Illicit Ordination in China a cause for sorrow and concern for Vatican; Fides launches blog Being Catholic in China

Thursday, July 14, 2011

Matthew Harrison

China has a new Bishop. [singlepic id=45 w=320 float=right]But it’s not cause for celebration in Rome. The ordination is unapproved by the Holy See. And Vatican Press Office director Fr. Federico Lombardi says if there is no Papal mandate, then the ordination is contrary “to the unity of the Universal Church” and a cause for […]

“The Pope feels at home in Croatia,” Vatican spokesman in advance of trip

Friday, June 3, 2011

Matthew Harrison

This weekend, Pope Benedict XVI will make his first trip to Croatia as the successor of Peter. However, as Holy See Press Office director Father Federico Lombardi, SJ, points out, it’s not his first visit to the strongly Catholic country. The Vatican spokesman offered an editorial previewing the trip on the Vatican Television program Octava […]

Vatican statement on remarks about condoms

Monday, November 22, 2010

Matthew Harrison

As you may have read from our Vatican correspondent Alicia Ambrosio here, there’s been a lot of focus on Pope Benedict XVI’s remarks on condoms. The comments come in the interview book “Light of the World,” which is released this week, but of which excerpts were published in the Vatican newspaper L’Osservatore Romano on Saturday. […]

New norms cover clerical abuse and Sacraments

Friday, July 16, 2010

Matthew Harrison

As you’ve probably read in the last 24 hours, the Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith has released new norms concerning serious crimes — which covers such topics as clerical abuse, pornography, discipline, and the Sacraments of Penance, the Eucharist and Holy Orders. Holy See Press Office Director Fr. Federico Lombardi, SJ, offered an explanatory […]