Rappler's latest stories on Catholic church
Priest stabbed during mass at Canada's biggest church
The suspect is arrested at the Roman Catholic basilica shortly after the attack in front of 50 people and a television audience, while priest Claude Grou is taken to hospital
Convicted French cardinal expected to resign at meeting with pope
(UPDATED) The Argentine pontiff could take several weeks to decide whether to accept the resignation
[OPINION] An open letter to President Duterte
'Just as you take seriously your duty to protect the country, priests are earnestly committed to defending the Word of God,' students tell President Rodrigo Duterte
When the Catholic Church flexes political muscles
Here's a look at the times when Catholic bishops and priests took sides in Philippine politics
Convicted French cardinal Barbarin to meet Pope Francis
Pope Francis will grant the 68-year-old archbishop of Lyon a private audience at 10 am Monday, March 18
Duterte vs the Church: Do the times call for a Catholic vote?
A viral video of Archbishop Socrates Villegas fuels hopes that more bishops will openly – though indirectly – campaign against President Rodrigo Duterte's bets
Bataan bishop scraps fees for funeral Masses
This is the latest in a growing trend in the Philippine Catholic Church to scrap the arancel system, or the practice of imposing taxes on 'free' church services
Otso Diretso to Duterte: 'Stop fueling fire of persecution vs Church'
The opposition senatorial bets argue that President Rodrigo Duterte's tirades against the Catholic Church are emboldening some to threaten members of the clergy
[EDITORIAL] #AnimatED: Tinig sa karimlan ang simbahan
Batid ng mga pari na hindi lamang ito atake sa ating pampulitikang institusyon – atake rin ito sa ating moralidad, dignidad, at espiritwal na buhay
French cardinal convicted over sex abuse cover-up
(UPDATED) 'I have decided to go to see the Holy Father to hand him my resignation. He will receive me in a few days' time,' Cardinal Philippe Barbarin says after the verdict
Vatican to open archives of WWII pope Pius XII in 2020
Researchers have long sought to examine the archives over why Pius XII did not intervene more against the Holocaust perpetrated by the German Nazis
France urges Vatican to act after envoy charged with sex abuse
'I am waiting for the Holy See to assume its responsibilities,' French European Minister Nathalie Loiseau says when asked if Luigi Ventura should see his diplomatic immunity lifted
Vatican to open probe into Cardinal Pell over child sex abuse
The investigation could result in a canonical trial and George Pell's eventual expulsion from the priesthood
Vatican has 'utmost respect' for justice after Pell conviction
Cardinal George Pell, one of Pope Francis' closest advisers, has been found guilty of sexually assaulting two choirboys, becoming the most senior Catholic cleric ever convicted of child sex crimes
Priests should be allowed to marry, says Duterte
President Rodrigo Duterte says 'even the gay ones' among priests should be allowed to have same-sex marriage
Pope calls child sex abuse like 'human sacrifice,' vows 'all-out battle'
But some victims are not convinced, saying that Pope Francis talks about the devil but not 'permanently excluding child rapists and abusers' from the Catholic Church
Overturned statue of accused Polish priest restored
Polish authorities charge 3 activists for overturning the statue of Polish priest Henryk Jankowski who is facing long-standing accusations of pedophilia
The week in photos: February 16-22, 2019
This week's selection of photo highlights here and around the world
Cardinal admits Church files on pedophile priests 'destroyed'
'Files that could have documented the terrible deeds and named those responsible were destroyed, or not even created,' German Cardinal Reinhard Marx told a landmark Vatican summit on tackling pedophilia in the clergy
Cardinal calls for global recognition of sex abuse in Catholic Church
'The entire Church must take an honest look, undertake rigorous discernment, and then act decisively,' says Indian Cardinal Oswald Gracias
Cardinal Tagle at sex abuse summit: Bishops wound victims
At a historic Vatican summit on sex abuse, Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle hits a culture of cover-up 'to protect perpetrators and the institution'
'Concrete measures' on sex abuse needed, pope tells Vatican summit
(UPDATED) 'We humbly and sorrowfully admit that wounds have been inflicted by us bishops on the victims and in fact the entire body of Christ,' Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle tells the assembly
Duterte hits Church ahead of sex abuse summit
'The Pope is now calling for a summit to address this particular problem because 4 out of 5, sabi ng Rome, ang pari bakla,' says President Rodrigo Duterte
Spanish victims of sexually abusive priests speak out
The heads of around 100 bishops' conferences from every continent will convene from February 21 to February 24 for the Vatican meeting on the protection of minors
Sex abuse survivors spell out Catholic Church challenge
Victims' groups lay out demands as the Vatican is set to hold a global child abuse summit
Vatican defrocks former U.S. cardinal over sex abuse claims
(UPDATED) Theodore McCarrick is the first cardinal ever to be defrocked for sex abuse
France probes sexual assault claim against Vatican envoy
The envoy, 74-year-old Luigi Ventura, is accused of molesting a man at the Paris townhall on January 17 when Mayor Anne Hidalgo gave a New Year's address to diplomats, religious leaders, and civil society figures
Pope admits priests, bishops sexually abused nuns
Pope Francis says the problem can be found 'anywhere' but is prevalent in 'some new congregations and in some regions'
Who were targets of disinformation in 2018?
The Aquinos, the Catholic Church, and critics of Marcos and Martial Law, are the top targets of disinformation in the 133 claims that Rappler fact-checked in 2018
Pope says priest celibacy not 'optional'
'Personally I think that celibacy is a gift to the Church. Secondly, I don't think optional celibacy should be allowed. No,' says Pope Francis
'Hindi na tayo tatahimik': Religious groups unite vs injustice, Duterte attack on Church
'Hindi na tayo tatahimik at hindi lang manindigan kundi sama-sama tayong manindigan,' says Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo
'We exist' LGBT say in message to pope in Panama
"Together as a community, we are saying: We are here," says a 21-year-old protestor
Pope Francis announces Japan visit in November
The pope has made two trips to Asia since his election 5 years ago, visiting the Philippines and Sri Lanka in 2014, followed by Myanmar and Bangladesh in 2017
Sotto seeks to mediate between Duterte, Catholic Church
'Marami na kasi sa mga kababayan natin ang uncomfortable with the situation.... Subukan ko lang, wala namang mawawala,' says Senate President Vicente Sotto III
[EDITORIAL]: #AnimatED: A dozen wishes for 2019
We have our own wishes for the country, its leaders, and key institutions. What are yours?
Duterte willing to be crucified if priests debunk corruption allegations
President Rodrigo Duterte dares the Catholic Church to rebut the allegations against priests and bishops in 'Altar of Secrets,' a book by the late Rappler senior investigative reporter Aries Rufo
French cardinal to go on trial over child abuse cover up
Cardinal Philippe Barbarin, the archbishop of Lyon, is to stand trial along with five others from his diocese over allegations that they helped cover up abuse.
Panelo: Duterte only 'puts religion to test' when saying Trinity is 'silly'
(UPDATED) Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo says that President Rodrigo Duterte only intends to 'initiate an intellectual discussion' for the 'faithful's enlightenment and spiritual awakening'
[OPINION] Be careful against many antichrists
Do not force the infinite God to fit into our limited minds. They who call God stupid is antichrist. Pray for these people but do not imitate them. Respect them as elders but do not follow their bad example.
U.S. bishops face pressure amid new sex assault revelations
The sex abuse crisis is the main topic of discussion in a January retreat of US bishops in Chicago
Second Chinese underground bishop steps aside
There are an estimated 10 million Catholics in China, divided between a government-run association whose clergy are chosen by the Communist Party, and the unofficial church loyal to the Vatican
Jesuits release list of 89 U.S. priests accused of sex abuse
The disclosures by the Jesuit provinces of Maryland and USA Midwest are the latest chapter in the ongoing sexual abuse scandal roiling the Catholic Church
Panelo on Balangiga ceremony 'incident': Not Duterte's style
Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo says President Rodrigo Duterte could not have been involved in telling priests to leave the venue of the Balangiga Bells handover
Bishop from China's underground Catholic church steps down – state media
The bishop's decision to step aside follows a rare visit by an official Vatican delegation to Beijing
[OPINION] Challenge to Catholics: Time for appeasing Duterte is over
The threat of violence is meant to intimidate the leaders of the Church, to instill fear in their hearts so that they will remain silent and will not be a threat to his authoritarian rule
California nuns stole school funds for Vegas gambling, travel
Sisters Mary Margaret Kreuper and Lana Chang, who are said to be best friends, took the money from tuition, fees, and donations at St. James Catholic School
[OPINION] Duterte and the hypocritical Church
Every time he attacks priests for their hypocrisy, President Duterte echoes the sentiments of many
Duterte: Build chapels in your house, no need to go to church
(UPDATED) Caloocan Bishop Pablo Virgilio David, a vocal critic of the government's bloody anti-drug campaign, responds to the President's renewed attacks on his person
Lucena's first bishop now a step closer to sainthood
Pope Francis declares Bishop Alfredo Maria Obviar of Lucena, Quezon, as 'venerable'
Catholic Church fails to get on youth wavelength
Prelates attending the meeting at the Vatican have been tasked with finding a way to breathe fresh life into a centuries-old institution suffering from both a damaging global sex abuse crisis and widespread secularity in the West
