International

Syriac monastery in Turkey reopens after 100 years

The Monastery of Mor Efrem (St Ephrem) in Mardin, southern Turkey, an area which was once the heartland of Syriac Christia-nity, has once again opened its doors to believers. Patriarch Ignace Joseph III Younan, head of the Syriac Ca-tholic Church, presided over the re-consecration of the building, and celebrated its first Divine Liturgy in a […]

New synod doc highlights challenges, but offers few solutions

On October 27 the Vatican released the working document for the next stage in Pope Francis’s ongoing Synod of Bishops on Synodality, which offered a global view of what faithful at all levels of the Church believe needs to happen for it to be a true place of inclusion. The document, published Oct. 27 and […]

The Push for Women’s Rights in Iran Is a Push for Religious Freedom Too

Growing up in a home with a Muslim father and a Christian mother, Iranian American Shirin Taber had a special appreciation for being able to choose what she believed. When she told her dad that she wished everyone back in Iran could have the same freedom, he—knowing the harsh reality of the regime—said it would […]

Vatican II was ‘necessary,’ retired pope writes to U.S. conference

The Second Vatican Council was “not only meaningful, but necessary,” retired Pope Benedict XVI said in a letter to a conference about his theological work at the Franciscan University of Steubenville. A theological understanding of the world’s different religions, the relationship between faith and reason and, especially, the nature and mission of the church in […]

Cardinal Becciu offered to reimburse Vatican for payments to ‘spy’

Cardinal Angelo Becciu off-ered to personally reimburse the Holy See for funds paid to Cecelia Marogna, the Vatican City court heard on October 13. In testimony from the card-inal, and from a senior Vatican police officer, judges in the Va-tican’s sprawling financial crimes trial heard that Becciu made the offer after he was informed Inter-pol […]

Cardinal Pell Forewarns of ‘Suicidal’ Synod

Cardinal George Pell is warning of catastrophic consequences for the Catholic Church if Pope Francis does not correct “serious heresies” being promoted by the German Synodal Way. “The synodal process has begun disastrously in Germany,” the Australian prelate laments, “and matters will become worse unless we soon have effective papal corrections on, for instance, Christian […]

US priests are ‘flourishing’ – but they don’t trust their bishops

Priests and bishops in the United States report overwhelmingly that they are “flou-rishing” in ministry, despite pressures caused by two decades of clerical abuse scandals and Church responses. But while U.S. priests report high levels of personal well-being, they also have a widespread lack of confidence and trust in their bishops, according to a study […]

Cardinal Müller on Synod on Synodality: ‘A Hostile Takeover of the Church of Jesus Christ …We Must Resist’

A top cardinal raised concerns about how his fellow prelates understand the nature of the Church and treat papal authority. “The theory of the Pope as autocrat, borrowed from 19th century Jesuit theology, not only contradicts the Second Vatican Council, but undermines the credibility of the Church with this caricature of the Petrine ministry,” Cdl. Gerhard Müller told Spanish […]

Indian bishops slam terror attack on tourists in India’s Kashmir

No action taken against police who assaulted Catholic priests in India