News

Pope Francis has announced new rules to bolster the contribution of lay people in the synod of bishops process so it can become a “privileged instrument of listening to the People of God.”

Jalandhar Bishop Franco Mulakkal, accused of raping a Kerala nun, has written to Pope Francis offering to “step aside temporarily” as the Bishop of Jalandhar diocese. 

A senior editor of Catholic magazine Commonweal has criticised the tendency of the Church to make saints out of rape victims.

Russian Orthodox leaders have reacted furiously to moves by the Orthodox Ecumenical Patriarch, Bartholomew I, to recognise an independent Ukrainian Church, a fortnight after attempts to patch up an accord at an inter-Orthodox summit in Istanbul.

Inviting presidents of the world's bishops' conference to the Vatican to discuss abuse prevention reflects an understanding that "lovely" words and promises are not enough -- concrete, concerted action by the whole church is needed, said Archbishop Charles Scicluna of Malta.

The Russian Orthodox Church have released a statement declaring that they do not recognise the authority of the Patriarchate of Constantinople to grant autocephaly to the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.

A truth and reconciliation process where bishops from across the world can disclose abuse cases to regional tribunals could help the Church in its battle deal with the escalating clerical sex abuse crisis, according to a leading child protection expert. 

More than half of bishops in the Netherlands were involved in covering up sexual abuse or committing abuse themselves between 1945- 2010, a Dutch newspaper has reported.

The Archbishop of Westminster has called on the Catholic Church to listen "with an open heart" to the voice of those who pastors failed to protect from "the wolves in our midst". Cardinal Vincent Nichols was preaching in a homily in Poland at the weekend about the abuse crisis and the recent World Meeting of Families in Ireland.

Young people, women, and lay Catholics from more than 40 countries will take part in next month’s youth synod, according to an official list of participants released by the Vatican.