The general relator of this special synod, emphasized several themes of Pope Francis’ pontificate: the church must “throw open her doors”; “true tradition” is “the church’s living history”; and “God always brings newness,” so “one must not fear what is new.”
Latin America
Posted inFaith, Vatican Dispatch
Cardinals Hummes and Baldisseri respond to critics of the working document for the Amazon synod
“It is the voice of the local church, the voice of the church in the Amazon—of the church, of the people, of the history and of the very earth, the voice of the earth…. And this has value, it is not fake news,” Cardinal Hummes said.
Posted inNews, Politics & Society
Peru’s church leaders call for end to corruption amid political crisis
Catholic church leaders in Peru have called for an end to political corruption in that country in the aftermath of President Martin Vizcarra’s act to dissolve Congress, which subsequently led to a vote to have him removed from office.
Posted inDispatches, Faith
How Jesuits in South America are working to promote an ‘Amazon-like’ church
His work is increasingly to support what synod organizers call creating a more “Amazon-like” church. A more Amazon-like church incorporates the customs and sensibilities of the local population, like indigenous spirituality, and promotes new forms of evangelization.
Posted inDispatches, Faith
Indigenous Catholics hope Amazon Synod will strengthen connection to the church
The church has made a great effort to build a genuinely indigenous Catholic tradition in the Amazon region, reports Eduardo Campos Lima, and indigenous leaders have great hopes for the upcoming synod.
Posted inDispatches, Faith
The working document for the Amazon Synod has been controversial—just not in Brazil
But the Pan-Amazon Synod’s organizers say much of the unhappiness with the its working document simply reflects Eurocentricism. Many critics “have little knowledge of the Amazon and in some cases have no commitment to its people.”
Posted inDispatches, Faith
What Pope Francis means to U.S. Latino Catholics
The first Latino pope and Hispanic Heritage Month
Posted inNews, Politics & Society
Nicaragua’s bishops call nation’s crisis of trust ‘an omnipresent virus’
Nicaragua’s bishops urged unity, dialogue and a willingness to overcome a “crisis of trust” as the Central American country celebrated its independence on Sept. 15.
Posted inNews, Politics & Society
After human rights abuses, Vatican calls for electoral reform in Nicaragua
A major human rights crisis was triggered after police forces and pro-government groups cracked down on nationwide protests that began in April 2018 against a series of reforms mandated by President Daniel Ortega.
Posted inEditorials, Politics & Society
The Editors: To protect the Amazon, we must first listen to its people
October’s Synod on the Amazon gives the church an opportunity to hear the cries of the earth and the people of this richly diverse, life-giving and fragile region.