Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith
The Latest
Vatican to publish new document on Marian apparitions next week
Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández will unveil new norms for discernment regarding “apparitions and other supernatural phenomena.” Read more
New Vatican document highlights Church’s ‘ever-greater understanding of human dignity’
Dignity “belongs to the person… simply because he or she exists and is willed, created, and loved by God,” the... Read more
Vatican document on human dignity condemns gender transition, surrogacy, abortion
In the declaration, the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith cautions against threats to human dignity that begin at... Read more
Vatican to publish document on ‘moral questions’ regarding human dignity, gender, surrogacy
The Holy See Press Office announced Tuesday that the new document, titled Dignitas Infinita (“Infinite Dignity”) (On Human Dignity), will... Read more
Argentine archbishop criticizes cardinals who back Fiducia Supplicans
Archbishop Emeritus Héctor Aguer of La Plata, Argentina, criticized two cardinals who expressed support for the Vatican declaration Fiducia Supplicans. Read more
Vatican doctrine office releases note on discerning the validity of the sacraments
The new document signed by Pope Francis and Cardinal Victor Fernández is titled “Gestis Verbisque,” or “Deeds and Words.” Read more
Pope Francis: Small ideological groups oppose same-sex blessings; Africa a ‘special case’
Pope Francis suggested that the opposition to the Vatican’s approval of nonliturgical blessings for same-sex couples mostly comes from “small... Read more
Pope Francis: Blessings don’t require ‘moral perfection’
Pope Francis on Friday offered guidance to members of the Vatican’s doctrinal office for dealing with matters of faith. Read more
Cardinal Zen: Fiducia Supplicans ‘creates confusion’; suggests Fernández should resign
In a statement published Jan. 23 on his blog, Cardinal Joseph Zen Ze-kiun said the declaration contains numerous passages in... Read more
Former gay activist: Fiducia Supplicans hurts those ‘struggling for chastity’
Luca Di Tolve, Mister Gay Italy 1990 and a former homosexual activist, posted a reflection on his website regarding the... Read more
Resurfaced Fernández book prompts concerns
Some Catholics have raised concerns over both the tone and theology of a recently resurfaced sexually explicit book written by... Read more
Rediscovered book by Cardinal Fernández features graphic erotic passages on ‘spirituality and sensuality’
The 1998 book’s provocative, sexually-charged themes are likely to add further scrutiny to the already embattled prefect of the Vatican’s... Read more
Vatican responds to widespread backlash on same-sex blessing directive
Cardinal Victor Manuel Fernández maintained that the Vatican’s recent declaration on same-sex blessings was “clear and definitive about marriage and... Read more
Resistance to same-sex blessings grows in Africa, but bishops are divided globally
More than two weeks after the Vatican issued a declaration on blessings of same-sex couples, bishops remain divided over the... Read more
Chris Christie ties his shift on gay marriage to Vatican ruling on same-sex blessings
Christie, who identifies as Catholic, told New Hampshire voters: “I don’t have any objection to it any longer. In the... Read more
Vatican says priests can bless same-sex couples without condoning their lifestyles
Nonliturgical blessings can be a sign of a person seeking God, not a validation of their lifestyle, the new document... Read more
Vatican doctrine office encourages single mothers to receive Communion after confession
The Vatican’s doctrine office published a letter on Thursday confirming that single mothers can receive Communion after going to confession. Read more
Vatican: Small part of cremated ashes can be kept in personal place in certain cases
The guidance came from a letter written by Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández, who serves as the prefect for the Dicastery... Read more
Cardinal Fernández: Offer yourselves to the Lord ‘like clay ready to be molded’
The new head of the Vatican’s doctrine office gave a homily this week in which he encouraged Catholics to be... Read more
Explainer: Why can’t a Catholic join the Freemasons?
The Vatican recently reaffirmed that active membership in Freemasonry by Catholics is not permissible. Read more
