National Catholic Register, Edward Pentin: Pope Francis currently has “no particular illnesses,” is “doing well consistent with his age,” and has the “head of a 60-year-old,” a doctor who has operated on him in recent years has said. In a … Continue reading
Author Archives: Jillian Singer
Assessing ‘Fiducia Supplicans’: The First 100 Days
National Catholic Register, Edward Pentin: March 27 marks 100 days since the Vatican published Fiducia Supplicans, an instruction on blessings of persons in irregular unions. And while the controversy it stirred in the Church in the West has somewhat abated, … Continue reading
Why doesn’t Pope Francis celebrate Mass?
Catholic Culture, Phil Lawler: Today dozens of media outlets are reporting that Pope Francis did not deliver a homily at Palm Sunday Mass. That’s true, but no particularly remarkable. Many priests choose to skip the homily on Palm Sunday, after … Continue reading
Cardinal Pizzaballa’s Meteoric Rise to ‘Papabile’
National Catholic Register, Edward Pentin: “It will be a difficult Easter,” Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa told Italian television last week as he offered a grim assessment of the worsening humanitarian crisis in war-torn Gaza. Calling on the international community to quickly … Continue reading
Fetal homicide law used in New Hampshire for first time in murder of mother and child
Catholic News Agency, Tyler Arnold: A New Hampshire man was charged with the murder of a pregnant woman and her unborn child, which is the first time the state’s fetal homicide law has ever been invoked. William Kelly, 38, was … Continue reading
In Ireland, a shift in the global political trend?
Catholic Culture, Phil Lawler: Could we take another look at the stunning results of the Irish referenda held earlier this month? The resignation of Taoiseach (prime minister) Leo Vardkar, who acknowledged that he had badly misjudged the public mood, underlines … Continue reading
World’s oldest nun is 115-year-old Brazilian
Catholic News Agency, Nathália Queiroz: “My secret, my great secret, is to pray,” said Sister Inah Canabarro Lucas, the oldest nun in the world at 115 years of age. “I pray the rosary every day for all the people around … Continue reading
Pope Francis, ‘doctor of the law’
Catholic Culture, Phil Lawler: Pope Francis frequently scolds the “doctors of the law,” the legalists, the clericalists. But his autobiography Life: My Story Through History shows that he fits into those categories himself. While the book is scheduled for publication … Continue reading
Vatican authorizes opening of cause for canonization for 13-year-old Filipina girl
Catholic News Agency, Walter Sanchez Silva: The Vatican has determined that nothing prevents the opening of the cause for canonization of Niña Ruiz-Abad, a 13-year-old girl who died in 1993 in the Philippines and whose grave has become a place … Continue reading
Analysis: The ever-changing College of Cardinals
Catholic News Agency, Andrea Gagliarducci: The most recent change in the College of Cardinals took place on Feb. 24, when Cardinal José Luis Lacunza Maestrojuán turned 80 and was thus removed from the ranks of cardinal-electors. A few weeks earlier, … Continue reading
The welcome message of the Irish referenda
Catholic Culture, Phil Lawler: What happened in Ireland last week? The government strongly supported a pair of proposed constitutional amendments. The major political parties supported them. The media, the corporate elite, the liberal intelligentsia all supported them. But the people … Continue reading
Coptic Orthodox Church Confirms Ecumenical Dialogue Suspended Due to Rome’s ‘Change of Position’ on Homosexuality
National Catholic Register, Edward Pentin: The Coptic Orthodox Church has confirmed that its decision last week to suspend dialogue with the Catholic Church was due to Rome’s “change of position” on homosexuality. In a video released on Friday, Coptic Orthodox spokesman … Continue reading
Cardinal Fernández: Human Dignity Document to Be Published in Early April
National Catholic Register, Edward Pentin: A Vatican document on the theme of “human dignity” is almost complete and will be published early next month, the prefect of the Vatican’s Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith has confirmed. Cardinal Victor … Continue reading
St. Thomas Aquinas’ relics carried in procession for 750th anniversary of his death
Catholic News Agency, Courtney Mares: On the eve of the 750th anniversary of St. Thomas Aquinas’ death, a skull revered as a relic of St. Thomas Aquinas was carried in a solemn procession through the cobblestone streets of the southern … Continue reading
Catholic ‘Gladiator School’ Aide Cleared of All Charges
National Catholic Register, Edward Pentin: The Criminal Court of Rome has cleared a British Catholic layman of all charges concerning the acquisition of an 800-year-old monastery earmarked for use as a “gladiator school” for future politicians, to be headed by … Continue reading