Early Christians were open to marriage for priests. It wasn’t until the 12th century that celibacy became mandatory in the Catholic Church.
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Articles on Pope Francis
Displaying 101 - 120 of 183 articles
The path to justice and forgiveness after Pope Francis’s visit to Ireland.
Pope Francis has been accused of a cover-up in the sex abuse scandal involving Theodore McCarrick, a former archbishop. Experts explain why it’s hard for the Catholic Church to hold clergy accountable.
An expert explains how a complex set of canon laws and trials are the major obstacle to holding priests accountable. The power to take action is often vested in the Vatican.
While many American Catholics believe demons and exorcism to be part of a distant past, an expert explains how beliefs that sexual desires could be part of demonic temptation still persist.
Pope Francis has said that death penalty violates the dignity of a person. But, this might just deepen the debate among Christians, who for a long time have been divided over the issue.
Different cultural groups respond with numerous, often conflicting, answers to questions about life after death. An expert explains the Christian idea of heaven.
With Pope Francis recently elevating a Pakistani archbishop as cardinal, a scholar traces the history of persecution of the 2.5 million Christians of Pakistan.
Pope Francis recently acknowledged that the Catholic Church is struggling to recruit new priests, endangering its very future. Why don’t people want to join the clergy?
The meaning of hell might have changed over the centuries, but for devout Christians it remains a core part of their faith.
Popes are not infallible, yet apologies are rare.
On March 24, 1980, an outspoken Salvadoran bishop was murdered after decrying his country’s military regime. Thirty-eight years and one civil war later, Pope Francis is set to declare him a saint.
The Catholic Church has historically been unwilling to extend full priesthood to women. However, Pope Francis could take the lead in ordaining women to become deacons, a scholar says.
The passing of Cardinal Bernard Law is another moment to revisit the issue of sexual abuse within the Catholic Church and why it remains a challenge.
New economic realities have raised new challenges in applying Biblical principles to economic life. But they could still provide guidance on how to help those in need and how to levy taxes.
Close study of the Bible confirms that it isn’t just the Devil who tempts.
A liturgy expert explains that until the 12th century local bishops made decisions on Catholic liturgical practices even though the Catholic Mass was celebrated in Latin until 1970. How did that change?
A scholar explains the long process to sainthood and what Pope Francis’ recent order might change.
The hierarchy of the Catholic Church requires nearly absolute obedience. This makes it difficult to speak up against superiors. And by the same token, superiors too can protect offending priests.
The GOP was once the political home of anti-Catholicism. And the Vatican, it was believed, would use a Catholic president as a way to meddle in US politics.
Top contributors
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Professor of Religious Studies, College of the Holy Cross
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Professor Emerita of Religious Studies, College of the Holy Cross
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Professor of Public Theology and Director of The Bernardin Center, Catholic Theological Union
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Professor of Management & Organizations; Professor of Environment & Sustainability; Professor of Sustainable Enterprise at the Ross School of Business and School of Environment and Sustainability, University of Michigan
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Professor of Theology and Religious Studies at Villanova University, Villanova University
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Assistant Professor, Case Western Reserve University
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PhD Candidate, Department of Politics, Languages & International Studies, University of Bath
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President, Institute for Advanced Catholic Studies, USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences
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Professor of Law, University at Buffalo
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Research Professor, World Christianity and African Studies, DePaul University
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Religion and Society Professor, Universidad de Buenos Aires
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Associate Professor of Religious Studies, Texas State University
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Director of the Digby Stuart Research Centre for Religion, Society and Human Flourishing, University of Roehampton
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Professor and Department Head, Department of Religion and Culture, St. Thomas More College, University of Saskatchewan
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Lecturer in Religion and Peacebuilding, University of Liverpool
