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AI priest avatar gets the chop in first week of ministry

April 25, 2024

An AI-generated avatar priest that was launched at the start of the week by a Catholic organisation appears to have been digitally defrocked following criticisms and concerns raised about the experiment in using emerging artificial intelligence technology to bolster the Catholic Faith. The “Fr. Justin” interactive AI app was launched by Catholic Answers, a US-based

Italy’s abortion row heats up amid concerns about influence of pro-life organisations from US

April 22, 2024

ROME – Conflict is churning both inside Italy and across Europe over a new plan by the Italian government to introduce pro-life consulters to publicly funded family planning clinics that issue the certificates women need to undergo an abortion. Despite the controversy, so far the Italian bishops’ conference, known by its acronym of CEI, as

New Catholic Lectionary for British churches arriving this Advent following approval by Vatican

April 18, 2024

A new Lectionary will come into use in parishes in England, Wales and Scotland from Advent 2024. The Vatican’s Dicastery for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments gave its seal of approval on a new Lectionary proposed by the Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales in July of last year. Published by the

US cardinal says ‘Dignitas Infinita’ clarifies that LGBTQ Catholics are loved but the Church’s moral teachings still apply

April 11, 2024

ROME – Cardinal Wilton Gregory of Washington, DC, has praised the new Vatican document on human dignity as a “welcome summation” of Church teaching, espeically on issues such as gender theory and transgenderism. Speaking to Crux, Gregory said the document, published 8 April and titled Dignitas Infinita, does a good job at summarising the Church’s moral and

British Catholic bishops highlight ‘grave violations’ of human dignity scarring modern world

April 10, 2024

The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales has welcomed the Vatican’s declaration on Human Dignity for highlighting an issue that lies at the heart of the mission of the Church and for highlighting the “grave violations” of human dignity that scar the modern world. The main novelty of the document – which is the fruit

Vatican’s new declaration praised for transcending liberal and conservative perspectives to tackle ‘modern misconceptions’ on human dignity

April 09, 2024

Many liberals and conservatives appear to be both applauding or denouncing the Vatican’s latest doctrinal document on human dignity for its stance on particular issues. But Catholic moral theologians instead highlight the consistency with which the issues are addressed, and the adherence to Church teaching exhibited. “The [list of issues] demolishes any kind of attempt

Vatican condemns ‘gender theory’ in new doctrinal document

April 08, 2024

The Vatican has condemned gender ideology in a document published 8 April. The new Declaration Dignitas Infinita on Human Dignity from the Vatican’s Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith (DDF), offers a clear definition of human dignity as the Church sees it and stresses the need to uphold it from conception to natural death.

Pope Francis tries to set record straight on tensions with Benedict XVI and Cardinal Sarah in new book

April 03, 2024

ROME – Pope Francis has opened up and made further revelations in a new book released today, discussing the relationships and interpersonal dynamics between himself and other key Vatican figures such as Pope Benedict XVI, the former pope’s personal secretary and the influential conservative prelate Cardinal Robert Sarah. Speaking to Spanish Journalist Javier Martinez-Brocal with ABC Español,