Latest Roman Catholicism News
Things to know about the Vatican's big meeting on the future of the Catholic Church
VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Francis on Wednesday is opening a global gathering of bishops and laypeople to discuss the future of the Catholic Church, including some hot-button issues that have previously been considered off-limits for discussion. For the first time, women and...
Clergy abuse survivors propose new 'zero tolerance' law following outcry over Vatican appointment
ROME (AP) — Clergy sexual abuse survivors on Monday unveiled a proposed new church law calling for the permanent removal of abusive priests and superiors who covered for them, as they stepped up their outrage over Pope Francis’ choice to head the Vatican office that investigates sex crimes. ...
Women's voices and votes loom large as pope is set to open a Vatican meeting on church's future
VATICAN CITY (AP) — A few years ago, Pope Francis told the head of the main Vatican-backed Catholic women's organization to be “brave” in pushing for change for women in the Catholic Church. Maria Lia Zervino took his advice and in 2021 wrote Francis a letter, then made it...
Pope Francis creates 21 new cardinals who will help him to reform the church and cement his legacy
VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Francis created 21 new cardinals at a ritual-filled ceremony Saturday, including key figures at the Vatican and in the field who will help enact his reforms and cement his legacy as he enters a crucial new phase in running the Catholic Church. On a crisp...
Ideological rifts among U.S. bishops are in the spotlight ahead of momentous Vatican meeting
NEW YORK (AP) — Early next month, the Vatican will open an unprecedented gathering of Catholic clergy and laypeople from around the world. The synod is intended to be a collegial, collaborative event, though the agenda includes divisive issues such as the role of women in the church and the...
Catholic priests bless same-sex couples in defiance of a German archbishop
BERLIN (AP) — Several Catholic priests held a ceremony blessing same-sex couples outside Cologne Cathedral on Wednesday night in a protest against the city’s conservative archbishop, Cardinal Rainer Maria Woelki. Their protest was triggered by Cologne church officials' criticism...
In Chile, justice eludes victims of Catholic clergy sex abuse years after the crisis exploded
SANTIAGO, Chile (AP) — Soon after she learned what happened, Helmut Kramer’s mother grabbed a pair of scissors and cut the priest out of photographs from her son’s baptism. “She kept the photos after that,” said Kramer, who was sexually abused at age 12 in a Jesuit school...
Ox-pulled floats with sacred images of Mary draw thousands to Portugal’s wine-country procession
LAMEGO, Portugal (AP) — Galego and Cabano, two dark-haired oxen, pulled the sacred image of Our Lady of Remedies on a procession float for more than two hours through this small town in Portugal’s wine country. They remained unperturbed even when two cannons fired salutes at the...
Sweeping study finds 1,000 cases of sexual abuse in Swiss Catholic Church since mid-20th century
GENEVA (AP) — A sweeping, year-long study of sexual abuse by Catholic priests and others in Switzerland published Tuesday has turned up more than 1,000 cases since the mid-20th century, as the Swiss church becomes the latest in Europe to reckon with the abuse scandal. With few...
Vatican orders investigation into Catholic clerics linked to abuse, Swiss Bishops' Conference says
BERLIN (AP) — The Vatican has ordered an investigation into high-ranking Catholic clerics in Switzerland in connection with sexual abuse, the Swiss Bishops' Conference said on Sunday. The group said in a statement that there were allegations against several active and retired...
