Since February, Pope Francis has appointed four men under age 60 to lead major archdioceses around the world, in what have widely been viewed as efforts to shore up his legacy.
Bishops
Posted inExplainer, Politics & Society
The controversial history of the U.S. bishops’ Catholic health care guidelines
With rapid advances in medicine and sweeping changes in the U.S. health care landscape, some are suggesting that the U.S. bishops’ Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services needs a complete overhaul.
Posted inDispatches, Politics & Society
Transgender treatment at Catholic hospitals: U.S. bishops vote to begin process that could formally ban it
While most Catholic hospitals already refrain from offering transgender surgeries and hormonal interventions, the vote means that the bishops will move to formalize such bans.
Posted inFaith, Faith in Focus
20 years after Bishop O’Brien’s sex abuse cover-up and deadly hit-and-run, have Catholics in Phoenix healed?
All Catholics in Phoenix, on some level, felt the sting of the sexual abuse crisis. Dozens of priests and deacons were accused, leading many of us to question our faith. Have we come to terms with it?
Posted inNews, Politics & Society
UK woman jailed for two years for aborting her baby almost a month before due date
A U.K. woman was sentenced to 28 months imprisonment for having an abortion when she was 32-34 weeks pregnant, whose jailing was supported by an English Catholic bishop.
Posted inFaith, Short Take
Pastors are like TV showrunners. They need training.
Writers often have no experience at leading shows when they get that chance. It’s similar for priests who become pastors.
Posted inNews Analysis, Politics & Society
Catholic Pride month events face increasing backlash
In recent months, corporations and nonprofit organizations supporting L.G.B.T. Pride events have faced increased scrutiny from some conservative activists. Catholic celebrations aren’t immune.
Posted inFaith, Short Take
Sacramento’s Bishop Soto: Migrants are not fodder for political propaganda.
What is transpiring in Sacramento is part of a long, sorrowful litany of migrants being shuffled around as fodder for the propaganda of feeble, failed ideas.
Posted inFaith, News
What happens to papal power when a pope is unconscious? Nothing.
The Vatican has governance norms when a pope resigns or dies, but none of those regulations apply to a sick, unconscious or hospitalized pope.
Posted inFaith, Short Take
Will the US bishops discuss Catholics’ top priorities at their June meeting?
The U.S. Catholic bishops are meeting in Orlando, Florida, next week for three days of prayer and business. If you were asked by your local bishop what topics they should discuss, what would you suggest?