Josephine McKenna, Author at Crux

Pope Francis defrocks Italian priest convicted of child sex abuse

Global Church, Religion News Service
June 30, 2017

Pope Francis has decided to defrock Mauro Inzoli, also known as Don Mercedes for his love of fancy cars, who has been found guilty of eight counts of sexual abuse of children aged 12 to 16. Benedict XVI moved to defrock him in 2012 but Francis chose leniency before recently changing his mind.

Religious and indigenous leaders seek to save rainforests

Global Church, Religion News Service
June 21, 2017

In the spirit of Pope Francis’s encyclical on the environment, ‘Laudato Si’,’ religious and indigenous leaders from dozens of countries met in Norway to discuss the dangers of deforestation and climate change. The initiative plans to find new ways to protect the planet and indigenous people with interreligious cooperation.

Catholic groups launch conversation about female deacons

Global Church, Religion News Service
June 18, 2017

Father Bob Bonnot of the Association of U.S. Catholic Priests said about the possibility of women deacons, “He (Pope Francis) has asserted often that we must find ways to enable more women to play servant-leadership roles in the church. This is one possibility that could touch the church from the Vatican to grass-roots parish ministry.”

In the shadow of St. Peter’s, a Mormon temple rises

Global Church, Religion News Service
June 11, 2017

Despite the predominance of the Catholic Church, particularly in Rome, Mormons are looking to the future with the opening of a new temple and visitors center that church elders hope will draw more converts.

Cloistered nuns on Facebook: What’s not to like?

Global Church, Religion News Service
June 1, 2017

The cloistered nuns at a convent inspired by St. Clare on the island of Sardinia are making a break with tradition. Through social media, the internet and an exhibit offering a peek into their lives, they are bursting out of their secluded convent in order to attract newcomers.

Vatican stargazers look for divine inspiration

Religion News Service, Vatican
May 28, 2017

Brother Guy Consolmagno, director of the Vatican observatory, says, “It (science) always makes my faith stronger because it makes my relationship with the Creator much richer. When I go to pray, the God I encounter in prayer I compare with the God I encounter in creation. And see it is the same God.”