Archive for December, 2014
Pope Francis: 5 takeaways from another blockbuster interview / Religion News Service
Posted by Voice of the Faithful in Pope Francis, Voice of the Faithful on December 9, 2014
Gay marriage was never on the agenda at the recent Synod of Bishops on the Family and the subject ‘did not cross our minds,’ Pope Francis said in a new headline-grabbing interview.
“Keeping to a format that has become a favorite for this pope, Francis used a high-profile interview to shed light on his thinking, and Vatican policies, on a number of hot-button social issues.
“In an interview published Sunday (Dec. 7), Francis told the Argentine daily, La Nacion, that the Catholic Church must help parents support their gay children. At the same time, he maintained that allowing, condoning or even adapting to same-sex marriage was still not on the church’s agenda.
“This was one of several controversial issues he broached in the interview with papal biographer Elisabetta Pique.”
By Josephine McKenna, Religion News Service — Click here to read the rest of this story.
Church needs more women theologians, their insights, pope says / Catholic News Service
Posted by Voice of the Faithful in church reform, Pope Francis, Voice of the Faithful, Women in the Church on December 9, 2014
Pope Francis said he was pleased that five of the 30 members of the International Theological Commission are women, but the body that advises the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, as well as the church in general, needs more women theologians.
“‘They are the strawberries on the cake, but there is need for more,’ the pope said Dec. 5 as he met the members, who were named to a five-year term in July.”
By Cindy Wooden, Catholic News Service — Click here to read the rest of this story.
Curia reform: Congregation of the Laity / National Catholic Reporter
Posted by Voice of the Faithful in church reform, Future of the Church, Vatican, Voice of the Faithful on December 5, 2014
The creation of a new Vatican Congregation for the Laity appears to be a likely first step in the reform of the Roman Curia. Many are welcoming this as a recognition that the laity have just as important a role in the church as bishops, clergy and religious, each of which has a congregation dedicated to their concerns.
“Reform of the Curia has been a major item of the agenda of Pope Francis’ Council of Cardinals.
“Currently, there is a Council for the Laity, but in the Vatican pecking order, councils are ranked below congregations. For example, a cardinal must head the nine Vatican congregations, but the 12 councils can make do with an archbishop. Not only would the laity council be upgraded, it would be merged into a larger entity that could take over the functions of the Council for the Family, the Council for Health Care Workers, and the Council for Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People.”
By Thomas Reese, National Catholic Reporter — Click here to read the rest of this story.
U.S. sisters’ apostolic visitation report to be released Dec. 16 / Global Sisters Report
Posted by Voice of the Faithful in Religious Women, Vatican, Voice of the Faithful, Women in Catholic Church on December 4, 2014
The Vatican will be releasing the results of one of its controversial and contentious investigations of U.S. women religious at a press briefing in December, a priest who assists the Vatican’s press office has said.
“Basilian Fr. Thomas Rosica, a Canadian who frequently helps the Vatican with English and French language press, said the Vatican will release a report on the investigation, known as an apostolic visitation, Dec. 16.
“The visitation, one of two separate investigations of U.S. women religious launched by different Vatican offices in recent years, sparked protest from both the women and lay people throughout the country who said it was based on unfair and unfounded judgments about the women’s lives.”
By Joshua J. McElwee, Global Sisters Report, National Catholic Reporter — Click here to read the rest of this story.
Pope’s Vatican watchdog on abuse: wrong priest for the job / The Boston Globe
Posted by Voice of the Faithful in Clergy Sexual Abuse, Vatican, Voice of the Faithful on December 2, 2014
WHY PUT a priest who covered up sexual abuse in charge of policing it?
“That’s exactly what Pope Francis did when he appointed the Rev. Robert J. Geisinger as the Vatican’s ‘promoter of justice.’ While the pope has met with abuse victims and pledged himself to zero tolerance, the appointment of Geisinger is a step backward. To signal his resolve on an issue that has deeply wounded so many, he should rescind the appointment.”
Editorial by The Boston Globe — Click here to read the rest of this editorial.
-
You are currently browsing the archives for December, 2014
Voice of the Faithful
A lay movement for governance reform in the Roman Catholic Church, responding to the clergy sexual abuse scandal and supporting survivors.
Voice of the Faithful- An error has occurred; the feed is probably down. Try again later.
Voice of the Faithful ® 