'Something that worries me:' Pope says he's worried about homosexuality in priesthood
VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis has been quoted as saying homosexuality in the clergy "is something that worries me."In excerpts from an interview to be published soon in a book, he was also quoted as saying "in our societies it even seems homosexuality is fashionable."Italian daily Corriere della Sera's website Saturday ran book excerpts.Separately, the Italian news agency ANSA quoted Francis in the book as labeling as an "error" the argument that having gays in convents "isn't so grave." Francis says "there's no place for that kind of affection" among clergy.In the interview, Francis says homosexuals shouldn't be allowed to become priests or join other religious orders, even while living in service to the church, the Christian community and the "people of God."Catholic teaching considers homosexual activity sinful.
Church bells ring, signify start of yearlong celebration of Archdiocese of Milwaukee
MILWAUKEE -- Nearly 200 parishes and 107 schools in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee took part on Wednesday morning, Nov. 28 in an Opening Bells ceremony.
Pope prays for those stricken by California wildfires
VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis has prayed for victims of California's wildfires and freezing weather on the U.S. East Coast.Addressing tens of thousands of faithful in St.
Pewaukee priest accused of inappropriately touching a 13-year-old girl, 'making her feel uncomfortable'
WAUKESHA COUNTY -- The pastor of Queen of Apostles Catholic Church in Pewaukee is accused of inappropriately touching a 13-year-old girl during confession.
Former St. Matthias teacher, accused of molesting 4th-grade student, faces new charge
MILWAUKEE COUNTY -- A former St.
Pope Francis seeks to abolish death penalty, changes church teaching to reflect all life is sacred
VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis has decreed that the death penalty is "inadmissible" under all circumstances and that the Catholic Church must work to abolish it, changing official church teaching to reflect his view that all life is sacred and there is no justification for state-sponsored executions.The Vatican said Francis had approved a change to the Catechism of the Catholic Church — the compilation of official Catholic teaching — to say that capital punishment constitutes an "attack" on the dignity of human beings.Previously, the catechism said the church didn't exclude recourse to capital punishment "if this is the only possible way of effectively defending human lives against the unjust aggressor." Previous popes have upheld that position, while urging an end to the practice.The new teaching, contained in Catechism No. 2267, says the previous policy is outdated, that there are other ways to protect the common good, and that the church should instead commit itself to working to end capital punishment."Recourse to the death penalty on the part of legitimate authority, following a fair trial, was long considered an appropriate response to the gravity of certain crimes and an acceptable, albeit extreme means of safeguarding the common good," the new text reads.It said today "there is an increasing awareness that the dignity of the person is not lost even after the commission of very serious crimes." New systems of detention and sanctions have been developed that don't deprive the guilty of the possibility of redemption, it added."Consequently, the church teaches, in the light of the Gospel, that the death penalty is inadmissible because it is an attack on the inviolability and dignity of the person and she works with determination for its abolition worldwide," reads the new text, which was approved in May but only published Thursday.Francis has long railed against the death penalty, insisting it can never be justified, no matter how heinous the crime.
Pope accepts resignation of McCarrick after sex abuse claims
VATICAN CITY — In a move described as unprecedented, Pope Francis has effectively stripped U.S. prelate Theodore McCarrick of his cardinal's title and rank following allegations of sexual abuse, including one involving an 11-year-old boy.
Republican Party calls for candidates to disavow Matt Flynn; Gov. Walker says he 'should get out of the race'
MADISON — The executive director of the Wisconsin Republican Party is calling for the Democratic candidates for governor to disavow candidate Matt Flynn because of his past work representing the Milwaukee Archdiocese.Flynn has faced heat from Democrats and Republicans alike to drop out of the race because of his legal work and explanations of his work defending the Archdiocese from priest abuse lawsuits.
Pope Francis: Not putting brakes on communion for Lutheran spouses
ABOARD THE PAPAL PLANE — Pope Francis says the Vatican has "not put the brakes on" the possibility of communion for the Lutheran spouses of Catholics.On his flight back to Rome after an ecumenical visit to Geneva Thursday, Francis said he wanted to clarify that church law does allow individual bishops to decide the issue for his diocese, but that an entire national bishops' conference cannot decide for all of Germany's Catholics.Recently, Francis told German bishops they couldn't publish broad guidelines for the entire nation's faithful.
Pope backs US bishops who called border separations immoral
VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis is backing the Catholic bishops in the United States who have condemned the practice of separating children from their parents after families are caught crossing the U.S-Mexico border illegally.Francis was asked about the family-separation policy during an interview with Reuters published on Wednesday.
'Knock it off:' Democratic candidate for governor refutes claim from priest sex abuse victims' group
MILWAUKEE -- Democratic candidate for Wisconsin governor Matt Flynn denied any role in the transfer of sex abuser priests to new assignments within the Catholic church, comparing accusations against him to McCarthyism and telling a survivor of abuse to "knock it off."Flynn and Peter Isely, a founding member of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, had a heated, eight-minute exchange during a forum held in downtown Milwaukee on Tuesday, May 22.
Defiant Matt Flynn tells those calling for him to drop out of race for governor to 'jump in the lake'
MADISON — A defiant Matt Flynn, who became the first Democratic candidate for governor to submit nomination signatures Wednesday, May 9 had a simple message for those calling for him to drop out because of his past work defending the Milwaukee Archdiocese: "Jump in the lake."Flynn, a retired attorney and former chairman of the Wisconsin Democratic Party, represented the archdiocese against allegations of sexual abuse by priests between 1989 and 2004.The Madison and Wisconsin chapters of the National Organization for Women, along with Women's March Wisconsin, this week called for Flynn to drop out of the race because of his work for the archdiocese.
Vatican commission proposes a synod on women
VATICAN CITY — The Vatican's commission of Latin American church leaders is demanding greater opportunities for women in the church and proposing that Pope Francis call a special meeting of the world's bishops to discuss women.The Pontifical Commission for Latin America said in a final communique from its recent plenary that the church needs a radical "change of mentality" in the way it views and treats half of humanity.
'Hope and dignity:' Pope calls for peace in Easter message
VATICAN CITY — On Christianity's most joyful day, Pope Francis called for peace in a world marked by war and conflict, "beginning with the beloved and long-suffering land of Syria" and extending to Israel, where 15 Palestinians were killed on the Israeli-Gaza border two days before Easter Sunday.Francis reflected on the power of Christianity's core belief — that Jesus rose from the dead following crucifixion — in his formal "Urbi et Orbi" Easter message delivered from the balcony of St.
Francis marks 5 years as pope amid love, disenchantment
VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis marked his fifth anniversary as pope Tuesday by receiving votes of confidence from his predecessor and current Vatican No. 2, even as surveys showed his reform-minded papacy was turning off some of the most faithful, church-going Catholics.First out of the gate to give him thumbs-up was Emeritus Pope Benedict XVI, whose historic resignation paved the way for Francis' election on March 13, 2013.In a letter released on the eve of Francis' anniversary, Benedict publicly dismissed as "foolish prejudice" the opinions of critics who say Francis has no theological heft and represents a rupture from Benedict's papacy.Benedict said a new Vatican-curated volume of books on Francis' theology "shows Pope Francis is a man of profound philosophical and theological training and helps to see the interior continuity between the two pontificates, with all the differences in style and temperament."Francis frequently downplays the work of theologians, and his critics have flagged his cautious opening to allowing divorced and civilly remarried Catholics to receive Communion as a sign that dogma under the Church's first Jesuit pope is adrift.Francis' supporters insist he is in complete harmony with church teaching and Benedict's doctrinaire papacy.
Pope on Christmas: Bethlehem trek's like today's migrations
ROME -- Pope Francis in Christmas Eve remarks Sunday likened the journey of Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem to the migrations of millions of people today who are forced to leave homelands for a better life, or just for survival, and he expressed hope that no one will feel "there is no room for them on this Earth."Francis celebrated late evening Christmas vigil Mass in the splendor of St.
Pope Francis blows out birthday candle on extra-long pizza
VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis has blown out his birthday candle on an extra-long pizza at the Vatican to the delight of children.Francis, who turned 81 on Sunday, then told the children, who use a Vatican health service, to "eat all four meters (13 feet)" saying it will make them grow.Later, thousands of children in St.
Pope devotes Mass to poor, calls indifference a 'great sin'
VATICAN CITY — Celebrating Mass with poor people in the splendor of St.
Holy Call: Pope Francis phoning space station Thursday
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — Pope Francis is making his first phone call off the planet — and into space.On Thursday, the pope will reach out to the six astronauts on the International Space Station.