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☆ What We Give Up for Lent Makes Us Who We Are - The New York Times
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-17 | by ( Molly Worthen | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

Chanequa Walker-Barnes, a professor of practical theology and pastoral care at Columbia Theological Seminary in Georgia, has an unusual approach to Lent. Instead of giving up chocolate or fasting, “sometimes I’ll say I’m giving up self-neglect,” she told me. The reaction from others surprised her: “First friends, and then strangers told me they were following the Lenten challenge. Dr. Walker-Barnes is one of many Christians who are reclaiming Lent, the 40 days of reflection, repentance and self-denial before Easter. The earliest Christians marked the lead-up to Easter with a short period of fasting and repentance.

Persons: Chanequa Walker, Barnes, ”, “, Dr, Walker, . Walker, Pope Gregory I Organizations: Columbia Theological Seminary, Ash Locations: Georgia, Rome

☆ Pope strips conservative US cardinal of Vatican privileges, Vatican official says
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-28 | by ( Philip Pullella | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

REUTERS/Remo Casilli/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsVATICAN CITY, Nov 28 (Reuters) - Pope Francis has removed some of the Vatican privileges of conservative American Cardinal Raymond Burke, including a large subsidized apartment and his salary, a senior Vatican official said on Tuesday. The official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, participated in a regular Vatican meeting when the pope made the announcement to senior aides last week. Burke has had no senior Vatican job for years. On Nov. 11, the pope dismissed another conservative critic, Bishop Joseph Strickland of Tyler, Texas, after Strickland refused to step down following a Vatican investigation. Most recently, in October, Burke was one of five cardinals who openly challenged a global month-long Vatican meeting, known as a synod.

Persons: Cardinal Raymond Leo Burke, Remo Casilli, Pope Francis, American Cardinal Raymond Burke, Burke, Francis, Bishop Joseph Strickland, Strickland, Philip Pullella, Bill Berkrot Organizations: REUTERS, CITY, American, Vatican, Church, Quotidiana, Thomson Locations: Rome, Italy, Wisconsin, United States, American, Tyler , Texas, Italian

☆ Jerusalem Christians rally round Armenian Church over land deal
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-19 | by ( Crispian Balmer | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

An Armenian priest enters a church at the monastery compound in the Armenian Quarter in Jerusalem's Old City June 8, 2010. The Armenian community says the investor behind the land lease deal is an Australian-Israeli businessman Danny Rubinstein, who owns a company registered in the United Arab Emirates - Xana Capital Group. Israel captured East Jerusalem, including the Old City, from Jordanian forces in a 1967 war. "We are aware of a plan to encircle the outside the Old City with settlement projects. We suspect this Armenia Quarter deal is meant to be a continuation of this plan inside the city walls," Seidemann told Reuters.

Persons: Ammar Awad, Danny Rubinstein, Rubinstein, Hagop Djernazian, Daniel Seidemann, Seidemann, Crispian Balmer, Andrew Heavens Organizations: REUTERS, Armenian, Synod, Roman Catholic Churches, United Arab Emirates, Xana Capital, Catholic, Jerusalem's, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Jerusalem's Old, Jerusalem, JERUSALEM, Old City, Ottoman, Australian, Armenia, James's, City, Israel, East Jerusalem, Jordanian

☆ In very rare move, Pope dismisses conservative U.S. bishop Strickland
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-11 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Pope Francis has dismissed Bishop Joseph E. Strickland of Tyler, Texas, one of his fiercest critics among U.S. Roman Catholic conservatives, a Vatican statement said on Saturday. Usually bishops in trouble with the Vatican are asked to resign before submitting a resignation, which the pope accepts. Strickland, a prolific user of social media who was named to the diocese by the late Pope Benedict in 2012, tweeted earlier this year that he rejected Pope Francis' "program undermining the Deposit of Faith". Strickland is a strong supporter of former U.S. president Donald Trump and is seen as a hero by conservative U.S. Catholic media outlets that are aligned with Trump. The Vatican said Francis named the bishop of Austin, Texas, Joe Vasquez, as the interim administrator of the Tyler diocese.

Persons: Joseph Strickland, Pope Francis, Bishop Joseph E . Strickland, Strickland, Pope Benedict, Francis, Donald Trump, Frank Pavone, Joe Vasquez Organizations: Los Angeles Dodgers, Dodger, Roman, Vatican, Bishops Conference, U.S . Church, Catholic, U.S, Trump, Twitter Locations: Tyler , Texas, Los Angeles , California, U.S, Tyler, Texas, United States, Austin , Texas

☆ Vatican rules some transgender people and babies of same-sex couples can be baptized
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-09 | by ( Barbie Latza Nadeau | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Rome CNN —A new ruling by the Vatican’s doctrine department has opened the door to Catholic baptism for transgender people and babies of same-sex couples. Regarding transgender people, the document says a person who identifies as transgender can be baptized like any other adult, “as long as there is no risk of causing scandal or disorientation” to other Catholics. Children who identify as transgender can also be baptized if “well prepared and willing,” it says. The document cites several sermons by Pope Francis for the ruling. In each circumstance, the priest is asked to use “pastoral prudence” in deciding whether to allow a transgender person’s participation.

Persons: Rome, Giuseppe Negri, Pope Francis, Evangelii Gaudium, ”, Francis DeBernardo, Pope Francis ’, ” DeBernardo Organizations: Rome CNN, New Ways Ministry, Catholic Locations: United States

☆ Opinion: Israel-Hamas war’s endgame
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-05 | by ( Richard Galant | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +20 min

We’re looking back at the strongest, smartest opinion takes of the week from CNN and other outlets. Last week, as Israel continued its military response to the October 7 Hamas terror attack, its political goals — and potential endgame — remained a source of huge controversy. Join us on Twitter and Facebook“Take, for example, the Israel Defense Forces strike on Gaza’s Jabalya refugee camp on Tuesday. “Following the horrific massacre in Israel by Hamas terrorists on October 7, I felt an intense, relentless grief. Though Perry wanted to escape Chandler, he kept him around, because heaven forbid anyone saw what he was hiding.”

Persons: Gideon Rose, ”, ” Rose, —, Joe Biden, Robert A . Pape, “, ” DJ Rosenthal, Obama, ’ inhumanity, Jordan, Antony Blinken, ” Shai Davidai, Nadia AbuShaban, Hashem, David Shulkin, Peter Bergen, Hillary Clinton, Donald Trump, Karl Rove, “ Mike Pence, Geoff Duncan, Nikki Haley, Duncan, Ron DeSantis, ” Haley, DeSantis, Lisa Benson, GoComics.com, Michael Ramirez, Trump, Norman Eisen, Joshua Kolb, Donald Trump’s, ” Eisen, Kolb, Leah Abucayan, CNN Maggie Jackson, ” She’s, Gabriel Levin, Frida Ghitis, ‘ Allahu akbar, ’, Ghitis, Wen, Julian Zelizer, Johnson’s, Mike Johnson’s, Biden, ” Paul Krugman, Johnson, Mike Johnson, ’ ”, John Avlon, “ Merriam, It’s, Benjamin Franklin, ’ ” Drew Sheneman, Nicole Hemmer, SBF Clay Jones, Sam Bankman, Howard Fischer, ” Fischer, Sophie Compton, Reuben Hamlyn, “ Chillingly, Taylor, Compton, Hamlyn, Walt Handelsman, Laura Tillman, ” Don’t, Jill Filipovic, Celia Wexler, Pope Francis, Elena Sheppard, ‘, Matthew Perry, Chandler Bing Reisig, Dean Obeidallah, Perry, Chandler Bing, Chandler, ” “ Chandler, I’m Chandler, ‘ I’m, ” Perry, ” Holly Thomas, “ Perry, Roger Organizations: CNN, University of Chicago, ”, Hamas, US National Security Council, Twitter, Facebook, Israel Defense Forces, Israel, Columbia Business School, “, New York Times, Street Journal, GOP, Republican, Trump, UN, Florida Gov, Wednesday’s GOP, Supreme, White, Cornell University, The Cornell Daily Sun, Cornell, Progressives, Internal Revenue Service, Congressional, Office, Electoral College, America, Agency, FBI, NBCU, Bank, Getty Locations: States, Iraq, Israel, Southern Lebanon, Lebanon, Palestinian, “ Israel, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Tel Aviv, Gaza, ”, Florida, Wednesday’s, Rhode, Rhode Island, Dagestan, Russian, Lewiston , Maine

☆ Vatican Synod Report Plays Down LGBTQ Issues, Disappointing Progressives
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-28 | by ( Francis X. Rocca | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Pope Francis meeting with a group of women Saturday at the Vatican before a session of the Synod of Bishops. Photo: Alessandra Tarantino/Associated PressROME—A Vatican gathering called to debate potentially far-reaching changes in the Catholic Church adjourned on Saturday with a final report that barely referred to one of its most controversial questions: the place of LGBTQ people in the church. That omission, following recent signs of liberalization on the matter from Pope Francis , was likely to disappoint Catholic advocates for LGBTQ rights. Proponents of women’s ordination received slightly more encouragement, as the Vatican meeting called for further research into the possibility of women deacons.

Persons: Pope Francis, Alessandra Tarantino, Associated Press ROME Organizations: Associated Press, Catholic

☆ Vatican Synod Ends Without Clear Stances on Women Deacons, LGBT
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-28 | by ( Oct. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

By Philip PullellaVATICAN CITY (Reuters) - A month-long Vatican meeting on the future of the Roman Catholic Church ended on Saturday without clear stands on hot-button issues such as women deacons and welcoming the LGBT community. The 365 synod participants included 300 bishops along with lay men and about 50 women who were mostly lay people. At the synod, the pope gave women and lay people a vote on Church affairs for the first time. The body released a final document with 81 paragraphs that each received at least two-thirds approval. The final report did not take a stand on LGBT issues despite discussion beforehand that the synod might call on the Church to be more welcoming to the LGBT community.

Persons: Philip Pullella, Cardinal Jean, Claude Hollerich, Francis DeBernardo, Cynthia Osterman Organizations: CITY, Roman Catholic Church, New Ways Ministry, Catholic Church Locations: St, Peter's

☆ Vatican synod ends without clear stances on women deacons, LGBT
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-28 | by ( Philip Pullella | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/3] Pope Francis attends a meeting of General Congregation during the Synod of Bishops at the Vatican, October 28, 2023. Vatican Media/Handout via REUTERS Acquire Licensing RightsVATICAN CITY, Oct 28 (Reuters) - A month-long Vatican meeting on the future of the Roman Catholic Church ended on Saturday without clear stands on hot-button issues such as women deacons and welcoming the LGBT community. The 365 synod participants included 300 bishops along with lay men and about 50 women who were mostly lay people. At the synod, the pope gave women and lay people a vote on Church affairs for the first time. The final report did not take a stand on LGBT issues despite discussion beforehand that the synod might call on the Church to be more welcoming to the LGBT community.

Persons: Pope Francis, Cardinal Jean, Claude Hollerich, Francis DeBernardo, Philip Pullella, Cynthia Osterman Organizations: Vatican, Handout, REUTERS Acquire, CITY, Roman Catholic Church, New Ways Ministry, Catholic Church, Thomson Locations: St, Peter's

A monthlong meeting convened by Pope Francis to determine the future of the Roman Catholic Church ended Saturday night with a document that said it was “urgent” that women have a larger role but postponed discussion of major issues such as ordaining women as deacons and failed to address outreach to L.G.B.T.Q.+ Catholics. Vatican officials instead sought to emphasize common ground during the meeting, which was characterized by liberals and conservatives alike as a potential culmination of Francis’ 10-year pontificate and the vehicle through which he might make changes. Instead, it echoed another characteristic of Francis’ tenure: kicking the can on major issues as he sought to build deeper support through the global church. After the conclusion of the meeting, called the Synod on Synodality, which Francis attended and had about 450 participants (of which 365 could vote), Vatican officials said they had decided to cut sources of tension — “divergences,” as the meeting called them.

Persons: Pope Francis, Francis ’, Francis Organizations: Roman Catholic Church, Vatican Locations: Synodality

The Synod on Synodality, the sprawling meeting in Rome, has become a flashpoint among different factions of the church’s leadership. Attendees have a broad mandate to discuss the future of the church, including ordaining women as deacons and outreach to L.G.B.T.Q. Relatively progressive leaders, including those appointed by Pope Francis, see the synod as a hopeful moment that could lead to much-needed changes. Cardinal Blaise J. Cupich of Chicago, a close ally of Pope Francis, is among the 14 American bishops attending the meeting. But in a moment when the American church is especially polarized at the top, the synod is also laying bare the divide in the pews, and the scale of the challenge facing the pope.

Persons: Buś, Stan’s, Pope Francis, Cardinal Blaise J, Cupich Locations: St, Synodality, Rome, Chicago

Rarely in recent times has a Vatican gathering generated as much hope, hype and fear as this three-week, closed-door meeting, known as a synod. But it nevertheless has drawn an acute battle line in the church’s perennial left-right divide and marks a defining moment for Francis and his reform agenda. Even before it started, the gathering was historic because Francis decided to let women and laypeople vote alongside bishops in any final document produced. While they have secured some high-profile positions in the Vatican and local churches around the globe, the male hierarchy still runs the show. Asked specifically about church blessings for same-sex unions, Francis suggested they could be allowed as long as such benedictions aren’t confused with sacramental marriage.

Persons: — Pope Francis, Francis, Francis ’, “, ”, JoAnn Lopez, Lopez, Cardinal Raymond Burke, ” Burke, Cardinal Robert Sarah, Burke, Francis didn’t Organizations: VATICAN CITY, Catholic Church, Catholic Locations: Indian, Seattle, Toronto, U.S, ”

☆ Pope set for another row with conservatives at bishops' summit
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-03 | by ( Alvise Armellini | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Pope Francis looks on as he meets with French President Emmanuel Macron (not pictured) at the Palais du Pharo, on the occasion of the Mediterranean Meetings (MED 2023), in Marseille, France September 23, 2023. Andreas Solaro/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsVATICAN CITY, Oct 4 (Reuters) - Pope Francis on Wednesday opens a global summit of bishops on potentially momentous issues for the Roman Catholic Church, including the role of women and its attitude towards LGBT people. To the chagrin of conservatives, it does not explicitly mention abortion, euthanasia, and the defence of the traditional family. A papal document will follow, most likely in 2025, meaning changes in Church teaching, if any, would be a long way off. In one, the pope hinted at the possibility of allowing priests to bless same-sex couples on a case-by-case basis.

Persons: Pope Francis, Emmanuel Macron, Andreas Solaro, Francis, Father Gerald Murray, Cardinal Raymond Burke, Burke, Murray, Jesus, Alvise Armellini, Matthew Lewis Organizations: CITY, Roman Catholic Church, Catholic, EWTN, Churches, Church, Thomson Locations: Marseille, France, Rome, St Peter's, Asia, Europe, Africa, United States, America, Vatican

☆ Pope Francis says some people in same-sex unions could be blessed
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-02 | by ( Barbie Latza Nadeau | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Rome CNN —Pope Francis has suggested for the first time that people in same-sex unions could be blessed by Catholic priests on a “case-by-case” basis, a seeming reversal of previous statements. The cardinals, Walter Brandmuller, Raymond Leo Burke, Juan Sandoval Iniguez, Robert Sarah and Joseph Zen Ze-kiun, first sent the letter to Pope Francis on July 10. It focused on an upcoming October meeting of bishops, asking what impact it could have on Church’s teaching, and included questions about the Pope’s intention to bless same-sex unions, and whether he intends to open the door to women priests through ordination. The Vatican then released a letter in Spanish dated September 25 signed by Cardinal Victor Manuel Fernández, the Vatican’s new chief of doctrine. The response includes Pope Francis’ answers to the dubia, signed “Francis.”On the issue of homosexual unions, the pontiff reiterated that the church only recognizes marriage as a union between a man and a woman, but opened the door for blessings of individuals in same-sex unions, the letter shows.

Persons: Rome, Rome CNN — Pope Francis, Pope, –, Walter Brandmuller, Raymond Leo Burke, Juan Sandoval Iniguez, Robert Sarah, Joseph Zen Ze, Pope Francis, Cardinal Raymond Burke, Burke, Cardinal Victor Manuel Fernández, Pope Francis ’, “ Francis, ”, Pope John Paul II, vaguer, “ Organizations: Rome CNN, Catholic, Church Locations: Cologne, Rome

VATICAN CITY (AP) — A few years ago, Pope Francis told the head of the main Vatican-backed Catholic women's organization to be “brave” in pushing for change for women in the Catholic Church. “Not only because of these events in October in Rome, but because the church has found a different way of being church,” Zervino said in a recent interview in her Vatican offices. It's the culmination of an unprecedented two-year canvasing of rank-and-file Catholics about their hopes for the future of the institution. But the voting reform is nevertheless significant, tangible evidence of Francis’ vision of the Catholic Church as being more about its flock than its shepherds. Zervino’s group, the World Union of Catholic Women’s Organizations, a Vatican-based umbrella organization of 100 Catholic associations, conducted a survey earlier this year of Catholics who participated in the synod consultations.

Persons: Pope Francis, Maria Lia Zervino, Francis, Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, “, ” Zervino, Cardinal Raymond Burke, Francis ’, ”, Sheila Pires, ” Pires, ” Francis, Nathalie Becquart, Becquart, ” Becquart, Kate McElwee, Zervino, they'll, Sebabatso Mosamo Organizations: VATICAN CITY, Catholic, Catholic Church, World Union of Catholic, Bishops, Associated Press Locations: Argentine, Rome, Africa, Johannesburg, Vatican, North America, Europe, “

☆ Conservatives challenge pope on women, same-sex couples before Vatican meeting
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-02 | by ( Philip Pullella | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

[1/5] Cardinal Raymond Leo Burke attends a consistory as Pope Francis elevates five Roman Catholic prelates to the rank of cardinal, at Saint Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, June 28, 2017. The action was the latest latest clash between the pope and minority conservatives, who have accused him of undermining a number of traditional precepts. Topics will include the role of women, greater acceptance of LGBT Catholics, social justice and the effects of climate change on the poor. At the meeting, around 365 "members", including cardinals, bishops, lay people and, for the first time, women will vote on proposals. Conservatives have taken issue with the fact that many lay people will have voting rights in a what is formally a Synod of Bishops.

Persons: Cardinal Raymond Leo Burke, Pope Francis, Alessandro Bianchi, Raymond Burke, Walter Brandmueller of, Joseph Zen, Robert Sarah of Guinea, Juan Sandoval Iniquez, Francis, Cardinal Gerhard Mueller, Burke, Saint Pope John Paul II, Philip Pullella, Andrew Heavens Organizations: Vatican, REUTERS, CITY, America, National Catholic Register, Thomson Locations: Saint Peter's, Asia, Europe, Africa, United States, Walter Brandmueller of Germany, Hong Kong, Mexico, Germany, Vatican, U.S

☆ Pope Francis appeals against polarization ahead of big Church meeting
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-30 | by ( Philip Pullella | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

About 18,000 people, mostly young Christians from around the world, attended, reading prayers for victims of war, injustice and sexual violence and calling for defence of the environment. Hundreds were later starting a three-day retreat north of Rome ahead of the opening of the synod. Various groups have arrived in Rome to hold news conferences, presentations and protests to illustrate their views, suggestions and demands. The prayer vigil was attended Christian leaders including Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, spiritual head of the worldwide Anglican communion, and Bartholomew I, the Istanbul-based Ecumenical Patriarch of Orthodox Christianity. In his homily at that event, he called for "an ever more symphonic and synodal Church".

Persons: Pope Francis, Francis, Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, Bartholomew I, Philip Pullella, Giles Elgood Organizations: CITY, Catholic Church, Peter's, Churches, Thomson Locations: St, Rome, Istanbul, Christianity

☆ Pope Francis cements legacy, stamps Church future with new cardinals
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-30 | by ( Philip Pullella | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

[1/5] Pope Francis attends the consistory ceremony to elevate Roman Catholic prelates to the rank of cardinal, in Saint Peter's Square at the Vatican, September 30, 2023. There are now 137 cardinal electors, about 73 percent of them chosen by Francis. This increases - but does not guarantee - the possibility that the next pope will share his vision of a more progressive, inclusive Church. They are known as cardinal electors. On October 4, he will open a month-long major meeting in the Vatican, known as a synod, that could chart the Church's future.

Persons: Pope Francis, Remo Casilli, Peter's, Francis, Bishop Stephen Chow Sau, Chow, Italian Bishop Pierbattista Pizzaballa, convokes, Philip Pullella, William Maclean 私たち Organizations: Vatican, REUTERS, CITY, Church, Catholic Church, Malaysian Locations: Saint Peter's, St, U.S, France, Italy, Argentina, Switzerland, South Africa, Spain, Colombia, South Sudan, Hong Kong, Poland, Malaysia, Tanzania, Venezuela, Portugal, China, Beijing, Italian, Europe

☆ Two mainland China bishops to attend big Vatican meeting after tensions
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-21 | by ( Philip Pullella | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Vatican Media/Handout via REUTERS/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsVATICAN CITY, Sept 21 (Reuters) - Two bishops from mainland China are due to attend a major Vatican meeting next month, officials said on Thursday, a positive sign after recent tensions between the Holy See and Beijing. The two bishops were chosen by their brother bishops in China, meaning they likely had approval from the Communist government, which holds great sway over the Chinese Catholic Church. Two other Chinese bishops were allowed by the government to attend another synod for the first time in 2018 but did not stay for the entire meeting. A landmark 2018 agreement between the Vatican and China on the appointment of bishops has been tenuous at best, with the Vatican complaining that Beijing has violated it several times. Two months ago the Vatican chided Beijing for not consulting over the transfer of two bishops from one diocese to another.

Persons: Pope Francis, Anthony Yao Shun, Jining, Joseph Yang Yongqiang, Francis, Philip Pullella, Alex Richardson Organizations: Vatican, Handout, REUTERS, CITY, Communist, Catholic Church, Communist Party, Catholic, Churches, Thomson Locations: China, Beijing, Zhoucun, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Vatican, Mongolia

☆ Ukrainian Catholic bishops rebuke pope over his Russia comments
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-06 | by ( Philip Pullella | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/3] Pope Francis attends a meeting with bishops of the Synod of the Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church at the Vatican, September 6, 2023. In a statement that was remarkable for its candour, they said their two-hour session with the pope at the Vatican was a "frank conversation". They were welcomed by the Kremlin, which praised the pope for what it said was his knowledge of Russian history. The statement from the Ukrainian bishops said the prelates "expressed the Ukrainian people's pain, suffering, and a certain disappointment" over the papal remarks. The statement quoted the pope as telling the bishops: "The fact that you doubted whom the pope is with was particularly painful for the Ukrainian people.

Persons: Pope Francis, tsars Peter I, Catherine II, Vladimir Putin, Francis, Putin, Philip Pullella, Mark Heinrich Our Organizations: Catholic Church, Vatican, Handout, REUTERS Acquire, CITY, Kremlin, Thomson Locations: Ukrainian, Russia, Moscow, Ukraine, Mongolia, Russian, propounding

☆ Church of England to draft pastoral guidance on same-sex couple blessings
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

LONDON, July 8 (Reuters) - The Church of England will work towards drafting new pastoral guidance and other material needed to allow same-sex couples to receive blessings from priests over the next few months, it said on Saturday. "It has been good to hear their (synod members') reflections, and we will take these away to feed into the concentrated drafting work that starts now. We look forward to reconvening in November," Sarah Mullally, the Bishop of London, said in a statement. The CoE, central to the worldwide Anglican communion, does not allow same-sex marriage in its churches, and its discourse on homosexuality and gender is closely monitored by millions of Anglicans around the world. Reporting by Muvija M, Editing by Franklin PaulOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Sarah Mullally, Bishop, London, CoE, The CoE, Muvija, Franklin Paul Organizations: Franklin Paul Our, Thomson Locations: reconvening

☆ Opinion | Religious Controversies on Many Fronts in the U.S.
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-24 | by ( ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Women have always been at the heart of church ministry. They establish prayer groups, Bible study circles and women’s ministries outside the classroom to foster spiritual growth and strengthen our communities. And women are vital to our parishes’ ministries of charity and service, providing comfort to those who are sick, homeless or in need. The Southern Baptist Convention is tremendously out of step with what so many Christians — especially young Christians — are calling for. The question of women in ministry is a conversation for the whole church: men, women and church leaders.

Persons: — Organizations: Southern Baptist Convention, Catholic Church Locations: Rome

☆ Opinion: Why we’re still waiting for the Catholic women’s ‘revolution’
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-28 | by ( Opinion Opinion Celia Wexler | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Editor’s Note: Celia Wexler is a journalist and the author of “Catholic Women Confront Their Church: Stories of Hurt and Hope.” She writes frequently on Catholicism, feminism and politics. That means in the United States, the US Conference of Catholic Bishops, that bastion of conservatism, will do the choosing. Will Zagano, who has written extensively about the role of women deacons in the early church, be given a vote? How about British theologian Tina Beattie, who has worked tirelessly to amplify women’s voices in the church? In 2014, Beattie founded Catholic Women Speak, an international group of women focused on one goal: increasing women’s participation in the life and governance of the church.

Rome CNN —Pope Francis will allow women to participate and vote for the first time at an upcoming meeting of Catholic bishops in October. The meeting, known as a synod, normally only allows bishops to vote. Pope Francis on Wednesday approved guidelines that will expand participation and voting to include lay people and women. The changes allow for the participation of 70 non-bishop members, of whom 50% should be women, according to the Vatican’s synod office. A synod is a gathering of bishops which takes place at the request of the pope to discuss a particular topic.

☆ Pope Francis Allows Women to Vote in Bishops’ Assembly for First Time
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-26 | by ( Francis X. Rocca | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Pope Francis has ruled out the ordination of women as priests or bishops but has vowed to make women more prominent in church leadership. Photo: Evandro Inetti/Zuma PressROME— Pope Francis will allow women to participate in an assembly of bishops as voting members for the first time this year, in his latest move to increase the presence of women in leadership roles in the Catholic Church. The Vatican said on Tuesday that the next meeting of the Synod of Bishops, scheduled for this October at the Vatican, will include at least 40 women voters, including members of religious orders as well as laywomen.

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