Vatican News

Sounds of silence: Restored Vatican Library ready for scholarly hush
Aug 06 2010
VATICAN CITY – In late July, a young woman was removing books from shelves in the Vatican Library and vacuuming the dust off of them, one by one.

Apostolic Signature upholds right of bishops to close any parish
Jul 29 2010
WASHINGTON - Canon law – the legal rules that guide church operations and decision-making – allows a local bishop to close any parish as long as his decision is made with the best interests of the entire diocese in mind.

At church’s universal center, there’s more news than sex abuse
Jul 25 2010
VATICAN CITY – A small article in the Vatican’s missionary newsletter, Fides, recently announced the first diocesan-wide meeting of the Kaifeng Diocese in China’s Henan province.

Catholic radio host leads listeners on unusual pilgrimage to Italy
Jul 24 2010
VATICAN CITY – Climbing the Holy Stairs on one’s knees, getting a blessing from Pope Benedict XVI, visiting dark catacombs and downing green Sambuca and mounds of pasta carbonara well past midnight.

Two halves of a whole: Raphael’s designs, tapestries reunite
Jul 18 2010
VATICAN CITY – Like long-lost twins, two halves of an artistic masterpiece conceived by the Renaissance master Raphael will be reunited for the first time.

Washington Archbishop: Norms on women’s ordination reflect sacraments’ importance
Jul 18 2010
WASHINGTON – The Vatican’s decision to declare the attempted ordination of women a major church crime reflects “the seriousness with which it holds offenses against the sacrament of holy orders” and is not a sign of disrespect toward women, Archbishop Donald W. Wuerl of Washington said July 15.

Seven released Cubans arrive in Spain after church-brokered deal
Jul 14 2010
MADRID – Seven men – former political prisoners released by the Cuban government, some accompanied by family members – arrived in Madrid July 13, the first of 52 prisoners released in a deal partially brokered by the Cuban Catholic Church.

Anglicans expect exodus after Church of England OKs women bishops
Jul 13 2010
LONDON – The largest Anglo-Catholic group in the Church of England is expecting an exodus of thousands of Anglicans to Catholicism after a decision to ordain women as bishops without sufficient concessions to traditionalists.

Former Jesuit priest known for his peace activism dies at age 78
Jul 12 2010
WASHINGTON – Father William R. Callahan, a leading activist for peace and social justice, died July 5 at Community Hospice in Washington of complications from Parkinson’s disease. He was 78.

Judge grants stay to activist British brother expelled from Peru
Jul 10 2010
LIMA, Peru – A Peruvian judge gave a British missionary a temporary stay on a government order expelling him from the country.

Changes Offer a Moment for Renewal
Jul 08 2010
A major step forward for our Archdiocese took place last week with the arrival of Paulist Father John Hurley who joins us as the Executive Director of the Department of Evangelization for the Archdiocese of Baltimore. Father Hurley’s priestly life has been focused upon the spread of the gospel on behalf of our own Catholics as well as those searching for a fuller experience of the Lord, Jesus.

Priest, nun found murdered in Inner Mongolia; police search for layman
Jul 08 2010
WUHAI, China – The vicar general of Ningxia Diocese and a nun co-worker were murdered in their rooms at a church-run home for the aged where they worked in Wuhai, Inner Mongolia.

Long, hot summer: Vatican faces external and internal challenges
Jul 04 2010
VATICAN CITY – Early July is when things usually slow down at the Vatican, as top church officials wrap up loose ends and prepare to go on vacation.

Pope deplores police methods in raid on Belgian church headquarters
Jun 28 2010
VATICAN CITY - Pope Benedict XVI joined a chorus of criticism of a raid on Belgian church headquarters by police seeking evidence of alleged clergy sexual abuse.

Vatican defends work of missionary body in face of Italian scandal
Jun 28 2010
VATICAN CITY - The Vatican defended the wide-ranging work throughout the world of its missionary arm, which has come under scrutiny in an Italian investigation into a public works corruption scandal.