Communion

The Latest

German bishops discuss intercommunion of Lutheran, Catholic spouses

Feb 22, 2018

Cardinal Reinhard Marx has announced that the German bishops' conference will publish a pastoral handout for married couples that allows... Read more

Priest's hospital room mix-up allows dying woman to receive sacraments

Jan 6, 2018

Shortly before midnight on New Year’s Eve, Fr. Gregorio Hidalgo went to a hospital to give Communion to a patient.... Read more

Nearly 80 prisoners baptized in Argentina

Dec 8, 2017

Seventy-eight prisoners were baptized, confirmed, and received their First Holy Communion in an Argentine prison Dec. 1.  Read more

Cardinal Gerhard Müller, prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.

Cardinal Mueller: There's no problem with doctrine in 'Amoris laetitia'

Jan 9, 2017

By Elise Harris

The Vatican’s doctrinal head has challenged several cardinals' public questioning of the doctrinal validity of Amoris laetitia, saying the document... Read more

Bishop Conley distributes Communion during his Mass of Installation as Bishop of Lincoln, Nov. 20, 2012.

Bishop Conley reassures clergy over 'Amoris laetitia'

Dec 9, 2016

Clarity and renewal can be the fruit of disputes and disagreements, Bishop James Conley of Lincoln said to his priests... Read more

Dona Penha, 101, receives First Communion.

101-year-old woman receives First Communion

Oct 2, 2016

At 101 years old, Dona Penha has seen quite a bit of life. But the centenarian experienced something new on... Read more

Bishops: Don't let the media guide Catholics on divorce

Sep 17, 2016

Divorced Catholics who have remarried civilly are welcome to seek reconciliation with the Church, but they need to be sure... Read more

Cardinal Marc Ouellet takes part in the Pontifical Council for Culture's Plenary Assembly on Women's Cultures in Rome on Feb. 6, 2015.

Vatican cardinal calls Amoris Laetitia a controversial document

Aug 3, 2016

Cardinal Marc Ouellet, prefect of the Congregation of Bishops, said in Toronto that Pope Francis’ apostolic exhortation on the family,... Read more

Robert Spaemann before the obelisk in front of Santa Maria sopra Minerva in Rome.

A follow-up from Robert Spaemann on Amoris Laetitia

Jun 20, 2016

In April, Robert Spaemann, emeritus professor of philosophy at the University of Munich, attracted significant attention for an interview with... Read more

Archbishop Charles Chaput speaks with CNA in Rome on Sept. 15, 2014.

Archbishop Chaput clarifies 'Amoris Laetitia' committee

Jun 1, 2016

Archbishop Charles Chaput of Philadelphia described as “misleading” an article claiming that his leadership of a working group on the... Read more

Cardinal Gerhard Müller, prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, attends the Christmas tree lighting in St. Peter's Square, Dec. 18, 2015.

Müller on Amoris Laetitia: the Church is called to promote a 'culture of the family'

May 12, 2016

Those who think Pope Francis' recent apostolic exhortation changed the Church's discipline on Holy Communion for the divorced-and-remarried are reading... Read more

Bishops meet at the Vatican's Synod Hall on Oct. 21, 2015.

Synod finds strong support for Church teaching in communion debate

Oct 21, 2015

By Elise Harris

Despite pastoral challenges posed by divorced-and-civilly-remarried Catholics, many synod fathers are in favor of current Church teaching and practice according... Read more

A newly married couple receive Communion at a Mass in St. Peter's Basilica, Sept. 14, 2014.

Archdiocese: news reports distorted Newark archbishop's efforts to guide priests

Oct 17, 2015

By Kevin J. Jones

A memo from the Archbishop of Newark to his priests on the reception of the Eucharist aimed to provide guidance... Read more

Cardinal Walter Kasper.

Cardinal Kasper backpedals on papal endorsement of controversial proposal

Jun 4, 2015

Almost single-handedly one cleric has turned the Church’s teaching on Communion, marriage and divorce into an international debate.  Read more

Communion Wafers.

Communion for divorced and remarried? Africa's bishops have other concerns, cardinal says

Feb 19, 2015

A leading African cardinal says the continent's bishops want the upcoming Vatican synod to zero-in on strengthening the Church with... Read more

Benedict XVI at the General Audience in St. Peter's Square, Sept. 11, 2005.

Ratzinger's retraction: the fruit of 42 years of theological maturation

Dec 4, 2014

News broke weeks ago that a new volume of Benedict XVI's collected works was being released in German with an... Read more

Pope Benedict XVI celebrates the closing Mass of the Synod for the New Evangelization Oct 28, 2012.

Scholars: No, Benedict XVI doesn't support Kasper in Synod debates

Nov 25, 2014

By Carl Bunderson

A new volume of Benedict XVI's collected works includes an updated version of a 1972 essay in which he had... Read more

Cardinal Walter Kasper.

Interview excerpts: Cardinal Kasper responds

Sep 29, 2014

On Sept. 29, the Argentine daily La Nacion published an interview with Cardinal Walter Kasper, who has drawn significant media... Read more

Bishop, canonist: Gay unions among sins barring Communion

Sep 25, 2014

By Matt Hadro

The denial of Holy Communion to a same-sex couple who obtained a marriage license is in line with broader Church... Read more

Spanish bishop: Pope says he will not change Communion rule

Sep 25, 2014

Amid widespread reports that Pope Francis might open the door to Communion for the divorced and civilly remarried, a Spanish... Read more