Negative attitudes about the Catholic Church and its teachings are worsening in Britain, a study has shown. An analysis of 180 opinion polls among British adults from the 1950s to today shows a steady decline in esteem for the Church and its clergy. This seems to have accelerated since 2000. But the same study by academic Dr Read more
Posts Tagged ‘Pope Francis’
Vatican denies Pope’s reported remarks on celibacy and abuse
Tuesday, July 15th, 2014
The Vatican is disputing the accuracy of comments attributed to Pope Francis on priestly celibacy and the extent of paedophilia in the clergy. On July 13, Rome daily La Repubblica ran an article by its former editor Eugenio Scalfari, based on an interview he did with the Pope on July 10. The Pope reportedly described Read more
Pope Francis meets clergy sex abuse survivors for first time
Friday, July 11th, 2014
Pope Francis has met victims of clergy sex abuse for the first time since being elected in March last year. On July 7, at his residence at the Domus Sanctae Marthae, the Pope met three women and three men and he asked for forgiveness. Two of the victims came from Ireland, two were from Great Read more
HK cardinal says Pope would be manipulated if he visits China
Friday, July 11th, 2014
Cardinal Joseph Zen Ze-Kiun of Hong Kong has asked Pope Francis not to visit China, saying the Pontiff would be “manipulated”. Cardinal Zen told an Italian newspaper that this is the message he would give the Pope. Improving relations between Beijing and the Vatican has resulted in speculation that the Pope could reach out to Read more
Vatican bank has new president as net profit plunges
Friday, July 11th, 2014
A new president has been announced for the scandal-plagued Vatican bank, as it was revealed that the institution’s 2013 net profit had plunged. Some 3000 accounts have been also purged from the bank in the last year, with almost 400 not meeting stricter client criteria, requiring a close link with the Church. French financier Jean-Baptiste Read more
Pope Francis helps bring Argentine bishop’s killers to justice
Tuesday, July 8th, 2014
Documents provided by Pope Francis have been used in a trial which saw two retired Argentine military officers found guilty of murdering a bishop. Bishop Enrique Angelelli of the north-western La Rioja diocese in Argentina was murdered in 1976 when the vehicle he was driving was forced from the road. This was at the beginning Read more
CDF prefect says Latin American mindset key to understanding Pope
Tuesday, July 8th, 2014
To truly understand Pope Francis, one must understand the Latin American mindset, the Prefect of the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith says. Cardinal Gerhard Müller spoke about the Pope during an interview with the Austrian Pontifical Missions magazine Alle Welt. Cardinal Müller said the Western world would have to learn to see problems Read more
The many labours of Pope Francis
Friday, July 4th, 2014
12 thousand personal interviews after his morning masses in St. Martha’s House and not one day off. The Pope’s alarm clock goes off at 4:45 am and he only has one half hour nap a day. No wonder his body rebels now and again and he has to cancel certain events When priests told him Read more
Elton John says Jesus would support gay marriage
Friday, July 4th, 2014
British musician Sir Elton John says Pope Francis is wonderful and that Jesus would support gay marriage. One of the world’s most prominent gay celebrities, Sir Elton said in an interview that the leader of the Catholic Church is a sign of hope. “He’s excited me so much by his humanity and taking everything down to the humility of faith Read more