News from the Vatican
A new poll suggests that 44 per cent of German Catholics favour some form of union with Protestant churches, raising questions about the future of ecumenism and Catholic identity in Germany. Corrie Douglas-Young reports on the findings and what they reveal about religious attitudes in a country already divided by debates over the Church’s direction.
Meanwhile in France, a traditional Catholic religious community has finally been able to celebrate priestly ordinations after years of waiting for Vatican approval. Michael Haynes reports on the long delay and what the eventual authorisation means for the community and its future.
Ireland’s increasingly elaborate Halloween celebrations have brought renewed attention to the country’s pre-Christian traditions, with pagan imagery and folklore now prominent in public festivities. Ruadhán Jones questions whether the commercial revival of Samhain and its associated customs reflects a deeper confusion about Ireland’s Christian inheritance.
Bishop Robert Barron has publicly challenged Cardinal Jean-Paul Vesco’s remarks about evangelisation in Algeria, insisting that proclaiming Christ remains central to the Church’s mission. David Hahn considers the disagreement and the need for bishops willing to defend the Church’s missionary vocation with clarity and conviction.
Pope Leo XIV’s forthcoming journey to Latin America, the American midterm elections and developments at the US Supreme Court promise a consequential week for Church and public life. The Week Ahead previews the principal events and decisions to watch on both sides of the Atlantic.
Meanwhile in France, a traditional Catholic religious community has finally been able to celebrate priestly ordinations after years of waiting for Vatican approval. Michael Haynes reports on the long delay and what the eventual authorisation means for the community and its future.
Ireland’s increasingly elaborate Halloween celebrations have brought renewed attention to the country’s pre-Christian traditions, with pagan imagery and folklore now prominent in public festivities. Ruadhán Jones questions whether the commercial revival of Samhain and its associated customs reflects a deeper confusion about Ireland’s Christian inheritance.
Bishop Robert Barron has publicly challenged Cardinal Jean-Paul Vesco’s remarks about evangelisation in Algeria, insisting that proclaiming Christ remains central to the Church’s mission. David Hahn considers the disagreement and the need for bishops willing to defend the Church’s missionary vocation with clarity and conviction.
Pope Leo XIV’s forthcoming journey to Latin America, the American midterm elections and developments at the US Supreme Court promise a consequential week for Church and public life. The Week Ahead previews the principal events and decisions to watch on both sides of the Atlantic.
31-35, F