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Celibacy for priests a hot issue, just not for church leaders
A young priest runs through St. Peter's Square before Pope Benedict XVI's final audience.
March 5th, 2013
10:36 PM ET

Celibacy for priests a hot issue, just not for church leaders

By Peter Shadbolt, CNN

(CNN)–For centuries, the Vatican has required celibacy from its priests.

It is a vow the Catholic Church says not only underscores the commitment of seminarians to their vocation but also is a model of Christ’s own celibacy.

But with the election of a new pope, many church watchers are wondering whether church teachings could change to allow all priests to marry.

Currently, the Vatican allows married Anglican priests who join the Catholic Church to become ordained as priests. Young Catholic seminarians, meanwhile, must remain celibate, and church leadership seems unlikely to move on the issue.

FULL POST

- CNN Belief Blog

Filed under: Catholic Church • Christianity • Pope

My Take: The secret thoughts of a Vatican spokesperson
The Rev. Thomas Rosica is assisting as a spokesman at the Vatican during the papal transition.
March 5th, 2013
09:37 PM ET

My Take: The secret thoughts of a Vatican spokesperson

Editor's Note: The Rev. Thomas Rosica is CEO of the Salt and Light Catholic Media Foundation in Canada and president of Assumption University in Windsor, Ontario. He is serving as English language assistant to the director of the Holy See Press Office during the papal transition.

By The Rev. Thomas Rosica, C.S.B, Special to CNN

(CNN)–When my colleague and friend, the Rev. Federico Lombardi, director of the Holy See Press Office, told me to come quickly to Rome to assist him, I understood that help was needed in dealing with a deluge of media requests in the aftermath of the pope’s surprise resignation announcement on February 11.

Having run a World Youth Day in Canada in 2002 and then founded, set up and led Salt and Light Catholic Television Network in Canada since 2003, I knew something about media and press relations.  Little did I know what would be awaiting me in the Caput Mundi when I arrived more than two weeks ago.  It was not a deluge but a veritable tsunami!

The most amusing questions, however, have been those that come from people who know me from back home and those who never met me until now.

FULL POST

- CNN Belief Blog

Filed under: Catholic Church • Vatican

Fake bishop busted and booted from Vatican
Ralph Napierski, left, sidles up, shakes hands and smiles with Cardinal Sergio Sebiastiana -- before getting the Vatican boot.
March 5th, 2013
01:57 PM ET

Fake bishop busted and booted from Vatican

By Jessica Ravitz, CNN

(CNN) - Move over, Tareq and Michaele Salahi, the Virginia ex-couple who famously – or infamously – crashed President Obama’s first White House state dinner. There’s a new impostor posing with dignitaries, and he set his sights on an even more coveted gathering.

Meet Ralph Napierski, a German self-declared bishop who reportedly called himself “Basilius,” said he was with the nonexistent “Italian Orthodox Church” and set out to infiltrate a Monday meeting of cardinals at the Vatican.

The fake bishop donned a purple sash (really a scarf) over his vestments and mingled with cardinals and others who’d flown in from around the globe ahead of the conclave to pick a new pope. He smiled wide and posed for cameras while shaking hands with Cardinal Sergio Sebiastiana. He tried to blend in. FULL POST

- CNN Writer/Producer

Filed under: Catholic Church • Vatican

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About this blog

The CNN Belief Blog covers the faith angles of the day's biggest stories, from breaking news to politics to entertainment, fostering a global conversation about the role of religion and belief in readers' lives. It's edited by CNN's Daniel Burke with contributions from Eric Marrapodi and CNN's worldwide news gathering team.

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