Catholic Analysis

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Pope Francis and Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI on June 28, 2017.

Analysis: How Benedict's essay supports Francis' call for 'zero tolerance'

Apr 11, 2019

By Ed Condon

At the heart of his new essay, Benedict XVI insists that the purpose of punishing the perpetrators of sexual abuse... Read more

Archbishop Wilton Gregory of Atlanta.

Analysis: In DC, Archbishop Gregory's promise of honesty will define him

Apr 5, 2019

By JD Flynn

Archbishop Wilton Gregory told Washington Catholics Thursday that “the only way I can serve this local archdiocese is by telling... Read more

Dulce Nombre de Maria Cathedral Basilica, the seat of the Archbishop of Agana, Guam. Public Domain.

Analysis: Gregory, Apuron, 'zero tolerance,' and pontifical secrets

Apr 4, 2019

By JD Flynn

Thursday morning, the Vatican announced the fates of two American archbishops: one has become the next Archbishop of Washington, and... Read more

Archbishop Wilton Gregory. CNA/File photo

Analysis: Gregory’s road to Washington

Apr 4, 2019

By Ed Condon

Gregory’s arrival in Washington follows months of intense speculation, with many frustrated at the apparent delay - but the process... Read more

Cardinal George Pell.

Analysis: The stakes of Pell's Vatican trial

Mar 5, 2019

By Ed Condon, JD Flynn

The Vatican has announced that a canonical process against Cardinal George Pell will soon begin in the Congregation for the... Read more

Cardinal Blase Cupich during a press briefing at the Vatican abuse summit.

Analysis: In spite of itself, Vatican abuse summit may still do some good

Feb 22, 2019

By JD Flynn

The Vatican’s abuse summit this week will not solve the problems plaguing the Catholic Church in the U.S. In fact,... Read more

Cardinal Donald Wuerl, Administrator of the Archdioce of Washington, D.C.

Analysis: The fall of Cardinal Wuerl

Jan 14, 2019

By Ed Condon

It now looks clear that Wuerl’s mandate to lead, and whatever was left of his legacy as a reformer, are... Read more

Mundelein Seminary.

Analysis: Their retreat accomplished, the U.S. bishops remain under siege

Jan 7, 2019

By JD Flynn

When their seven-day retreat at Mundelein ends Jan. 8, some of the U.S. bishops may be reluctant to leave the... Read more

Pope Francis.

Analysis: How the Vatican is preparing for its February abuse summit

Dec 19, 2018

By Andrea Gagliarducci

Preparations in the Vatican are underway for a summit of the bishops to discuss the problem of clerical sexual abuse.... Read more

Bishops.

Analysis: How sexual misconduct reforms might begin in U.S. dioceses

Nov 29, 2018

By Ed Condon

Some U.S. bishops have told CNA they now realize that if they want to initiate new reforms, they’ll have to... Read more

Bishop Coyne, Cardinal DiNardo, and Bishop Doherty at the USCCB press conference in Baltimore, Md., Nov. 12, 2018.

Analysis: On sexual abuse, what will U.S. bishops, and the pope, do next?

Nov 26, 2018

By JD Flynn

After several confusing and turbulent weeks in the Church, it is worth asking where reform efforts stand, and where they... Read more

USCCB meeting Nov. 2018.

USCCB meeting: What just happened, and what might happen next?

Nov 12, 2018

By Ed Condon, JD Flynn

During a holy hour Monday morning, two survivors of clerical sexual abuse spoke to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops... Read more

Cardinal Daniel DiNardo. CNA file photo.

Analysis: DiNardo's promise, and the USCCB's pending policies

Nov 9, 2018

By JD Flynn

As the bishops hold their first formal meeting since this summer’s scandal began to unfold, many Catholics are incredulous at... Read more

The Cathedral of Christ the Savior, the Russian Orthodox Cathedral of Moscow.

Will Pope Francis have an impact on Orthodoxy’s Ukraine dispute?

Nov 6, 2018

By Andrea Gagliarducci

The Russian Orthodox Church announced that it has withdrawn from a Vatican sponsored Commission for Catholic – Orthodox Theological Dialogue,... Read more

Bishops from across the United States take part in the USCCB's Fall General Assembly in Baltimore on November 11, 2013.

Archbishop McCarrick and 'Dallas 2'

Nov 1, 2018

By Ed Condon

Nov. 13 will mark sixteen years since Cardinal Bernard Law and then-Cardinal Theodore McCarrick addressed the U.S. bishops’ conference on... Read more

Cardinal Donald Wuerl.

What kind of archbishop is needed in Washington?

Oct 17, 2018

By Ed Condon

The Archbishop of Washington occupies one of the most prominent posts in the Church in America. But the assignment, usually... Read more

St. Peter's Basilica.

Analysis: Will bishops push for clarity on the synod’s procedural rules?

Oct 13, 2018

By JD Flynn

Recent changes to canon law have left some bishops attending the 2018 Synod of Bishops uncertain about the meeting’s procedural... Read more

Cardinal Daniel DiNardo. CNA file photo.

Analysis: Do Vatican officials see abuse crisis as a referendum on the pope?

Oct 8, 2018

By JD Flynn

Archbishop Charles Scicluna of Malta told reporters Monday that Catholics should “trust Pope Francis that there is going to be... Read more

Pope Francis.

Francis calls for youth synod creativity- How will U.S. bishops answer the call?

Oct 3, 2018

By JD Flynn

As the synod begins, it’s worth noting what some bishops from the U.S. delegation might bring to the table.  Read more

Pope Francis at a General Audience in Rome, June 2018.

What Pope Francis can clarify about the Vigano testimony- and what he can't

Sep 11, 2018

By Ed Condon

It has been more than two weeks since Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò released his 11-page testimony about the McCarrick scandal.... Read more