By Jonathan Liedl Baltimore, Md., Nov 12, 2024 / 17:00 pm The U.S. bishops are taking a wait-and-see approach to what President-elect Donald Trump does with his campaign promise to carry out mass deportation of immigrants who are in the country illegally. But the bishops say they are prepared to speak …

By Jonathan Liedl Rome Newsroom, Oct 27, 2024 / 07:00 am On Saturday, Pope Francis made the unprecedented decision to accept the final document from the Synod of Synodality as authoritative Church teaching. The 52-page text includes a theological reflection on the nature of synodality, which it says is the fulfillment of the reforms of Vatican II, …

by Jonathan Liedl, Matt McDonald National Catholic Register, Jul 26, 2024 / 16:45 pm Kamala Harris is the Democrats’ presumptive nominee for president, bringing with her a long track record of promoting abortion and curtailing religious liberties. But where do her potential vice presidential picks stand on these critical issues? The dearth of …

By Jonathan Liedl Rome Newsroom, Jan 3, 2024 / 18:20 pm Amid significant confusion about the Vatican’s recent guidance on same-sex blessings, the document’s architect has lashed out at those advancing the most liberal interpretation: Catholic leadership in Germany. Cardinal Victor Manuel Fernández, prefect of the Vatican’s Dicastery for the Doctrine …

By Jonathan Liedl Vatican City, Dec 25, 2023 / 08:33 am On the birthday of the Prince of Peace, Pope Francis called for an end to war in the Holy Land and throughout the world as well as the arms trade that fuels it. Delivering his annual “urbi et orbi” Christmas …

By Jonathan Liedl Rome Newsroom, Dec 18, 2023 / 15:22 pm The Vatican has issued new guidance on the topic of blessings of same-sex attracted people, stating that Catholic priests can bless same-sex couples as an expression of pastoral closeness without condoning their sexual relations. The ruling, which also applies to …

By Jonathan Liedl Vatican City, Nov 28, 2023 / 13:34 pm Pope Francis has stripped one of his top American critics, Cardinal Raymond Burke, of his Vatican housing and salary privileges, the Associated Press is reporting. According to the AP report, which is based on conversations with two anonymous sources briefed …

By Jonathan Liedl Vatican City, Oct 28, 2023 / 19:04 pm The Vatican’s nearly monthlong Synod on Synodality assembly, convened by Pope Francis, concluded this evening with members approving an ambitious text calling for greater “co-responsibility” among all believers in the evangelizing mission of the Church — and proposing concrete reforms …

By Jonathan Liedl Vatican City, Oct 11, 2023 / 15:40 pm Participants in the Synod on Synodality have asked “for greater discernment on the teaching of the Church on the subject of sexuality,” a Vatican spokesman said at a press briefing today. The revelation seems to be at odds with synod …

By Jonathan Liedl Vatican City, Sep 30, 2023 / 07:53 am Pope Francis created 21 new cardinals from across the world at a Saturday morning consistory in St. Peter’s Square, reflecting on how the geographic expansion of the Church’s leadership represents a fulfillment of the promise of Pentecost. “You new cardinals …