During a press conference on the flight from Panama to Rome, the pope spoke on a variety of topics, including the situation in Venezuela, the issue of married priests, sex education in schools and the Vatican’s sex abuse summit.
Bishops
Posted inPolitics & Society, Vatican Dispatch
Cardinal O’Malley: Venezuela’s interim president has a formula that could avoid a civil war
Cardinal Sean P. O’Malley believes that Venezuela’s interim president, Juan Guaido, “has come up with a formula that could avoid a civil war, could avoid bloodshed” in the country, and he regrets that the country’s military have “not yet” sided with him.
Posted inNews, Politics & Society
Bishops urge bipartisan plan to stop shutdown, protect ‘vulnerable’ groups
The U. S. Conference of Catholic bishops in a statement issued on January 20, 2019, urged President Trump and the Congress to come to an agreement to end the government shutdown which is hurting many people.
Posted inFaith, News
Cardinal Wuerl says he ‘forgot’ he knew about sexual abuse accusation against McCarrick
Cardinal Donald W. Wuerl, Washington’s retired archbishop, apologized Jan. 15 for what he called a “lapse of memory,” clarifying that he knew of at least one abuse allegation against former U.S. Cardinal Theodore E. McCarrick, but he had “forgotten” about it.
Posted inFaith, Faith and Reason
Daniel E. Burns: Don’t appoint bishops. Elect them.
The Catholic church would benefit if bishops felt more like local leaders and less like regional managers in a Rome-based nonprofit. One way to move in that direction would be to have the clergy elect their bishops.
Posted inFaith, Faith and Reason
Massimo Faggioli: Electing bishops will not solve the church’s problems.
There is no question that the process for the appointment of bishops should be updated. But the election of bishops with procedures similar to democratic elections would only exacerbate all kinds of rifts in the Catholic Church today.
Posted inFaith, Podcasts
How is the Vatican preparing for the sex abuse summit?
Recent weeks have brought a number of stories that reveal how Pope Francis aims to lead the church on this issue.
Posted inFaith, Short Take
Why are the bishops praying about the abuse crisis instead of doing something about it?
Catholics have every right to demand action, but there must be discernment and prayer before making decisions. Then comes the courage to enact necessary change.
Posted inFaith, News
German cardinal calls for ‘new thinking’ ahead of celibacy discussion
German Cardinal Reinhard Marx of Munich and Freising spoke as the German bishops’ conference prepares for a workshop debate to “review” the issue of celibacy for priests.
Posted inFaith, News
Vatican letter undermines U.S. cardinal on abuse
While the Vatican is known for its slow pace, even the speediest bureaucracy would have found it difficult to review and approve sensitive legal documents over a long weekend.