The impressive thing about the Irish abuse drama is how inexorably the public reaction is forcing responses from higher up the command chain, with increasing levels of disclosure. First the bishops’ own Ryan report into the original extent of abuse, then the government initiated Murphy report into the bishops’ decades of neglect and cover-up, now…
In Ireland, there is an intriguing story unfolding at the established Marian shrine of Knock, where Mary is said to have appeared in a vision in… Since then, promoted by the Irish clergy, it has been a regular site of Catholic pilgrimage and devotion: as well as a useful source of income for the tourist…
Overwhelmed by some fun pictures and pertinent comment at NCR Online, Far From Rome, Enlightened Catholicism, Bilgrimage and probably more to come, I have nothing original to say, so simply add more pics and some words from Wikipedia (Oh, there’s also a question!): 1. ) Holy Roman Empire, 962 – 1806 The Holy Roman Empire…
Who holds ultimate power in the Catholic Church? No, it’s not the Vatican. In a useful comment to a recent post, Norma Villareal, puts the question: “The only way to deal with the problem is to change the system.” That may be valid, but I do not see rules changing in the near future that…
In an interesting observation on the disgraceful Vatican investigation, Mercy Sr Theresa Kane describes as a sign not of the power of the hierarchy, but of its impotence: Referring to the Vatican investigation of U.S. women religious initiated last December by Slovenian Cardinal Franc Rodé, who heads the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and…
This interesting e-mail landed arrived in my mailbox overnight, from “Wir sind Kirche” (We Are Church, Germany). The lifting of the excommunication is back in the news, with reports that Benedict XVI was warned in advance about the holocaust denying views of Bishop Williamson, before he went ahead. However, the main feature that interests me…
On the history of the Catholic priesthood, Wikipedia has: The Priesthood is understood to have begun with the Last Supper, when Jesus Christ instituted the Eucharist. While the threefold ministry is recorded in the New Testament, it is believed that in many assemblies this complete articulation did not take place until the second century. [7]…
Breaking news from the National Catholic Reporter is that Bishop Martino is stepping down. Thankfully, on this side of the Atlantic I have not had to worry too much about him, but even so I was immediately able to recognise his name in the headline, and to respond, “Good News!”. A few quotes from the…
I’ve been reading about Catholic Bishop, Patricia Fresen . That’s right: Catholic Bishop, Patricia Fresen. Bishop Fresen is one of three consecrated Bishops in the Womenpriests movement. Now, I’ve been fascinated by Bishop Fresen since I first heard of her a couple of years ago, but all my natural instincts are in turmoil over this. On…
In the aftermath of apartheid, an important part of the country’s transition to normality was played by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, magnificently led by Archbishop Desmond Tutu. Among mountains of harrowing tales of huge personal tragedy and confessions of guilt from all sides of a long conflict, I was especially struck by one man’s…
Recent Comments