Catholic Church

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The flag of Scotland.

Catholic bishops fear Scotland's hate crime law could criminalize Bible and Catechism

Jul 29, 2020

Catholic bishops have said that proposed hate crime legislation in Scotland could criminalize the Bible and the Catechism of the... Read more

The website of Protège ton église.

‘We must pray for their conversion’: Young French Catholics respond to wave of desecrations

Jul 28, 2020

In 2019, two friends launched a movement to protect churches across France in response to a wave of desecrations.   Read more

Pope Benedict XVI on Aug. 28, 2010.

Benedict XVI praises “glorious music” of Bach in festival message

Jul 28, 2020

Pope emeritus Benedict XVI has praised the “glorious music” of Johann Sebastian Bach in a message to a festival in... Read more

How the Catholic Church is helping London's new homeless

Jul 28, 2020

People made homeless as a result of the coronavirus pandemic will “need a lot of help” to get their lives... Read more

Pope Francis in St. Peter's Square on Oct. 9, 2019.

One million people helped in Ukraine by Pope Francis’ charitable project

Jul 28, 2020

By Hannah Brockhaus

Pope Francis’ charitable project for Ukraine, started in 2016, has helped nearly one million people in the war-torn country, according... Read more

A statue of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in Grodzisk Wielkopolski, Poland.

Catholics mark centenary of Poland’s consecration to the Sacred Heart

Jul 27, 2020

Catholics marked the 100th anniversary Monday of the consecration of Poland to the Sacred Heart.  Read more

A detail from a graphic promoting the Dicastery for Laity, Family, and Life campaign.

Vatican dicastery launches ‘send a hug’ campaign for elderly isolated by pandemic

Jul 27, 2020

The Vatican Dicastery for Laity, Family, and Life launched a new campaign Monday urging young people to “send a hug”... Read more

Cardinal Walter Kasper.

Cardinal Kasper defends Vatican instruction on parishes

Jul 27, 2020

Cardinal Walter Kasper has defended a new Vatican instruction on parishes after it was criticized by several German bishops.   Read more

Cardinal Charles Maung Bo, archbishop of Yangon.

Cardinal Bo: Hagia Sophia’s conversion into a mosque will ‘reopen wounds’

Jul 24, 2020

As Hagia Sophia opened for Muslim prayers Friday for the first time in 86 years, a leading Asian cardinal said... Read more

A woman stands in a burned out area after an extremist attack on the village of Aldeia da Paz, Mozambique, Aug. 24, 2019.

Churches burned, people beheaded in Mozambique’s escalating extremist violence

Jul 23, 2020

By Courtney Mares

A Catholic bishop has deplored the world’s indifference to escalating extremist violence in northern Mozambique, where multiple churches have been... Read more

Archbishop Luigi Ventura, then-Apostolic Nuncio to Canada, speaks at a Mass and Concert held in Ottawa, April 2, 2009.

Ex-nuncio to France to face trial in Paris on sexual assault charges

Jul 23, 2020

By Hannah Brockhaus

A retired Vatican diplomat accused of sexual assault while in office is due to appear before the Paris criminal court... Read more

Bishop Paul McAleenan, lead bishop for migrants and refugees of the Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales.

Catholic bishop: UK and France must tackle ‘underlying reasons’ for rise in English Channel migrant crossings

Jul 23, 2020

A Catholic bishop has urged the U.K. and France to address the “underlying reasons” for a rise in migrants risking... Read more

From left: Bishop Peter Kohlgraf of Mainz, Cardinal Rainer Maria Woelki of Cologne, and Bishop Franz-Josef Bode of Osnabrück.

Germany’s Catholic bishops divided over Vatican instruction on parishes

Jul 23, 2020

A new Vatican instruction on parishes has received a mixed reception in Germany.  Read more

Bishop Henrique Soares da Costa.

Cries of ‘santo subito’ for Brazilian bishop who died of the coronavirus

Jul 22, 2020

By Hannah Brockhaus

More than 48,000 people have signed an online petition asking the Brazilian bishops to open a beatification cause for the... Read more

Álvaro Calvente, center, arrives in Santiago de Compostela July 13, 2020.

Disabled teen encouraged by Pope Francis after walking Camino de Santiago

Jul 22, 2020

By Hannah Brockhaus

A Spanish teenager with an intellectual disability received an encouraging letter from Pope Francis after walking the Camino de Santiago... Read more

Cardinal Jean-Claude Hollerich, Archbishop of Luxembourg, at the Vatican, Oct. 5, 2019.

Cardinal says EU leaders have ‘chosen solidarity’ as they back coronavirus recovery fund

Jul 22, 2020

A cardinal praised European Union leaders Tuesday for showing solidarity with poorer member states after they reached agreement on a... Read more

Pontifical Academy for Life expresses concern over pandemic aggravating inequalities

Jul 22, 2020

By Courtney Mares

The Pontifical Academy for Life released a document Wednesday that expresses concern that the coronavirus pandemic is aggravating global inequalities.  Read more

President Rodrigo R. Duterte.

Catholic bishops: Democracy is being eroded in the Philippines

Jul 20, 2020

The bishops of the Philippines have issued a pastoral letter accusing the government of undermining the country’s democratic institutions.  Read more

Bishop da Costa is the third bishop in Brazil to die after contracting COVID-19.

At least 9 Catholic bishops have died from the coronavirus

Jul 20, 2020

By Courtney Mares

At least nine Catholic bishops have died from the coronavirus worldwide as the pandemic continues to spread across the Americas.  Read more

The  Saint-Pierre-et-Saint-Paul cathedral in Nantes, France, before a July 18 fire now being investigated for arson.

Police release volunteer questioned over Nantes Catholic cathedral fire

Jul 20, 2020

A volunteer questioned by French police in connection with the fire at Nantes Cathedral has been released without charge.  Read more