Joshua J. McElwee
NCR
Italy
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Past articles by Joshua:
Benedict, a pope who shaped his times but didn't tower over them, dies at 95
Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, who was situated squarely at the centers of power during five decades of epochal change and unprecedented scandal in the global Catholic Church, has died. → Read More
Francis to create new official Catholic ministry of 'catechist'
Pope Francis will be creating a new official ministry in the Catholic Church for those who teach children and others the fundamentals of the faith, the Vatican announced May 5. In a brief note to jou... → Read More
Will the 13 new cardinals come to Rome during a pandemic?
Pope Francis' Oct. 25 announcement that he would be creating new Catholic cardinals next month came the same day the Italian government mandated a new "semi-lockdown" for the country's population, urg... → Read More
I or we? Vatican sparks baptism controversy that isn't so controversial
The Vatican's decision in August to clarify the formula that should be used in the Catholic rite of baptism attracted unusual interest after i... → Read More
Surprise ice cream delivery reveals Pope Francis' favorite flavor
Life in the eternal city in August is an oppressive affair. With day after day of mid-90s heat and almost no reliable air conditioning, the romani often have but one last refuge: a cup or cone of dens... → Read More
Francis warns of ideology 'infiltrating' some quarters of US Catholic Church
Pope Francis warned Sept. 10 that ideology is "infiltrating" the religious teaching of some quarters of the U.S. Catholic Church, and said that in past centuries such infiltrations have led to schisms... → Read More
Francis encourages quarry workers, celebrates Mass with a million in Madagascar
Visiting a vast stone quarry worked by some of the poorest people in Madagascar, one of the poorest countries in the world, Pope Francis prayed Sept. 8 that laborers would experience consolation and s... → Read More
Sisters at abuse summit hope standard is set for more women at Vatican meetings
Rome - The 10 Catholic sisters who took part in Pope Francis' summit on clergy sexual abuse say they hope the presence of a dozen women at the gathering sets a standard for a growing presence of women at Vatican meetings of bishops. → Read More
Francis removes Chilean abuser Fernando Karadima from priesthood
Pope Francis has removed notorious Chilean child sexual abuser Fernando Karadima from the Catholic priesthood, toughening an earlier sanction of a lifetime of prayer and penance, in what the Vatican s... → Read More
Vatican announces deal with China over appointment of Catholic bishops
The Vatican has announced the signing of a "provisional agreement" with Chinese authorities to address a seven-decade dispute over the appointment of Catholic bishops in the world's most populous coun... → Read More
Francis and U2's Bono discuss 'wild beast' of capitalism, clergy abuse
Irish rock star Bono came to where the streets have saints' names for a surprise meeting with Pope Francis Sept. 19. Addressing the Vatican press corps afterwards while wearing his trademark tinted g... → Read More
Morning Briefing
NCR's recent reporting on the bombshell letter from Archbishop Vigano: Brian Roewe looks at the figure of the Vatican's former ambassador to Washington: Who is Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano? Heidi S... → Read More
Former ambassador Vigano accuses Vatican of covering up McCarrick scandal for years
A former Vatican ambassador to Washington has published an 11-page letter filled with accusations against dozens of former and current high-level officials in the Catholic Church, claiming there was a... → Read More
Francis admits church failed to protect children in Ireland, caused 'grave scandal'
Pope Francis began his two-day trip to Ireland by acknowledging that Catholic leaders in the country failed over decades to protect children from sexual abuse by priests and clergy, saying bishops and... → Read More
Morning Briefing
Today's focus is on the Aug. 14 release of the Pennsylvania Grand Jury Report, which looked into how six dioceses handled clergy sexual abuse over decades. NCR's initial report: Pennsylvania gra... → Read More
Cardinal warns of 'possible collapse' of Earth's livability at Vatican event
The Vatican's secretary of state warned July 5 that humanity is facing a "possible collapse" in the Earth's ability to sustain life, as part of a two-day conference hosted by the Cat... → Read More
Francis accepts resignation of Chilean bishop at center of abuse scandal
Pope Francis has accepted the resignation of the Catholic bishop at the center of Chile's clergy sexual abuse crisis, in the first of what is expected to be a wave of firings to root out what the ... → Read More
Vatican's doctrinal prefect reaffirms ban on women priests, calls teaching 'definitive'
The head of the Vatican's doctrinal office has reaffirmed the Catholic Church's ban on the ordination of women as priests, writing in a new article that the teaching has a "definitive cha... → Read More
Francis admits 'serious mistakes' in handling of Chile abuse cases
Pope Francis has admitted making "serious mistakes" in his handling of clergy sexual abuse cases in Chile, telling the country's bishops in a lengthy letter that he feels "pain and ... → Read More
Former Vatican diplomat arrested for child pornography
Vatican officials have arrested an Italian monsignor who was recalled from service at the apostolic nunciature in Washington in August 2017 under suspicion of possessing or distributing child pornogra... → Read More