In ‘The 272: The Families Who Were Enslaved and Sold to Build the American Catholic Church,’ Rachel Swarns tells of “one of the largest documented slave sales in the nation,” the Jesuit sale of 272 enslaved persons in 1838.
US Church
Posted inFaith, Faith and Reason
What the U.S. Catholic Church can learn from the synod about racial justice
Preparations for the upcoming Synod have prompted an important question: How might the local church of the United States become a powerful witness of the good news amid cries for racial healing and justice?
Posted inFaith, Your Take
Our readers respond: Can the Catholic Church Change the world?
In her feature, Cecilia González-Andrieau explores the potential of the Catholic Church. The article elicited numerous responses from our readers.
Posted inFaith, News
Bishop Strickland says he will not go voluntarily if asked to retire by Pope Francis
In an email, the East Texas bishop told RNS that he ‘cannot voluntarily abandon the flock that I have been given charge of as a successor of the apostles.’
Posted inFaith, News
Nuncio unpacks Pope Francis’ comments about ‘reactionary’ U.S. Catholics
“This is what the pope is asking of us,” Cardinal-designate Christophe Pierre said. “We are not only defenders of ideas, because if I defend only one idea, whoever disagrees with me becomes my enemy.”
Posted inFaith, News
Priest who fled to Italy with recent high school graduate to be laicized, says archbishop
The 30-year-old priest flew to Italy with an unnamed 18-year-old woman who is a recent graduate of McGill-Toolen Catholic High School in Mobile, which Father Crow also attended.
Posted inFaith, Vatican Dispatch
Pope Francis on those upset by his criticism of ‘reactionary’ U.S. Catholics: ‘Let’s move on’
Onboard his flight to Mongolia, Pope Francis said he knew some people were upset by the remarks, but the church must keep moving forward. “They got angry, but let’s move on, move on.”
Posted inFaith, Short Take
Pope Francis’ criticisms of ‘reactionary’ U.S. Catholics are counterproductive
Pope Francis has a problem with American Catholic ideologues. Maybe he’s talking about you.
Posted inFaith, Last Take
Cardinal Dolan: The Catholic Church has too many seminaries.
To provide quality formation—human, academic, spiritual and pastoral—to our future priests is a sacred duty. We would be able to do this better if we had fewer seminaries, all of them excellent ones.
Posted inDispatches, Faith
Pope Francis speaks out against his critics in the U.S. Catholic Church
Pope Francis commented that the situation in the Catholic Church in the United States is “not easy,” where “there is a very strong reactionary attitude” that “is organized and shapes the way people belong, even emotionally.”