Cardinals and Bishops•Gender Ideology•Local Church•Priests

German priests loyal to the Pope respond to their own bishop (and cardinal), who is pressuring them to bless same-sex couples in a major diocese

Twenty-six priests have written to Cardinal Reinhard Marx challenging his recommendation that Germany’s national guidelines for blessing couples in irregular situations, including same-sex couples, be implemented in the archdiocese. If the cardinal’s response does not resolve their concerns, the priests say they may ask the Holy See for an official clarification

Jul 24, 2026 19:21

Joachin Meisner Hertz

Local Church•Priests•Religious Freedom

A new Swiss law requires priests and monks to perform military service based on the premise that, in modern society, the clergy is no longer essential

Swiss men deemed fit for military service are generally required to complete approximately eight months of service, normally between the ages of 18 and 30. For generations, clergy were excluded from that obligation because they were considered essential to the civilian population, particularly in wartime

Jul 17, 2026 15:38

Joachin Meisner Hertz

Analysis Opinion•Good News•Local Church•Vocations

Becoming a monk and living in a monastery increases life expectancy, according to a scientific study published in Austria

The German-Austrian Monastery Study began with a modest academic thesis in the late 1990s. Nearly three decades later, it has become one of the most significant contributions to the scientific understanding of aging

Jul 14, 2026 18:31

Joachin Meisner Hertz

Causes of Saints•Local Church

A Nobel Prize on the path to sainthood: Bishop of Oslo announces the start of Sigrid Undset’s canonization process

Before announcing the initiative publicly, Bishop Hansen consulted both the Nordic Bishops’ Conference—which includes bishops from Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden—and scholars familiar with Undset’s life and writings. The diocesan phase of the cause is expected to begin formally this autumn

Jul 09, 2026 09:19

Joachin Meisner Hertz

Local Church

The entire Nordic episcopate speaks with one voice: there are no exceptions for being both a Freemason and a Catholic

In a pastoral letter dated June 29, the Nordic Bishops’ Conference—covering Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden—addressed what it described as decades of speculation over whether the distinctive character of Scandinavian Freemasonry justified a different pastoral approach. The bishops concluded that it does not.

Jul 02, 2026 10:37

Joachin Meisner Hertz

Good News

Two previously unpublished sermons by St. Augustine Discovered in Germany

The discovery, announced by the University of Würzburg, was made by Latin scholar Professor Christian Tornau, who is now collaborating with specialists from the Corpus Scriptorum Ecclesiasticorum Latinorum (CSEL) to prepare the first critical edition of the texts. Their publication is expected before the end of 2026.

Jun 29, 2026 17:07

Joachin Meisner Hertz

Local Church

Statue of Padre Pio Weeping Blood and Marian Apparitions in Germany: Two New Cases for Ecclesiastical Study

The current investigations therefore unfold in a space between faith and caution, hope and verification. Whether the tear on the face of Padre Pio or the reported visions at Sievernich ultimately receive a positive judgment remains uncertain

Jun 15, 2026 09:07

Joachin Meisner Hertz

Local Church

The Patriarch of Moscow has transferred Hilarion, a prominent Russian cleric, to Brazil after drugs were found in his car

Once regarded as one of the most influential voices in the Russian Orthodox Church and widely viewed as a possible successor to Patriarch Kirill of Moscow, the 59-year-old prelate now finds himself transferred to two small parishes in southern Brazil amid a growing cloud of scandals and an ongoing criminal investigation.

Jun 08, 2026 09:40

Joachin Meisner Hertz

Local Church•Protection of vulnerable people

German government recognizes the Catholic Church as a model in the fight against child sexual abuse

One of her strongest observations concerns the local level, where child protection often succeeds or fails. She suggested that some Catholic communities have developed prevention mechanisms that, in practice, exceed standards found in municipal structures

May 25, 2026 17:10

Joachin Meisner Hertz

Cardinals and Bishops•Controversies•Dicasteries•Homosexuality

Will the Vatican sanction German bishops for blessing same-sex couples? The Pope’s Secretary of State responds

Speaking on May 7 on the sidelines of a book presentation in Rome, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican Secretary of State, said it was “premature” to discuss sanctions against German bishops. At the same time, he carefully avoided excluding the possibility of future intervention

May 09, 2026 10:08

Joachin Meisner Hertz

Controversies

The German Belorado. Were They Manipulated? The Strange Case of the German “Rebel Nuns” in Their 80s Who Made Global Headlines

The Goldenstein case also echoes other recent conflicts in Europe involving religious communities and property disputes, such as the high-profile situation of the Poor Clares in Belorado, Spain

May 02, 2026 12:10

Joachin Meisner Hertz

Good News•Local Church

Belarus releases Discalced Carmelite friar accused of espionage

His release came within a broader exchange described as a “5-for-5” format, involving individuals convicted of espionage or related offenses in Belarus and Russia being swapped for detainees held in European Union countries and elsewhere. In total, 10 prisoners were involved across multiple jurisdictions.

May 01, 2026 16:17

Joachin Meisner Hertz