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The Catholic Church is the oldest institution in the western world, and with more than one billion members worldwide, it is the largest Christian church. Its history spans almost 2,000 years and is rooted in the Church's Canon of Scripture and Tradition. At the head of the church is the Pope, who Catholics believe is the successor to Saint Peter whom Christ appointed as the first head of His church. The Pope, according to the religion's doctrine, can speak infallibly on matters of faith and morals. The Catholic Church practises closed communion and only baptised members of the church are permitted to receive the Eucharist, or Holy Communion.
- Barbarin said he would step back from his job in Lyon, allowing a local vicar general to run day-to-day affairs
Beijing says it is unaware of plans for Xi to visit the Vatican and such a move would run contrary to China’s religious affairs policy.
Beijing says it is unaware of plans for Xi to visit the Vatican and such a move would run contrary to China’s religious affairs policy.
Among reforms is banning leaders and adults from being alone with a child in a confined space.
Among reforms is banning leaders and adults from being alone with a child in a confined space.
Barbarin’s lawyer announced immediately that he would appeal the judgment.
Barbarin’s lawyer announced immediately that he would appeal the judgment.
Pell, the former Vatican finance chief, will be sentenced next week for convictions of orally raping a 13-year-old choirboy.
Pell, the former Vatican finance chief, will be sentenced next week for convictions of orally raping a 13-year-old choirboy.
The Bible says priests should be married and those who hurt children deserve much worse than transfer to another parish.
The Bible says priests should be married and those who hurt children deserve much worse than transfer to another parish.
The 74-year-old Italian archbishop served as the envoy to Canada from 2001 to 2009.
The 74-year-old Italian archbishop served as the envoy to Canada from 2001 to 2009.
Former Vatican treasurer is facing up to 50 years in jail after being convicted on five counts of sexual and indecent assault.
Former Vatican treasurer is facing up to 50 years in jail after being convicted on five counts of sexual and indecent assault.
The Vatican treasurer’s conviction on child sex charges, until recently kept out of the news by a gag order, raises questions about Pope Francis’ leadership and the church’s resolve in tackling clergy sexual abuse.
The Vatican treasurer’s conviction on child sex charges, until recently kept out of the news by a gag order, raises questions about Pope Francis’ leadership and the church’s resolve in tackling clergy sexual abuse.
With Cardinal George Pell now facing jail, Catholic priests who have abused children should be cast out and handed over to the courts and bishops responsible for cover-ups defrocked.
With Cardinal George Pell now facing jail, Catholic priests who have abused children should be cast out and handed over to the courts and bishops responsible for cover-ups defrocked.
A jury found the top Catholic Church official guilty in December, but a suppression order stopped any media coverage until a second abuse case was heard.
A jury found the top Catholic Church official guilty in December, but a suppression order stopped any media coverage until a second abuse case was heard.
Pell was back in court on Wednesday for his sentence plea hearing, where his bail was revoked and he was taken into custody ahead of his final sentence being determined
Pell was back in court on Wednesday for his sentence plea hearing, where his bail was revoked and he was taken into custody ahead of his final sentence being determined
Case risks further staining pontiff’s already spotty record on cracking down on credibly accused clergy.
Case risks further staining pontiff’s already spotty record on cracking down on credibly accused clergy.
The Australian cardinal, who faces a 50-year jail term, is the most senior Catholic cleric ever convicted of child sex crimes.
The Australian cardinal, who faces a 50-year jail term, is the most senior Catholic cleric ever convicted of child sex crimes.
Francis said priests who prey on children are ‘tools of Satan’ and vowed to confront them with the ‘wrath of God’.
Francis said priests who prey on children are ‘tools of Satan’ and vowed to confront them with the ‘wrath of God’.
World’s top bishops are gathered for extraordinary meeting on sexual abuse.
World’s top bishops are gathered for extraordinary meeting on sexual abuse.
Pontiff asks bishops in landmark summit to hear ‘screams of little ones asking for justice’.
Pontiff asks bishops in landmark summit to hear ‘screams of little ones asking for justice’.
Meeting, which begins on Thursday, bring together some 190 presidents of bishops’ conferences, religious orders and Vatican offices.
Meeting, which begins on Thursday, bring together some 190 presidents of bishops’ conferences, religious orders and Vatican offices.
Advocacy group Ending Clergy Abuse says that Pope Francis is ‘facing resistance’ from top officials.
Advocacy group Ending Clergy Abuse says that Pope Francis is ‘facing resistance’ from top officials.
McCarrick is the first churchman who reached the rank of cardinal to be defrocked in the church’s sex abuse scandals.
McCarrick is the first churchman who reached the rank of cardinal to be defrocked in the church’s sex abuse scandals.
French sociologist Frederic Martel spent four years interviewing more than 1,500 priests, bishops and cardinals. He says the huge rate of secret homosexuality in the Vatican has created a church ‘built around lies, double lives and hypocrisy’.
French sociologist Frederic Martel spent four years interviewing more than 1,500 priests, bishops and cardinals. He says the huge rate of secret homosexuality in the Vatican has created a church ‘built around lies, double lives and hypocrisy’.
Ventura has been accused of molesting a man at a Paris town hall on January 17.
Ventura has been accused of molesting a man at a Paris town hall on January 17.
The huge list stretches back decades and includes some priests who are now dead, and others who are behind bars. But the list does not list the crimes of the named clerics.
The huge list stretches back decades and includes some priests who are now dead, and others who are behind bars. But the list does not list the crimes of the named clerics.
Pope Francis has repeatedly promised zero tolerance for priests who abuse children but critics demand more action
Pope Francis has repeatedly promised zero tolerance for priests who abuse children but critics demand more action
Richard Daschbach was expelled from the Catholic Church after he confessed, said the bishop of Dili.
Richard Daschbach was expelled from the Catholic Church after he confessed, said the bishop of Dili.
In seeking to curtail the influence of the church, Duterte isn’t acting only upon personal and political grievances, he is reasserting the primacy of the state in public life.
In seeking to curtail the influence of the church, Duterte isn’t acting only upon personal and political grievances, he is reasserting the primacy of the state in public life.
Abu Dhabi’s crown prince greeted the pontiff with smiles along with Cabinet ministers and an honour guard when he landed the country’s capital.
Abu Dhabi’s crown prince greeted the pontiff with smiles along with Cabinet ministers and an honour guard when he landed the country’s capital.
It came on the same day that a law firm said that more than 80 priests sexually abused minors in a California diocese over a period of decades
It came on the same day that a law firm said that more than 80 priests sexually abused minors in a California diocese over a period of decades
He will head to Abu Dhabi on Sunday as part of his efforts to strengthen ties between the two largest religions Islam and Catholicism
He will head to Abu Dhabi on Sunday as part of his efforts to strengthen ties between the two largest religions Islam and Catholicism
Hermann Geissler resigned from his position as chief of staff the group that handles discipline in sexual abuse cases within the Catholic Church.
Hermann Geissler resigned from his position as chief of staff the group that handles discipline in sexual abuse cases within the Catholic Church.
Anti-communist Joseph Zen Ze-kiun professes to know more about China than the pope and chooses to live safely in the city while broadcasting his demented views.
The elevation to sainthood of assassinated archbishop Oscar Romero, who spoke out against the murderous US-backed junta in El Salvador, helps the downtrodden in Latin America to keep the faith.
Christianity has seen stunning growth in China in the past few decades. The Vatican may hope to see more Catholics in the country, while Beijing seeks to keep the state-run and underground churches under control.
Given the Byzantine nature of Vatican politics, the knives are out for the Holy See as he tries to make changes to an old and entrenched institution
Such a move wouldn’t excuse Beijing from its own human rights transgressions, but it might pressure the US to confront the culture of abuse and cover-up in its Catholic churches and most devout religious communities.
Parallels can be drawn between a movie exploring the implications of the Second Vatican Council on nuns and how Catholic anti-communist dissidents have been betrayed by a Holy See tilting towards Beijing
As a spiritual enterprise, organised religion is all about numbers and, with 1.37 billion souls to be saved on the mainland, it’s no surprise relations with Beijing are warming
The Vatican has long used diplomacy in the appointment of key positions. And that is still the case when dealing with mainland China