National Catholic Reporter

The Independent News Source

Rome

Sisters grasp the extended hand

by Thomas C. Fox

Commentary: The time Cardinal João Braz de Aviz spent with women religious is a sign of good intent and a step into greater communication.

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Global sisters' leader: Dialogue with Vatican is key

by Joshua J. McElwee

Q and A: Attempts by U.S. sisters to pursue dialogue with Vatican officials could strengthen relations with sisters globally.

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Vatican religious prefect: 'I was left out of LCWR finding'

by Joshua J. McElwee

The Vatican's decision to criticize the Leadership Conference of Women Religious was made without the knowledge of a key Vatican office, its leader said Sunday.

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LCWR head to global sisters: 'Serious misunderstandings' with Vatican

by Joshua J. McElwee

Sisters' meeting: “Serious misunderstandings” exist between Vatican officials and Catholic sisters, the LCWR president told some 800 of her global peers.

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Church cements mission at Synod of Bishops

by John L. Allen Jr.

After the synod on new evangelization in Rome last month, three points seem crystal clear about Catholicism in the early 21st century.

by John L. Allen Jr.

Analysis: Do the recent personnel moves mean certain policy shifts are under way at the Vatican?

Pope Benedict leaves behind legacy full of ups and downs

John L. Allen Jr. | Feb. 11, 2013

John Allen in Rome: Benedict's decision to resign has both won wide praise and raised a whole rafter of questions.

Pope Benedict to resign at the end of the month

John L. Allen Jr. | Feb. 11, 2013

Pope Benedict XVI announced Monday that he will resign Feb. 28. "My strengths ... are no longer suited" to the papacy, he said.

Vatican official says ending clerical sexual abuse is long-term effort

Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service | Feb. 6, 2013

"All of us -- every single person has difficulty coming to understand what this really is and how prevalent it is in our societies across the world," said Fr. Robert Oliver.

Jesuit says confusion over Vatican II is normal, even 50 years later

Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service | Jan. 25, 2013

While every ecumenical council led to debate, it always has taken more than 50 years for teachings to take root, he said.

The government's hunt for a Vatican envoy to pass muster

John L. Allen Jr. | Jan. 7, 2013

Analysis: President Obama needs to find a new envoy to the Vatican, and his choice for a replacement is being watched in Rome.

SSPX head says Vatican sent mixed messages during reconciliation talks

Carol Glatz Catholic News Service | Jan. 4, 2013

The head of the Society of St. Pius X said he has been receiving mixed messages from the Vatican over how the group might be brought back into full communion with the church.

Pope demands stronger Catholic identity for charities

John L. Allen Jr. | Dec. 18, 2012

New Vatican rules will not compel Catholic charities around the world to renounce government money, officials in the Vatican say.

No one can say why Austrian priest lost 'monsignor' title

John L. Allen Jr. | Dec. 6, 2012

Vatican City and Vienna: Why was Austrian Fr. Helmut Schüller stripped of his "monsignor" title? No one seems to know.

Charity superstar backs pope on transparency

John L. Allen Jr. | Dec. 2, 2012

Ernesto Olivero is one of the superstars of the Italian Catholic scene, the founder of the “Youth Missionary Service” movement in 1964, known by its acronym “Sermig,” and the “Arsenal of Peace,” a former military installation in his native Turin that Olivero in 1983 turned into a center for peace-making.

New rules aim to beef up Catholic identity of church charities

John L. Allen Jr. | Dec. 1, 2012

John Allen: The pope on Saturday published new papal rules directing bishops to exercise greater vigilance and control over Catholic charitable activity.

What’s in store for the new pope's first days?

by John L. Allen Jr.

If it hasn’t happened by the time you are reading this newspaper, sometime very soon the Catholic church will have a new pope. Naturally the world will be waiting to find out what kind of leader he’s likely to be, and his first few days therefore loom as critical moments to begin shaping his papacy.

Governance a top issue in 2013 conclave

by John L. Allen Jr.

Eight years ago, when the cardinals of the world gathered to elect a successor to Pope John Paul II, their watchword was “continuity.” Buoyed by the massive outpouring of grief and affection for the late pope that washed through the streets of Rome, they felt they had just witnessed the end of a massively successful pontificate, and they wanted to keep the momentum going.

The man...