Archive for December 18th, 2023

Pope Francis allows priests to bless same-sex relationships / The New York Times

Posted by Voice of the Faithful in church reform, Future of the Church, Pope Francis, Vatican, Voice of the Faithful on December 18, 2023

A church official said the blessings amounted to ‘a real development’ that nevertheless did not amend ‘the traditional doctrine of the Church about marriage.’

By Jason Horowitz, The New York Times

“Pope Francis has taken one of the most concrete steps in his efforts to make the Roman Catholic Church more welcoming to L.G.B.T.Q. Catholics by allowing priests to bless couples in same-sex relationships, the Vatican announced on Monday (Dec. 18).

“Priests have long blessed a wide variety of people, offering a prayer asking for God’s help and presence. But the Vatican has previously argued against blessing same-sex couples.

“The new rule was issued in a declaration by the church’s office on doctrine and introduced by its prefect, Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández, who said that the declaration did not amend ‘the traditional doctrine of the church about marriage,’ because it allowed no liturgical rite that could be confused with the sacrament of marriage.”

By Jason Horowitz, The New York Times — Read more …

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A cardinal is convicted of embezzlement and sentenced to 5 1/2 years in a major Vatican financial trial / Associated Pres

Posted by Voice of the Faithful in Catholic Bishops, financial transparency, Vatican, Voice of the Faithful on December 18, 2023

The trial focused on the Vatican secretariat of state’s 350 million euro investment in developing a former Harrod’s warehouse into luxury apartments. Prosecutors alleged Vatican monsignors and brokers fleeced the Holy See of tens of millions of euros in fees and commissions and then extorted the Holy See for 15 million euros to cede control of the building.

By Nicole Winfield, Associated Press

“A Vatican tribunal on Saturday convicted a cardinal of embezzlement and sentenced him to 5½ years in prison in one of several verdicts handed down in a complicated financial trial that aired the city state’s dirty laundry and tested its justice system.

“Cardinal Angelo Becciu, the first cardinal ever prosecuted by the Vatican criminal court, was absolved of several other charges and his nine co-defendants received a mixed outcome of some guilty verdicts and many acquittals of the nearly 50 charges brought against them during a 2½ year trial.

“Becciu’s lawyer, Fabio Viglione, said he respected the sentence but would appeal.

“Prosecutor Alessandro Diddi said the outcome ‘showed we were correct.'”

By Nicole Winfield, Associated Press — Read more …

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