Most Popular News Within Last 30 Days
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Cardinal Pell’s conviction upheld; Vatican, Australian bishops react
In a 2-1 ruling, an Australian appeals court has upheld the conviction of Cardinal George Pell on charges of sexually abusing two choir boys in the Melbourne cathedral in 1996. In March, the...2
Cardinal Pell criticizes ‘low quality’ working document for Amazon Synod
In a letter from an Australian prison, Cardinal George Pell expressed serious misgivings about the working document for the Amazon Synod. The cardinal wrote to friends that “we have reason...3
Pope denounces sovereignty movement, says it causes wars
Pope Francis denounced “sovereignism,” and called for the preservation of the European Union, in a new interview with La Stampa. The Pope said that the European Union should be...4
New York Post op-ed: ‘Catholic-haters have just convicted an innocent cardinal’
Julia Yost, senior editor of First Things, wrote this op-ed after an Australian appeals court upheld the conviction of Cardinal George Pell5
Buffalo diocese hit with RICO suit
A group of 22 plaintiffs has filed suit against the Diocese of Buffalo, New York, under the terms of the federal RICO (Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations) statute, charging that the diocese—along with the local Jesuit province and a number of Catholic schools and parishes—engaged in a conspiracy to protect clerical abusers. “All the defendant(s) knew and/or reasonably should have known, and/or knowingly condoned, and/or covered up, the inappropriate and unlawful criminal conduct activities,” the suit charges.6
Retired Pope meets with former president of embattled Vatican Institute
Pope-emeritus Benedict met on August 1 with Msgr. Livio Melina, who had recently been dismissed from his post teaching moral theology at the John Paul II Institute. Msgr. Melina reportedly spoke with the former Pontiff about the problems of the Institute, which has seen a change of statutes and a purge of faculty members.7
Woman sues Houston archdiocese over ‘lay exorcism’
A Texas woman has filed suit against the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston, claiming that she suffered emotional damage as a result of a lay “exorcism” performed during a charismatic prayer service. Exorcisms are allowed only with the formal permission of the diocese. The parish where the incident occurred has suspended the activities of the charismatic prayer group.8
Vatican not ready to answer questions about John Paul II Institute
The Vatican is not prepared to answer questions about turmoil in the John Paul II Institute, an official has said. Father Riccardo Mensuali—who works at the Pontifical Academy for the Family, headed by Archbishop Vincenzo Paglia, the chancellor of the John Paul II Institute—said that the Vatican is “desirous of giving exhaustive responses, but asks a few weeks’ time” to formulate them.9
Amazon missionary bishop rips synod’s working document
Bishop José Luís Azcona Hermoso, 79, said that the working document of the Special Assembly of the Synod of Bishops for the Pan-Amazon Region ignores rampant pedophilia and the spread of Pentecostalism. The document, he added, is “ecclesiologically devoid of theological and pastoral foundations, annulling the Gospel of salvation.”10
