In the wake of recent events in Christchurch involving the fringe group “Sons of the Most Holy Redeemer” and their alleged exorcisms, a critical examination of the Church’s stance on pre-Vatican II Latin Mass rites is both timely and necessary. This group’s actions have them being accused of operating as a law unto themselves, disrespecting Read more
We are now in the “between time”—when we can reflect on the synthesis of the first session, and prepare ourselves for the second session. I anticipate that the secretariat for the synod and the synod office of the [U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops] will be sending some resource material for us to use with our Read more
The results of a national survey of Catholic priests released by The Catholic Project on Nov. 7 revealed an interesting dynamic in U.S. Catholic life. In the terminology used in the survey questions, young U.S. Catholic priests tend to be theologically traditional and politically conservative, particularly compared to older priests. Meanwhile, U.S. Catholics as a Read more
During the election campaign the now new Argentine president Javier Milei labelled Pope Francis a “‘filthy’ communist”, an “imbecile”, and the “representative of the Evil One seated on the throne of the house of God”. Milei – a far-right populist and libertarian economist who was prone to brandishing a chainsaw on the campaign – got Read more
It’s no secret that the Roman Catholic Church is deeply divided right now, perhaps as much as it’s ever been in the six decades since the end of the Second Vatican Council (1962-65). The fractures are most obvious on social media where even priests, bishops and cardinals preach from cyber pulpits all along the theological Read more
The first session of the Synod of Bishops’ assembly on the future of the Church has brought to the surface the gap that exists between Pope Francis’ idea of synodality and how some Catholic theologians understand it. Those Catholic bishops even include those theologians that have enthusiastically welcomed his pontificate as a much-awaited turn in Read more
Cardinal Christophe Pierre has been apostolic nuncio to the United States since 2016 and, at Pope Francis’ request, he will continue in this role for the foreseeable future, he told America’s Vatican correspondent in an exclusive interview in Rome in early October. After graduating from the Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy, which trains Vatican diplomats, in 1977, Read more
In his new motu proprio Ad theologiam promovendam, 1 November 2023, Pope Francis called for “a paradigm shift” in contemporary theology. He signalled how this shift must take place, through “transdisciplinary dialogue with other scientific, philosophical, humanistic and artistic knowledge, with believers and non-believers, with men and women of different Christian confessions and different religions.” Read more
Bishop Joseph Strickland didn’t join his fellow US bishops at their annual autumn assembly on Tuesday. Instead, he led the rosary outside the hotel where the bishops’ meeting was taking place without him. Strickland’s appearance came just three days after Pope Francis removed him as the head of the Diocese of Tyler, Texas. However he Read more
A synodal, missionary, and open Church can only speak to the world through an “open” theology. Ad theologiam promovendam (November 2023) Pope Francis’s revision of the statutes of the Pontifical Academy of Theology is an important development within the discipline of contemporary theology. Francis emphasises the need for an open theology within a synodal, missionary, Read more