US-Catholic Church relations: The Vatican braces for a second Trump presidency
CLAIRE GIANGRAVÉ, of Religion News Service, reports that recent appointments show Pope Francis and US President-elect Donald Trump are already setting a different tone for Vatican-US relations…
The Explainer: Catholic cardinals play a key role in secular politics as well as the Catholic Church – and the importance of Pope Francis’ choice to head the church in DC
In an article first published on The Conversation, JOANNE M PIERCE, a specialist on medieval Catholicism, looks at the important role cardinals have played over the centuries in church administration and secular politics…
Cardinal Robert McElroy appointed to lead Archdiocese of Washington
Washington DC, US RNS Pope Francis has appointed Cardinal Robert McElroy, currently Bishop of San Diego, to lead the Archdiocese of Washington, replacing Cardinal Wilton Gregory, the US’s first Black Catholic cardinal, whose resignation has been accepted by the Pope two years past the traditional retirement age of 75. The appointment came just as Washington […]
Catholics prepare to celebrate 50 years of first US-born saint
United States RNS Catholics are preparing to mark a year of celebration of the 50th anniversary of the canonisation of the first US-born saint, Elizabeth Ann Seton (1774 – 1821). Seton, a widow and Catholic convert from a prominent Episcopal family, founded the first congregation of women religious in the US, the Sisters of Charity […]
Trump cabinet: Top level nominees represent an unusual slice of American religious life
JACK JENKINS, of Religion News Service, reports that Trump’s cabinet selection includes everyone from pastors to Catholic converts to one nominee who credits their spiritual rebirth to a book by a Swiss psychiatrist…
Catholic bishops urged to boldly share church teachings – even unpopular ones
Baltimore, US AP Several US Catholic bishops on Wednesday encouraged the church to boldly share Vatican teachings on a range of hot-button issues, including the condemnation of abortion, euthanasia, surrogacy and gender-affirming surgery. The prelates acknowledged theirs is often a countercultural view. US Catholic bishops gather for their annual fall meeting at the Marriott Waterfront […]
AP VoteCast shows Trump boosted his level of support among Catholic voters
United States AP Among several blocs of religious voters, including his loyal evangelical base, Donald Trump fared roughly as well in his victory over Kamala Harris as he did in his loss to Joe Biden four years ago. One notable difference: He did better this year among Catholic voters, according to AP VoteCast, a survey […]
Trump knocks Harris, signals support for Adams at NY charity gala
Reuters Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump tried to poke fun at his opponent Democrat Kamala Harris and embattled New York Mayor Eric Adams while touching upon his own legal troubles in a somewhat light-hearted speech at a charity gala on Thursday. “It’s really a pleasure [to be] anywhere in New York without a subpoena for […]
“We need to listen”: Bishop Joseph Espaillat challenges Catholics to listen to Latino youth
ALEJA HERTZLER-MCCAIN, of Religion News Service, reports on one US Catholic’s bishop bid to connect with youth…
Retired Oklahoma Catholic bishop Edward Slattery dies at 84
Edmond, Oklahoma, US AP Edward J Slattery, a retired Catholic bishop who apologised for reinstating a priest who later admitted to sexually abusing an Oklahoma boy, has died, the Diocese of Tulsa and Eastern Oklahoma said Saturday. He was 84. Slattery died at his home in the Tulsa area late Friday following “a series of […]