WASHINGTON — The Catholic Church in Germany’s two-year reform program that has questioned established teachings on faith and morals has prompted Pope Francis and Vatican officials to take increasingly urgent action to head off the possibility of a formal schism. Across the Atlantic, the U.S.
“Out of the darkness of my life, so much frustrated, I put before you the one great thing to love on earth: the Blessed Sacrament … There you will find romance, glory, honour, fidelity, and the true way of all your loves upon earth …
For Catholics who welcomed the Vatican’s recent statement barring blessings of same-sex unions, the flurry of objections that followed has seemed eerily reminiscent of the outcry against the 1968 encyclical Humanae Vitae. Just as St. Paul VI’s letter articulating the Church’s stance against artificial contraception was met with
A Catholic diocese in Italy has described a priest’s refusal to bless palms on Sunday because of the Vatican’s rejection of blessings for same-sex unions as “reprehensible.” The Diocese of Spezia-Sarzana-Brugnato said that the matter was being addressed according to Church norms. Fr. Giulio Mignani,
Recently, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith — the Vatican agency responsible for resolving doctrinal disputes — declined a request from German bishops asking if it was permissible to bless what are popularly referred to as “gay marriages.” The response has been widely characterized in
Following a Vatican clarification that the Church cannot bless same-sex unions, some media outlets have speculated about Pope Francis’ involvement – or lack thereof – in releasing the document. However, the pope’s consent is a necessary part of any responsum, and Pope Francis himself has multiple
People have noted that the Fundamental Text of the German Synodal Way threatens outright schism in the Church over issues such as homosexuality, women priests, marriage, and much more. But it also distorts various theological questions. And it’s well worth taking a careful look at that as
The Vatican’s doctrinal office on Monday clarified that the Catholic Church does not have the power to give liturgical blessings of homosexual unions. Answering the question, “does the Church have the power to give the blessing to unions of persons of the same sex,” the
The U.S. bishops’ conference could be given a vote this June on whether to draft and publish a document addressing the question of administering the Eucharist to pro-choice Catholic politicians. The document could be finalized and approved as early as November, sources tell The Pillar. The
The president of the German Catholic bishops’ conference said on Thursday that he would continue to give Holy Communion to Protestants who ask for it. Bishop Georg Bätzing told journalists at a press conference on Feb. 25 that it was necessary to respect the “personal
