Pope Calls Couples Who Choose Pets over Having Children ‘Selfish’

THE GUARDIAN: Pontiff says denial of fatherhood and motherhood diminishes people and takes away their humanity

Pope Francis risked the ire of the world’s childless dog and cat owners by suggesting people who substitute pets for children exhibit “a certain selfishness”.

Speaking on parenthood during a general audience at the Vatican, the pontiff lamented that pets “sometimes take the place of children” in society.

“Today … we see a form of selfishness. We see that some people do not want to have a child,” he said. “Sometimes they have one and that’s it, but they have dogs and cats that take the place of children. This may make people laugh but it is a reality.”

The practice, said the head of the world’s 1.3 billion Catholics, “is a denial of fatherhood and motherhood and diminishes us, takes away our humanity”.

Thus, “civilisation grows old without humanity because we lose the richness of fatherhood and motherhood, and it is the country that suffers”, the pontiff said at the Paul VI Hall. » | Agence France-Presse in Vatican City | Wednesday, January 5, 2022

Can the Vatican Reform Its Finances? | FT Film

Nov 11, 2021 • The FT investigates the Holy See's finances and looks at how landmark proceedings linked to a controversial London property deal are seen as part of Pope Francis's reforms in the city-state.

Le pape nomme la première femme à la tête du gouvernorat du Vatican

François, 84 ans, a déclaré à plusieurs reprises qu'il souhaitait que les femmes jouent un rôle plus important dans l'Église catholique. Andreas SOLARO / AFP
LE FIGARO : La sœur Raffaella Petrini, Italienne de 52 ans, sera notamment chargée de superviser les opérations administratives concernant les musées du Saint-Siège, la poste et la police.

Le pape François a nommé jeudi 4 novembre la première femme à la tête du gouvernorat du Vatican, la sœur franciscaine Raffaella Petrini, poursuivant ainsi sa volonté de parvenir à une plus grande égalité des sexes dans l'Église.

En tant que secrétaire générale du gouvernorat, cette religieuse italienne de 52 ans sera chargée de superviser les opérations administratives, notamment les musées du Vatican, la poste et la police. Elle devient ainsi la femme la plus haut placée dans le plus petit État du monde. Selon le journal en ligne National Catholic Reporter, ce rôle est traditionnellement occupé par un évêque. » | jeudi 4 novembre 2021

À LIRE AUSSI : Le pape François juge le président américain «bon catholique» »

Antigay Catholic Newsletter Threatens to Out More Priests via Grindr

Giulio Napolitano/Shutterstock
ADVOCATE: The Pillar has suggested in reports it could out several people using the hookup app, including some within the Vatican.

The Vatican is concerned that The Pillar, a newsletter-based publication run by anti-LGBTQ+ members of the Church’s hierarchy who outed a priest using Grindr data last month, is just getting started.

In its initial report, the newsletter claimed that Monsignor Jeffrey Burrill, the highest-ranking American cleric who is not a bishop, was likely having sex with men he met through Grindr and had been doing so for years. Burrill resigned as general secretary shortly after the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) was informed of the coming report.

In subsequent reports, the newsletter alleged that it has obtained further online dating app data that implicates high-ranking officials in the Catholic church as engaging in gay sex. Although it has stopped short of outing anyone specific, the concern is that the reports go beyond leaders here in the U.S. (a second report claimed the publication had data showing dating app use within the Archdiocese of Newark, N.J.) but potentially to the highest ranks of the Vatican.

According to a third report, “at least 16 mobile devices emitted signals from the hookup app Grindr” and “16 other devices showed the use of other location-based hookup or dating apps, both heterosexual and homosexual” from “within the non-public areas of the Vatican City State” in 2018, The Pillar alleges. » | Rachel Shatto | Monday, August 23, 2021

Pologne: le Vatican sanctionne un archevêque pour avoir dissimulé des actes de pédocriminalité

Le cas de Marian Golebiewski, 83 ans, n'est que le dernier d'une longue série de scandales d'agressions sexuelle qui ont secoué l'Église catholique. Guglielmo Mangiapane / REUTERS
LE FIGARO : L'Eglise, politiquement très influente en Pologne, est confrontée à une série d'accusations, très médiatisées, de pédocriminalité et de dissimulations.

Le Vatican a sanctionné un archevêque polonais à la retraite pour avoir couvert des agressions sexuelles sur mineurs, a indiqué samedi l'archidiocèse de Wroclaw.

Le cas de Marian Golebiewski, 83 ans, n'est que le dernier d'une longue série de scandales d'agressions sexuelle qui ont secoué l'Église catholique dans cet État membre de l'UE à prédominance catholique. «À la suite de notifications formelles, le Saint-Siège a mené une procédure concernant la négligence signalée de l'archevêque Marian Golebiewski dans des cas d'abus sexuels sur des mineurs par certains prêtres», a déclaré l'archidiocèse dans un communiqué.

Ces faits ont eu lieu alors que Marian Golebiewski était évêque de Koszalin-Kolobrzeg (nord de la Pologne) de 1996 à 2004, ainsi que lorsqu'il était archevêque de Wroclaw (ouest), de 2004 à 2013, ajoute le communiqué. À la suite de son enquête, le Vatican a décidé d'interdire à Golebiewski d'exercer des fonctions publiques et de lui ordonner de faire des dons à une fondation catholique pour la protection des mineurs. » | Par Le Figaro avec AFP | samedi 21 août 2021

Pédophilie: le pape François durcit le droit canonique »

«Die Mehrheit der Priester im Vatikan ist schwul» | Sternstunde Religion | SRF Kultur

Mar 31, 2020 • Mit seiner These, wonach die Mehrheit der Prälaten, Bischöfe und Kardinäle des Vatikans schwul seien, generierte der französische Soziologe und Journalist Frédéric Martel im Frühling 2019 viel Aufmerksamkeit, aber auch Unverständnis.

Sein Buch «Sodom» erschien zeitgleich in acht Sprachen und Martel wurde in unzählige Talkshows eingeladen, doch der Vatikan hüllte sich in Schweigen. Wer sich in den 30er-, 40er- und 50er-Jahren des letzten Jahrhunderts als junger Mann irgendwie anders – eben homosexuell – fühlte, fand in der römisch-katholischen Kirche eine Oase, so Martel in seinem Buch «Sodom»: Männer, die unter Männern leben, andere Kleidung tragen und singen, das wäre für viele die Rettung gewesen, die zudem noch von der Gesellschaft akzeptiert war.

Gegen aussen seien diese in der Regel sehr alten Männer nun homophob, gegen innen aber homophil. Dies führe zu einer gefährlichen Doppelmoral, einer Kultur des Schweigens, die die Skandale rund um die katholische Kirche sehr unglücklich begünstigt hätten.


The following is the same programme, but with English subtitles:


About Frédéric Martel and his books here.

The Story behind Monaco’s Relationship with the Vatican

MONACO LIFE: Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Secretary of State to the Holy See, has visited the Principality to celebrate the 40th anniversary of privileged relations between the two states.

In July of 1981, the Holy See and Monaco signed a convention which stated that the Prince of Monaco was willing to renounce rights to appoint the archbishop of the local diocese, leaving it to Rome to fill the spot. This concession led Pope John Paul II to elevate Monaco to the rank of archepiscopal see.

To commemorate this occasion, Cardinal Pietro Parolin paid a three-day visit to the Principality, notably the second smallest state in the world after Vatican City, and amongst other ceremonial events, presided over a papal mass held on Sunday at the Cathedral of Monaco on the Rock.

He spent the afternoon meeting priests and parishioners, as well as celebrating the office of Vespers. » | Stephanie Horseman | Monday, July 19, 2021

Pope Francis Restricts Use of Old Latin Mass, in a Blow to Conservatives

Celebrating a traditional Latin Mass in Clifton, Va., in 2007.Credit...Brendan Smialowski for The New York Times
THE NEW YORK TIMES: The pope placed new restrictions on where the old Latin Mass can be celebrated and who can celebrate it, and will require new permissions from local bishops.

Pope Francis took a significant step toward putting the Roman Catholic Church’s liturgy solidly on the side of modernization on Friday by cracking down on the use of the old Latin Mass, essentially reversing a decision by his conservative predecessor.

The move to restrict the use of an old Latin rite in celebrating Mass dealt a blow to conservatives, who have long complained that the pope is diluting the traditions of the church.

Francis placed new restrictions on where and by whom the traditional Latin Mass can be celebrated and required new permissions from local bishops for its use. » | Jason Horowitz | Friday, July 16, 2021

Vatican : dix responsables bientôt jugés pour un scandale financier

LE POINT : Ils seront jugés par le tribunal du Saint-Siège pour leur rôle supposé dans une affaire d’investissements douteux, explique « Catholic News Agency ».

Le Vatican est secoué par un scandale financier de grande ampleur. Le 3 juillet dernier, le Saint-Siège a annoncé le renvoi de dix personnes devant son tribunal pénal. Elles devront répondre notamment des chefs de détournement de fonds, abus de pouvoir, extorsion, corruption, subornation de témoin, blanchiment et fraude. En cause : l’achat ruineux d’un immeuble de standing à Londres, explique Catholic News Agency.

L’investissement au cœur du scandale est un immeuble dans le chic quartier londonien de Chelsea, sur Sloane Avenue, 17 000 mètres transformés en une cinquantaine d’appartements de luxe. Entre juin 2013 et février 2014, Secrétairerie d'État (le gouvernement du Vatican) emprunte 200 millions de dollars (170 millions d’euros) au Crédit Suisse pour investir dans le fonds de l’homme d’affaires italien Raffaele Mincione, Athena Capital Global Opportunities. Au 30 septembre 2018, les actions ont déjà perdu plus de 18 millions d’euros de leur valeur et « la perte globale est estimée à un montant beaucoup plus important », écrit Vatican News. » | LePoint.fr (avec AFP) | jeudi 8 juillet 2021

Archbishop of Canterbury Urged to Act over Vatican Envoy Who Questioned Resurrection

THE TELEGRAPH: A row has erupted within the Church of England as senior Anglicans are calling on the Archbishop of Canterbury to force his ambassador to the Vatican to resign because he does not believe Jesus rose from the dead.

It has emerged that Dr John Shepherd, an Australian cleric appointed last week as the new representative to Rome, had delivered a sermon in which he said Christians should be “set free” from the traditional view of the resurrection.

The controversial comments, delivered while he was Dean of Perth Cathedral, have been criticised for flying in the face of the most fundamental Christian doctrines. » | Steve Bird | Saturday, January 12, 2019

Pope Francis Uses Christmas Homily to Decry Modern Consumerism

THE GUARDIAN: Pontiff told pilgrims in the Vatican City that mankind has become ‘greedy and voracious’
/>
Pope Francis has assailed the “insatiable greed” of today’s consumerism, calling on people in his Christmas homily to make “sharing and giving” more a part of their lives.

“Mankind became greedy and voracious,” the leader of the world’s 1.3bn Catholics said in an address to thousands of followers in St Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican City.

“In our day, for many people, life’s meaning is found in possessing, in having an excess of material objects.”

“An insatiable greed marks all human history, even today, when, paradoxically, a few dine luxuriantly while all too many go without the daily bread needed to survive.” » | Agencies | Monday, December 24, 2018

#F24Debate: The Migration Crisis: An Unholy Rift

Jimmy Kimmel on Trump’s Visit with the Pope

Donald Trump went to the Vatican to meet the Pope so Jimmy breaks down how that went.

Donald Trump Meets Pope Francis in Rome - BBC News

US President Donald Trump has met Pope Francis at the Vatican, on the third leg of US President's maiden overseas trip.

Why Pope Benedict Really Resigned

They say Pope Benedict resigned because of old age. The real reason may shock you. Scandals, coverups, and pure evilness.

Muslims in Rome Protest Mosque Closures, Promise to Pray to Allah in Vatican

Italian Muslims say they will pray at Saint Peter's Basilica in the Vatican if officials continue to shut down mosques in Rome. That was reported after protests were held in the country's capital on Friday against the closure of a sixth mosque in just a few months.

Political Lessons from the Papal Conclave - BBC Newsnight

Bestselling author, and former confidante of Tony Blair, Robert Harris, explores the lessons that politics could learn from a papal conclave.

Hundreds of Thousands Gather to Witness Mother Teresa Declared a Saint

Hundreds of thousands of people gather in St Peter’s Square in the Vatican on Sunday to watch as Pope Francis officially announces Mother Teresa as a saint. The ceremony marks the end of a long process of canonisation which began in 1999, two years after her death. Around 1,500 homeless people were given seats of honour at the mass as a testament to her lifelong work with the poor

Islam Is Not A Religion It Is A Form Of Government, Says Conservative Vatican Cardinal

THE TABLET: Cardinal Raymond Leo Burke warns that Muslim no-go zones in France and Belgium will get larger

Islam is “fundamentally a form of government" rather than a religion because when a state finds itself with a majority population of Muslims they have a duty to submit the whole population to Sharia law, a controversial cardinal has said.

In a telephone interview with David Gibson of the Religion News Service, Cardinal Raymond Leo Burke said that individual Muslims “are lovely people” and can speak “in a very peaceful manner about questions of religion”

“But my point is this," the Rome-based US cardinal asserted, "When they become a majority in any country then they have the religious obligation to govern that country. If that’s what the citizens of a nation want, well, then, they should just allow this to go on. But if that’s not what they want, then they have to find a way to deal with it.” » | Sean Smith | Friday, July 22, 2016

Pope Francis Welcomes Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, One of Sunni Islam’s Top Clerics