Ahead of what’s likely to be another grilling tomorrow by United Nations officials over child sexual abuse, as well as matters such as abortion and homosexuality, the Vatican’s senior envoy in Geneva is projecting bravado. “We can take a few knocks, especially for the sake…
On Monday in Geneva, the United Nations Committee Against Torture will consider the Holy See’s initial report relating to its compliance with the Convention Against Torture or Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. Though focusing significantly on the tragic and, in the words…
As Vatican representatives prepare to testify before a United Nations inquiry into torture next week, a senior official warned investigators that it would be “deceptive” to link torture with the pedophilia scandals that have swept the Catholic Church. The Vatican’s chief spokesman, the Rev. Federico…
Ahead of a report to the U.N. on an anti-torture agreement next week, the Holy See has emphasized its commitment against torture, and warned against the hearing being reduced to a “tool of ideological pressure.” “The Holy See also proposes important teaching with regard to…
For the past several days in the Eternal City, I’ve watched as people with varying degrees of interest and devotion stream in and out of St. Peter’s Square. The pope fascinates them by joy, by beauty. Whether or not all realize that Christ and Church…
El Papa Viajero, or the traveling Pope, Juan Pablo II, will be canonized in Rome on April 27th. Shortly after his election in 1978, he embarked on the first of 104 foreign trips, in which he logged more than 725,000 miles. Some of the largest…
When the late Popes John XXIII and John Paul II are declared saints on Sunday, the Vatican ceremony will be both a spiritual event for Roman Catholicism and a lesson in the subtle politics of the world’s largest church. Most of the world’s 1.2 billion…
Lay Catholics on the East Coast have teamed up with a prominent cardinal to create ads for secular radio proclaiming the Church’s message to an audience who may not otherwise hear it. “This is an incredible opportunity to have listeners on a secular news radio…
Pope Francis, your honeymoon with the Western press is over. Of course, media accolades and praise were never his motivation. In fact, he has directly warned against the cult of celebrity, which is in danger of missing the point: the Gospel of Christ that he…
A new survey by a liberal polling firm is bad news for Wendy Davis, the Democratic would-be governor of Texas who rose to national prominence after filibustering a bill to restrict abortions in the state. Although Davis promotes herself proudly as a candidate who cares…
