed, he has overseen key appointments, launched preparations for the 2028 Ecclesial Assembly, and issued repeated appeals for peace. Five years ago, Pope Francis stood…
When the late Pope John Paul ascended to the Papacy, he said that Europe must breathe through its two lungs, the tradition of the Western Roman rite and that of the Eastern Orthodox rite as well. Although I could not agree with him more, I would add the 50 million members of the Orient Orthodox…