Latest Roman Catholicism News
German cleric defends pope's decision to keep archbishop
BERLIN (AP) — The head of the German Bishops’ Conference on Monday defended the pope’s decision to allow the archbishop of Hamburg to stay on at this post, despite being faulted for his handling of sexual abuse allegations. Limburg Bishop...
Maine church to celebrate centennial with bishop in October
LIMERICK, Maine (AP) — The bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland will preside over the centennial of a Maine church next month. St. Matthew Church in Limerick is turning 100. The diocese said Bishop Robert Deeley will preside over an anniversary mass at the...
Pope to bishops: Listen to abuse victims for sake of church
ROME (AP) — Pope Francis urged European bishops on Saturday to listen to survivors of clergy sexual abuse and consider them partners in reform, warning that their failure to do so risks the very future of the Catholic Church. Francis issued a videomessage to Central...
Many faith leaders say no to endorsing vaccine exemptions
As significant numbers of Americans seek religious exemptions from COVID-19 vaccine mandates, many faith leaders are saying: Not with our endorsement. Leaders of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America said Thursday that while some people may have medical reasons for...
Clarence Thomas criticizes judges for veering into politics
SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) — Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas on Thursday criticized some in the judiciary for veering into the role of legislators and politicians, saying it is not the role of judges to make policy or to base decisions on their personal feelings or religious beliefs. ...
NY governor vows to fight lawsuit over vaccine mandate
ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — New York Gov. Kathy Hochul vowed this week to fight a lawsuit launched by a group of Christian health care practitioners who argue that New York’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate for many health care workers is unconstitutional because it lacks a religious exemption. ...
Lawsuit: Defrocked Cardinal McCarrick abused man in 1980s
Three sex abuse lawsuits filed against a New Jersey diocese and announced Thursday include claims that defrocked Cardinal Theodore McCarrick abused a young man in the 1980s. The lawsuit accuses McCarrick of sexual battery against the man, who was in his late teens and...
Chicago-area priest back under scrutiny for possible abuse
CHICAGO (AP) — A suburban Chicago priest cleared last week of of allegations he sexually abused children 25 years ago is back under scrutiny because new information has become available, Cardinal Blase Cupich said Thursday. Cupich wrote a letter to parishioners of St....
Catholic orphanage's ex-residents ask church to fund therapy
SOUTH BURLINGTON, Vt. (AP) — Some of the residents of a long-closed Vermont orphanage want the Catholic Church to pay for therapy as they continue to recover from what they described as abuse at the hands of the nuns and priests who were supposed to care for them. The...
As COVID-19 vaccine mandates rise, religious exemptions grow
An estimated 2,600 Los Angeles Police Department employees are citing religious objections to try to get out of the required COVID-19 vaccination. In Washington state, thousands of state workers are seeking similar exemptions. And in Arkansas, a hospital has been swamped...
