Catholic Church

French Catholics find unlikely allies in the fight against IVF

in recent years some of the most contentious debates in france have concerned what are conventionally called “social issues”. changes to fra...

The JPII Institute has been plunged into an identity crisis

whichever view one takes of the changes to the pontifical john paul ii institute for studies on marriage and the family, now styled the pont...

Christopher R. Altieri

World news: from Medellín to Medjugorje

salem, oregon governor relaxes assisted suicide safeguard oregon, the first state to introduce assisted suicide, has loosened the rules arou...

The week in quotations

"for a man to suggest female ordination ... is an example of male arrogance ... men are not normative for the human race" sister helena burn...

Meanwhile: Pius IX praised in Parliament

the boris johnson era has already had one unexpected consequence: blessed pope pius ix is being given his due in parliament. the prime ...

The best of the web: Albania's resurrection, clericalised laity, and hopeful priests

albania comes back from crucifixion at first things, fr benedict kiely described the resurrection of albania’s catholic church. it had a lot...

The week ahead: Mercy bus, knights' convention, and cakes

the mercy bus is returning to the streets of scotland. the bus, which offers confession and spiritual guidance, has received 400 passengers ...

Overlooked: Vatican sources raise alarm over financial mysteries

what happened? the financial irregularities which cardinal george pell tried to resolve have persisted, according to sources who spoke ...

The big story: Reforms of John Paul II Institute spark protest

what happened? more than 150 students have signed a letter protesting against sweeping changes to the john paul ii institute in ro...

What does it mean to be 'born again'?

what does it mean to be “born again”, to be “born from above”? if you’re an evangelical or baptist, you may have already answered ...

Fr Ronald Rolheiser