Bishop Joseph Strickland recently accused Pope Francis of “undermining the Deposit of Faith.” It remains unknown whether Francis will publicly respond but past cases provide a clue of how the pope will approach this latest challenge.
Explainer
Posted inExplainer, Faith
Pope Francis said the papacy is ‘for life.’ Does that mean he should never resign?
Catholic experts weigh in on the likelihood of Pope Francis resigning in office—and whether we need a 25th amendment for popes.
Posted inExplainer, Faith
When St. Patrick’s Day falls on a Friday in Lent, should we eat the corned beef?
Can (or should) you eat meat this St. Patrick’s Day? Some archdioceses are giving out dispensations, while others insist upon fasting. Who is right?
Posted inExplainer, Politics & Society
Three things to know about Pope Francis’ visit to South Sudan
The contemporary tension in South Sudan has a complex and disturbing history.
Posted inExplainer, Faith
Explainer: Cardinal Pell’s complicated (and critical) relationship with Pope Francis
Cardinal George Pell, who died on Jan. 10, left behind an article and a memorandum that revealed his thoughts about Pope Francis, his actions, and future conclaves, among many others.
Posted inExplainer, Politics & Society
Mel Gibson and the dangers of Catholic antisemitism
Mel Gibson’s past history of antisemitic remarks and behavior means holding him up as a leader is not only wrong, it’s dangerous.
Posted inExplainer, Faith
Pope Benedict XVI’s secretary, advocate and confidant: What you need to know about Georg Gänswein
Archbishop Georg Gänswein is publishing a memoir of his years with Pope Benedict. But the archbishop is a compelling figure in and of himself.
Posted inExplainer, Faith
Cardinal Ricard confessed to abusing a 14-year-old. What we know and what the Vatican will do next
The former conference president Cardinal Jean-Pierre Ricard admitted he behaved in a “reprehensible way with a 14-year-old girl” 35 years ago. Here’s where his case stands at the Vatican.
Posted inExplainer, Faith
‘Vatican Girl’: Netflix’s true-crime documentary on the Holy See’s 40-year-old missing person mystery
A new true-crime documentary series on Netflix, “Vatican Girl,” tells the story of the 1983 disappearance of Emanuela Orlandi, a 15-year-old girl who is still the only Vatican citizen considered missing.
Posted inExplainer, Faith
Explainer: ‘The Doctrine of Discovery’ and how the Catholic Church may officially reject it
The “Doctrine of Discovery” is the leveraging of the idea of discovery to argue for and put into law a claim on and right to indigenous lands. It has no current and actively sustained legal connection.