priesthood
‘Trinity’s Triumph’ film, written by New Jersey priest, humanizes Catholic clergy
By Kathryn Post — February 27, 2024
(RNS) — While reductive narratives depict priests as perfect heroes or evil villains, said writer and producer Stephen Fichter, truth is more complicated.
The Catholic Church needs married priests now
By Thomas Reese — February 26, 2024
(RNS) — At the Last Supper, Jesus said, 'Do this in memory of me.' He did not say, 'Be celibate.'
Parsis in Mumbai fight existential decline in aspirants to priesthood
By Priyadarshini Sen — November 14, 2023
MUMBAI, India (RNS) — With steadily declining numbers, some of India’s Zoroastrians are looking to reduce the strain of becoming a priest in order to encourage more young men to devote themselves to the rituals that sustain the world’s first monotheistic religion.
Bishops worry divisions on ‘details’ at synod distract from big picture
By Claire Giangravé — October 16, 2019
VATICAN CITY (RNS) — The specific challenges faced by Amazonia's indigenous people are already being sidelined by conversations about married priests.
Synod of bishops to discuss ordaining married men
By Thomas Reese — June 19, 2019
(RNS) — Limiting ordination after marriage to 'mature men' will be portrayed as exceptional, but both traditionalists and progressives believe that it will spread to more and more situations.
The priest in ‘Fleabag’ is not cool
By Thomas Reese — May 29, 2019
(RNS) — The hard-drinking, foulmouthed priest in Amazon Prime’s series 'Fleabag' has been described as cool. But cool priests don't deny their parishioners the person they really need.
Abolishing the priesthood will not save the Catholic Church
By Thomas Reese — May 21, 2019
(RNS) — In The Atlantic, James Carroll asserts that abolishing the priesthood in the Catholic Church is the only way to defeat the clericalism he blames for the sex abuse crisis. But as in other revolutions, a new cadre would simply replace the old guard.
Pope Francis meets ex-priests in gesture of mercy
By Josephine McKenna — November 11, 2016
ROME (RNS) The surprise visit to meet several men who left the priesthood and started a family could send a powerful message to church leaders.
Italian women seek freedom to marry the priests they love
By Josephine McKenna — June 18, 2014
ROME (RNS) Even when their love is reciprocated by a man of the cloth, the women known as "God's rivals" are frequently rejected by family and friends. They're sidelined in their careers and forced to hide emotional and sexual expression.
Mormon women seeking priesthood to be shut out of Temple Square
By Peggy Fletcher Stack — March 18, 2014
SALT LAKE CITY (RNS) The Mormon Church rebuffed Ordain Women’s second push for entrance to the priesthood session and urged the grass-roots group to “demonstrate” instead outside Temple Square.
After years of decline, Catholics see rise in number of future priests
By Cathy Lynn Grossman — September 24, 2013
(RNS) Young men today “want to give their life for something that counts. These men are tired of living in a culture of relativism. They want to say there must be something true, beautiful and good," says the Rev. Mark Latcovich, president of St. Mary Seminary outside Cleveland.
Father Knows Best: Should I go to seminary?
By Martin Elfert — May 22, 2013
Is seminary the place where your deep gladness and the world’s deep hunger meet? Is it where God is calling you to be? Or is that place somewhere else for you?
Catholic population surges across the Global South
By Alessandro Speciale — May 13, 2013
VATICAN CITY (RNS) While the number of Catholic priests in the Americas and in Europe is declining compared to the overall Catholic population, those losses were offset by increasing ranks of permanent deacons.
Priest who heads top clergy treatment center accused of impropriety
By David Gibson — May 6, 2013
(RNS) The priest who headed a leading treatment center for clergy suffering from emotional, sexual and addiction problems has resigned in the wake of accusations that he misused funds in his home diocese and that he was engaged in an “inappropriate adult relationship.”
Mormon women seeking middle ground to greater equality
By Peggy Fletcher Stack — August 17, 2012
SALT LAKE CITY (RNS) While some Mormon feminists want access to the all-male priesthood and others see it as blasphemy, a third group of Mormon women crave a more engaged and visible role for women in the church that respects history and doesn't compromise doctrine. By Peggy Fletcher Stack.
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