The Vatican is taking Pope Francis’ pro-vaccine stance very seriously: Any Vatican employee who refuses to get a coronavirus shot without a valid medical reason risks being fired.
News
Posted inFaith, News
On the ‘Today’ show, Cardinal Gregory reflects on his personal experience with racism
Cardinal Gregory and Roker also discussed how the cardinal would interact with President Joe Biden as a Catholic in his archdiocese.
Posted inNews, Politics & Society
Pew releases new report on ‘Faith among Black Americans,’ first study of its kind in more than a generation
Of Blacks attending a Catholic church, 41% said they had heard a homily on racism; 39% said they had heard a sermon on abortion.
Posted inNews, Politics & Society
Joe Biden signs executive order reestablishing White House faith office
The order reestablishes the White House Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships, a 20-year-old initiative first put in place by President George W. Bush.
Posted inNews, Politics & Society
Alabama cancels execution of inmate after state denied the presence of his spiritual advisor
In a divided midnight vote Feb. 11, the justices upheld a lower court’s ruling that Willie Smith III’s pastor should be with him in the execution chamber, which the state opposed.
Posted inFaith, News
Nun appointed to high-level Vatican post by Pope Francis says the ‘patriarchal mindset is changing’
Sister Nathalie Becquart said her appointment as an undersecretary in the Vatican’s Synod of Bishops office was a “brave signal and prophetic decision” by Pope Francis, who has repeatedly stressed the need for women to have a greater say in church governance.
Posted inFaith, News
The nun who beat Covid-19 just celebrated her 117th birthday with wine and prayer
Question: How does one cram enough candles onto a birthday cake for one of the world’s oldest survivors of COVID-19? Answer: With 117 candles, you can’t.
Posted inFaith, News
Vatican charity, Aid to the Church in Need, admits its founder was accused of assault
A pontifical foundation has admitted that its late founder was credibly accused of sexually assaulting a female employee, who came forward in 2010 after learning the deceased priest was being considered for possible beatification.
Posted inNews, Politics & Society
Catholic University students object to pro-life speaker Abby Johnson, citing past comments on race
Johnson was originally invited to speak on behalf of the campus pro-life group. But complaints by other students about comments she’d made on race — as well as her being at the U.S. Capitol Jan. 6 — led the campus chaplain to recommend the appearance be postponed indefinitely.
Posted inNews, Politics & Society
Churches are preparing for a (touch-free) pandemic Ash Wednesday
The ashes—while perhaps the most visible part of Ash Wednesday observances—aren’t the most important.